Live at the Apollo [1968]

• Artist: James Brown
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1968 08
• Total Time: 73:23
• Type: Live
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

As a whole, this double album is pretty erratic -- there are a bunch of torchy R&B ballads that were somewhat anachronistic in light of the explosive funk innovations Brown was unleashing in the studio during this time, and some of those funk hits are reprised here in super-brief versions that seem to cut off before they have a chance to get started. On the other hand, some of it is as essential as anything else Brown ever recorded. In particular, the 20-minute medley of "Let Yourself Go/There Was a Time/I Feel All Right/Cold Sweat" is a magnificent, seamless ball of energy, a landmark performance in the evolution of soul and funk. Other highlights are "Bring It Up" and an 11-minute "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World." ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Introduction	Charles Bobbit	James Brown	(:31)
Think	Lowman Pauling	James Brown, Marva Whitney	(2:54)
I Wanna Be Around	Johnny Mercer, Sadie Vimmerstadt	James Brown	(3:13)
James Brown Thanks		James Brown	(1:05)
That's Life	Vernon Duke, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg	James Brown	(4:07)
Kansas City (Lyrics)	Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller	James Brown	(3:52)
Let Yourself Go (Lyrics)	James Brown, Bud Hobgood	James Brown	(4:01)
There Was a Time	James Brown, Bud Hobgood	James Brown	(4:18)
I Feel All Right	James Brown, Bud Hobgood	James Brown	(5:32)
Cold Sweat (Lyrics)	James Brown, Pee Wee Ellis	James Brown	(4:39)
It May Be the Last Time	James Brown	James Brown	(3:06)
I Got You (I Feel Good)	James Brown	James Brown	(:29)
Prisoner of Love (Lyrics)	Leo Robin, Russ Columbo, Clarence Gaskill	James Brown	(7:31)
Out of Sight	Ted Wright	James Brown	(:25)
Try Me (Lyrics)	James Brown	James Brown	(2:54)
Bring It Up (Hipster's Avenue)	James Brown, Nat Jones	James Brown	(4:38)
It's a Man's Man's Man's World (Lyrics)	James Brown, Betty Jean Newsome	James Brown	(7:10)
Lost Someone [Medley]	James Brown, Bobby Byrd, Lloyd Stallworth	James Brown	(10:17)
Please, Please, Please (Lyrics)	James Brown, Johnny Terry	James Brown	(2:41)

Credits

Alphonso "Country" Kellum (Guitar), Hubert Perry (Bass), Louis Hamblin (Trumpet), Roscoe Patrick (Trumpet), Al "Brisco" Clark (Sax (Tenor)), Ron Lenhoff (Mixing), The Famous Flames (Vocals), Bobby Byrd (Vocals), Levi Rasbury (?), Clayton Fillyau (Drums), Mack Johnson (Trumpet), Richard Jones (Violin), Bobby Byrd (Organ), St. Clair Pinckney (Sax (Baritone)), Bobby Byrd (Vocals (Background)), Louis Hambun (Trumpet), Gene Redd (Editing), Sam Latham (Drums), Bud Hobgood (Production Manager), Levi Rasbury (Trombone (Valve)), James Brown (Vocals), Lucas Fats Gonder (Organ), Ron Selico (Bongos), Eldee Williams (Sax (Tenor)), James Brown (Producer), Maceo Parker (Sax (Tenor)), Waymon Reed (Trumpet), Les Buie (Guitar), Ron Selico (Drums), Al "Brisco" Clark (Sax (Baritone)), Pee Wee Ellis (Sax (Alto)), Lloyd Stallworth (Vocals (Background)), Pee Wee Ellis (Organ), Lucas Fats Gonder (?), Alan Clark (Sax (Baritone)), Clyde Stubblefield (Drums), Lewis Hamlin (Trumpet), Jimmy Nolen (Guitar), Bernard Odum (Bass), Lucas Fats Gonder (MC), Dicky Wells (Trombone), Hal Neely (Liner Notes), Joe Dupars (Trumpet), Louis Hamblin (Director), John Starks (Drums), Bobby Bennett (Vocals), Marva Whitney (Performer), Mackinley Johnson (Trumpet), Teddy Washington (Trumpet), Bob Bennett (Vocals (Background)), Pee Wee Ellis (Bandleader), Clifford MacMillan (Sax (Tenor)), St. Clair Pinckney (Vocals), James Brown (Organ), St. Clair Pinckney (Sax (Tenor))