“Get On The Good Foot”

In 1972 I bought the 7” single of James Brown’s “Get On The Good Foot” from Gold’s sweetshop/tobacconist/record-store. A small shop at the end of Barkingside High Street. The main window display was the latest pop records, but the side window, by the shop entrance, was packed with reggae singles, not new because they took time to filter into the UK from Jamaica. I am not sure why the old guy who ran the store specialised in reggae, however it was a treasure trove of sound for me…

He also stoked James Brown Records, after hearing it in a youth club, a life changing moment, I purchased “Get On The Good Foot”, followed by “Make It Funky”’, “Sex Machine”, “Honky Tonk”, “I Got Ants In My Pants” etc etc etc. Eventually I bought the “Get On The Good Foot” double LP, which over the years has stood the test of time, but alas the cover has suffered from constant man handling. I eventually yielded and have now purchased a brand spanking new copy for my extended music listening pleasure…         

Every time I hear “Get On The Good Foot” I am transported back to that magic moment of my awakening…