Live at the Apollo, Volume II explained

Live at the Apollo, Volume II
Type:live
Artist:James Brown and the Famous Flames
Cover:James brown - live at the apollo v2.jpg
Caption:Cover of the 2001 Deluxe Edition
Recorded:June 24–25, 1967
Venue:Apollo Theater, New York, NY
Genre:Soul, funk
Label:King
Producer:James Brown
Chronology:James Brown live albums
Prev Title:Live at the Garden
Prev Year:1967
Next Title:Sex Machine
Next Year:1970

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.[1] Robert Christgau included the album in his "basic record library" for the 1950s and 1960s.[2]

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.The Famous Flames, (Bobby Byrd and Bobby Bennett), were credited on the record label and the back cover of the album (although not on the front).[3] [4] But on the original album release, their group name was cut from the live intro, because in between the time of the recording of the album and its actual 1968 release, the group members quit James Brown due to salary disputes, essentially leaving Brown as a solo act. (Famous Flame Lloyd Stallworth had left the group during 1966 for the same reasons).[5] However, years later, on the 2001 Deluxe Edition CD release, the complete introduction by MC Frankie Crocker, including The Famous Flames' name, was restored.

This was the last live album recorded by James Brown & The Famous Flames as a group.

Track list

Times are listed from their respected CD issues; the original 1967 issue of the album is un-indexed.

Original 1968 issue

Side 1

  1. Introduction – 0:32
  2. "Think" – 2:54
  3. "I Wanna Be Around" – 3:09
  4. James Brown Thanks – 1:11
  5. "That's Life" – 4:05
  6. "Kansas City" – 4:49

Side 2

  1. Medley – 14:54:
  2. "Cold Sweat" – 4:43

Side 3

  1. "Maybe the Last Time" – 3:06
  2. "I Got You (I Feel Good)" – 0:38
  3. "Prisoner of Love" – 7:25
  4. "Out of Sight" – 0:26
  5. "Try Me" – 2:54
  6. "Bring It Up (Hipster's Avenue)" – 4:38 (includes intro of Famous Flames Bobby Byrd & Bobby Bennett)

Side 4

  1. "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" – 11:16
  2. "Lost Someone (Medley)" – 6:21
  3. "Please, Please, Please" – 2:44

Notes on 1987 CD issue

  1. "Let Yourself Go" – 4:01
  2. "There Was a Time" – 4:18
  3. "I Feel All Right" – 5:32

2001 Deluxe Edition

Notes and References

  1. White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
  2. http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg70/basics.php CG 70s: A Basic Record Library: The Fifties and Sixties
  3. http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0002/608/MI0002608558.jpg?partner=allrovi.com James Brown - Live at the Apollo, Volume II (1968) album back cover.
  4. https://supersoulsound.com/jbsuperfan/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/1968.king_.lp_.james_.brown_.live_.at_.the_.apollo.volume.2.label_.side_.4.jpg James Brown - Live at the Apollo, Volume II (1968) album record label.
  5. http://www.goldminemag.com/blogs/bobby-bennett-the-last-of-the-famous-flames-speaks-of-james-brown-more Bobby Bennett, the last of The Famous Flames, speaks of James Brown & more.