Reviews (page 10 of 13)
Good
Another live performance. Johnny cashes one was way better tho
I enjoyed this. Never really listened to him much and didn’t expect this. I was thinking it was all the upbeat stuff. Pleasant surprise. Would I come back? Not sure. I’ll stretch at three.
Like James. Do not like this album.
James Brown has always been one of those weird success stories to me, where I don't fully understand the timeline of how he got to be the greatest soul entertainer of all time. I'm not disputing the man's talent. He's marvelous, but I don't know one full album by him that's not a compilation of pre-written blues songs with a single or two thrown in the mix, and having listened to this record, without reading about it, I'd have no idea if this was in his early or later career. Anyway, yeah this is objectively great. Brown's unmatched vocal style is on full display on virtually every track. But boy I'd much rather watch the recorded show than just listen to it. This alone really isn't my bag.
Although iconic, I prefer Brown's funk pioneering to his early blues- and gospel-inspired work; it almost feels like a disservice to The Hardest Working Man In Show Business to merely listen to his legendary stage presence without actually seeing it happen.
I love jazz
Not bad, I liked some of the songs.
Good party mood
I had my hopes maybe too high for this album. But at the end of the quick 30 minutes, I found myself sort of without many thoughts at all. It's a shame, because I can't really find a fault with the album. The live performances are incredibly clean and tight, and the audience adds to the record more often than it doesn't. But off paper, it didn't do much for me. Will have to come back to it at a later date to see if I'm feeling it more. Highlight: Think Lowlight: I Don't Mind
Really liked this performance, though I wasn’t familiar with these particular songs. He has such great energy and this feels like getting transported back in time. Quality soul for the soul. The audio recording is great too.
Passte zu meiner Laune, aber ich bin nicht R&B
A lot of energy for sure
Novelty use of stereo. Music on left, all vocals on right.
This was a fun jazz album to listen to. He’s very engaging with the crowd Top tracks: Lost Someone
Eh
Okay
Man's got a killer voice, this album in particular just didn't do it for me. Will check out more James Brown tho
He’s so horny for screaming girls
Some pretty great instrumentals in here despite the majority of their short runtimes, and it fulfils the purpose of a live album pretty well, with lively and significant the occasion feels. Vocally and lyrically, however, I must admit I'm not at all moved by this
It's fine. It's just a live album from the 60s. Nothing too crazy was happening here.
not my music
The songs that are good are really good. I like the energy.
Didddiddyy
High intensity soul
Plaat bomvol energie, puur sonisch niet hoogste kwaliteit, maar wat een vreugde. Een hele week lang zelf de apollo afgehuurd, 20 shows gespeeld om de beste takes op plaat te krijgen. Vooral fan van het einde, die 11 minuten ballad en dan de medley daarna. Maar 't begin vliegt even goed voorbij. Niet echt "hits", maar een goeie totaaltrip.
B- Introduction to James Brown and The Famous Flames (by Fats Gonder) 3 I'll Go Crazy 3 Try Me 3 Think 3 I Don't Mind 4 Lost Someone 3 Medley: Please, Please, Please/You've Got the Power/I Found Someone/Why Do You Do Me/I Want You So Bad/I Love You, Yes I Do/Strange Things Happen/Bewildered/Please, Please, Please 3 Night Train 3 This was pretty good, but it didn't knock my socks off.
Great for listening in the kitchen
It's great, but the LP has too many very short tracks. Wish it went deeper
This was a fun album, seems like James Brown was having a really great time and the crowd was loving him. I like when soul/gospel gets funky and I think this was a little too early for that. 3 stars.
Honestly didn’t care for this.
James Brown sure is cool. I've read that he doesn't really got that many good albums but legendary tracks here and there within his discography. I didn't like this live album as I have a general dislike for live albums. There are a few ones that are great and this is not one of them.
Close to a 4, would be if it wasn't live but loses some of its appeal
It's a vibe but then I can't distinct any of the songs from each other
A great live record showcasing JB as a rockstar. Wasn’t familiar with any of the songs, and I prefer JB’s eventual pathway to funk music, but a great listen still. 3.5/5 Would listen again
God damn, the audience is going mental. It was fun to hear them screaming (don't take that out of context) and interacting with the performances. This is not a genre I listen to and I probably won't return to it, but I still got more enjoyment out of it than I expected.
I'm usually not a big fan of live albums and this one was no exception to that. There's no denying James Brown's legendary status but I would much rather listen to a studio album of his than a live album. I can do without the rabid fans cheering constantly.
A bit much screaming. 3
Twas ok
Nothing special. Sounds like James Brown. Probably a little shocking for the time.
Early James Brown. Not bad, gives the JB vibe but nothing really iconic on this record.
Fav song: think
Good music, love his crowd work
Just James brown live,he’s got a great voice and you can feel the energy but I didn’t really love it.
Very raw live performance from an iconic performer at an iconic venue.
Boring
Was quite slow
While most of the songs don't blow me away, they sure blew away the audience. Brown and the crowd both feed off each other's energy an amazing way. Worth listening to just for the relationship between the performer and fans.
Hard to review an album that is 60 years old Pretty mid now but at the time it was probably the bees knees
Jazzy
Blind album, know the artist by name. It was a fun album at times and a good listen. Fun, exciting, great dynamics as well. Wasn't my favorite but decent and I really liked the last few tracks I'd say.
Tosi nopeetemponen mut kivan yhtenäinen. Ei paljoo tuu välispiikkejä kun biisit vaa viuhuu :D Lopussa sit hidastuu huomattavasti. Sit en ehkä jaksanu nii kuunnella enää.
cool
Not as good as I was expecting
It's okay, but rather boring
Interesting album of some early James and the magic is still there. The bit where he’s away from the mic singing “I’m weak” before coming back is awesome (3.5/5)
Great early set by James Brown. You hve to love hearing interactions with the crowd though.
People yelling at a concert.
Fun!!!! Some really amazing songs but I was thrown by a minute album having a 10 minute tune on it.
Don’t know much of James Browns work before he became a sex machine. So I quite enjoyed listening to this early version of him. Great voice and arrangements. Liked it 👍
Like it!
Not bad. Put it on at a party
Did he say he was the hardest working? I mean I listened to it and was jammin but that’s a hell of a nickname to give yourself
J'ai bien aimé Night Train et le medley, mais y'a pas eu d'énorme click sur ce concert.
Fun, yeah, yeyyeeayaahhh. Can't get over the extreme panning on old albums.
i liked it. thought it would be better, but it was still very good.
I enjoyed listening to this one because it was funky and I could feel the energy of the crowd. Good stuff. Three stars.
Not a fan of live albums with screaming from fans throughout. Very soulful singing. The instrumental bridges are interesting and definitely only a live event thing. The focus was definitely on the slower song of Lost Someone, and then speeding up again for the last two songs.
Yeah cool n stuff but really not my cup of tea
3,5
Love James Brown but just don't love the lice album aspect of it.
Love James Brown, this is a cool slice of history but not great listening.
James brown, can’t go wrong
- fantastic voice - clearly has the crowd in his fingertips - enjoyable
Try me. Solid music
I wanted to love this, but it was too repetitive I’ve feel. Felt like great music to get ready for date night to, but that was it.
Love the hardest working man in showbiz but not many hits in this show, kinda short, some audio issues.
Un James Brown absolument bouillant, la voix puissante et pas nasale pour un sous, les narines de notre ami étant remplies de cocaïne. Irrésistible.
Ce gros baiseur de James Brown vient mettre le feu à toutes les culottes du Apollo sur cet album.
Thank you to James for only making this half an hour long
Great album, screaming in the background wears on me
I am a sucker for about any live album. Love how young James Brown sounds on this recording.
Big similarity to Janis Joplin.
Mix was off but it’s early 60’s but can live with it. His band were killer. Awesome performance by the hardest working man in showbiz.
Introduction makes me feel like im in some old theater, than the music starts and you just feel like dancing. The way he can control the crowd at times is one of his best tricks, makes for a very interesting tension in the music. Great voice, great instrumentals like the trumpet parts. Some tracks feel a little simple to me, but are still very fun to listen to! Great record, just not really my personal tastes. A lot of soul and a lot of grove, but also not afraid to take things a little slower. This albums just showcases what a great performer he was. 7/10
Strong 3 - Light 4
A pleasant live album, not particularly ground-breaking, but works just fine as background music 3,5/5
This album showcases James Brown's live performances. People have tried to match his energy and showmanship for years. That being said, I don't recognize any of these songs, this is not a greatest hits show, this is early in his career. It was good.
It was okay, I respect James Brown's work a lot, but I don't think I really want to listen to it very much. That said, I would not be upset to listen to it again. All in all, would listen to it again.
"IT'S STAR TIME!!" James Brown is timeless. Unfortunately, the most memorable moments on this album aren't even from Brown himself. The woman yelling "YOU!" on Lost Someone is the best part of that entire 10 minute cut.
Not my cup of tea musically, but I can still appreciate the power of JB's voice and the tightness of the backing band. I didn't find the crowd noises to be distracting and the whole thing was atmospheric enough to get 3-stars for the talent, even if I didn't really enjoy it.
Seems like a really talented guy. The band was pretty tight! But not something I would add to a playlist.
Not my favorite James Brown record. Ended up putting on Sex Machine instead.
Lots of fun! Put a smile on my face during a bad day.
Gritty live recording. It feels as if you were there. Record itself is short, but captures James Brown's essence.
Some cool soul here, also some screaming girls that ruin the vibe.
Pretty good
The sound quality for a 63 live album blew me away, liked his energy and his voice was superb, musically not so strong an album for me
Sounds like it would have been fun to be there.
Captures the energy and intensity of peak James Brown.
Really interesting to hear James Brown from such an early point of his career. I didn't particularly know any of the songs but he still comes through as the performer everyone knows him to be. I think this is just before he skyrocketed to the very top with some of his singles. An interesting point in music history
Great vocals. Love some of the interaction with the audience. Surprised by how crisp the audio quality is. The extended jams don’t totally land for me, but the band is really tight. My favorite part might be the album cover lol Best song: Please Please Please Medley
Couldn't finish. Songs sounded the same. Repetitive.
Simpatico e coinvolgente
The version I got was so short
Scream it James!
As is evident from the crowd reaction on this live album, James Brown was one hell of a showman. His band is airtight and when told to scream everyone at the Apollo joins in. Fortunately that’s quite fun being a part of - even from your own living room! But - and there’s a big but… James Brown, the singer not the showman, might just be among the most overrated in history. His voice is generally okay, but his shouting and screams, his signature, are nothing but average at best. Sue me.
Did the first half of this album with my daughter. I’m not sure it lands with a 13-yo, but it’s clear why James Brown was the man.
Feel like I am supposed to have liked this one more
Eh
Not bed
Levde ikke opp til forventningene, som var skyhøye
Not really my style but pretty fun.
Electric and soulful. James Brown has an excellent voice when he broke on the scene, but I think I liked it more when it matured. The mastering isn’t fantastic on this and the fidelity is lacking, but the music is fun.
OK but I much prefer the later hard-funk stuff.
Oh, what it would have been like to be a screaming girl at the James Brown show. Pretty early in his career, can definitely hear his talent and ability to hype up his audience.
Song great songs and singing
I didn't quite like it as much as I felt I should, though I do suspect that if I were there live it would have been much more enjoyable. I thought the tracks meandered a lot. Standout track: I'll Go Crazy
More of a soul/R&B James Brown, before he got funky.
Nice
Not good not bad, fun live music, James Brown was a baller
Meh
Funky
Not my all-time favorite, but James Brown is a very compelling performer.
Music and performance is incred but the screaming is really annoying. Loses another star for not including 'Living in America' despite it not being written when this was recorded.
I mean yeah it’s ok.
I liked this one already. For all his great songs he doesn't really have a classic album so I suppose this is it. As live albums go its one of the best
I liked the overall show and will listen again.
Nice good oldies
Not my fave live recording
Was fine.
Cracking performance from the band, intense and sublime vocals, enthusiastic audience... but man, what a recording and mix. Part of me wants to track down a mono pressing, because the stereo mix isn't doing this album any favors. This pacing of this album, especially the first half, is unlike anything I've heard before. It feels like a watching a speeding train suddenly screech to a stop to pick up passengers (all screaming "ow!", enthusiastically!) for 10 minutes. The ending of the album lacks the punch I would have expected. Solid, enjoyable, but flawed live album. 3.5
crazy energy! ze willen hem allemaal sloppy toppy geven
A couple of legend tracks on this album, complimented by good R&B support tracks. I did do a couple of skips part way through a couple of the tracks, as they got a bit tedious repetition where I just said, enough, move on.
Liked this more than I thought I would. I preferred his lower-tone melody parts to his screeching though.
Great voice and some good songs but not quite sure why this is so highly rated as a live album. Nothing particularly special and some of the screaming is annoying. Best song Try Me
I didn't particularly enjoy it, but understood the legacy of the music and sound.
Soul
6.8/10
That was pretty fun. It’s wild to hear all the screaming girls and the way he amps up the crowd. The music itself wasn’t super special but it seemed like a wild experience. 7/10
Funky, soulful and wild, this is a great live performance by a legend. I enjoyed it, but probably won't be back for more.
Jazz halt. Idk
3/4
u pozadini je ovo fora slušati, taj feeling jel
Speaking of live albums, here it is. One of the biggest culprits of my dissension with this list. Along with several other foundational artists, James Brown is only featured on this list with a live album. Why not The Payback? Why not Sex Machine Today? Surely those albums could get a placement over not just this one, but the endless field of generic rock offerings from the '80s and '90s? James Brown is Soul Brother #1, the Hardest Working Man in Showbusiness. Confining his sound, his impact to not just one album, but to a live album from 1963, before many of his greatest hits were even written, feels criminal. I have to assume a bias against James Brown, it just doesn't make sense otherwise. And given that he's not the only Black American artist given this same treatment (see also Sam Cooke, BB King, Sarah Vaughan), I worry that bias is more insidious. How's this album? Well obviously it's good, it's James mf'in Brown and his Famous Flames. But we can get a whole lot better. Favorite tracks: Try Me, I Don't Mind, Night Train, Medley: I Found Someone. Album art: Really dig this one, adore the impressionistic art style, and love that it's contrasted by the clear marquees above the scene. The white border is nice too, just a great cover all around. 3.5/5
'60s soul always get me. And a live album by James Brown shows it in its raw glory. Decent at it's best.
I was expecting more. But I get it. This comes from earlier in his career. This is all soul, no funk.
Great performance, high energy, but the way it’s mixed makes it seem like James Brown was standing off stage in the right corner of the Apollo singing these songs.
Live album, never gonna get more than a 3 from me but I did look up some other non-live versions of songs that I added to my own Spotify so can't hate too much
SCREEEEEEAAM!
Great bit of history
The band sounds great and the album captures what must have been a very exciting night for those who attended.
I love the dramatic way in which the MC introduces not only James Brown but the whole damn set list. When live albums go right, they go oh-so right. And this recording is a shining example of the live magic a master like James Brown can summon up. I feel like I'm right there, screaming along with the ladies, body swaying with the crowd. Those interludes, though... it's like I'm in church!
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yes, it’s short and sweet, plus you gotta love his vocals, spectacular even for a live performance Favourite song: Track 5 - Think
Lovely!
You had to be good to get an album in 1963... James Brown was more than good!
He’s great, I’m sure this would have been a wonderful show to witness but… It’s a bit early in his career so doesn’t include the biggest hits and I’m just not that into live albums.
This guy has a story. I've always enjoyed JB.
Great album, preferred the faster paced songs
Not usually a big fan of live albums, but this worked
I'm sure this was influential at the time. Great passion and you can feel how hard he's working. Just not something I connect with.
I could have done without the screaming teenagers
About halfway through I was like, there isn’t as much crowd work as the others said. And then it started. The music is great. But yeah a little bit too much yelping and screaming
Did you know he was voted no.1 R&B star of 1962
I usually don't love live albums but this one was pretty good. James Brown has an insane voice and has unbelievable energy. I knew none of these songs and was getting hyped and signing back to him. This is definitely worth a listen 6/10
Sehr guter Live Auftritt! Gefällt mir stimmungstechnisch gut.
1962, an interesting time. The Godfather is treading water, he's got the r n b circuit show down pat, tight band, great energy and passion, it's a killer and floor filler but we know there's so much more coming. Let's say James carked it screaming one time too many in 62 and never went on to his next and greatest incarnation. Would we view this as a bona fide classic? I'd reckon yes. All the elements are there, Lost Someone is a great example of where he's heading, he's reaching for it, he's so close..."say it a little bit louder!" I saw him in 88 at the Hordern Pav and it was brilliant, but I'd love to sent back in time for this. He's not shouting "Fred!" or "Maceo!" or "hit me!" yet, but he's thinking about it.
I grew up with the Beatles Live at Hollywood Bowl, so I have a love-hate relationship with these kinds of recordings. At least here they scream more or less on cue, and not incessantly. Getting beyond that: interesting to hear this earlier side if JB - like most, I mostly know only his later hits. Great tight band, as always, and surprisingly well mixed for an early 60s live recording. 3.5 stars.
Exciting, fun, and energetic. James Brown oozes stage presence and I feel like without even having the visual component you can still get a sense for what the performance was like. Overall very enjoyable.
James Brown being primo James Brown
Good
Good album but I much prefer James Brown with the JBs. For me Love, Power, Peace is James Brown's best live album.
As a fan of James Brown I really enjoyed this. The band wasn’t quite as tight as later versions and the audience seemed bit high in the mix. But damn, he’s always been great. But also damn, it’s not the best of his in my opinion.
Wasn't what i was expecting.
Uneven is the perfect word. Some great things, some really not great things. It's fine.
Like one big song, difficult to know when one ends and another begins. Album is about 30 minutes. Favorite song is probably number 7 - I Don’t Mind.
Who doesn't love James Brown, he's an amazing artist and showman but I didn't enjoy the last be aspect of this album. It somehow became less intense and I found it hard to maintain my interest.
An important album, but I'm not a fan of "live" albums, particularly those of poorer quality recording
3+/5
Like any live album it’s filled with crowd noise. Worth a listen but JB translates his live sound into recordings it’s not much different, this is short enough to not be annoying
not reallly my thing but what a stage presence he must have had. the girls were going crazy.
Great live performance! Not exactly my kind of music, but it's still quite enjoyable.
This is mostly interesting as a peek into a moment in history, the early James Brown Show. The highlight is probably the introduction. There are a couple of fun performances, but honestly a lot of this pretty dated at this point 60 years later.
Another giant of musical history that just doesn't do it for me
Decent but so samey
Catching up so not doing usual format (might bin that format off altogether to be honest) It’s a solid 3
Yeah everyone sounds like they're having a quality time, can't knock it. Not into James Brown, but there is a tune he plays that's used in the When we were kings documentary and that's pretty decent.
Funky time this. I like that the intro proper sounded like the 60s Adam West Batman. I also back how he just announced the upcoming set list. Just a good time seeing that live. I’m just going to do my favourite as every song could be used for a run or karaoke. My favourite song was Try Me
first listen decent live soul, i though he only did funk smh
Ha, yeah I don't know, this is great, it's fine. I have a hard time caring about live performances. They are so limited. I know this is supposedly legendary, so trying to listen to it through that lens is somewhat disappointing. James Brown is great though, this kind of stuff is just kind of ho-hum on this list.
A nice album enjoy the instrumentation
Ehhhh, it's not bad, just not for me, the live crowd slightly detract from this.
The front half of this album is really strong, I loved the energy, the songs that didn't work for me were lost someone, and the medley. 7/10
très bon cuivre, bon public, un peu long à écouter en une fois
James Brown Live at the Apollo is probably his higest point in his career. The singer is very confident in his ability on this live record and rightfully so - he has a great voice and has enough charisma to fill an entire concert hall. This is a very entertaining album, perfect for a saturday night frenzy, something to help you give it all on the dancefloor. James Brown being called grandfather of soul is a statement very close to the truth. The songs flow from one to another as in a concept album. No breaks between them (which probably is a point in this version) make it feel like you are on an ocean, and the tides just keep crashing onto you, with just couple of seconds in-between to catch breath. If the point of this game would be to rate an album in context of the specific genre it is recorded in, then it has to be rated as high as possible. But I think the main idea is to rate it as you like it personally, right now, without any context. And in this case I enjoyed it, but it's not something I will come back to anytime in the near future.
Yeah, enjoyed that more than I thought I would
James Brown is a big soul man.
Got what a tight ship Brown ran. Band is spot on for a live performance. However - the songs seem somewhat truncated and the whole things sounds like JB was rushing through the set. Never heard a live set sound so much like a production line before. Brown’s vocal quality and energy is undeniable however, I think a lot is lost when we remove the visuals. Standout track for me is “I Don’t Mind”. Overall, short and very sweet.
loved that this wasn't a super long album, and I love listening to James Brown sing of course, and the band was great, but I'm not really into live albums in general and would rather just listen to the studio versions.
Vanskelig å ikke bli litt revet med
Ow! Huh! Waaaaaah! Huh! Wooooooah! Good God!
Bon divertissement, on se croirait là, le genre d'album qui doit être cool en vinyle juste pour le vibe que ça donne.
Nothing stood out
A classic. Not fully to my taste but would listen again if someone put it on one evening!
Good music, great voice! I think I would have personally preferred a non-live version more but you could feel his and the crowd's energy so that was cool
Good album. Was pretty fun with it being a live album from so long ago.
Enjoyable, not my favorite. Shortest concert ever?
I was excited to check out this album, as I have heard of the legendary performer James Brown. My first impression was that the music was just alright. I didn't hate it but I was expecting to enjoy it a lot more and maybe include a hit or two that I had heard of but didn't realize was one of his songs. I am going to give this another listen to fairly judge it.
James Browns powerful vocals shine bright in this live album. You really get a sense of his showmanship with how you hear the audience react to him. Good album, I'm just personally not a huge James Brown fan
I wish I could have seen this live! Can't say I'm a huge Brown fan, but enjoy the vibe and the energy he brings to his music. I enjoyed this album. Was perfect for preparing budget templates. 3.5
3 James Brown is one of my favorite cameos in Blues Brothers so I loved hearing the music that influenced the movie. Pretty good live album, energy is really high and JB does a great job with controlling the crowd through interactions or whatnot. Musically I hasn’t left much of an impression but I think it’s an album to listen to just for the vibe
Totally fine. Doesn’t have much in the way of iconic tracks but shows the electricity Brown brings to the live setting.
Great voice
3, wild
Great energy in the performance.
good
The essense of James Brown is captured in this recording. Especially the Please Please Please medley is a tour de force of the power and energy of James Brown
-A new listen for me. I'm shocked this doesn't have so many more listens on Spotify. Does this mean that it's not a good entry point for JB? -The production on this is super interesting. The mics seem...not underproduced? But there's not a ton of production here either. It seems like the vocals and the audience mic are one and the same. -For being from the 60s, you can barely tell that this wasn't recorded in a studio. Overdubs? -The bass and drums are carrying the groove of the instrumentation here. -His vocals are GREAT on Lost Someone (waoh that SCREAM) -oh my god this track goes on for seven more minutes -This song to me is peak James Brown -WOAH THESE SCREAMS -The band is carrying -Very awesome all around. Would be curious to see how this stacks up to his studio work if there are other albums of his on the list (and I'm sure there are).
Dit was prima te hebben van die ouwe heer, die eigenlijk toen nog helemaal niet zo oud was, maar wel zo klinkt.
Alsof ik naar een soort funky kerkdienst zat te luisteren, die interactie tussen James en zijn publiek. Heerlijk!
This is the first James Brown album I've ever heard, gotta say "Think", "Lost Someone", and "Night Train" were my faves from there
Held up as a giant among albums, but I could take it or leave it.
Didn’t think I’d enjoy this as much as I did. Great energy.
4 Love it Think a 3
Obviously quite a performance from a Brown oozing with passion. But the music is no match to the singer, and the songs themselves are not that special.
this is a good album; in the live concert, his passion comes thru
Nice, enjoyable. Great vocal chops.
This album bustles with energy and is a lot of fun, though I do prefer Brown's slightly later stuff (his mid-60s to 70s repertoire is incredible) It truly is a landmark recording, capturing such an iconic singer blowing up with a raucous audience all around, I just wish I liked the songs more tbh
Short and screamy, but a good intro to JB and captures the vibe. Band is air tight!
James Brown sounds like an incredible performer. He's putting his heart and soul out, and the band does an excellent job backing him up. Sounds a lot more rock n roll and less funk than his studio work. It's a peculiar album, only a half hour in length, with 8 out of 11 tracks taking place in the first 10 minutes, alternating between wild rock songs and slower R&B / doo wop pieces. Brown's interjections define this piece, and I could only imagine how mind-blowing this would be to contemporary listeners. Sounds like his teenage girl audience goes crazy over it! I was impressed by the set list: the progression, styles, and lengths. "Lost Someone" is certainly the star track, after multiple listens the time still flies by. I was expecting a more invigorating experience from Brown overall. Not too many moments stuck out to me. (I was expecting pieces comparable to his hits.) Also, the ending was dull, even the audience seemed to stop caring.
As someone who is the biggest fan of soul music, the shit fucking rocks. Reminder James Browns in this album was not auto tune. His volcas are amazing. This album you can try to and jam to. If you are/getting into old soul music, LISTEN TO JAMES BROWN. 3/5
I love live shows but I'm not much for live albums. It's just not the same. The girls screaming bloody fucking murder between each of his sentences was a pain to listen to. Great music though. I'll give it that.
Soulfull album, klinkt als een leuk optreden om live bij aanwezig te zijn geweest. Bij deze opname klinkt het publiek af en toe wel heel sterk door
Disco en vivo que está bien y punto. Buenos metales, buena voz pero nada que me brincara mucho.
De los discos en vivo de esa época que nos han tocado este ha sido el que menos me ha llamado. Mucho menos enérgico que otros como el de Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis o B.B. King y me no sentí que tuviera los éxitos que esperaba. Tampoco es malo, por lo que alcanza la tercera estrella.
This album was a joy to listen to. Funky, soulful, life affirming. Would listen again
Was good, not to into it though.
It was Ight
James Brown had some slick tricks, still not a fan of live albums though
As with the majority of these ''older'' genres: Nice to hear once but thats about it
Ok
very enjoyable live album, James Brown and his vocal are really phenomenal; solid 3,5
Live at the Apollo was a great jazz album that lead itself as something akin to a time capsule. It is wonderful to experience the energy from the crowd back in the day. Any woman over the age of 60 who complain about the way girls go gaga for singers these days, should take a good listen to this album, nothing has changed. Best: Try Me Worst: Think
Loved the live audience and the energy
Notes written
engaging, as Brown usual
Pretty good live album
It's James Brown. He's good. But, I dunno maybe it's the live-ness but as an album it started to drag.
Cracking good fun! Loved it! Sounded like a brilliant gig! James Brown baby!
Another live album on the bounce? Goddamn it. So James Brown is infinitely more talented than Cheap Trick (yesterday's live album) and its on that basis alone that this album is going to get three stars. These songs, studio recorded and with production involved, would get 5. Hands down. But live albums can get in the goddamn sea.
fun
Very exciting, energetic, fun performance. Good doo-wop. Amazing to think James Brown was a leading early 60s soul man as well as the godfather of funk in 70s.
Not really a James Brown fan, but you can't deny the legacy of the man and the energy of this album. Some performers thrive with live performances and clearly with this and other Apollo live recordings, he is at the top of his game in front of a live audience. He truly is the hardest working man in show biz!
1/17/22
Good live album 3 stars
I really like James Brown, but for some reason this album just didn’t resonate with me. My favorite song was actually “Down and Out in New York City”, which came up as a spotify radio recommendation after I finished the live show. Album highlight: Emily walked in from her run and asked why i was listening to someone screaming 😂
14th January 2022 Listened in the shower and while shaving. Went out with coopy and ebbs in the evening. Lovely little half hour with the hardest working man in show business. Great to hear the reaction of him playing to a live audience.
Fun! But would prefer a studio album.
I Have confession, I found this album a bit of a slog to get into. Maybe it was my mood but I just didn't find this as good as Live at the Apollo Vol II which I used to play to death as a teen. Something about it just misses the mark for me. Maybe the mix or production doesn't do it justice on Spotify - I feel like I am listening to the gig for the foyer rather than being up front in the thick of the action
Die Band ist einfach nur geil. Finde die Songs nicht so wahnsinnig gut, aber die Arrangements und die Performance sind der Hammer.
Not the best live album I’ve heard, but enjoyable enough
Quality soul from the hardest working man in music.
Another live album? 🥴 🥴 🥴 Palpable energy and soul here, but that crowd is so jarring and distracting.
SHACK
I saw James brown live at Glastonbury when he was allegedly 80 odd, but in reality he was probably 100. Was underwhelming as he didn't do much other than shout James brown while everyone else did the work. This album surprised me because he actually sings on it.
A cyclops on cocaine tugging himself off to the memory of the surrogate mother of his first born.
It was okay. Not my type of vibe, but I liked Night Train. I can imagine watching this live must have ben fun, not the same experience when you're just sitting at home
The smoke man live was better
Solid piece of live music. However, I sorta dislike music in general, I don't have the headphones to make it sound "Real." So all I get is some sort of subpar recording with overblown screaming and shouting in the background. It's cool, but I also kind of hate it is a format.
I'm noticing a pattern with a lot of these albums where I can recognize that, yes, this is Good Music, and it's fairly enjoyable to listen to, but it doesn't really do very much for me. Will I put this on again? Most likely, no. But it was an enjoyable experience nevertheless. Bonus points for the girls going absolutely hogwild during Lost Someone, haha.
6/10
Very funky, very disco, much shouting
Good album despite being live.
Some songs are bit to short and poppy. A good energy throughout with a good funky soul sound.
I början visade albumet på höga strukturella kvaliteter. Genom att hålla låtarna koncisa och utvecklande lyckades musiken. Detta gjorde de inledande låtarna minnesvärda men efter albumets gång tappades den kärnfulla egenskapen men också den medryckande känslan. De senare låtarna var inte alls lika sammanhållande och gav en känsla av ett obearbetat resultat. Samtidigt är sångarens vackra raspiga röst perfekt för den svängiga stil som albumet konstruerar.
Soul med masser af energi, live
Quite nice little album. Not sure if I'd listen again though
Very energetic, must have been amazing to be there. I'm not a big fan of live recordings in general, but I can see how this one might be an exception (were it not for all the screaming).
Good
I can feel the funk. Fart och fläkt hela halvtimmen i detta livealbum! Gillart. Love Someone är albumets egentliga höjdpunkt, en 10 minuter lång, briljant sånguppvisning. Men jag kan ändå inte bortse från den lite lugnare, nedtonade I Don't Mind, som är otroligt vacker i sin enkelhet. Bästa låt: I Don't Mind. Även om alla bör lyssna på Lost Someone minst en handfull gånger i livet.
Just what it says.. ya need to see him tho
Too fast...
The hardest working man in show business shows exactly why he is that. Old school soul and R&B doing it right. The crowd is as much as an instrument in this as well. Best Tracks: I'll Go Crazy; Medley; Night Train
It's hard to pick against James Brown, but the mix was awful and so was all the screaming. This was not the experience I was hoping it would be. Best track: the medley
Decent early more blue-sy. 3.5/5
There's some balancing issues. None of my favourite tracks were on it. And at 30 minutes, it felt like it should have packed more of a punch than it did... But it's still James Brown. Performance and presence out the hole
I like James Brown, but never a fan of live albums
September 30, 2021 This was fine but kind of long and rambly. Not bad, just not for me.
To much crowd noises.
Pretty good stuff. 0RS
Great voice, good songs I guess my problem is that they all sound like standards, and like I've heard them 100 times before, even when I haven't.
it was okay, i like his voice but it wasn’t that fun to listen to 🤷♀️🤷♀️
Uncomplicated fun. James Brown is great to listen to, although this particular selection of songs isn't necessarily my favourite - being recorded in 1962 it has a huge 50s flair/sound to it and I'm not a big fan of that era (e.g. doowop) but nevertheless it's a highly enjoyable collection especially (mostly?) because it's live. And that intro is fantastic :) 6/10 3 stars - will never be a keeper for me but would reach for this again in the right setting.
Fun
A preview of his later glory, but doesn’t stand alone as something I’d play again and again.
Short and sweet. Nice one.
R&B, soul
Not bad. Probably wouldn’t put it on, but wouldn’t necessarily turn it off either.
Fun little piece of history but not something I'd go back and listen to
Big James Brown fan but this album really isn't that good. "Lost Someone" was pretty cool though.