*** 1/2 James Brown, “JB40: James Brown...

*** 1/2 James Brown, “JB40: James Brown 40th Anniversary Collection,” Polydor. This two-disc set is the latest in a flood of worthy Brown reissue projects. The quintessential set remains “Star Time,” the four-disc box set from 1991. “JB40” is a smaller version of it, focusing on Brown the hit maker. The 40-song compilation brings together every hit record that Brown had from the mid-’50s through the late ‘70s. That means we hear once again everything from the gospel-hued hits with the original Famous Flames (“Try Me”) to his funkiest work with the J.B.’s (“Papa Don’t Take No Mess”). Brown always worked harder than anyone to get his funky points across and “JB40” proves them timeless.

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