James Brown, Papa Don’t Take No Mess | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 8^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Papa Don’t Take No Mess” by James Brown.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 8^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Papa Don’t Take No Mess”, performed by James Brown.

The late, great funk icon, James Brown (1933 – 2006), makes one thing crystal clear: “Papa don’t, Papa don’t Papa don’t / Papa don’t take no mess!” Woo! “Papa Don’t Take No Mess” appears on Brown’s 1974 album,  Hell – what a hell of a title, right? Right! In typical, James Brown fashion, he oozes with personality as he talks about his dad.  He’s backed by groove that’s tight and F-U-N-K-Y by his stellar band. Those horns are lit! Essentially, this no. 31 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 is constructed in minimalistic fashion – looping, vamping, etc. Brown’s approach truly earned him the nickname as the godfather of soul.

The lyrics shouldn’t be written off of “Papa Don’t Take No Mess” by any means. Perhaps the most memorable, colorful lyrics arrive in the fourth verse:

“Papa didn’t cuss

He didn’t raise a whole lotta fuss

But when we did wrong

Papa beat the hell out of us.”

Woo! However, besides moments like these, it’s the repetition, riffing, and showmanship that makes “Papa Don’t Take No Mess” the sugar honey iced tea. Hell, anytime James Brown says, “hit me!” it makes us gag (positively, mind you). More could be said about “Papa Don’t Take No Mess” but is there any need? Of course not! This unforgettable Brown / John Starks / Fred Wesley composed joint speaks for itself. HIT ME!

🎙 James Brown • 💿 Hell • 🏷 Universal / UMG Recordings, Inc. • 🗓 1974

James Brown, Papa Don’t Take No Mess: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 8 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Universal / UMG Recordings, Inc.; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]