Best live album you've ever heard?


This is certainly inspired by the album that is kickin' it very LOUD here. I have many many live albums by every one from A-Z, but NONE come close to this one except Johnny Winter And Live, or the Allman Brothers Live at Fillmore East. The Stones' Get Your Ya Ya's Out has to be the best live rock'n'roll album ever. God bless Mick Taylor. I live in a concrete block house, and it is still shakin'. If any of you know of a better live recording than these, please fill me in. Thanks, Tom
trich727

Genesis - Second's Out and Three Sides Live

Over the years I tended to like the live versions of most of the songs until they started to have to step the pitch down as Phil got older. Also there was an introduction of some off vocal effects.

But Second's Out stands the test of time very well.

I concur with many of the listings here. Over the years I've worn out many a copy of CSNY 4 Way Street, and Little Feat Waiting for Columbus!

As for listing the Band The Last Waltz... I've hear it a number of times, seen the movie, and even a live improvisation of it up in Portsmouth NH, and I've loved the collection of guests involved. However- given the opportunity I would listen to the Band Rock of Ages anytime over the Last Waltz. I've also enjoyed Phil Collins Live, as I got to see him and the band up in Montreal back in 1990 for The Serious Hits Live Tour.

Some good ones on here already. I'd add the Allman Brothers, but not the one you're thinking - I like the live tracks on Eat a Peach even more than the ones on At Fillmore East. (Though that one's no slouch either.)
Diana Krall Live in Paris (DVD) is very nice too.
To clarify, "Tea Party" also has some great moments, particularly Vol II which I've been told features Joe Walsh, as well as Peter Green, et al. However, these performances are pre Buckingham Nicks. I know that many folks here prefer the earlier lineup and the blues/rock material of the earlier Mac, but IMHO, Buckingham towers above that. Again, just MHO.

Marty
CD Universe lists the following.
1: Live AT the Boston Tea Party Vol 1 * 2003
2: Live AT the Boston Tea Party Vol 2 * 2003
3: Live IN Boston *2004
4: Live @ Boston Tea Party 4LP *2009
* I assume this 4LP set is the two CD's from 2003 on 4LP's
Quanmer

I believe only one is courtesy of Buckingham. It's the recent CD & double DVD set

Regards

Marty
Marty, there are 3 Mac's "live in Boston" , could you specify which Vol. are you referring to?
I'll add a couple of recent additions, both courtesy of Lindsey Buckingham. His solo "Live at Bass Hall" and Fleetwood Mac's "Live in Boston". Both are beautifully recorded collections of (IMHO) fantastic rock songs perfomed by monster bands.

The Mac in Boston disc should dislodge the notion that this band went soft and corporate when Buckingham and Nicks signed on. It gets absolutely ferocious when Buckingham's guitar takes center stage.

Marty
Another Vote For:
1. Jethro Tull / Bursting Out
2. Alice in Chains / Unplugged
3. Allman Bros / Fillmore East
4. Little Feat / Waiting For Columbus
5. David Bowie / Live at the Tower

And want to add:

6. Grover Washington Jr. / Live at the Bijou
7. Al Jarreau / Live in Europe (from the late 70's - awesome scat !!!)
8. The Outlaws / Bring em Back Alive
9. Allman Bros Band / Wash the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas

Bootlegs of Midnight Oil in London, The Clash in Jamaica and Neil Young and Booker T and the MGs in Belgium. Most official live albums are a piece of shite. Soundboards are the way to go!
I agree with many of the above suggestions, but didn't see Keith Jarrett's "The Koln Concert" or Neil Young's "Live At Massey Hall." I could have missed them somewhere along the line, but they are worthy of mention.

Happy Listening!
Friday Night in San Fransisco Live by Paco De Lucia, John McLaughin, and Al Di Meola, best live instrumental CD.
Friday Night in San Fransisco Live by Paco De Lucia, John McLaughin, and Al Di Meola, best live instrumental CD.
Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour (live).
Buy it, load it, crank it ... don't forget to leave the porch light on for the cops.
Lots of great performances listed but I missed seeing Allman Brothers "Live at The Fillmore East". Not a dog on the 2-lp set.
Wow, it's been 3 years since I first suggested Johnny Winter And Live on this thread, and I see it's still meeting agreement with some. How I failed to include Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys is beyond me, absolutely great. And I would think by now, Jimi's set at Maui for the Rainbow Bridge movie is out officially. The live uncut version of Hey Baby/Land Of The New Rising Sun is great! 35 years later I still miss what Jimi was giving us. A bunch have tried, but no one has matched Jimi when he was into it. As for Johnny, most don't recognise Progressive Blues Experiment as a live album, but it was actually recorded live on stage at the Vulcan Gas Company, with no audience. For a small Texas label called Sonobeat, which pressed a hundred or so copies in 1968 before being sold to Liberty Records in 1969. The new remaster on Capitol (CD) is excellent, and far superior to previous releases by numerous labels. I highly reccomend this remaster to anyone who likes Johnny. Tom trich727
Procol Harum - Live with the Edmonton Symphony - Stellar versions of Conquistador and Salty Dog!...Everyone who has heard this album (at my place) agrees with this assessment. Outstanding performance...
Mahalia Jackson's "Live at Newport 1958" still gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it. Little Feat's "Waiting for Columbus", Bob Marley's "Live" of 1976 and Wes Montgomery's "Smokin at the Half Note" are some of my other favourites.
Absolutely. They got this one so right -- spacious, dynamic, tonally balanced. I think this ranks right on up there.
I agree w/the previous Alice In Chains fans. It's depressing as you can get, but phew, depressing music has rarely sounded better on CD. Two thumbs way up.
Well to name a few; John Mayall Turning Point.
(extended re master)
Humble Pie Live at the Filmore East
(classic vinyl 200 gram pressing)
Miles Davis Live at the Blackhack
(complete sessions box from Mosiac
Records 150gram.)
Charles Mingus Wonderland
Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsies
(Complete concert remaster.)
And of course Johnny Winter Live and The Allman Brothers Live at the filmore East are all performances that really sound good and sound like the musicians were having a good time.
Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane - Live at Carnegie Hall - a highpoint of Western music if there ever was one.
One great live album ... try Acoustic Alchemy's "Sounds of St. Lucia" ... great beginning-to-end CD, and "Flamoco Loco" (7:54), to cite just one track, will put a big smile on your face!
In re Richard Thompson at St Ann's

Are you referring to an early/mid '90's show with Mitchell Froom on keys and Danny Thompson on acoustic bass?

That was a wonderful show -BUT - I have to admit that I still prefer the "plugged in" performances. Nothing like RT the guitar hero.
Rich,

How did I ever manage to miss that?!

Crenshaw, Thompson and Dixon all fall on my very, very short list of favorites.

Thanks for the update - but it would have been a bit more useful 15 years ago!

Marty
Hi Marty:

"In Their Own Words" was for a time a monthly show at the Bottom Line and each month, for the most part, featured a new cast of songwriters. There was also a touring group of ITOW songwriters just after the show first premiered at the Bottom Line (1991). If memory serves me, Marshall Crenshaw, Richard Thompson, and Don Dixon (Marti Jones' husband) formed the core of that touring group. After about 35 or so Bottom Line shows, Vin Scelsa (WNEW & WFUV DJ and show moderator) called it a day (very bad case of stage fright) and the show limped along with a new moderator for a while longer and then stopped altogether. There were ultimately 2 CD's of ITOW show performances released in the 1993-4 timeframe.

Regards, Rich
Rarl

Did "In Their Own Words" tour with a fixed line-up?

I saw several ITOW shows (including the RT show - as good as it gets!), but my favorite featured Richard Barone of The Bongos and Marti Jones (who, BTW, has a great live disc called "Live at Spirit Square) among others.

N.B. a couple of other live recordings:

Zachary Richard's "Fatras- Live in Montreal" A very young Sonny Landreth on guitar.
Kid Creole's "Live" cd is no demo disc, but captures the spirit of a great live show (and anyone who's seen Kid Creole knows that his show is GREAT) better than just about any recording I know.
Definitely ,the Rolling Stones (Get yer ya ya"s out).Incredible amount of energy on tape,I only wish they released the whole concert.I was there and it was magic for about an hour and 40 minutes.Never forgot it.
Hello Surfgod,

No, missed the St Ann's shows. Acoustic artists tend to sound even that much better when in a church. Sounds like it was great.

Regards, Rich
Hello Rar1,
I was at the Carnegie show along with the bottom Line shows. ( Boy do I miss that place ) Did you ever see Rt at St. Anns. that is a beautiful 170 yr. old church on court st. in Brooklyn. What great acoustics.
I addition to many of the great recommendations above, also consider:

Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College

Hot Tuna, recorded live at the new orleans house, berkeley 1969

Rory Gallagher, BBC Sessions

Bruce Hornsby, Here Come the Noise Makers

Joe Bonamassa, A New Day Yesterday Live

Its hard to pick a 'Best' live album. Hot Tuna is excellent when I'm in a more laid back mood. This is an acoustic set recorded in a small club atmosphere. When I want something with raw energy, Joe Bonamassa, A New Day Yesterday Live never fails.
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense sounds great on any format, LP, CD and is even available on DVD).

A vote for Sam Cooke - Live at the Harlem Square Club as well, that Album is the "real deal".
Don't know about the best, though a few that i do enjoy
Donny Hathaway.Live
Bill Withers.Live at Carnegie Hall
Tom Waits.Nighthawks at the diner
King Curtis.Live at Fillmore West
Frank Zappa.Live at the Roxy
ditto on Johnny Winter and Band of Gypsy's
larry coryell-live at the village vanguard......the great jazz trio-live at the village vanguard.....the rolling stones-get your ya ya's out....in that order.......top talent at the top of their game
Keith Jarrett's Whisper Not or At the Blue Note.

Or Bill Evans' Waltz for Debby or Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Dead Can Dance's 'Toward the Within'. Lisa Girard is a fave of mine and her talents are much on display in that recording. I also like Jethro Tull's 'Bursting Out'.
Band of Gypsy's by Jimi Hendrix- I purchased a Audio Tecnica 1/2 speed master and to this day it is the best sounding Live recording in my collection as far as RocknRoll is concerned.
For jazz it has to be my Mosiac boxed set on 150 gram Vinyl of Miles Davis The Complete BlackHawk Sessions. It even sounds better than the original pressing of Volume one i found in a box of records at the County Fair in Northern California in the summer of 83 for 35 cents..
Stanley Clarke & Friends "Live At The Greek". Excellent recording. His 'friends' are Larry Carlton, Billy Cogham, Deron Johnson, & Najee