George & James consists of covers of works by George Gershwin (1898-1937) and James Brown (1933-2006). The album notes include a brief introduction to the American Composers Series concept followed by brief biographies of the two artists and of The Residents, describing them as "a group of pseudo-artists who freely indulge themselves in the Great American Culture". It was also the first Residents album to use computer-created art on the cover and in the promotional video, It's a Man's Man's Man's World.
The James Brown side is based on Brown's Live at the Apollo, one of the first live albums and the most successful R&B album ever. The Resident's version simulates the live sound of the Apollo concert with crowd noises taken from the Mole Show performance in Utrech, Holland (the same show used for the The Mole Show: Live in Holland recording). James Brown's part is taken by The Residents' lead singer, who transforms the Godfather of Soul into a growling voice reminiscent of the Angakok from Eskimo.

George Gershwin (1898-1937)
George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn, New York. At 21 he had his first hit song, "Swanee." At 24, Gershwin wrote a one-act opera, "135th Street," which paved the way for the 1924 premiere of "Rhapsody in Blue." "Rhapsody" combined elements of European classical music with jazz, which was gaining much interest at the time.

One of America's most prolific songwriters, Gershwin wrote for Hollywood, Broadway, and the concert hall before succumbing to a brain tumor at the age of 39.


James Brown (1933- )
Overcoming a childhood of poverty, Brown rows to become America's first successful black artist with his recording of please please please and 1956. 6 years later he recorded live at the Apollo, which became the largest selling R&B album of the time. James Brown has had over 20 singles that sold a million copies and is still regarded as the Godfather of Soul and the hardest working man in Show Business.

Man's World was considered by The Residents as the single from the album, GEORGE & JAMES although it does not appear on that album.

Note: 4000 copies of this release were pressed on white vinyl with a blue "iris" label and clear sleeve with red veins printed on it to achieve an eyeball effect. 300 of these had the labels for the A and B sides switched. 5000 copies were also pressed on black vinyl and referred to as "The Black Single" with no accompanying artwork. The Korova release is on black vinyl with simple white computer type on a black background on the sleeve.