Live at the Apollo I & II

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Performer: James Brown
Artist: Maceo Parker; Bobby Byrd
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: 2 LPs on 1 CD. Personnel: James Brown, Marva Whitney (vocals); Jimmy "Chank" Nolen, Alphonso "Country" Kellum (guitar); Sylvia Medford, Marilyn Jones, Richard Jones (violin); Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis (alto saxophone, organ); Maceo Parker, L.D. Williams (tenor saxophone); St. Clair Pickney (baritone saxophone); Waymon Reed, Joe Dupars (trumpet); Levi Rasbury (valve trombone); Bernard Odum (bass); Ronald Selico (bongos, drums); John "Jabo" Starks, Clyde Stubblefield (drums). The Fabulous Flames: Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett (background vocals). Recorded live at the Apollo Theater, New York, New York on June 25, 1967. Includes liner notes by Roger McLeya. Digitally remastered by Dennis M. Drake. Recorded five years after Brown's LIVE AT THE APOLLO 1962 album, this disc finds the Godfather of Soul returning to that venerable New York theater, and a comparison between the two recordings shows the incredible growth that had taken place in the interim. Brown was still turning out effective versions of the melodic soul ballads with which he began his career (the violin-accompanied "I Want to Be Around"), but with the arrival of drummer Clyde Stubblefield, he'd moved from soul to pure funk ("Cold Sweat"). The singer demonstrates his versatility with a souful version of the popular standard "That's Life" and the blues shuffle "Kansas City," but he's at his most arresting pounding out hard funk rhythms, backed by his classic '60s band (Maceo Parker, St. Clair Pinckney, Pee Wee Ellis, etc.). Ever the showman, Brown includes versions of his most popular tunes of the time, such as "Prisoner of Love," the pleading "Try Me" and "Please, Please, Please," and an epic, highly atmospheric take on the minor-key mood piece "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World." LIVE AT THE APOLLO perfectly captures what this funk pioneer was about at this crucial point in his career.

Rolling Stone (4/11/02, p.105) - Ranked #3 in Rolling Stone's "50 Coolest Records" - "...The most explosive cold-sweat funk grooves ever recorded..." Q (5/00, p.134) - Included in Q Magazine's "Best Soul Albums Of All Time" - "...Documents the man on peak form, and offers a glimpse into urban black culture in this most celebrated and vibrant venue....one of the most thrilling soul sets ever." Mojo (Publisher) (p.133) - 5 stars out of 5 - "Part of soul history, documenting Brown's searing 1962 performance..."

The unrelenting intensity of James Brown's music has made him one of the most recognizable and influential performers since the 1950s. Starting out as a gospel singer, Brown soon switched to R&B and started scoring hits. As the '60s progressed, the self-proclaimed Godfather of Soul transformed the sounds of R&B into a tight, driving style that helped lay the foundations of funk. Personal troubles over the following decades threatened to sideline the ever-impassioned Brown, but he repeatedly bounced back. Countless JB samples--credited and uncredited--found on rap and hip-hop records testify to his enduring influence. The Godfather of Soul passed away on Christmas Day in 2006.

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