James Brown — Live in Concert, 1981

Live recording of a James Brown concert filmed in 1981. This full concert shows the Godfather of Soul at the height of his stagecraft, fronting his revue and band in the show format that revolutionised American popular music. The inventor of funk and a tutelary figure of soul, James Brown here unfolds his mastery of groove, his razor-sharp breaks, his lightning dance steps and that almost liturgical interaction with his musicians, where a single glance is enough to launch or cut a song. The concert runs through the fundamentals of his repertoire, between incandescent soul, brass-driven funk and gospel emphasis, driven by relentless energy. The recording conveys the discipline and fervour of one of the greatest showmen in history, whose influence runs through soul, funk, disco and hip-hop. A valuable document for lovers of soul and funk in concert, illustrating the stage art of an artist whose every performance was a lesson in rhythm and presence, preserved here as a full live set from the early 1980s.