James Brown

Recorded at an Atlanta concert in 1985, Live at Chastain Park shows that James Brown had lost nothing even at 52 years of age. Starting with the full-force attack of "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose," Brown goes into a ferocious "Doing It to Death," with a sax solo by the legendary Maceo Parker. From there, the show is brutal, pure high-energy funk delivered by a top-notch outfit, seguing from a gritty "I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)" to a subdued, delicate cover of "Georgia on My Mind." There are lovely versions of "Try Me" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" interspersed amidst the funk for diversity's sake, but the real treat is the closing "Jam," which shows off the cohesion of the band to full advantage. The sound quality is first-rate and the song selection picks almost every one of Brown's classics (although maybe "Sex Machine" might have been squeezed on here). Live at Chastain Park is a classic document of James Brown's stage act and is definitely worth tracking down. ~ Victor W. Valdivia, All Music Guide