OMMA Catalogue Number

OMMA-0082

Artist

James Brown and the Famous Flames

Title

Please, Please, Please / Why Do You Do Me

Release Details

Issued in 1956 as a 7-inch single on Federal (catalogue number 45-12258), pressed in the United States and distributed in promotional form for disc jockey circulation.

Edition & Variant Identification

First press promotional “Dee Jay Special” tied to the commercial release, issued as a radio promotional copy.

Matrix & Pressing Data

Runout (A-side): F-45-17809-2.

Runout (B-side): F-45-1191-2.

Physical Description

7-inch single on black vinyl. The present copy bears disc jockey promotional labels featuring a brief band biography and personnel listing (including James Brown’s date of birth) printed on both sides. No sleeve is present, and no inserts are included.

Factory-Origin Characteristics

No factory-origin anomalies are observed on the present copy.

Condition Report

The present copy is graded VG for the vinyl, exhibiting surface scuffing and a minor edge warp not affecting play. The labels are graded VG, showing age toning and minor scuffing and staining, with light but noticeable storage wear most evident on the A-side; label printing otherwise remains legible and comparatively well-preserved.

Provenance

Provenance: eBay (seller: luttrellsfiveanddime), 15 January 2026; acquired by the Origins of Modern Music Archive.

Photomatching & Verification

Identification is supported by the congruence of label designation and catalogue number (Federal 45-12258) with the recorded matrix/runout inscriptions as transcribed above; internal photographic documentation of the label is recorded in OMMA holdings (Google Drive file ID: 1aIyEMBUTmQ6fUhxQ2cQIzNb4RUrhp0Az).

Market Context & Historical Notes

As James Brown and the Famous Flames’ debut single, Please, Please, Please / Why Do You Do Me occupies a foundational position in emergence of James Brown, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, and his renowned backing group. The group’s breakthrough recording on Federal, the single reached No. 5 on the R&B-charts. The record’s later institutional recognition includes induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame (2001).

Canonical Status in OMMA

This release is recognized by the Origins of Modern Music Archive as the artist’s canonical debut.

References and Source Documentation

Grammy Hall of Fame Award database, Hall of Fame listing for “PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE,” James Brown & The Famous Flames, Federal (1956), inducted 2001. Wikipedia, “Please, Please, Please (James Brown song),” for consolidated discographic and chart-summary context. eBay transaction record: luttrellsfiveanddime, January 2026 (acquisition documentation held in OMMA administrative files).