It's a New Day – Let a Man Come In
James Brown · 1970
37 min · 9 tracks · blues
A vibrant blend of funk grooves and soulful ballads that captures the spirit of a transformative era.
Top tracks — play these first
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It’s a New Day (Part 1 and 2) Start here — This track opens the album with an infectious energy, combining celebratory funk rhythms with a message of hope and renewal that sets the tone for the entire record.
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Let a Man Come in and Do the Popcorn (Part 1 and 2) — This song highlights Brown's signature call-and-response style and showcases his playful lyrics while maintaining an irresistible groove that invites listeners to dance.
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It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World — The emotional depth of this classic ballad illustrates Brown's vocal prowess, delivering a poignant reflection on gender roles that resonates deeply within social contexts.
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Georgia on My Mind — Brown's rendition transforms this classic into a heartfelt tribute, emphasizing his soulful delivery and ability to reinterpret beloved standards through his unique lens.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong musical interplay and cohesive flow, characteristic of Brown's style.
What we noticed
- Several songs incorporate call-and-response vocals, emphasizing interaction between the lead and backing singers.
- The instrumentation prominently features brass and rhythm sections, with frequent shifts in dynamics throughout the tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- fragmented bursts of energetic fun
- quick dance breaks with friends
- short tracks for lively gatherings
- playful rhythms for celebrations
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, immersive albums
- want cohesive storytelling experiences
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A solid entry that showcases Brown's evolving sound without being a major highlight.
- Themes
- celebratory funk· gender role reflection· Apollo Theater legacy
- Career context
- In 1970, James Brown was cementing his status as the 'Godfather of Soul' with this album being released shortly after his influential live performance at the Apollo Theater. This record followed his commercial peak with hits like 'I Got You (I Feel Good)' and showcased his ability to fuse social commentary with infectious rhythms, continuing his evolution in the music industry.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Prince· Sly and the Family Stone· Parliament-Funkadelic
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World
The narrative shifts from celebration to acknowledgment of women's contributions amidst themes of masculinity.
By juxtaposing pride in manhood with a recognition of women's vital roles, the writing creates an impactful contrast that challenges traditional gender narratives.
Tracklist
- 1 It’s a New Day (Part 1 and 2) Start here 5:45
- 2 Let a Man Come in and Do the Popcorn (Part 1 and 2) 7:13
- 3 World (Part 1 and 2) 6:08
- 4 Georgia on My Mind 4:17
- 5 It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World 2:52
- 6 Give It Up or Turnit a Loose 2:45
- 7 If I Ruled the World 3:07
- 8 The Man in the Glass (Part I) 2:50
- 9 I’m Not Demanding (Part I) 2:50
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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