Get On the Good Foot

Album Review

In an era where Brown went on to make three studio doubles, Get on the Good Foot was the first. This 1972 album finds Brown having great chemistry with both his newer J.B.'s and the New York session players. The title track is particularly stunning. "Get on the Good Foot" was so off-the-cuff and nonpareil, he couldn't have replicated the formula even if he wanted to. "I Got a Bag of My Own," on the other hand, sounds forced and synthetic. Although Brown was known for his new product, this album has him recycling some of his King singles. Doing so-so remakes of "Cold Sweat" and "Ain't It a Groove" could be taken as an attempt for Brown to ease some of his old catalog to his new label. It was a nice try, but you should stick with the originals. Not surprisingly, Get on the Good Foot does have its share of throwaway cuts. "Recitation By Hank Ballard" is a spoken-word effort with Ballard extolling his buddy's virtues as well as giving unsolicited advice about the perils of showbiz. "Dirty Harri," a lukewarm instrumental, goes nowhere fast for all of its six-plus minutes. The 1995 CD reissue offered a track that was previously available only on the international release, the warm "I Know It's True," which hearkens back to Brown's '60s-ballad style as he turns in a genuinely affecting performance. Although Get on the Good Foot only managed to yield two hits, the album is one of his more varied and fun efforts.