October 10, 2025

James Brown’s breakout hit “Please, Please, Please” drew directly from the gospel tradition, channeling its pleading repetition and raw emotion into a new sound. Misunderstood by critics but electrifying to audiences, the song became a turning point in popular music, marking the rise of Brown’s unmatched career and the birth of a new era in soul.

King of Them All: The Story of King Records