Who Are the Mystery Girls?

This one is a bit of an enigma in the vast James Brown catalogue (most of which involves so many fly-by-night labels); there's not much info on it, but before it went out of print, I think this is a differently illustrated version of JB "Live at Studio 54", which was recorded around '79 or '80.

In any event, it's a pretty sweet recording, although the use of cheesy disco tempos and ratty Korg synths ruin a lot of the best tunes on the album. Included in the line-up are St. Clair Pickney and Jimmy Nolen, who's the real star of the band at this point in time. Check out his soloing on "Man's World", and you'll be thankful he recorded this album before passing away a few years later.

James himself doesn't have the range he used to, but he's still a long way from the rasping/wheezing that passes for singing on his later albums. Give props where they're due, this is a decent album to own.