TS: Sam Cooke "Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963" vs. James Brown "Live at the Apollo"

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Give me Sam every time....Apollo is inferior.

― PB, Wednesday, 13 April 2005 14:56 (twenty years ago)

They're both great, but I'll take the hardest working man here. The screams that greet "I Go Crazy" make the hair on my neck stand up every single time.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 15:00 (twenty years ago)

Sam....just.

― Masked Gazza, Wednesday, 13 April 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

Xgau's review of it really stinks.

― Masked Gazza, Wednesday, 13 April 2005 15:49 (twenty years ago)

To be honest, I haven't heard the James Brown album, but the Sam Cooke album is incredibly good. The vibe is unbelievable.

― Vestigial Appendages, Esq. (King Kobra), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 15:51 (twenty years ago)

Bo Diddley's Beach Party

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 15:52 (twenty years ago)

I prefer Vol. II of Apollo, so I'll go with Harlem Square Club. I definitely listen to the Harlem Square club record more often. Every version of every song on Harlem Sq. gives me chills, especially "Sentimental Reasons." The crowd sing-a-long is classic.

I would have never really thought to compare, them, though. The energy on these albums is really different.

― Scott CE (Scott CE), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 16:21 (twenty years ago)

I'll go with Apollo, but HSC is indeed great.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Wednesday, 13 April 2005 16:30 (twenty years ago)

Apollo. Without a doubt. Much respect to Sam Cooke, but Apollo wins this one.

― ffirehorse (firehorse), Thursday, 14 April 2005 01:50 (twenty years ago)

Sam, I think... the voice does it.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Thursday, 14 April 2005 01:56 (twenty years ago)

Did Cooke really squash a scorpion with his foot without breaking stride as he came downstairs to the stage?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Thursday, 14 April 2005 07:16 (twenty years ago)

I tend to prefer Sam to James most of the time, but have to go with Apollo over Harlem Square. Better band, for one thing.

― Burr (Burr), Thursday, 14 April 2005 15:31 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

For me, Live at the Apollo is perhaps more improtant, but I listen far, far more to HSC. It's just so much musical joy there.

― Kristoffer Burstedt (Asfaltsmannen), Monday, 11 September 2006 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

But Burr has a point - the band at HSC is... I don't know. Drunk?

― Kristoffer Burstedt (Asfaltsmannen), Monday, 11 September 2006 13:28 (nineteen years ago)

So what? It's the spirit that matters. If you want note-perfect machines go listen to the new Beyonce album.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 11 September 2006 13:31 (nineteen years ago)

Harlem Square Club, is to me, the perfect live album. It is that magical combination of a gifted performer and jubilant crowd. The connection between the two sides make something greater than the sum.

RE: the backing band - at the time, Cooke toured with a guitar player and drummer, and picked up local musicians to fill out the ensemble (in this case, I believe King Curtis and his band). There is no way they are going to be as tight as JB & co. However, I in no way think this hurts the performance - if anything, it forces Cooke to even greater heights. He can't step back and let the band take over, and it means he has to turn to the audience to get a breather. The aforementioned "Sentimental Reasons", with it's call and response, gives him a moment to recharge for "Twistin' The Night Away".

― EZ Snappin (EZSnappin), Monday, 11 September 2006 14:16 (nineteen years ago)

The "You Send Me/Bring It On Home To Me" medley is kind of the greatest thing ever and makes you wonder why Tom or Rod ever bothered.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 11 September 2006 14:20 (nineteen years ago)

LOL, sexyD OTM upthread.

― disappointing goth fest line-up (orion), Monday, 11 September 2006 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

The way Sam sings this on Feel It does it for me. Sam hands down.

"Oh baby when you're dancin' near me
And I feel that I wanna tease"

― Torgeir Hansen/MRZBW (MRZBW), Monday, 11 September 2006 14:51 (nineteen years ago)

Puts bloody Justin Timberlake in his place, doesn't it? ("Listen I gotta be a MAN to tell you this!")

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 11 September 2006 14:52 (nineteen years ago)

The "You Send Me/Bring It On Home To Me" medley is kind of the greatest thing ever and makes you wonder why Tom or Rod ever bothered.

OTM. In particular, "that ain't all (*clap clap clap*)/that ain't all Sam will do for you" completely slays me every time.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Monday, 11 September 2006 15:54 (nineteen years ago)

Wonderful observation. Also love his joyous laughter (ha HA) throughout. He's so obviously having a blast.

― EZ Snappin (EZSnappin), Monday, 11 September 2006 16:00 (nineteen years ago)

it's the spirit that matters. If you want note-perfect machines go listen to the new Beyonce album.

Why is Marcello being so cranky about pop music lately? As if note-perfect machines didn't have "spirit."

Anyway, Live at the Apollo for me.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 11 September 2006 16:45 (nineteen years ago)

JB Love Power Peace: Live in Paris 1971.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 11 September 2006 16:47 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

Sam Cooke. No contest.

― Popture, Friday, 2 November 2007 03:33 (eighteen years ago)

six months pass...

I've since changed my mind on this, after getting the remastered version of "Harlem Square."
I'll take Sam now - his vocal on "Chain Gang" and exhortations to the crowd are just thrilling.

― Jazzbo, Tuesday, 6 May 2008 15:06 (seventeen years ago)

Geirbait.

― Mark G, Tuesday, 6 May 2008 15:21 (seventeen years ago)

I listen to "Live at the Harlem Square Club" more than "Live at the Apollo." Most of Sam Cooke's studio recordings sound a little too smooth for me, but he's fantastic here.

I haven't heard Love Peace Power yet, but 1971 James Brown >>>>> 1963 James Brown.

― Brad C., Tuesday, 6 May 2008 15:22 (seventeen years ago)

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