http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMizXttN-Uo

*******LIVE AT THE APOLLO******

THE COMPLETE 1963 MILLION-SELLING ALBUM by

JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES !!!!

INTRO: (From Wikipedia):

So now ladies and gentlemen it is star time, are you ready for star time? Thank you and thank you very kindly. It is indeed a great pleasure to present to you at this particular time, national and international[ly] known as the hardest working man in show business, the men that sing "I'll Go Crazy" ... "Try Me" ... "You've Got the Power" ... "Think" ... "If You Want Me" ... "I Don't Mind" ... "Bewildered" ...the million dollar seller, "Lost Someone" ... the very latest release, "Night Train" ... let's everybody "Shout and Shimmy" ... Mr. Dynamite, the amazing Mr. Please Please himself, the star of the show, James Brown and The Famous Flames!!!

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 01/12/2013 @ 11:59am

****BOBBY BENNETT of THE FAMOUS FLAMES :1938-2013****

It is my sad duty to inform you that BOBBY BENNETT, the last surviving member of ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME inducted group THE FAMOUS FLAMES, has passed away at his home in Maryland, on January 18th, 2013 of compilations of diabetes. With his death,the last of the Famous Flames is now gone,and an era has indeed come to an end. R.I.P., Bobby....you were the Greatest !!!

Condolences to his wife Sandi and the Kids, the rest of the Bennett Family, and Famous Flames fans everywhere.

http://ourrockandrollhalloffame71305.yuku .com/topic/1924/BOBBY-BENNETT-of-THE-FAMO US-FLAMES-19382013

Posted by Bill G. on Monday, 01/21/2013 @ 19:21pm

https://www.google.com/search?q=bobby+bennett+rock+hall+fame&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

*****ROCK HALL of FAME TRIBUTE to BOBBY BENNETT of THE FAMOUS FLAMES-(1938-2013)*****

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 01/31/2013 @ 20:49pm

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2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Bennett of the Famous Flames passed away on January 18, 2013, at age 74. For 15 years, the Famous Flames provided impassioned vocals and frenetic choreography alongside James Brown, helping to create among "the greatest stage shows of all time," according to former Rock Hall president and CEO Terry Stewart. Bennett – previously Brown's valet – joined the group in 1959, and along with Bobby Byrd, Johnny Terry and "Baby" Lloyd Stallworth, helped form the definitive lineup of the Famous Flames.

The Famous Flames were a vital element in Brown's success, as their electric stage presence made Brown's performances legendary. Before being dubbed the "Godfather of Soul," Brown was a Famous Flame, and it was his years with that group that made him a driving force in the world of soul music. "A lot of people didn't know that James Brown was the same as I was: a Flame," said Bennett in an April 2012 interview with the Rock Hall.

The group is audible on the 1963 classic album Live at the Apollo. Bennett and the other Famous Flames can been seen in footage from The T.A.M.I. Show, the 1964 performance film where Brown was a definite showstopper, proving an impossible act to follow for the Rolling Stones.

On the eve of his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2012, Bennett, then the last surviving member of the Famous Flames, spoke with the Rock Hall during a party at the Museum in Cleveland. "James (Brown) was a Flame. Bobby Byrd was a Flame. Lloyd Stallworth was a Flame. And Bobby Bennett, who's still here, was a Famous Flame also," he said. "We performed all over the world. We performed everywhere. We were the best out there: best dancers, best singers – we were good."

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 01/31/2013 @ 20:51pm

With Bobby's death,The last of the Famous Flames is gone... and an era has indeed come to an end. James Brown died in 2006, Bobby Byrd in 2007, "Baby Lloyd" Stallworth in 2002, and Johnny Terry in 2005. At least Bobby Bennett lived to see the group finally inducted ...many years after James Brown's controversial solo induction in 1986. At least we'll have his music....those unforgettable songs to remember The Famous Flames by: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, TRY ME, THINK. BEWILDERED, I'LL GO CRAZY. OH BABY DON'T YOU WEEP. I DON'T MIND .GOOD GOOD LOVIN'. LOST SOMEONE, SHOUT AND SHIMMY, THIS OLD HEART, THREE HEARTS IN A TANGLE, MAY BE THE LAST TIME, and on and on...

I'm also glad that people FINALLY came to realize that The Famous Flames were a SINGING GROUP....NOT JAMES BROWN'S BAND.

People need to remember that all those great hit tunes were recorded by ALL of the Famous Flames...NOT JUST JAMES BROWN ALONE. They surely deserved their due....and in 2012, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame FINALLY gave it to them.

And all of those unforgettable live performances...THE T.A.M.I. Show. The movie SKI PARTY. THE MILLION-SELLING "LIVE AT THE APOLLO album. THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. All of which established James Brown & The Famous Flames as the most powerful vocal group in Rhythm & Blues History. The group of which Berry Gordy told The Temptations "not to appear on the same show with"...OR ELSE !!!
(The Rolling Stones were warned too...but they didn't listen...BIG MISTAKE !!)
R.I.P. Bobby....and condolences to your wife Sandi, the kids, and Famous Flames fans everywhere.

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 01/31/2013 @ 20:52pm

2012 Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Bennett (1938 - 2013)

Remembering Bobby Bennett of the Famous Flames

2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Bennett of the Famous Flames passed away on January 18, 2013, at age 74. For 15 years, the Famous Flames provided impassioned vocals and frenetic choreography alongside James Brown, helping to create among "the greatest stage shows of all time," according to former Rock Hall president and CEO Terry Stewart. Bennett – previously Brown's valet – joined the group in 1959, and along with Bobby Byrd, Johnny Terry and "Baby" Lloyd Stallworth, helped form the definitive lineup of the Famous Flames.
The Famous Flames were a vital element in Brown's success, as their electric stage presence made Brown's performances legendary. Before being dubbed the "Godfather of Soul," Brown was a Famous Flame, and it was his years with that group that made him a driving force in the world of soul music. "A lot of people didn't know that James Brown was the same as I was: a Flame," said Bennett in an April 2012 interview with the Rock Hall.

The group is audible on the 1963 classic album�Live at the Apollo.�Bennett and the other Famous Flames can been seen in footage from The T.A.M.I. Show, the 1964 performance film where Brown was a definite showstopper, proving an impossible act to follow for the Rolling Stones.

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 02/23/2013 @ 14:35pm

****BOBBY ROGERS of THE MIRACLES (1940-2013) and BOBBY BENNETT of THE FAMOUS FLAMES :1938-2013****



***The two Bobbys***

As was recently posted in a separate blog on Charles Crossley's "Top of The Charts" site, BOBBY ROGERS, founding member of Motown's first group THE MIRACLES, passed away on March 3rd, 2013.BOBBY BENNETT of THE FAMOUS FLAMES passed away less than a month and a half earlier, on January 18th, 2013. The similiarities between these two artists are uncanny:

* Both were important, yet unsung , members of their respective groups.
* Both have the same first name.
* Both were snubbed-cut out of R&R HOF induction while the lead singers of both their respective groups were inducted.
* Both appeared in the 1964 American International Motion Picture THE T.A.M.I. Show.
* Both did exactly two appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show with their respective groups.
* Both artists were inducted with their groups in 2012.
* Both were inducted by Smokey Robinson.
* Both died less than 1 year after their Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Inductions.
* Both were singer/songwriters.
* Both were great dancers.
* Both were chosen by Special Committee.

Posted by Bill G. on Monday, 03/4/2013 @ 04:16am

http://rockhall.com/blog/post/9308_remembering-bobby-bennett-the-famous-flames-dies/

***BOBBY BENNETT of THE FAMOUS FLAMES(1938-2013)***

The Rock Hall remembers 2012 inductee- Famous Flame BOBBY BENNETT

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 03/14/2013 @ 17:15pm

****BOBBY ROGERS of THE MIRACLES (1940-2013) and BOBBY BENNETT of THE FAMOUS FLAMES :1938-2013****



***The two Bobbys***

As was recently posted in a separate blog on Charles Crossley's "Top of The Charts" site, BOBBY ROGERS, founding member of Motown's first group THE MIRACLES, passed away on March 3rd, 2013.BOBBY BENNETT of THE FAMOUS FLAMES passed away less than a month and a half earlier, on January 18th, 2013. The similiarities between these two artists are uncanny:

* Both were important, yet unsung , members of their respective groups.
* Both have the same first name.
* Both were snubbed-cut out of R&R HOF induction while the lead singers of both their respective groups were inducted.
* Both appeared in the 1964 American International Motion Picture THE T.A.M.I. Show.
* Both did exactly two appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show with their respective groups.
* Both artists were inducted with their groups in 2012.
* Both were inducted by Smokey Robinson.
* Both died less than 1 year after their Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Inductions.
* Both were singer/songwriters.
* Both were great dancers.
* Both were chosen by Special Committee.
* Both were, sadly, recent amputees,and
* Both died from complations of diabetes.

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 05/23/2013 @ 20:04pm

*****The Two Bobbys*****
Bobby Bennett of THE FAMOUS FLAMES AND Bobby Rogers of THE MIRACLES.

also....

* Both were the TALLEST MEMBERS of their respective groups...both being well over 6 feet.

* Both also had FATHERS named "Robert".

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 05/23/2013 @ 20:09pm

I met James in 1964 and later traveled with him and the band until 2006. 44 years of home movies in different learjets became family with Bobby Byrd, baby loydd, Bennett, and conducted the funeral along with Sinclair pinkney for Jimmy Nolen in olkmolge Oklahoma. I wish you would remember people like Arthur Dixon, our late drummer, and Joe paff and Jimmy lee Moore. All gone now. I recently found a box of things I bought from Danny ray 30 years ago, old stage clothing, awards people game JB while on the road, my many back stage passes and my 1991 Grammy ID while JB was in prison. JB and I grew old together, he tought me how to get rich, and never ever let off the pressure to break through! The way Byrd explained it to me was the FF was the entire group, then JB had the contracts read "JB with the FF" then later, JB with HIS FF! And that was the end of the famous flames. JB was on his own. Last I heard Johnny Terry was down with a stroke and living in Nashville, he told me in 1984 he was still trying to get JB to pay up for Please Please Please, written by Johnny but he never got any money. Remember| our bus driver Jessie beard, our pilot Doug Bell, Jack Bart, Mr. Bass, Willie Glynn, and Mrs. Saunders....all gone! It was a funky good time people!

Posted by Mark cox on Wednesday, 07/31/2013 @ 18:41pm

https://www.facebook.com/thefamousflamesbysandibennett

Hey Mark! Bill here. I've been working with Bobby Bennett's widow, Sandi , to make the first REAL Facebook page on The Famous Flames (not on just James, and not on the Band).. You can see it by clicking on the above link.

I would love to have copies of your home movies to place on the Flames' Facebook page Please contact me via this site...or on the Facebook page. Thanks !!

Posted by Bill G on Sunday, 09/8/2013 @ 17:43pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiAbtlFTqQE

WHO ? WHO ?? WHO???

****WHO ARE THE FAMOUS FLAMES?****

Just to make the point clear for those who still don't "get it", Listen to what he says to Dave Letterman at 2:27 , in this 1982 interview .Who are the Famous Flames, James ??

Posted by Bill G on Friday, 09/20/2013 @ 14:52pm

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkidd14dGS1qfz1peo1_500.jpg

****The FAMOUS FLAMES****

Just as with The Miracles , THE FAMOUS FLAMES finally have a picture on their Rock Hall page. This is the picture that they used (above link).

Posted by Bill G on Friday, 10/4/2013 @ 12:52pm

http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-famous-flames/bio/

*****The FAMOUS FLAMES*****

...And here is their Rock Hall Page...with photo and Bio.

Posted by Bill G on Friday, 10/4/2013 @ 12:55pm

Kudos to the Rock Hall for finally adding the photo. But, they STILL haven't added the death dates on Bobby Bennett and Johnny Terry.

They HAD to use a picture of the Flames with James Brown, because he was the group's lead singer.

It took them a whole year to just add the photo.It will probably take ANOTHER year to add the death info. (but, it's in the bio anyway.)

Posted by Bill G on Friday, 10/4/2013 @ 13:02pm

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/42-chadwick-boseman-jim-brown-imagine-uni-1200585911/

In other related news: The upcoming JAMES BROWN bioflick is a "GO"!! Variety Magazine reports that Chadwick Boseman, who played Jackie Robinson in the recent bioflick "42", will be cast as the young James Brown. Spike Lee is no longer a part of the project, but MICK JAGGER (of ALL people!!) has been brought in as a producer.
(Because James Brown & The Famous Flames totally upstaged The Rolling Stones in the 1964 concert film, "The T.A.M.I. Show", I question the wisdom of this decision. Is JAGGER going to try to use this film as an attempt to RE-WRITE HISTORY, so that THE STONES will look better ?)

No word on to what extent THE FAMOUS FLAMES will be in the film, and if so, who will portray them.I will report more info on this as it develops.

Posted by Bill G on Friday, 10/4/2013 @ 13:19pm

****The Famous Flames****

"Remove James Brown from that. Then tell me they deserve in on their own."

Posted by GFW

"...Yep."

Posted by Bill G.

Posted by Bill G on Wednesday, 11/6/2013 @ 22:54pm

Chadwick Boseman was outstanding in his performance as Jackie Robinson in 42 (one of the few recent movies I can recall enjoying), so I have no doubt he'll be able to pull off James Brown. I'll be in line to buy a ticket to the James Brown biopic when it gets released. Thanks again for sharing that info, Bill.

I'm glad Spike Lee's no longer involved with the project, as he's an insufferable prick and a massively overrated director. I'm surprised with Mick Jagger being associated with the project, as outside of The T.A.M.I. Show, I can't think of any other endeavors in which their paths crossed. Regardless, I'm very happy that this movie is finally going to become a reality.

Posted by Zach on Wednesday, 11/6/2013 @ 23:25pm

http://www.goldminemag.com/blogs/bobby-bennett-the-last-of-the-famous-flames-speaks-of-james-brown-more

You're welcome, Zach !!

I also hope that the upcoming JB film pays proper respect to The Famous Flames. After all, if not for Bobby Byrd and The Flames, there wouldn't have ever even BEEN a "James Brown",since Bobby's family sponsored his release from prison, and took him into their home . Bobby recruited Brown for HIS group, the Flames....and James eventually TOOK OVER Bobby's group....taking all of the CREDIT, and all of the MONEY. It wasn't until 2012, when all of the Flames, except Bobby Bennett ,were DEAD, that the Rock Hall finally gave them their due,with their long overdue induction, but, according to Bobby's widow, Sandi Bennett, The Flames, Bobby Byrd,Johnny Terry, Lloyd Stallworth, and her husband, Bobby Bennett, and their families, are STILL fighting over record royalties and performance fees that Brown STOLE from the other members of his group. Bobby Bennett verified this in my interview with him for GOLDMINE MAGAZINE shortly before his death. Music historians are also STILL wondering about King Records' decision to only put James Brown's picture on the covers of the Flames' albums instead of the ENTIRE GROUP. Maybe the upcoming film will shed some light on this .

Posted by Bill G on Thursday, 11/7/2013 @ 14:20pm

http://www.goldminemag.com/blogs/bobby-bennett-the-last-of-the-famous-flames-speaks-of-james-brown-more

"The way (Bobby) Byrd explained it to me was the FF (Famous Flames)was the entire group, then JB had the contracts read "JB with the FF" then later, JB with HIS FF! And that was the end of the famous Flames. JB was on his own.

Posted by Mark cox

The facts are that James Brown did NOT dump The Famous Flames. The Famous Flames DUMPED HIM.

They performed with him for well over a decade. But he allegedly had their royalty checks for hit records sent from King Records funnelled through HIS business office , and had his employees forge the Flames signatures on them, and them cashed them for himself...while Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett, Lloyd Stallworth, and Johnny Terry were put on a salary.

He owed them literally MILLIONS in record royalties and performance fees. That's why all of the lawsuits. And that's also why they QUIT.

Then he died, and now his children are fighting over The Flames' money. Bobby Bennett confirmed this before his death, in my interview in my interview with him for GOLDMINE MAGAZINE.

Posted by Bill G on Thursday, 11/21/2013 @ 15:19pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5JG27snLzM

***LIVE AT THE APOLLO (1962)***

"Are YOU ready for STAR TIME ?"

INTRO: (From Wikipedia):

So now ladies and gentlemen it is star time, are you ready for star time? Thank you and thank you very kindly. It is indeed a great pleasure to present to you at this particular time, national and international[ly] known as the hardest working man in show business, the men that sing "I'll Go Crazy" ... "Try Me" ... "You've Got the Power" ... "Think" ... "If You Want Me" ... "I Don't Mind" ... "Bewildered" ...the million dollar seller, "Lost Someone" ... the very latest release, "Night Train" ... let's everybody "Shout and Shimmy" ... Mr. Dynamite, the amazing Mr. Please Please himself, the star of the show, James Brown and The Famous Flames!!!

Posted by Bill G on Tuesday, 01/28/2014 @ 00:10am

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_at_the_Apollo_(1963_album)

****LIVE AT THE APOLLO****

Live at the Apollo is a live album by James Brown and the Famous Flames, recorded at the Apollo Theater in Harlem and released in 1963. In 2003, the album was ranked number 25 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2004, it was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.

Live at the Apollo was recorded on the night of October 24, 1962 at Brown's own expense. Although not credited on the album cover or label, Brown's vocal group, The Famous Flames (Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett, and Lloyd Stallworth), played an important co-starring role in Live at the Apollo, and are included with Brown by M.C. Fats Gonder in the album's intro. Brown's record label, King Records, originally opposed releasing the album, believing that a live album featuring no new songs would not be profitable. The label finally relented under pressure from Brown and his manager Bud Hobgood.[13]
To King's surprise, Live at the Apollo was an amazingly rapid seller. It spent 66 weeks on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, peaking at #2.[14] Many record stores, especially in the southeast US, found themselves unable to keep up with the demand for the product, eventually ordering several cases at a time. R&B disc jockeys often would play side 1 in its entirety, pausing (usually to insert commercials) only to return to play side 2 in full as well. The side break occurred in the middle of the long track "Lost Someone".

Recorded in 1962 and barely half an hour long, it lacks the heft we associate with live albums, relegating major songs to the same eight-title medley as forgettable ones. But not only did it establish Brown as an r&b superstar and a sales force to be reckoned with, it's a time capsule, living testament of a chitlin circuit now defunct. The band is clean as a silk suit, and how the women love this rough singer's tender lover-in-song act. There is no music anywhere quite like the perfectly timed and articulated female fan-screeches that punctuate the 10-minute 'Lost Someone.

Brown went on to record several more albums at the Apollo over the course of his career, including 1968's Live at the Apollo, Vol. II (King), 1971's Revolution of the Mind: Recorded Live at the Apollo, Vol. III (Polydor), and Live at the Apollo 1995 (Scotti Bros.).
MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer cited Live at the Apollo as the inspiration to Kick Out the Jams[16] "Our whole thing was based on James Brown. We listened to Live at the Apollo endlessly on acid. We would listen to that in the van in the early days of 8-tracks on the way to the gigs to get us up for the gig. If you played in a band in Detroit in the days before The MC5, everybody did 'Please, Please, Please' and 'I Go Crazy.' These were standards. We modeled The MC5's performance on those records. Everything we did was on a gut level about sweat and energy. It was anti-refinement. That's what we were consciously going for."

Personnel: James Brown & The Famous Flames

James Brown – lead vocals

Bobby Byrd – baritone/bass vocals (and keyboards on "Lost Someone")

Bobby Bennett – first tenor vocals


Lloyd Stallworth – second tenor vocals

Other Credits:

Fats Gonder – introduction
Music: The James Brown Band

Posted by Bill G on Tuesday, 01/28/2014 @ 00:18am

http://www.renniesgallery.co.uk/collections/ronnie-wood---famous-flames.aspx

Maybe someone can tell me just WHY Mick Jagger has signed as a PRODUCER on the upcoming JAMES BROWN BIOFLICK "GET ON UP" ? Will he try to use that film to RE-WRITE HISTORY...so that The STONES will LOOK BETTER ? Or just WHY RONNIE WOOD has released a series of PAINTINGS of The Rolling Stones called "The Rolling Stones: The Famous Flames Suite" ?? (Check it in the internet if you don't believe me) . Are these guys OBSESSED with JB and THE FLAMES....OR WHAT ??

Posted by Bill G on Sunday, 02/23/2014 @ 02:03am

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2473602/fullcredits

The Rolling Stones are "famous" ENOUGH. Can't they market and sell these paintings under their OWN group's name....instead of RIPPING OFF The Famous Flames' name ?

And WHY, since MICK JAGGER replaced SPIKE LEE on the movie project, has the character of "Mick Jagger" been suddenly added to the movie script ? And WHY aren't Famous Flames' BOBBY BENNETT and LLOYD STALLWORTH listed in the cast of characters ?
...So, MICK JAGGER is in the film, but 2 of the RRHOF-Inducted members of The FAMOUS FLAMES are NOT ?

I have a very bad feeling about this film.

"GET ON UP" (The James Brown Story) opens in theatres on August 1st, 2014.

Posted by Bill G on Sunday, 02/23/2014 @ 02:16am

"Are these guys OBSESSED with JB and THE FLAMES....OR WHAT ??"

Not as much as you.

Posted by GFW on Sunday, 02/23/2014 @ 08:17am

"Are these guys OBSESSED with JB and THE FLAMES....OR WHAT ??"

Not as much as you.

Posted by GFW

"Remove James Brown from that...then tell me they deserve in on their own"

Posted by GFW

"Famous last words".

"Yep"

Posted by Bill G.

...any questions ?

Posted by Bill G on Sunday, 02/23/2014 @ 10:58am

I don't see how that makes you less obsessed but whatever.

Posted by GFW on Sunday, 02/23/2014 @ 11:51am

"Whatever" indeed.

You know it as well as I do, that if The Flames were still alive, and marketed paintings of themselves under the title:

"The FAMOUS FLAMES: The ROLLING STONES SUITE", ( with falling rocks in the background)
the Stones' lawyers would already have had LAWSUITS flying through the courts by now.

I just wonder what their "hidden agenda" is ? ("Maybe we couldn't outperform them on stage

...but we'll beat them to the bank...and using their OWN NAME, no less !!")

Posted by Bill G on Monday, 02/24/2014 @ 13:02pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmXjikHiKvw
FLASH !!! It's confirmed ! THE FAMOUS FLAMES will appear in the upcoming James Brown bio flick, entitled "Get On Up", which will be in theatres nationwide on August 1, 2014 !!! Mick Jagger , as one of the film's producers, was interviewed this week on The Today Show and Good Morning America concerning the new film, which stars Chadwick Boseman ("42") in the role of Brown ,Nelsan Ellis as Famous Flames founder Bobby Byrd,and Philip A. Scott as Famous Flame Johnny Terry . No word yet on who is playing Bobby Bennett and Lloyd Stallworth , but all of them will be in the film .Check out the above link for upcoming scenes.

Posted by Bill G on Friday, 03/7/2014 @ 13:39pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmXjikHiKvw

FLASH !!! It's confirmed ! THE FAMOUS FLAMES will appear in the upcoming James Brown bio flick, entitled "Get On Up", which will be in theatres nationwide on August 1, 2014 !!! Mick Jagger , as one of the film's producers, was interviewed this week on The Today Show and Good Morning America concerning the new film, which stars Chadwick Boseman ("42") in the role of Brown ,Nelsan Ellis as Famous Flames founder Bobby Byrd,and Philip A. Scott as Famous Flame Johnny Terry . No word yet on who is playing Bobby Bennett and Lloyd Stallworth , but all of them will be in the film .Check out the above link for upcoming scenes.

Posted by Bill G on Friday, 03/7/2014 @ 13:40pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vptGSENcXeI

***** "GET ON UP"-THE JAMES BROWN STORY****
Here's the OFFICIAL TRAILER for the James Brown bioflick, GET ON UP,which will open in theatres nationwide on August 1, 2014.It chronicles Brown's rise from juvenile prison inmate (and his early friendship with BOBBY BYRD), and his years with The Famous Flames, to his later years as a solo star.Chadwick Boseman ("42") plays Brown. Nelsan Ellis plays Famous Flames founder Bobby Byrd.

Posted by Bill G on Friday, 03/21/2014 @ 13:08pm

https://www.facebook.com/thefamousflamesbysandibennett

The official Facebook Page on The Famous Flames

by Famous Flame Bobby Bennett's widow, Sandi Bennett

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 06/25/2014 @ 12:07pm

*****GET ON UP-THE JAMES BROWN STORY*****

28 DAYS UNTIL THE PREMIERE OF

"GET ON UP-THE JAMES BROWN STORY"

(and yes, The Famous Flames are in it. otherwise, why else would I bring it up on THIS site)

....to a Theatre near you...8/1/14 .

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 07/6/2014 @ 02:10am

http://www.laweekly.com/2014-07-31/filmtv/get-on-up-is-an-inspired-james-brown-biopic/

****GET ON UP-8/1/14 !!!****

The JB/Famous Flames movie "GET ON UP" is only 2 DAYS AWAY and the reviews are starting to come in. Mostly positive.

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 07/30/2014 @ 19:18pm

http://www.thecharlottepost.com/news/2014/07/29/arts-and-entertainment/movie-review-get-on-up/

****GET ON UP-8/1/14****

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 07/30/2014 @ 19:25pm

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/get-up-film-review-720486

*****GET ON UP-8/1/14*****

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 07/30/2014 @ 19:30pm

https://www.facebook.com/thefamousflamesbysandibennett

The ONLY Facebook page devoted EXCLUSIVELY to The Famous Flames. ALL of them....

Not just James Brown

(Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett, Lloyd Stallworth,Johnny Terry, AND James Brown)

And one of the most comprehensive Famous Flames sites ANYWHERE on the internet.

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 10/8/2014 @ 10:47am

https://www.facebook.com/thefamousflamesbysandibennett

GET ON UP- THE DVD- COMES OUT ON 1/6/15 !!!

Posted by Bill G. on Monday, 12/1/2014 @ 23:57pm

"Though for years people believed the Famous Flames were James Brown's backing band, those instrumental giants had no official credit on record and in fact had no recognized name until they were dubbed the J.B.'s in the 70's for lack of anything else to refer to them as. The Flames in fact were the (name of the) VOCAL GROUP Brown joined in the mid-50's and with his presence making them Famous, they continued to use that moniker for over a dozen years. They were led by Bobby Byrd, one of the most important side figures in a major star's career, and while they featured fluctuating membership over the years, the most prominent members included Johnny Terry, Bobby Bennett and Eugene "Baby Lloyd" Stallworth. The combination of the gospel-derived harmonies of the Flames and the intense leads of Brown made the group the undisputed leaders of the soul movement and THE MOST EXPLOSIVE ACT IN ALL OF ROCK."
- Digital Dream Door

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 08/15/2015 @ 23:17pm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Lloyd_Stallworth#Litigation

Wouldn't it be cool if BOBBY BYRD joined the Clyde McPhatter Club and got a SECOND INDUCTION with the JB's...(after already getting in with The Famous Flames)...while JAMES BROWN was only inducted ONCE ??

It would be POETIC JUSTICE for all the millions of dollars in record royalties and performance fees that he STIFFED from the Famous Flames over the years !!!

Posted by Bill G. on Tuesday, 10/27/2015 @ 14:51pm

By the way, HAROLD MELVIN did the same exact thing to the other members of THE BLUE NOTES...which is why THAT group broke up...and Teddy Pendergrass went solo. I once read an article where Teddy said that he LOVED singing with the Blue Notes...and would never have left them...until HAROLD started taking all of the other members' royalties.That is the kind of thing that breaks groups up !! If you want to sing solo...then SING SOLO...but don't sing with a group...and then mess with people's money...especially your singing partners... that struggle with and perform with you night after night, year after year !!)

Posted by Bill G. on Tuesday, 10/27/2015 @ 14:57pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJXITLhrzJw

There have been numerous disputes over the years, as to just WHO The Famous Flames really were. (several of those disputes have even been on this site).
Some have said that:
(1)The Flames were the name of James Brown's instrumental BAND. (Maceo,et.al)

Others have said that
(2)The Famous Flames were a VOCAL GROUP.

Still others have said that
(3)The Flames were the combined name of the VOCAL GROUP "AND" THE BAND.
Who's right ?
Since their RRHOF Induction, I think you KNOW by now. The CORRECT answer is number (2).
But...don't take my word for it !! Let James Brown tell you HIMSELF...as he did to Dave Letterman on this 1982 appearance on Dave's show. See the above link...

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 09/4/2016 @ 14:50pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbQv_U4sXI
"Dude, Bill G., you're more worked up about this than I was. I was just using it as a frame of reference, a similar example. It was one of four examples I used, and you jumped on this like it was the crux of what I was saying. I compared it to Cream, the Runaways, and Generation X, all to make a point regarding the American Breed.

I'm fine that the Famous Flames were inducted--James Brown as a solo artist was technically ineligible when he was inducted; honestly, if you'd led with that argument instead of saying "James Brown, ipso facto the Famous Flames," I'd have shrugged and said, "Okay, I guess." My point was I didn't accept them as being worthy simply because they launched James Brown's career, which was a point you kept ramming down my throat... that if it hadn't been for the Famous Flames, James Brown wouldn't have been a household name, ergo the Famous Flames were more deserving than Brown as a soloist. Brown as a soloist was Brown as a soloist, and the Famous Flames don't get to claim merit for that. Their work as a group is what should have been the only thing considered. And their Live At The Apollo album is the clincher for their merit as a group. And that's cool. But again, I mentioned it here merely as a reference point, and it isn't the button for me that it clearly is for you. Why don't you take your own advice and rest comfortably with the fact that the Famous Flames are inducted and stop trying to tilt every windmill that doesn't laud it as wholeheartedly as the induction of the O'Jays or Sly And The Family Stone ?"

Posted by Philip.

I'm just fine with the Famous Flames being inducted.
And now, so are you.
And, do you know why?
Because you finally took the advice I gave you 5 years ago: Do RESEARCH on R&B acts you don't know much about, instead of making blanket statements about their lack of worthiness for induction, based upon limited knowledge .
It's not fair to them...or to their legacy.

Posted by Bill G on Monday, 07/3/2017 @ 02:32am

https://www.facebook.com/thefamousflamesbysandibennett/

The Official Facebook Page of The Famous Flames

Posted by Bill G on Monday, 07/3/2017 @ 02:57am

"I'm just fine with the Famous Flames being inducted.
And now, so are you.
And, do you know why?"--Bill G.

Because I was never not fine with it. I argued that maybe sideman or AME would have been more fitting, but them being inducted at all was never an issue with me. Don't flatter yourself, either. Doing research is something I usually do anyway.

Posted by Philip on Monday, 07/3/2017 @ 21:56pm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intruders_(band)

" I argued that maybe sideman or AME would have been more fitting".

I'm glad that you are doing research, but this also is important:
It is easy to do research on an artist or group that you like. But , it is even more important to do research on those that are not necessarily among your favorites. That way , you don't make statements like the one above. James Brown & The Famous Flames were all ONE GROUP. Thus, the assumption of them being sidemen is incorrect.
Because, believe me , you can be sure that other people contributing here have done research on R&B artists...and they KNOW about The Flames' importance...and they know that they were much more than that.
After the Flames quit in 1968,it was only a matter of time before James Brown's career went down the tubes.
Oh , it didn't happen right away, it took a few years, but once it did,he was finished. By 1975, he was essentially an Oldies Act.He made only one major Pop hit after that;1985's "Living In America".
As I've told you before, I used to hear , over and over on this site that people here (that didn't do research) would state that artists such as Ashford & Simpson, Barrett Strong, and Bobby Womack were not deserving of induction.
Once they DID, they realized otherwise.
On the other hand, I would hear again and again that RUSH was deserving.
I had never even HEARD of RUSH. But, instead of dismissing them out of hand, I took the time to read up on them...and once I did, I added my voice to those who agreed with their suitability for induction .
Another thing: One of the most important factors in considering induction of an artist is : "Historical Importance, First of Genre".
Groundbraking artists are very important, because they set the standard and the template for the artists that followed them. Like The Miracles,whose success laid the FOUNDATION for Motown Records.
The Intruders were just such a group; They represented the BEGINNING of The Gamble/Huff/Bell Philadelphia Sound Empire.
Without the INTRUDERS, you have no Delfonics,no Stylistics,no Blue Magic,no Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. No Teddy Pendergrass. No post-Motown Spinners.The Intruders were THE groundbraking act of The Philadelphia Sound. In fact, CBS actually fronted Gamble & Huff the money to FORM Philadelphia International Records in the FIRST place due to their success with the INTRUDERS.
Yet, you dismiss them out of hand as unsuitable simply because
You DON'T LIKE them and their music.
Your personal likes or dislikes have nothing to do
with them or their importance. Period.
And , just because you don't like them doesn't mean that others don't love them.
Their songs have been covered by: Peaches & Herb, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Tierra, The Whispers, The Three Degrees,Keith Sweat, Gene "Duke of Earl" Chandler,Joe Bataan, and numerous other acts.
Time for some research on the Intruders ?

Posted by Bill G on Tuesday, 07/4/2017 @ 04:08am

I've done some research on the Intruders. Right now, I'm more inclined to call them "rough drafts" of the Gamble And Huff sound. And again, you're using "ipso facto" logic that doesn't always apply. You can't definitively say without the Intruders, there'd be none of the rest of it. That "Historical Importance: First In Genre" is not always defensible. It's the same logic that the Coven folks use to push for their act, i.e. "sign of the horns." The same one that mrxyz claimed was so revolutionary of the Surfaris, not just because of the "Wipeout" drum break, but also for adding "Wipeout" and "Surfer Joe" to our vernacular, even though the credit for "Wipeout" is dubious at best, and "Surfer Joe" is really just bringing Joe to surfing, whereas we already had "Killer Joe" in our musical language, and likely had "Joe Schmoe well before that. One could even possibly apply it to the Orlons, as "South Street" was possibly the first (I haven't found an earlier record that does so) to acknowledge hippie culture, as they did with the opening line. Just because it was first, doesn't make it historically significant. AlexVoltaire said it best (although he erroneously applied it to the Marvelettes, imo) that there's a difference between having a legacy and being an answer in Trivial Pursuit. I'm not saying the Intruders were necessarily the latter, but being the first act for Gamble And Huff isn't enough. "First" is not synonymous with "best" or "magnum opus." And the Hall isn't always impressed by how many cover their songs, although that kind of thing does find its way into presenters' speeches year after year.

Anyway, I'm not 100% sold on the Intruders. And that's okay. Doesn't mean I'm wrong, doesn't mean you are. Either way, there are a lot of other acts in various genres that have got my support before them, and that's pretty unlikely to change, even if I were to agree with you.

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 07/4/2017 @ 10:49am

If you'd like to keep this thread to honor the Famous Flames though, I do have one question.

You said by '68, Brown's was inevitable. Why do you think that was? The Famous Flames weren't even on the records anymore, at least not their vocals, and hadn't been for a couple years, so I don't find it plausible that simply removing their name from label credit had anything to do with it. Changing times and public tastes, the evolution of soul music itself are all possible explanations, but I don't know that I'd say there weren't internal issues either.

Because listening to James Brown post-"Cold Sweat", I find a very marked decline in the quality and variety in his records. They largely became a funky track with Brown seemingly improvising the lyrics... not really any "verses" to speak of, until "Living In America." Got very derivative and formulaic, imo. Would you agree with this assessment? And if so, do you have insight as to why this happened? You tout Bobby Byrd very highly as a behind-the-scenes person for Brown. Did he depart from behind the controls? Or someone else who was key?

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 07/4/2017 @ 11:13am

"If you'd like to keep this thread to honor the Famous Flames though, I do have one question.

You said by '68, Brown's was inevitable. Why do you think that was? The Famous Flames weren't even on the records anymore, at least not their vocals, and hadn't been for a couple years, so I don't find it plausible that simply removing their name from label credit had anything to do with it. Changing times and public tastes, the evolution of soul music itself are all possible explanations, but I don't know that I'd say there weren't internal issues either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGPAOZ_PTYM

Because listening to James Brown post-"Cold Sweat", I find a very marked decline in the quality and variety in his records. They largely became a funky track with Brown seemingly improvising the lyrics... not really any "verses" to speak of, until "Living In America." Got very derivative and formulaic, imo. Would you agree with this assessment? And if so, do you have insight as to why this happened? You tout Bobby Byrd very highly as a behind-the-scenes person for Brown. Did he depart from behind the controls? Or someone else who was key?"

I already answered that question.
The Famous Flames quit in 1968...including Bobby Byrd.Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett,and Lloyd Stallworth,The Famous Flames, decided that they'd had enough of Brown's shenanigans,and his failure to compensate them properly. Famous Flame Johnny Terry,who co-wrote many tunes left earlier than that...around '65 .
The Famous Flames were still a very important partof the so-called James Brown Show.They were actually the co-stars of the show. James Brown was never introduced as just "James Brown" . it was always the VOCAL GROUP "JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES".
Bobby Byrd and the Flames also did a LOT of behind-the-scenes work with Brown...as songwriters, choreographers, and instrumentalists.They also recorded solo songs, and Byrd and Lloyd had solo spots on the show as opening acts...then, with Bobby Bennett, joined James as the Famous Flames for the "Star Time" act.Look at the above link. Bobby Byrd and his wife, singer Vickie Anderson, as they talk about Brown's financial and physical abuse,and his prison term , and his fall from grace...

Posted by Bill G on Tuesday, 07/4/2017 @ 14:59pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vem9z-93Lq8

Once Bobby Byrd and The Famous Flames left, Brown's
career was never the same.Bobby did much more than history gives him credit for, believe me. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame knows this...which is why he is not only an inductee with The Famous Flames,but he almost became a DOUBLE INDUCTEE with the JB's !!!
About 18 months after Byrd and The Flames left, Brown, realizing Byrd's importance, asked him (for the SECOND of THREE times!!) to come back !!
Bobby didn't want to at first,because he felt that Brown's financial exploitation of his musical skills would continue. But, eventually, his lifelong friendship with James won out, and he came back.
Do you know why the iconic Original James Brown Band broke up ? It was because Bobby Byrd was no longer there !! Bobby had always served as liasion between James and The Band . He played keyboards,wrote songs,produced artists, was a talent scout, and served as a buffer between James and The Band. Brown was an extremely talented man, but his people skills sucked !! He used threats,fines, and intimidation to control his musicians, while at the same time, not paying them properly.Bobby's musicial skills made the band GO . Bobby Byrd was also like a soothing, protective salve for the band, serving as a buffer to protect them against Brown's abuse.And Once Byrd was gone, so was that buffer, and Brown's abuse finally caused the Bandmembers to quit en masse...leaving Brown with a concert tour he was committed to do,and No Flames and no band to do it !!
Desperate,Brown requested Byrd's return and help to find a new band. So, Bobby immediately went to work.He discovered and recruited The Collins Brothers' band,The Pacemakers , and they became The new James Brown Band....The JB's
Do you know who discovered The JB's ?
BOBBY BYRD. The SAME man who founded The Famous Flames , and discovered James Brown HIMSELF !!
No Bobby Byrd & The Famous Flames ? NO JAMES BROWN...and that's not speculation...THAT'S A FACT !!
This began a period were Byrd served as co-lead singer/frontman with Brown on several hits, including "Sex Machine (Get on Up)", "Make It Funky","Soul Power","Get Involved","Talking Loud and Saying Nothing", and other hits.

Posted by Bill G on Tuesday, 07/4/2017 @ 16:39pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGPAOZ_PTYM

Interview with Bobby Byrd of The Famous Flames and his wife, singer Vickie Anderson

Posted by Bill G on Tuesday, 07/4/2017 @ 17:53pm

Well, okay, those links didn't reveal much I didn't already know, but they didn't answer the questions entirely. I guess mostly what I'm wondering is why do his post-'68 records all sound pretty derivative? From what I'm inferring, you're saying that without Bobby Byrd, Brown had no muse, and no direction to branch out towards, so he just kept the same cycle going and going.

Also, I think much of what you've said about the FF's is what I would be more likely to appropriate towards Bobby Byrd's merit as Non-Performer, rather than merit towards the Famous Flames. I would probably concede that without Byrd, no Brown, but I can't say that about the whole of the vocal group, especially because the most famous, well-known records are the ones where the Flames don't sing a note, but still have Byrd's handiwork all over them.

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 07/4/2017 @ 20:18pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwyqPNSUsqI

All of the Flames were important.You have to realize there's more to life than "Da Funk".
Bobby Bennett was also a very important part of the group. He was the man who served as the group's choreographer,orchestrating all of the group's onstage moves. and he wrote several songs, too. He was also responsible for the group's comedic routines, which added tremendously to the live shows.
You also have to realize that the REASON why The Flames no longer sang on record was not because of any lack of merit or ability on THEIR part . It's because Brown wanted to establish himself as a solo act,coupled with the fact that , if The Flames did sing on record, he didn't have to PAY them record royalties, which he was cheating them out of ANYWAY . Slowly, but surely , his EGO was getting out of control.

Posted by Bill G on Wednesday, 07/5/2017 @ 15:21pm

Well, the choreography and comedy don't really mean a lot to me when discussing the merits of a group when talking about the RnRHoF. Dancing is the visual expression, but it's not the music. Same with comedy, unless you're in the Coasters, or are "Weird Al" Yankovic, Ray Stevens, Dickie Goodman, etc., that's not the music. I've spoken before how, with very few exceptions, live albums don't convince me either, because they're usually just performing the songs on their albums or singles. Musically, most live versions don't add depth, dimension, or innovation... at least not enough to elevate their merits toward the Hall. Again, there are exceptions to that rule (KISS, Dave Matthews Band, and Hot Tuna come to mind), but they're exceptions, not the rule.

So, being a songwriter is important, but choreography and comedy... not so much. I'm the same way about rock photographers, album cover designers, etc. In fact, I never voted in our project for Jim Marshall the photographer. The other Jim Marshall, yeah, but not the photographer. Unless your photos inspire the writing of classic songs, you're not contributing to the evolution of rock'n'roll, imo. That's not trying to disparage Bobby Bennett. Helping to put on a good live show does drive people to buy your records, which affects impact, but the choreography is not the music, which is what I wish the Hall kept a greater focus on.

And again, that doesn't explain how and why Brown's music fell into a particular pattern in the '70s.

Posted by Philip on Thursday, 07/6/2017 @ 00:04am

I already answered your questions . Why do you keep asking them ?
I could say more,but what would be the point ?
It's all moot , anyway, The Famous Flames are INDUCTED. They will not be removed just on the basis of your rebuttals, criticisms, or your desire to place them in the HoF in another category.
Let's just leave it at that...and move on.
NEXT...

Posted by Bill G on Thursday, 07/6/2017 @ 03:09am

I'm not asking they be reassigned. Good grief. All I'm asking is why James's post-'68 work basically followed the same formula: a funky track with seemingly improvised lyrics. I get why the Flames dissolved and why people didn't want to work with Brown. But it doesn't fully explain why his work became artistically stagnant. Is it as simple as Brown not being very creative himself, and the creative people no longer wanting to have anything to do with him?

Posted by Philip on Thursday, 07/6/2017 @ 11:34am

Philip
You're to many things... Brown not that creative??
Please take that somewhere in deep in "crazy town" ...They are waiting to hear mo...???? Yes he had many creative artist around him, What's new pussy cat.. Just can't think of talented musician not having talent musician on the set.. Unless your a one man band... I guess Tiny Tim and Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole come into mind

Posted by Soulman2 on Tuesday, 07/11/2017 @ 00:53am

Soulman, I didn't say Brown wasn't creative. I asked if that was the case. There are a lot of great singers who just aren't creative songwriters. They can't come up with new songs and have to rely on songwriters. I'm asking if Brown was not a good songwriter on his own, and the higher-quality songwriters didn't want to work with him, and thus the quality of his songs suffered in the '70s.

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 07/11/2017 @ 13:31pm

James wrote many to most of his big HITS Some he co wrote. .. If you have to wonder that's says millions...Wonder not .....He was very talented.. I can't even believe this conversation..

Posted by Soulman2 on Tuesday, 07/11/2017 @ 14:11pm

No one was ever denying his talent as a singer. Though, talent and creativity aren't necessarily synonymous either.

Once again, the question was, why did his songs post-'68 fall into a monotonous formula: funky track, seemingly improvised lyrics, no real verses to speak of, etc.? Why/how did he get so derivative in the studio? That's a pretty straightforward question. If his ego drove his previous acquaintances away, but he was still incredibly creative, why did this happen? Did he get burned out but felt he had to keep putting SOMETHING out? Were drugs interfering with his natural genius? Why did his songs become derivative, and even boring during the '70s?

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 07/11/2017 @ 15:02pm

Frankly, I think the entire hypothesis for your questioning is flawed. James Brown was *not( "derivative" in the 68- early 70s period. He was continuing to pioneer a new musical landscape that stands as among the most influential music of the 20th century. Such musical genius' as Miles Davis (another of the 20th Centruy's most influential musicians) cite him as a direct influence on their own musical directions (though there are many jazz purists would dismiss this as a "bad direction" for Davis and for Jazz in general). Copied and sampled to this very day by thousands of musicians.

You *can* say he hit on a formulaic style for his songwriting, especially his singles; but the music he was producing was breaking new ground.

His output level from 1969-1973 is extraordinary. 16 studio albums (this doesn't take in to account the 5 he put out in 1968 alone, since the question is his post '68 career).

Most of his funk singles were spare on lyrics. To make the claim that this means he was not creative shows a pretty narrow definition of creative music composition. Looking at a different genre of rock: Is "Wild Thing" more creative than "Wipe Out" just because it has more words?

Pioneering and growing an entirely new genre of music is in no way less "creative" than great lyric writing. James Brown was certainly no Bob Dylan when it came to lyrics; but then again Bob Dylan was no James Brown when it came to musical invention.

Brown's work in the album arena also shows a more sweeping ambition than the released singles do. He certainly released albums featuring his funk hits and many of those albums also still include the occasional soul ballad (originals and covers) with more lyrical content. I'm not sure the more lyric dense songs actually carry any more artistic, emotional or cognitive weight to them than the funky "simple" stuff does though. Brown's music says a *lot* all by itself, as all truly great music does.

He also continued to release albums that were entirely "backing tracks" (this is something he began before 1968 - albums of just instrumental version of his songs as well as covers of other songs done in his band's funk style, or instrumental with a bit of what would normally be some backing vocals accents but no lead vocals). I believe these were likely intended to be used for karaoke type purposes by other singers and they wound up providing an invaluable treasure trove for today's modern sample-based music makers.

He did some very interesting albums of cover songs. Listen to his 1969 album, Gettin' Down To It to hear his extremely original spins on the Jazz ballad style of Frank Sinatra (his inspiration for this album) and tell me again how James Brown was in *any* way "derivative".

He continued to make some of the most fun and original Christmas music of all time, well outside his noted formula for his funk style singles.

He also got better during this period in releasing *albums* - works that were thought out as end to end packages rather than just a couple hits with filler material around them (which is a flaw noticeable to most of his pre 1968 albums). Payback and Hell from 1973-1974 are probably my favorite end to end albums by him other than the live albums, because they have such a great track flow to them.

Why did he stick to his formula for the funk hits? Perhaps because it was still successfully producing such satisfying and legendary post 1968 tracks as "Funky Drummer" (perhaps the single most sampled song of all time); "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine"; "Super Bad"; "Get On The Good Foot"; "I Got Ants In My Pants"; "The Payback"; and "Papa Don't Make No Mess".

Where you seem to see that work as some kind of decline; I see James Brown making some of the most beloved and enduring music of his entire career.

"Monotonous" is in the ear of the beholder. I find "American Pie" far more monotonous than any song that James Brown ever wrote.

I would however agree with you that James Brown began to actually become derivative in around 1975, which is when he gave in to the winds of change and began to pursue some disco, in order to stay "relevant".

Posted by Shrek on Tuesday, 07/11/2017 @ 18:05pm

Thanks for the reply, Shrek. Though, I'd say that the most beloved and enduring songs of his are the ones that were from the mid-'60s... "I Got You", "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag," and "Cold Sweat" being the big three.

Don't know if I'd fully agree with your sentiment about his Christmas music either.

I really wasn't comparing musical innovation with lyrical depth, sorry if I gave that impression. However by the time you get to the third in the "Popcorn" series, it seems a little less innovative and more "comfort zone." You have to wonder how much of the innovation has to do with Brown's input, too.

But thanks for the reply.

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 07/11/2017 @ 21:00pm

Maybe there should be a separate "J.B's" thread to discuss all this .Or maybe the "James Brown" thread. I don't want Brown's "Funk" era or info on his musicians to be on this "Famous Flames" thread.
There have been too many people out there that have confused the two over the years ,thinking that The Flames WERE the band ( They are NOT. They're a VOCAL GROUP) and I want the Flames to get their due. The musicians get enough credit already....while the Flames , until recently,got NONE.

Posted by Bill G on Tuesday, 07/11/2017 @ 22:06pm

My apologies, Bill G. I was under the impression that the funk-era was more directly tied to the break-up of the Famous Flames than it actually seems to have been now.

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 07/11/2017 @ 22:46pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJXITLhrzJw&t=299s

"The FLAMES are a SINGING GROUP.
The BAND are The J.B.'s"

James Brown, David Letterman Show, 1982

Posted by Bill G on Tuesday, 07/11/2017 @ 22:56pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJXITLhrzJw

There have been numerous disputes over the years, as to just WHO The Famous Flames really were. (several of those disputes have even been on this site).
Some have said that:
(1)The Flames were the name of James Brown's instrumental BAND. (Maceo,Fred Wesley,Clyde Stubblefield , et.al)

Others have said that
(2)The Famous Flames were a VOCAL GROUP.

Still others have said that
(3)The Flames were the combined name of the VOCAL GROUP "AND" THE BAND.
Who's right ?
Since their RRHOF Induction, I think you KNOW by now.
The CORRECT answer is number (2).

But...don't take my word for it !! Let James Brown tell you HIMSELF...as he did to Dave Letterman on this 1982 appearance on Dave's show. See the above link...

I posted this last year. I'm posting it again so that there is NO CONFUSION...Because I don't want to hear this "Famous Flames are a BAND" nonsense anymore.

Posted by Bill G on Tuesday, 07/11/2017 @ 23:51pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EINYAGVgZPo

"Was James Brown a solo artist ?"

******* NO !!! *******

He was the Lead singer of THE FAMOUS FLAMES.

The Famous Flames were NOT just "backups" for James Brown.
James Brown was a Famous Flame TOO.
He first began his career as a MEMBER of the Famous Flames.
Their group name was on EVERY RECORD. and on EVERY THEATRE MARQUEE....right along with Brown's.
They were even included in the introduction with him.
Don't believe it ?
Click on the above link to hear the ORIGINAL introduction from the million-selling 1963 album "LIVE at THE APOLLO".
It was incorrectly marketed as a "James Brown" album.
It was , in reality, a "JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES" album
(The Famous Flames were :BOBBY BYRD, BOBBY BENNETT, and LLOYD STALLWORTH.....and occasionally , JOHNNY TERRY (who wasn't on this particular album).

***HEAR IT FOR YOURSELF !!!***

Posted by Bill G on Wednesday, 07/12/2017 @ 12:55pm

I agree that The Popcorn provided quickly diminishing returns and has not aged particularly well. It was intended to be the next big dance craze and he mined it pretty hard; but that was only a portion of the music that he released in 1969, when he also released the excellent Jazz Vocal influenced album I mentioned. And he did move on from it to make more memorable work in the early 70s.

Posted by Shrek on Wednesday, 07/12/2017 @ 14:18pm

**QUOTES about JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES:**

"If JAMES BROWN was the "Hardest-Working Man in Show Business", The FAMOUS FLAMES were The Hardest-Working GROUP !!" - Smokey Robinson -2012

"James Brown is a genius, you know, when he's with The Famous Flames....UNBELIEVABLE !!"-Michael Jackson.

"In late October, 1964, JB and his crew electrified a gaggle of California teenyboppers during the filming of Steve Binder’s T.A.M.I. Show, upstaging the headlining Rolling Stones. Around the same time, Brown, with the Famous Flames, made an extraordinary cameo appearance in the Frankie Avalon movie, “Ski Party.” They lip-synced to the withdrawn Smash version of “I Got You.”- Universal Music

"

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 09/16/2018 @ 04:50am

**QUOTES ABOUT JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES**

'“I want them to know one thing. “We were the Famous Flames… James Brown was a Famous Flame, Bobby Byrd was a Famous Flame, Lloyd Stallworth was a Famous Flame and Bobby Bennett was a Famous Flame…wherever we played, we were the Famous Flames. We were never the band, NEVER. We were the 3 guys who danced (and sang) with him and the 3 guys who performed with him at every concert. WE WERE NOT NO BAND." BOBBY BENNETT of The FAMOUS FLAMES.

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 09/16/2018 @ 04:57am

***MORE QUOTES on THE FAMOUS FLAMES***

"James Brown was the most FAMOUS of The FLAMES,but we were ALL Famous Flames."
- Famous Flame BOBBY BENNETT (2012)

"The FLAMES was a SINGING GROUP. The BAND was The JB's" - JAMES BROWN to DAVID LETTERMAN (1982)

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 09/16/2018 @ 05:02am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmQhY10wIY8

********JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES********

***************I'LL GO CRAZY***************
*****(Original Hit Studio Version-1960)*****

This song by James & The Flames was actually a hit by them TWICE..first as a single recorded in the KING RECORDS studios in 1960, which became a Top 20 R&B Hit, charting at # 15....and AGAIN in 1966, as a LIVE single from their now legendary 1963 "LIVE AT THE APOLLO" album. This LIVE version , released in 1966, charted AGAIN, reaching #38 R&B and #73 Pop. It was also one of James and The Flames MOST-COVERED TUNES...inspiring versions by: The Rolling Stones, The Kingsmen, the Blues Magoos, The Residents, The Moody Blues, The Buckinghams, Chris Isaak, Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, Buddy Guy, The Nighthawks, Tommy Quickly, Graham Bonnet, The Honeycombs live in Tokyo, and Clarence Clemons, Van Morrison, and Tommy James and the Shondells !!!

Posted by Bill G. on Friday, 09/21/2018 @ 02:46am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R2tyqgRCoI

********JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES********

***************I'LL GO CRAZY***************

(LIVE SINGLE HIT VERSION)...RELEASED AS A SINGLE IN 1966, from the 1963 million-selling album,
************"LIVE AT THE APOLLO"************

Posted by Bill G. on Friday, 09/21/2018 @ 02:51am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJXITLhrzJw&t=6s

"The FLAMES are a SINGING GROUP.
The BAND are the JB'S _James Brown to David Letterman-1982

Posted by Bill G. on Friday, 09/21/2018 @ 02:54am

****************The FAMOUS FLAMES**************

More quotes about JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES...

". The albums"Pure Dynamite! Live At The Royal Theater" and "Live At The Garden", from 1964 and 1967 respectively, offer up further proof as to why Brown and his dynamic vocal group The Famous Flames were one of the BEST concert acts on the PLANET !!"- Universal Music

"(Brown) is, justifiably, a charter inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His Famous Flames – Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett, Baby Lloyd Stallworth and Johnny Terry – were inducted into the Rock Hall during this year’s ceremonies". (2012) - Universal Music

"If James Brown was "The Hardest-Working Man in Show Business" THE FAMOUS FLAMES were the Hardest-Working GROUP !!" - Smokey Robinson


"James Brown is a genius, you know, when he's with The Famous Flames ...UNBELIEVABLE !!" - MIchael Jackson

"The FLAMES are a SINGING GROUP. The BAND is The JB's"- James Brown


"I want (people) to know one thing,” replied Bennett. “We were the Famous Flames… James Brown was a Famous Flame, Bobby Byrd was a Famous Flame, Lloyd Stallworth was a Famous Flame and Bobby Bennett was a Famous Flame…wherever we played, we were the Famous Flames. We were never the band, never. We were the 3 guys who danced (and sang) with him and the 3 guys who performed with him at every concert. WE WERE NOT NO BAND." -Famous Flame Bobby Bennett


"Personally funded by James Brown, the original, critically acclaimed Live At The Apollo, featuring the Famous Flames and the James Brown Orchestra, was first released in 1963 and became a cultural phenomenon, reaching No. 2 on The Billboard 200 album chart. In 2003 it was listed at No. 24 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time and in 2004, Live At The Apollo was added to the Library Of Congress’ National Recording Registry. Three tracks from this landmark recording, “I’ll Go Crazy,” “Try Me” and “Night Train,” plus the famous show introduction, are featured on Best Of Live At The Apollo"- Universal Music

"The Flames in fact were the name of the VOCAL GROUP (James ) Brown joined in the mid-50's and with his presence making them Famous, they continued to use that moniker for a dozen years. They were led by Bobby Byrd, one of the most important side figures in a major star's career, and while they featured fluctuating membership over the years, the most prominent members included Johnny Terry, Bobby Bennett and Eugene "Baby Lloyd" Stallworth. The combination of the gospel-derived harmonies of the Flames and the intense leads of Brown made the group the UNDISPUTED LEADERS of the Soul movement and THE MOST EXPLOSIVE ACT IN ALL OF ROCK !!" -Digital Dream Door

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 09/23/2018 @ 22:43pm

https://www.facebook.com/thefamousflamesbysandibennett/

The OFFICIAL Facebook Page of The FAMOUS FLAMES
JUST The Famous Flames (including JAMES BROWN, since HE was a Famous Flame TOO.

**************NO JB's or Bandmembers**************

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 09/23/2018 @ 22:47pm

https://www.facebook.com/thefamousflamesbysandibennett/

The OFFICIAL Facebook Page of 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees...The FAMOUS FLAMES.
JUST The Famous Flames (including JAMES BROWN, since HE was a Famous Flame TOO).

**************NO JB's or Bandmembers**************

Posted by Bill G. on Tuesday, 10/9/2018 @ 00:25am

https://www.quora.com/What-was-the-Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame-controversy-surrounding-The-Famous-Flames/answer/William-Gordon-108?ch=17&oid=204997156&share=618dc343&srid=C3RZF&target_type=answer&fbclid=IwAR2lrEGbsW3aql68pnvpYUv_48COA3G46EhnCPWJNRGxn5S2urZr5EM2P6c
WHAT WAS THE ROCK and ROLL HALL of FAME CONTROVERSY REGARDING
THE FAMOUS FLAMES?

Posted by Bill G on Thursday, 03/31/2022 @ 12:45pm