| Rating | |
| 7 | Please Please Please; King 610; 1959/1956-58 (reissued w/different jacket as King 909; 1964) |
| 7 | Try Me; King 635; 1959 (The Unbeatable James Brown; King 919; 1964) |
| 7 | Think; King 683; 1960/1959-60 (reissued w/different jacket in 1964) |
| 7 | The Amazing James Brown & the Famous Flames; King 743; 1961/1960-61 |
| 8 | Various: Twist Around; King 771; 1961 (James Brown, Hank Marr, the Wobblers, Herb Hardesty, Henry Moore, Clifford Scott; jacket: "James Brown Presents his Band featuring 'Night Train'"; reissued as Jump Around--same #) |
| 7 | Shout & Shimmy; King 780; 1962/1957-61 (Good Good Twistin', Excitement--same #) |
| 8 | James Brown & his Famous Flames Tour the U.S.A.; King 804; 1962 |
| 8 | At the Apollo; King 826; 1963 (live; several reissues) |
| 7 | Prisoner of Love; King 851; 1963/1962 (3 cuts older, reissued) |
| 7 | Mr. Dynamite; King 883; 1964 ("Pure Dynamite!"; rec. live at the Royal in Baltimore, except 2 w/overdubbed applause; originally gatefold) |
| 6 | James Brown: Showtime; Mercury/Smash SRS-67054; 1964 ("live"--overdubbed applause) |
| 6 | Grits & Soul; Mercury/Smash SRS-67057; 1964 (instrumental organ/piano, mod soul/soul jazz) |
| 6 | Out of Sight; Mercury/Smash SRS-67109; 1964 (minus 1 cut as JB Sings Out of Sight; Mercury/Smash SRS-67109; 1968) |
| 8 | Papa's Got a Brand New Bag; King 938; 1965 (reissue except title cuts) |
| 6 | James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday; Mercury/Smash SRS-67072; 1965 |
| 8 | I Got You (I Feel Good); King 946; 1966 (reissues single 6015 & other single/LP tracks) |
| 7 | Mighty Instrumentals; King 961; 1966/1960-65 (compilation; new to LP: "James Brown House Party" & "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag Part 2") |
| 7 | James Brown Plays New Breed; Mercury/Smash SRS-67080; 1966/1965 |
| 7 | "Soul Brother #1" James Brown: It's a Man's Man's Man's World; King 985; 1966 (reissues single 6025 & other single/LP cuts except title song) |
| 7 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Christmas Album; King 1010; 1966 (jacket: James Brown & his Famous Flames Sing Christmas Songs) |
| 6 | James Brown at the Organ: Handful of Soul; Mercury/Smash SRS-67084; 1966 |
| 6 | The James Brown Show; Mercury/Smash SRS-67087; 1967/1966 (live) |
| 7 | James Brown Sings Raw Soul; King 1016; 1967/1964-67 |
| 7 | James Brown Plays the Real Thing; Mercury/Smash SRS-67093; 1967/1966 |
| 7 | At the Garden; King 1018; 1967 (live) |
| 8 | Cold Sweat; King 1020; 1967/1964-67 |
| 7 | Live at the Apollo Vol. 2; King 1022; 1968/1967 (live; 2-LP/2-vol. version shares this number) |
| 8 | I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me; King 1030; 1968/1967 |
| 8 | I Got the Feelin'; King 1031; 1968/1967-68 |
| 7 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Nothing But Soul; King 1034; 1968/1967-68 (soul-jazz organ instrumental) |
| 8 | Thinking About Little Willie John & a Few Nice Things; King 1038; 1968 (1/2 vocal tribute; 1/2 instrumental) |
| 9 | Soulful Christmas; King 1040; 1968 (some great non-Xmas breakbeat/vibes instrumentals) |
| 7 | Say it Loud--I'm Black & I'm Proud; King 1047; 1969/1967-68 |
| 7 | Gettin' Down to It; King 1051; 1969/1968-69 (w/Dee Felice Trio) |
| 8 | James Brown Plays & Directs the Popcorn; King 1055; 1969/1968 ("JB Directs & Dances the Popcorn"; instrumental) |
| 8 | It's a Mother; King 1063; 1969/1967-69 |
| 7 | Ain't It Funky Now; King 1092; 1969/1966-69 (mostly instrumental) |
| 8 | Soul on Top; King KS-1100 (w/Louis Bellson Orchestra conducted by Oliver Nelson); 1970/1969 |
| 9 | It's a New Day So Let a Man Come In [& Do the Popcorn]; King 1095; 1970/1969 |
| 7 | Sex Machine; King 1115; 1970/1969-70 (2-LP; [pseudo-] live; Sex Machine Live; Polydor PD-2-9004; 1976) |
| 7 | Hey America It's Christmas; King 1124; 1970 (see 45s for additional instrumentals) |
| 8 | Super Bad; King 1127; 1971/1970 ([pseudo-] live; Vicki Anderson sings "Let it Be Me") |
| 7 | Sho is Funky Down Here; King KS-1110; 1971/1968-70 (psyche-rock instrumentals, like early Hendrix, w/David Matthews Trio) |
| 8 | Hot Pants; Polydor PD-4054; 1971 (Gema 2425-086) |
| 8 | Live at the Apollo; Polydor 823-001-1 (2-LP reissue of King LPs) |
| 6 | Revolution of the Mind (Live at the Apollo Vol. 3); Polydor PD-2-3003; 1972 (2-LP, live) |
| 9 | Soul Classics; Polydor SC-5401; 1972 (compilation reissuing King) |
| 8 | There It Is; Polydor PD-5028; 1972/1970-72 |
| 8 | Get on the Good Foot; Polydor PD-2-3004; 1972 (2-LP) |
| 7 | Black Caesar ST; Polydor PD-6014; 1973 |
| 8 | Slaughter's Big Rip-Off ST; Polydor PD-6015; 1973 |
| 9 | Soul Classics Vol. 2; Polydor SC-5402; 1973 (compilation reissuing King) |
| 9 | The Payback; Polydor PD-2-3007; 1974/1973 (2-LP) |
| 8 | Hell; Polydor PD-2-9001; 1974/1973-74 (2-LP) |
| 6 | Reality; Polydor PD-6039; 1975 |
| 7 | Sex Machine Today; Polydor PD-6042; 1975 |
| 7 | Everybody's Doin' the Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump; Polydor PD-6054; 1975 |
| 6 | Hot; Polydor PD-6059; 1976 |
| 5 | Get Up Offa That Thing; Polydor PD-1-6071; 1976 |
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| 5 | Bodyheat; Polydor PD-6093; 1976 |
5 | Mutha's Nature; Polydor PD-6111; 1977 | 9 | Solid Gold (30 Golden Hits, 21 Golden Years); Polydor 2679-044; 1977 (2-LP compilation) |
| 5 | Jam/1980's; Polydor PD-1-6140; 1978 |
| 5 | Take a Look at Those Cakes; Polydor PD-1-6191; 1979 |
| The Original Disco Man; Polydor PD-1-6212; 1979 |
| 5 | Gravity; Scotti Bros. |
| 5 | People; Polydor PD-6258; 1980 |
| 5 | Hot on the One; Polydor PD-2-6290; 1980 (2-LP, live in Tokyo) |
| 6 | Soul Syndrome; T.K. 615; 1980 |
| 7 | Non Stop; Polydor 2391.509; 1981 |
| 8 | The Best of; Polydor 422-823275-1; 1981 (compilation; probably all monaural despite stereo label) |
| 8 | The James Brown Story--Ain't That a Groove 1966-1969; Polydor 422-821231-1; 1984/1966-69 (compilation; all monaural despite stereo label) |
| Doing it to Death; Polydor (compilation) |
| 8 | The Fabulous James Brown; HRB DD-1004 (2-LP compilation) |
| 9 | In the Jungle Groove; Polydor 829-624-1-Y-2; 1986/1969-70 (2-LP compilation--unreleased/remix/reissue) |
| 8 | Motherlode; Polydor/PolyGram 837-126-1; 1988/1969-72 (compilation--unreleased/rarities) |
| 8 | Santa's Got a Brand New Bag; Rhino R1-70194; 1988 (compilation from Christmas LPs & 45s) |
| 8 | Star Time 4-CD Box; 1991 (overpackaged but comprehensive singles compilation w/book; best for several previously unreleased versions--undubbed, full-length, live, mono, stereo) |
| Rating | |
| 7 | James Brown with the Flames: Please, Please, Please/Why Do You Do Me; Federal 12258; 1956 (same as the 78, which credits "the Famous Flames") |
| 6 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: I Don't Know/I Feel that Old Feeling Coming On; Federal 12264; 1956 |
| 6 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: No, No, No, No/Hold My Baby's Hand; Federal 12277; 1956 |
| 6 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Just Won't Do Right/Let's Make It; Federal 12289; 1956 |
| 7 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Chonnie-on-Chon/I Won't Plead No More; Federal 12290; 1957 |
| 6 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Can't Be the Same/Gonna Try; Federal 12292; 1957 |
| 7 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Love or a Game/Messing with the Blues; Federal 12295; 1957 |
| 6 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: You're Mine, You're Mine/I Walked Alone; Federal 12300; 1957 |
| 6 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: That Dood It/Baby Cries Over the Ocean; Federal 12311; 1957 |
| 6 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Begging, Begging/That's When I Lost My Heart; Federal 12316; 1958 |
| 8 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Try Me/Tell Me What I Did Wrong; Federal 12337; 1958 |
| 6 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: I Want You So Bad/There Must be a Reason; Federal 12348; 1959 |
| 6 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: I've Got to Change/It Hurts to Tell You; Federal 12352; 1959 |
| 7 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Good Good Lovin'/Don't Let it Happen to Me; Federal 12361; 1959 |
| 6 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Got to Cry/It Was You; Federal 12364; 1959 |
| 7 | James Brown Presents his Band: Suds/Sticky; King 4585; 1961 (mod instrumentals) |
| 8 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Night Train/Why Does Everything Happen To Me; King 5614; 1962 (rec. 1961 & 1957) |
| James Brown Presents his Band: Feel It Parts 1 & 2; King 5767; 1963 |
| 9 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: Papa's Got a Brand New Bag Parts 1 & 2; King 5999; 1965 |
| 8 | I Got You (I Feel Good)/I Can't Help It (I Just Do-Do-Do); King 6015; 1965 |
| 7 | Ain't That a Groove Parts 1 & 2; King 6025; 1966 |
| 7 | It's a Man's Man's Man's World/Is It Yes Or Is It No?; King 6035; 1966 |
| 6 | Mashed Potatoes-"66"/same; King [11221]; 1966 (vocal) |
| 7 | Don't Be a Drop-Out/Tell Me That You Love Me; King 6056; 1966 (live B side) |
| 6 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: The Christmas Song Versions 1 & 2; King 6064; 1966 (ballad) |
| 7 | Let's Make This Christmas Mean Something Parts 1 & 2; King 6072; 1966 |
| 7 | Kansas City/Stone Fox; King 6086 |
| 9 | Cold Sweat Parts 1 & 2; King 6110; 1967 |
| 7 | Funky Soul #1/The Soul of J.B.; King 6133; 1967 |
| 9 | I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)/There Was a Time; King 6144; 1967 |
| 8 | James Brown & the Famous Flames: I Got the Feelin'/If I Ruled the World; King 6155; 1968 |
| 7 | Shhhhhhhh (for a Little While)/Here I Go; King 6164; 1968 (instrumental soul jazz) |
| 9 | Licking Stick--Licking Stick Parts 1 & 2; King 6166; 1968 |
| 7 | Shades of Brown/Goodbye My Love; King 6198; 1968 |
| 8 | Tit for Tat (Ain't No Taking Back)/Believers Shall Enjoy (Non-Believers Shall Suffer); King 6204; 1968 |
| 8 | In the Middle (Part 1)/Let's Unite the Whole World at Christmas; King 6205; 1968 (A-side funk instrumental, both from LP 1040) |
| 7 | A Man Has to Go Back to the Crossroads/The Drunk; Bethlehem 3098; 1970 |
| 8 | Funky Drummer Parts 1 & 2; King 6209; 1970/1969 |
| 8 | Give It Up or Turnit-A-Loose/I'll Lose My Mind; King 6213; 1970 (both vocal) |
| 9 | The Popcorn/"The Chicken"; King 6240; 1970 |
| 8 | Lowdown Popcorn/Top of the Stack; King 6250; 1970/1969 |
| 8 | Let a Man Come in & Do the Popcorn Part 1/Sometime; King 6245; 1970 |
| 8 | Let a Man Come in & Do the Popcorn Part 2/Gittin' a Little Hipper Part 2; King 6275; 1970 |
| 6 | It's Christmas Time Parts 1 & 2; King 6277; 1970 (ballad) |
| 8 | Brother Rapp Parts 1 & 2/Bewildered; King 6310; 1970/1969 |
| 9 | Get Up [I Feel Like Being a] Sex Machine Parts 1 & 2; King 6318; 1970 |
| 9 | Super Bad Parts 1-3; King 6329; 1970 |
| 8 | Hey America [It's Christmas]/instrumental; King 6339; 1970 (picture sleeve w/lyrics) |
| 6 | Santa Claus is Definitely Here to Stay/instrumental; King 6340; 1970 (picture sleeve w/lyrics) |
| 9 | Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved Parts 1 & 2; King 6347 (vocal duet w/Bobby Byrd); 1970 |
| 9 | Soul Power Parts 1-3; King 6368; 1971 |
| 8 | Hot Pants Parts 1-3; People 2501; 1971 |
| Talkin' Loud & Sayin' Nothing Parts 1 & 2; Polydor (rock version) 1972/1970 (withdrawn; vocal duet w/Bobby Byrd) |
| 8 | Talkin' Loud & Sayin' Nothing Parts 1 & 2; Polydor PD-14109; 1972/1970 (vocal duet w/Bobby Byrd) |
| 7 | Honky Tonk Parts 1 & 2; Polydor PD-14129; 1972 ("live") |
| 8 | Public Enemy #1 Part 1/I Got a Bag of My Own; Polydor PD-14153; 1972 |
| 8 | I Got Ants in My Pants [and I Want to Dance] Parts 1 & 15-16; Polydor PD-14162; 1972 |
| 8 | Think ['73]/Something; Polydor PD-14185; 1973 (non-LP & heavy!) |
| 7 | Stone to the Bone Parts 1/Stone to the Bone (Some More); Polydor PD-14210; 1973 |
| 6 | Hustle!!!/Dead on It Parts 1 & 2; Polydor PD-14210; 1975 |
| 8 | Funky President (mono)/Coldblooded; Polydor PD-14258; 1974 |
| 6 | Get Up Offa That Thing/Release the Pressure (Get Up Offa That Thing Part 2); Polydor PD-14326; 1976 |
| 7 | The Spank/Love Me Tender; Polydor PD-14487; 1978 (B-side tribute to Elvis) |
| 3 | Star Generation/same; Polydor PD-2005; 1979 (promo) |
| 7 | Rapp Payback (Where iz Moses) Parts 1 & 2; T.K. TKX-1039; 1980 (disco; about six minutes shorter than the LP version) |
| 6 | Give That Bass Player Some Parts 1 & 2; Polydor PD-2167; 1981 |
| 6 | Devo: Theme from Dr. Detroit/James Brown: King of Soul; MCA/Backstreet BSR-52215; 1983 (good disco B-side alternative to the full LP ST) |
| 5 | Living in America/same; Scotti Brothers ZS4-05682; 1985 (picture sleeve, promo for Rocky IV ST) |
| 8 | Ain't it Funky Now Part 1/Funky Drummer Part 1; Collectables COL-4415; 1992 (reissue) |
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