features in: (B-list) Album Chart of 1963 ● (B-list) Album Chart of the 1960s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die  |
“Live at the Apollo” was recorded on the night of October 24, 1962 at Brown’s own expense. Brown’s record label, King Records, originally opposed releasing the album, believing that a live album featuring no new songs would not be profitable. The label finally relented under pressure from Brown and his manager Bud Hobgood. (It was disagreements such as this that moved Brown to begin recording for Smash Records the following year, in violation of his contract with King). To King’s surprise, the LP was an amazingly rapid seller, and proceeded to spend 66 weeks on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, peaking at #2. Despite my own prejudice against live albums, I have to admit that “Live At The Apollo” serves as a wonderful and fascinating insight into the James Brown Revue. The intimacy between artist and audience is quite incredible - the two quite literally become one. The album’s centrepiece is clearly “Lost Someone” - and even I concede that this goose bumps inducing live version trumps the studio. The front row girl who banters throughout has me in stitches - “James, you’re an asshole” LOL! However, all the built up joy that leads from “Lost Someone” into “Please Please” evaporates within a minute… with no respect for their own songs they delve into cabaret medley hell… such is the nature of the live beast. Rolling Stone reckon this the 24th greatest album ever made. No way. Still, I’d pay Dr. Who £1,000 for a spin back in time… and I’m not prone to extravagance…
The Jukebox Rebel
22–Apr–2012
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [01:48]  James Brown - Introduction To James Brown [live apollo ’62] (Lucas Gonder, James Brown) Soul |
| A2 | [02:05]  James Brown - I’ll Go Crazy [live apollo ’62 # 1] (James Brown) Soul |
| A3 | [02:26]  James Brown - Try Me [live apollo ’62] (James Brown) Rock n Roll Ballad |
| A4 | [01:58] James Brown - Think [live apollo ’62] (Lowman Pauling) Soul |
| A5 | [02:39]  James Brown - I Don’t Mind [live apollo ’62] (James Brown) Soul Ballad |
| A6 | [10:43]  James Brown - Lost Someone [live apollo ’62, full version] (James Brown, Bobby Byrd, Lloyd Stallworth) Soul Ballad |
| B1 | [06:26]  James Brown - 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 [live apollo ’62] (James Brown, Johnny Terry, Bobby Byrd, Lloyd Stallworth, Sylvester Keels, Henry Glover, Sally Nix, Leonard Whitcup, Teodoro Paolella) Soul Ballad |
| B2 | [03:28]  James Brown - Night Train [live apollo ’62] (Jimmy Forrest, Oscar Washington, Lewis Simpkins) Soul |
