Take Some, Leave Some

Recorded at International Recording in Augusta, Georgia, Take Some, Leave Some was written by James Brown, Fred Wesley and Charles Bobbit for Brown's double album The Payback. Produced and arranged by Brown, the recording featured his extended vocal performance with instrumental accompaniment from his band, with engineering by Lowell Dorn and additional recording and mixing by Bob Both at Advantage Sound in New York. Released on Polydor Records in December 1973, Take Some, Leave Some occupied the opening position on the second side of The Payback. Its extended eight-minute arrangement, deliberate pacing and interplay between Brown's vocals and the instrumental ensemble reflected the increasingly expansive musical approach of his early-1970s recordings. Take Some, Leave Some remains part of The Payback, one of James Brown's most celebrated albums, recognised for its extended arrangements and tightly controlled rhythmic performances. The recording has been preserved through subsequent album reissues and digital releases, documenting Brown's collaboration with Fred Wesley during a particularly influential period of his career.