It's My Thing (Pt. 1)

Recorded during sessions spanning 1968 and 1969 under the direction of James Brown, It's My Thing (Pt. 1) features Marva Whitney backed by Brown's touring and recording musicians, with arrangements shaped by bandleader Alfred 'Pee Wee' Ellis. Produced by Brown and engineered by Ron Lenhoff and Dave Harrison, the recording was released through King Records. Released as a single in May 1969, It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who to Sock It To) answered the Isley Brothers' hit It's Your Thing with Whitney's assertive vocal performance and Brown's tightly arranged rhythmic backing. The single reached number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 19 on the Billboard R&B chart, becoming one of Whitney's most successful recordings. It's My Thing became an influential recording in hip-hop sampling culture, notably providing vocal elements for Public Enemy's Bring the Noise. Its enduring reputation helped establish Whitney, known as Soul Sister #1, among the defining female performers associated with James Brown's late-1960s recordings.