32: LIVE AT THE APOLLO VOL 2 | JAMES BROWN
In every way Live at the Apollo Vol 2 from 1967 is better than Live At The Apollo Vol 1 from 1962. And I believe this is the greatest live album ever recorded. I know, big statements huh? I shall explain myself below.
There's is no doubt that Vol 1 is more influential than Vol 2. It's impact helped influence countless artist. But Vol 2 was the emergence of the funk. And it had one of the greatest horn sections ever assembled headed by THE Maceo Parker, who performed what I think is one of the best solos, of any instrument, of all time on Cold Sweat. I actually prefer the edited version found on the LP. It's so charged. The energy of Parker's staccato chops jump off the platter. This version of Kansas City is the best ever recorded. And the Godfather performs his standards like ‘Prisoner of Love’, ‘Think’, ‘Lost Someone’, ‘Please Please Please’ and ‘It's a Man’s Man’s Man’s World’ with such emotion...such soul. Side 2 is really what you should listen to to feel this soul and groove tidal wave. Side 2 is the unbelievable 3 song medley and my favorite all time audience participation numbers. I know it's me verses the world on my opinion of Vol 2 over Vol 1 but I'm stickin' to it. Don't get me wrong Vol 1 is a masterpiece but not as much as VOL 2. James Brown Live at the Apollo Vol 2 was James Brown at his very prime.
Wiki Says: Live At The Apollo, Volume II is a 1968 live double album by James Brown and The Famous Flames, recorded in 1967 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. It is a follow-up to Brown's 1963 recording, Live at the Apollo. It is best known for the long medley of "Let Yourself Go", "There Was a Time", and "I Feel All Right", followed by "Cold Sweat", which document the emergence of Brown's funk style. It peaked at #32 on the Billboard albums chart. Robert Christgau included the album in his "basic record library" for the 1950s and 1960s.
On the original 1968 album and its 1987 CD reissue the performances were edited to accommodate the recording medium. A more complete recording of what was captured from the performances was remastered and released on a 2-CD Deluxe Edition in 2001. Full Wikipedia article
Here is a review from Pier Williamson on Allmusic: Pundits and musicians alike are greatly influenced by James Brown’s first “Live at the Apollo” release in 1963. A perennial top ten album across all genres, “Live at the Apollo” represents a coming out party of sorts for the Godfather of Soul. With that said, “Vol. II” is a fabulous successor recorded in 1967 and offers an expanded set list, plus improved sound engineering and a plethora of new band members including Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker on sax, Alphonso “Country” Kellum and Jimmy “Chank” Nolan on guitar, and John “Jabo” Starks and Clyde Stubblefield on drums. The Famous Flames are still intact as they provide great backing vocal support for Brown, as they tear through standards “Think” and “Kansas City,” plus original compositions in “Cold Sweat” and “It May Be the Last Time.” The music is tight, swinging, groovy and funky throughout this second official legendary release from Harlem. A double disc deluxe edition of “Live at the Apollo, Vol. II” was released by Polydor Records in 2001. A purchase worth making for fans of Brown’s first Apollo Theater album.
#32 1/2: LIVE AT THE APOLLO (‘63) | JAMES BROWN
Quite possibly the most influential soul-funk-R&B record of all time. The screams from the ladies in the Apollo theatre here in 1962 are almost as loud as Brown’s signature screeches. This is an in addition to the 1000 list. The hidden album. You found it. Now you get a golden ticket.
Wiki: Live at the Apollo is the first live album by James Brown and the Famous Flames, recorded at the Apollo Theater in Harlem and released in 1963.
The album is included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings, published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981). In 2000 it was voted number 248 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums. In 2003, the album was ranked number 25 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list. In 2004, it was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry. In 1998, this album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Read more