Entertainer.

Not musician, not singer, not dancer, but all of the above. A man's man for the people's people. Back in 1968, people actually gave a rat's ass about entertaining people. Quite a change from the club scene these days, eh? Most bands have zero stage presence and personality, and they'll excuse this by saying, "We let the music speak for itself," and, "Our songs are important." Fuck 'em for not even trying to entertain. I thought people went out to have fun, not to wallow in a setlist of some frontman's uninteresting ego. Where's that third dimension, where the spirit of the performer actually manages to reach out beyond the stage monitors and into the souls of the crowd?

James Brown is nothing less than a legend, and a legendary entertainer. And the proof's all over this thirty- year- old concert, finally seeing its first official release. James sings, grunts, preaches, and conducts. That latter quality may be lost; he pulls his musicians like marionettes. The drummers are on; the horns are on. The bassist? You bet your ass he's on. Everybody sparkles like they were just dipped in a vat of fun.

Even though you can't see the liquid lightning moves of the Godfather, his funky spirit is all over this recording. Take, for example, the twelve- minute version of "Cold Sweat;" you get your money's worth on the strength of that track alone-- it's too funky for words, friends. Almost funky enough, in fact, to make you forget about all of that "Too Legit to Quit" and jail business from a few years back.

Let me put it to you this way: You want the groove? It's right here and it's-- dare I say?-- entertaining. End of story.

-Jason Josephes

"Say It Loud-- I'm Black And I'm Proud"

[Real Audio Stream]