Letterman was a good guest on the James brown show

James Brown was NOT expecting the band to be this good, whereas the band had been preparing for this moment for years!!! One of the greatest live musical performances on American TV !!!

Letterman realized he was capturing lightning in a bottle and said “ To hell with the other guests, just let James run with it! “. God bless the Godfather of Soul ! He was on fire. 🕺🏿Absolutely brilliant!

Still feeling the power of The Godfather in 2023. Timeless stuff.

Greatest performance in late night history. Like Steve Jordan, the drummer, said, they had been waiting their entire lives for this moment, to play with the Godfather of soul, the man who invented funk, and whose influence is seen literally everywhere in popular music, and they freakin' nailed it.

He demanded the audience’s attention. Possibly the best showman ever.

This guy was 49 yrs old performing like this, incredible!

You know you’re the GOAT when the other scheduled guests are canceled because your show is so fire! One of the best televised performances I’ve seen.

Just imagine it: No lip-syncing, every instrument plugged in and being played for real, no earpieces or backing tracks. This was just a group of talented people in a room giving it everything they had, living in the moment, sharing that experience with the audience.

People in the crowd caught the holy spirit that night for sure...

You could tell Paul was having a blast. What an honor for that audience, to be worked over by the hardest working man in showbiz.

THIS is a prime example of why they were called "The World's Most Dangerous Band." They rose to the occasion when The Godfather called on them. An amazing performance that holds up to this day!

Watch and learn, kids. This is real talent right here!

I saw James perform about 2 years before this. Honestly, it was the most I've ever sweated in my whole life. I had the honor and pleasure of interviewing him for campus radio for about 45 minutes, the same year this performance with Paul and the gang occurred. What stood out most for me was his response to a question I asked him. I inquired if there was anyone he hadn't worked with yet that he might like to record with. His reply? Barbra Streisand. After picking my jaw off the floor, I asked why. Because, he said, he felt he could teach her a thing or two about "soul". He autographed my copy of "Live at the Apollo", introduced me to the fellow who puts the cape on him, and I left, still blinded by what has to be THE best teeth in showbiz.

The greatest late night performance ever. He literally burned that place down. After Sex Machine the rest of the show was done..how could Dave go to a guest?? No way. I miss magic moments like this on TV.

that guitar player look like he's so happy to be playing with James Brown he's really jamming and the audience is hype

The bass player is KILLIN it

He OWNED that audience.

After King Brown, only Prince was able to controle band, rythym, pace and the audience like that. Brown was the master teacher!!!!

Kudos to the leader of The World’s Most Dangerous Band, Paul Shaffer! Damn if James wasn’t the funkiest person who ever lived than I don’t know who was!

I was sent here by Paul who recently said that this was his favorite performance in his 30 plus years of doing music on the show. Suffice to say, it didn't disappoint.

To the 46 people who gave a thumbs down…You JUST DON'T Know!!! What a performance, it does not get any better that this.

That trumpet player is having his Blues Brothers moment, deservedly so. Dude gets it.

Not only was music better back then, but audiences as well.

You could tell James was having a ball. This was the BEST version of the Letterman Show Band. Will Lee, Steve Jordan, Paul Shaffer, Hiram Bullock. These guys were tight.

James Brown is a high point of humanity,it doesn't get any better than him in this style of music. This guy never gave a 50% performance,he gave 110%,every single fuckin time! What a brother

Just amazing watching James Brown work the crowd and perform with such ease! What a blessing! RIP JB

When Paul looks over to see what James is up to doing his solo... man that's a cool moment.

Paul Shaffer referenced this performance as the most memorable musical moment of his entire career with Letterman (NBC & CBS).

Greatest day of Paul's life right there.

James gave every cent , he was a genius , he invented funk, there will never be another.

Man that bass player is flying!

I know Steve Jordan impressed James, but that bass player is on fire!

Wow, that's the best musical performance I've ever seen from a musical guest on any show.

Brings tears of nostalgia...One of the greatest moments in TV history, without question.

The funkiest band of all time

When the godfather of soul tells you to get up and party, you damned better get up and party!

Dude. It is six days from 2024 and I am electrified by this. goodness me.

One of James' best TV performances.

I can’t believe that I’m seeing this for the first time. Tears of absolute joy are streaming down my face. Bravo to the late, great James Brown and this incredible band 🎵!

The magical Steve Jordan on drums! What a performance by the band and the legendary James Brown!

It’s simple boys and girls. This is thee one and only GREATEST live performance in the history of TV. Period.

Probably the most talented man ever. When he stood before a microphone, the whole universe stopped.

One of the most influential artists of all time. Brilliant

He was only supposed to do 4 minutes. But he was so electric David Letterman cancelled the last guest and gave him the signal to finish the show. Ended up doing 11 minutes. Famous story

The guitar player is the best. He feels it!

Interviewer: In all the years of supporting musical guests on the show, is there one performer who sta- Paul Shaffer: James Brown.

This performance captures the transcendent charisma of James. I saw him live in Chicago in the mid 80's with the J.B.'s. He was a force of nature, volcanic lava pouring out of the depths of earth. The level of excitement and funk are unparalleled.

This brought tears to my eys...happy tears.

Can you just imagine if the Godfather was still around to do one of the last Letterman shows?! Holy shit- I think the whole world would get pregnant, wars would end, hatred would disappear.

This Man is sorely missed. The Best of the Best. Never will there be another.

one of the top ten moments of my life was the night i was front row for JB and he kicked his mic stand right into my face..& grabbed it back at the last minute, then flashed me that 10K watt smile...as good as it gets...ever.

BROTHER!! YOU'RE HIGH! YOUR ENERGY IS HIGH! ;)

It's 2023 and I'm still dancing to this clip!! YESSS ❤❤❤❤❤

One of the greatest musical performances ever on TV. The band knew they were backing a legend and rose to the occasion and James was obviously inspired by the band nailing it. The combination was 100% dynamite. Wow. Plus, one of the smoothest stage exits (at 12:34) in television history!

I’ve been watching this performance at least five times every day for the past month now

Paul, Hiram, Steve & Will. with the Godfather. This maybe the most Funk ever seen on TV ?

best rhythm section in my opinion. will Lee and Steve jordan!!

This is the best thing that's ever been on TV.

Wow, never saw this. You can tell James is happy. He obviously did NOT expect that band to be so tight...tighter, I may say, than most of his backing bands. They NAILED it and JB darn well knew it. He could get down and be confident they've be right there. Never saw Schafer's men work so hard!

the KING of funk.

When he plays the piano, and then double-slaps Paul, I swear a gallon of happy juice shot up my spine and made my brain explode with pleasure. James Brown was not the Godfather of Soul, he was the Bodhisattva of SOUL!!!

Without any context, I can tell by the look on James's face at the end of the the first performance meant the band just blew his mind. That was a look of amazement and humble gratitude when he looked at the band. I am so happy to have ramdomly found this tonight.😂

When James Brown wants to perform three songs on your late night talk show, where musical guests usually get to perform one, you let James Brown play three songs.

godfather was 49 yrs young during this masterpiece. forever young godfather brown

The line from "Get On Up"~~"Once you hear that groove, I know I got you." Damn right!

Lol Hiram Bullock is too much fun to watch!!!! what a funky player from head to toe!!!

This might be the most incredible late night performance by any musician of all time. If you were in this audience and you were not moving, you were dead on arrival.

My god, this is just ridiculous it's so good. What late night tv used to be, and more importantly, what mainstream music use to be.

What I'm seeing here is a band so good, so absolutely on top of it, that they coaxed a legendary performance out of James. You can tell the man is truly having fun right there and on his A++++ This might be the best I've ever seen. As real and raw as it gets.

The best live performance ever by a total genius star entertainer... with a pick-up band that was up to his level of total excellence!!! No matter how many times I watch it, I tear up from the absolute thrill. The greatest musical set on tv ever!

Mr. Brown set the bar way to high.

Ask me who my favorite male soul singer is and I might very well say, Al Greene or Sam Cooke or Marvin Gaye, but ask me who is/was the greatest single soul performer ever and that is a quick and easy answer, hands down, James Brown. Nobody else was ever as incandescent or incendiary as this man. He lit up the stage and made it impossible to sit still. Godfather of Soul. Hell, he was the GOD of Soul! Thank you so very much for posting this extraordinary performance!

I like how Paul stopped to admire James tickling the ivory

Probably one of the best live acts anyone has ever seen. The GF of soul. James Brown.

james brown was supposedly quoted saying that this show and the TAMI show were his best ever TV recorded performances of his career

Steve Jordan is why I'm here. This is amazing!

A rare moment in TV history! Probably the last time anything like this will ever happen again (Dave rescheduled all of his other guests that night 2 allow The Godfather 2 play uninterruppted!!!). Leave it 2 the Godfather & never forget: talent is forever & marketing is for now...

Hiram Bullock on the Stratocaster! Absolutely killing it. What a performance this was...must've been pretty special to have seen it live!

This is the greatest late night performance I’ve ever seen.

One New Year's Eve in the Atlanta airport I met James Brown. He was all alone and my daughter and I waited for him to come out of the men's room. He signed napkins for us and had a nice chat and let me touch his floor-length fur coat. He lived in Augusta, Georgia and everyone left him alone even though he did not have an entourage. Wonderful human being.

Howard Stern brought me here. Unbelievable performance 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Every cell in Brown’s body felt the rhythm, unreal!

I love how Paul carefully studies every move the godfather makes!

That is the greatest thing ever in the history of things. There will never, ever be anything like that on TV ever again. Thank you Dave, thank you Paul, thank you Hiram, thank you Steve, thank you Will...so amazing. How much better is my life having gotten to see this?

A timeless and unstoppable force.

What a thrill this must have been for Paul & the band!

Simply put, he rocked that shit....

Take note kiddies, this is what real musicians look and sound like. I miss JB so much. Not the greatest of human beings, but certainly one of the most awesome performers of all-time. Long live funk!

He was a musical genius

This man is like a furnace, the energy is everywhere. Astonishing.

Man got all that hair, moves and energy at 50 years young

he was definitely a entertainer

It's cool that he played like it was one of his concerts. He could have just done "I Feel Good I Got You" and take the easy way out. He played his hardcore stuff. He rocked it out.

He was a brilliant musician.

As a big prince fan it's crazy seeing how much of his late 80s performing looks heavily inspired by his moves here

NOTHING BETTER THAN JAMES BROWN!!!

that damn man KNEW how to leave a stage....i love him like a father😇

I can only imagine how much longer he performed after the credits rolled! One of a kind!

I see why JB influenced many legendary artists after him. He will always be the Godfather of soul