The title is something of a misnomer, for this is no live album; rather it was recorded in a studio and was seen as an opportunity for James' backing group the Famous Flames to step into the spotlight. Of course, the James Brown connection would be maintained by the presence of James on the front cover! Whilst this album is invariably overlooked by James Brown fans and seldom praised by those who are not, it was an important album in the James Brown catalogue, for it marked the continual growth of the artist who would become one of R&B's biggest stars. The album is almost entirely instrumental and establishes the musical blueprint he would later take with the JB's. He doesn't quite get on the good foot, but there is more than enough here to keep anyone grooving.

Often mistaken for a live album because of its title, this 1962 studio recording by James Brown and his Famous Flames is a neglected but very important album for James' catalog. Its his first album to put a significant amount of attention on heavy rhythm and uptempo tunes. You begin to hear him and his band beginning to find their signature instrumental style that they were still ironing out, by trying out different styles from soul to R&B to blues on their earlier recordings. Being from the era that it is, this album is of course likely a collection of James Brown "sides",recorded originally in intention for release on 45 A and B and cobbled together on this long player to bring them together into a loose theme to resell them. Of course less cynically this also is influenced by Ray Charles' intentionally conceptualized ABC-Paramount era albums as well. So this also finds James discovering the possibility that he could develop as an album artist perhaps. Despite its lack of popularity in James vast and vital recorded catalog, this album is an important dry run for his future that is very underrated.

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