Arranger/trumpeter/conductor Sammy Lowe's credits include James Brown's number one R&B standard "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" and his 1963 number six R&B hit "Prisoner of Love," as well as recordings by Erskine Hawkins, Nina Simone, Sam Cooke, the Softones, the Tokens, and Little Peggy Marsh. Brown sent Lowe an acetate of what would be his most famous ballad. The impassioned ballad was recorded February 16, 1966, at Bob Gallo's Talentmasters studio in New York with drummer Bernard Purdie, guitarist Billy Butler, and pianist Ernie Hayes. Co-written by Brown and Betty Newsome, "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" b/w the similarly passionate "Is It Yes or Is It No?" held the number one R&B spot for two weeks and hit number eight pop in spring 1966. The It's a Man's Man's Man's World LP was released in August. Sammy Lowe was born May 14, 1918 in Birmingham, AL, and died there on February 17, 1993. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide
