Mashed Potatoes U.S.A.

"Mashed Potatoes U.S.A."
Single by James Brown
from the album Tour The U.S.A.
B-side	"You Don't Have to Go"
Released	1962
Format	7"
Genre	Rhythm and blues
Length	2:49
Label	King 5672
Writer(s)	James Brown
James Brown singles chronology
"Shout and Shimmy" (1962) "Mashed Potatoes U.S.A." (1962) "Three Hearts in a Tangle" (1962)

"Mashed Potatoes U.S.A." is a rhythm and blues song by James Brown. Released in 1962 as a single by King Records, it reached #82 on the Pop chart and #21 on the R&B chart.^[1] The title refers to the Mashed Potato dance popular at the time.

The song is basically a travelogue set over a strummed guitar/organ riff with a muted trumpet providing a jazz counterpoint to the vocal delivery. The bridge consists of the entire band repeating a two-chord riff.

In the song, Brown asserts "Here I am and I'm back again," then states his plan to bring the mashed potatoes to the cities he will tour. He then name checks his itinerary, starting with New York City and ending with his home town, Augusta, Georgia.

See also

• "(Do the) Mashed Potatoes"

References

1. White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.