The Godfather Of Soul--speed measurements of the 20 songs on James Brown: 20 All Time Greatest Hits!

We at the Meanspeed Music Trust have measured the speeds of all 20 songs on the album ‘James Brown: 20 All Time Greatest Hits!’

May the Godfather of Soul rest in peace.


“I Got You (I Feel Good)”
track #1
a) meanspeed=144.6 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=mixed fast
c) meanspace=415 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=616.89 hertz, 85 cents above D5=587.330 hertz, 15 cents below D#5/Eb5=622.254 hertz.

“Get Up (I Feel Like A) Sex Machine, Part One”
track #2
a) meanspeed=108.4 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=lust
c) meanspace=553 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=462.63 hertz, 86 cents above A4=440.000 hertz, 14 cents below A#4/Bb4= 466.164 hertz.

“I Got The Feelin’”
track #3
a) meanspeed=128.0 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=victory
c) meanspace=469 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=545.92 hertz, 73 cents above C5=523.251 hertz, 27 cents below C#4/Db4=554.365 hertz.

“Mother Popcorn, Part One”
track #4
featured performer=Astrud Gilberto
a) meanspeed=116.6 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=foreboding
c) meanspace=515 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=497.30 hertz, 12 cents above B4=493.883 hertz, 88 cents below C5=523.251 hertz.

“Give It Up Or Turnit Loose”
track #5
a) meanspeed=111.8 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=lust
c) meanspace=537 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=477.13 hertz, 40 cents above A#4/Bb4=466.164 hertz, 60 cents below B4=493.883 hertz.

“Make It Funky”
track #6
a) meanspeed= 97.3 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=enthusiasm
c) meanspace=617 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=415.01 hertz, less than one cent below G#4/Ab4=415.305 hertz.

“Papa Got A Brand New Bag, Part One”
track #7
a) meanspeed=129.6 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=mixed fast
c) meanspace=463 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=552.81 hertz, 95 cents above C5=523.251 hertz, 5 cents below C#5/Db5=554.365 hertz.

“Think”
track #8
featured performers=The Famous Flames
a) meanspeed=157.1 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=mixed fast
c) meanspace=382 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=670.17 hertz, 28 cents above E5=659.256 hertz, 72 cents below F5=698.456 hertz.

“It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World”
track #9
a) meanspeed=53.9 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=surreal
c) meanspace=1114 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=229.90 hertz, 85 cents above A3=220.00 hertz, 15 cents below A#3/Bb3=233.082 hertz.

“Try Me”
track #10
featured performers=The Famous Flames
a) meanspeed=68 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=ceremony
c) meanspace=882 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=79 cents above C#4/Db4=277.183 hertz, 21 cents below D4=293.665 hertz.

“Night Train”
track #11
a) meanspeed=130.7 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=mixed fast
c) meanspace=459 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=557.48 hertz, 9 C#5/Db5=554.365 hertz, 91cents below D5=587.330 hertz.

“Cold Sweat, Part One”
track #12
a) meanspeed=112.3 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=lust
c) meanspace=535 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=478.92 hertz, 46 cents above A#4/Bb4=466.164 hertz, 54 cents below B4=493.883 hertz

“Get On The Good Foot”
track #13
a) meanspeed=108.6 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=lust
c) meanspace=552 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=463.40 hertz, 89 cents above A4=440.000 hertz, 11 cents below A#4/Bb4=466.164 hertz.

“Papa Don’t Take No Mess, Part One”
track #14
featured performers=Fred Wesley & The J.B.’s
a) meanspeed=96.8 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=enthusiasm
c) meanspace=620 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=413.01 hertz 90 cents above G4=391.995 hertz, 10 cents below G#4/Ab4=415.305 hertz.

“The Payback”
track #15
a) meanspeed=97.8 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=natural
c) meanspace=613 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=417.29 hertz, 80 cents above G#4/Ab4=415.305 hertz, 20 cents below A4=440.000 hertz.

“Say It Loud (I’m Black And I’m Proud), Part One”
track #16
a) meanspeed=114.9 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=foreboding
c) meanspace=522 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=490.41 hertz, 88 cents above A#4/Bb4=466.164 hertz, 12 cents below B4=493.883 hertz.

“Super Bad, Parts One and Two”
track #17
featured performers=The J.B.’s
a) meanspeed=125.2 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=victory
c) meanspace=479 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=125.2 hertz, 35 cents above C5=523.251hertz, 65 cents below C#5/Db5=554.365 hertz.

“Hot Pants, Part One”
track #18
featured performers=The J.B.’s
a) meanspeed=98.2 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=natural
c) meanspace=611 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=419.00 hertz, 15 cents above G#4/Ab4=415.305 hertz, 85 cents below A4=440.000 hertz.

“Get Up Offa That Thing”
track #19
a) meanspeed=117.5 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=foereboding
c) meanspace=511 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=501.42 hertz, 26 cents above B4=493.883 hertz, 74 cents below C5=5232.251 hertz.

“Please, Please, Please”
track #20
featured performers=The Famous Flames
a) meanspeed=72.2 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=grace
c) meanspace=831 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=308.18 hertz, 83 cents above D4=293.665 hertz, 17 cents below D#4/Eb4=311.127 hertz.

Ian Schneider, MSA 009, MSA 003
Meanspeed.com
December 31,2006