GREG ANDERSON
I Feel Good
(Naomi Neville [Allen Toussaint])
Australia 1966

February 1966 release on Melbourne label Kommotion. Backing by The Vince Malouney Sect, led by the future Bee Gees guitarist.

Multi-skilled entertainer Greg Anderson (b.1950) started out as an infant in his parents' international whip-cracking act. By the time he became a teenaged pop singer in the mid-60s he had already been appearing regularly on Melbourne television for several years. Greg Anderson is still performing today, billed as Australia's Electric Cowboy.

Greg Anderson's only charting single was with his own composition, No Roses For Michael (1970, #34 Sydney, #4 Brisbane, #4 Adelaide), from the Nine Network TV film of the same name.

References, further reading: 1. The Greg Anderson page at Milesago has a detailed career biography and discography. 2. Greg Anderson's site Australia'sElectricCowboy.com.

Thanks to Dunks at Milesago for suggestion and research.

LARRY'S REBELS
I Feel Good
(Naomi Neville [Allen Toussaint])
New Zealand 1966
Red herring

Single on Impact by popular New Zealand band, originally from Christchurch, fronted by Larry Morris. See Mo'reen or Do What You Gotta Do.

Thanks to Terry Stacey for version alert.
CHANTS R&B
I Feel Good
(Naomi Neville [Allen Toussaint])
New Zealand 1966

Live performance, unreleased until Norton Records' vinyl album Chants R&B (2008)

Christchurch band, originally known simply as Chants, resident at Christchurch venue The Stage Door. Late in 1966 the band moved to Melbourne where they broke up a few months later. A notable founding member was Mike Rudd, later with Australian bands Party Machine, Spectrum, Ariel and Mike Rudd & The Heaters.

See also Early In The Morning.

Thanks to Andrew at Ain't Got No Feelin' for version alert.

References: 1. David Johnston, The Music Goes Round My Head, p. 111. 2. Chants R&B page at Bruce Sergeant's NZ music site. 3. NortonRecords.com online catalogue.

Further reading: 1. ChantsRandB.com 2. Story of Chants R&B in Melbourne at MikeRuddBillPutt.com. See also reminiscences by fans of Chants R&B.

THE ARTWOODS
I Feel Good
(Naomi Neville [Allen Toussaint])
UK 1966

Single on Decca by R&B band led by Art Wood, brother of Ron Wood. Members included Jon Lord, later of Deep Purple.

This was released six months after Greg Anderson's Australian version. Appears as a bonus track on the CD reissue of Art Gallery, the 1966 Artwoods album.

Further reading: 1. Singles discography at 45-rpm.co.uk. 2. Artwoods biography at All Music Guide. 3. Wikipedia article on The Artwoods. 4. The Artwoods Meet Solomon Burke & Benny Spellman at Funky16Corners.


 

 
BENNY SPELLMAN
I Feel Good
(Naomi Neville [Allen Toussaint])
USA 1965
Original version

Single on Atlantic, B-side of The Word Game, by Florida-born singer (b.1931) who recorded with legendary producer Allen Toussaint in New Orleans, notably on Toussaint's compositions Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette), his biggest hit, and Fortune Teller, later recorded by The Rolling Stones and Australia's Throb.

Spellman is also heard singing the bass line on Ernie K-Doe's Mother-in-Law.

Reference: ER2
Further reading: 1. Allen Toussaint at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and at All Music Guide. 2. The Artwoods Meet Solomon Burke & Benny Spellman at Funky16Corners.

 
JAMES BROWN
I Got You (I Feel Good)
(James Brown)
USA 1965
Red herring
#3 USA #6 UK

Not to be confused with 'I Feel Good' by Greg Anderson.

Single on King, James Brown's biggest hit on the US pop charts.

Later versions:

CITIZEN BAND
I Feel Good
(Naomi Neville [Allen Toussaint])
New Zealand 1978
Later version

Single by New Zealand band formed by brothers Jonathan Michael (Mike) and Geoff Chunn, both of whom had been significant in the early history of Split Enz. The drummer from Citizen Band, Brent Eccles, joined Australian band The Angels in 1981.

References, further reading: 1. Bruce Sergeant's pages on Citizen Band and Split Enz. 2. Wikipedia entries on Citizen Band, Split Enz, Mike Chunn and Geoff Chunn.

Corrections or comments? Contact the writer.