James Brown!

[Gary]

I don't think James Brown has ever been discussed on this forum! So..... guess what? I picked up MFSL UDCD 583 JAMES BROWN LIVE AT THE APOLLO 1962. It's amazing what you can find.... if you keep looking! This is a UD2 so I am not expecting a great CD. But it'll probably be better than a stock CD!

Talk about not having an open mind, huh? ;)

Anyway I know that JB was an oldie but never knew he was around in 1962! He must have a huuuuge catalogue! And he is one of those poor souls that have ONE song played over and over: I Feel Good (if that's what it's called).

Any comments on the Godfather of Soul or his catalogue?

Well, off to the listening room - the tubes gotta be warm by now! Ta!

[Sckott]

This is a great CD. When you come back, prove me wrong.

[peterC]

Originally posted by Gary

Anyway I know that JB was an oldie but never knew he was around in 1962! He must have a huuuuge catalogue! And he is one of those poor souls that have ONE song played over and over: I Feel Good (if that's what it's called).



Ah Gary you must be a youngster! JB was around and very popular on the r'n'b market from the mid to late 50s.

Live at the Apollo 1962 is my absolute favourite JB record and my favourite live album of all time. BUT be warned it is strictly 50s style r'n'b predating his funk period.

I may be in the minority but I prefer his pre-funk material.

The standard CD sounds pretty good. Amazingly good actually considering it's a live album from 1962. I haven't heard the mofi.

[Henry Love]

I believe James Brown has been around since the early 50's w/ Please,Please,Please.What a song and he had a great stage routine for it with the cape.Another favorite of mine,though not well known was You've Got to Change Your Mind.A duet with Bobby Byrd.You gotta hear that one. I saw him once at Soldier Field in the 60's.I was a insomniac in high school so I'd stay up listening to blues and soul on WVON.Great stuff.

[Dave]

Sckott,

So this one's really that good? Like, say compareable to Howlin' Wolf MFSL?

[Larry Naramore]

Yea Gary if "Prisoner Of Love" doesn't blow your socks off then I'll eat em! Dennis Drake did the silver stock copy though there might be several reissues.

[Sckott]

Originally posted by Dave
Sckott,

So this one's really that good? Like, say compareable to Howlin' Wolf MFSL?

No way. This James Brown MFSL is a live recording, and done well, but will not reach "Folk Singer" without a large stepladder, sonically. The MFSL James Brown is a very good disc, and a favorite. It wasn't recorded superbly, but the performance was amazing. It's edited to hell though. See? I can't be satisfied.

I have a video of a James Brown show, mostly a large snippet, and the sound quality is terrible (overmodulated) for soundboard. It's a video on B&W videotape back around 1967 (or so?) made for JB's manager. One part of the tape is funny as hell. Now, James uses slight body language to direct the band into how and when he wants rimshots, and what songs he wants to go into. It's brillant. You can barely tell that James turned around for the band to change tunes, and James says in the middle of the song...

"Ya know I gotcha....alright!"

That was to the band. James gave em a suprise. Performances like that kill listening to that MFSL CD, but I love that Apollo CD nonetheless. It's actually a historical LP in the world of JB.

The Startime box set is required listening, other than the MFSL.

[CM Wolff]

As good as Live at the Apollo and Startime are, the James Brown that gets the most play in my house are Say It Live and Loud (Dallas), Love Power Peace (Paris), and the Live at the Apollo Volume Two (Deluxe Edition) albums. Heartstopping stuff.

Make sure to rewind before track one of Volume Two for several minutes of hidden MC'ing leading into the classic "It's Startime" intro....

[MagicAlex]

Originally posted by Sckott


No way. This James Brown MFSL is a live recording, and done well, but will not reach "Folk Singer" without a large stepladder, sonically.

I've got to agree with you here, Sckott. The MFSL 'Folk Singer' is one of the best 'sounding' CDs that I have ever heard! They got that one right when they recorded it and MoFi made it even better after mastering it well.

I like the Howlin' Wolf "Real Folk Blues' too but I always felt that there must have been some problems with the masters on some of the tracks. I should give that one another listen soon.

While we are off topic here...did MoFi do any other Chess/Argo/Cadet CDs? How about DCC?

[peterC]

Originally posted by CM Wolff

Make sure to rewind before track one of Volume Two for several minutes of hidden MC'ing leading into the classic "It's Startime" intro....

Hey CM are you talking about CD2 of the deluxe edition? I didn't know about the hidden MCing. I'll have to give it a listen tonight.

[Dave]

Originally posted by MagicAlex
While we are off topic here...did MoFi do any other Chess/Argo/Cadet CDs? How about DCC?
I know that Steve did at least one on MCA, Muddy Waters: Live At Newport 1960, MFSL I have to look later.

[MagicAlex]

Originally posted by Dave

I know that Steve did at least one on MCA, Muddy Waters: Live At Newport 1960, MFSL I have to look later.

Dave, is that the older release or the recently remastered edition w/bonus tracks?

[Grant]

Gary,

You must be a young-un! James Brown rose to fame in the 50s as a stand-in when Little Richard missed a concert.

He has TONS of albums and compilations, and is called "The Hardest Working Man In Show Business", and "The Godfather Of Soul".

If you look in the R&B book of top hits you will see he had as about many hits as Elvis Presley. His recordings usually sound top notch.

He is also big in England but I guess he isn't that well known in Canada, no?

He alone is credited with inventing funk music, and just about everything funky goes back to him.

He was also known as having had the best live bands that could play with surgical percision for long periods of time. He even used to fine his band for wrong notes.

Gary, welcome to the world of SOUL!

I recommend you start with the Startime box set.

[Larry Naramore]

Gary where did you go? Still listening to Apollo huh. Bet you ate your socks!

[peterC]

Originally posted by Grant

I recommend you start with the Startime box set.

Well as great as the box is, if you're going to START somewhere with JB I really think Live at the Apollo 1962 is one great starting point.......and expect to spend big after that!

[Dave]

MagicAlex,

No it's not the remaster. It's a standard available cd up here but there are 3 versions available. Check in the Discography under MCA and the correct catalogue number is there. Actually there another one that's available here as well Sings: Big Bill Broonzy/Folk Singer. You can buy them at www.absound.ca ;)

[pigmode]

Hitman!

[peterC]

Originally posted by Henry Love
I believe James Brown has been around since the early 50's w/ Please,Please,Please.

Henry, I just checked in the Startime booklet. Please Please Please was recorded in February 1956......somewhere around my 1st birthday!

[Grant]

Originally posted by peter castanos


Well as great as the box is, if you're going to START somewhere with JB I really think Live at the Apollo 1962 is one great starting point.......and expect to spend big after that!
I disagree.

The box has a good, overall review of his career, and then some! I love the 1962 "Live At The Apollo" but I do prefer his work 1965-1974 most.

[Gary]

Originally posted by Larry Naramore
Gary where did you go? Still listening to Apollo huh. Bet you ate your socks!

I'm back! Sorry, the Leafs scored (and eventually won 2-1!) and I shut down the computer. By the time the game was over, I could squeeze in just three tunes befor the WAF became a -2. :( More tonight!

Thank goodness my socks were clean! Great CD! This guy is ALIVE!

Grant, the Startime box set? I guess it's "Startime" by James Brown? Or is is a soul comp? Or is that the record label or something? Thanks for the tip!

I do have the Scream, Beg and Shout Rhino box which has an amazing selection of stuff that I heard in the '60's and never heard again!

BTW, either I'm a young'un or I'm soooo old that my memory's fading.... ;)

[Bob Lovely]

All,

Hard to believe that any fan of popular music is not a big fan of James Brown and his music. Since I am a little older (51) I grew up listening to James' Top 40 hits in the late 50's through all the 60's. They should be considered "required" listening for all music fans for the historical perspective and for the music education. His music evolved during his career from R & B to Soul to Funk. His Soul years were his biggest "selling" recordings. Personally, I prefer his R & B and Soul years but I also have his Funk recordings and enjoy them as well. His music has been heavily sampled and his style copied (where do you think Michael Jackson got his dance moves--from James Brown and Jackie Wilson!). For those of you that are not familar with James, I highly recommend obtaining his greatest hits and then dig further in to the depths of his recorded work.

James Brown hits that should not be missed:

Please, Please, Please
Good, Good Lovin'
Try Me
I'll Go Crazy
Night Train
Out Of Sight
I Feel Good (I Got You)
Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World
Cold Sweat (Parts 1 & 2)
I Got The Feeling
Licking Stick
Get Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine)

Bob :)

[Jeff H.]

The Mo Fi James Brown Live At The Apollo does sound quite good for an early mobile recording. But the one thing that has always bothered me about it is that it's twin track stereo. Voices on one channel and backing track on the other. From what I understand it duplicates the original stereo LP, but for overall better listening enjoyment the Polydor CD is better. Word is that this title will be remastered and re-issued.

[Dave]

Jeff,

Is the Polydor in mono or true stereo? And what about the re-master?

[Togo]

Originally posted by Gary
I don't think James Brown has ever been discussed on this forum! So..... guess what? I picked up MFSL UDCD 583 JAMES BROWN LIVE AT THE APOLLO 1962. It's amazing what you can find.... if you keep looking! This is a UD2 so I am not expecting a great CD. But it'll probably be better than a stock CD!

Talk about not having an open mind, huh? ;)



Hi Gary,

Can you tell me why UD2's are less likely to be great sounding? Maybe I missed an earlier posting?

Happy listening anyhow!

Luv JB - I have the Startime box which sounds pretty good, not perfect, but the later material is fine...

[Gary]

Actually this one is pretty good for a UD2! Not all UD2's are bad, though.

Dave actually is the MFSL expert! And there was a good thread somewhere that had some detail..... somewhere. Please note that these are generalizations!

The theory is this, inorder of appearance (i.e.: manufacturing date):

MFSL silver disc: Straight transfer from tape, warts and all (according to Steve H!). Usually sounds good - sometimes it's the best version. Such as Wakeman - Journey to..... is ecxellent! The gold disc just sucks! :mad: I have both.....

MFSL UD (commonly called UD1): Gold disc. Made in Japan. Well done, eq'd with little loss of presence (good depth, separation, etc.)

MFSL UD2: Manufacturing went to the USA. Pressing plant may not have been the ... errr.... best available. Sound seems to have been goosed: more EQ, more compression. Great example: Pink Floyd DSOTM UD1 (Japan) sounds much better than the UD2 (USA) verision.

MFSL UD2 / Gain System: A step up from the UD2 but not as good as the UD1.

MFSL UD2 / Gain System/ DSD: The best of the UD2's. DSD = Direct Strean Digital.

So, in order of preference:

UD1
Silver (but, as noted above, can have warts! ;) )
UD2 / Gain / DSD
UD2 / Gain
UD2

One other note: Sometimes the packaging and actual disc can be different. There were a fair amount of MFSL CDs made in USA with Japanese packaging! The best way to tell is to look at the disc and see if it says Made in Japan or Made in USA.

Hope this helps!

G