Quintessential Live Albums

[Neer]

I'm showing my age here, but live albums were a real big thing in the 60s and 70s. They lost their lustre for me in the 80s, as they became bombastic, overproduced, overdubbed affairs with way too much audience (should we blame Cheap Trick Live At Budokan?).

Anyway, I'm going to list the 5 albums which are my favorite and encourage those of you who are not familiar with them to check them out. In return, I will do the same with your recommendations (as my budget allows) and hope that others will, too.

1. Focus - Live At The Rainbow (I think this is my favorite of all. I worn out several copies since I was about 13 years old). Jan Akkerman's playing is just phenomenal and he really takes it to a whole new level, very aggressive, expressive and intense, with a lot of reaching for magic and getting it.
2. Donny Hathaway - Live (The greatest singer in my opinion, this album will make cry, groove, etc). Almost chose These Songs For You Live because it contains the most amazing version of He Ain't Heavy that I've ever heard.
3. Curtis Mayfield - Live (from the Bitter End NY). Unbelievably intimate and powerful performance by one of the greatest figures in music. Goose bumps. Social issues, he lays it all out.
4. Miles Davis - We Want Miles I love this album set (2). It was my introduction to Mike Stern, Marcus Miller and Bill Evans.
5. James Brown - Live At The Apollo, Vol. 2. The first one was great, from an earlier time, but this one blows me away every time.

Honorable mention: Cannonball Adderly - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Live At The Club)

[puckhead]

obviously you have to like the artists to dig them live, but these are a couple of faves:

The Band - The Last Waltz
Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East
Iron Maiden - Live After Death
Chris Cornell - Unplugged in Sweden

[Caretaker]

UFO Strangers in the Night
ABB Fillmore
Rolling Stonnes Get Your Yas Yas
Government Mule With a Little Help
Government Mule The Deepest End

[DrewKG]

My faves...

Jethro Tull - Bursting Out
Genesis - Three Sides Live
Rush - Exit Stage Left

[Neer]

OK, I'm down with Allman's Filmore, Strangers In The Night and Unleashed In The East as I grew up with these bands and saw them live. I still listen to these once in a while.

Drew, I'm hip to all 3 of those. I like the Tull record.

[TwoTubMan]

Commander Cody "Live From Deep In The Heart Of Texas!"
Barrence Whitfield and The Savages "Live Emulsified"
Band Of Gypsys
The Nighthawks "Ten Years Live"
Blue Oyster Cult "On Your Feet Or On Your Knees"
Deep Purple "Made In Japan"

[Neer]

Yup, Made In Japan, Band Of Gypsies, another favorite (that would be in my top 7). The Commander Cody is great too, Bobby Black tears it up.

[stratus]

-
Derek & the Dominoes, Live at the Fillmore
ABB " "
Frampton Comes Alive
The Last Waltz
The Who, Live at Leeds
Shiek Yer Bouti- Zappa!

[jazzandmetal?]

Scott Henderson - Live!

[Xabiche]

Rush - All The World's a Stage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYYxtkMAd8U

Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush Live
http://www.mahoganyrush.com/#
(click on the radio & then Mahogany Rush Live)

Kiss Alive
Yeah, craptastic but still quintessential :)

[Mark Ray]

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD "Live Album"

It doesn't get more raw than this!

Mark

[Neer]

Of course, Kiss Alive! Grand Funk--I like Caught In The Act. I remember being pretty baked when I heard that Mahogany Rush LP. It was pretty happening.

I must say, I am not a Rush fan. Saw them back in the Moving Pictures days and even before that, but they don't do it for me. I had that live LP at one point. I respect your choice though, they are a fine group.

[mc5nrg]

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD "Live Album"

It doesn't get more raw than this!

Mark

Yes it does.
MC5 Kick Out the Jams
Iggy and the Stooges Metallic KO 2LP version and numerous other live recordings
Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers any recording... they must all be live/no overdubs..

[Dos XX]

Irish Tour, Rory Gallagher, Earth Wind and Fire Gratitude, Grand Funk Live, Robin Trower Live!

[Xabiche]

Of course, Kiss Alive! Grand Funk--I like Caught In The Act. I remember being pretty baked when I heard that Mahogany Rush LP. It was pretty happening.

I must say, I am not a Rush fan. Saw them back in the Moving Pictures days and even before that, but they don't do it for me. I had that live LP at one point. I respect your choice though, they are a fine group.

It's all good :)

Marino is still touring & kicking ass today. Never miss a Marino show. Ever.

Sample all that Rush - a 30 year catalog with quite a diversity of rock styles has something for everyone. A recent performance of a 1996 tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIp0aRrUgYg

And one of my fav old vids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtWxyRi8mwY

[Soundhound]

Band of Gypsies
Allmans Live at the Fillmore East
Live At Leeds
Get Yer Ya Yas Out
Humble Pie - Rockin The Fillmore
Europe '72 - The Dead

And maybe my favorite. I forget it's name, but it was an LP when I was a kid. One side was hendrix at monterey, the other side was Otis Redding at Monterey. Unbelievable.

[TwoTubMan]

Robin Trower Live!

"Daydream" from that album is one of my favorite musical moments ever.

Just remembered another, Benny Goodman Band's "Fletcher Henderson Benefit". Staggering musicianship. A gift from my dad.

[Neer]

Hmm, what about Dizzy and Bird at Massey Hall (except for Mingus overdubs)?

That Trower LP is excellent--James Dewar is one of the greatest vocalists I've heard.

How about If You Want Blood by AC/DC? Some great guitar playing on Scorpions' Tokyo Tapes, too.

[DC1]

http://www.vibrantsound.com/music/files/images/detailed/159202.jpg

[shane88]

motorhead > no sleep til hammersmith

+ kiss alive of course :)

[Solomon]

Zeppelin - How the West Was Won

Thin Lizzy - Live & Dangerous

The Kinks - One For the Road

Michael Schenker Group - Live at Budakon

Humble Pie - Rockin the Fillmore

Ozzy Osbourne (with Brad Gillis) - Speak of the Devil

Lynyrd Skynyrd - One More From the Road

[Xabiche]

Oh, man.

ZZ.

Fandango A-side.

:)

[Neer]

Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy, Humble Pie--good choices. I did get a chance to see the Michael Schenker Group in support of his first album. Great band, Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ, opening up for ................Molly Hatchet. Hey, how about the Outlaws' Bring 'Em Back Alive? I listened to that one a ton.

[Xabiche]

Heh.

Nugent Double Live Gonzo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3J-XYnZHfU

Foghat Live

[TwoTubMan]

Oh, man.

ZZ.

Fandango A-side.

:)

Could never get into that one. Gibbons mumbling "Gotta' get down!" over and over for what seemed half an hour kinda killed the mood for me. On the other hand, the first notes out of Pearly on "Thunderbird" may be the greatest guitar tone ever recorded.

[Neer]

I like a lot of Country music. Some good live Country, too. Waylon Live, Buck Owens Carnegie Hall, Charlie Pride Panther Hall, Willie Nelson Live Country Music Concert, Rick Nelson Live. Ooooh, Randy Newman Live. Yep, that's a great one. Damn, I could be up all night with this.

Anyway, I'm sticking with my top 5. Please check out the Focus Live At The Rainbow. It is different, to say the least.

[jb70]

jim hall-live
miles davis- live at the plugged nickel box set
john scofield- en route
wayne shorter- footprints live
wayne shorter- beyond the sound barrier
joe henderson- an evening with joe henderson
bill evans- sunday at the village vanguard
keith jarrett- still live
keith jarrett- at the deer head inn
john coltrane- the complete village vanguard recordings box set
kurt rosenwinkel- the remedy
bill frisell trio- live

[S.W.Erdnase]

B.B.King - Live at the Regal and Blues Is King.

The Red Devils - King King.

Albert King - Wednesday Night in San Francisco and Thursday Night in San Francisco and Livewire Blues Power.

Kim Wilson - Smokin' Joint

Little Charlie and the Nighcats - Captured Live

Big Walter Horton - Live at the Knickerbocker (also for GREAT Ronnie Earl and Sugar Ray Norcia intro set)

Jimmy Rogers - Ludella

The above for a BLUES FIX. But add this great, great, great Bill Evans 3CD set for a jazz fix:http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Village-Vanguard-Recordings-1961/dp/B000AMJEKA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1227334068&sr=8-1

[banjoze]

Skynyrd - One More from the Road
Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive
Bob Seger - I forget the name
Eric Johnson - Live From Austin City Limits
Lincoln Brewster - All to You
ZZ Top - Fandango - But to be honest I prefer the studio stuff on this one
Third Day - Offerings
Johnny Cash - At San Quentin

[Neer]

En Route is phenomenal, some of Sco's best. I think Bill Stewart is great on it. How about Sonny at The Village Vanguard? I like Bill Evans At Town Hall too, but the VV is a better record. Plugged Nickel great, but maybe I should replace my We want Miles choice with My Funny Valentine. That is the baddest Miles live record. Tony and Herbie are amazing on it.

[Solomon]

Rainbow - Live in Cologne

Blackmore & Dio!

[lanny]

http://www.vibrantsound.com/music/files/images/detailed/159202.jpg
Nothing even comes close..

[bluesjunior]

Surprised that no one has mentioned Little Feats, "Waiting for Columbus" so far, also Eric Claptons "EC was Here" is largely forgotten but none the less most definitely Clapton at his best.

For my vote for the best released live album of all time I would have to go for the Who "Live at Leeds" although I have a bootleg from 29/9/69 recorded in Amsterdam which is the first time that the Who ever performed the complete Tommy album to an audience and it is better than Live at Leeds in my opinion.
Tied for first place or at least a close second would be the Rolling Stones "Get your Ya Ya's out."

[MickeyJi]

Yeah, "Waiting For Columbus" is one of the best live records in the history of popular music!:JAM

"Roxy & Elsewhere" by FZ is another of my favorites.

The new David Gilmour records (Remember That Night and Live in Gdansk) are killer too.

:BluesBros:bow

[whoofnagle]

Neil Young - Live Rust
TGD - Europe 72

[frankencat]

All the regular ones, the Who, Purple, Skynyrd, Allmans, etc..

Plus a few of my personal faves...

Robin Trower - Live
Yes - Yessongs
David Bowie - David Live
Petra - Live Farewell

And my all time favorite...

Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same

[jb70]

How about Sonny at The Village Vanguard?

crap, i forgot that one! killer cd!

[jjboogie]

Band of Gypsies
Earth Wind & Fire Gratitude
Tower of Power Live in Living Color
Bob Marley Live
BB King Live in Cook County Jail

[amigo30]

Led Zep - How the West was Won

Iron Maiden - Maiden Japan (Does it get any more metal than to release a cover with the band mascot holding the decapitated head of their recently fired singer?)

Sabbath - Live at Hammersmith Odeon

Plus a big thumbs up for the already mentioned usual suspects:

Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous
UFO - Strangers in the Night
Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East (Listened to this one loud late at night while slightly tipsy the other night. It will still rip your head off).
Kiss- Alive I
Nugent - Double Live Gonzo
Grand Funk - Live
Foghat - Live
Skynyrd- One More For the Road
Who - Live at Leads
Motorhead - No Sleep

[Solomon]

Pink Floyd - Pulse

[rwe333]

Lots of good ones aforementioned....

Free - Live!
Gentle Giant - Playing the Fool
Jeff Beck - Live w/ the Jan Hammer Group
Lenny Breau - The Velvet Touch of... Live
Bill Frisell - Live

etc. etc. etc.

[splatt]

julius hemphill ::: dogon a.d.

dt / spltrcl

[reno88]

great records mentioned here.
+1 on nugent, skynyrd, the who
someone did mention foghat. i second that as well - the first live release ('77?). 6 songs, extremely well-produced, great playing.
here's one: black oak arkansas "raunch and roll". '72? incredible live record.

[markophonic]

When I was in high school this got alot of regular play...

REO Speedwagon - You get what you play for

[mikem]

I notice no one mentioned Live Bootleg by Aerosmith. Even though I was way into Aerosmith when this came out, I thought it was one of the worst live albums I had ever heard. Despite that, it has it's moments, like Joe Perry's "Strangers In The Night" quote in the middle of "Train Kept A Rollin". The fourth side of the album, done in a small club in '73 was also pretty cool.

It's hard to pick out a few live ones from the seventies- there were some pretty good ones.

Tokyo Tapes- Scorps
Mahogany Rush Live
Strangers In The Night- UFO
Unleashed In The East- Priest
Kiss Alive- Kiss
Exit Stage Left- Rush
Double Live Gonzo- Nuge

Mike

[mikem]

Forgot :

Live Magnetic Air- Max Webster

Mike

[Frater B]

__

Frank Zappa - You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol 2

Sam Rivers Trio - Live

King Crimson - B'boom

Blue Nights - B.L.U.E.

Shalti w/ John McLaughlin

etc.............

__

[MichaelThomas]

The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show

Blink 182's live album

[Neer]

julius hemphill ::: dogon a.d.

dt / spltrcl

I didn't get hip to Julius until the 80s, I have that Live record with the Cline brothers. I'll have to dig it out. Thanks for the recommendation.

Ahh, yes, Waiting For Columbus.

David Live is pretty good. I might like Stage better, though. Toss up.

Gratitude is great, but from what I remember, the sound quality is not great.

Ha, I remember Live Magnetic Air. I like the guitar playing in Context of the Moon, I think it was called.

[mike walker]

julius hemphill ::: dogon a.d.

dt / spltrcl

Did a tour of Hemps music a few years ago. Tim Berne, Marty Erlich Etc.
Fantastic. Cheers fo the reminder dt.

Mike

[mike walker]

Donny Hathaway Live. Groove to die for.

Mike

[Ryguy]

Great to see "Donny Hathaway Live" mentioned twice here! Such a deep piece of music on so many levels.

In that same vein: Bill Withers "Live at Carnegie Hall"

and for some RnR: The Band "Rock of Ages" with Alan Toussaint's killer horn arrangements.

[John Alexander]

...Jimi Hendrix-Band Of Gypsy's...Power of Love...funky, rockin', intense...a great performance!

...Wes Montgomery-Smokin' at The Halfnote...Impressions...so much guitar and he always sounds like he's happy to be playin'!

...Miles Davis-Cookin' at The Plugged Nickel...Stella by Starlight...Tony Williams is just sizzlin'!

[Bassomatic]

Why, Quintessence's live album, natch. (With my old housemate, raja/ram aka phil jones). From Glastonbury '71:

http://www.mooncowhq.ch/Quintessence/kra009.jpg

[Chrome Dinette]

Bad Brains-The Youth Are Getting Restless

Also, there are many great Miles Davis live albums.

[rdamato]

Grand Funk Live!!!

[Born2Blues67]

Donny Hathaway Live. Groove to die for.

Mike

Amen! Donny,Cornell Dupree,& Willie Weeks? What a band!

:agree

[Frethog]

Yessongs

Climax Blues Band FM Live

Ten Years After Recorded Live

Night of the Guitar

[bluesjuke]

Lou Reed- "Rock and Roll Animal"
Steve Hunter and Daick Wagner on blazing guitars.

Read that Lou wasn't crazy about the result but history allowed the magic to happen anyway.
I think it's the best he ever produced and Hunter & Wagner are a winning team.

[splatt]

tim berne ::: science friction, live
dt / spltrcl

[jb70]

tim berne ::: science friction, live
dt / spltrcl

+1,000,000!!!

[Neer]

OK, 2 more:

Jimmie Rivers and the Cherokee Cowboys - Brisbane Bop. Absolutely amazing home recording of a Sunday night bar gig in the 60s of a band playing Swing and Western Swing. Jimmie Rivers is very much like Charlie Christian in his playing, but the real star here is the incredible Vance Terry on pedal steel guitar. You've never heard anything like it.

Pat Travers Band - Go For What You Know. Another great live Rock LP, featuring Pat Thrall (an old friend/mentor) and Tommy Auldridge. Really great stuff. Buy it!

[lagomorphian]

Roadwork - Edgar Winter and White Trash

Live at Antone's - Storyville.

Grant Street - Sonny Landreth.

[rwe333]

tim berne ::: science friction, live
dt / spltrcl

Of course...

[Jade]

KISS Alive!
Cheap Trick Live at Budokan

[stratotonedude]

My favorite live records of all time are Grateful Dead- Europe 72.

[BlueHeaven]

Band of Gypsies-Hendrix
Live Cream Vol II-Cream
Rockin the Fillmore-Humble Pie

I could have these 3 in CONSTANT rotation and not get tired of them!
Greg

[angus99]

Stones -- Lost Brussels

Woodstock

4-Way Street -- CSNY

Free Live

ABB -- Filmore

Yessongs

[karmadave]

BB King - Live In Cook County Jail
ABB - At The Fillmore East
Grateful Dead - Live/Dead
Ronnie Earl - Blues Guitar Virtuoso Live in Europe
Gov't Mule - Live at Roseland Ballroom
Albert King - Live Wire/Blues Power
UFO - Strangers in the Night
Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsies
Paladins - Million Mile Club
Rolling Stones - Get Your Ya Ya's Out
Fleetwood Mac - Live in Boston

[mike walker]

Amen! Donny,Cornell Dupree,& Willie Weeks? What a band!

:agree

Wasn't the drummer like 16 or something? You could eat off that groove.
'The Ghetto' gets so deep it sizzles my undercrackers. Outrageous.


Mike

[Neer]

Wasn't the drummer like 16 or something? You could eat off that groove.
'The Ghetto' gets so deep it sizzles my undercrackers. Outrageous.


Mike

Yes, Freddie White, brother of Maurice White and drummer for EW&F.

[KRosser]

Ralph Towner - Solo Concert
Keith Jarrett - Bremen/Lausanne
David Lindley - El Rayo X Live
Jeff Beck - Live At Ronnie Scott's
Bruford/Levin/Torn/Botti - BLUE Nights
Talking Heads - The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads
King Crimson - The Great Deceiver
Wes Montgomery - Smokin' At The Half Note
Miles Davis - The Complete Plugged Nickel Recordings
Jimi Hendrix - Concerts
Jim Hall - Jim Hall Live
Julian Bream & John Williams - Live
Jimmy Raney & Attilla Zoller - Jim & I
George Harrison & Guests - Concert For Bangladesh
Emmylou Harris - Spyboy
Ry Cooder - Showtime
David Sylvian & Robert Fripp - Damage
Ornette Coleman - Crisis
Sonny Rollins - Villiage Vanguard Vols 1 & 2
Neil Young - Massey Hall 1971
Steve Reich and Musicians - Live At The Kitchen 1977
Johnny Cash - Live At Folson Prison
Bill Withers - Live At Carnegie Hall

Etc.....

[splatt]

http://www.jazz.com/assets/2008/4/16/albumcoverAstorPiazzollaLiveMontrealAG300.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7522/folderpf0.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/318PX98V0ZL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HNHM1YMQL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

dt / spltrcl

[phatster]

Johnny Winter and....

[mike walker]

Yes, Freddie White, brother of Maurice White and drummer for EW&F.

Freddie, that's it! I'm searching for it. I need to Bathe in that groove.

Thanks Neer.

[morsecode]

Some great live recordings here....one of my favorites that hasn't been yet mentioned:

Dream Theater - Scenes From New York

[JSeth]

Wow! Just thinking about live LP's in the rock genre is staggering; when I include ALL live records, it's pretty tough to nail 'em all down...

"Get Yer Ya Ya's Out" - the Rolling Stones... this was around the time when they toured with Stevie Wonder and Ike and Tina Turner as the 2 openers... incredible show from one of the best!

"Live At Leeds" - the Who... got to see them on the tour from this recording, only in Anaheim in 1970. Love the re-issue with all the songs from the show - amazing band, especially considering they did not have a "flash" lead guitarist - Pete really did a great job, Keith was still banging 'em, and Roger could still hit the notes!!!

"Live at the Fillmore" - the Allman Bros. Band... not much to say about this that hasn't already been said. The Bros. were phenomenal live - got to see them at the Whiskey A Go Go in 1970, playing their asses off to (in the second set) me and 2 buddies and the bartender and the cocktail waitress!!! LMAO!!! - seriously, we were the only people in the place for the second set on a weeknight! I will never forget that show...

"Sunday at the Village Vanguard" and "Waltz for Debbie" - the Bill Evans Trio (w/ Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian)... Bill remains my favorite pianist and these sets remind us all of the incredible talent of the late Scott LaFaro; in a word - sublime!!!

"Alive in America" - Steely Dan... after 20 years of being worshipped by adoring fans everywhere, the boys come out and tour; when they played "My Old School" and thousands were standing and singing along, it was something else! The kind of stage band that I have always wanted to perform with...

Nuff for now!!!

[jjboogie]

How could I have forgotten The Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore?

DUH!!!! Definitely that one!

Also i just thought of another one that should be mentioned if it hasn't already and that is Cream Wheels of Fire! Obviously the live half.:bow

[Teleplayer]

Johnny Winter and....

+1,000,000 can't believe it took this long to be mentioned.

Hendrix - BOG
ABB - Fillmore & live sides of Eat A Peach

[roomservice]

I just love live albums - any genre, any era they always sends tingles down my spine. Loads of my faves mentioned already :_

Kiss - Alive
Nugent - Gonzo
Bowie - David Live
Zep - How The West Was Won
Rush - Exit Stage Left
Cheap Trick - Budokaan etc etc

some extras to throw in:-

John Martyn - Philantropy
Roxy Music - Viva!
Kiss - Alive II
Japan - Oil on Canvas

[splatt]

Japan - Oil on Canvas
big ditto!
one of my all-time favorites.
dt / spltrcl

[Lex Lurid]

"Live Dates" Wishbone Ash. :bow

[Bassomatic]

801 Live
Zappa/Live in NY/You Can't Do That....Vol's 1-whatever
King Crimson - The Great Deceiver (and their new live thing from Chicago)
Miles -Live Evil
Joni - Shadows and Light
Peter Gabriel - Gabriel Plays Live

[Neill]

801 Live
Zappa/Live in NY/You Can't Do That....Vol's 1-whatever
King Crimson - The Great Deceiver (and their new live thing from Chicago)
Miles -Live Evil
Joni - Shadows and Light
Peter Gabriel - Gabriel Plays Live


hey basso,

you digging that chicago crim? i read somewhere that was fripp's fave of the whole (mini) tour. sound engineers said that ny was the best.

[Zelja]

Wilco - Kicking Television
The Who - Live at Leeds
Velvet Underground -1969

[Neer]

Shadows and Light is excellent. I have the video somewhere.

Live Evil -- that's a weird Miles period for me. I like the Fillmore recording better, but that's me. I'll go back and listen. I own just about every Miles record until Tutu.

[RP Rad]

Joel Gertner Stud Muffen Live.... A great album.

[emjee]

Band of Gypsies
Allmans Live at the Fillmore East
Live At Leeds
Get Yer Ya Yas Out
Humble Pie - Rockin The Fillmore
Europe '72 - The Dead

And maybe my favorite. I forget it's name, but it was an LP when I was a kid. One side was hendrix at monterey, the other side was Otis Redding at Monterey. Unbelievable.


Yes!!! I knew someone could NEVER look at this list and leave oout the PIE's
Rockin' The Fillmore!!! That has GOT to be in the top ten best rock and roll albums of ALL TIME!!

[TonyVt]

Band of Gypsys

[chopsley]

Some great suggestions already, but I'll add:

Charles Mingus - Town Hall Concert, Live at Antibes, Great Concert of Charles Mingus
(all w/Eric Dolphy)
Booker Little & Eric Dolphy - Live at the Five Spot

[Bassomatic]

hey basso,

you digging that chicago crim? i read somewhere that was fripp's fave of the whole (mini) tour. sound engineers said that ny was the best.


I yam, but I believe the NY show I caught was a bit better (and Tony was just on fire!).

[jb70]

just remembered a few more:

weather report- live in tokyo
jim hall- live in tokyo
jim hall/bob brookmeyer- live at the north sea jazz fest
paul motian, joe lovano, bill frisell- motian in tokyo
miles davis- live at the fillmore east (3-7-1970)
mahavishnu orchestra- between nothingness & eternity
bill frisell- east west
bill frisell- further east, further west

[jhvox]

Genesis - Seconds Out

I was obsessed with this album in High School. Phil Collins sounds amazing here and Chester Thompson's drumming makes the band actually swing!!! A pinnacle of 70's progressive music, IMHO.

[Neer]

A few more from my collection:

Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison

Aretha Franklin Live At The Fillmore

Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane At Carnegie Hall

Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same

[RanaldoNecro]

U2 Under a Blood Red Sky...

get the remastered version

[P90Nut]

Robin Trower - Live
Free - Live
Frank Marino - Real Live
Humble Pie - Live at the Fillmore
Band of Gypsies
Deep purple - Made in Japan

[mike walker]

Smokin in the pitt- Gadd is awesome on it. And Brecker plays so beatifully on Young and fine. Jeez, what a top notch Zawinul tune that is.

Miles of aisles- Joni.

[Hamertoe]

Haven't read through the whole thread but the one live album I'd have to have if I was stranded is 801 Live. It's friggin' sublime...

[RichieRich]

john mayer trio - try

[MikeyG]

Nugent - Double Live Gonzo
Cheap Trick - Live at Budokan
Allmans at Fillmore
Band of Gypsys - Fillmore
Blue Oyster Cult - Some Enchanted Evening
Kansas - Two For the Show
U2 - Rattle and Hum
Gary Moore - Blues Alive
Kiss - Alive II
AC/DC - Let There Be Rock

And the Van Halen show I saw in 79 should've been recorded, because it was the best live performance I've ever heard.

[vegetablejoe]

Aside from all the classics already mentioned, I also love:

James Gang - "Live in Concert"
Little River Band - "Backstage Pass"
Chicago -IV
Derek and the Dominos - "Live in Concert"
Paul McCartney and Wings - "Wings Over America"
Thin Lizzy ' "Live and Dangerous"
Supertramp - (forgot the title)
Atlanta Rhythm Section - (forgot the title)
Loggins and Messina - (forgot the title)

sorry bout the memory lapse; i lost the LPs and it's been a while...

and how could I forget Cream - "Live", Live II" and all the live cuts on "Goodbye" and "Wheels of Fire"

[jscorno]

Little Feat - Waiting for Columbus

[jhvox]

Haven't read through the whole thread but the one live album I'd have to have if I was stranded is 801 Live. It's friggin' sublime...

+1! The version of Tomorrow Never Knows is amazing! Simon Phillips is on fire on this album.

[dgood]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41DTEC5TBHL._SS500_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QPZY12F4L._SS400_.jpg

[Caretaker]

I`ve already posted but came up with a few more.
Bowie-Ziggy Stardust and the recent Santa Monica 72 show
Eva Cassidy-Live at Blues Alley
Gary Moore-Blues Alive
John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers 1982 Reunion Concert
Fleetwood Mac Shrine 69 and all 3 nights of The Boston Tea Party
Cactus-The Live Gigs
Foghat -Live
Queensryche-Operation Livecrime
John Sykes-Bad Boy Live
Danny Gatton-Redneck Jazz
and possibly the best of them all...............
The Live Adventures of Bloomfield/Kooper

[TBoneDeluxe]

To me, it doesn't get any better than this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8a/Humble_Pie_-_Performance_Rockin%27_the_Fillmore.jpg

[bigdaddyj]

J. Geils Band - FullHouse

[Caretaker]

J. Geils Band - FullHouse
Great addition. add Blow Your Face Out.

[Jacob Van Noy]

Phish - A Live One - IMO one of the greatest live albums ever and Phish at their finest.

David Gilmour's new one Live in Gdansk is great as well.

[nnick]

I also think Iron Maiden - Live After Death is Quintessential.

[Neer]

I also think Iron Maiden - Live After Death is Quintessential.

Well, I'm not really an Iron Maiden fan per se, but what I do like by them is with Paul Di'anno, or whatever his name is. Never cared for Bruce D. all that much.

I did get to see IM open for Judas Priest twice many years ago at the Palladium NYC, maybe 1980, and it was good...real good. Had very close seats like 2nd row.

[cirpo58]

I'm showing my age here, but live albums were a real big thing in the 60s and 70s. They lost their lustre for me in the 80s, as they became bombastic, overproduced, overdubbed affairs with way too much audience (should we blame Cheap Trick Live At Budokan?).

Anyway, I'm going to list the 5 albums which are my favorite and encourage those of you who are not familiar with them to check them out. In return, I will do the same with your recommendations (as my budget allows) and hope that others will, too.

1. Focus - Live At The Rainbow (I think this is my favorite of all. I worn out several copies since I was about 13 years old). Jan Akkerman's playing is just phenomenal and he really takes it to a whole new level, very aggressive, expressive and intense, with a lot of reaching for magic and getting it.
2. Donny Hathaway - Live (The greatest singer in my opinion, this album will make cry, groove, etc). Almost chose These Songs For You Live because it contains the most amazing version of He Ain't Heavy that I've ever heard.
3. Curtis Mayfield - Live (from the Bitter End NY). Unbelievably intimate and powerful performance by one of the greatest figures in music. Goose bumps. Social issues, he lays it all out.
4. Miles Davis - We Want Miles I love this album set (2). It was my introduction to Mike Stern, Marcus Miller and Bill Evans.
5. James Brown - Live At The Apollo, Vol. 2. The first one was great, from an earlier time, but this one blows me away every time.

Honorable mention: Cannonball Adderly - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Live At The Club)


ohohohohoh !!!!!!!!!!
Yeah!!!
Focus Live at the Rainbow - I was able to get my hands on a full video of the concerts and still watch it al least once a month - you can hear jazz, rock, pop, a hint of Bacharach and a hint of Morricone in it.
Great great gig.
Deep Purple Made in Japan - still the best live rock performance to this day - hearing Child in Time Blackmore's solo develop through full band moves in a telepathic mode is astonishing
Led Zeppelin - TSRTS - first time I saw the movie I considered seriously to stop playing guitar - nothing can be added
Ten Years After - Undead - hard boogie getting into jazz - Alvin was really impressive
AC/DC Live at Donnington - hard rock'n'roll in its purest form - 3 chords, attitude, feeling and sonic pressure

Ciao
Maurizio

[Lightningrt]

To me, it doesn't get any better than this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8a/Humble_Pie_-_Performance_Rockin%27_the_Fillmore.jpg

Yep, I have a T shirt with this album cover on it, was wearing it last night.

Others, in no particular order:
AC/DC - If You Want Blood
UFO- Strangers
Thin Lizzy- Live and Dangerous
Deep Purple - Made in Japan
Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour '74
Wishbone Ash -Live Dates
Who- Live at Leeds
LZ-TSRTS,
and a newer one:
Joe Bonamassa - A New Day Yesterday Live

[alberob]

Waiting For Columbus-Little Feat is still one of my favorites.Live at the Filmore by the Allmans is my favorite and I was lucky to be there when It was recorded,third row in front of Gregs B-3.A night to remember:RoCkIn

[johnhenry]

Dylan, Live 65 (England). Not only the best, but arguably most important.

The Band, Rock of Ages.

[fyrwyr]

Kansas-Two for the show
http://www.dmusic.co.kr/album2/271918.jpg

[Born2Blues67]

Albert Collins: Live in Japan

Son Seals: Live & Burning.

[Neer]

Dr. John - All By Hisself

James Booker - Resurrection Of The Bayou Maharajah

Professor Longhair - London Concert

[acoustic567]

+1 on a huge number of what's been mentioned. I'll add:

King Curtis, Live at the Fillmore West
Dave Mason, Certified Live

[Somniferous]

Jeff Buckley - Live At Sin-é
Genesis - Lamb lays down on Broadway - Off the archive discs.
Peter Gabriel - Growing Up Live - Not an album but a DVD, but amazing non the less
Rush - Exit Stage Left
Radiohead - I Might be Wrong
Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere... - Another DVD

[Soundhound]

Yup that's on my list too. THAT is what a rockin Les Paul sounds like...!
And an LP Junior too come to think of it, isn't that what Marriott played on those shows?


To me, it doesn't get any better than this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8a/Humble_Pie_-_Performance_Rockin%27_the_Fillmore.jpg

[BR532]

Quicksilver Messenger Service
Warren Zevon - Live Stand in the Fire

[phatster]

Elvis Live via Sattelite!!!!

[Caretaker]

Well, I'm not really an Iron Maiden fan per se, but what I do like by them is with Paul Di'anno, or whatever his name is. Never cared for Bruce D. all that much.

I did get to see IM open for Judas Priest twice many years ago at the Palladium NYC, maybe 1980, and it was good...real good. Had very close seats like 2nd row.
That was friggin amazing. I was there too. Also saw the same show at Convention Hall is Asbury Park. DiAnno is one of my all time favs.

[Solomon]

A new one:

David Gilmour - Live in Gdansk

[bostonwal]

I'll be checking out the Humble Pie and Donny Hathaway albums.

I've just dialed up Japan's Oil On Canvas - forgot about that! Big throwback to the 80s for me.

Rush Exit... Stage Left is wonderful - really captured some incredible moments.

One Rush live album to search out is disc 3 on Different Stages - it's from the Permanent Waves tour in 79 or 80. Great show! Worth it just for the A Farewell to Kings material that doesn't exist elsewhere.

And of course Under a Blood Red Sky by U2 is also a fave.

[bdegrande]

Lou Reed - Rock and Roll Animal
Grateful Dead - Live/Dead
Little Feat - Waiting for Columbus
The Name of This Band is Talking Heads
The Band - Live at Watkins Glen
Cheap Trick - At Budokan
J Geils Band - Full House
Television - The Blow Up
Man - Maximum Darkness
Wishbone Ash - Live Dates
Deep Purple - Made in Japan

[dunara]

Lou Reed - Rock and Roll Animal
Deep Purple - Made in Japan
James Taylor live
David Bowie - Stage
Steps -Smokin' in the Pit

[wolfpack]

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g98/schaffhausen/41N7YX5DCBL__SS500_.jpg

[BadAssBill]

Queen - Live Killers.

[JGD5150]

Waiting For Columbus
Trower- Live
Band of Gypsys and Hendrix: Live at the Fillmore East
Allmans: Live at Fillmore East
Cheap Trick: Live at Budokan
Derek & the Dominos: Live at the Fillmore East
Zeppelin: How the West Was Won
Bad Company- Live in Albuquerque 1976
The Who-- Live at Leeds
Stones-- Ya Yas
AC/DC-- both If You Want Blood and Live
Big Head Todd & the Monsters-- Live Monsters & Live at the Fillmore

[CAJUN]

Grand Funk Live
Skynyrd - One more from the road
Ozzy - Tribute
Allman Bros - Live at Fillmore East
The Outlaws - Bring it back alive

[Lance]

WOW, I can't believe after reading this entire thread, I am the first to mention Grant Green's Live at the Lighthouse. Great, GREAT stuff! Groove 'til the cows come home. Never thought a coaches whistle could be used to such great effect. I am glad at least one other person mentioned Joni Mitchell's, Shadows & Light. I'd give it up for Weather Report, Forecast: Tomorrow.
Priest's Unleashed in the East is one of my youthful favs. The live version of Victim of Changes has one of the GREATEST metal screams of all time.
Grateful Dead, Nightfall of Diamonds.
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones Live Art.

[Bryan T]

I'm a bit late to the party . . .

Portishead - Roseland NYC
King Crimson - USA (especially "Starless")
Björk - Live at Royal Opera House
B.L.U.E. - Blue Nights

[MikeyG]

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g98/schaffhausen/41N7YX5DCBL__SS500_.jpg

ya know, they capture the essence of 70s live rock shows.

However, I cannot think of a more irritating use of slide guitar in music. They just go on and on with that screeching slide playing. I can't stomach it ....

FWIW.....

[fender tele]

My personal favorites:

Danny Gatton - The Humbler w/ Robert Gordon & In Concert.
Al Dimeola's live album.....can't remember the title.
Kiss Alive I & II.
ACDC Live at Donington.
George Strait Live at the Astrodome
George Jones - Live & An Evening with The Possum
Merle Haggard - Live at Anaheim
Garth Live
Dwight Live
Stray Cats Struttin Live
VH Live Right Here Right Now
Larry Carlton Last Nite

[wntbtw]

Don`t mean to be 'picky' but got to set the record straight here! I saw ZZ Top many times in the 70`s [mid `73, early `74, late `74 etc etc and 'Thunderbird' was always their 'opener' in those early shows and Billy ALWAYS played his original `58/`59 Flying V for that song! It is not his 'Pealry Gates' LP you are hearing--it is his original 'Flying V' that you hear on 'Thunderbird'! The rest of the live stuff on the 1st side of 'Fandango' IS his 'Pearly Gates'--'Jailhouse Rock' and 'Backdoor Love Affair' medley, but 'Thunderbird' is definitley with his original 'Flying V'. I saw him 3 times open w/ it on 'Thunderbird' as 'Fandango' was released afterwards [early `75]--and that Flying V sounds GREAT! I only wish they would release an actual entire live album from that period esp of their early material along with those 'hot rodded' Rio Grande Marshall`s!! Their 2nd and 3rd albums are my favorites!


Could never get into that one. Gibbons mumbling "Gotta' get down!" over and over for what seemed half an hour kinda killed the mood for me. On the other hand, the first notes out of Pearly on "Thunderbird" may be the greatest guitar tone ever recorded.

[bmorelli]

Muse - HAARP, if you haven't seen the dvd/heard the album do yourself a favor. they're amazing live!

[Notverysuttle]

Otis Redding--Live in Europe

[stucker]

The Allman Brothers - Live At Fillmore East

[mikjwilli]

Journey - Captured? (pre-Cain) Surprised it hasn't been listed already.

[pickslide]

Aerosmith - Live Bootleg
Live Cream Volume II
The Jimi Hendrix Concerts
Black Sabbath - Live At Last
ZZ Top - Fandango (well, part of that album)

[mountain blues]

My desert island live album:

Waiting for Columbus -- Little Feat.

[steelers88]

One of my favs
Ten Years After Live

[slopeshoulder]

Yes: Yessongs!!!!!!!!!
Gentle Giant: Playing the Fool

[Neer]

Yes: Yessongs!!!!!!!!!
Gentle Giant: Playing the Fool

What about UK - Night After Night? Do you like that one? Holdsworth is sorely missed. Same for me with The Bruford Tapes; I never really got into "the unknown" John Clark's playing at all.

[B_of_H]

Light the Fuse - Widespread Panic

[gobuds]

Three of my favorites:

Derek & the Dominos - Fillmore East
Dire Straits - Alchemy
Stones - Love You Live (recorded at the El Mocambo!)

[84Bravo]

Jeebus Cripes. Ten pages into this and no one has mentioned Roy Buchanan's LIVE STOCK? The world's not right. If you never got to see him live, this is what it was like, complete with microphonic bridge pickup and that magic bubbly neck tone he had.

[dgood]

The Complete Jazz At The Philharmonic On Verve: 1944-1949

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417GT5Y8YDL._SS500_.jpg

[Frater B]

__

Miles in Tokyo

Zappa - The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life

John McLaughlin/Shakti and Remeber Shakti boxset

__

[amoodymule]

I'm showing my age here, but live albums were a real big thing in the 60s and 70s.
1. Focus - Live At The Rainbow (I think this is my favorite of all. I worn out several copies since I was about 13 years old). Jan Akkerman's playing is just phenomenal and he really takes it to a whole new level, very aggressive, expressive and intense, with a lot of reaching for magic and getting it.


I was lucky enough to see them in 73? Chic Corea and the Return to Forever opened, I was hooked on Jan's playing, I loved it when that album came out, his LIVE playing is so much more ...well all that you stated +1,000,000,000