(Previously in the book: Nebraskan Hal Neely began on the Big Band Circuit, served in World War II, worked for Allied Record Manufacturing and moved on to King Records where he met infamous producer Syd Nathan and up-and-coming Soul singer James Brown.)
(Author’s note: chapters written in italics denote they are the memoirs of Hal Neely and do not necessarily reflect the stories of others involved in the vinyl years of Rock and Roll.)

My first job at King was to rebuild the plant. It was obsolete and in disrepair, needing new modern equipment and a new mill. Its machine shop was good with experienced workmen who could build all of the new machines we needed. I redesigned the whole plant—mill, boiler room, press room and printing, and added a photo and art department and rebuilt the recording studio.
Syd was ill more and more. He and Zella, now married, were spending much of their time in the condo in Miami Beach. When in Cincinnati he usually came in after lunch time and left early, but we talked every day even when he was in Miami.
We rearranged the operations offices and staff over the press room. Syd, Ralph Bass and I had our officers there. Over in the newer third building on the second floor was reception, our general office staff (paperwork, billing, accounting, etc.) and the new art/photo department complete with a darkroom. On the first floor was shipping and inventory. In the back were a parking lot and our re-built recording studio.
Cincinnati was a good record town. Several other small labels called it home. The biggest of these was Fraternity Records owned by Harry Carlson who recorded in our studios and pressed with us. Another big customer was Don Pierce’s Starday Records in Nashville. Our plant was good. Our record sales were good.
James Brown in those early years came out to my house in Cincinnati several times to eat with us. He loved my wife Mary. She taught him the rudiments of correct table manners.
I produced The Famous Flames several more times in the King studio, but it had no more hits. Syd wanted to drop the group. I still believed in them. Syd agreed to let Andy Gibson, a King man in New York, record one more session. He recorded “Bewildered,” and it was an instant hit going to No. 1. (Author’s note: Neely had a penchant for exaggeration. According to music historian John Broven, Bewildered was a No. 8 on the R&B chart in 1961)1 King picked up the Flames option for another three years and now released the group on the King label, but as “James Brown and The Famous Flames.” The rest is history.
I continued to produce the group when I was available. Single record sales soared. James was in charge of all music and shows, and Bobby took care of the books. After several years of constant touring, James took the Flames, with Mr. Brantley’s approval, to a new manager/booker in New York. He was Jack Pearl’s wife’s brother-in-law. Pearl was King’s long-time attorney.
James Brown and The Famous Flames sold out tours/shows/concerts. They worked steady. I saw little of him– only occasionally going to one of the shows. I was always welcome when I did. We remained close for many years. We recorded him in our King studio in Cincinnati. This was the “James Brown Sound.” Ron Lenhoff, our engineer, became James’s favorite engineer.
When it came time for him to record, if the band was too far away on tour, James would fly in, always accompanied by his featured girl singer of the time. He changed his girl singer, whom he never placed under contract, often.
The band personnel also kept changing–for the better, but always with the nomd’ plume ‘the JBs.”
The JBs created a problem one night in Charlotte, South Carolina. They gave James an ultimatum and refused to do that night’s show unless James gave them a big raise. He called me in Cincinnati. We decided to secretly replace the JBs with King’s house band. They had recorded with him several times and knew him well. I chartered a small plane to take them to Charlotte. Bobby Byrd met them and took them to the auditorium to set up their gear.
Bobby delayed the band’s bus driver by picking up the old JBs. When they got to the auditorium Bobby met them.
“You’re fired. Here are your final checks,”he said. It was done.
It was Syd Nathan’s “My way or no way.”
At that time James sold only single records, no albums. In the King Cincinnati studio I produced the album “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag”. It made it to No. 1 on the “soul” charts. It was pure James Brown. From then on it was a “let the good times roll.” Hit after hit. Album after album.