James Brown's 1971 Olympia Concert
May 31, 2012 6:38 PM   Subscribe

On March 8, 1971, James Brown performed at The Olympia in Paris.

Blessedly, there are quality audio recordings. The opening "Brother Rapp"/"Ain't It Funky" medley was chosen for inclusion in the peerless Star Time 4 CD box set. [The smile of satisfaction on the bandleader's face during Phelps Collins' epic guitar solo proves that the answer was: Why, yes. Yes, it is.] And the entire concert was finally released by Polydor in 1992 as Love Power Peace - which occasioned one of those extraordinary Julian Cope reviews I was talking about.
posted by Trurl (20 comments total) 16 users marked this as a favorite
 
Wow! Thanks for this. I have Love Power Peace and it is amazing. I had no idea it was filmed.
posted by vibrotronica at 6:42 PM on May 31, 2012


Yep.
posted by rhizome at 6:49 PM on May 31, 2012


Thanks. Also, tahnks for the related videos on the side bar!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 6:53 PM on May 31, 2012


Awesome! So is this where we post the best concert videos ever?
posted by Huck500 at 7:03 PM on May 31, 2012 [3 favorites]


Love Power Peace: Live at the Olympia, Paris 1971(amazon)

That's some funky stuff.
posted by Big_B at 7:47 PM on May 31, 2012


Phelps Collins?
Catfish Collins sounds way cooler. Of course he is the brother of Bootsy.
posted by dougzilla at 8:40 PM on May 31, 2012


I would have loved to have been at that concert!
The energy is so amazing. Nobody put on a better
feel good show than JB.
posted by quazichimp at 8:48 PM on May 31, 2012 [1 favorite]


This is awesome. Does anyone know what the set list was for this show (or the Talking Heads show linked above?)
posted by saul wright at 9:50 PM on May 31, 2012


Saul, the Talking Heads footage is from Rome in 1980, previously with setlist.
posted by Songdog at 2:58 AM on June 1, 2012 [2 favorites]


That said, this version sounds a bit different than what's on Star Time. It's obviously the same work up, but maybe from a different performance?

Other than the video's sound being pitched too high?

All I know is that the liner notes say it's from March 8. And that said notes are so detailed that, if there had been more than one performance that day, it would probably specify which one.

Though the idea of anyone giving more than one such performance in less than 24 hours passes from the superhuman to the supernatural.
posted by Trurl at 4:19 AM on June 1, 2012


Setlist here.
posted by Trurl at 4:22 AM on June 1, 2012 [1 favorite]


This DVD is specifically dated March 8. (And has a more complete setlist - including a Vicki Anderson interlude.)
posted by Trurl at 4:32 AM on June 1, 2012


After I pitch an idea to clients, I often say "jump back, gonna kiss myself."
posted by stormpooper at 6:30 AM on June 1, 2012


This is absolutely fantastic. Many thanks (and for the setlist as well).
posted by languagehat at 7:30 AM on June 1, 2012


I have just assembled what I modestly believe to be the ultimate James Brown compilation - named People It's Bad - consisting of nearly all of his singles from 1970 through 1974 (omitting ephemera like "Santa Claus Is Definitely Here To Stay") presented in chronological order and, most importantly, in their lengthiest-available forms. It is funky.

1. "It's A New Day" - 6:25 (from In The Jungle Groove 1969-1971)
2. "Funky Drummer" - 9:15 (from In The Jungle Groove 1969-1971)
3. "Brother Rapp (Part 1 & 2)" - 5:25 (from The Singles - Volume 6 (1969-1970))
4. "Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine" - 10:33 (from Funk Power - 1970 : A Brand New Thang)
5. "Super Bad" - 9:06 (from Funk Power - 1970 : A Brand New Thang)
6. "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" - 7:09 (from Funk Power - 1970 : A Brand New Thang)
7. "Soul Power" - 12:08 (from Funk Power - 1970 : A Brand New Thang)
8. "Escape-Ism (Part 1)" - 3:18 (from The Singles - Volume 7 (1970-1972))
9. "Escape-Ism (Part 2 & 3)" - 4:02 (from The Singles - Volume 7 (1970-1972))
10. "Hot Pants (She Got To Use What She Got To Get What She Wants)" - 8:44 (from In The Jungle Groove 1969-1971)
11. "Make It Funky" - 12:49 (from Make It Funky - The Big Payback (1971-1975))
12. "I'm A Greedy Man" - 7:06 (from There It Is)
13. "Talking Loud and Saying Nothing" - 14:44 (from Funk Power - 1970 : A Brand New Thang)
14. "There It Is (Part 1 & 2)" - 5:50 (from There It Is)
15. "Honky Tonk (Part 1)" - 3:07 (from The Singles - Volume 8 (1972-1973))
16. "Honky Tonk (Part 2)" - 3:31 (from The Singles - Volume 8 (1972-1973))
17. "Get On The Good Foot (Part 1)" - 3:36 (from The Singles - Volume 8 (1972-1973))
18. "Get On The Good Foot (Part 2)" - 2:41 (from The Singles - Volume 8 (1972-1973))
19. "I Got A Bag Of My Own" - 3:49 (from Make It Funky - The Big Payback (1971-1975))
20. "I Got Ants In My Pants (And I Want To Dance)" - 7:28 (from Make It Funky - The Big Payback (1971-1975))
21. "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy" - 3:33 (from The Singles - Volume 8 (1972-1973))
22. "Stoned To The Bone" - 4:06 (from Make It Funky - The Big Payback (1971-1975))
23. "The Payback" - 7:39 (from The Payback)
24. "My Thang" - 4:38 (from Star Time)
25. "Papa Don't Take No Mess" - 13:51 (from Hell)
26. "Funky President (People It's Bad)" - 4:10 (from Make It Funky - The Big Payback (1971-1975))
27. "Coldblooded" - 5:06 (from Make It Funky - The Big Payback (1971-1975))

At 3:03:50 total, it should just fit on 2 CDs.
posted by Trurl at 7:41 AM on June 1, 2012 [1 favorite]


At 3:03:50 total, it should just fit on 2 CDs.

Don't CDs have a maximum runtime of 80 minutes? You're going to find you're about 20 minutes too long for 2 CDs, I suspect.
posted by hippybear at 8:07 AM on June 1, 2012 [1 favorite]


I don't see "Cold Sweat" anywhere on that list, sir.

Of course he did important work before 1970. But there's Star Time for a picture of the full career and it needs no improvement.
posted by Trurl at 8:18 AM on June 1, 2012 [1 favorite]


You're going to find you're about 20 minutes too long for 2 CDs, I suspect.

You're correct, of course. All this funk has addled my brain.
posted by Trurl at 8:20 AM on June 1, 2012


Sex Machine
posted by Vibrissae at 1:25 PM on June 1, 2012


Thanks for the setlists. Adding these to the ol' live music blog.
posted by saul wright at 7:32 PM on June 1, 2012


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