James Brown: Live at the Apollo

James Brown: Live at the Apollo

Album #26 - May 1963

Episode date - May 29, 2024

The Top 500 of The Top 40
    0:00
    0:00

    “Live at the Apollo” surely qualifies as the most legendary live album of all time, and the reasons are self-evident, especially when heard within the context of its time.

    By 1963, rock and roll was all but dead, and even hard-edged R&B started to shift toward a more relaxed ‘soul’ sound. The raw intensity of James Brown’s performance, coupled with the driving, spot-on perfection of his backing band represented a sound that most Americans could have hardly imagined in 1963. Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson were precursors, but Brown roughened the edges and raised the ante considerably. The audience itself is an instrument on the album, with screaming girls accentuating climactic moments, suggesting a Beatlemania-like frenzy before anything like that existed.

    Amazingly, Syd Nathan, the owner of Brown’s label King Records, had little respect for Brown’s talent and was dead set against releasing the album. To ensure its release, Brown had to pay for the recording himself, making it a no-lose proposition for Nathan. Imagine his surprise when it became the best-selling album in King’s history, climbing to #2 on the pop charts (!), where it lingered for 66 weeks.

    As you already know, Brown would go on to become the most influential R&B artist of all time, and Syd Nathan capitalized on Brown’s career by keeping his opinions to himself (mostly). Brown proudly recognized the cultural significance of this recording and attempted to capitalize on it by releasing three more “Live at the Apollo” albums over the course of his career, but the stunning energy of his first live album could never be duplicated. 

    Featured Tracks:

    Introduction to James Brown and The Famous Flames (by Fats Gonder)

    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/Why Do You Do Me/I Want You So Bad/I Love You, Yes I Do/Strange Things Happen/Bewildered/Please, Please, Please

    Prisoner of Love (1963 single)

    Medley – I Found Someone/Why Do You Do Me/I Want You So Bad

    I’ll Go Crazy 2

    May 1963 - Billboard Charted #2

    Related Shows

    Yes - The Yes Album

    Yes: The Yes Album

    Album #156 - February 1971

      0:00
      0:00
      David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name

      David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name

      Album #155 - February 1971

        0:00
        0:00
        Carole King - Tapestry

        Carole King: Tapestry

        Album #154 - February 1971

          0:00
          0:00
          Janis Joplin - Pearl

          Janis Joplin: Pearl

          Album #153 - January 1971

            0:00
            0:00
            Harry Nilsson - The Point

            Harry Nilsson: The Point

            Album #152 - December 1970

              0:00
              0:00
              John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band

              John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band

              Album #151- December 1970

                0:00
                0:00
                The Kinks - Lola versus Powerman and the MoneyGoRound, Part One

                The Kinks: Lola versus Powerman and the MoneyGoRound, Part One

                Album #150 - November 1970

                  0:00
                  0:00
                  The Grateful Dead - American Beauty

                  The Grateful Dead: American Beauty

                  Album #149 - November 1970

                    0:00
                    0:00
                    Derek and The Dominoes - Layla

                    Derek & The Dominos: Layla - Part 2

                    Album #148 - November 1970

                      0:00
                      0:00
                      Derek & The Dominos: Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

                      Derek & The Dominos: Layla - Part 1

                      Album #148 - November 1970

                        0:00
                        0:00
                        Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman

                        Cat Stevens: Tea for the Tillerman

                        Album #147 - November 1970

                          0:00
                          0:00
                          Stephen Stills

                          Stephen Stills: 'Stephen Stills'

                          Album #146 - November 1970

                            0:00
                            0:00