Your top 3 most EMOTIONALLY intense live concerts, and top 3 EMOTIONALLY intense records.

I passed Steve Martin as he was coming out of the Classical Annex, musta been in the late-90’s. When our eyes met he smiled, with a "Yeah, it’s really me" look on his face. When I didn’t react, the look turned into one of embarrassment ;-) .

Has everone heard the one about Brian Wilson in the Pop store? I’m not sure what year it was, but I’m thinking the early-80’s. He asked to use the restroom, and when told there wasn’t one for customer use (c’mon man, it’s Brian!) he walked over to an end cap and whipped it out, peeing right there in the store. Kookoo!

I have an autographed poster of iconic German soprano Elizabeth Schwarzkopf on my wall. My wife was working at the classical annex at the time. Frau Schwarzkopf was at least in her late sixties. She was staying at a hotel below the Sunset Strip.  She walked up the steep hill to the store completely on her own for the autograph session. My wife says she simply showed up at the door. No escorts.

bdp -- oh yeah, I remember that story!

LIVE SHOWS:

Richard Thompson in the early eighties in a renovated church in Portland Maine. At the top of his game. A master... 

SRV, also in a small venue-- the State theater, in Portland-- around the same time period. This was after he'd cleaned up. With his attention freed from the drug-induced fog, he had so much more to put into the music. He spoke about his intention that his playing be a healing force and it certainly put me into a state of bliss. 

Dave Holland Quintet-- I saw them four times but a particular show at Yoshi's in the early 2000's comes to mind. Back then, if the second set wasn't sold out and you'd attended the first set, they'd let you into the second set for free. Named the best Jazz group in the world at one point by Downbeat, those guys could blow with a frenzy... this was when Billy Kilson was still on drums. That Yoshi's show was so much better than the live 2 CD set they eventually released. Wish I had a recording! 

RECORDS

Allman Brothers "Live at Fillmore East" 

Derek and the Dominos "Layla" 

Tie for third:

Big Brother "Cheap Thrills" 
Jimi Hendrix "Band of Gypsys" 
Otis Rush "So Many Roads"