MoFi James Brown Sex Machine (Hybrid SACD)

The Godfather of Soul at His Peak

Sex Machine captures James Brown and his bands delivering electrifying performances that helped define funk music. Ranked among Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, the 1970 double album is a testament to Brown’s unmatched energy, vocal power, and the virtuosity of his ensembles. Over the course of an hour-plus, Brown commands every note, every groove, turning in sweat-soaked, hip-swiveling, in-the-red performances that demand you move and feel the music.

Audiophile Reissue: Mobile Fidelity Hybrid SACD Edition

Mobile Fidelity presents a numbered-edition Hybrid SACD, sourced from the original master tapes and housed in mini-LP-style gatefold packaging. For the first time, this audiophile release delivers explosive dynamics, vibrant clarity, and full-range perspective, capturing everything from the brassiness of horns and snap of snare drums to the swell of organs. Brown’s vocals emerge with stunning purity, transparency, and naturalism, letting you experience every shout, croon, and plea with breathtaking presence.

Live and Studio Energy Combined

Although marketed as a live album, Sex Machine combines studio recordings with later crowd overdubs alongside live tracks captured in October 1969 at Bell Auditorium in Augusta, GA. This blend preserves the spontaneity and excitement of Brown’s performances while highlighting the tight chemistry of the newly formed J.B.’s, anchored by Bootsy and Catfish Collins.

Iconic Tracks and Funk Mastery

The album features funk landmarks like “Get Up I Feel Like Being Like a Sex Machine,” “Brother Rapp,” and “Give It Up or Turnit a Loose,” demonstrating Brown’s ability to turn every instrument into a percussive tool. Other highlights — “I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing,” “Licking Stick,” “Spinning Wheel,” and “If I Ruled the World” — showcase his band’s instrumental prowess and rhythmic precision. The closing pairing of “I Can’t Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)” and “Mother Popcorn” delivers a final, electrifying punch that’s impossible to resist.

A Definitive Funk Statement

The SACD reissue combines clarity, solidity, separation, and imaging to capture the essence of Brown’s legendary performances. Whether on stage or in the studio, Brown’s energy, musicianship, and innovative use of rhythm make Sex Machine a defining moment in funk, soul, and R&B history — and this release ensures it sounds more vivid and immediate than ever.