Neha Patil (Editor)

Super Bad (song)

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B-side
  
"Super Bad (Part 3)"

Format
  
7" (mono)

Released
  
October 1970 (1970-10)

Genre
  
Funk

Recorded
  
June 30, 1970, Starday-King Studios, Nashville, TN

Length
  
4:05 (Parts 1 & 2) 4:05 (Part 3) 9:03 (complete version)

"Super Bad" is a 1970 James Brown song. Originally released as a three-part single, it went to #1 on the R&B chart and number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's lyrics include the refrain "I've got soul and I'm super bad." The positive use of the word "bad" is an example of linguistic reappropriation, which Brown had done before in "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud".

The song includes a tenor saxophone solo by Robert McCollough, during which Brown yells "Blow me some Trane, brother!"

A reverbed version with overdubbed audience applause was released on a 1971 album of the same name. He performed the song on Soul Train on February 10, 1973.

The 1987 UK No 1. MARRS song Pump Up the Volume samples the "Watch Me" vocal part of the song.

Personnel

  • James Brown - lead vocal
  • with The J.B.'s:

  • Clayton "Chicken" Gunnells - trumpet
  • Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison - trumpet
  • Robert McCollough - tenor saxophone
  • Bobby Byrd - organ
  • Phelps "Catfish" Collins - guitar
  • William "Bootsy" Collins - bass
  • John "Jabo" Starks - drums
  • Johnny Griggs - congas
  • References

    Super Bad (song) Wikipedia