Saturday, July 23, 2005

The best "live" albums ever recorded (rock category)

By suggestion (thanks Doc)

Here is a list of great live albums (I think) that should be in your collection

Allman Brothers-Live at the Fillmore (jam bands have nothing on these guys)
Humble Pie- Performance Rockin the Fillmore (if just for "I Don't Need No Doctor")
Little Feat-Waiting For Columbus (maybe the best live album of all time)
The Band-The Last Waltz (you gotta SEE this one on DVD)
J. Giels Band-Full House (nasty, hot, tight and maybe the best american band ever in concert)
Lynyrd Skynyrd-One More From The Road (Ronnie Van Zandt performed barefoot so he could "feel the stage burn"..no doubt)
Rolling Stones-Get Your Ya Yas Out(these guys were so sloppy, this is them at their sloppiest)
George Harrison-Live in Japan (with a friend named Clapton)
Elvin Bishop-Raising Hell (may have been the best live show I have ever seen for pure fun)
Bruce Springsteen-Live in NYC (if just for the version of "If I Should Fall Behind")
Joni Mitchell-Miles of Aisles (when Tom Scott is your band's director, it's all good)
Poco-Deliverin(could be the best country rock band ever with Messina and Furay)
Rare Earth-In Concert(just because the drummer sings)
Wings Over America-Wings (the band was never better)
Blue Oyster Cult-On Your Feet Or On Your Knees (the title says it all)
Talking Heads-Stop Making Sense (so you may ask yourself...another one to be watched)
REO Speedwagon-You Get What You Play For (here's the one where they jumped the shark)
Paul Simon-Live Rhymin'(if you listen closely, the audience sings along on every song)
Cheap Trick-At Budokan (these guys made it sound easy)
John Prine-Live (Bob Dylan with a sense of humour)
Dave Mason-Certified Live (I think I saw this guy 4 or 5 times in the 70s)
Micheal Stanley Band-Stagepass (overlooked, underrated band from Cleveland)
Peter Frampton-Comes Alive (before he got cute, he was (and is) a GREAT guitar player)
Deep Purple-"Made in Japan"-(loud loud loud)
Bob Seger-"Live Bullet"-"Nine Tonight"(I saw him lift the roof off of Kemper Arena in 1981)

I would've put The Beatles -Live at the Hollywood Bowl, but I think it was a turd.

and the granddaddy of them all...

Woodstock

did I leave any out?

4 comments:

Max said...

Dire Straits, Live Alchemy. Freaking fantastic with no overdubs and all the audio buzz and pops you could stand :)
It's my favorite at least.

Max...

Anonymous said...

Glad to see you used my suggestion. I do have to add one album to the list. It belongs in the top 5 of any list of greatest live albums. It is "Mothers Live at the Filmore". It features the great Flo and Eddie and the incredible Ansley Dunbar on drums. From start to finish it is an astounding musical experience. The Mothers did another great live later album entitled "Live at the Roxy" which contained an amazing version of the song "More Trouble Everyday", but the Filmore will always be one of the very best live albums I have ever heard.

Anonymous said...

Doc you have great taste !
I would add GO "GO LIVE IN PARIS"
KANSAS "TWO FOR THE SHOW" and
STANLEY CLARKE "I WANNA PLAY FOR YOU"

Anonymous said...

Eric Clapton - Just One Night - whole damn thing is great!
Tribute to George Harrison - Can't believe you left this one out!
Led Zeppelin - BBC Sessions, especially "Whole Lotta Love" medley
Paul McCartney - Trippin' The Live Fantastic - best version of "Sgt. Pepper's" I've ever heard!
U2 - Rattle & Hum

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