Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

I'll Go Crazy (James Brown song)

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B-side
  
"I Know It's True"

Format
  
7"

Length
  
2:05

Released
  
1960 (1960)

Genre
  
Rhythm and blues

Recorded
  
November 11, 1959, King Studios, Cincinnati, OH

"I'll Go Crazy" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Released as a single in 1960, It was Brown's fourth R&B hit, charting at #15. Brown and the Flames also performed it as the first song on their 1963 album Live at the Apollo.

The Live at the Apollo performance of "I'll Go Crazy" was released as the B-side of a single in 1966, backed with "Lost Someone" (also from the live album). It charted #38 R&B and #73 Pop. It was the last single featuring The Famous Flames to chart.

"I'll Go Crazy" has inspired cover versions by many different artists, including 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. Tommy James And The Shondells released a cover version of the song on their debut album, Hanky Panky. It was performed by Dan Aykroyd in the actor's tribute to Brown on his induction at the 2003 Kennedy Center Honors.

This song is used on the Late Show with David Letterman as theme music for the "Who Said It?" segment.

Personnel

  • James Brown - lead vocal
  • and the Famous Flames:

  • Bobby Byrd - vocals
  • Bobby Bennett - vocals
  • "Baby Lloyd" Stallworth - vocals
  • Johnny Terry - vocals
  • Willie Johnson - vocals
  • with the James Brown Band:

  • J.C. Davis - tenor saxophone
  • Bobby Roach - guitar
  • Bernard Odum - bass
  • Nat Kendrick - drums
  • plus:

  • Sonny Thompson - piano
  • James McGary - alto saxophone
  • References

    I'll Go Crazy (James Brown song) Wikipedia