I Got You (I Feel Good) is a twelve-bar blues composed by James Brown, with origins tracing back to 1962 when an early version titled I Found You was recorded by his backing singer Yvonne Fair with a nearly identical melody and lyrics. Brown reworked the tune as I Got You in 1964, recording a version that appeared on the Smash Records album Out of Sight, though it was withdrawn from single release due to a contract dispute with King Records. The definitive hit version was recorded in May 1965 and released on King Records, featuring Maceo Parker on alto saxophone and Melvin Parker on drums. The composition is built on a high-energy twelve-bar blues framework with a brass-heavy arrangement, an upbeat tempo, and a pronounced emphasis on the first beat of each measure, a rhythmic approach that became foundational to Brown's emerging funk style. The melody is simple and exuberant, supporting lyrics of joy and elation, punctuated by Brown's characteristic screams and shouts. A notable structural feature is the bridge section containing an alto saxophone solo that provides a punchy instrumental contrast within the tune's tight, compact form. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one on the R&B charts in 1965 and 1966, becoming one of Brown's most widely recognized compositions and a cornerstone of the soul and funk repertoire.
