Doing It to Death

"Doing It to Death"
Single by Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s
from the album Doing It to Death
B-side	"Everybody Got Soul"
Released	April 1973 (1973-04)
Recorded	January 29, 1973, International Studios, Augusta, GA
Genre	Funk
Length	5:05 10:01 (album version)
Label	People 621
Songwriter(s)	James Brown
Producer(s)	James Brown
Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s singles chronology
"Sportin' Life" (1973) "Doing It to Death" (1973) "If You Don't Get It the First Time, Back Up and Try It Again, Party" (1973)

"Doing It to Death", also known as "Gonna Have a Funky Good Time", is a funk song recorded by The J.B.'s featuring James Brown. A 10-minute, two-part version of "Doing It to Death" was included on a J.B.'s album of the same name. The complete, unedited and nearly 13-minute-long original recording of the song was first issued on the 1995 J.B.'s compilation Funky Good Time: The Anthology. Performances of the song also appear on the albums Live at Chastain Park and Live at the Apollo 1995.

Background

Although the song has a lead vocal by Brown (who also wrote the tune and the lyrics), the recording is credited to "Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s". It was the first J.B.'s recording to feature saxophonist Maceo Parker, who had returned to work with Brown again after attempting a career as a bandleader.

"Doing It to Death" contains an uncommon key change in which Brown tells the band to modulate downward from F to D ("In order for me to get down, I have to get down in D"). Composers who place key changes in tunes typically have them modulate upwards. Unusually for a James Brown song, the actual words "doing it to death" appear nowhere in the song's lyrics, which feature the hook "we're gonna have a funky good time." The title came from a figure of speech Brown heard Wesley use.

Personnel

• James Brown - lead vocal

with Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s:

• Fred Wesley - trombone
• Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison - trumpet
• Jerone "Jasaan" Sanford - trumpet
• Ike Oakley - trumpet
• Maceo Parker - alto saxophone and flute
• St. Clair Pinckney - tenor saxophone
• Eldee Williams - tenor saxophone
• Jimmy Nolen - guitar
• Hearlon "Cheese" Martin - guitar
• Fred Thomas - bass
• John "Jabo" Starks - drums^[1]

Chart performance

"Doing It to Death" was released as a single in 1973 and peaked at number one on the soul singles chart and number 22 on the Hot 100.^[2]

References

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