Reviews (page 5 of 13)
This one is difficult for me because I’m a *huge* James Brown fan but also really dislike live records, they make me feel like something is just out of reach, like I hear the audience or the band enjoying something but I can’t see it or feel it, which somehow makes them feel more sterile than a studio recording. Anyway, weird because James Brown is thought of as essentially a band leader and performer, so you’d think this is the format he’d shine in. But this is also weirdly sequenced – the record itself doesn’t really come alive until the last 3 songs, everything else feels essentially like sketches (maybe because the instrumental interludes only come after a single 2 minute song? Not sure if that’s a setlist issue or, more likely, stuff was just left out), it’s like a Bob Pollard record. Aside: I really rate James Brown as a vocalist, which is not typically discussed as one of his strengths, but his gravelly voice cuts through horns/backing vocals so well, I like it so much more than the polished Motown sound, where so many vocalists never rise above the backing tracks. James is always working, he is the LinkedIn of singers. Please Please Please slaps. I rate this a 4 just because it’s James Brown and I know this show fucking killed, even if it doesn’t quite translate to record and I probably wouldn’t put this record on out of habit.
Bel sound, lyrics insomma
Wow, I can see why James Brown is known as the Godfather of Soul, amazing album, I thought the mixing on this album was fantastic as every instrument came through as well as the crowd (for better or worse at times), the energy of the audience and performers really shown through
The women in the audience are positively feral Certified hood classics for sure
James Brown is just always gonna be so much fun. I feel like they could have gotten more mileage out of this being a live album; more audience banter, more interludes, even a little more clapping; I just wish we got a little more of the James Brown energy--they do this, but for whatever reason it just doesn't quite have the energy I'm accustomed to with him. So 4.25 rounding down, I'd say.
a very good quality recording for a live album and james brown is always amazing
In contrast to yesterday’s live album, this one feels much more like being at an actual performance. There’s a fantastic opening introduction by Fats Gonder to get you hyped up, before James Brown himself comes on stage at his swaggering, sweaty, sex machine best. He has a fantastic natural rapport with the crowd, leading them in a call and response, feeling very much like the evangelical preacher he would go on to play in the Blues Brothers movie. Just an all round great live performance captured on vinyl!
I love to be contradicted from one album to the next. This live album is the opposite of the last one: it's still live, but it's a good and reasonable collection of songs, not packed from hours of live. The energy is conveyed much better, stay strong all along and it's really enjoyable.
I've known this album for a long time. It's a long standing favourite. Great upbeat funky sounds
One thing is very clear, Brown knew how to take command of both the stage and the audience to great effect. He's one of those artists that has better live recordings than studio recordings.
This is crazy. Live album from 1963. Thank god for technology that we can save these. You almost feel like you are in attendance. I had chills for the first 5-10 minutes of the album.. just a crazy feeling. Seriously cannot get over how good this is live. Hearing people in the background who may or may not still be living. This is great. And to make it even better, these are all one takes.. live.. absolute talent James was. This is so far my favorite
alright 3.5
Experience-wise, this is probably a 5. Soo fun to hear the crowd hyped up. Music-wise, I'll go with a 4 - this is an album about the energy more than the songs.
Bit a big fan of live albums but this one was pretty cool. 4 stars
Excellent live album. Sounds great, captures an artist at the height of their powers at a legendary venue with a hot crowd. Lots of fun to listen to.
James Brown! The Godfather of Soul! Great live album.
I have to consider that this was released 60+ years ago. For the time it brought an energy rarely seen.
Soul music with serious soul.
Pure energy, and the interaction between Brown and the audience... *chef's kiss*. 4/5
10/04/2025 I like the old, live vibe.
I have to include this amazing quote from the late Wayne Kramer, via Wikipedia, on how James Brown influenced the MC5's live debut LP, Kick Out the Jams: "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." Musically, this album captures pre-funk era JB. But it's still the call-and-response emcee-bandleader format for which he is known, and the screams from the audience reinforce its place in time and cultural importance. "I Don't Mind" and "Try Me" sound like 1950s torch songs, a side of him I hadn't heard before. The backing band is top notch, as you'd expect. Also have to give props to the excellent design incorporating a watercolor (I think?) on the cover.
I've listened to a lot of JB and I feel like this is not his best live recording but maybe it's that it was his first live recording that makes it stand out? I mean, JB's worst is better than most people's best and the way the crowd is clearly enthralled is a delight to behold. Imagine being in the audience for this show.
That horn section is so tight even a live record shows no flaws.
Wikipedia trivia: "MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer cited Live at the Apollo as the inspiration to 'Kick Out the Jams'" A fun time capsule.
4/5 - he gets better in a decade
To be honest, I never really got into James Brown because his vocal style and tone never really appealed to me. That said, I thought this was a decent live album. The energy and atmosphere are fun and uplifting, and the musical instrumentation stood out the most for me. It’s not a personal favorite, but I can appreciate what it brings to the table.
If I had encountered this album early on my journey, I probably would have given it five stars. But after hearing several other fantastic live jazz albums from this time period, this one wasn't particularly impressive. Still fun though
I don’t listen to James Brown for the ballads. So what this album does best is capture the energy of James in that moment. But the last legacy of James isn’t necessarily best captured here.
Have to give this a 4 just because of James Brown's place in rock'n'roll, soul and funk history. This album also a fine live album with JB working the crowd and the crowd right behind him all the way.
Interesting album, not sure if it fully captures the intensity of a James Brown concert, but that might be due to the quality of the recording.
I personally liked this more than most "classic" James Brown I've heard throughout my life, as it was closer to jazz and soul than "funk." For this music, the live atmosphere makes sense and makes it feel more alive, though the cheering and whooping would bother me on further listens. But, yeah, the music is classic and timeless, and the performance is completely top tier.
Great energy, amazing performance, and beautifully captured. Pretty out there for 1962, this is an insightful document of the genesis of the James Brown sound.
Soooo good!!
I'm not a huge fan of LIVE albums, but I'll happily listen to James Brown anytime. Always feels high in energy and soulful! It is a great album either way, and I'm happy I listened to it!
Beautiful production, full of atmosphere, amazing performance
James Brown is a legend. The dance moves, the screeching, the break beats. Not a fan of live albums, but the man has an undeniable aura to him.
He goes all in, doesn't he? And the crowd going wild very much demonstrates what a different era it was – when this kind of untrammeled expression felt new and quite dangerous (especially to squares). One could do with a little less outrageous spectacle and maybe just a bit more, you know, singing; after all, he was a singular balladeer and, one believes, showmanship goes only so far and too often edges into outright pandering (see "Lost Someone"). "Try Me" is pretty deeply affecting. The medley is an impressive feat – like it's aiming to enter the Guinness Book of World Records or something – not least the road-trip name-dropping which plays like the funk version of "I've Been Everywhere, Man" by that other man in black. The Flames are Fabulous indeed.
Why don't more bands do shows or make albums with instrumental bridges between songs? That was a tight half hour album. So much so I had to listen to it two more times.
This albums was really good. I've always admired James Brown for his energy and it very much comes through in this live recording.
I was lukewarm to it at first but that extended version of Lost Somebody brought me back
I can appreciate this and James Brown is undoubtedly an amazing vocalist, but it's just not my thing. Live performances are rarely as interesting to me to listen to out of context like this, and the screaming and stuff (very 60s) just puts me off a bit. The second track is stellar, I'd definitely listen to it again. The medley goes crazy. I wasn't huge on the last track either but this album is worth it for the medley alone.
This albums falls into the category of something I would not listen to specifically but thoroughly enjoyed. And also falls into the same category as Neil Young and Bob Dylan and some of the others I've heard in which the genius is very apparent. I loved how the songs felt spontaneous and raw but also rehearsed and slick at the same time. It went by so fast I wish there was more.
Love this album and it’s groove 9/10
Before there was Eddie Murphy singing James Brown, there was James Brown. Before there was that James brown, there was this James Brown - early rock’n’roll with screaming girls in the appreciative crowd, singing songs so ahead of their time they could be released today. I’m loving these early live albums, with their honest recordings and fantastic energy - I don’t think this exists anymore and it’s a shame.
I wanted to love this - I was so excited when I saw it. I only really liked it. Really fun, but nothing totally blew me away.
I gave this a 4 just because it's amazing to hear someone sing live like that. He was really a singular talent. The band was good, the recording itself was also good. I probably won't put this on again soon but I will definitely come back to this when in the mood for a live record.
James Brown could read the ingredients to a shampoo bottle and I’d probably give it 3 stars. That being said I’m not quite at a 5 for this one. I didn’t really have a stand out song or two that I loved. But it was a fun listen and I might come back. I love his style and the way his band gets down. Or gets up. Whichever direction they’re getting I’m with it.
I really enjoyed this album. A good blend of jazz undertones combined with more current (for the time) rock beats. Wish the songs would’ve been a little longer. I’m also just a sucker for live albums. Feels cool to be listening to the exact sounds at that exact moment in time.
Hit me! Two times!! Uh, uh!!! The Godfather of Soul live on stage at the Apollo Theatre is like capturing a moment on wax for all of us not lucky enough to be there, but to feel like we were. A tight listen to early James Brown before he really funked it up (in the best way possible). 4.5⭐️
Lindo disco de james brown. A pesar de ser un disco en vivo, sumamente disfrutable. Sendos temazos. El señor del soul.
Fun listen.
Can’t believe he sounded like this in 1963. This man is one of a kind. The tracks run so smoothly into each other too. Just a great performance all around.
I’m not usually one for live albums but I really liked the energy of this. It sounded intimate and sweaty and entertaining and he was some performer. Terrible person but that’s not the point of this exercise
This is pretty much a jam
Very nice
My mother always complained "he's just up there screaming" and most of it is James "screaming" in his signature style. The emotion comes through most of it and really his the right balance. While there is some performative howling, the emotion is unmistakable.
Hell yeah
írják emberek a reviewkban, hogy zavarja őket a background screaming, pedig nekem az volt a kedvenc részem. 62ben (jóeg még a beatles se volt akkor) ez olyan botrány lehetett, hogy ez az egyetlen helyes reakció kb.
This is a lot of fun. I don't think the live aspect adds much, but it doesn't take too much away either. For some reason, despite James Brown's massive influence, the album doesn't quite do enough for me to give it a 5. I'm not sure entirely why, it is very good, but I like it rather than love it.
7/10
3.75
If there’s one thing I picked up from this list is that funk music is incredible. This list got me to seriously listen to bands like War, Isaac Hayes and Sly & The Family Stone and that became some of my favorite music. James Brown is the originator of this style of music. The man who single handedly created this musical vocabulary. This show includes the essence of the style. Its jazz origins, the evocative vocals, the rhythmic styling. It’s all there with a great performance to cap it. I’m giving it four stars because I think Funk music has gone on to even greater heights since but this is a great listen.
This is a really interesting album. The first thing I noticed when scanning the tracklist was there’s none of the big iconic songs here. No I Feel Good, no Sex Machine or Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag. I wasn’t really familiar with any of the songs bar one. The album starts with an MC announcing James Brown. The audience shrieks in anticipation, and then - the music starts, and it’s immediately the funkiest most irresistible groove I’ve heard all year. And it carries on like this really. This is a band that are basically untouchable. There’s the screaming fans, who occasionally reach such a pitch that you guess Mr Brown has just busted out one of his most famous moves; there’s that gravelly voice; and there’s that brass section, soulful as all hell, backing it up. It’s a short album, 30 minutes, and honestly I could’ve listened to another 30. Might go and dig out that Greatest Hits CD I know I have somewhere…
I think I've mostly hear James Brown's hits and later work, but I really like this early 60s R&B sound. The band it tight as always, his voice is killer, and it sounds great.
hell yeah
the hardest working asshole in the show business delivers on one of the best live albums. 4/5
very fun, i liked try me a lot
Introduction to James Brown and The Famous Flames n/a I'll Go Crazy 3.6 Try Me 3.7 Think 3.5 I Don't Mind 3.7 Lost Someone 4 Medley: Please, Please,Please/You've Got the Power/I Found Someone/Why Do You Do Me/I Wany You So Bad 3.6 Night Train 3.5 Score: 3.657142857
Listening to this album feels like watching a black and white video of the early 60s. At the bare minimum, it is an ultimately cool piece of American History and should be celebrated as such. I mean cmon now, its James Brown! 7/10
'The Godfather of Soul' laat horen waar hij die titel aan te danken heeft. Dit helpt ons er aan herinneren dat hij - voordat hij de 'Godfather of Funk' werd - echt het soul genre revolutioneerde. James Brown wordt ondanks zijn eervolle bijnaam toch vaak herinnert om zijn stevige funk-werk met de J.B.'s, en minder om zijn pure soul. En hoe puur is die soul op dit live-album? De man stopt zoveel levensenergie in zijn werk, en deze show is daar een ultiem voorbeeld van. De switches tussen innige slow-movers en de snellere rock 'n soul zijn fenomenaal, en de korte bridges zorgen voor de juiste lijm. Kantje één is alleraardigst, maar wordt volledig overschaduwd door het laatste deel. Van de slow-burner 'Lost Someone', via de iconische medley, naar de funky rendition van 'Night Train'. Een perfecte afsluiter van een show die het soul-, en daardoor ook het funk-genre, op zijn kop zette. 8,5/10 Highlights: I Don't Mind Medley Night Train
This album is a lot of fun. It is very good at capturing the energy of a live show while not sacrificing the mix. James Brown is a GOAT for a reason, and this album proves why.
ок
I've always liked a good live record and this one is no exception. James Brown is not only a fantastic singer but he electrifies his audience!!!
Loved it, made me wanna get up and dance. I've never listened to his live performances before and it was amazing
Loved the audience participation in particular
Liked it, live was pretty fun, lots of screaming fans
Peakkkkkkk one of the best soul records I have ever heard and I am a fan of soul music, debating which is better, the Electric Blue Orchestra record or this, originally my thoughts were with the EBO but I think this album has taken it as my current number 1, fantastic, an album repayable in almost any situation, this was the first record I hadn’t heard a song from yet and it was do worth the listen, going in with 0 ideas of what I would think, and coming out SHOCKED especially as this was a live record, amazing, I could talk about this for hours, but it’s 2AM so I won’t
Beatiful instrumentals and James brown's vocals performances are very good. The whole atmosphere made me feel like I was present at the live
funky. love and hate the crowd screaming.
I'm a bigger fan of later funkier JB, but this is a great live album, probably among my favorite. Live JB is amazing in any era.
4 Stars!
Great but short! It's lovely to hear James Brown pre-funk. The audience if going wild and he has them in the palm of his hand. The trumpets sound so fat.
I don't know why, but on this album I wasn't bothered with hearing the audience. Really liked the concept of the instrumental bridge being their own track. Never seen that before. Night Train was probably my favorite track, beside the instrumental bridge's.
Solid live record, great vocals and energy.
The picture of what a live album should be, capturing the experience.
A little long and repetitive at parts, probably would be very enjoyable in person though. Overall very groovy and energetic!
I've no familiarity whatsoever with the artist, the genre, or live albums in general, but there's no disputing the fact that this music is fantastic and its energy is infectious. I adored listening to Brown's voice, and the band played perfectly. Perhaps the most notable part of this album is how it memorialises the love and fervour of the audience — you can hear their screams of adoration throughout the record. Favourites: Try Me, Lost Someone (3/1001, 11th Jan. '25, 1407h.)
Don’t listen to the haters this is amazing James x
A nice live album, but surprisingly a bit too short.
Easy listening, good early rock
What an incredible voice and band this guy had! A very enjoyable album that was very nearly a 5. Too much screaming sadly for full marks. And also one song went on for over 7 mins and became repetitive! 4 ⭐️
Solid album for 1963....shows all the promise of James Brown. Some catchy songs, but really I just don't think I'm a James Brown fan, especially the live stuff. I know that's sacrilege but I want something more polished from a production standpoint. The music was INCREDIBLY tight, so I can't fault James on anything musically. 4/5.
Hectic fun - crazy soul live shows- feels like you’re in the room and while these are not James Brown’s biggest songs - they are fun and cool.
It's impressive how powerful the songs can be with such simple instrumentation. Sure there's a horn section and an organ, but so much of it is driven by drum and bass. The vocal performance has a chokehold on the audience. The screams are captured so nicely on the recording. At times there's this conversation going between James and the audience, they're participants in the performance. Special. The band is tight, electric, like there was a current running through them and each hit was a burst of energy. Vocal control is off the charts good and gets better as the performance goes on. Gritty when it needs to be, clean when it needs to be. It can be soft and intimate one moment and blaring the next. The moment he launches into the medley of his best known song is so much fun, you can feel the thrill sweeping the audience. It's a textbook on how to design a live performance. Obviously there's tons of great musicality on display here and some great bits of songwriting, but this album isn't essential listening because of the music. It's the experience that you get to be a part of. Live performance at its peak.
Tour de force performance that *almost* manages to translate it’s live energy entirely to wax.
8.2/10 very good
A classic with a ton of funky energy.
Classic and truly an album to to listen to before you die.
That would have been some gig to be at. Strong selection of songs
Pretty fun album. Makes you wish you could have been there.
In the words of Ashley Schaeffer, Schaeffer BMW, “I can feel it in my plums!”
* Incredibly charismatic performer, even if a tad long imho
I kind of liked it. This entire process is making me realize how much vocal mixing / balance matters to me -- the vocals are obviously the main thing here, but I don't really particularly love them. The band sounds amazing but they're constantly covered
Awesome. 👏🏻 how I wish I could have been there!
the iconic apollo. i’m a hater here but still objective
FUNKY! Wish I could see this show to go along with it. You can hear his transition from R&B to hard funk happening which is really cool
If you want to understand why James Brown is so highly regarded. Here it is. I am only giving it a four star because I now live in regret of never being able to see him live.
This is beyond impressive on its own, and then finds itself on a whole different planet when you compare it to the other stuff that was popular in the early 60s. I could listen on repeat for weeks. Tight, crisp, and doesn’t miss a beat. JB was a pro. So many of these are objectively 5 star albums (some might even call them the 1001 greatest ever), so I’ll be a punk and split hairs. The recording quality itself sounds a little hollow at times and seems to fade in and out, especially towards the end. So, like, 4.49999/5.
Very entertaining with good performances. 32 minute runtime helps as well.
i really enjoyed the majority of this album. the instrumentation is on point and the sound quality is good. that said, the song "lost someone" perfectly encapsulates what i hate about live albums. they took a 3 minute track and stretched it out to 10 minutes by repeating the same motif over and over while James rambles and provokes the audience to scream and shout. with the exception of that track and the medley that immediately follows it, the crowd noise isn't too bad but those two tracks really brought down the rating for me.
I have heard high praise for this record, which is hailed as one of the greatest live albums ever made. I've even skimmed a few lists to find that it is even sometimes listed as one of the best albums ever made, live or not. Going into it, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect other than it just being a solid live performance from the early '60s. This was especially the case because my only real frame of reference to Soul or R&B in general were all female artists such as Etta James or Aretha Franklin. While it did not strike me instantly as "THIS IS IT, THIS IS MUSIC AT ITS FINEST," as some lists and reviews claim - it is extremely unique. The album is sprinkled with Brown speaking and audience chatter, which makes for a listen that reminds you that you aren't actually listening to an "album" album. Now it's up to you if that takes you out of it in a good way or bad way, really. I could really take or leave it, but for the most part I found it pretty neat every time. I believe this record is very fascinating in that it is a perfect time capsule for the time when James Brown, the "Godfather of Soul," was at a peak. Sitting there in my room listening to this thing feels like I am there watching the man himself at a concert, complete with an intro, instrumental breaks, a great backing band, audience cheers, and a stellar melody to cap it off as artists do, even today. All of that packed into 30 minutes of music is quite the show, and it's extremely enjoyable. Soul as a genre is something I can appreciate but never fully immerse myself in like I can with other genres, mainly because I am just not as knowledgeable of the scene and timing of the fruition of artists. For example, "Lost Someone -Live At The Apollo Theater, 1962" isn't making the top of my On Repeat any time soon. However, that's not to say that the album as a complete work is not worth revisiting in a year or two. The performance is capped off (almost) by a stellar rapid-fire medley that I enjoyed more than anything else. Brown's band shines here. That being said, with only a track or two I would skip over and maybe a mild annoyance over time with crowd reactions (only the screaming; the real interactions between Brown and the audience are great), I enjoyed this album. I'm still torn to rate it against other studio recordings I love that were meticulously thought out and produced, but if every album was "easy" to compare then I wouldn't enjoy listening to records as much as I do. Favorite: Medley Least Favorite: I Don't Mind
The king of funk soul. 'Nuff said. 4 stars for this as its just before the king started flying out some real face melting bangers.
James Brown sets a high bar for charisma. The band is tight, which gives him the ability to improv with ease. This sounds great for a live album. I'm just not a big fan of live albums.
Liked the live album and interaction with the crowd was solid. James is an entertainer and this being a live album helped that shine through.
I think I'll give this a 4 just cause it has such great energy. Normally don't really like live albums but this one I really liked the crowd interaction, they clearly loved them some James Brown. Did not like how hard it was to understand or hear him on some tracks. Otherwise cool album.
Good good jazz
po o james brown mandava demais ce tá doido
super gostosim e dançante. o mano era bão hein o show dele devia ser pedrada de ver ao vivo.
There's nothing like James Brown live. Apparently. Because he's dead.
A triumph of showmanship over substance. … that was a compliment. In case it was unclear.
Very solid
Overall this was a good album. The lyrics and music were good. But what really sold this album for me was its background feel. It really is a good sound to listen to to just listen to. overall definetly recommend this album.
Very good, like the cheering
8/10
Very cool!!!! Love to hear some live stuff this shit is tight.
4-
Already loved this album 1. Introduction Love when live albums start with an introduction of the artist 2. I’ll go crazy Great beginning guitar riff James brown always feels like several genres at once 3. Try me 3/4 almost ballad. Groove in tact So short and sweet 4. Instrumental bridge 1 Love it. It’s like 10 seconds lol 5. Think Brass section going crazy These funk song structures really made hip hop possible 6. Instrumental bridge 2 Just a great quick turnaround 7. I don’t mind Love the bassline and bgv’s Tender voice James brown is underrated 8. Instrumental bridge 3 9. Lost someone The lone long song so far Love the progression and groove Love hearing fan interaction 10. Medley Albums feels much different later in the track list with longer songs 11. Night train Groove is absolutely incredible. Drums and organ crazy
Fav songs: I Don't Mind Great performance from James Brown and his band. Amazing sounding live recording for 1962!
At the top of his game. What a nut job. A soulful nut job.
Previously known to me and a great snapshot of a major artist in their pomp. Not my go-to James Brown, but a great party record and one that I’ll return to infrequently; when the mood is right.
True classic!!
I don't really like live albums for some reason, but it's good.
The mother of all live albums? James Brown's iconic "Live at the Apollo" is one of the earliest of its kind on the 1001 list, representing the Godfather of Soul all on its own with abundant swagger, sweat and screams. The suggestion, then, is that this is THE album that popularised this format, encapsulated this brand of R&B, and captured the hysteria around its accompanying live music at the time. "Live at the Apollo" is just half an hour long, with only seven songs (including one lengthy medley) and three jarring, brassy ten-second interludes that play a bit like TV idents or sponsor jingles. For most of its run time, it zips by with such rocket-like confidence that all listeners are engulfed in the flames from its take-off; pulled in by its engines. The band are watertight, with squalling stabs of horns perfectly punctuating the snappiest cuts ("I'll Go Crazy", "Think") or smooth backing vocals swelling underneath the waltz-time ballads ("I Don't Mind", "Try Me"). But this is Brown's show, and his charisma appears unbidden before my eyes throughout: he's strutting, gyrating, leaping right out of my headphones. His crowd are going absolutely wild: let it never be said that Elvis and the Beatles were the only artists who could create this much of a frenzy in people. The screams are omnipresent and insist themselves all over the record, equal parts charming and a little annoying. Brown's audience interaction is on point, knowing exactly how to get the best out of them ("say it a little bit louder"/"I wanna hear you say 'OWWWW'"… pure pantomime). It's a shame that the pacing isn't quite perfect: it's a little odd to have so many short songs followed by a ten-minute ballad "Lost Someone". Although the latter is one of the highlights of the record, with Brown's best vocal performance, I would have liked to have had more of the high energy and momentum from the early part of the disc, and didn't expect so much of the runtime to be taken up with slower material. But these are minor quibbles, and what we're left with is still a rip-roaring ride (especially for 1962). "Live at the Apollo" is not quite my favourite live album on the list so far - that honour still goes to Sam Cooke's "Live at the Harlem Square Club" - but it is a triumph of rock and soul, and a swaggering, thrusting testament to the power of live music.
banger også
Surprisingly short album, but it still packs a punch. Love the instrumental bridges, they really work to psych you up for the next song.
Fun, loud, and very raucous. The songs were all very fun, but I found myself getting a little bored in the longer medleys. All in all a good short listen. Top tracks: I'll Go Crazy, Try Me, Think
Quite fun. 3.5 if I could, but I really enjoy these old rock albums. Except Elvis.
4/5
Not really something I usually listen to but for a live album, this one is good. You can definitely feel the energy and stage presence of Brown in this album. It’s electrifying.
Good live R&B album, not the best recording but a great performance
james brown has of course always been invoked as an influence for literally everybody…but i’ve never actually listened to him properly! so this was an exciting opportunity. you can feel the fervor of the crowd in his presence, that great tight-throated style of singing that he has, everyone screaming in response. my only complaint is that all of the songs felt weirdly short?? every time i felt like i was really getting into the groove of each song it would just stop abruptly. considering he was known for the duration of his live shows i was a little surprised by that ngl. i wanna DANCE, goddammit! give me more!!!!
I feel like I could really hear the source of so much rock music in this album. People often talk about the impact of soul and black artists on rock n' roll and I feel like this performance really made me understand that connection deeper. The live albums we've heard so far have a really palpable energy between the performer and audience that I really appreciate too. I like how even through a recording, you can feel that they were feeding off of each other.
It's James Brown, so it's good, though I prefer some of his more dynamic songs
Now that's a proper live album!
I’m starting to feel like Bruno mars took some inspiration from him
7.5/10. :) The vocals on this album are great. I loved hearing the excited audience in the background. :)
brown and his band blow through the A side with a bunch of songs less than 3 (sometimes less than 2!) minutes like a proto-grindcore band, and when slowing things down for a couple lengthy cuts in the second half the crowd is eating out of his hand. just an absolutely electric display of showmanship with one of the best voices ever on a Human Being...place-taking and exhilarating to this day. could have listened to way more of this, but the short runtime is also part of its power i suppose...and rly its just proof i need to listen to the double LP Volume II!
Just loads of fun at a breakneck pace. I got a little bored during 10 minutes of Lost Someone. The Night Train is the main memorable song, a banger, the rest is a good time, can't complain.
Loved it. Easy listening and went by quick. Didn’t even noticed when the album started over
Oozing soul. Absolutely energetic performance by Mr. Brown.
Not my favorite JB era but still amazing.
Although I respect James Brown, I rarely listen to his recordings because I'm almost never in the mood for up-tempo dance music and shouting. Surprisingly, there were some nice slow burners on here. The mix left something to be desired with vocals primarily in my right ear and random instruments occasionally jumping out too far. And of course crowd noise. Overall, though, I enjoyed it and feel it is a valuable piece of music history.
I like the introduction, there's a lot of energy to it. I don't usually like live albums because the crowd seems distracting, but I'm trying to look past that here. It's not really my style of music but the brass is really good. I wish I knew more about this time in music history so I could have more of an appreciation for this album, because it's clearly really influential and well produced. I just don't have the context to share the appreciation it had in it's time.
Fire af, Back to the future type shi
What live performance!
This was a pleasure to listen to. This crowd was super excited to listen to The Godfather, and so was I. 4
C'MON TAKE ME TO THE BRIDGE It's James Brown. You know what you're getting with James Brown already don't you?
If it had less of the crowd screaming it would be even better - 3.5 rounded up
A fantastic album with a unique sound. I absolutely LOVE IT!!! The energy just bursts out of the speakers. 'Try Me' and 'I'll Go Crazy' are my favorite tracks. The audience was amazing and played a big part in giving the album its vibrant vibe. It’s a great live album, but to me, not necessarily a great album overall.
Really fun album, the beginning really gets you hyped and it just keeps on going. Reminds me of the time I was lucky enough to see him when he was supporting the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Hyde Park.
James Brown is always fun to listen to.
"King of Soul", "the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business", "Minister of New Super Heavy Funk", "Godfather of Soul", "Mr. Dynamite", & "Soul Brother No. 1”…yep!
Definitely a fun listen. I enjoyed him doing a little bit of crowd work and the medley was cool. Album goes by quick!
The blueprint
No denying his greatness
high energy James Brown
*crowd screaming intensifies*
I can only imagine what seeing him live was like. Great album.
Soul, Rhythm and Blues. God there's so much energy and passion behind these performances. A master of the crowd, just an amazing thing to hear. Live albums like this are so much fun. 4/5
This is the crispest live recording I've ever heard. I don't know how they taped this but it sounds like James Brown is in my head.
Such old songs. That I hadn't heard before.
Bot my kind of music typically, but being a live album does give it enough hype for me to enjoy it. I love hearing the crowd react to his vamping and I appreciate the range in energy from one song to another. It keeps things fresh.
King of funk Lekker hoor, enorme fan van deze man
One of the great live performers, the atmosphere at this gig is phenomenal.
The constant screams of adoring fans are pretty annoying, but the performance is outstanding.
solid live album, JB and the backing band is always good
I am not so keen to see all these live albums included on the list, but this album is the exception that proves the rule. It's great in every aspect (especially the 11-minute version of Lost Someone) but a shame for all the screaming: 5-1 = 4.
James Brown is an incredible vocalist! It’s hard to believe this is live because it all sounds so smooth. 7/10
Do we all know how good James Brown was? This is an interesting document but not really the best introduction to his work.
A singular iconic performer. One of the most influential and impactful artists of early rock and roll and R&B. But studio albums don’t capture James Brown’s essence the way live performances do. It appears here and there in the studio. But on “Live at the Apollo,” it’s pure, unadulterated Brown. (Though on stage may be the only place where pure, unadulterated James Brown is a good thing.)
The hardest working man in showbiz showing of his skill.
First time listening to a james brown live performance it was funky and energetic.
The immortal James Brown, this is a fantastic live album!
I'm not a huge fan of live albums, but this one is a lot of fun. The band bangs the entire time. The instrumental bridges between the songs are high-key fucking insane. Favorite Song(s): Try Me, I Don't Mind
Bueno
Enjoyed this one a lot. In between a 3 and a 4 but lean more towards the 4 :)
Nice blues/jazz album that I enjoyed a lot.
This album flew by I was toe tappin the whole time. His vocal style mixed with the backing vocals and band just have an iconic sound to it. He also sounds like a vacuum during one point of Lost Someone and that is impressive.
Good
Very energetic!
R&B y soul. Entretenido. Venga, un 4.
I've mentioned in prior reviews that I don't particularly like live recordings. Still true, but this one at least made me sorry that I was never able to see James Brown let alone young James Brown live. This seemed like a super fun show, his voice is beautiful, and the band is tight, but the quality and crowd were legitimately distracting. I did put Try Me on a loop for quite a while after finishing though.
I’m a sucker for live albums, and this is a wonderful historical artifact. Interesting to connect some of the sounds and rhythms here to early Who from a couple of days ago on my Albums Before You Die journey. Good stuff. Short and sweet, from back when a full length release could clock in at just over 30 minutes haha.
This era is the only era where live albums are better than the studio ones. So much energy. The Jerry Lee Lewis one that we got and this one both hit. As soon as Fats Gonder introduced JB I knew it was gonna slap.
can’t image the electricity in the air during a live james brown concert. this live album helps imagine it, but you def had to be there to fully experience it. sounds great for a live album. absolutely rips front to back. gets a 4 bc let’s be real this thing is sick but i’m not gonna be bumping it ever again
7/10
It was different and I enjoyed it!!!
I don’t usually like live albums but this one was fun. Hearing the girls screaming, I can imagine his dance moves. Great music.
First song is upbeat really enjoying it second song old timey love song not bad just not my favorite first instrumental was really good definitely sounds like you gotta listen to the live show all at once not just one song can go into your playlist right now third song is upbeat instrumental 2 also great fourth song like the second one but way better im feeling a 7.9/10 rn maybe an 8.2 depending on the next few songs next song is 1/3rd of the show can definitely put this in a playlist and listen to this doesnt need the rest of the show honestly brings it to an 8.2 that song was good definitely brought it to that 8.2 next song is also good imma go up to an 8.4 because you can also listen to this song standalone you can also listen to night train on its own 8.6 album I saved Think Lost someone Medley Night Train
Pretty classic James Brown. It's very good but it doesn't wow me in any real strong way.
Great!
He puts on a show
GOD I wish I was there. It feels like something’s missing without the visual component.
This album makes it crystal clear how absolutely beloved this man was. He feeds off his audience and delivers exactly what they want. The band is pivotal and Brown effortlessly moves through the numbers. In many cases, a live album kind of fizzles out to me. This one plays a bit more relevant to me. This album was self-funded and Brown who was already at the top of his craft in just 1962, elevated soul and funk and demonstrated his ability as a master showman. Brown goes on to do much better music, but this one is really about his performance.
I was familiar with his later work. That's too much of the same thing, so I didn't check out more of the man's music. This record is better than I expected. It has enough variation. The songs are good. The audience is excited. Nice and short. Favorite song: think.
I don't usually like live albums, but this one is great. James Brown's energy really comes through, and I found it impossible to sit still. I can only imagine what it was like to be there in person, and I can understand the screams in the background.
Talk about putting a venue on the map...
Really enjoyed it. Would have loved to have seen him live, proper performer and show mon
One hell of a live album showcasing just how James Brown could own a crowd.
introduction isch icooonic. nocher weisch er isch heeert am tanze und alli gönd crazy. ill go crazy erste richtige song, cool er singt geil. try me schöni bgvs, no sehr früehni 60er crooner und so. think isch scho chli meh richtig funky. i dont mind het oorgle und d famous flames siinged. ich hoff de james brown isch mit sim chline finder am dirigiere und d band verstoht jedes chlinste detail vo dem woner will sege. lost someone isch richtig dirigiere time. plus d band isch uuuultra lislig, mega geil. und er singt huuuere geil. s isch immer s glich d band spielt immer s glich es wiederholt sich nur und er elai treit d emotione. kwazy. please please isch die legendär performance wonem d jacke immer wieder agleit wird. cha tschuuutte de guy. mittelteil mit orgle vom medley isch de shiiitt. er haut afoch all sini hits use dasers nöd ganz mues spiele. please dont go jo sehr cool. ah isch anschinend die erst single gsi vode famous flames.
Lightning in a bottle !
The intro was super unique, and lived up to the James Brown superstardom character. I didn't recognize any of the songs, but they were solid. The old production made the crowd sound lame and the instrumentation feel muffled, but not in a terrible way.. just aged. Loved the horn sections as they were the brightest spots on the record. The ending of Lost Someone into the Medley was the highlight.
I'm surprised not a single song on the album had more than 1M Spotify Streams.
Vet live album, wel veel van hetzelfde
Funky, energetic, yeah
You just know he got laid after that
I thought I would like this more than I did. It's a good album, and the live aspect is really fun because of how he interacts with the fans. But I didn't really know any of the songs, and I felt like there were a few too many slower-tempo songs. I wanted party James Brown, and I didn't get enough of that here. That said, the man sings his absolute face off, the backing band is great, and he goes full on gospel preacher on "Lost Someone" — all really fun. I enjoyed the album, but I'm not sure I'd listen to it on repeat all that much. 4/5 (but probably closer to a 3.5)
I imagine if one could go back in time and re-record this album utilizing modern technology it would be absolutely amazing. That being said, James Brown's showmanship shined through in live shows and this concert was his ultimate performance.
Imagine seeing James Brown in ‘63.
Very good live album - great music, too!
The album that made James Brown a star. I mean, really; this right here is "star time." Front-to-back, it's nonstop excitement. And if you think the music's energetic, you gotta imagine what moves James is pullin' on stage. I mean, that's probably the only thing I'd really ding this album for—that, and the album ends a bit too abruptly after "Night Train"—but of course that's just a general fault of audio recordings; not just this album. Otherwise, more than just his hit songs or the sample clips, this is absolutely the album to understand why Brown was, indeed, the Hardest Working Man In Show Business.
The Hardest Working Man in Show Business can put on one hell of a show.
It’s a pretty decent 4. James Brown has incredible crowd control on this album, which works well live, but occasionally hits some lull points when you’re dealing with nothing but the music – I thought Lost Someone really started to drag by the end, but the medley afterward started red hot. That’s the sort of thing where I imagine it was way cooler live than how it feels on this album. I also think Night Train was… sort of the “wrong” closer for this set? It seems like it was either recorded separately or recorded in a way where the crowd’s energy was drained. Speaking of the crowd, they’re basically their own instrument on this album with the way James Brown and his excellent band basically hit every transition in a way to let them realize what’s up next without much of a pause (again, except for the extended dragout section on Lost Someone). Those little lulls are what get this a 4; honestly, it’s probably closer to a 3.5 than it is a 4, but I know it deserves higher than a 3. It’s just a really strong listen that didn’t quite click with me the way some of the other live albums we’ve gotten have, but it's enjoyable regardless.
Its good. I feel like theres not much more i can say about this. But i really enjoyed it.
Great album but the crowd audio was a little distracting and a bit too loud at times
What a band! What an energy! Awe inspiring
Definitely more into the later straight-up funk but I still like the early soul as well, a rare talent JB.
This will pick up your mood.
Didn’t know a lot about James Brown. This is a very smooth album, especially as live cuts. I particularly enjoyed the first half of the record. The energy was undeniable.
Nice and short energetic live album. Too bad James Brown was a real piece of shit person.
For live it's like studio
Great stuff as always Mr B.
Great energy, the music is a groove, but I don’t think I’d revisit.
Kids and parents lost their minds over this, for different reasons.
Gotta love James Brown! And he’s from my hometown. I’m here for it. 4
We need to bring back live album introductions. 4/5
Sounded like a sick performance. 4 stars ‘cause I think those chicks watching live would kill me if I rated any lower.
Love this album! Fantastic
32 minutes absolutely flies by - seems like it's over when it's just getting started! I gave it a third spin just for the heck of it. I definitely appreciate hearing some James Brown that hasn't been played to death by pop culture. Bet it would have been awesome to be there in person! Fave tracks - "Lost Someone" was a groove - I would have happily let him swell all the other songs to 10 mins too!
good album. live isn’t usually my thing but it’s still good. GODFATHER OF SOUL.
Interesting historical artifact.
This is a time capsule. The downside of this record is that James Brown was an incredible dancer and showman, which is hard to capsule in audio. But you can certainly hear the screams from all the women reacting to him. His band, The Famous Flames, were tight as hell. But you can literally hear glimpses of R&B morphing into soul and funk on this record.
Somehow I realize I've never listened to a James Brown album before?!? Yet of course I've heard a handful of popular songs, and that voice is instantly familiar. Interesting that this live album made the list; but I can quickly imagine that James Brown must have been positively electric on a live stage in a way that is hard to capture on a record.
nice!
excellent, James Brown was a master of his craft
Great performance. Wish I could watch the video along with it.
This album sounds so uplifting. I’ve never been a James Brown fan and was first exposed while watching the Rocky movies as a kid with Living in America. He sounds so power and inspiring.
Unlike some recent suggestions, I absolutely could play this album again. Tons of energy. It must have been unbelievable in 1963, and the sound quality for a live concert that old is fabulous.
James Brown vamping at the Apollo? Pretty cool. The horns are the best.
Good!
I own and have listened to it. Classic live show with JB at the peak of his powers.
A great live performance and interesting to think that he was fairly well into his career at this point and still had so much influential music ahead of him.
Honestly killer. He really shines with the energy of a live performance. The instrumentation is super tight and intense as well and his voice is so intense and powerful, especially for the early 60s.
Day72 - here he is mr. dynamite, the hardest working man in show business. this is a fun, short album
et af de bedre livealbums vi har haft, god energi og fede numre. 100% det fedeste coverart vi har haft til et livealbum endnu!!
James Brown is a legend, I just prefer some of his other recordings
Great, but sounds like it was even more fun to be there...
Sheer class JB early and live. Electric what a time to be alive. (though a rough recording.)
I swear someone told me years ago that James Brown had a scat fetish, which I took to be true until I looked it up while listening to this album.
6/10
Fantastic soul voice
This is great.
Not a style of music I listen to but it was fun hearing the audience and imagining the showmanship
What a voice, what a band, what a performer. 4/5
I like James Brown, but a little can go a long way. This was the just right amount.
Lots of his trademark screams. Lots of soul.
Fun stuff. Given that it was 1962 and live, this gets 4*.
Good, no real gripes
I really enjoyed this, I was journalling all the albums and thought I rated this. I loved it and the fills were so fun
I liked the live version of this album. I can only imagine what an electric performance James Brown gave.
Great album, if a little short. I'm a big fan of James Brown, and while you can see how this album was a stepping stone to his (almost sole) creation of the funk genre I don't think it counts as his best work. Absolutely worth listening to and I will definitely listen again, but there are other James Brown albums that provide a clearer picture of him, his sound, and what he contributed to the music scene.
So fun and upbeat, love the brass section and instrumentals and how each song flows into the next. Maybe won’t listen to it all the time, but great background upbeat music
Great set. Amazing energy. Can’t believe the time between songs is so brief. He was the hardest working man in show business.
you know i feel alright
Really good, but no better. Live album was interesting, and loved the introduction he was given. Didn't know many of the songs, but all pretty catchy. Will come back to when I'm not driving, so I can listen more fully 4 🌟
lots of fun!
Wonderful album. The thing that always strikes me about James Brown is how great his band is. This record is no exception. I wish they would record live albums like this still - no overdubs (probably), lots of audience noise, uneven in parts, electrical hum here and there, all the good and the bad. Anymore a live album might as well be a studio recording with applause between songs. This album is as close as you can get to being at an early 60's James Brown show. Highly enjoyable and replayable. I'm curious as to why it was decided to only include half an hour of material. Seems like a double live would have been a good choice for this. Loses 1 star just because it's so short.
this was such a fun time!!
Iskreno nisam ni jednu pjesmu zapamtio, al mogao bih ga danima slušati.
This is fantastic, but I feel like I’m watching a soundtrack to a movie that would have been stunning. You can hear him working the crowd, and I’ll bet there are lots of JB dance moves. The album is great but I makes me wish I was hearing and seeing this.
Großartige Soulstimme, teils aber etwas schmalzig
AAAAAAAaaAaaaAAaaaAAAAAAAAAaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
Fun stuff
Great instrumentals and lots of energy. Very fun album to listen to and need to listen to more James Brown.
No stand out songs but I enjoyed the music on the album.
What a f’ing maniac. What a musical genius. This guy was as good as they get.
Classy!!!
Love the live sound. Spirited, full of life. Truly the Godfather of Soul.
Liked it!!
Hardest working man in show business
This is a difficult one to rate. James Brown and this album is significant in rock history and has influenced countless other artists over time. Based on that and the quality of the performance, I would give it five stars. To be consistent with how I've been rating other albums, I have to look at how I personally enjoy listening to the album. I did like it but don't see myself pulling this down to listen to. That leaves me between a 3 and a 4. So I'll give it a 4 because I did like it and it was more than just ok to listen to. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - It was ok to listen to but I wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.
Very impressed! Did not expect to like it as much as I did. What a force of energy!
banging all the way through
Funky and groovy
I’ve listened to some James Brown in the past but my major JB kick was back when I was 18 or 19 so it’s been 10 years. The music is great, of course, and the live instrumentation stands up to the vocal performances. But by far my favorite part of this listening experience was the feeling that I was transported back to a 1960s concert hall. No phones, no distractions, just screaming fans, lovely r&b, and groovy jams. I do wish we had a bit more of his funk jams on this record vs. his slower love songs. Both are good but I think the high energy funk performances are where James Brown becomes James Brown
The best thing about this album is the balance between stage and crowd volume. It’s really nicely leveled, making it listenable but still keeping that fun live audience sound. Super talented musicians. Really fun jazz doo-wop stuff. Night train kind of lacked an ending tho as did the whole album but such is the nature of a live album I guess
Pretty good
Really shows you how popular this man was and still is
Nice
No one had more energy on stage than Mr. James Brown.