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James Brown: The Singles," New Series From Hip-oSelect.com, Kicks Off With "The Federal Years," a 2-CD Set Chronicling the Godfather of Soul's Earliest Recordings
Tuesday August 15, 9:01 am ET

SANTA MONICA, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Aug 15, 2006 -- In the annals of popular music, one artist reigns supreme as the No. 1 R&B Singles Artist of All Time: James Brown. By far.
Now, on the 50th Anniversary of Brown's professional recording debut, Hip-oSelect.com announces the first release in a series of 2-CD collections chronicling every single from "The Hardest Working Man In Show Business." Kicking off the series on September 1, 2006 is "The Federal Years: 1956-1960," with 40 songs, from the first hit, the Top 5 "Please, Please, Please," which remains his signature sign-off, to "Think," which showcased the sound of things to come. Brown and The Famous Flames had signed with King Records in January 1956, and as a young, unproven act were placed with King's Federal subsidiary label.

These 40 tracks alone make for a historic and compelling collection, as Brown went from a hit his first time out to his future being in jeopardy to becoming one of the best R&B acts in the country. But Hip-O Select adds an extraordinary bonus track: the long-lost demo for "Try Me," which when re-recorded in New York, became Brown's first of many R&B No. 1 hits. The demo, though rough-sounding, is the first glimpse into the inner workings of a young James Brown and The Famous Flames.

"James Brown - The Federal Years: 1956-1960" includes a 28-page booklet filled with track-by-track annotations, anecdotes and detailed session information. Every page of the beautifully designed package includes a rare photograph or artifact, from early publicity pictures to 1950s poster reproductions. Introduced by Brown biographer Cliff White, the set's main essay is by former Brown PR and tour director Alan Leeds; both, along with the compilation producer Harry Weinger, are Grammy® winners for the James Brown box set, "Star Time."

By the end of 1960, Brown had had enough hits to elevate him to King Records proper. That story, and the ones to follow, are in future volumes of "The James Brown Singles" -- only from http://www.hip-oselect.com.