Performer Notes

2 LPs on 1 CD.
Personnel: James Brown, Marva Whitney (vocals); Jimmy "Chank" Nolen, Alphonso "Country" Kellum (guitar); Sylvia Medford, Marilyn Jones, Richard Jones (violin); Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis (alto saxophone, organ); Maceo Parker, L.D. Williams (tenor saxophone); St. Clair Pickney (baritone saxophone); Waymon Reed, Joe Dupars (trumpet); Levi Rasbury (valve trombone); Bernard Odum (bass); Ronald Selico (bongos, drums); John "Jabo" Starks, Clyde Stubblefield (drums).
The Fabulous Flames: Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett (background vocals).
Recorded live at the Apollo Theater, New York, New York on June 25, 1967. Includes liner notes by Roger McLeya.
Digitally remastered by Dennis M. Drake.
LIVE AT THE APOLLO VOL. 2 DELUXE EDITION contains the tracks, emcee patter, intermission music and songs as they were recorded in this live performance. Previous versions of LIVE AT THE APOLLO VOL. 2 had been cut to fit on vinyl sides.
Personnel includes: James Brown (vocals, organ, drums); Sad Sam, Frankie Crocker (spoken vocals); Alfonzo "Country" Kellum (guitar, bass); Jimmy "Chank" Nolan (guitar); Vivian Robinson, Richard Jones, Marilyn Jones (violin); Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis (alto saxophone, organ); St. Clair Pinckney (tenor & baritone saxophones); Eldee Williams, Maceo Parker (tenor saxophone); Waymon Reed, Joe Dupars (trumpet); Levi Rasbury (trombone); Bernard Odum (bass); Ronald Selico (drums, bongos); Clyde Stubblefield, John "Jabo" Starks (drums); Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett (background vocals).
Producers include: James Brown, Harry Weinger, Alan Leeds.
Recorded live at The Apollo Theatre, New York, New York fropm June 16-25, 1967. Originally released on King Records (1022). Includes liner notes by Alan Leeds.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
According to Alan Leeds -- tour director of the James Brown show in the late '60s -- by 1968 Brown was honored with the distinction of selling one million concert tickets during his various appearances at the famed Apollo Theatre. The first volume of Live at the Apollo [1963] captured the R&B fury that would single-handedly define the soul music genre. While this volume reveals Brown's updated stage show, it more importantly offers another prolific observation into the future of R&B -- funk. It would be nearly two years before Brown would discover the likes of Bootsy Collins and ultimately form the J.B.'s. However, as Live at the Apollo, Vol. II testifies, "soul brother number one" is already submerging his band into more extended musical tangents, bobbing and weaving within a tight framework. This yields exciting new readings of familiar classics such as "It's a Man's Man's Man's World." Not only does Brown brilliantly incorporate the track "Lost Someone" -- recalling the extended workout given on Live at the Apollo [1963] -- Brown's percussive, heart-attack inducing call and response will leave even the most unflappable enthusiast slack jawed. ~ Lindsay Planer

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (4/11/02, p.105) - Ranked #3 in Rolling Stone's "50 Coolest Records" - "...The most explosive cold-sweat funk grooves ever recorded..."

Q (5/00, p.134) - Included in Q Magazine's "Best Soul Albums Of All Time" - "...Documents the man on peak form, and offers a glimpse into urban black culture in this most celebrated and vibrant venue....one of the most thrilling soul sets ever."

Q (9/01, p.128) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...It shows the midpoint between the showtime/balladeering Brown and the Minister Of The New Super Heavy Funk that came later..."

Living Blues (1-2/02, p.60) - "...Greatly expanded...stretching the original to 2 CDs...reconstructing the original show..."

Mojo (Publisher) (1/02, p.69) - Included in Mojo's "Best Reissues of 2001".

Mojo (Publisher) (9/01, p.122) - "...The band was Brown's best ever....Here, blistering, full-length versions of the great strides in funk...are interspersed with a couple of the older ballads....It's a deluxe edition that offers the best seat in the house..."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.133) - 5 stars out of 5 - "Part of soul history, documenting Brown's searing 1962 performance..."