James Brown earned his nickname "The Hardest Working Man In Show Business" by touring constantly. By 1962, he had clocked in more than 300 dates a year. It was no wonder that he pitched the idea of a live recording to his label, King Records. Due to lack of new songs, the label refused. So, Brown funded the recording at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem. The album spent more than a year on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, peaking at number 2.There are a lot of things to like about this album; the introduction by Fats Gonder, the way that Brown belts out 4 of his biggest hits in about 10 minutes followed by a 10 and a half minute version of "Lost Someone", and the enthusiastic screams coming from the audience. I remember enjoying the album on the first listen, but for some reason, I had a hard time playing it a second time. It's definitely one of those albums that you have to be in the mood for. Well, Fats Gonder did his job well, because after listening to his introduction, I was ready for more soul.
Favorite Tracks: "Try Me," "Think," "I Don't Mind" and "Lost Someone"
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