The James Brown Revue: Get Down at the Apollo with the J.B.’s

The James Brown Revue
Get Down at The Apollo with the J.B.’s
(Get On Down)

This newly released Get Down at the Apollo with the J.B.’s is the fourth recording from the infamous shows that James Brown and his band managed at The Apollo. The album features as much of the band as James himself. In fact, you’ll hear more of the smoking J.B.’s than you will of Mr. Brown here. The J.B.’s lay down instrumental funk with spanking horns on openers “Hot Pants Road” and “From the Back Side.” Stellar, snapping bass informs “Wine Spot,” then we finally get the big man introduced and singing “Never Can Say Goodbye” with a slow, sly bass and cool organ. James does some talking about his peoples’ role in current movies and overall social injustices with a quickly sung nod to the Jackson 5’s “Never Can Say Goodbye.” Lyn Collins (AKA, “Female Preacher”) leads a call-and-response to the ladies of the crowd on “Think (About It)” and on an electric guitar, flick-a-flick-a, big funky cover of “I’ll Take You There.” Bobby Byrd rounds out the collection singing over a rousing, drum snappin’, horn slidin’ “I Know You Got Soul,” with slow, torchy, sad horns. Then there’s  “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right” and lastly “Keep On Doin’ What You’re Doin.” Brown takes a big backseat here singing lead on only a few, playing organ on lots, while the J.B.’s and their various stellar singers and musicians take center stage on Get Down at the Apollo with the J.B.’s.