Best Live Albums of All Time

Tarl Of Gor said:
UFO ~ Strangers In The Night

I'd put it at #1 and it didn't even make the list. Go figure.
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I can't comment because I'm not familiar with that one (that was the biggest limitation I felt when I was making this list--just that I know I couldn't possibly have HEARD every live rock album out there).

I see the full album is available on YouTube though; I'll check it out.

With two votes, I may have to check out "Waiting for Columbus" as well.
 
Axe Elf said:
Live albums that are commercial grabs--just trying to cash in again on songs that are already popular--don't qualify for my list, even if all of the songs were good songs to begin with, and the artists were megastars. It had to be a truly IMPORTANT live album.
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Well, that would define nearly all "officially released" "live" recordings, nearly ALL of which are 'sweetened' @ the studio prior to official release.

Which brings us to ROIOs. Now, a list of the 25 'best' (I know, I know, but I gotta use some level of qualifying term) ROIO captures -- SBD, AUD, Multiplex -- in a particular genre (say, Rock) would be a delightful endeavor, and (possibly) lead to some heretofore unknown discoveries for a few of us, even the older ROIO tape traders.
 
Maybe my favourite live album is "It's Too Late to Stop Now" by Van Morrison. It has it all: interaction with the audience, great set list, tight band, good sound quality, and Van the Man in rare form. And NO OVERDUBS.
 
Mystic said:
Well, that would define nearly all "officially released" "live" recordings, nearly ALL of which are 'sweetened' @ the studio prior to official release.
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You have a point, but you know what I mean, don't you? Some live albums seem like little more than the band trudging through their hits just to get them back out in front of the public again--and some live albums are truly magical performances that actually enhance your enjoyment of the original songs through the live energy of the artist. I dunno, maybe it's just me...

Mystic said:
Which brings us to ROIOs. Now, a list of the 25 'best' (I know, I know, but I gotta use some level of qualifying term) ROIO captures -- SBD, AUD, Multiplex -- in a particular genre (say, Rock) would be a delightful endeavor, and (possibly) lead to some heretofore unknown discoveries for a few of us, even the older ROIO tape traders.
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Now you're getting outside of my wheelhouse. I was never a big bootleg/tape collector. However, for those who are, yeah, that could be an interesting list too.


I may have to look into the live Van Morrison album too.
 
I've always included REO on a list like this. Maybe it is just me. It doesn't get listened to much but when I put it on, I wonder why not? It's just got a good flow and side 4 is an excellent way to wrap up the experience. Fun, summer time, outdoor, party music. That's what it's all about sometimes.
 
ZZ Top-Live in Essen, Germany 1980
Finally got an official CD release in 2011. The vinyl is proper bootleg and rare.
 
I like that you included at least one "various artists" recording in the first post. I'll add another, the double album Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival.

It featured bands that were seminal punk/power pop/new wave of the time. Bands like The Stranglers, The Only Ones, X-Ray Spex, The Saints, Dr Feelgood, XTC etc captured in gritty pub surroundings. Not a great high fidelity thing but a terrific introduction to some new music in the way this kind of stuff should be heard, up close and in your face.

There are quite a few others mentioned I like but I'll second (third?) some like The Guess Who Live At The Paramount, and The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads. I listened to side 3 just the other day. :thmbsp:

Honourable mention should go to Genesis Live. Taking the complexity of their songs to a live environment was a real success with this album and was my introduction to the band. My favourite part: "That was an unaccompanied bass pedal solo by Michael Rutherford."

I'd also like to suggest John Martyn, Live at Leeds. And yes he not only stole the title, have a look at the album art. Martyn was a master of making acoustic guitar (albeit with a few electronic enhancements) make some very interesting and sometimes ethereal sounds. He also is a great songwriter and a pretty funny guy. :D I have several records of his.
 
Not rock,
I'm not a huge fan of Johnny Cash, but,

Live at San Quentin - is an all time performance, something magic was captured that day.
 
Montycat said:
I like that you included at least one "various artists" recording in the first post. I'll add another, the double album Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival.

It featured bands that were seminal punk/power pop/new wave of the time. Bands like The Stranglers, The Only Ones, X-Ray Spex, The Saints, Dr Feelgood, XTC etc captured in gritty pub surroundings. Not a great high fidelity thing but a terrific introduction to some new music in the way this kind of stuff should be heard, up close and in your face.
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That sounds great!

Montycat said:
There are quite a few others mentioned I like but I'll second (third?) some like The Guess Who Live At The Paramount, and The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads. I listened to side 3 just the other day.
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Side 3 is definitely the poop!

timofred said:
Not rock,
I'm not a huge fan of Johnny Cash, but,

Live at San Quentin - is an all time performance, something magic was captured that day.
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Herd dat! Even as a rocker, I'd have to say that album has to be one of the great live albums of all time across ALL genres! Good mention.
 
:)



Seriously...

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tomcatmixd said:
:)



Seriously...

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Can't speak to the jazz albums; not my thing. I should know more about Rory Gallagher, but I don't. I'm a pretty big Lou Reed fan, but I haven't really enjoyed him live for some reason--even in person. I've had that album since the 80s, but probably wouldn't put it in my top 25.

Dissenting opinions welcome.
 
Earth Wind & Fire - Gratitude

James Brown - Live at The Apollo (1962)

Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Live In Los Angeles
 
Welcome Back My Friends to the Show that ever ends.

Triple LP , and it wasn't even the entire concert.
 
swamppirate said:
U2- Under A Blood Red Sky
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I guess that means you would put that one ahead of "Rattle & Hum"? If I had to choose one, I would probably choose the latter, but I tend to think U2 got overblown by pretentious post-mods, and that kind of ruins whatever merit they DO have, for me.
 
BurnBabyBurn said:
Here's my favorites:

Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsies
Rolling Stones - Bedspring Symphony (bootleg LP)
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I'd put those up there on the list too. B Of G is one of my desert island records. It's so tight and so funky, but rocks as well as any Hendrix.

Bedspring is also my favourite Stones live, boot or otherwise, not that I have that many of their bootlegs. I also stole my signature line from the intro, which the record producers stole from the Time Life Swing Era box set promo floppy 7". :D
 
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