Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing

"Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing"
Song
A-side	"Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing - Pt. 1"
B-side	"Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing - Pt. 2"

"Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing" is a funk song by James Brown and Bobby Byrd. Recorded in 1970, it was first released as an edited two-part single on King Records that same year, but was quickly withdrawn. The single received a full release on Polydor in early 1972 and went to number one on the U.S. Hot Soul Singles chart during the spring of that year. The song was included on Brown's 1972 album There It Is.

"Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing" was part of a succession of songs Brown recorded with the original J.B.'s in 1970 and 1971 featuring backing vocals by Bobby Byrd. In the middle of the song Brown orders all the band members to temporarily stop playing while he and Byrd maintain the song's rhythm using their voices alone, in an early example of a dance music breakdown.

Personnel

• James Brown - lead vocal

with The J.B.'s:

• Clayton "Chicken" Gunnells - trumpet
• Darryl "Hassan" Jamison - trumpet
• Robert McCollough - tenor saxophone
• St. Clair Pinckney - baritone saxophone
• Bobby Byrd - organ, vocal
• Phelps "Catfish" Collins - guitar
• William "Bootsy" Collins - bass
• John "Jabo" Starks - drums
• Johnny Griggs - congas

Chart positions

Chart (1972)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	27
U.S. Billboard R&B	1

Other versions

A remixed version of "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing" was included on the 1986 James Brown compilation album In the Jungle Groove.

A longer version of the song (9:28) is included in the Star Time box set.

Living Colour recorded a cover version in 1991 for their Biscuits EP.

References

• Leeds, Alan M., and Harry Weinger (1991). Star Time: Song by Song. In Star Time (pp. 46-53) [CD liner notes]. London: Polydor Records.
• White, Cliff (1991). Discography. In Star Time (pp. 54-59) [CD liner notes]. London: Polydor Records.