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"I'll Go Crazy" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Released as a single in 1960, it was Brown's fourth R&B hit, charting at #15.[1] Brown and the Flames also performed it as the first song on their 1963 album Live at the Apollo.
| "I'll Go Crazy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by James Brown and The Famous Flames | ||||
| from the album Think! | ||||
| B-side | "I Know It's True" | |||
| Released | 1960 | |||
| Recorded | 1959 | |||
| Studio | King Studios, Cincinnati, OH | |||
| Genre | Rhythm and blues | |||
| Length | 2:05 | |||
| Label | Federal 12369 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | James Brown | |||
| Producer(s) | Unknown | |||
| James Brown charting singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio video | ||||
| "I'll Go Crazy" on YouTube | ||||
| "I'll Go Crazy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by James Brown and The Famous Flames | ||||
| from the album Live at the Apollo | ||||
| A-side | "Lost Someone" | |||
| Released | January 1966 | |||
| Recorded | October 24, 1962, Apollo Theater, New York, NY | |||
| Genre | Rhythm and blues | |||
| Length | 2:10 | |||
| Label | King 6020 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | James Brown | |||
| Producer(s) | James Brown | |||
| James Brown charting singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Live at the Apollo performance of "I'll Go Crazy" was also later released as the B-side of a single in 1966, backed with "Lost Someone" (also from the live album). It charted #38 R&B and #73 Pop.This live version was the last song featuring The Famous Flames to chart.
Personnel
edit- James Brown – lead vocal
and the Famous Flames:
- Bobby Byrd – vocals
- Bobby Bennett – vocals
- Baby Lloyd Stallworth - vocals
- Johnny Terry – vocals
- Willie Johnson – vocals
with the James Brown Band:
- J.C. Davis – tenor saxophone
- Bobby Roach – guitar
- Bernard Odum – bass guitar
- Nat Kendrick – drums
plus:
- Sonny Thompson – piano
- James McGary – alto saxophone[2]
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1960) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot R&B Sides (Billboard) | 15 |
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[3] | 73 |
| US Top Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard)[4] | 38 |
Cover versions
edit"I'll Go Crazy" has inspired cover versions by many different artists, including:
- Tommy James and the Shondells released a cover version of the song on their debut album, Hanky Panky.
- The Rolling Stones
- The Kingsmen
- The Blues Magoos
- The Residents
- The Moody Blues[5]
- The Buckinghams
- Chris Isaak
- Jerry Garcia and David Grisman
- Buddy Guy
- The Nighthawks
- Tommy Quickly
- Graham Bonnet
- Delfini
- The Honeycombs live in Tokyo
- Clarence Clemons.
Popular culture
edit- It was performed by Dan Aykroyd in the actor's tribute to Brown on his induction at the 2003 Kennedy Center Honors.
- This song was used on the Late Show with David Letterman as theme music for the "Who Said It?" segment.
References
edit- ^ White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
- ^ Leeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 115.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 84.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "The Moody Blues: The Magnificent Moodies". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 4 January 2022.