Which 1965 James Brown single is often called the first funk record?

“Which 1965 James Brown single is often called the first funk record?” The answer is “Papa's Got a Brand New Bag.” Released as a two-part single in 1965, it is widely regarded as a landmark in the emergence of funk as a distinct musical style.

The recording centers on James Brown’s tightly syncopated band, strong emphasis on the first beat of each measure, prominent horns, and Jimmy Nolen’s clipped guitar work. Brown’s vocal celebrates an older man discovering a new taste for dancing; “brand new bag” means a new approach or interest.

The song was Brown’s first Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 8, and it topped the Billboard R&B chart for eight weeks. It also won Brown his first Grammy Award. The single version was edited and sped up from the original recording, raising its pitch slightly.

Calling it the first funk record is a useful shorthand, not an uncontested technical timestamp. Earlier Brown recordings, including “Out of Sight,” helped establish the sound, but “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” made the formula unmistakable and brought it to a much wider audience.