Songfacts®:

• A "bag" is slang for a way of doing something or a kind of lifestyle. It was a popular saying in the '60s, especially among musicians, who would describe songs as being "in an R&B bag" or "in a doo-wop bag."
  
  In this song, James Brown sings about coming up with a new "bag," meaning a completely different way of approaching music. Inspired by what he heard in church, he punctuated the music on the downbeat, creating his "brand new bag."
• In March 1965, after a legal battle with King Records, Brown agreed to a new contract with a higher royalty rate than their previous agreement, plus Brown's own publishing company and complete artistic control. Brown promptly went into a Charlotte, North Carolina, studio and cut "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag."
  
  King Records executive Syd Nathan gave a copy of this to New York DJ Frankie Cocker, who hated the new James Brown style but was impressed with the response when he put it on the air anyway. When King Records released the track as a single, Smash Records, the label Brown had leased some of his songs to that prompted the lawsuit, released an instrumental version of the song. As part of the ruling, Smash Records could release only instrumental versions of Brown's songs.
  
  Brown had recorded the very similar sounding "Out Of Sight" for Smash earlier that year, violating his King contract. James retooled the song, using a riff his band had been playing live, as a peace offering to King.
• The original song was about seven minutes long, moved at a slower pace, and featured a more elaborate intro. After the song was cut, Brown sliced off most of the intro, sped the song up to get it played on pop radio, and broke it up into three parts (the second of which can be heard on the flipside of the original single).
• The vocal version reached #8 in the US. It was the first Top 10 hit for the Godfather of Soul, and marked a departure from his early music toward the definition of his signature sound. Horns are used for percussive effect, and Brown's vocals are tightly attached to the overall instrumental mix.
• Brown recorded this song in one take - the released version was merely supposed to be a run-through, but sounded so good it was kept anyway. Brown, who still hadn't memorized the song's lyrics, read from a sheet in front of him; at the beginning of the original take, he can be heard saying "There's a lot of words here, man." He also can be heard exclaiming "This is a hit!" just before the band kicks in.
• This was followed by King's release of "I Got You (I Feel Good)," which quickly became Brown's biggest hit (until "Living in America" was released in 1985) as it went to #3 on the Hot 100.
• Dancing was a big part of James Brown's stage show, and he often referred to dances in the lyrics to his songs. The dance crazes mentioned in this one are: The Jerk, The Fly, The Monkey, The Mashed Potatoes, The Alligator, The Twist, and the Boomerang.
• This won a Grammy for Best R&B Recording of 1965. It was also inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1999.
• Artists to record this song include Pat Boone, Freddy Cannon, Georgie Fame, Quincy Jones, L.A. Guns, Willie Mitchell, Pigbag, Otis Redding, Roger, Jimmy Smith, The Ventures, Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. >>>

  Suggestion credit:
  Bertrand - Paris, France, for above 6
• Brown's longtime sax player Maceo Parker played baritone sax on this track, and Maceo's older brother Melvin was the drummer. The guitar, which is most prominent when it answers Brown's chorus line, came courtesy of Jimmy Nolen.
• This was performed in Beat the Devil, one of a series of BMW films (see it at YouTube). Faced with the problem of viewers skipping past commercials or simply ignoring them, BMW decided to make short films starring their products that people would choose to watch. James Brown stars in this one.
• This was used in the 1993 Robin Williams film Mrs. Doubtfire. >>>

  Suggestion credit:
  Brett - Edmonton, Canada, for above 2