"Shoot Your Shot" - Fred Wesley

SONG: "Shoot Your Shot" (PDF)
ALBUM: The Payback
ARTIST: James Brown
YEAR: 1973
LABEL: Polydor Records

In his first occurrence of being fired by James Brown in 1970, as described by Fred Wesley in his autobiography, saxophonist Maceo Parker stood up to Mr. Brown in defense of Fred’s contributions as bandleader. Perhaps the vote of confidence prevented the dispute from ending worse than it did, leaving the door open for Fred’s eventual re-hiring as the musical director, but the turmoil remained as much of the band, including Maceo, left shortly after Fred’s departure.

In the following years, Mr. Brown was able to gradually re-assemble that band. On January 29, 1973, upon his return to the band Maceo Parker walked into International Studios in Augusta, Georgia, and performed on the recording of “Doing It To Death,” and Mr. Brown, according to Fred, “for the first time, had two hot soloists both on the show and on records.” On the 1973 album The Payback, the recording of “Shoot Your Shot” features the interplay between Mr. Brown, Fred Wesley, and Maceo Parker that pushed their live shows to legendary heights.

Recommended Reading: Hit Me, Fred: Recollections of a Sideman by Fred Wesley Jr.  Published by Duke University Press.