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James Brown Live Albums and Top Live Performances

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Looking for the definitive collection of live concert and live album recordings by James Brown? Look no further, we’ve gathered together a list of The Godfather of Soul’s most compelling, amazing, soul-stirring live performances, when he was backed by an incredible array of the most remarkable musicians, including Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Bootsy Collins, and more. There is something about the rawness, intensity, give and take with the crowd that can’t be matched by an album recording in the studio. If you are looking for that feeling of intensity, sweat, excitement and energy from a live performance, check out these exhilirating classic live recordings from James Brown:

As you read the list, listen to a playlist of James Brown classic performances from Live at the Apollo and Sex Machine from the Amazon MP3 store. Hit the ‘play’ button and scroll through the playlists to hear these amazing classic recordings, then head over to the Amazon MP3 store to download a DRM-free version of the complete albums.

Here’s our list of James Brown’s Top Live Albums. Sound off in the comments below on your favorite live performances by James Brown, the incredible musicians he played with and how hearing these songs and seeing these shows takes you back.

James Brown – Live at the Apollo

Thank God someone thought to record the Godfather in concert at this vital stage of his career–and at the ultimate shrine of Black American music, to boot. There is no more exciting document of live performance in the history of R&B: powered by tireless drummer Clayton Fillyau, James Brown and the Famous Flames tear their way through a slew of King hits–from “”Please, Please, Please”" to “”Night Train”"–taking soul power to the very edge of gospel abandon in the process. (More…)

James Brown – Live at the Apollo Volume II

Thanks to the paradigm-shifting success of his first Live at the Apollo LP from 1963, James Brown and the famed Harlem theater were all but synonymous in the ’60s. By the time Brown recorded there again in early summer of 1967, his music had undergone tremendous changes, as revolutionary for R&B as John Coltrane’s sheets-of-sound approach was for jazz. This second Live at the Apollo caught Brown giving full stick to both his classic soul-ballad style and funk (More…)

James Brown – Sex Machine (Live)

After the legendary Live at the Apollo and the even better Love Power Peace: Live at the Olympia, Sex Machine is the bomb, capturing a thrilling moment in Brown’s funky revolution. The disc features 12 hot and sweaty, and sometimes slinky, live cuts recorded with the James Brown Band in 1969, plus three more studio jams (including a 10-minute title track) with his next band, the great JB’s. (More…)

James Brown – Love, Power, Peace: Live At The Olympia, Paris, 1971

This is James Brown at the peak of his funk period. This is unadulterated raw, energetic, funk captured on a single night in Paris (unlike Sex Machine, which is a compilation). Featuring phenominal musicians including drummer Jabo Starks, a very young Bootsy Collins on Bass, Maceo Parker, Catfish Collins on guitar and more. This is funk and rock at its raw, live best.
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James Brown – Say It Live & Loud: Live In Dallas 8.26.68

This album features the first public performance of “Say It Loud – I’m Black And I’m Proud” Featuring the indelible work of funk masters Nate Jones, Clyde Stubblefield, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, and St. Clair Pinckney. 23 tracks are included, including If I Ruled The World, Say It Loud – I’m Black And I’m Proud, I Guess I’ll Have to Cry, Cry Cry, Soul Pridge, Tighten Up, Cold Sweat, Licking Stick, Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, Maybe the Last Time, Please, Please, Please, I Can’t Stand Myself When You Touch Me and so many more. (More…)
There are more worthy mentions in the repertoire of James Brown live performance albums and singles:

James Brown – Pure Dynamite: Live At The Royal

This album is unavailable domestically through commercial outlets, though you can try to get it via auction. Amazon has the 24-bit remastered Japanese limited edition reissue of James Brown’s rare & sought after 1964 album recorded live at Baltimore’s famous Royal Theatre where the audience occasionally overwhelms the music with its noisy enthusiasm, that’s unavailable domestically, packaged in a miniature LP gatefold sleeve.

More worthy live albums from James Brown!

James Brown – At Madison Square Garden
As soon as we find out where you can get this, we’ll update this link.

and Live Singles…

“”

There Was A Time – James Brown

Lost Someone (edit) – James Brown

Oh Baby Don’t You Weep – James Brown
The last one is not really live (audience sounds were added) but is a classic nonetheless.

We hope this list has whet your appetite to hear and see some of the most classic and exhilarating screaming, rhythmic rock and funk to sear your soul and stir your spirit. Do you agree with our list?