On this day in 1962, James Brown recorded his electrifying stage show for the album Live At The Apollo. Brown paid for the live recording himself. Perhaps he knew a recording studio couldn’t reproduce the energy of his live shows. At The Apollo Theater in Harlem, microphones were placed just above the crowd, with the most enthusiastic fans well within earshot. MC of the night, Fats Gonder, fired them up with a stirring introduction. James Brown’s Live At The Apollo went on to sell over a million copies, and in 2004 was one of 50 recordings chosen by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.

Live albums document a moment in history with exclusive versions of a band’s beloved songs. These albums immortalize the energy level of an audience, as well as the mood of the band. Live albums vary in popularity, with Frampton Comes Alive!, The Who’s Live at Leeds, and Cheap Trick’s Live at Budokan, being among the biggest. Recording technology has improved over the years and has aided in the production of some iconic albums. For today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs from live albums do you want to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

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