I know we’ve done live albums on more than one occasion before, but still, it’s a rich vein.
I was listening to Van Morrison’s It’s Too Late To Stop Now, Vols II, III and IV yesterday and marvelling at what a remarkable record it is. And the arrangements really make it. There are eleven people onstage including Morrison, and every part has its own lines, distinctive and clear. Strings are invariably used on rock records to provide a gloopy background, but here the quartet has a real role to play with lead lines and melodies enhancing the songs throughout. Ditto the two brass instruments which are never just reinforcing noise. Jeff Labes’ keyboard and John Platania’s guitar weave in and out with the texture of a jazz ensemble.
The playing is fantastic, and, above it all, Van’s vocals magnificent as he goes from bullhorn to whisper and back again in a stroke. What you hear is the essence of all great live albums – musicians feeding off each other, off the audience, and off the moment in a way that can never be created in the studio.
Many of my favourite live albums do this – Allman Brothers at Fillmore East, Rory Gallagher Live in Europe, Duke Ellington and Muddy Waters, both at Newport, Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard. I’m sure there are many more I don’t know, so share – what are your favourite live albums (and why)?
My faves:
Yes, Van
Live at Leeds – the Oo
Get Your Ya Ya’s out – Stones
Kicking Television – Wilco
Hammersmith Odeon 75 – The Boss and E St Band
Live Rust – Neil Young and Craxy Horse
And I would pick a Springsteen one from 1978 or 81 if they had been released properly. The official downloads are awesome.
Received wisdom says Rust Never Sleeps is the best live Neil Young album.
Well, received wisdom is wrong, and you sir are 100% correct – Live Rust is streets ahead of it’s cut down cousin
Oh boy. Whenever live album threads come up, I always but always mention 10cc’s “Live and let live”, and no-one but no-one responds! It came out in 1977 just as I was getting into new wave so why it made such an impression I’m not sure. Double gatefold vinyl, some very rock n roll photos (boys in the band kind of thing) and to me it just rocks! Some great tracks, hits and a cheesy introduction from Andy Peebles (I think). Overdubbed to the max and some post live recording trickery I’m absolutely sure but I still listen to it today.
Edith. Damning review on allmusic. Hey ho.
I attended one of the shows on the tour that the album originated from. The problem I’ve always had with it is the lack of Godley & Creme songs. It’s from the tour promoting Deceptive Bends, the first album after the split, and suffers from having too much of that album on it, rather than more back catalogue. I can understand Graham & Eric wanting to emphasise their own contributions to the back catalogue as they were the ones keeping the name going, but they do it at the inevitable expense of the quality of the material. The band was always a delicate balance between the two main songwriting partnerships, and both sides suffered after the split as their respective material went in opposite directions without the internal balancing the original band possessed.
@count-jim-moriaty
Thanks…that’s pretty much what the allmusic review says! Can you recall anything about the gig? The live recording is well rocky.
@count-jim-moriarty
Spelt you name wrong…shabby.
It’s so long ago that I only have very vague memories of the night. It was at Newcastle City Hall, and was the first time I’d been to a gig involving travel to another city on my own. I don’t recall any particular differences between the live show and the album version. The one thing that really stuck in the mind was the way they embraced the use of backing tapes for the vocals of I’m Not In love – not that they would have been able to do justice to it without them.
One of the indisputable great live albums : Bill Withers’ ‘Live at Carnegie Hall’. Great music, of course, but real warmth between the band members and terrific interplay with the audience.
Obvious but for all the right reasons – AC/DC – If You Want Blood
including the definitive version of Whole Lotta Rosie
“Der ner ner ner ner ner ner … Angus!”
Off the top of my head…
Get Yer Ya Yas Out – The Stones
Rock And Roll Animal – Lou Reed
Live At Leeds – Who
The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper
It’s Too Late To Stop Now – Van
My favourite.
Slade alive.
Good call – the best LP they made!
Here’s one that routinely gets missed in these lists – because, except for France (where it appeared as a standalone live LP), it was one live disc alongside one studio disc: The Pentangle’s ‘Sweet Child’ (1968). The live disc was recorded at the Festival Hall in June 1968. The interplay between all involved is fantastic, the atmosphere palpable, the recording good, the volume pin-drop. Perhaps most unusually, for that time anyway, almost all of the live album was ‘new’ – bar one track that had appeared earlier that year on their debut album.
Some of it was new in the sense that the band had never recorded most of the tracks before, although many came from previous solo/duo/band recordings in which the members had been involved – such as Danny’s ‘Haitian Fight Song’, from an Alexis Korner album he had played on, or ‘Watch The Stars’ which John had previously recorded as a duo with Dorris Henderson on one of Dorris’ albums, etc. One or two other tracks would be recorded in the studio in the future, such as Bert’s ‘A Woman Like You’ (bizarrely, on the live album as a totally solo performance yet later recorded for Bert’s solo LP ‘Birthday Blues’ with the Pentangle rhythm section, so effectively a Pentangle number).
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Pentangle…”
Never heard that – but great recommendation Colin – will check this out
Seriously? well, I’d hold off if I were you – until you see it cheaply in some form – there’ll be a 7CD box set along before too long, including all the SC album.
OK, I know it’s not “live” but Thin Lizzy’s Live and Dangerous has been a favourite for decades.
Concert by the Cure is possibly my favourite Cure album – Peak Goth?
Live 1969 by the Velvet Underground (or the fuller version of the Matrix tapes) is another perennial favourite.
Tales of Gil Scott Heron and his Amnesia Express – but there are loads of good GSH live stuff.
No one speaking up for Bob Marley yet?
From the punk/new wave era I would recommend:
The Stranglers – Live X-Cert
Ramones – It’s Alive
Live Jam
The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads
SLF – Hanx
Clash – Live At Shea Stadium
Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense New Edition (as released in 1999) is superlative.
Certainly is, though it’s the film I really love rather than the album. Possibly the best film of a concert I’ve ever seen.
And this of course is the best track.
Yup another one I forgot.
The band I most regret not seeing.
The name of this band is Talking Heads is another fine live document
(seeing the name SLF is like catnip)
Hanx is a truly fantastic live album – full of energy and passion.
One track however (Johnny Was) is from a different show – there is therefore some debate whether this is a “proper” live album (answer: yes it is, and you’ll never notice the join).
For the full SLF show effect, and equally as powerful is Live In Aberdeen – recorded 6 or so months earlier, and whilst the sound isn’t as “clean” it still packs a punch
Live Jam sounds so much better than Dig The New Breed.
The 3 CD set The Jam At The BBC sounds even better – especially the full recording of the December 1979 Rainbow show
Boo Hewerdine – A Live One
His solo performer comeback after years as a songwriter/touring guitarist/producer. It was a magical night – I was there – in a Scout hut behind a pub. I went on to produce the album while Boo was on tour in Japan. My first credit on a professionally-released recording – there have been plenty of others since, but none with so much impact.
Still my fave of all his records.
When his fans are excited at his gigs do thet shout, ‘Boo! Booooooooo! Booooooooooooooooo!’ The shows must feel like a surreal experience.
One of his “hits” (number 200 for a week) is called ‘Joke’. Request that and you’ll more than likely get “Two blokes go into a pub…”
He’s always threatening to write a song called “I’ve wet myself”.
I saw him play to half a dozen people in Chelmsford last year, and one guy did request Joke, and as the next song, please, because he had to dash off for his train. Boo said that he hadn’t been going to play it but was kind enough to do it on request.
I love ‘Fleetwood Mac Live’. An album that tends to get overlooked even by fans of Rumours and Tusk. The version of Not That Funny is amazing. Buckingham’s guitar from around 3.30 is (on some days) the best thing my ears have ever heard. Great singing too. Album also features a fantastic version of Never Going Back Again as well as the best versions of Landslide and Rhiannon.
Also the lovely version of Farmer’s Daughter, which I think was recorded at a sound check?
Ooooh interested now. There’s an excellent live CD in the Rumours remaster set which is superb too.
Some live albums do a good job of capturing the “live” dynamic and much played in my youth were Johnny Winter “Captured Live” – “And Live” tends to be the better known album but here JW rips into “Bony Moronie” and there’s great slide work on “Highway 61 Revisited”
Lynyrd Skynyrd “One More From The Road” – I don’t think the studio albums ever showed what this band was like on stage – contrast the live version of “Workin For the MCA” with the studio cut – far more punch and substance
Humble Pie “Performance – Rockin The Filmore” – I’ll admit that 23 minutes of “Gilded Splinters” wasn’t played much but side 1 and 4 showed what a monstrous sound this band had in full flight
Kiss “Alive” – album versions of songs like “Deuce” and “Strutter” were weaker than nuns piddle, but the quasi live versions presented here were in a whole different universe.
Robin Trower “Live” – the energy and the attack here picked up the more moody dynamic on the studio versions and gave them a real shake
Thin Lizzy “Live and Dangerous” – it might be only the drum track was actually live, but I was at the gigs where this was recorded and it was a great representation
Whitesnake “Live In The Heart of the City” – standout track is “Walkin In The Shadow of The Blues”
Deep Purple “Made In Japan” – It doesn’t get more bonkers than “Highway Star” here
Derringer – “Live” – drawing heavily from the fist album, live there was more guitar interplay, as well as the obligatory “Rock n Roll Hoochie Koo”
Ten Years After – “Recorded Live” – I’m sure “Undead” would be more popular here and if I never hear “Going Home” again it will still be too soon, but “Slow Blues In C” has a fantastic dynamic
Blue Oyster Cult “On Your Feet Or On Your Knees” – despite a mix as flat as a cowpat, I wore this album out. Better mixed live sets have followed but this, or the “In The West” bootleg recorded at the same time are still miles better.
One More From The Road is just a stellar album. Does anyone need any more Lynyrd Skynyrd than those four sides?
One that probably doesn’t get mentioned here too much is Duke Ellington and his Orchestra
and their 1956 album Ellington at Newport.
To give a bit of context Ellington at the time was seen as old hat. The big band thing had gone, blown away first by be-bop and then hard bop. Ellington’s band was one of the few, if not the only one, left in business. They weren’t seen as relevant any more.
Then they went to Newport.
This is the most legendary part of their performance Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue featuring Paul Gonsalves on tenor sax.
I’ve come to love that album & had one of those lovely ‘I feel I’m in a movie’ moments listening to it recently. Walking back home, bundled up against the cold with the ear buds in, the sky suddenly lit up with masses of fireworks just as the band really took off playing ‘Take The A Train’. Vintage Woody Allen could’t have directed it better. Magic.
I’ve just played that all the way through. Stupendous. On my musicmagpie watchlist.
The Blanton-Webster band boxset is a thing of perfection.
This was one of the albums that got me into jazz in the first place, borrowed from my local public library. I love the bit before Paul Gonsalves’ solo where it’s just Duke with bass and drums and Jo Jones (Basie’s drummer) off stage beats out the rhythm with a rolled up copy of the Christian Science Monitor.
Absolutely superb piece of music.
Talking of Basie, how about Frank Sinatra at the Sands? On a jazz theme I really like Ella Fitzgerald live at Dukes Place.
Bob Seger Live Bullet was one of the first live albums I obtained along with Neil’s Live Rust. Both still get regular plays as does the Skynyrd mentioned above and a dodgy downlaod of Little Feat’s Electric etc etc.
Re: Bob Seger Live Bullet
Yeah, that’s a good old good ‘un. I love “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man on that album.
Reminds me of the second gig I ever went to – Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band at the Hammy Odeon in November 1977. They rocked the old theatre to its foundations. I’ve never really recovered.
I don’t have Live Bullet but I regard Nine Tonight as one of my favourite albums, live or otherwise.
Favourite album of all, through, albeit only sorta live is Jackson Browne’s Running On Empty.
That’s an amazing story about Jo Jones. I love the idea of just him beating a rolled up newspaper, offstage but close enough for the rhythm section to hear and he somehow introduced element X that made everything swing enough to rock the planet on its axis.
My goodness that’s good.
I loved Hanx. That LP and live were the only ways to listen to SLF.
My current fave is Joni Mitchell’s ‘ Shadows And Light’ – most of my fave bits from ‘Hejira’ & ‘The Hissing Of Summer Lawns’ but with live Metheny and Pastorius. Glorious stuff.
Re Joni Mitchell”s “Shadows and Light”.
It’s well worth getting the DVD of that concert, too. What a band!
I almost certainly will, Duc.
I was discussing the very show with a very old pal the other day – we both had vague memories of watching it together on telly in the early 80s – we were both struck at the time how astonishing ‘mellow’ & apparently blissed out the band looked – very different from the prevailing sharp UK ‘ jazz style’ beloved of adverts at the time & how this partly prejudiced us from truly appreciating what we were seeing – fortunately we’re less superficial these days. That really is one of the most awesome line ups ever put together.
Tull – Bursting out
Feat – Waiting for Columbus
Johny Winter – And Live and Captured Live
Hendrix in the West / Band of Gypsys
Coltrane – Village Vanguard
Skynyrd – One from the road
Traffic – On the road
Free live
Trower live
Purple – Japan (ta F8)
I forgot. ..
Jarrett – Koln Concert
Charlie Christian – live at Mintons
Django – anything at the Hot Club
I’ve got some fsb Charlie Parker but I’m not sure where it’s from.
The Dan – Southlands
if Southlands qualifies, how about Electrif Lycanthrope?
Agreed, and its way better than Waiting for Columbus (in my view)
I agree. But WFC has the best versions of Willin’ and Dixie Chicken so you need both.
Yes. Definitely need both.
It’s interesting to hear “Spanish Moon” without any horns (on Electrif Lycanthrope) but the full-fat version on Waiting For Columbus is a wonder to behold. Similarly the version of “The Fan” on EL knocks any other known version into a cocked hat.
I forget the Koln concert is live – which is particularly dumb of me. Just wonderful.
Obvious but not mentioned yet – Dr Feelgood’s Stupidity. Distills the essence of the band into 40 minutes of a band at its height. Tight as the proverbial gnat’s chuff.
I’ve also got a lot of time for Neil Young’s Weld – Neil and ver Horse at their loudest.
Honourable mention also for Fairport’s House Full and Be Bop Deluxe’s Live In The Air Age.
Weld gets my vote everytime, a fantastic set of songs played to the max by a truly stunning band.
On a more metal front No Sleep Til Hammersmith is pretty essential. Even though the album was not recorded at Hammersmith.
I always thought it was. All those years thinking I was present at the recording of a great live album…..
Mrs MM
The tour never even went to Hammersnith.
The album was recorded at Leeds, Belfast and West Runton (Rock & Roll Capital of the world).
The only other stop on that brief UK tour was Newcastle.
According to a Motorhead website, they never got to Hammersmith until March 1982 – that’s a lot of staying awake
Jimi Plays Monterey. My fave Experience album.
I sat with my (transfixed) 11-y-o drummer yesterday and watched the DVD.
Based on the fact that I’ve only got 2 live albums on my iPod, I’d have to say it’s either “Live Seeds” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, or “Expanded” from These New Puritans in their amazing expanded 35 piece orchestrally augmented configuration as seen at the Barbican in 2014.
Iron Maiden – Live After Death
3 sides from Long Beach, 1 side from Hammersmith (why?)
“Scream for me Long Beach!”
MC5 – Kick Out The Jams
Who said it was a daft idea to release a live album as your debut?
Background music this is not – it is not possible to play this album quietly.
Cheap Trick at Budokan
How come none of their studio albums were as good as this?
(Sings) “Mummy’s all right, Daddy’s all right. They just seem a little bit wierd!”
Ah yes. My brother had “Live at Budokan. He used to play it a lot.
Yellow vinyl perchance?
How did you know? Yes, it was.
It was definitely yellow vinyl.
Mine too – there were many of them pressed. Chances are the black vinyl ones are harder to come by.
Prefer Bob Dylan at Budokan myself.
“I want…you…to want…me!”. I have the single – used to be my going out record on Friday night. Back when I went out on Friday night.
Sam Cooke at the Harlem Square Club.
Nirvana Live At Reading
Bob Marley Live at the Roxy
Daft Punk Alive 07
Manu Chao Radio Bemba Soundsystem
Oh yes, the Sam Cooke is fantastic. Another one I forgot is Jerry Lee Lewis ripping the place apart on the Hamburg Star Club album.
Seconded on Sam Cooke and I would add James Brown Live at the Apollo
Christy Moore – Live At The Point
Electric Lycanthrope – Little Feat
Zappa live in new York – Frank Zappa
Blood – AC/DC
Shadows and Light – Joni Mitchell with Pastorius, Metheny, Mays, Shorter and Erskine
On the Road – Traffic
Back to the Bars – Todd Rundgren
It’s Full House by the J. Geils Band.
Thread closed. Next!
Modern Lovers ‘Live’. Absolutely guaranteed to cheer me up. Not least because of this marvellous version of Ice Cream Man. The sound of happy.
Modern Lovers ‘Live’. At the old Hammy Odeon, of course.
Yeah – that was only a single vinyl LP!
If ever a live album deserves to be expanded into a CD version with about 25 tip-top bonus tracks, then it’s that one.
And speaking of live albums, @duco01 – Did you? I did:-)
Hi Lando:
Did I order the forthcoming New Haven – Boston – Cornell – Buffalo early May 1977 11CD Grateful Dead box?
I considered the matter … and in the end I didn’t pull the trigger.
I already have the 14CD May 1977 box from later in the month, and I couldn’t really justify getting the new set as well.
I’ll get the stand-alone 3CD set of the Cornell show.
But I’m sure I’ll regret my decision not to get the full box. These are Betty Board recordings of four 4 absolute classic shows.
That Help – Slipknot – Franklin’s that opens the Buffalo show. Oh my!
I’m sure you’ll love it, Lando. I’m envious!
Couldn’t resist it – but then I don’t have the other 1977 box set. I see that they are now selling a cut-down, non-limited version that is a whole $20 cheaper, so still time to change your mind:-)
I raised the subject with my wife.
I haven’t ordered the box.
I like live albums where things are on a knife edge. The Damned Live At Newcastle or that Dead Kennedys one where the crowd keeps surging forward, but otherwise — and I know this is heresy, but — live albums can pretty much fuck off.
Another vote for Talking Heads stop making sense.
Lucinda Williams Live at the Filmore
Elvis Costello and the Attractions Live at the El Mocambo.
Eels with Strings – Live at the Town Hall.
I don’t think these have been mentioned yet, but all capture the best of bands whose studio output never quite (in my opinion) measured up to these live recordings:
Colosseum Live
Hawkwind – Space Ritual
Man – Maximum Darkness (and their cuts on “Greasy Truckers Party”, particularly “Spunk Rock”)
Ohhh, yes, yes and yes again! Particularly the Man albums….
The whole Greasy Truckers set is great.
Saved me the bother of posting “Greasy Truckers”.
Couple that with “Padget Rooms, Penarth” and the live half of “Back Into the Future” and we’re off into orbit..
Quick mention also for King Crimson “Live in Central Park NYC 1974”.
A Kiss Before You Go..Live In Hamburg By Katzenjammer.
Look, overexcited Germans!!
Neil Young – Time Fades Away
Fairport Convention – House Full
Blue Oyster Cult – On your Feet or On your Knees
Wishbone Ash – Live Dates
Man – Live at the Padget Rooms
Status Quo – Live at the Glasgow Apollo
I nearly forgot:
Kevin Coyne- In Living Black and White
A great live summation of his career up to that point – and some very nice pre-Police Andy Summers….
Graham Parker & The Rumour – Live At Marble Arch (thank you, again, @Carl)
Roy Orbison & Friends -Black & White Night
Elvis Presley – ’68 Comeback Special
Nina Simone – Pastel Blues
The ’68 Comeback Special is a great call. The gospel medley on it is my favourite Elvis track.
That was the moment I ‘got’ Elvis.
It’s odd talking about live albums nowadays. Until 15 years or so ago each of the major artists had 2 or 3 live releases in their canon, whereas most artists didn’t have any. A lot tended to be uninspired or just downright horrible and many sounded absolutely rubbish. It was rare, certainly prior to the past 15 years, that I’d ever listen to live albums, but now I could easily knock together a list of a hundred I like. There would be exceptions, like Get Your Ya-Yas Out, Pink Floyd’s live version of The Wall and Tim Buckley’s Dream Letter, but the more interesting live albums would be bootlegs, but probably more for the novelty factor than the sound quality.
But over the past 15 years, thanks to boxed sets, special editions, clearing out the vaults for copyright purposes, scraping the barrel, major artists running out of new ideas so rolling live albums out, live versions of ‘classic’ albums in their entirity, etc, not to mention artists chucking them out as downloads, the grey market and the internet making it easier than ever to hear bootlegs, we have live albums coming out of our earholes. Dylan’s great tours of 65 and 66 are out almost in their entirity. What’s more, on the whole they sound great too. So with albums that you have heard so often you don’t really need to hear them again, you can listen to a live version for a bit of variety. I listen to more live albums now than I ever have.
For this reason it is almost impossible to pick a favourite. Until recently I would have said the Dylan 66 concert in the bootleg series, but now we have the entire tour. Ya-Yas is in my top 3 Stones albums, but we now have Hampton Coliseum or LA Forum to rival it. The Springsteen Hammersmith 75 is great, but I’ve since added at least half a dozen shows of his that are equally as good. I’ve put a couple of great Suede shows on my ipod in recent years, a couple of early Cure shows that are fab too, a great show by Hall and Oates and a lovely acoustic James Taylor show. I’ve also recently bought and downloaded some Prince shows that sound fab on first listen. There were some excellent Floyd live discs in those boxsets too. Barely a week goes by without someone I like releasing a live album these days.
So, my favourite, I’ll go for Dylan’s live Manchester 66 show in his bootleg series. There are plenty just as good in the box set, but this is the one I have had the longest and have played and enjoyed more than any other live album.
So many replies and no one has mentioned : Misty in Roots, Live at the Counter-Eurovision.
“When we trod this land we walk for one reason.
The reason is to try to help another man to think for himself.
The music of our hearts is roots music. Music which recalls History.
Because without the knowledge of your history you cannot determine your destiny.
Music about the present. Because if you are not conscious of the present you are like a cabbage in this society.
Music which tells about the future and the Judgement which is to come….”
(stolen from Head Heritage site).
In my case that would be because I haven’t listened to it in 30 years, not having a copy and it being impossible to find.
Summons instant memories of the 80s, veggie cafes and a past life.
Here you go. Relive your youth ….
Everything above, yes, but let’s have some love for some old. A lot of early ‘live’ recordings were fake, but these two aren’t, with excellent sound and great audience reaction. Both are on YT in full.
James Brown Live at the Apollo (1962)
Ray Charles Live in Concert (also 1962)
A bonus suggestion, from 1964, is Bo Diddley’s Beach Party. The sound is a bit muddy, but it’s a good demonstration of Bo in his pomp.
Banged on about this for years with little traction….but I’ll say it again…
One More From The Road by the mighty mighty Lynyrd Skynyrd is a thing of heft and beauty. Three guitarists in perfect precision. Tighter, and looser, than Zep ever were…shhhhhh
Also…Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue Tour on the Bootleg Series set with Ronson playing lead guitar
The Jam’s Fire & Skill Box Set, especially the Newcastle City Hall set
Springsteen’s Live in Dublin CD with the Seeger Sessions Band. Astounding
Plenty of traction here 6D!
One of these days someone will actually listen when I once again say that Taj Mahal’s “The Real Thing” is the best live album ever and that every home should have a copy. But I doubt it will be today. Unless you click this video and listen for 18+ minutes:
I have a copy, because of you. Damn fine album too.
Indeed – a very good album – and this track never fails to cheer me up. Include whistling solo, a frantic tuba and arhythmic clapping – everything you need from a live track.
Oh yes – I’ve actually toyed with the idea of playing this track (Ain’t gwine…) on my funeral (but I’ve hopefully got another 50 years left to decide!) I can see the guests grooving in the pews to it, smiling through the tears… 😀
And thanks, @Tiggerlion – sometimes I think I’m just muttering to myself here…I’m happy that someone’s been listening! And glad you like it.
I’m still the official Taj Mahal ambassador to the site, you know – I’m obliged to nag about it!
Another one I’ve never heard but will absolutely check out based on that recommendation @locust – sounds right up my Boulevard.
Result!
Link Wray’s 1979 album ‘Live At The Paradiso’ is by far his best LP, in my view. Alas, there’s not a single track from it on YouTube. But here he is around the same time on TV:
A curious case, Link Wray…he basically built an entire career out of one instrumental tune, albeit one of seminal importance – Pete Townshend said he would never have picked up a guitar had it not been for Wray.
Then in 1971 he went and produced an amazing lo-fi album in his shed that was funky, swampy – and full of vocals. Well worth a listen if you’ve never heard it.
BTW Colin, not sure if you’re a Spotify person or not, but a couple of live tracks from 1963 have surfaced, recorded at Cornell University of all places – Run Chicken Run and Rawhide. Pretty fine.
I do indeed have the terrific lo-fi Link albums from the early 70s – that one on vinyl plus two sets of CD comps, inc the recent Ace Records ‘complete’ upgrade of the three LPs plus single edits. Some hugely memorable songs on the first LP especially – La Di Da, Taildragger… terrific!
But the Paradiso album is a killer ‘modern technology’ recording of his key 50s-60s tracks, inc Run Chicken Run, Rawhide etc.
Television’s ‘The Blow Up’: bootleg sound quality, but the best document of the group playing at their punk-improv peak.
Only Fall fans could like Totale Turns, but it has the the finest versions of some early singles.
@Pessoa wasn’t Blow Up in fact a bootleg? I had it on commercially produced cassette .
I have a vinyl copy that was bought in a chain record shop. Think it is one of those where the licencing has always been a bit slack and people knock out a fresh batch every so often.
Television Live At The Old Waldorf is from roughly the same time as The Blow Up, but much better sound quality.
The answer as usual is David Bowie
“Stage”
There are those albums you listen to regularly now
Van: Too Late
Santana: Lotus
Those albums played less but still love
T/Heads :Making Sense
Lou Reed “RnR Animal
Rory Gallagher: Europe
Jarrett: Koln
Johnny Winter And Live
Who: Leeds
Compilations :Last waltz and Woodstock
Oooh forgot Rory. Kill me now. But I’d go Irish Tour. Or preferably both!
Just been playing the Live in Europe album and most enjoyable it is too. Especially loud
Re: Santana – “Lotus”
Yeah, that’s great, and nowadays you can get it for a fiver or something.
I think that when it was first released, it was a huge ornate triple album on Japanese import only, which cost about a month’s salary for desperate Santana fans.
Yes I demurred on release but picked up a pretty good second hand copy of the original japanese pressing for 20 bucks Aussie.
Ignoring those already mentioned, ‘Play’ by Magazine.
‘Play’ by Magazine.
Oh yes. Devoto: “This is a song with real … moral fibre”
Good stuff.
Gets a vote from me too.
Usual suspects:
Van Morrison – It’s too late…
Allman Brothers – Fillmore East
Humble Pie – Performance
But also:
Dixie Chicks – Top of the world
Van Morrison – A night in San Francisco
Rufus and Chaka Khan – Stompin’ at the Savoy
Herbie Mann – At Newport
Tower of Power – Soul Vaccination
Isley Brothers – Groove with you – live
Kenny Barron/Charlie Haden – Night and the city
John Coltrane – Afro Blue Impressions
Good to a shout for Van in San Fran. I’d have to agree that Too Late is the ‘better’ album, but this is the one I reach for more often.
I like both but I would go for San Fran first I think.
Could I add My Morning Jackets’s Okonokos and the Dylan Unplugged album both favourites of mine.
Not sure about the Dylan unplugged, or the Clapton, or the Young, but the 10,000 Maniacs one is a thing of great beauty
ok.. not my fave live album but my fave Yes record.. I give you.. Yessongs
Elvis again. That’s the Way It Is (1970? I think)
Ok, so only half the tracks are live the rest are studio, but still… this was the album where I “got” Elvis.
Patch It Up is my all time favorite rocker, but the best moment on the album is Bridge Over Troubled Water where he croons “I’d get down on my knees for you” then shouts “…if this suit weren’t too tight!”
Brilliant.
errrr…. of course I meant You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
It’s been said before (by me ) but ‘Curtis Live’ must not go unmentioned, also
‘Donnie Hathaway – Live’ – both are club dates, warm & intimate, that really make you wish you’d been there.
Also for sheer exuberance, ‘John Coltrane – One Up, One Down’ is fab -when you’re in the mood, gets rid of those cob webs like little else.
Amen! The pinnacle of live soul those two albums. How about Aretha topping the bill the same night as the Curtis album? Or Amazing Grace?
Whither Bill Withers? His Carnegie Hall album, that is.
It’s good but not that great.
I’ve just realised that Junglejim isn’t referring to King Curtis Live At Filmore West but to Curtis Mayfield. Mayfield’s is magnificent but the King’s is even better. Aretha was at Filmore the same night. You can get both albums packaged together.
Top five live Soul albums:
Sam Cooke at The Harlem Square Club
Aretha Franklin Live At Filmore West
James Brown Live At The Apollo
King Curtis Live At Filmore West
Donny Hathaway Live
Another vote for Donnie Hathaway Live.
Also Moonflower by Santana. I always found their earlier stuff sounded a bit tame when recorded in the studio, but the band is on fire on this album and the versions are far more jazz fusion thanks to the more sophisticated keyboard parts.
Seconds Out – Genesis. I wish I could have seen them live in the seventies.
I’m not a Genesis fan but their first live album is great.
A few bootlegs have been mentioned, so I’m going to recommend Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band and the set recorded in Malmo, May 11th 1999.
It’s not just a great performance, with excellent sound, but may just abut be my favourite Steve Earle album
A couple of hard rock classics not mentioned yet
UFO – Strangers In the Night (a master class in scorching electric guitar from Michael Schenker)
Ted Nugent – Double Live Gonzo (ditto)
My nominations for best live album would be:
Bob Marley’s “Live!”
Talking Heads’ “Stop Making Sense” (“The Name of This Band is Talking Heads” is very good, too)
Dr. Feelgood’s “Stupidity.”
SAHB’s “Live”
Van the Man’s “Too Late to Stop Now”
Little Feat “Waiting for Columbus”
Graham Parker “Live at Marble Arch”
but my all time favorite, which is cheating because it’s not really a live album at all, is Tom Waits’ “Nighthawks at the Diner.”
Top Ten albums recorded live at The Village Vanguard:
1. John Coltrane – Live At The Village Vanguard Master Takes
2. Bill Evans Trio – Waltz For Debby
3. Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra – All My Yesterdays
4. Sonny Rollins – A Night At The Village Vanguard
5. Art Pepper – Friday Night At The Village Vanguard
6. Bill Evans Trio – Sunday At The Village Vanguard
7. Brad Mehldau Trio Live
8. Mao Waldron – The Seagulls Of Kristiansund
9. Chucho Valdés – Live At The Village Vanguard
10. Paul Motian – Lost In A Dream
Any love for Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen or Delaney & Bonnie & Friends On Tour With Eric Clapton?