Song Clearance Sheet
4 sources citedCold Sweat
See all James Brown in the catalogue →
Funk1960s119BPM
G majKey
More around 120 BPM → · More in G major →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record (Brown & Pee Wee Ellis), no dispute found — one of the most historically significant records here: widely cited as the first true funk song, and the origin of the “drum break” concept sampling itself was later built on.
Quick Facts
Released1967
GenreFunk, Soul
LabelKing Records
ProducerJames Brown
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — James Brown & Pee Wee Ellis
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — originally King Records; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — extensively sampled in hip-hop, and beloved in 1990s drum & bass (Roni Size’s “Brown Paper Bag”). The record that founded the drum-break concept.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record and no dispute found.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Ellis based the sax riff on this tune’s two-chord vamp (already in this catalog)
Shares a similar beat/structure (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)James Brown & Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
Grunted into being — and built on “So What”
Brown, unable to read music, grunted a bassline in his head to Pee Wee Ellis, who notated it. Ellis has said he was listening heavily to Miles Davis’ “So What” (already in this catalog) and based the repeating sax riff on that tune’s two-chord vamp.
Ambrosia for Heads · read it →
It founded the drum break itself
Reportedly the first time Brown ever called for a genuine drum solo within a song — directly establishing the “drum break” concept later foundational to sampling and hip-hop. Recorded in a single take. Jerry Wexler said it “deeply affected” and “freaked out” musicians; Fred Wesley was initially unimpressed, calling the bridge “incorrect.” No lyrics reproduced.
Wikipedia / Drum and Bass Proper · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
The first true funk record; the origin of the drum break
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itRoni Size · countless hip-hop producers
Who to Contact
CS
James Brown & Pee Wee Ellis (estates)
The confirmed songwriters of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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References
Every source cited on this page — 4 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 9)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass