The Best Live Albums Of All Time, Ranked

James Brown, ‘Live at the Apollo’

Live at the Apollo is James Brown’s first live album. It was recorded on October 24, 1962, and he financed the entire show himself. Brown’s record label, King Records, didn’t realize the potential a live performance could have for Brown. However, Brown knew, and success went his way.

The 31-minute show spent 66 weeks on the Billboard charts and left fans wanting him to release more music as soon as possible. In 1998, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2004 it was chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry. Those are high honors!