Don't Be a Drop-Out

"Don't Be a Drop-Out"
Single by James Brown
from the album Sings Raw Soul
B-side	"Tell Me That You Love Me"
Released	October 1966
Format	7"
Recorded	August 16, 1966, Arthur Smith Studios, Charlotte, NC
Genre	Soul, funk
Length	3:28
Label	King 6056
Writer(s)	Burt Jones
Producer(s)	James Brown
James Brown charting singles chronology
"Money Won't Change You Part 1" (1966) "Don't Be a Drop-Out" (1966) "Sweet Little Baby Boy (Part 1)" (1967)

"Don't Be a Drop-Out" 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 #4 R&B and #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]

An unedited version of the original recording of "Don't Be a Drop-Out" is included on the 1991 box set Star Time.

References

1. White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
2. Leeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
3. Smith, R.J. (2012). The One: The Life and Music of James Brown, 180. New York: Gotham Books.