James Brown
Live at the Apollo

THE REVIEW

Apollo Theater. New York City. It was the year 1962 when "Soul brother number one" aka "The hardest working man in show business" aka "Mr. Dynamite" aka "The Godfather of Soul" decided to produce that live performance himself in the historic theater of New York City because his producer had refused to support him. The record achieves a phenomenal success.

James Brown doesn't sing. James Brown doesn't play. James Brown doesn't shout. James Brown takes possession of the stage, takes possession of the audience, captures its energy, and after passing it through the filter of his soul, throws it back tenfold, a hundredfold into the room. This is Soul music. It's not about seeing who has the clearest, most perfect, highest, or deepest voice. It's about seeing how much you are capable of giving through your voice. It's about confessing in front of an entire audience. It's about confessing with the entire audience.

Soul music is a great live exorcism. The audience is in a trance, heated up by Lucas "Fats" Gonder who announces the evening's menu punctuated by screams and applause: "I'll go Crazyyeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Try me yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Think yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai don't mind Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Lost someone YEaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Please, please, please YEAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Night train YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
Then Mr. Dynamite takes possession of the stage, and embarks on a live performance that will remain unmatched in the history of music. Those who were present will be able to tell their children: I was there.