Track Listing

1. Introduction By Fats Gonder/ Opening Fanfare - James Brown & The Famous Flames, The James Brown Band, Fats Gonder
2. I'll Go Crazy
3. Try Me
4. Instrumental Bridge #1 (James Brown/Live At The Apollo, 1962)
5. Think
6. Instrumental Bridge #2 (James Brown/Live At The Apollo, 1962)
7. I Don't Mind
8. Instrumental Bridge #3 (James Brown/Live At The Apollo, 1962)
9. Lost Someone
10. Medley: Please Please Please/You've Got The Power/I Found Someone/Why Do You Do Me Like You Do/I Want You So Bad/I Love You, Yes I Do/Strange Things Happen/Bewildered/Please Please Please
11. Night Train

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11124 in Music
• Released on: 1990-07-31
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Dimensions: .21 pounds
• Running time: 32 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Thank God someone thought to record the Godfather in concert at this vital stage of his career--and at the ultimate shrine of black American music to boot. There is no more exciting document of live performance in the history of R&B: powered by tireless drummer Clayton Fillyau, James Brown and the Famous Flames tear their way through a slew of King hits--from "Please, Please, Please" to "Night Train"--taking soul power to the very edge of gospel abandon in the process. The Apollo audience, hysterical with adulation, plays as big a part in Live at the Apollo as Brown himself. The shrieking build-up and sudden drop down into "Lost Someone" is one of the most heart-stopping moments in soul. --Barney Hoskyns

CD Description
Many albums are hyped as legendary; few deserve the accolade. LIVE AT THE APOLLO 1962 is one of those rare albums that lives up to the hype. Released despite label misgivings, LIVE AT THE APOLLO cemented James Brown's reputation as the unchallenged master of soul music. Deejays played the entire album at one stretch--this in an era when radio programmers rejected four-minute singles because they were too long--and the record reached number two on the Billboard pop chart, a previously unheard-of achievement for a gritty R&B album.
LIVE AT THE APOLLO is more than a pop phenomenon, however; it is a document of one of America's greatest performers at the peak of his artistic powers. Brown's singing is orgasmic--just listen to the opening squeal on "I Go Crazy"--and the intensity never lets up. Brown drives his crack band throughbreakneck versions of early hits before dragging them through the 11-minute bump-and-grind of "Lost Someone", the high point of a show that is nothing but high points. Decades later, this is still one of the greatest live albums of all-time.

Customer Reviews

Intense, vital, short.
Oddly unsung in Britain despite it's status as James Brown's bestselling record, 'Live at Apollo' disappoints only in it's sub-40 minute running time. Recorded when he was a raw talent, rather than an established name, the record showcases his phenomenal voice perfectly. Like Sam Cooke's 'Live at Harlem Sq. Club' (which is even better), the singer is shown in context- not softened by studio production, but in his element- giving it his all in front of a notoriously difficult audience, which he soon wins over. Fats Gonder's oft-parodied and/or homaged introduction is wisely included, and the first three numbers sound great. It is with 'Lost Someone', though, that James Brown finds his voice. "I feel so I good I wanna scream!", he shouts, "I feel just like I wanna scream!". "Go ahead and scream!", comes the reply.

"OOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

And in that moment James Brown moved from flavour-of-the-month to soul legend. The record met with extraordinary success in America, in both critical and commercial terms, and was lauded by Britain's New Musical Express, some thirty years on, as the '30th Greatest Record of All Time'. Strange then, that few supposed soul afficionados I've spoken to are aware of this record's existence, let alone it's genius. When 'Live at Apollo' was recorded, James Brown was a man at the peak of his powers, if not of his public recognition- and it shows. If 'Night Train' is a slightly low-key closer, the medley which precedes it more than compensates- a lust-filled, yearning, aching nine-minute medley of rare quality. One of THE great soul records, a priceless artefact, and for many, an undiscovered gem.

You must buy this CD!!!!!!
Nobody, not I, nor any other music reviewer, can really do justice to this recording. It is without doubt one of the greatest live recordings ever made, and has of the most emotional, vibrant and soul seeking vocal performances, you will ever hear. It will take you to new limits in your understanding of music...it will expose feelings you never knew you could feel for music...and it may make you cry.It did me...
Just follow these instructions;
1)Buy CD
2)Listen...then wonder what the fuss is about.
3)Listen again.
4)Clear your house of wife, kids and take phones off hook. Turn off lights, and play LOUD.
The result will astound you. You owe it to yourself...BUY IT!!!!

Gee whizz I love you.
This could be one of the most incendiary live performances you'll ever hear, take the musical energy of Dylan and the Hawks at Manchester Free Trade 1966, then add the audience from a Beatles gig and stand well back.

This crowd have to be heard to be believed. Just listen to the reaction when the band tear into Please, Please, Please. It's quite clear that they have lost control and who wouldn't after a 10 minute version of lost someone.

This album really tears the roof off the sucka and the Flames set fire to it (pardon the pun)