seattlesteve Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 Technology has improved so much that nowadays live albums can pull much of the fidelity of a studio album. In the old days, they were extremely hit and miss, and some bands, who were the byproduct of studio magic should not have put out a live album. Not the best, not the best selling, but my favorite live albums..On the other hand, some bands like Cheap Trick, and Kiss, their live album were better.Raspberries (haven't heard it yet, but it will be on the list)Cheap Trick BudokanKiss LiveWings Over AmericaFrampton Comes AliveElvis 68 ComebackLive Bullet - SegerHell Freezes - EaglesConcert in Park - Simon @ GarBangladesh - GeorgeUnplugged - ClaptonThat's a good list right there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Marshall Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 Generally I find live albums are pretty poorly recorded and generally quite poorly performed...especially when the 'act' in question incorporates elements into the 'event' that aren't generally part of their show.Being 'there' is usually way better than what comes out as a result.The very BEST live lp yet to be released is the Beach Boys Concert [live double lp from late 1973] They were the top touring band of the era. The lp demonstrates why.They can also lay claim to one of the WORST live lps with their initial In Concert lp of 1964 where they faked a live I Get Around and sang some real stinkers. The Rolling Stones Got Live If You Want It is the absolute worst and should only be given as a gift to people you DETEST.The Guess Who Running Back Through Canada is terrific. Really well done. A treasure.Bob Marley's Babylon By Bus is pretty coolI'm looking forward to the Raspberries' releaseAfter that...and I could do fine without ANYTHING live...except for Woodstock. Now THAT'S history. [even if technically...it really SUCKS]I will give you that the Eagles pretty much delivered the goods on 'Hell' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Early Wynn Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 Love the Beach Boys live in 1973 album. Also agree about "Got Live if you want it" album of the Stones. I was horrible. The sound, the performance...it was just terrible.Faves are: The Who - Live at LeedsCheap Trick at BudakonSpringsteen Live in Cleveland ('78 bootleg)The Figgs - Continue to Enjoy the FiggsEva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawkpat Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 Any McCartney one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 Springsteen Live on Long Island (NYE 1981) - another bootleg.Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted March 14, 2007 Author Share Posted March 14, 2007 I don't have Springsteens bootlegs, but do have his triple live album. Glaring ommision on my part. Another example of better live.. he's the goods live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 'Get Yer Ya Ya's Out'....The versions of 'Midnight Rambler'...'Love In Vain' and 'Sympathy For The Devil' are better than the recorded versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAM Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 Elton John - 11/17/70McCartney - Back In The USMcCartney - Red SquareEagles - Hell Freezes OverCheap Trick - BudakonEagles - Melbourne ConcertCan't think of any others that float my boat audio quality/musicianship wise, though I'm really looking forward to the Berrie's release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LobsterLvr Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 This one is completely random, but it's the best live album I've ever heard. I don't understand a word of the lyrics but every song is a sonically perfect pop gem.It's the Brazilian band 'Skank' and their live 'MTV Au Vivo' cd.Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelina Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 MAM...you beat me to the punchElton's 11/17/70 was incredible especially with just a piano, bass and drum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAM Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 2 I forgot, James Taylor at the Beacon Theatre, killer harmonies, great recording.Mary Chapin Carpenter at Wolftrap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sterling Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Chicago Live at Carneige Hall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy K. Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I would have to agree on Beach Boys live in 73, McCartney, Elvis and Cheap Trick.Not too thrilled about the Chicago Carnegie Hall set.....some of the performances were great("Introduction") and others sounded uninspired("25 or 6 to 4")....but the main thing about that album was was the engineering.....really sounded muffled.Kiss MTV Unplugged is really great! I've been listening to it a lot.Dave Mason "Certified Live". This is the "real deal".....just using what was taped at the concert.(Unlike Aerosmith's recent "live" stuff, which had overdubs.) Some great renditions of Mason's solo and Traffic stuff, plus covers of "Take it to the Limit" and "All Along the Watchtower".I don't care much for Zeppelin's "Song Remains the Same" live album, either. But there was a radio broadcast tape where they did "That's All Right Mama", as well as slipping in "Season of the Witch" and "For What It's Worth" smack in the middle of "Ramble On".Lobster lover, yes music can speak beyond language. I heard another excellent Brazilian live tape, from Flora Purim(done about 1983 or so). And Greek singer Marinella has a great live album. I have not heard Johnny Hallyday's(France)but that is supposed to be excellent.The Limeliters also had a great live album in the early 1960s.Believe it or not, I have not heard "Live at the Apollo" by James Brown yet....but it most likely is on somebody's list.And Greg Kihn had some excellent live shows. Why there is not a multi-disc set of his shows is beyond me...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Many, if not most of my favorite live albums are bootlegs. For every "Get Your Ya-Yas Out", there's a much less slick sounding, even better "LiveR Than You'll Ever Be", in the case of most bands. For an obvious example, I don't think Springsteen's ever been captured properly live on an official release, but there are tons of killer boots out there of his shows.That said, my favorite live albums, in no particular order......The Who - Live At Leeds (the Director's cut, or whatever they call the full show version)James Brown - Live At the ApolloBob Dylan & The Hawks - Royal Albert Hall, 1966(there are many booted versions of this, but the official Columbia release (Bootleg, Volume 4) is the cleanest sounding). I also have a ton of more recent boots, and it would be really hard to name a favorite. From his most recent "Modern Times" tour, I'd probably say his 2nd Boston show (11/12/06). Rolling Stones - LiveR Than You'll Ever Be, and Forest National show from Brussels, Belguim, Oct. 1973MC5 - Kick Out The Jams (still better than any of the dozens of boots available of this band) Byrds - Boston Tea Party, 1969, and Live At the Boarding House, 1978 (reunion with Crosby)Thin Lizzy - Live and DangerousJerry Lee Lewis - Live at The Star Club, Hamburg, 1964 The Ramones - It's Alive, 1978Otis Redding - Live In Europe, Live At the Whiskey A-Go-Go, and Monterey Pop setJimi Hendrix - Band of GypsiesStooges - Telluric Chaos (Japan, 2004) and their set from Little Steven's Underground Garage Fest, NYC, August 2004 (bootleg from radio broadcast)The Wildhearts - The Wildhearts Strike Back (from 2004 American tour)Sam Cooke - Harlem Square Club, 1963Cream - Wheels of Fire, 2nd disk (the live one)Cyril Jordan & The Sneetches, DNA Lounge, SF, 1991 (doing many songs from "Shake Some Action" live)Beach Boys - I agree, their '73 live album is still probably their best live show available.Love - I loved their "Forever Changes" tour several years ago, but I'd have to do a lengthy taste test to figure out which of the boots is my favorite one.Springsteen - Too many boots!!! The '81 Long Island one that Marv named above is as good as any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.