Reality (James Brown album)

Reality is the 39th studio album by American musician James Brown. The album was released in 1974, by Polydor Records.^[1][2]

Reality
Studio album by James Brown
Released	19 December 1974
Studio	Sound Ideas, New York City A & R, New York City
Genre	Funk, Soul
Length	41:17
Label	Polydor
Producer	James Brown
James Brown chronology
Hell (1974) Reality (1974) Sex Machine Today (1975)
Singles from Reality
"Funky President (People It's Bad)" Released: October 1974 "Reality" Released: February 1975

Release

Reality was released in late 1974.^[1] It charted on the Billboard 200 for 10 weeks, peaking at number 56.^[3]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	B−[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[5]

In a contemporary review, the NME reviewed both Reality and Breakin' Bread, stating that the album were "pretty much up to the standard of his last few [records]." which he found was both positive and negative noting that there has been no major progression in his music since 1972. The review concluded that both albums were "very well produced, exceedingly exciting and irresistible for dancing, but who needs James Brown & The J.B.'s when you can have The Fatback Band or B.T. Express?"^[6]

AllMusic gave the album a negative review, noting that Brown's "insane schedule was catching up to him" and that it found him "at an artistic impasse."^[1] The reviewer noted that "it was foolish to expect a "fun" album from Brown during this time. He seemed to view America as a doomed nation, and considered the gas shortage, Watergate, and unemployment lines as signs of the coming apocalypse. A hint of sadness and ennui cloaks over the album."^[1] The review critiqued "The Twist" as Brown hitting a writer's block and that the cover of "Don't Fence Me In" was another sign of his "desperation". The review noted that the album contained "his worst ballads on record".^[1]

Reality was listed as the 46th best album of 1974 by Rolling Stone.^[7]

Track listing

Track listing adapted from vinyl of Reality.^[8]

All tracks are written by James Brown, except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Reality"	James Brown, Fred Wesley, Gertrude Wesley	4:41
2.	"Funky President (People It's Bad)"		4:28
3.	"Further On Up the Road"	Bob Mack	4:14
4.	"Check Your Body"	Brown, Fred Wesley	4:31
5.	"Don't Fence Me In"	Cole Porter	3:57

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"All for One"	Brown, Fred Wesley	6:38
7.	"I'm Broken Hearted"		4:28
8.	"The Twist"	Hank Ballard	4:09
9.	"Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)"	Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse	4:05

Personnel

Credits adapted from back cover of Reality.^[8]

• James Brown – lead vocal, producer, arrangements
• Gordon Edwards - bass
• Allan Schwartzberg - drums
• Johnny Griggs - percussion
• Joe Beck - guitar
• Joe Farrell - tenor saxophone, flute
• Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis - baritone saxophone
• David Sanborn - alto saxophone
• Pat Rebillot - keyboards
• Sam Brown - guitar
• Fred Wesley – arrangements, production supervisor
• Dave Matthews – arrangements on "The Twist"
• Bob Both – engineer, production supervisor
• David Stone – assistant engineer
• Major Little – assistant engineer
• Don Brautigam – illustration