Music insiders and obsessives select the top 10 live albums.
I recently asked some music fanatics from many walks of life to pick "The Best Live Album of All Time" and tell me why they chose it. The following 10 albums are the responses I received. You can listen to 7 of the 10 albums in their entirety on Rhapsody here. 120 tracks/ 11 hours!
Please add your own selections to the comments.…
Article comments
26 - Dave
drake: I know I'm in the minority on this, but I prefer live albums over studio albums if they're of good enough sound quality. You're getting a better idea of what the band can do. The best bands' live albums are better than their studio bands, in my opinion. If a band's studio efforts are consistently better than their live efforts, I think that says a lot about the band.
27 - Mark Saleski
exactly. take Little Feat's Waiting For Columbus. it far outstrips anything they did in the studio.
28 - Dave
I meant to type The best bands' live albums are better than their studio albums, of course.
29 - djpegleg
Your friends might be music fanatics, but they seem awfully limited in the depth and breadth of their knowledge. Personally, I prefer studio recordings, but these are the best live recordings ever:
Jerry Lee Lewis : Live at the Star Club
Jimi Hendrix : Band of Gypsies
of couse anything by The Godfather rocks. BTW, are the Furious Flames the most underrated band ever?
30 - Michael J. West
If a band's studio efforts are consistently better than their live efforts, I think that says a lot about the band.
What does it say about the Beatles?
31 - Robert Burke
>Your friends might be music fanatics, but they seem awfully limited in the depth and breadth of their knowledge
Everyone was asked to submit ONE album.
Please explain to me oh enlightened one how you can show "depth and breadth" with one selection?
I think you meant that no one picked your favorite.
32 - djpegleg
My bad, I was under the impression you received more than one selection per music fanatic. Of course the fact that there are two Robert of Radish posts could have confused me.
You cannot show "depth and breadth" with one selection, you are correct about that. You can, however, show a lack of one, pretty easily in fact. Like selecting a Dave Brubeck album when discussing the Best Jazz album of all time. A few of the selections above fit that bill, you get me?
And, for the record, I wouldn't have expected to see my favorite on your list, I mean really, how much props does Jerry Lee Lewis get these days.
33 - djpegleg
ps. you and i agree on the rosebuds.
34 - Robert
Well, I selected 2 because we had a couple people sellect the same album and we had a low turnout this month.
And as far as defending any of the selections, I will defend mine to the end, but any selection by any person (even us critics) is just a matter of opinion anyway.
So although a fun excercise it's a pointless one.
35 - Tom Johnson
Any "best live albums" list that does not include Iron Maiden's Live After Death is a joke and should not be trusted by anyone. (Sorry Mark S., it's a rule I simply cannot allow to be ignored.)
36 - Tom Johnson
But kudos, Mr. Burke, on the nomination of the Flecktones' High Art - such a great release that there's almost no reason to own anything else by the band.
37 - Mark Saleski
wait, my live best-of post was for classic rock only....Iron Maiden isn't really classic rock, so i can still be trusted.
or something.
38 - godoggo
For Rock'n'roll Kick Out the Jams is an obvious landmark, although the band didn't like it. If I was a collector type I imagine I could recommend others.
For jazz, well, big problem, because most great jazz musicians sound better live, and many make dozens, even hundreds, of live albums that are as different as they are inspired. And I'm no copletist.
A few obvious landmarks: Bird's wire recordings, and Jazz at Massey, Jazz at the
Philharmonic stuff, Ellington's Carnegie Hall concert, Miles Live at the Plugged Nickel and Live Evil, Mingus at Town Hall, Monk Big Band at Town Hall.
Some less well-known personal favorites: That Jones/ Mel Lewis Village Vanguard Sessions (picked this one up at the 99¢ Store after vaguely wanting it for 20+ years and it's fantastic!), Carmen McRae Fine and Mellow Live at Birdland West, Ella & Duke At The Cote D'Azur.
39 - godoggo
OK one more jazz landmark I forgot, then no more posts: Sonny Rollins, A Night At The Village Vanguard
40 - Michael J. West
Oh, somehow it didn't occur to me to pick jazz, which is silly because I adore jazz.
Coltrane, Live at the Village Vanguard
Bill Evans, Waltz for Debbie
41 - godoggo
OK I lied, here's one more thought. There are 2 ways that a live recording can special: 1) the performance is especially inspired, because of the freedom and energy that live settings foster 2) the audience is an essential participant in the recording.
What live recordings have the best audiences?
42 - El Bicho
Jane's Addiction debut. It shows the band's rawness and potential before they burst onto the scene with "Nothing's Shocking." A track from their album "Kettle Whistle" was the first official live release by a band where I was in attendance.
Miles Davis "In Person at the Blackhawk, San Franciso Complete" because it has the best Miles story in the liner notes. A woman was heckling Miles to play "Bye, Bye, Blackbird". He gave her funny looks, but she kept on. Miles told the club owner, "Get this bitch out of here." The owner did and then Miles played "Bye, Bye, Blackbird".
Kiss "Alive" had the best picture on the cover. That smoke-filled auditorium was hysterical.
43 - Baronius
Godoggo, songs can also be reinterpreted, either by a band's evolution or by some challenge (like acoustic sets). Among the great acoustic live albums:
- Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College
- Warren Zevon Learning to Flinch
- Eric Clapton Unplugged
Talented people can shine doing acoustic versions of their material. As often as not, you'll hear metal or alternative bands who'd play acoustic instruments as if they were electric, but sometimes a band will shine. There's a great Bowie live album with just him and an acoustic guitar.
44 - Walter Raab
Lots and lots of good suggestions to check out -
Surprised no one has mentioned "Steppenwolf Live"
Definitely a good example of a band that sounded better live than in the studio !
45 - Sam Jack
I'm going to agree with Michael. Live at the Apollo.
46 - jim Santo
Two words: Live Dead
47 - Michael
Here's another vote for James Brown and his Famous Flames, Live at the Apollo, 1962.
And because someone has to say it, Frampton Comes Alive. God. Can't believe I typed that in and hit enter.
Throw in Warren Zevon's Stand in the Fire. Sam Cooke at the Harlem Square Club. Johnny cash at San Quentin. Bob Seger, Live Bullet.
As mentioned above, as should be, Live at Leeds and ABB Live at the Fillmore East.
48 - Baronius
Hey, Frampton Comes Alive has some great guitar work. It's taken me years to not laugh at Do You Feel Like We Do, but if you listen to it fresh, the guitar does some jazz-based leads that are very intelligent.
Bless Its Pointed Little Head never really impressed me. I haven't heard Isle of Wight in years, but I know it's not a bootleg.
49 - tommyd
Um, excuse me, excuse me.....
"The Song Remains The Same" by Led Zeppelin is THE BEST live album ever.
Thank you.
50 - Shark
Sorry.
Yall missed the BEST LIVE ALBUM EVER -- buy yer excused since most of you probably never heard of it -- ya poor, culturally stunted rock kids...
1) *George's Bar -- Pat Green
* btw, there IS NO debate on this
2) The Road to You - Pat Methany
3) Ravi Shankar Live at the Kremlin
4) Live at Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash
5) The Flying Saucer Tour - Bill Hicks
=====
re: Umma-Gumma -- JR, I love you, man.
re: Live At Leeds -- heh. also Loudest Concert Ever
re: godoggo -- I love you, too, man.
51 - LegendaryMonkey
Shark, wow... haven't seen you in a while, man!
52 - Robert
Shark,
"Live at Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash"
You're killing me man. I debated for hours whether to choose this or The ABB.
It was painful I tell you, painful!
I hope Johnny forgives me, God rest his soul.
53 - Shark
LegendaryMonkeyGirl, thanks for missin' me.
I was off the grid for an outdoor 3-day Texas music haj -- during which time I realized how much I hate my computer, the internet, multi-tasking, politics, news, technology in general, and wasting time in particular ...and... sorry, gotta run!
xxoo
S
54 - Triniman
Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush - Real Live (2004) contains some of the finest rock guitar that I have ever heard.
55 - godoggo
Mark Saleski: "how does Miles of Aisles compare to Shadows and Light? (love that one)"
My two bits: Shadows and Light had some great band performances, although to my ears Joni doesn't sound so hot. Miles of Aisles has a bunch of amazing solo stuff byy Joni, although I don't think the band stuff (With Tom Scott and L.A. Express) is so great. So they complement each other nicely.
56 - RogerMDillion
"The Song Remains The Same" by Led Zeppelin is THE BEST live album ever.
The sound quality stinks. It's not even Zep's best live album. Try How The West Was Won.
57 - per thorboll
Well, one that is missing:
Deep Purple, Made in Japan
58 - northboundtrain
one album EUROPE 72' Grateful Dead (My Favorite #1)
Honorable Mentions =)
How The West Was Won - Led Zeppelin (WOW)
F
rampton Comes Alive - Peter Frampton
Before The Flood - Bob Dylan and The Band
Live At Atlanta International Pop Festival - Allman Brothers Band
Live At Woodstock - Jimi Hendrix
A Live One - Phish (Acquired Taste lol)
After Midnight Live at Kean College - Jerry Garcia Band (WOW LISTEN TO THIS)
*Bands like The Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers, Phish, DMB, even Led Zeppelin. These are bands i think deserve the #1 spot for greatest live album ever. These are "LIVE" bands and play hundreds of more live shows than any other studio album performer whom only embarkes on a few tours every now and then and releases one live albums. These "live" bands such as the ones ive listed are masters of their craft. And usually the most talented of musicians being that they are playing more often than the average artist. This is why putting a band like DEEP PURPLE OR etc is just stupid. Whatever im bored writing....
metal, rap, hiphop = trash
59 - Darryl Harrison
WOW, I finally saw someone select Bob Seger's "Live Bullet"(My personal fave)."Frampton Comes Alive" certainly has to be considered as well as The Allman boys-how about "Waiting For Columbus" by Little Feat or "Live And Dangerous"-Thin Lizzy. And yes I know this might be over the top for many, but I love all of the Rush "live" discs.I'm working on my knowledge of The Dead and Dylan. Best live I have ever attended Bruce and The E Streeters!!What A Show!
60 - ME
"METALLICA: Live Shit Binge & Purge" & "METALLICA: S&M" are ultimtaly the best live Albums ever recorded
61 - Steve B
Can't leave Motorhead out of this discussion. "No Sleep till Hammersmith" is premium, no frills, speed fueled speed metal.
62 - sean
live at leeds..probably my fave..love the review of time fades away!
63 - johnson
war-live. thank you for including this forgotten classic. been my fave for 10 years.
also neil young rust never sleeps, james brown (r.i.p.) apollo 3 revolution of the mind, talking heads stop making sense, sam cooke harlem square, dylan rotal albert 1966
64 - carlroper2007
Live After Death - Iron Maiden
All The Worlds A Stage - Rush
The Song Remains The Same - Led Zeppelin
Under A Blood Red Sky - U2
Scream For Me Brazil - Bruce Dickinson
65 - Mike Bee
Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live always did it for me...
Santana Live at the Fillmore 1968 too.
66 - Rich
Northern Cree- Stay Red
67 - JC Mosquito
Ten Years After - Recorded Live.
68 - SFC SKI
I don't see Little Feat's Waiting for Columbus on this list, it should be #1.
69 - johnson
lou reed fans should love american poet. junky rock at its best. also i listened to santana fillmore 68the other day, hadn't really listened to it since college. great live, jazzy santana. another from the bluegrass genre is sam bush telluride. great band, great originals and covers. country fave would probably be jerry jeff walker viva terlingua. fun drunk sound.
70 - SHNELL NELL
what about Iron Maiden 'Live After Death'?
71 - J B
1. The Band - "Rock of Ages"
2. Bob Dylan - "Hard Rain"(the best of The Rolling Thunder Revue period)
3. Bob Dylan and The Band - "Before the Flood"
4. Fleetwood Mac - "The Dance"
5. Allman Bros. - "Fillmore East"
72 - bruce
Kraftwerk " Minimum Maximum
James Brown " Love Power Peace - Live at the Olympia, Paris 1971 (this is THE TIGHTEST I have ever heard a band...)
Stones " Love you Live (Both discs)
73 - theclincher
UFO-Strangers in the night
Rush-Exit...stage left
Linkin Park-Live in Texas