TRACKLISTING
1. Back From the Dead
2. The Way to Get Down
3. Feel Good Friday
4. It’s In My Blood, featuring Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, and Fred Wesley, Background Vocals by Vicki Anderson and Martha High
5. Tell Me What’s On Your Mind, featuring Bootsy Collins and Fred Wesley, Background Vocals by Vicki Anderson and Martha High
6. Sayin’ It And Doin’ It Are Two Different Things
7. Never Get Enough
8. Let Me Know
9. Hang It Up
10. I Know You Got Soul, Live
11. Sex Machine, Live
Bobby Byrd was born in Toccoa, Georgia on August 15, 1934. He began his music career in church choirs. In high school he joined his family’s gospel group, The Zioneers. He then went on to become leader of the gospel Starlighters. They appeared out of town as the Avons, with Bobby on piano, organ, and vocals.
Bobby and James Brown met in 1952 and became good friends. They started singing gospel with Bobby’s sister Sarah. Bobby got James Brown into his group and soon they started doing Rhythm & Blues full time.
By late 1955, the group, now based in Macon, Georgia, was called The Flames. In 1956, The Flames signed to King Records’ Federal label who released “Please, Please, Please.” When the record came out it listed the artist as James Brown And The Famous Flames and so the name was born.
Bobby stayed with King Records as a writer. In 1964, Bobby Byrd and singer Anna King recorded “Baby, Baby, Baby” which sold well and launched Byrd as a viable artist. Frequently performing in Europe as well as in the States, Soul Brother Number One And A half (as Fred Wesley calls him) is still being sampled by todays’ stars such as Eric B & Rakim “I Know You Got Soul” and Jay Z “I’m Not To Blame.” So, if you “Need Help” to patch that hole in your soul, well here comes Bobby Byrd and “He’s Back from the Dead.”