R.I.P. James Brown: His Top 50 Songs

James Brown Top 50 Songs

James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, was born on May 3, 1933. With more than 130 charted hits, he became one of the most successful artists in history. According to Dave’s Music Database, he ranks at #13 on the list of the top acts of all time. He is also rated as the #5 R&B acts of all time. Brown passed away on Christmas Day in 2006. In celebration of what would have been his 79th birthday, here is a list of Brown’s top 50 songs of all time as determined by an aggregate of multiple best-of lists, sales figures, chart data, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on the Billboard R&B charts (#1 RB) are noted, as are two songs which are ranked by Dave’s Music Database in the top 1000 songs of all time (DMDB 1000) and another three which are in the Grammy Hall of Fame (GHoF). While this list focuses on songs, it should also be noted that Brown’s 1962 album, Live at the Apollo Volume 1, ranks as one of the top 100 albums of all time and at #1 on the DMDB’s list of the top live albums of all time. For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry. Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:

Top 50 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to singles charts.) 1. I Got You (I Feel Good) (1965) #1 RB 2. Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag (1965) #1 RB 3. Get Up, I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine (1970) 4. It’s a Man Man’s Man’s World (1966) #1 RB 5. Please, Please, Please (1956) 6. Living in America (1985) 7. Cold Sweat (1967) #1 RB 8. Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud (1968) #1 RB 9. The Payback (1974) #1 RB 10. Prisoner of Love (1963) 11. Lost Someone (1961) 12. Get on the Good Foot (1972) #1 RB 13. Night Train (1962) 14. I Got the Feelin’ (1968) #1 RB 15. Mother Popcorn (You Got to Have a Mother for Me) (1969) #1 RB 16. Bewildered (1961) 17. Super Bad (1970) #1 RB 18. Hot Pants (1971) #1 RB 19. Bring It Up (1967) 20. Give It Up or Turnit a Loose (1969) #1 RB 21. Licking Stick Licking Stick (1968) 22. Make It Funky (1971) #1 RB 23. My Thang (1974) #1 RB 24. Funky Drummer (1970) 25. Talking Loud and Saying Nothing (1972) #1 RB 26. let a Man Come in and Do the Popcorn (Part 1) (1969) 27. I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (1969) 28. Papa Don’t Take No Mess (1974) #1 RB 29. Out of Sight (1964) 30. It’s a New Day (1970) 31. I Got Ants in My Pants (1973) 32. I Can’t Stand Myself When You Touch Me (1967) 33. Oh Baby, Don’t You Weep (1964) 34. Soul Power (1971) 35. Ain’t It Funky Now (1969) 36. Brother Rapp (1970) 37. Get Up Offa That Thing (1976) 38. I’m a Greedy Man (1971) 39. There Was a Time (1968) 40. Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved (1970) 41. Goodbye My Love (1968) 42. World (1969) 43. The Popcorn (1969) 44. King Heroin (1972) 45. Escape-ism (1971) 46. Get It Together (1967) 47. I Got a Bag of My Own (1972) 48. There It Is (1972) 49. Honky Tonk (1972) 50. Think (1960) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for James Brown James Brown performs at the Apollo Theater: October 24, 1962 (10/24/11) Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” First posted 5/3/2012; last updated 6/5/2022.