Thank God someone thought to record the Godfather in concert at this vital stage of his career--and at the ultimate shrine of black American music, to boot. There is no more exciting document of live performance in the history of R&B: powered by tireless drummer Clayton Fillyau, James Brown and the Famous Flames tear their way through a slew of King hits--from "Please, Please, Please" to "Night Train"--taking soul power to the very edge of gospel abandon in the process. The Apollo audience, hysterical with adulation, plays as big a part in Live at the Apollo as Brown himself. The shrieking buildup and sudden drop down into "Lost Someone" is one of the most heart-stopping moments in soul. --Barney Hoskyns