‘Out of Sight’: The James Brown song Bruce Springsteen simply couldn’t live without
From the moment that James Brown first got on stage back in the 1950s, the lineage of musical history changed indefinitely. With his unpredictable and needlessly energetic stagecraft, the sweat-soaked godfather of funk left an unavoidable mark on music, felt by artists of all genres. Even Bruce Springsteen, whose music has often leaned further towards heartland rock or folk than the furious funk of James Brown, has always been quick to highlight the incredible influence of the funk and soul brother.
Back in the 1960s, the American Northeast was dominated by the sweet sounds of funk and soul emanating from cities like Detroit and Chicago. A little further south, in New Jersey, a young Bruce Springsteen found solace in the infectious music of Motown, as well as funk progenitor James Brown. Although his early years were often storied by adoration of rock and roll and the British invasion, it was the influx of funk which inspired a lot of the performance style and diverse songwriting of ‘The Boss.
Within that funk scene, there were very few musicians with the same impact as James Brown. After starting out as a gospel singer during the 1950s, Brown soon developed his own distinctive sound and style, using his strained falsetto vocals and sporadic sonic outbursts to create a truly captivating performance. Every facet of Brown seemed to be a living, breathing embodiment of funk and soul, and Springsteen soaked up every moment.
Funk and soul have always influenced Springsteen, and his love for the genre has never been more evident than on the 2022 covers album Only the Strong Survive, during which he reimagined works by legendary soul stars like Dobie Gray, The Four Tops, and Frank Wilson among various others. Prior to that album, however, ‘The Boss’ had also espoused the joys of the genre during an appearance on Desert Island Discs in 2016.
Selecting eight of his most prized songs, Springsteen’s picks give a stunning insight into the songwriter’s enduring influences. Among songs by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Elvis Presley, the ‘Born to Run’ singer also shone a light on his love of soul. In particular, Springsteen heaped praise onto the work of James Brown, particularly his 1964 classic ‘Out of Sight’.
According to Brown himself, ‘Out of Sight’ was the single that forever changed the direction of his work, laying the foundations for all future funk music and establishing the James Brown image that we all know and love. Springsteen had a similar view of the song, citing the song as, “Pure excitement, pure electricity, pure ‘get out of your seat, move your ass’. Pure sweat-filled, gospel-filled raw, rock and roll, rhythm and blues.” The songwriter also compared the energy of Brown’s anthem to “a taut rubber band”.
Springsteen’s career path might have taken the songwriter in a different direction than somebody like James Brown, but the energy and spontaneity within the performance style of the funk master has certainly been carried over into Springsteen’s work. The New Jersey songwriter has always been famed for his groundbreaking live performances, and while he certainly injects his own personality and style into proceedings, virtually every musical performer owes something to the pioneering efforts of James Brown.
During his appearance on Desert Island Discs, Springsteen’s diverse choices, ranging from rockabilly to soul, reflect his own ever-broadening repertoire. Unlike many songwriters of his generation, ‘The Boss’ never nailed himself solely to one musical style, preferring instead to move fluidly across various different aspects of the music world. His love of James Brown certainly reflects this adaptability, which is prevalent throughout his discography.
