Funky Friday – Episode 76: Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
- Noah McDonough
- Jul 16
- 7 min read
🎧 Quick Links:
🎧 Listen live on KDOG 9 AM Pacific Time→ Here
🎧 Listen live on KCSM HD2 9 PM Pacific Time→ Here (On mobile, scroll down to the KCSM HD2 player)
📆 Add to Calendar — Funky Friday (Weekly):
• 9 AM KDOG
Add to Google Calendar
• 9 PM KCSM HD2
Add to Google Calendar
🎶 Catch the Replay → Here
📖 Full Episode Recaps + Setlists → Here
📂 Renegade Radio Site → Here
Airdate: 7.17.26 - 9 AM Pacific Time on KDOG & 9 PM Pacific Time on KCSM HD2
Funky Friday – Episode 76: Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
Happy Funky Friday Everyone.
Welcome to Signal Fire Records.
It's the kind of neighborhood record store where time slows down.
Black walls. Worn wood floors. Album covers that tell stories before the needle ever touches the vinyl.
Every week, there's a featured recommendation hanging above the counter.
This week's selection is James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag."
When Funky Friday airs on July 17, it will mark the anniversary of one of the most influential songs ever recorded.
Released on July 17, 1965, Papa's Got a Brand New Bag wasn't simply another hit single. It changed the way musicians thought about rhythm.
The groove became tighter.
The rhythm section became the engine.
Every instrument became part of the percussion.
A new musical language had arrived.
We call it funk.
This week's playlist begins with the song that started the revolution, then follows its influence through soul, jazz, fusion, and beyond. Some of these artists built directly on James Brown's blueprint. Others took those ideas somewhere entirely new.
Every song you'll hear today carries a piece of the musical DNA that began with one unforgettable groove.
So before we start flipping through the bins...
Let's take a closer look at the song that changed popular music forever.
Signal Discovery
Every great musical journey begins with a little context.
This week's featured video explores how James Brown reshaped American music, tracing the rhythmic innovations behind Out of Sight, Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, and the birth of funk itself.
Along the way, it poses a simple question:
"What is it about funk that makes it Funky?"
It's a question musicians, historians, and fans have been exploring for decades.
Before we celebrate the anniversary of the song that helped change the groove forever, spend a few minutes with this fascinating look at the origins of funk.
Watch the video below before we begin this week's journey.
Funky Friday – Episode 76: Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
🔥 SETLIST + RENEGADE NOTES
JAMES BROWN — Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (1965)
Personnel: James Brown (vocals), Jimmy Nolen (guitar), Maceo Parker (alto saxophone), St. Clair Pinckney (tenor saxophone), Nat Jones (trumpet), Bernard Odum (bass), Melvin Parker (drums).
Renegade Note: Recorded in a single session and released on July 17, 1965, Papa's Got a Brand New Bag marked a turning point in popular music. By shifting the emphasis to rhythm and placing every instrument in service of the groove, James Brown helped establish the musical language that became funk.
THE J.B.'S — Doing It to Death (1973)
Personnel: Fred Wesley (trombone), Maceo Parker (saxophone), St. Clair Pinckney (saxophone), Jimmy Nolen (guitar), Bootsy Collins (bass, early lineup influence), Jabo Starks (drums). Produced by James Brown.
Renegade Note: After laying the foundation with James Brown, many of funk's greatest musicians found a new home in The J.B.'s. Doing It to Death captures the band at full strength, demonstrating how tight arrangements and disciplined musicianship could stretch into hypnotic grooves.
CURTIS MAYFIELD — Make Me Believe in You (1975)
Personnel: Curtis Mayfield (vocals, guitar, keyboards, producer), Joseph "Lucky" Scott (bass), Tyrone McCullen (drums), Rich Tufo (keyboards).
Renegade Note: Curtis Mayfield approached funk with elegance rather than force. Make Me Believe in You blends soulful vocals, sophisticated arrangements, and effortless rhythm, showcasing the refined side of 1970s funk.
WILLIAM DeVAUGHN — Be Thankful for What You Got (1974)
Personnel: William DeVaughn (vocals), Phil Upchurch (guitar), Charles Glenn (bass), Herbert Hicks (keyboards), Ulysses Curtis (drums).
Renegade Note: Built around one of the smoothest grooves of the decade, Be Thankful for What You Got became an unexpected classic. Its understated message of gratitude and unmistakable rhythm continue to resonate more than fifty years later.
THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH — Smiling Faces Sometimes (1971)
Personnel: Joe Harris (vocals), Billie Rae Calvin (vocals), Brenda Joyce Evans (vocals). Produced by Norman Whitfield.
Renegade Note: Norman Whitfield transformed The Undisputed Truth into one of Motown's most adventurous acts. Smiling Faces Sometimes pairs a cautionary lyric with an unforgettable groove, proving that socially conscious music could still make listeners move.
OHIO PLAYERS — Skin Tight (1974)
Personnel: Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner (guitar, vocals), Marshall "Rock" Jones (bass), Billy Beck (keyboards), Jimmy "Diamond" Williams (drums), Ralph Middlebrooks (trumpet), Marvin Pierce (trombone).
Renegade Note: Before Love Rollercoaster became a worldwide hit, the Ohio Players had already established themselves as one of funk's tightest bands. Skin Tight captures the swagger, humor, and fearless musicianship that defined their sound.
DR. JOHN — Right Place Wrong Time (1973)
Personnel: Dr. John (vocals, piano), Allen Toussaint (producer), The Meters including Leo Nocentelli (guitar), George Porter Jr. (bass), Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste (drums), Art Neville (keyboards).
Renegade Note: New Orleans has always marched to its own rhythm. Backed by members of The Meters and produced by Allen Toussaint, Right Place Wrong Time brought Crescent City funk to a national audience without sacrificing its unmistakable character.
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE — In Time (1973)
Personnel: Sly Stone (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Larry Graham (bass), Cynthia Robinson (trumpet), Jerry Martini (saxophone), Greg Errico (drums).
Renegade Note: Though Fresh arrived during a turbulent period for the band, In Time became one of its most influential recordings. Its stripped-down groove inspired generations of musicians, including Prince, whose own minimalist funk owes a clear debt to Sly Stone.
ISAAC HAYES — Truck Turner (Main Title) (1974)
Personnel: Isaac Hayes (keyboards, vocals, producer), The Movement, The Bar-Kays.
Renegade Note: Isaac Hayes helped redefine film music by bringing cinematic orchestration and deep funk together. The Truck Turner soundtrack remains one of the finest examples of how soul and funk transformed 1970s cinema.
EARTH, WIND & FIRE — Mighty Mighty (1974)
Personnel: Maurice White (vocals, drums, kalimba), Verdine White (bass), Philip Bailey (vocals, percussion), Johnny Graham (guitar), Larry Dunn (keyboards), Ralph Johnson (drums).
Renegade Note: Earth, Wind & Fire never saw a boundary between funk, jazz, soul, and spirituality. Mighty Mighty showcases the band's remarkable musicianship while foreshadowing the global success that would soon follow.
WEATHER REPORT — Barbary Coast (1976)
Personnel: Joe Zawinul (keyboards), Wayne Shorter (saxophone), Jaco Pastorius (bass), Alex Acuña (drums), Manolo Badrena (percussion).
Renegade Note: By the mid-1970s, funk's influence had reached jazz fusion. Driven by Joe Zawinul's keyboard riffs and Jaco Pastorius' revolutionary bass playing, Barbary Coast demonstrates how groove became a universal musical language.
STEVIE WONDER — Creepin' (1974)
Personnel: Stevie Wonder (vocals, keyboards, drums, harmonica, synthesizers).
Renegade Note: Stevie Wonder performed nearly every instrument on Creepin', creating a deeply personal recording that balances intimacy with sophistication. Closing this week's journey, the song reminds us that funk isn't always loud. Sometimes the deepest grooves are the quietest ones.
🔗 Quick Links:
🎧 Listen live on KDOG 9 AM Pacific Time→ Here
🎧 Listen live on KCSM HD2 9 PM Pacific Time→ Here (On mobile, scroll down to the KCSM HD2 player)
📆 Add to Calendar — Funky Friday (Weekly):
• 9 AM KDOG
Add to Google Calendar
• 9 PM KCSM HD2
Add to Google Calendar
🎶 Catch the Replay → Here
📖 Full Episode Recaps + Setlists → Here
📂 Renegade Radio Site → Here
Funk Facts
JAMES BROWN — Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
Built around sharply syncopated guitar, punchy horn stabs, driving bass, minimalist drumming, and James Brown's rhythmic vocal phrasing. The arrangement demonstrates how shifting the musical emphasis to "the One" established the rhythmic foundation that would become known as funk.
THE J.B.'S — Doing It to Death
Driven by tightly interlocking horn lines, infectious bass grooves, crisp rhythm guitar, syncopated drumming, and disciplined ensemble interplay. The arrangement showcases how repetition, precision, and dynamic control became defining characteristics of classic funk.
CURTIS MAYFIELD — Make Me Believe in You
Built around warm electric piano textures, understated guitar, melodic bass movement, soulful vocal harmonies, and graceful string accompaniment. The arrangement illustrates Mayfield's ability to blend sophisticated soul songwriting with relaxed funk rhythms.
WILLIAM DeVAUGHN — Be Thankful for What You Got
Constructed from silky rhythm guitar, spacious Fender Rhodes textures, melodic bass lines, restrained percussion, and effortless vocal delivery. The arrangement demonstrates how simplicity, patience, and groove can create timeless musical sophistication.
THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH — Smiling Faces Sometimes
Driven by haunting vocal harmonies, orchestral string textures, syncopated rhythm guitar, steady bass movement, and dramatic dynamic contrasts. The arrangement highlights Norman Whitfield's innovative fusion of psychedelic soul, funk, and socially conscious storytelling.
OHIO PLAYERS — Skin Tight
Built around elastic bass grooves, razor-sharp horn accents, rhythmic guitar, playful vocal phrasing, and deeply pocketed drumming. The arrangement captures the band's signature blend of technical precision, infectious energy, and unmistakable funk swagger.
DR. JOHN — Right Place Wrong Time
Constructed from New Orleans piano, second-line-inspired drumming, understated guitar, rolling bass lines, and laid-back vocal delivery. The arrangement reflects the Crescent City's unique ability to blend rhythm and blues, funk, and jazz into an effortlessly recognizable sound.
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE — In Time
Driven by minimalist rhythm guitar, innovative bass techniques, sparse keyboard textures, relaxed drumming, and tightly integrated ensemble performance. The arrangement demonstrates how space, restraint, and groove can be just as powerful as complexity.
ISAAC HAYES — Truck Turner (Main Title)
Built around cinematic orchestration, wah-wah guitar, commanding horn arrangements, deep bass grooves, layered percussion, and dramatic rhythmic development. The arrangement showcases Hayes' remarkable ability to merge film scoring with hard-driving funk.
EARTH, WIND & FIRE — Mighty Mighty
Constructed from soaring vocal harmonies, intricate horn arrangements, syncopated rhythm guitar, melodic bass movement, layered percussion, and Maurice White's signature kalimba textures. The arrangement illustrates the band's seamless fusion of funk, soul, jazz, and African musical influences.
WEATHER REPORT — Barbary Coast
Driven by synthesizer textures, fretless electric bass virtuosity, jazz-influenced improvisation, Latin-inspired percussion, and sophisticated rhythmic interplay. The arrangement demonstrates how funk grooves became an essential ingredient in the evolution of jazz fusion.
STEVIE WONDER — Creepin'
Built around expressive electric piano, subtle synthesizer textures, melodic bass lines, understated drumming, and deeply emotional vocal phrasing. The arrangement highlights Wonder's extraordinary ability to create rich harmonic landscapes while maintaining an intimate, groove-centered feel.
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