... Best Live Recordings ( other than Classical or Opera) on CD...


Hello to all...

I luv testing stereo equipment - and I think one of the best ways to tell just how resolving a recording is IF IT WAS RECORDED LIVE! ( not only how the music sounds, but how the ambience of the venue sounds, and if the clapping/hooting that happens sounds really real...)

What are your favorites? Please send suggestions... ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE DDD.

I'll start with one of my Favorites:
STOP MAKING SENSE: Talking Heads ( done DDD in the late 80's, remaster/reissued late 1999)
justvintagestuff
I should stress re the comment on "Luka" the real overload is when she is talking between songs, the sung vocal is actually much better located in the mix

Anyway here are some suggestions more in a more acoustic vein, from the very well known to the more unexpected
  • Bill Evans "Waltz for Debby". Run do not walk to buy this if you don’t already own it. My go to version is the Analog Productions 45rpm
  • Jacqui Naylor "East/West". Two full live sets of intelligent vocal jazz. Versions of "Once in a lifetime" and "My Funny Valentine" that will knock you off your seat
  • Jethro Tull "A Little Light Music". Tull unplugged, enough said, available on a nice 2lp set
For all my suggestions when available on LP that's generally my preference but the music and performances are much more important than the format. Frankly all of these suggestions will sound just great over Spotify
Check out Nils Lofgren, "Acoustic Live."  My favorite cut is 'Keith don't go' and 'Mud in your eye.'
Tito Puente's Golden Latin Jazz All Stars Live at the Village Gate is an incredible recording for the music and the quality. I used it as one of my test recordings when looking for new headphones.
For new fans of Cream, their Wheels of Fire double album sounds just as they did when I saw them in ’67 and ’68. A couple more of my favorite live albums are The Ventures On Stage (’65) and The Live Kinks (’67). The Kinks are just about the most fun live group I’ve ever seen (and one of the loudest I’ve ever heard. Ray’s Telecaster into a Hi-Watt stack is the most piercing sound I’ve ever had to endure!), along with NRBQ. Hey, another great live album! They have a few, but get one with Al Anderson still in the band.