I Don't Mind

"I Don't Mind" is a rhythm and blues song written by James Brown and performed by Brown and the Famous Flames. Released as a single in 1961, it reached number four in the R&B Billboard charts and number 47 in the Pop Billboard charts. Brown and the Flames also performed it on their 1963 album Live at the Apollo A cover by the Who for their 1965 album My Generation led to the track gaining wider attention, being covered by other British Invasion groups at the same time. Background Brown recorded "I Don't Mind" on September 27, 1960 together with the Famous Flames. On the track, guitarist Les Buie came in on his guitar solo a few notes early, and instead of doing a retake or something similar, Brown liked the take so much he decided to keep it, and has been replicated on multiple occasions during live performances of the song. According to author Douglas Wolk, the band seems to have problems recording the song, as they can be heard "adjusting their notes moment by moment." Its unusual chord progression – in Brown's words, it "opens with a 13, goes down to a C9, then goes to a G7 and to the A7" – prompted objections during the recording session from producer Gene Redd, who considered it musically "wrong". This led to Brown threatening not to record the song if he didn't get it his way, to which Redd eventually agreed on despite his earlier objections to it. Chart positions