James Brown / The Payback

The Payback is the 37th studio album by American musician James Brown. The album was released in January 1974 by Polydor Records. The Payback is considered a high point in Brown's recording career, and is now regarded by critics as a landmark funk album. Its revenge-themed title track, a #1 R&B hit, is one of his most famous songs and an especially prolific source of samples for record producers.