Comments on: James Brown's 1971 Olympia Concert

James Brown's 1971 Olympia Concert

Trurl — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:38:36 -0800

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.

By: vibrotronica

vibrotronica — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:42:56 -0800

Wow! Thanks for this. I have Love Power Peace and it is amazing. I had no idea it was filmed.

By: rhizome

rhizome — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:49:29 -0800

Yep.

By: The 10th Regiment of Foot

The 10th Regiment of Foot — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:53:44 -0800

Thanks. Also, tahnks for the related videos on the side bar!

By: Huck500

Huck500 — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:03:07 -0800

Awesome! So is this where we post the best concert videos ever?

By: Big_B

Big_B — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:47:18 -0800

Love Power Peace: Live at the Olympia, Paris 1971(amazon) That's some funky stuff.

By: dougzilla

dougzilla — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:40:37 -0800

Phelps Collins? Catfish Collins sounds way cooler. Of course he is the brother of Bootsy.

By: quazichimp

quazichimp — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:48:50 -0800

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.

By: saul wright

saul wright — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:50:54 -0800

This is awesome. Does anyone know what the set list was for this show (or the Talking Heads show linked above?)

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:58:49 -0800

What I love about Brother Rap is that there's this absolutely slamming groove lighting up the place and Brown is just blasting the crowd with his energy, and then he's telling everyone to sit with their hands in their laps. Stillness within the torrent. 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?

By: Songdog

Songdog — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 02:58:39 -0800

Saul, the Talking Heads footage is from Rome in 1980, previously with setlist.

By: Trurl

Trurl — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:19:43 -0800

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.

By: Trurl

Trurl — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:22:10 -0800

Setlist here.

By: Trurl

Trurl — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:32:07 -0800

This DVD is specifically dated March 8. (And has a more complete setlist - including a Vicki Anderson interlude.)

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:47:43 -0800

> Other than the video's sound being pitched too high? Well, there are other flourishes and minor differences, but that could be chalked up to remastering. It's all gold.

By: stormpooper

stormpooper — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 06:30:43 -0800

After I pitch an idea to clients, I often say "jump back, gonna kiss myself."

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 06:33:35 -0800

wanna. This is serious business.

By: languagehat

languagehat — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:30:28 -0800

This is absolutely fantastic. Many thanks (and for the setlist as well).

By: Trurl

Trurl — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:41:35 -0800

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.

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:04:31 -0800

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

By: hippybear

hippybear — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:07:40 -0800

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.

By: Trurl

Trurl — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:18:16 -0800

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.

By: Trurl

Trurl — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:20:14 -0800

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.

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:27:35 -0800

I swear that I once saw Dr. Gene Scott give some cosmology lesson about how all things originated from The Funk, but I can't seem to find any record of it (and Gene Scott's song only frustrates search efforts for it).

By: Vibrissae

Vibrissae — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:25:37 -0800

Sex Machine

By: saul wright

saul wright — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 19:32:53 -0800

Thanks for the setlists. Adding these to the ol' live music blog.