James versus Gene - There Was A Time - You Decide?

[ceydaandelrocks]

Jb was and is funk in person there will be never be another also jb cut many versions of this some many would say better than his own original.

[monkeymagic1974]

Gene Chandler!!!!!! No question!!!

[Jimpsterz]

Gene Chandler won this one, more energetic

[ncmedicalmalpractice]

Not ever the great Duke of Earl can even come close to the splendor and excitement of The Godfather

[SausagefingersElias]

Horses for courses really. Both versions appeal to different audiences. Despite JB's being the original both have qualities that sets one apart from the other. I love the strict, sharp treatment that marks the James Brown version however, you won't find the raw, joyful, awesome feel in the original that you find in Gene Chandlers version. Being a lover of both Northern Soul and Funk, I don't have an issue loving both :o)

[mw94533]

JB is more in the pocket, and the consistant horn line is very funky, it has a distinct feelin of the sixties, so relaxed and groovin. When he sings the verses, the groove that the band breaks into is tight and RELENTLESS,..AND SOOO FUNKY!!! On Chandlers, the drummer is loose, and he doesnt carry the real vibe of the groove, (no downbeat accent) the ONE is missing in the Chandler version, further more,.. how could it B funky, if the essence of funk is missing? .... THE ONE, the downbeat, UNHH!!!

[orbjones]

I agree with mw94533. In the middle to late 60s, JB had the tightest rhythm section in the industry. There were no close seconds. The driving force of this song and other JB hits of the era, if you listen closely, were Jimmy Nolen and Alphonso Kellum on guitars. Their timing was impeccable and the licks were deceptivlely simple yet genius and quite complicated. Add JB's voice and the tight drumming results in a masterpiece. Gene Chandler, although talented, is no comparison to JB for thi song.

[abcdefghjklmnrst]

are we really having this discussion?....really?

[travese311]

james brown ftw

[TheDaveyboy999]

Gene Chandler AND James Brown did tops of this. Gene Chandler was more northern soul, James Brown was more funky. Both versions made my life a better place, how about you, THINK ! I work with Deaf People, THINK What have they missed. Just Enjoy

All the bes Daveyboy 999

[ladymakini]

@samoman92 ,tight descript for two great legends, the DUKE meets the GODFATHER, Gene tears the dance floor up with his own personal upbeat FUNK, meanwhile JB puts  a cap on the definition of SMOOTH FUNK,. NEITHER ARTIST GIVES THE OTHER A BREAK. so as JB so aptly put it "DIG ME NOW, DON'T WORRY ABOUT LATER."

[samoman92]

love both, and both men are legends within their own right; james brown is the godfather of soul, and gene chandler is the duke of earl, but ive gotta go with genes version, its just a bit punchier for me, though i am biased as i love northern soul :) KTF x

[24mc1]

James brown come on genes coo but he and hes band couldnt do it and gene couldnt dance.Watch james live in bosten 68 Get it together,There was a Time

[samoman92]

can someone tell me if harold melvin and the blue notes did a version of this? me and my dad are arguing about this, he swears they did, but i think hes confused with genes version haha

[GradAndrei]

this is mnot James brown :O:O:O but the vois is guuud very guuud :)

[rrrickster3137]

This is almost comedy, James Brown is Killing this Dude...Come on stop it....RIP JB....

[3kingkool]

I love both. I like the fact that each man enjoys sharing his gift with us.

[jor99912]

I like the Sharon Jones version the Best!

Shameful, Embarrassing, "DISGUSTING"!

[petethedeej]

James Brown was the Godfather of Soul but I Like the first version better (Gene Chandler). If you don't Gene Chandler you should check for more stuff on youtube. He was a Northern Soul LEGEND. He was a good dancer too!! RESPECT

KEEP THE FAITH!!

[PREZ150]

Gene's version can't get away of the James Brown funk. Nice try Gene.

[cosmobaker]

Hahahahah... Oh man. "Comparison" hahahah...

[zuraach0]

cant compare the two both amazing in their own way

[3kingkool]

I like the jagged trumpets in Chandler's version and the raw funk of Jame's version. Both work for me. But I am used to James Brown's version. I like the slow burn funk. I think it is more authentic. Chandler's version is definitely hot enough to set fire to any party!

[Lovecrowd]

Nice try from Gene but he only try´s to Imitat the king of Soul. Nothing can beat the King

[samoman92]

@Lovecrowd brown covered chandler...

[samoman92]

@samoman92 scrap that, im wrong lol

but i do love genes version, though i do have maximum respect for brown :)

[PaulDA2000]

@samoman92 - Again, you are wrong. 'There Was A Time' is a James Brown song written by James Brown and covered by Gene Chandler. Where did you get the false info that it was the other way around?

[MrsDiamondears]

Gene Chandler was 1st rate - No James Brown - but QUITE talented. IN THE DAY, people didn't do these petty comparisons. We just ENJOYED everybody.

[PaulDA2000]

This is laughable!! Comparing Gene Chandler (who???) to James Brown, the King of Funk is like comparing a gnat to an elephant. James Brown is the greatest entertainer and innovator in the history of popular music. Gene Chandler is a 2nd rate soul singer, nothing more.

[samoman92]

@PaulDA2000 sorry to post a late reply, but if the king chose to cover the duke's song then i very much doubt that hes a '2nd rate soul singer', just an opinion though mate KTF

[samoman92]

@samoman92 sorry, im wrong mate, but i still go with gene's, but lotsa respect for brown, he was a legend x

[PaulDA2000]

@samoman92 - Um, 'There Was A Time' is a James Brown song, written by James Brown. Gene Chandler covered James Brown's song, not the other way around!

[orghast]

forget about it... I'm not into idol worship... I'm into slammin and jammin... Chandler wins it for me with the up tempo... hot damn!

[buscadordeososmex]

First version is ok... But come on, JB is the inventor of the yehhhhhhhhs and hijjjjjjjjjjjjjjjhs. Gene's screams don't get close to JBs. Good tribute do.

[BeigeFunk]

James Brown all the way. JB can make any song electrifying.

[soulserva60]

Hands down , No Contest give it to The man with the crown James Brown.

[The10men]

I fell in love with James version the first time i heard it. But Gene's version is pretty darn good.

[RJhonda14]

this is no joke. check out john mellencamp'scover of James Brown 's "Cold Sweat' .it came out on the b-side of one of his early hit records in the mid 80's.we would play it on the juke box in pizza hut all the time. i promise you that you will be thoroughly impressed on how much justice the young rocker gave this classic.

[certifiedtouch]

i cant find this on youtube  where do i find it

[AristotleStax]

James Brown hands down!

Mr. Please Please, the hardest working man in show business, The Godfather of Soul!

you cant mess with that

[jelboysvw]

James Brown will always have my respect but Gene steals this one from him

[13berza]

Please people, as a european and a musician -

It's only JAMES BROWN.

Gene might be good but JB is the god-father of soul-funk

Gene sounds as a young boys band singers but the power and the music in the James Brown appearance is not comparable

[jazjett]

Ain't no comparison... "There was a Time was by James Brown in the late 60s.

[helltopay1]

can i put it like this.when i was 18 i could have danced my arse off to genes version. now at 54 id still give it some but it would have to be with my hero jb

[blkwavepusha]

Go James Brown!

[downforcemotorsports]

Look its like this...Ima white boy...BUT!!!,James got me feeling it man....

[PHNXREX]

James is the SHiT n'uff said

[blkwavepusha]

Being that I'm a "serious student" of the James Brown world of music, there's not a way in this universe would I ever go against The Godfather of Soul! Monty of New Bern, North Carolina

[themoodymann]

JB's version for me, i never even knew chandler had covered but i like the dark dirty muthafunkier sound. Both versions are good tho just in different ways.

[ladymakini]

J. B. will allways be my BOY!! BUT, BUT, Gene put his foot in this one!!

[SAXYRIC359]

Being a northerner I feel Gene bit I am a Midwest Northerner and we get a little funkier then that. I understand them both but, I'm with JB!!

[philburrell]

Gene can stay the "Duke of Earl" but James is without a doubt the "Godfatha". Soul Brother #1. the Funkmeister hands down

[TomBeatster]

if jb's version is not the best to dance to and i concede it may not be it is, however, the best version to fuck to.

[stOOpid68]

steak n onions  or

steak n mushrooms

[northerngirl72]

red 60s boots or silver...hmmm.

[stOOpid68]

ha ha!!

giz a whirl an I'll tell ya!!! ;)

double homocide here!!

[freddypknight]

Originating a song and copying a song require 2 completely different skill sets. A copy may be better arranged, better performed and sound "better", but it will NEVER be original! A new idea, inspiration, creativity and the ability to conceptualize are a few requirements needed to create a song from scratch -the original. Gene Chandler's version is fantastic, but James Brown's is the ORIGINAL. I apologize for not being articulate enough to explain the difference.

[size15shoe]

Gene's version is on the "2/4" beat.. the funkiest 2/4 ive heard.

James took the song and put it on the "one"; it made it more funky and easier to improvise with...

both versions are tight..

[gmandofgod]

James wrote the song, and recorded it first. So James didn't "take" anything.

[jodoran1969]

no contest on 'there was time'... it's gene all the way

[jkickass]

u ever heard of the iris video transition?

[prettyricks9]

james brown or gene chandler 4 me its got 2 b gene chandler if u love northern soul and go 2 all nighters u know what i mean gene chandler what a record dancers only

[wufwufwufwuf]

Two gr8 men,but i recon its JBs