Critic's Review
Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
This 20-cut, double-CD features ten tunes that were Top Ten hits for James Brown during his career. What 12 Top Ten Hits doesn't tell you until you flip to the back is that these are not the original performances as recorded for King, but a live recording of James Brown and the JB's made some time during the '70s. The concert is exciting and even fiery at times, but is bogged down in some places by poor sound; this sounds like an audience recording if there ever was one. That said, the performance itself is top-notch and full of crackling communication between Brown and his band. Let's face it, given the sometimes shoddy sound, this is no place for aspiring Brown collectors to begin, but those aficionados who have been searching for something elusive will find this a welcome addition to their collections.
