“Doing It to Death” (aka "Gonna Have a Funky Good Time") Pts. 1 & 2 by Fred Wesley & the J.B.’s

This rousing funk classic could be heard blasting out of car stereos everywhere back in 1973, and it had folks setting dance floors ablaze across the U.S. It’s one of the great feel-good party jams of the ‘70s. The Godfather of Soul and his superbad groove battalion the J.B.'s unleash an avalanche of funk on this bumpin’ track. It’s anchored by a wicked bass line and a hot beat. The track also features some killer guitar riffs and a sweet horn arrangement. The J.B.’s bandleader and musical director Fred Wesley delivers a dazzling trombone solo, and horn legend Maceo Parker pulls double duty–serving up an extra-funky alto sax solo that’s followed by an exquisite solo on flute. And Jimmy Nolen accompanies Maceo's flute solo with some smooth Wes Montgomery-style guitar work.

Also, the track has a terrific hook with the catchy chorus, “We’re gonna have a funky good time.” And it boasts one of the baddest buildups to a key change ever put on wax: “I need to get down and order for me to get down, I got to get in D, need to get in D, down D, funky D, stankin’ D.” 

“Doing It to Death” was written and produced by James Brown. It’s the title track from the J.B.’s third studio album, released in 1973 on Brown’s label People Records. The complete nearly 13-minute-long original recording of the track was first issued on the J.B.’s compilation Funky Good Time: The Anthology (1995).

The song topped Billboard’s R&B singles chart and climbed to #22 on Billboard’s Hot 100. It’s the J.B.’s biggest hit and has sold over a million copies. 

“Doing It to Death” has been sampled on 10 songs, including “Cold Blooded” by Common and Eazy-E’s “Eazy Street.” Also, talented dancer/choreographer Moga Almeri created an excellent dance routine to “Doing It To Death.” The video of her and the Beat Turf Tendo Dancers performing the routine currently has 2.6 million views on Youtube.

The personnel for "Doing It to Death" was James Brown (lead vocals), Fred Wesley (trombone, backing vocals), Fred Thomas (bass), Maceo Parker (alto saxophone, flute), John "Jabo" Starks (drums), St. Clair Pinckney (tenor saxophone), Jimmy Nolen (guitar), Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison (trumpet), Hearlon "Cheese" Martin (guitar), Ike Oakley (trumpet), Jerone "Jasaan" Sanford (trumpet) and Eldee Williams (tenor saxophone).

Brown often performed "Doing It to Death" at his concerts, and he never failed to blow the doors off the hinges whenever he performed it.

James Brown and the J.B.'s performing "Doing It to Death" in Zaire in 1974

Moga Almeri and the Beat Turf Tendo Dancers performing a stellar dance routine to "Doing It to Death"

 

 Doing It to Death single and album available at Amazon

Related blog entry: Gimme Some More by the J.B.'s