The Payback vinyl

The ultimate revenge anthemian album that stalks, struts and demands its due with the kind of swagger that few records have ever matched. Originally written as the soundtrack for a rejected blaxploitation film, it instead became one of Brown's most defining statements, a double LP of hypnotic grooves, militant funk and raw emotion. Overall, his 37th album and one of his most memorable. The title track alone is a masterclass in simmering tension. With its deep bassline, wah-wah guitars and Brown's electrifying growl, it's both menacing and danceable, a battle cry disguised as a slow-burning funk jam. Tracks like 'Mind Power' and 'Shoot Your Shot' extend the formulailong, relentless jams where Brown's commands to his band shape the music in real time, making it feel alive and dangerous. The JB's, Brown's legendary backing band, provide razor-sharp horns, intricate percussion and rolling basslines that lock into hypnotic loops. 'Time Is Running Out Fast' and 'Take Some... Leave Some' groove with an effortless cool, while 'Stone to the Bone' oozes confidence. More than just a funk record, this reissue of The Payback is a declaration of defiance and self-assurance, showing James Brown as the undisputed Godfather of Soul and still had plenty to give.