One Song

Was James Brown the inventor of funk? Diallo & LUXXURY dive into “Funky Drummer (Part 1)” the first half of the nine-minute funk epic that cemented James Brown as a true master of the genre. They get into the song’s legacy as a treasure trove for hip hop samples, James Brown’s unique presence as a bandleader, and what makes the song fit in the pantheon of perfect wedding DJ songs. Then, they bust out the stems to discuss the percussive nature of every instrument in the ensemble, including the greasy guitar licks, trumpet blasts, legendary sax and organ solos, a rarely heard set of James Brown vocals, and the titular funky drumming that combine to make a colossal 70s classic.

Songs Discussed:

“Living in America” (1985) – James Brown

“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” (1968) – James Brown

“Please Please Please” (1958) – James Brown and the Famous Flames

“Try Me” (1958) – James Brown and the Famous Flames

“Buddy Bolden’s Blues” (1939) - Jelly Roll Morton

“Out Of Sight” (1964) - James Brown

“Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” (1965) - James Brown

“Cold Sweat” (1967) - James Brown

“Fun House” (1970) - The Stooges

“So What” (1959) - Miles Davis

“Mahna Mahna” (1977) - Mahna Mahna and The Snowths

“I Be Blowin’” (1993) - De La Soul ft. Maceo Parker

“The Grunt (Pts 1 & 2)” (1972) - The J.B.’s

“Protect Ya Neck” (1993) - Wu-Tang Clan

“Doing It To Death (Pts. 1 & 2)” (1973) - The J.B.’s

Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong

Check out the One Song Spotify playlist

Episode produced, edited, and mixed by Eric Hicks.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Geoff Barrow (Portishead, Beak>, Ex Machina) defends his claim that breaking down music ruins it. We brought Geoff and LUXXURY’s social media argument to One Song to get into it.

Here’s a short preview of our conversation with Geoff from our Patreon episode.

You can listen to the full interview (for free) by joining our Patreon, where you can hear Geoff go deep on Portishead’s influences, get real about a beloved band he does not like, and break down his classic post-Portishead albums by Beak and Anika in ways you’ve never heard before.

Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong

Episode produced by Demian Kendall.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In memory of Dolly Parton, we’re revisiting our episode about her seminal 1973 track “Jolene.” In the years that have followed, the song has been reinterpreted and reimagined by many artists including Olivia Newton John, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, the White Stripes, and, of course, Beyonce. On this episode of One Song, LUXXURY and Diallo Riddle are joined by comedy legend Andy Richter to talk through the history and impact of this singular anthem, and the many Jolenes.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey One Song Nation, we hope you enjoy this snippet of our conversation with comedian, musician, and internet sensation Kyle Gordon. You can find the full interview free on our Patreon at patreon.com/onesong.

And if you haven’t joined our Patreon yet…please do, its free! At patreon.com/onesong we post bonus episodes of the show, interviews, new music reactions and so much more. Join to get our full hour-long interview with Kyle Gordon (“Mr. Jambo”, “Planet of the Bass”), where we discuss the fine line between music and comedy (and getting both right), the difference between parody and satire, and the delicate process of composing “Mr. Jambo” (spoiler: it involves actually learning Zulu). In addition to bonus content, our Patreon gives you access to perks like our Discord, early access to episodes, and much more coming soon!

Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong

Check out the One Song Spotify playlist

Episode produced, edited, and mixed by Demian Kendall.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re revisiting a One Song favorite. Bob Marley’s music is everywhere. And, in a sense, so is Bob Marley: His image appears in murals around the world, on college dorm-room posters, and in a recent Hollywood biopic. But has that ubiquity changed the way we hear his music? On this encore episode of One Song, revisit Bob Marley’s “Jamming” as you’ve never heard it before. LUXXURY breaks out the stems, interpolations, and contrafacts, while Diallo Riddle delivers the Bob backstory—and some hot takes on music biopics.

One Song LIVE 9/6 @ Skirball Museum 🎟️ https://www.skirball.org/programs/blitzkrieg-bop-one-song-podcast-live-skirball

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices