View Full Version : Best live album ever?
metalman 09-10-2005, 21:35 What makes a great live album? Which is your favourite and why?
In my view it's the extra degree of freedom that the live album gives a band. Some bands strive too hard to reproduce the exact sound of their studio tracks in a live environment without changing a note, with the result that the live track sounds exactly like the studio one (Rush, for example, have always been prone to fall into this trap). If you ask me that's not what a live album is all about.
What we really want: tracks that sound spontaneously differentl, extra 15-minute guitar solos dotted about in every track, a drum solo, a bit of improvisation and so on. And some live atmosphere.
So bearing that in mind, some of the ones that I still listen to a lot are:
Made in Japan by Deep Purple
On your feet or on your knees by Blue Oyster Cult
Live by Curved Air
Space Ritual by Hawkwind
Playing the Fool by Gentle Giant
Live at Fillmore East by the Allman Brothers
Any thoughts?
not a great fan of live albums. Would have to be Nirvana MTV Unplugged for me.
Originally posted by metalman
What makes a great live album? Which is your favourite and why?
In my view it's the extra degree of freedom that the live album gives a band. Some bands strive too hard to reproduce the exact sound of their studio tracks in a live environment without changing a note, with the result that the live track sounds exactly like the studio one (Rush, for example, have always been prone to fall into this trap). If you ask me that's not what a live album is all about.
What we really want: tracks that sound spontaneously differentl, extra 15-minute guitar solos dotted about in every track, a drum solo, a bit of improvisation and so on. And some live atmosphere.
So bearing that in mind, some of the ones that I still listen to a lot are:
Made in Japan by Deep Purple
On your feet or on your knees by Blue Oyster Cult
Live by Curved Air
Space Ritual by Hawkwind
Playing the Fool by Gentle Giant
Live at Fillmore East by the Allman Brothers
Any thoughts?
the allman brothers album is exellent not one of the best but still good
other good live albums are
ufo- strangers in the night
rush -exit stage left
iron maiden - live after death
deep purple - made in japan
but my best one of all time would have to be
motorhead - no sleep til hammersmith
ive a funny feeling im going to be adding to this thread a lot:)
mr.blaze 10-10-2005, 00:03 Originally posted by robbie
not a great fan of live albums. Would have to be Nirvana MTV Unplugged for me.
I'll second that!
Tubthump 10-10-2005, 00:46 I like the Spiritualized live lp. It captures them at the peak of their powers.
sugarnspice 10-10-2005, 11:07 Originally posted by robbie
not a great fan of live albums. Would have to be Nirvana MTV Unplugged for me.
Yes I was going to say the same actually. :)
superted666 10-10-2005, 12:23 Gonna go a bit non mainstream here but NIN - all that could of been i thought was awosme
Its a toss up between Iron Maiden Live After Death or Metallica S&M....
EDIT:
Nirvana Live In Rome '94 2nd place
Nirvana Unplugged 3rd
:headbang: :headbang:
freelines 10-10-2005, 12:49 WHAT'S THE STORY (MORNING GLORY) - OASIS 1994
Agent Gypo 10-10-2005, 12:58 Joy Division - Still
Joy Division - Peel Sessions
New Order - Peel Sessions
The Fall - Peel Sessions
Nine Inch Nails - And All That Could Have Been
I've got some great Squarepusher and Aphex Twin live sets too, though none of them were released as albums.
Bisonic_Man 10-10-2005, 14:29 I'd have to agree with Nirvana Unplugged. It marked a genuine development in their sound, and I think allowed a lot of people who would previously have been alienated by the rawness and loudness of their other stuff to realise just how good they were. It also just must have been an incredible gig to attend.
Bob Marley and the Wailers Live! This gig in London in 1975 caught singer and band at the height of their powers (the Wailers are amazingly tight on the recording) and spawned the live version of No Woman No Cry which totally superseded the recorded version and made the song immprtal.
Johnny Cash's live albums at Folsom Prison and San Quentin Prison. The perfect meeting of performer and audience.
James Brown's first Live at the Apollo album. The band are on fire and no-one has ever worked an audience up like JB does here on anything I've ever heard.
Bob Dylan at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1966. The electric half of the set is what everybody talks about, but the accoustic half was amazing too. Genius. See also the 1964 New York one.
Simon and Garfunkel in New York, 1967. (Sorry, I was only going to mention a couple of albums but seem to be getting a bit carried away). Just one guitar and two voices; none of the studio experimentation of the studio albums which was just distracting imho. Pitch-perfect harmonies, faultless guitar playing (apart from at the end of the last song where he takes the **** by deliberately playing wrong notes) and great songs. What more do you want The atmosphere is hushed and reverential, but no less electric.
Radiohead, I Might be Wrong. Actually taken from three separate gigs. The version of Everyting in its Right Place is phenomenal and the breathtaking Like Spinning Plates makes you wonder why they chose to undermine the song on the album version.
Dusty in Memphis. What a voice! What a performer!
Okay, I'm spent.
Ghosthunter 10-10-2005, 19:24 Pink Floyd - Pulse
2 cd's of pure bliss............sends shivers down my spine!!
Ousetunes 11-10-2005, 10:08 Wings Over America (1976) - a triple album/double CD.
Wings' best line-up playing Wings' best choons (Silly Love Songs, My Love, Rockshow, Hi Hi Hi, Band On The Run, Jet etc) with a few Beatles numbers thrown in (Yesterday, Blackbird, I've Just Seen A Face) and McCartney, aged 34 singing in his best rock voice.
The production sounds a bit 'lacking' these days (a bit flat, especially the drums, it would benefit from a total remix).
This was Wings at their height, Macca the true showman, composer, performer and vocalist. When Wings and McCartney did it, they did it and pretty much set the precendent for all future round-the-world tours.
Oh, and Linda was on polymoog (complete with Play In A Day And With One Finger song-book). Class (!)
Chris_Sleeps 11-10-2005, 10:29 http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000025192.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Originally posted by Ghosthunter
Pink Floyd - Pulse
2 cd's of pure bliss............sends shivers down my spine!!
Seconded!
Originally posted by Ghosthunter
Pink Floyd - Pulse
2 cd's of pure bliss............sends shivers down my spine!!
Gets my vote aswell. I was lucky enough to see the concert in Cologne and it was absolutely amazing!:cool:
Another good one is Roger Waters - The Wall live in Berlin :thumbsup:
Live and Dangerous - Thin Lizzy
No Contest:clap:
Originally posted by Ghosthunter
Pink Floyd - Pulse
2 cd's of pure bliss............sends shivers down my spine!!
thats another live album i like disc 2 when they do the entire dark side of the mood album always sends a shiver down my spine , does anyone remember when the album first came out it came in a box with flashing lights at the side mine lasted 3 years :)
some more live albums i like
cheap trick - live at budokan
genesis - 3 sides live
ozzy osbourne - speak of the devil
rolling stones - still life
scorpions - tokyo tapes
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Lynyrd Skynyrd - One more for the road
Great album but worth 15 quid just for 14 minutes of Freebird
Thats right, 14 minutes of Freebird
Can only be Bursting Out the seminal Jethro Tull album
the_rudeboy 14-10-2005, 11:13 Chili Peppers in Hyde Park. :thumbsup:
40summat 14-10-2005, 14:56 Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous for me too.
Also Ted Nugent - Double Live Gonzo
miniminch 14-10-2005, 17:21 Everything Everything - Underworld
StarSparkle 14-10-2005, 17:34 I've two equal favourites:
a) Manics "Street Preaching"
b) Stiff Little Fingers "Hanx!"
Superlative.
StarSparkle :)
Originally posted by miniminch
Everything Everything - Underworld
ive got that one but its on dvd , dont no if the albums shorter or longer tho
:thumbsup:
bensonhedges 14-10-2005, 18:28 Whitesnake - Live in the heart of the city - I'm still listening to it over 20 years after buying it
Originally posted by bensonhedges
Whitesnake - Live in the heart of the city - I'm still listening to it over 20 years after buying it
ahh i like that one as well its a good reminder of what whitesnake where like before they went all big hair etc
Originally posted by owlsman
Its a toss up between Iron Maiden Live After Death or Metallica S&M....
Seconded!
the best live album is bob dylan at budokan. he performs pritty much all his best songs. i erge any new bob dylan fans like myself to get it.
darkavenger 16-10-2005, 22:34 the best album i have ever brought is blink 182 take ur pants off and jacket
RodimusPrime 17-10-2005, 15:22 Originally posted by davros1
the best live album is bob dylan at budokan. he performs pritty much all his best songs. i erge any new bob dylan fans like myself to get it.
It's a strange one though, isn't it? Loads of reworked, 'calypso' versions of the classics. Some work better than others imo. I like the version of Don't Think Twice particularly.
If you're a new Dylan fan looking for live albums I'd recommend both the 1964 and 1966 live albums that have been released as part of the Bootleg Series. The 1964 one particularly shows a real sense of fun that he pretty much lost soon afterwards.
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