Song:Devil's Den Pt. 1
Album:The Godfather's R&B: James Brown's Productions 1962-67
Here's a one off single that will interest James Brown fans. This recording was made in 1963 when Brown started his first record label. The Poets were Brown's backing band at the time with Brown himself playing organ. The label was called Try Me Records. Brown just had success with Live At The Apollo and the single Prisoner Of Love. Brown and right hand man Bobby Byrd started Try Me as a separate entity after they had success producing singer Yvonne Fair in 1962. Her singles were on King Records. Unfortunately the label was short lived because Brown got into a legal dispute with King. The main artist on this label was 17 year old singer Tammy Montgomery. Brown was in a relationship with her at the time. A few years later, she would have success at Motown as Tammi Terrell usually teaming with Marvin Gaye. The other thing Brown wanted to try was recording instrumentals. The Poets was Brown's backing band with Brown playing organ. Later on Brown would release instrumental albums on Smash but I understand this was his first attempt. This was their only single. The whole thing got derailed when Brown got into a spat with King and attempted to leave for Mercury's Smash label. He signed a new contract with King in 1965 but he didn't restart Try Me. He would continue to occasionally produce other artists for Smash. You can get those recordings on this comp from Beat Goes On. Later on Brown would start Brownstone Records which became People Records in 1971. Lyn Collins was on People. That attempt was more successful than Try Me. Here's a video for Devil's Den Pt. 1 by The Poets.
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