James Brown Live At The Apollo

Arguably one of the greatest live albums

Incredible as hell. James live? uh hell yeah. This dude was known for his stage presence and it shows here.

I can see why it’s good. But it just isn’t my jam.

Old school live performance with more focus on the show than the actual songs

Thought this was alright, didn’t enjoy it too much honestly but it was ok

different from my usual, but good nonetheless :)

This album better exemplifies, more so than any other, the POWER that James Brown had when he held that mic in his hand. His interaction with the crowd is unique. They are literally shrieking at eachother.

Can't deny the talent, just not my thing at all.

I've heard of James Brown but had never properly listened to any of his songs, soz. Intro by Fats Gonder - dang, great intro, and the crowd goes wild !!!!!! I'll go crazy - rlly jazzy and smooth, but he’s a great performer Try me - crowd favourite apparently, rlly beautiful vocals dang Instrmental bridge 1 - 12 seconds !! Yes jazz and trumpets Think - jazz jazz jazz, very upbeat but sounds very fun, would be a fire MT number Instrumental bridge 2 - 9 seconds !! I don't mind - crowd loves this one too, I like the rlly quick vocal echo (idontmind), very sultry Instrumental bridge 3 - 10 seconds !!!! Lost someone - 10 mins, makes up for the bridges lol, dang great crowd work, ok it’s getting a little long lowkey Medley - very long, all the songs kinda sound the same ngl Night train - I’m glad I’m ending now, geez Louise OVERALL: this is just a recording of one of his performances, but dang the crowd loves him, he’s a great performer. I also like it being less than 30 mins long 🫶, everything blended into each part that I didn’t even notice the song changed. But lowkey at the end, I was getting a bit bored 🤷‍♀️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5

3/10 Barely held my attention and that stereo split is terrible.

Ihan tyylikäs keikka, ei ollut I Feel Goodia vielä julkaistu niin ei vetänyt sitä :( Ei tuttuja kappaleita siis. Parhaat: I Don't Mind

really liked

Enjoyed this. So much energy and soul in it. Hearing the audience sometimes lets me down though, but I think in this case the energy can be felt through them too. I like lots of James browns work, and I would listen again. Wish it was a bit longer of an album.

Really like the artwork of this. Feels like pure energy. I've been well exposed to James Brown via Alan Freeman's Story of Pop and I'm a fan. This is unfortunately a bit too short and difficult to get your teeth in to. Feels like a missed opportunity.

Good but not long enough

The voice is smooth as butter and the instrumentals are as tight as they could be. Very enjoyable live album, a big compliment as someone who usually doesn't vibe with live albums. There's also so much to say about the fact that this was from the early 60s - I would have loved to have been in that room at the time, to witness the start of the 60s ‘soul’ boom.

Incredible live album. The band sound like they’ve been playing together for years, yet they still sound youthful and bright. Early James Brown is just bread and butter, isn’t it?

Nice

Amazing energy here. The singing and the band is so good that I wouldn't believe this was live if it wasn't for the screaming crowd. Too bad I wasn't born soon enough to see it live.

Trochu lepšie, ako jeho klasika z 80. rokov, ale nebaví ma...

I enjoyed the listen

So much fun. Have not listened to it again, and have not listened to it in a while. A common trope among these older albums for me. Great to relisten to. All aboard the night train! Anyone who wants to learn more should watch his TAMI performance.

Great energy! Classic bluesy grooves and funky vocals.

Overall 7/10 I’ll go crazy - 9/10: I like this it was a very fun song and the instrumentals were really good try me - 8/10: a lot more chill but really good still. I love his voice and the ending. think - 6/10: I thought the speed was good I just didn’t love the song it was a little too much for me I don’t mind - 7/10: this song is chill I like it, a little boring for me but still good. lost someone - 7/10: very good song just kind of long and not super fast. it is fun in some parts medley - 9/10: this song is really good, very fun and many different changes that make it really interesting night train - 8/10: I like this it’s very danceable and super fun

Sorry but this genre of music is really not for me.

Iconic soul. Thirty minutes of energy. My only critique is that it’s not long enough.

The sound quality is amazing on this one and you can't go wrong with James Brown

No notes. Live recording at its perfection. Transports me to a time and place I've never been. Amazing.

This should be a 5 just for impact. If it were 5 or 10 minutes longer that would seal it for me. I love Brown as the young R&B singer. Before he became an Eddie Murphy character or a "Crack Smoking Wizard." His tale t and the skill.of his band is undeniable.

Sick, last 3 track run is great.

Lively and fun. Big focus on instrumentals and James Brown signature yells and hoots.

é um álbum muito tranquilo de escutar. as letras são mais simples, o vocal é bom e instrumental também. é um álbum com uma sonoridade bem clássica do soul. é bom!

I nearly didn't listen to this one, convinced as I was that this sweating waxwork of a singer would just screech and yelp his way through the whole thing and leave me wanting to kill people. But here we are. Who's first?

This is exactly the kind of record (particularly as a live album) that I think... I bet being there was wonderful. I think I get the whole vibe, it is absolutely alive, and while it's not something I really know much about it is hard to find music with more 'soul'. I love it, but other than in things like this list I can't honestly say I would sit down and listen to the album. I feel it is important that I have listened to it, and I have.

Why is the audience just a bunch of teenage girls in a rollercoaster?

New to me. Great loved it! 1. I'll Go Crazy 2. Think 3. Lost Someone (Wow - the screams!)

This album was released in 1963 but it pretty much represents the 1950s period of James Brown's career. Even though I prefer his sixties and seventies material, there is no denying the pure soul this album pours into your ears. Definitely five star.

It was good! Very enjoyable and easy listening.

Don’t really get the fuss on this one versus so many other of his live performances, and points off as usual for a live album anyway

Sure

He performed in Harlem, New York on October 24th, 1962.

Legendary artist somewhat outside of my experience. This album was energetic, although bluesier than I expected from hearing his later stuff. Captured his presence well.

Love a live soul album, especially when you can hear the atmosphere/audience having a great time. Great energy. Would love to see a good James Brown concert doc.

Now i undersrand those SNL skits as a child.

This is pretty ok! I broadly like the energy and style of music, but it just sorta ends up going in one ear and out the other. Enjoyable enough time though

I associate James Brown more with funk than with rhythm & blues, and this release is the latter. That said, this is some pretty damn solid rhythm & blues!

This wasn’t as good as I was hoping from the first couple songs. He brought the energy, the band sounded fantastic, but by the song I Don’t Mind, I felt like the whole thing lost steam and I had grown somewhat tired of his constant interjections that were 10x louder than anything else that was going on. That said, as far as a relic of history, it’s really interesting. Dude absolutely had the ladies going buck wild throughout the entire thing. Putting aside his obviously problematic personal life, he had one hell of a stage presence. The album does a great job of making you almost feel like you were there, or can at least vividly imagine it. Especially the early 60s, James Brown was some revolutionary stuff. For the modern day though, I’m not overly impressed.

🗣️ OWWW!! 🗣️ Delightfully fun and soulful. The crowd going insane for James Brown adds tons of charm to the record!

If you're going to beat your wife with a pipe you need to be at least as interesting onstage as Jerry Lee Lewis. I know this was groundbreaking at the time but I'm not sure what this has to offer in 2026.

Can definitely see the beginnings of where James Brown ends up going and can only imagine how fresh this sound was in 1963.

No skips but not for me

Traditional jazz vibes, funky, and lively vocals. Not my style but very fun.

For a live album it's thankfully short. I understand it's inclusion to hear James Brown in his element. But I respect it more than I like it. It was solid though. 3 Stars.

Fairly unexciting to be honest.

Hints of Blues, high respect for James Brown

good

I’m sure this is an important album that deserves better, but I didn’t latch onto anything here.

If you want to understand why James Brown is so highly regarded, here it is. I am giving it a four because of my previous thoughts on live albums. Note to self: Is there a single live album that is better than a recorded album - even among bands known for their live performances?

I hate so called live albums where you can tell the artist has had the vocals fixed in the studio or they add extra crowd noise. With this one however you can feel the energy is genuine. Music wise I liked the album for the most part, I wasn’t overly fussed on the medley at the end. In saying that I got busy in work when it was on so I wasn’t giving it my full attention. Maybe on the second listen later it will be different. Top Track - Think

Inte för mig

James Brown is one hell of a man! His voice shakes you to your core. You immediately want to dance and shake you head in disbelief. Live version gives you the opportunity to hear what it’s like to experience him live

Meh. Sounded like old doowop music. Not his prime material.

Good

This is top tier music. This guy is happening. And the band supports him flawlessly.

This is an earlier edition of one of the James Brown live albums. It misses the songs the funk and the visual swagger of his later concerts. Its listenable but by no means definitive. Also his voice is an acquired taste and this early version is too polished

É um bom registro ao vivo. Tem seu valor. QoA Adonis New.

Live albums are typically a bust and this is no exception. James Brown earns his place here as the Godfather of Soul.

I would have preferred later era for the songs but listening to the audience reactions and James interacting with the audience was the best part of this record. Didn’t recognize anything but the energy was high and I’m betting his dancing was off the charts.

2,4/5

I've listened to this album many times. On this listen I feel like I gained a deeper appreciation for Brown's vocal range combined with his ability to rapidly change timbre and volume. I just wish the album had been longer.

banging

crowds energy is 10/10, amazing album makes me want to listen to more of the artists work, love the jazzy instrumentals

One of my favourite albums. I read in a 33 1/3 book about the album being recorded during the Cuban missile crisis - the idea that all the people in the crowd were living under the imminent possibility of mutually assured destruction adds a mania to their cheers and screams. James Brown brings so much energy it leaves you breathless and the hits just run into one another. My only complaint is that it’s over in a shot.

James Brown is mostly just screaming the whole time

I love a live album and this one was really fun. It was funky, it was jazzy. I enjoyed it.

Good god yall!

loved the screaming girls

Energy

The Godfather

Muy buenas vibras

Thought I'd like it more, guess I'm not big into jazz Fave track: I'll go crazy

21 minutes long. A bad recording that is 90% weighted to one speaker/headphone. Definitely not required listening by any metric. 2/5

James Brown being James Brown

Great James Brown

No he llegado ni a la mitad del concierto y ya le doy buena puntuacion. Ritmo, R&B, sonido en directo - hay gente a la que le puede molestar pero para mi es un extra para meterse en ambiente -

Classic

The godfather of soul. Lively performance, truly shows how much HE was the music. Only problem is it’s only 30 minutes.

I don’t get what makes this a classic, other than it’s James Brown. It’s not even a greatest hits set list.

60s ist auf jeden Fall eine der Musikjahrzehnte in die ich super gern reinhör, nur leider war James Brown nie richtig mein Fall. Durch das Live Album habe ich auf jeden Fall ein bisschen mehr Zugang gefunden, allerdings habe ich ein paar der Tracks als sehr repitativ empfunden während andere die Crowd wieder aufgemischt haben. Ich wär auf jeden Fall gern dabei gewesen, weil der Vibe bestimmt super gewesen wäre. Im Alltag werde ich es glaub ich nicht nochmal hören.

Good party

A great live recording of a young JB. You can feel the energy and excitement vividly. I just wish it was longer.

Can't deny the music is fab...but the man was an arse.

JB doing JB things, with his incredibly well oiled machine of a band. If you can for half an hour ignore the fact that he was a really terrible person, this is a delightful capture of early 60s live show energy.

Bin ich leider nicht reingekommen.

It’s over 9,000!!!

Live-Alben finde ich hier echt schwer zu bewerten. Seine Interaktion mit dem Publikum ist überragend.

I was surprised at how NOT tight the band was!

No me moló tanto para ser un disco de James Brown

You can feel this man’s energy as soon as he hits the stage. Gives me the chills with how much soul he puts into his singing. Bops top to bottom.

The crowd loved him. I think his other songs hit better.

Me han gustado mas otros albumes de Jazz

I wasn’t a fan of the live version.

Never really listened to James Brown before and now I want to do more of a deep dive. There’s so much energy and emotion in his music that makes you want to hear more. Loved the instrumental bridges between songs. This album is quick and easy to listen to, but it also has so much depth. Love

sounds fun, but wouldn’t listen to again

boring

..

Not for me. A little James brown goes a long way

The thing I like about this is that is captures the live energy of James Brown. The thing I do t like is all the yelling and squealing. Brown was an elite performer, but the music is not my taste.

Good ol' James Brown

Good good soul

I think I've heard more James Brown impersonations than actual James Brown so I was excited to listen to this. "I'll Go Crazy" is such a banger to kick things off, then I love love love 'Try Me' and 'I Don't Mind'! The tracks are just laid out really well, eg 'Lost Someone' works really well because the steady buildup of 2 minute songs chained together by breathless bridges puts you in the perfect place to hear it. Very impressed, can only imagine how cool being at this show would've been.

I mean, what can I possibly say about James Brown that hasn't been said a thousand times before, and a thousand times more eloquently

Enjoyed this but dont know why it's a must listen

the fact that im listening to this in my room in 2025 and someone was there listening to it live in Harlem and screaming in Lost Someone in 1962 is crazy to me

fun jazzy and really enjoyed it overall very fun and happy tracks overall vibes

He brought those people to a frenzy.

What a performer. The instrumentation on this is fantastic - they don't make music like this anymore.

Fun! Love Debby Harry.

I have a huge problem with live albums. They are a bit irritating. But when we're talking about James Brown, things change a bit. He just sends you the best energy through the headphones. Amazing performer. But it's still a live album and there are just a handful that are done ok, so I will give this a 3 just because I love James Brown.

Good stuff

Great performance, tight musicianship, great atmosphere, and great singing and band leading by the Godfather of Soul himself. Only complaint is that I wish that the bass was placed in the centre of the mix instead of being hard-panned to the left!

Day 118 What a voice James Brown had, really fun live album. 7/10 Highlights Try me Lost someone The medley

Good

Historically a great album. Musically it’s fine. His energy is off the charts and people have been trying to match that since.

Enjoyed this one.

This was a fascinating listen. I could really picture what the concert probably looked like. It was super fun hearing the response from the crowd to almost every line. I was surprised that most of the songs were slow. I always thought if James Brown as high energy. Fun to think this was before the Beatles and rock as we know it.

Was intrigued when i saw it come up. The alblum did nor disappoint.

All in all, not terrible. However, I wouldn’t have lost any sleep knowing I might not of heard it prior to my demise.

Have had some slogs on the list recently, this ain’t one of them. It flew by! While the mix isn’t great- which is understandable- the king of soul’s ability to still makes you swing 60 years later.

Somehow the exact vibe I was looking for. The only time I felt bored was during ‘Lost Someone’. This is not due to the song being bad it’s just long and slightly kills the pace of the earlier tracks. Luckily the energy almost immediately returns. I can only imagine what it was like to watch this live at the Apollo theatre in 1962. 4/5

Honestly, disappointing. James Browne is known as this great, energetic coked-up live act. I've seen clips and performances where Brown is electric. So why is this album so moot? So uneventful? So inconsequential? So tame? For such a powerful live performer, this didn't seem to capture it at all. And I like live albums and live audiences, but it was just kinda half an hour of basic James Brown and live audience calling back.

Amazing, the bar for any live perf. Passion and energy pours from voice.

Pretty cool

Perfection. What's better than early 60s soul music done right in the middle of Harlem? Nothing.

JAMES BROWN. JAMES BROWN. JAMES BROWN.

he sure was a thing

James Brown is the goat.

Hard to deny the energy in this live album. Also, the grooves. Very fun. Must-listen #258.

Wasn't bowled over

Solid album, nothing spectacular.

This was not as fun as I was hoping. Don't think the audience noises helped

So. Much. Energy.

I can't imagine how over-the-top this must have sounded in 1962. Great energy to match that amazing horn section. The songs are much to brief, but the energy and sound are amazing.

A cool document of James Brown in action. Musically brilliant, but feels a bit disjointed.

This isn’t good. Live recordings (with rare exceptions) aren’t albums.

Great energy and good songs.

Тут ще не той фанкі Джеймс Браун,, якого всі люблять, але енергія й тут вже лізе з нього максимально

Якщо вже слухати Джеймса Брауна, то слухати у концертному варіанті. Енергетика мені подобається, але більше 3 поставити тут не можу.

It not my style bit he was a genius

Not a fan of this being live; could be into it in the right mood

I understand the significance of this album, but it wasn’t really doing it for me. The band is super tight, the energy is great, but what was groundbreaking and massively influential in 1962 doesn’t have the same impact today. I preferred it in the background than as an active listen.

It's pretty good, not a genre I have ever enjoyed. James Brown has a hell of a voice though.

Awesome to hear him live.

Skulle gjerne vært der, for all del. Men vet ikke om jeg synes innspillingen sparker så hardt.

I had to listen to this album twice to get it, and honestly, its a little bit underwhelming. I don't know if there are more James Brown albums here in this list, but I was expexting more fast paced and energetic songs, all the fun that I know him for. Also live albuns are such a chore... I understand ehy they did it but yeah it draga a little

Solid work from the hardest working man in show biz. Minus one star for the length of the performance (only 30 minutes) and a single track that takes up 1/3 of the runtime.

high energy

I'm quite familiar with James Brown but this album is new to me. This was a quite enjoyable live recording of early James Brown. I'll likely listen to this again.

8/10

3.7/5 B+

There's a squeaky pedal! Where is the squeak coming from?

Lost someone was way too long but otherwise I really liked it. I’m more used to the later faster funk side of James brown so it was good to hear this side. I really liked some of the transitions particularly on the medley. Fun album

I have a huge problem with live albums. They are a bit irritating. But when we're talking about James Brown, things change a bit. He just sends you the best energy through the headphones. Amazing performer. But it's still a live album and there are just a handful that are done ok, so I will give this a 3 just because I love James Brown.

I wanna hear you say "AAAOOOWHH!!!!!!11!!"

It was a good album. I’ve never heard James brown as a young guy

Wish I could've been there live. An incredible album only rating it 4 because its probably not an album that I'll listen to very often, or be able to put on in the background of everyday life. So interesting reading about Brown's insane influence on practically eveything, and piecing together how much I had already unknowingly listened to from him.

It’s James Brown mother fucker!

I love live albums like these where it’s a single show and you can really get a feel the energy between the artist and the audience.

++*: Think ++: Introduction to James Brown and the Famous Flames, I'll Go Crazy, Try Me, I Don't Mind, Lost Someone, 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, Night Train 9,7/10

Classy! You like jazz?

My right ear enjoyed listening to the vocals, my left ear thought the instruments were good. I'm not sure what the thought process was choosing this over a studio album. I'm also not sure how to feel about James Brown as a person, but separating the artist I thought the performance was pretty good; the audio quality was not. 2.5 rounded down

I was enjoying this album more than I thought I would until I got to Lost Someone and then it started to lose me. Typically I have a hard time with live albums, especially ones that are these old. I normally just don't think they sound that good. There are exceptions to this, of course, but I typically avoid live albums for this reason and I refuse to listen to anyone tell me to do otherwise. Unless it's br*tish list man I guess. The first half of this was fun. James Brown really is a great singer. I've heard some call him the American Freddie Mercury. But by the end of the album, the live recording limitations really started to be a sore spot for me. Typically with these album of the day reviews, I try not to dig into production so much, especially on albums I know are old (i always know when they're old. the year is right under the artist). It's never a good sign when I'm waiting for the album to end because I'm more excited for what's queued up after. And the tricky thing is, I like the songs on this one. In a better recording environment I probably would've just been jamming along and dancing around. Sorry James.

So much sauce here, I can only imagine how cool this was live. Live albums can definitely be a bit wonky sometimes, but every now and then those legendary ones can make you feel like you were there in the audience. Something about the cheering and laughing just put me in a good mood.

There’s a lot to say about James Brown the performer, but James Brown the vocalist is just as important. Brown really exemplifies the type of musician that focuses on using their voice as an instrument rather than a means of communicating an idea (although those aren’t mutually exclusive). Whereas someone like Jeff Buckley tried to make his voice work like a guitar in his music, I would compare Brown’s to a trumpet, blasting in a similar fashion to what we might hear on a jazz record. The way he’ll repeat a shouted line a couple of times is like when a trumpeter finds a really important riff and swirls it a couple of times, then improvises into a new thing that becomes a whole new version of the idea. It’s disorganized, organic, and wonderfully entertaining to listen to. I’m also a sucker for call-and-response during a live show; when I go to see a group or a musician, I want to feel involved in the process of making the moment. Brown did that to a level that not many other musicians can say they do/did, and the crowd interactions are what really highlight this album for me. The album art is also just a 10/10. Beautiful, haunting, mesmerizing. The album is an all around, finely crafted, incredible work of art that doesn’t feel like a forced product, but rather a unique experience.

I’m impressed the recording quality is so high. He really proved his range on this one.

“Every instrument is a drum.” -James Brown My ratings are generally based on 2 things: 1). Did I like it?; 2). Is it influential on things I do like? James Brown is in that upper echelon of influence, like shit that you need to know on day 1 of being a pretentious pop music snob. He is an inspiration to artists ranging from Iggy Pop to Michael Jackson. He’s the most sampled artist in hip hop. He basically invented funk. He’s also kind of a monster if you read about him. If I'm judging a live album, I think the most important criteria is "Would I like to have been there?" and the answer here is a resounding yes. But at the same time, so much of James Brown's appeal is visual. Watch clips of this dude performing and he's an absolute madman on a scale that has only ever successfully been replicated by Michael Jackson. So, the question is whether the performance can really be conveyed to the listener through audio and audio alone. For that, I asked Wayne Kramer from MC5. I subsequently was informed that he's been dead for like 2 years, so I found a quote from him about it: "Our whole thing was based on James Brown. We listened to "Live At the Apollo" endlessly on acid. We would listen to that in the van in the early days of 8-tracks on the way to the gigs to get us up for the gig. If you played in a band in Detroit in the days before The MC5, everybody did "Please, Please, Please" and "I Go Crazy." These were standards. We modeled The MC5's performance on those records. Everything we did was on a gut level about sweat and energy. It was anti-refinement. That's what we were consciously going for." “Anti-refinement” and “gut level” are maybe a stretch here. This band is pretty damn precise. So precise that I assume James Brown pointed a gun at at least one member of the Famous Flames daily.

A fucking powerhouse performer, with auditory proof that no artist has had a crowd in the palm of their hand like this ever since. Does this album sound amazing, is it very re-listenable? Not realllly. But what you’re hearing is the Big Bang of funk, stylistically James Brown is soaring way ahead of his band, forging a sound that will change music forever.

Didn't like his voice or his screaming.

Schade, aber das war nicht so meins.

Were they all on cocaine? The energy of their performance was frenetic.

top

I like JB but this was early in his career and a little boring. Also 60s live albums don't really hold up in terms of sound quality.

So far, the best thing I can say ab this album is that it goes by quickly. V repetitive, drawn out. The crowd is v into it, which is cool I guess, but def feel like I could have died without hearing this one.

Brimming with energy and vigor, James Brown has the audience in the palm of his hands for the show. Fantastic.

La forma en que pide que griten, les dice así no y les corrige como seguir gritando extasiadas. Auramaxxing. This man was swimming in pussy. Them horns tho. Este hombre era el goat la forma en la que lo dirige absolutamente todo a base de gritos, gruñidos y demás sonidos guturales. Immaculate vibes buenísima experiencia.

There are many ways to approach live albums, and in my opinion this one does it right. It cranks up the audience so you can hear every clap and whoop, capturing not just the sound but the feeling of being in a James Brown crowd in the early 60s. The energy and adoration for Brown are palpable, and that's the album's real selling point. The songs themselves, while good, fall a bit short of the electric atmosphere the record creates.

AAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUWW!

Favorite Track: Lost Someone

not the biggest fan of this genre or live performances, but i'd still say this album is somewhere in the middle of the road if it were longer, i think i'd lower the rating, but as it is, i'd say it's enjoyable at least for some background music unlike other albums on here

I would give this 5 stars for I Go Crazy alone.

I only knew the later volume (1968). This is fantastic.

Not the energy level I was expecting from a James Brown concert, but that's a me problem

Once again, not how I think they should've chosen to showcase the artist, but Brown is undeniably great. This feels like including a Beatles album, but it's Beatles '65. Not bad by any means, but not putting their absolute best foot forward.

James Brown's music works best for me when he's at his highest energy. So, while Live At The Apollo isn't necessarily the bag I reach into when I want James Brown, there is still an undeniable importance to this album. This may even be better as a document than an album. The atmosphere of the concert experience is captured perfectly. There's just enough imperfection, and energy crackling around here. And the, almost rhythmically, *screaming* crowd here is one of the most important parts. People go crazy for James Brown, people go crazy for the "emcee", people go crazy for the band, and sometimes, it feels like people go crazy for nothing at all. But point is that the crowd is into it. It really captures the phenomenon that James Brown was. I'll also say, the way he blitzes through songs is *improbable*. Most of these songs are under 3 minutes. Except for the 10(!!!) minute long Lost Someone, the medley, which is sort of cheating, and Night Train. And a lot of these songs are a lot of fun. I will say that for its length, Lost Someone manages to not overstay its welcome. It helps that this album is so brief as is. This is like 31 minutes long. A Third of it is Lost Someone. Another third is The medley and Night Train. Which means that the rest of this album fits into like 10 minutes! It's almost a punk rock move. And the sheer tightness of the band helps a lot. I've heard that James Brown was almost impossible to work with and I believe it. I will say, for as much of a strength the brevity is, it's also kind of a weakness. This album doesn't have much weight as it passes through my ears. But, as I said, what is here is strong. Even though this isn't what I'm necessarily looking for out of James Brown, it is utterly successful in its goals.

Haven't listened for a long time

I enjoyed this album listen from James Brown! He seemed like someone that would be electrifying and fun to see live. I loved the soulful and funky vibes that this live album delivered. I would give this another listen in the future if I was looking for something different from what I normally listen to and to energize myself. This album was a great time indeed!

I feel like I don't want to take down a sacred cow - but - I hate the way this is mixed. JB is ALL the way right, with the other vocalists. The horns and bass are all the way left, drums seem to be straight up the middle. It leads to a very strange, thin sound, that de-emphasizes JB's incredible vocals. Maybe I need to listen to this off-headphones.... The horns sound tired as shit, even at the beginning of the show.... and they’re sloppy as hell on the hits. Yikes. The songs are fine. Nothing that compelling for me, honestly. And I love James Brown! He's obviously a great performer, and he whips this crowd into a frenzy by the end. But I don't really feel the same way. It's fine. THREE STARS

kind of boring

Wouldn't expect anything other than high energy and good vocals!

A very iconic James Brown album

James Brown is absolutely the star of this performance. None of the instruments stand out in a way that competes with is voice. This is obviously highly edited and some of the song transitions are a bit jarring. To my taste, as an album this is perfectly fine, but nothing I would seek out. As a performance, DAMN I wish I had been in the room.

It's a live album, which I'm not a fan of. But more importantly, it's James Brown. The man can make doing your laundry fun. And every part of the performance is damn perfect, the instruments, the vocals, it's all good.

I think a few dozen women in the audience got pregnant just from witnessing that show. I’m not the biggest James Brown fan, lots of style but not a lot of substance in my opinion. He’s also an absolute maniac if you’ve ever read anything about his lifestyle.

3.8 Ive always listened to Volume 2 of live at the apollo, there is a better selection of tunes on there. Makes sense, it was few years later.

It’s a banger.

In the groove. James Brown, pure soul. His energy is legendary. Good album.

Fun listen, wish I was in the crowd for this one

What a time capsule of an album. Brown is great, his energy infectious and the band is unbelievably tight, but a huge part of the charm of this is just the live performance. The screaming fans, the sound, the location. More than a lot of live albums, this really gave me the feeling of being in the room, which was quite cool. Great music, great performance. Had a lot of fun.

This was fine. JB, a legend. Not likely to go back to it.

I like the studio recorded stuff more because there was definitely something of a visual spectacle to see The Hardest Working Man in Show Business that is missing here

This was an enjoyable live album. I’ve not really listened to much James Brown. It was kind of a peek into club shows at the time and the crowd interaction gave it a fun vibe. I don’t expect this to be added to my regular rotation.

Not my thing, wasn't long enough and felt dated

A surprising amount of female screaming here. Not dissimilar to Mr Brown’s house, or so I’ve heard.

It's really not my type but some of the rhythms were good.

The man was a force of nature.

James Brown isn’t usually my thing, but I really enjoyed Live at the Apollo. It’s bursting with energy, and the sound is powerful from start to finish. You can tell he was an incredible live performer — the band sounds fantastic and perfectly tight throughout. My only complaint is that it’s over too soon; I wish the album was longer! Favourite track: I’ll Go Crazy, Night Train and Try Me are great tunes. Least favourite track: Every song is worth a listen. Album artwork: A cool and iconic cover that perfectly suits the performance.

Funky! Lost points for being a bit short and very "live," but can appreciate why, being self-funded and capturing the raw energy of the godfather of funk, this was an important album.

Good live album, which isn't common. James Brown is a legend for a reason.

not my style of music at all unfortunately

שאולי: קצר מדי אבל היה סבבה שירה: אלבום מעולה, אך לא היה שיר שהפיל אותי

This album was a vibe! I mean who doesn't enjoy James Brown. The soul of this album can be heard throughout its entirety.

Hurts my soul to give a James Brown record this low of a rating. But it’s not indicative to the fire he was about to set a few years later and change everything. Classic James Brown energy, but the funk isn’t there yet.

Omggg, my first time ever listening to James Brown. This feels momentous. — Ok, hear me out. It’s not the best introduction. It’s grainy 60s audio and the audience is not tuned out at all and SCREAMING. It still grooves heavy, but I look forward to a studio recording. Maybe a video here would help.

What more could be said, because this live album epitomizes this sentiment: "It was anti-refinement. That's what we were consciously going for." James Brown was not a saint. But he was a performer and he gave a 110 percent on stage. Certainly, he was no role model unless you find yourself on stage. On stage you give what he gives until you can give no more. 5 stars.

Really enjoyable 30 mins. So much energy.

It’s James Brown live of course it’s good.

Despite not being my favorite genre this was undeniably fun

Absolute classic.

fun shit!!!

Ripping audio, feels like I'm there. Love the ripping guitar.

Lowkey the longest half hour of my life and I don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way.

Yeah, whatever.

Decent

Seeing James Brown live back in the day had to be an experience! The hype, brass, and the pure soul of the Godfather himself. What a vibe! Like a lot of live albums, the recording quality leaves something to be desired, but the energy is through the roof!

Nothing not to like here. Unlike my standup set at the Apollo.

Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Super Livealbum!

A lot of audience squealing in this live recording. Because it's James Brown.

I am too hung over for James Brown.

Ok, not really a fan.

James Brown is one of the greats but in its genre, this is a decent but potentially disappointing album. While the music is fine, it's not representative in my view of the standard of James Brown to come, who I think got better and better after this. A lot of the 30 minutes of this album are James playing with the crowd and instrumentals rather than showing off his more refined songs and lyrics. It's a great 30 minutes but I would reach for other records by JB and his peers before this. 3 out of 5.

Standouts Too much screaming, should check out the studio versions

The recording quality is just okay, and it shows the limitations of live recording technology in the early ’60s. Still, James Brown’s stage presence and energy are undeniable — this is an artist who truly had to be 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 to be fully appreciated. It’s a powerful snapshot of his early live magic, even if his later classics like 𝘚𝘦𝘹 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 were still years away.

What the. Why are my ears wet??

Enjoyed it more when directly listening. Energy off the charts but got repetitive .

Album 45/1001 Live albums rarely do justice to the energy of a live show . This is most definitely not the case here. The cultural significance of this record, coming when it did in 1963, can't be overestimated, nor fully grasped by a modern audience. But listening to it in 2025, it's more than understandable why this man was known as the godfather of both soul and funk, and one of the greatest ever live performers. Perhaps the most important and influential live album, by one of the most important and influential artists to ever do it. 🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Favourite song: Try Me 🕺🏿👈🏿 Honourable mention: I Don't Mind 🤷🏿‍♂️ I'll Go Crazy 🤪 Think 🤔💭 Lost Someone 🧐 Night Train 🌃🚂 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 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿👉🏿✊🏿💪🏿👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏿👩🏾‍❤️‍👨🏿❔️⁉️🧍🏿‍♂️❤️🧍🏿‍♀️👌🏿🧟‍♂️🧙🏿‍♂️🧙🏿🤔🥴😵‍💫 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

This actually bangs Oh actually way ballady-er than I expected. Kinda tails off.

i guess i ain't ready for the night train

Incredible live album. The energy on this record is infectious. The band is tight, and James Brown sounds unbelievably good. I can’t fathom that this is from 1962. I wish this record was twice as long.

01) Introduction to James Brown and The Famous Flames - 5,5 02) I'll Go Crazy - 7,0 03) Try Me - 7,0 04) Think - 7,0 05) I Don't Mind - 7,0 06) Lost Someone - 7,0 07) 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 - 7,0 08) Night Train - 7,5 TOTAL: 6,88 (69/100) Current ranking: 440/719

peak

Favorite Track: I Don't Mind

Are you kidding. The Godfather at best.

105/1089 This was a really nice album, it was quite short and sweet, and even with a single song that took up a third of the half hour runtime alone, it flowed smoothly. i feel that maybe my score doesn’t do the talent/impact justice but it feels right as a reflection of how much i like/enjoy the actual music, personally. Soul music and live albums (of artists i’m not already into) aren’t the most resonant with me but i could see myself coming back to this down the line with fresh ears and appreciating it even more faves: Think, Lost Someone 60/100

Just some good ol’ JB.

So, so hot.

So damn cool

# 599 : Live at the Apollo I want to like it, but it's so hard to enjoy a live album. I could listen to it but it's not real good. Nothing really leapt out at me, but one or two things sounded ok. If you have to listen to this, look out for: I'll Go Crazy

Energetic, claro and fun to listen to. In the realmente of live albums this is a standout with song choices, production and overall sound. Very good.

What a sexy man. Incredible that this was live

4.5/10

What can you say other than the godfather, great album

The godfather of soul truly brings the energy in this live performance. While I didn’t really know any of the songs, I couldn’t help but feel the excitement as he did his thing.

Hell yeah, James Brown! My only real grief is that this album just seems to end prematurely, but it's a great listen.

As with most live albums, too much talking to and playing with the crowd, which is interesting while live but not after its recorded. James Brown has a great voice, and the songs are pretty good, just not as fun live. Best song: I'll Go Crazy

Not normally a live album guy but this was pretty good.

This was fine, but all the songs sounded the same

Pretty nice couple of songs though there was some stuff I didn't really care about

Enjoyed this album but prefer some of James Brown’s other work. Liked that it was live and I did feel like I was there at the Apollo watching a show. Favorite Song(s): I Don’t Mind, Lost Someone

Good

I can only take James brown in small doses. He's got his historic yelps, yowls, and the call-out bits are fantastic. He's actually got a decent singing voice in the mid and lower registers, too. It's just that it doesn't take too much of his histrionics for me to get over it. Had to listen to this album in 4-5 song bursts. The production is pretty much what you'd expect from a live event at this time, a bit tinny and the crowd is too loud. But he definitely has them fired up. I guarantee that this was a wild time. He's a hell of a showman. But on a recording, when you can't see him jumping around, dancing with the people, and all of the cool characters in his band, it loses a lot. I'll give it a 4, in small doses. But, I know some folks love it and I can see why.

Listened Before? N FUNKY! Love James Brown. This was early JB, and he wasn't quite as wild as he was in the 70s but still great stuff. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: I'll Go Crazy

mix surpreendentemente boa álbum surpreendentemente chato 4/10

Pretty good of it’s time and effective great vocals n instrumentals might return

its still a live album lol

Not a fan, but the album is quite entertaining 7/10

I don't usually care for live albums, but this is crispy as hell. Sound quality is fantastic. I get it.

Awesome live album, saved

It was good but didn't really blow me away. Hummm

Yeah, he's good. His style has been mimicked so often it's hard to gauge just how raw and powerful this must have been in the 60's.

Expected more energy...

5/5 First full album of THE James Brown and honestly, I apologise for not listening to this absolute genius earlier. His voice goes from smooth to raw the entire album. The band is killing it which is insanely impressive cause they literally do not stop for over 30 minutes. I’m going to have to go through his discography the next couple of weeks.

Christ that was quick

I know he’s influential and important for music and I do understand the appeal, it’s just not my taste.

Soulful and energetic, you can practically feel the buzz of the crowd. It’s a nice, tight performance with James Brown conducting. Not something I would typically listen to, but I enjoyed it.

Première fois que j’écoute le grand James Brown pendant tout un album. Son énergie est infinie ! L’album est bon, mais j’aurais préféré un chanteur moins hyperactif et un band plus restreint. Moins big band, mais tout autant funky et bluesy.

lets gooo

I wanted to enjoy this album. I wanted to like James Brown. But I hate to say it, I really didn't. I hate live albums, especially when you can hear the screaming in the background. Sorry, but not for me. Not an album I enjoyed.

9 Made me think of this video of David Byrne hearing his music play and say OUAH! It’s James Brown! And that’s exactly how I feel when I listen to it as well

Enjoyable, but not particularly memorable. 3/5

Love a good live album of someone who can really sing.

Listening to this, you can tell what a great performer James Brown was. His energy, charisma, and voice are all off the charts. His band is great too. Somehow though, this album still falls flat, and it's because of the songs. The beginning of the album is full of what feels like snippets of songs, with each one ending before Brown can really get to work on them. Then comes "Lost Someone," which Brown sings the hell out of, but which drags on much too slowly. The medley that follows it is the best part of the album, the energy really comes through on that one. By that point though it just can't save the album. This was probably a great show, but in recorded form it ends up sounding surprisingly thin and slight.

Highlight songs: I'll Go Crazy Try Me Think I Don't Mind Lost Someone Medley: Please Please Please/You've Got The Power/I Found Someone Night Train

Imagine going to see James Brown live and him not playing papas got a brand new bag. I realise he hadn’t released it yet but still, what’s the point? It’s like going to see Houmous & Chutney and them not playing Len & Ken’s Chickpea Rhythm! 1.9 11/11 Nighttrain

Okay this was a lot of fun and made me want to be there. The call/response of getting all the girls to scream "owwww" in the extended performance of Lost Someone is classic.

This was a quick, easy listen. All albums should be a consumable 30 minutes. Live performances, however, should be longer, and a lot of live performances don't need to be on this list.

Hard not to rate any James Brown record during his golden era as a 5. The man was truly in a league all his own.

Почти религиозный экстаз и практически панковский напор.

Great live album

Don’t want to be harsh on a legend, but I can’t get into this collection of ad-libs and screams.

I'm sorry I never got to see him live. I had a ticket for a show, but he died before the concert. One of those lost opportunities. His music is so soulful and funky. His band was so tight. This album was a high water mark. Brilliant!