One Song

James Brown's "Funky Drummer" (Part 1)

September 3, 2026·1h 15m
Episode Description from the Publisher

Was James Brown the inventor of funk? Diallo & LUXXURY dive into “Funky Drummer (Part 1)” the first half of the nine-minute funk epic that cemented James Brown as a true master of the genre. They get into the song’s legacy as a treasure trove for hip hop samples, James Brown’s unique presence as a bandleader, and what makes the song fit in the pantheon of perfect wedding DJ songs. Then, they bust out the stems to discuss the percussive nature of every instrument in the ensemble, including the greasy guitar licks, trumpet blasts, legendary sax and organ solos, a rarely heard set of James Brown vocals, and the titular funky drumming that combine to make a colossal 70s classic.  Songs Discussed: “Living in America” (1985) – James Brown “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” (1968) – James Brown “Please Please Please” (1958) – James Brown and the Famous Flames “Try Me” (1958) – James Brown and the Famous Flames “Buddy Bolden’s Blues” (1939) - Jelly Roll Morton “Out Of Sight” (1964) - James Brown “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” (1965) - James Brown “Cold Sweat” (1967) - James Brown “Fun House” (1970) - The Stooges “So What” (1959) - Miles Davis “Mahna Mahna” (1977) - Mahna Mahna and The Snowths “I Be Blowin’” (1993) - De La Soul ft. Maceo Parker “The Grunt (Pts 1 & 2)” (1972) - The J.B.’s “Protect Ya Neck” (1993) - Wu-Tang Clan “Doing It To Death (Pts. 1 & 2)” (1973) - The J.B.’s Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong Check out the One Song Spotify playlist Episode produced, edited, and mixed by Eric Hicks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of One Song and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.