"Don't Be a Dropout" is a song written by Burt Jones and recorded by James Brown. It was Brown's first attempt at a socially conscious song, encouraging teenagers to stay in school. Released as a single in 1966, it charted No. 4 R&B and No. 50 Pop.[1] It also appeared on the album Sings Raw Soul. Bobby Byrd, Vicki Anderson, and The Jewels contribute backing vocals.[2] The song led to Brown meeting with Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who had been working on a stay-in-school program of his own.[3]
| "Don't Be a Dropout" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by James Brown | ||||
| from the album Sings Raw Soul | ||||
| B-side | "Tell Me That You Love Me" | |||
| Released | October 1966 | |||
| Recorded | August 16, 1966, Arthur Smith Studios, Charlotte, NC | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 3:28 | |||
| Label | King 6056 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Burt Jones | |||
| Producer(s) | James Brown | |||
| James Brown charting singles chronology | ||||
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An unedited version of the original recording of "Don't Be a Dropout" is included on the 1991 box set Star Time.
References
edit- ^ White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
- ^ Leeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
- ^ Smith, R. J. (2012). The One: The Life and Music of James Brown, 180. New York: Gotham Books.
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