It's A Man's Man's Man's World by James Brown

Album: It's A Man's Man's Man's World (1966)

Charted: 13 8

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Songfacts®:

It may be a man's world, but it's nothing without a woman.

The song was recorded as if it were a sermon, shouted from the pulpit. It lists man's life-enhancing inventions, but the singer admits he would be nothing without a woman. James Brown developed the impassioned ballad from some lyrics written by a woman, Betty Newsome. Her words were derived from the Bible and her observations of some of her ex-boyfriends, including the Godfather of Soul himself.
This was originally called "It's A Man's World," but James Brown added the extra words to the title as a reference to the 1963 hit comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
Brown had been working on this song for years; his singer Tammy Montgomery (later known as Tammi Terrell) recorded "I Cried" in 1963, which sounds very similar.
The song was recorded on February 16, 1966, at Bob Gallo's Talentmasters studio in New York. It topped the US R&B chart for two weeks.
This was featured in the films A Bronx Tale (1994), The Associate (1997) and Payback (1999).
A version sing by contestant Juliet Simms on music reality show The Voice peaked at #70 on the Hot 100 in May 2012.
The song was used in a 2022 Mother's Day commercial for Amazon showing their all-female delivery teams in India.

Comments: 11

Hunterlowel from UsaA moving duet of this song was sung by Luciano Pavarotti and James Brown in Italy.
Gary from RenoYou must watch the YouTube video of Tom Jones and Jennifer Hudson battling on the UK Voice. Unbelievable, especially Jennifer!
Anonymous from UkListening to this now. So powerful.
Jimmy Joe, Yo from WhoopdedoovilleJennifer Hudson and Tom Jones did this song on The Voice UK, it's really good.
Robc306 from Worcestershire, UkI cannot play this track in UK (on Deezer) as it says “This Track is not available in your country“
I’ve never seen this before and I have played the same track previously as it’s in My Favourites.

Can anyone plain this to me?
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 1, 1966, James Brown performed a medley of his hits, "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag," "I Got You (I Feel Good)," "Ain't That A Groove?" "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World" and "Please, Please, Please" on the CBS-TV variety program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
And on that very day "It's A Man's Man's Man' World" peaked at #1 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, it would stay in the top spot for six weeks...
While on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart is was at #31; four weeks later it would peak at #8 {for 2 weeks} and it spent 9 weeks on the Top 100...
And exactly one year earlier on May 1st, 1965 his album 'Grits and Soul' was at #9 on Billboard's Hot R&B Albums chart.
Randy from Houghton Lake, MiI was only 10 years old in 1966 but James Brown's music had an impact on everyone didn't matter your age, race, sex, or social status his music was that powerful.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 11th 1966, James Brown performed "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" on the ABC-TV week-day afternoon program 'Where The Action Is'...
A little over three months earlier on April 24th, 1966 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #70; five weeks later on May 29th it peaked at #8 {for 2 weeks} and it stayed on the chart for 9 weeks...
And the day it peaked at #8 on the Top 100 it reached #1 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles* chart...
'The Godfather of Soul' passed away on Christmas Day of 2006 at the age of 73...
May he R.I.P.
* Earlier in 1966 he had another #1 record on the R&B Singles chart, "I Got You (I Feel Good)".
Paul from Fayetteville, ArThe thing that Mr. Brown did most of all , for us young black men , at that time - was to let us know , that it was okay to be black , and it was okay for us feel proud to be black. He said to us in that now famous song , "Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud." Those words at that time pulled us young black men together. We felt that we could now lean on each other, and we could trust each other, because we were now brothers in blackness. I will be forever grateful for what he did. That was the greatest time in my life.
David from Syracuse, NyUnbelievable...James Brown.
What a pioneer! God sent this man to earth, and had him present the great sermon-music to all of us who had the intelligence to listen. The greatest of all black singers, in my opinion. This dude not only had soul and rhythm...he was a prophet in his own way. God Bless James! That's what I am talking about!
Dave from Cardiff, WalesIn 1995 Cher's cover version was a hit in the UK. Hothouse Flowers covered the song as well in 1998 as the B-side to their UK hit 'You Can Love Me Now'

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