Top 7 Live Albums
|
1. How The West Was Won - Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin was the greatest hard rock band on the planet. The term "heavy" was invented to describe them, and any band that has come since that dares to call themselves "heavy" must still bow to the mighty Zeppelin. Nothing exhibits the heaviness of Led Zeppelin like their live performances in their prime, and this is captured perfectly on their triple-disc live set "How The West Was Won". You can hear them at their loudest (Immigrant Song), their folksiest (Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp), and their most ridiculously self-indulgent (Whole Lotta Love and Dazed and Confused), and it will all make your jaw drop. Hard rock bands, this is the level you aspire to, but don't bother trying to reach it. You won't.
~ TheLizard
Black Dog
2. MTV Unplugged in New York - Nirvana
With their Unplugged session Nirvana shattered the world's opinion of what their 'sound' was. Where past albums and concert performances gave the impression that their angst-fuelled talent usually culminated in music that was very LOUD, this acoustic session proved that the pounding drums, heavy guitars and throbbing bass weren't amped up to drown out a lack of talent.
With not much more than an additional guitarist and a periodic cello, Cobain and co. lead the listener through eight reworked versions of their songs - most of which are only album tracks, three songs acknowledging their musical mentors and three songs that belonged to a little known guest band called the Meat Puppets - now most famous for being the band that had Nirvana cover its songs. It starts with a relatively obscure tune from their first album, and ends with a cover of a Leadbelly song that many regard as Cobain's finest vocal performance. listen to this album in a quiet room, turn the lights down low and you're with them - they're playing for you.
~ Levis
Pennyroyal Tea
3. 'Live' Bullet - Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
A lot of the music I was exposed to in my younger day was all due to my sister, who is 3 years older than me....When she bought this album, which she played constantly I absolutely loved it!..I never got a chance to see him in concert, but from what I've heard, he puts on quite a show....
~ Laurie
"Live Bullet" was recorded while Bob Seger was still just a regional artist. It was recorded in front of a hometown audience in Detroit, Michigan in 1976. With each song, you can feel the electricity, and the audience response building. It is probably one of the best examples of the spirit that was felt at a 1970's era rock concert. The album, and the tour that followed, supporting the album, propelled Seger, and his Silver Bullet Band into international prominence. As an audience member at one of those concerts, I can say with assurance that the performance was easily the best I've ever seen. "Live Bullet" brings back memories of that time each and every time I hear it.
~ Lucky
Travelin' Man / Beautiful Loser
4. Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! - The Rolling Stones
When "Get Yer Ya-Ya´s Out" was released in September 1969, the bootleg album "Liver That you´ll Ever Be" (from the same tour, in their Oakland concert) was already a hit among the Stones lovers. An official live album was a must, as well as for the fans or as for the record company and the Stones themselves. They made a little gem. It was the first tour with Mick Taylor.
The album was recorded in the Maryland and New York shows and it reached #1 in the UK and #6 in the US charts. By then, they were already preparing the "Sticky Fingers" album and you can find on this live record some their best performances: "Stray Cat Blues" (thrilling version), Johnson´s "Love In Vain" or the all-times classics "Sympathy For The Devil", "Honky Tonk Women" or "Street Fighting Man". As well as some rockings "Carol" or "Little Queenie".
At least, The Rolling Stones had their official live and excellent album; "Get Live If You Want It", live LP released in the US in 1966 was a bit tricky; recorded live but with some screams and special effects added in the studio)
~ Edna
Carol, Little Queenie
5. Live at Leeds - The Who
If someone asked me to define rock for them, I'd hand them a copy of Live At Leeds and send them on their way. Firstly, there’s the songs themselves. Half of them may be covers, but after they’ve been given this distinctive Who treatment, you’d think they were written just for this performance. And the songs written by Pete Townshend take on a life of their own – My Generation, which was split into six different tracks on the Canadian release, manages to reprise almost the entire career of the band in fifteen minutes, and Substitute and Magic Bus don’t have that much in common anymore with the comparably tame studio recordings.
Then there’s the sound. This album manages to blow you away with the sheer loudness and power that’s being created by only three instruments – The Who were not the loudest band on the planet for nothing. Manic drumming that doesn’t seem to follow any rules and a bass that makes the floor vibrate and drowns everything else out may be out of place in other bands, but together with Pete Townshend’s guitar playing it works a magic that almost never fails. And amazingly enough, Roger Daltrey can definitely hold his own and make himself heard over this ongoing explosion of sound – you really don’t want to be an ‘old man’ crossing his path when he belts out the lyrics to Young Man Blues.
But rock is also about fun. Listening to later versions of the album which feature many more songs, you get treated to a lot of band and audience banter, but even listening to Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend trying to negotiate the price of the Magic Bus on the original version, you can tell that they're not just doing this because they have to.
And that’s what makes Live At Leeds such a great recording. Do you need any more reasons for why this is the greatest live album of all time?
~ The Seeker
Tommy
6. Frampton Comes Alive! - Peter Frampton
This is the one that propelled Peter Frampton into megastardom. It was my first Frampton experience, and easily slipped right into the annals of music history for me. There is something about the songs on this album that play so much better live than on studio albums, and the talk box Frampton used on some songs made them seem a whole different dimension.
"Frampton Comes Alive" is another great example of the '70's era rock concert, the wild abandonment and the connection between artist and audience. In those days it was a joint affair, the audience contributing as much to the show, as the headliner. Prior to "Frampton Comes Alive" , Peter Frampton had enjoyed minimal success to say the least. All that changed in 1976, with the release of this breakthrough album, which spent 97 weeks on the Billboard 200. As of today's date, Frampton Comes Alive is the 4th bestselling album of all time! Not too shabby for a guy that never even had a hit single. I distinctly remember hearing "Do You Feel Like We Do" the very first time. The talk box, which hadn't been used widely to that point, sucked us in, and made the song irresistible. The same is true for the rest of the album, with "Baby I Love Your Way" and "Show Me the Way" being the other two songs that shot Peter Frampton into superstardom.
~ Shawna
Show Me the Way
7. Live Rust - Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Well what can I say about Mr. Neil Young & Crazy Horse....I probably could go on and on, but basically he is just one cool talented guy, who has been around for quite awhile and has done it all...I'm not real big on buying live albums, but this one was a must....Whether it's "one note Neil" on the electric guitar, or the mellow Neil on acoustic, it's all good...And he definitely can play the heck out of one note that's for sure!...And lyric wise, he's one of my favorite singer/songwriters....I did get a chance to see Neil Young & Crazy Horse in '79...Excellent concert.
~ Laurie
Like a Hurricane
These were selected by the Songfacts community in the Songfactor's Choice forum. Check it out and feel free to vote in the next topic.
|
Browse Songfacts by Title:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
#
Browse Songfacts by Artist: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
46 Comments:
why isnt metallica's S&M on this list!?!?!?!?!!??!!!?!?!!!!
unbelieveable!bxs
3 words:
HOT
AUGUST
NIGHT
It's not the highest selling album in Australia for number 8?!
I can almost hear the collective eyes rolling now, but "Elvis Live from Madison Square Garden" is one of the great concert albums of all time. And I also second "Hot August Night"
What the hell?!?!?
No KISS Alive?
While we're all griping about live albums not here, how 'bout Johnny Cash - Live at Folsom Prison?
what no allman brothers live at the fillmore east
and what about bruce and e street band?
and what about bruce and e street band?
TED NUGENT-Double Live Gonzo!
The list of the "all time" greatest live albums is missing some great music from some great bands. Allman Brother's One Way Out comes to mind. I think that Zep was a great band just not THE greatest ever. To be the best ever certainly is subjective but I agree with Norman and Ed and especially Steve. Bruce is one of the greatest showmen ever. Peace.
"MagicDave"
Why isn't Lou Reed's Rock'n'Roll Animal on here?
Why isn't Keith Jarrett's Koeln Concert on here?!
Why isn't Bob Dylan's Albert Hall Concert on here?!?!
If Cobain wasn't dead Nirvana would not be on this list. And I think that Rush's Exit...Stage Left deserves to be on the list more than Nirvana, the others on the list are very solid choices when it comes to just general rock.
what about iron maiden's live after death?
Seven is definitely a way-too-small number for this. While all of these are definitely great live albums, perhaps some of the greatest, it is impossible to please anywhere near everyone because there are simply too few spots for all of the greatest live albums.
What about James Brown? What about the Allman Brothers? What about the Grateful Dead? Three artists right there that were absolutely *defined* by great live albums.
Oh yes, Rust Never Sleeps is superb dirge noise!! I'm not a real big fan of either Young or Eric Clapton, but Clapton's double, think the title is Just One Night, was a big deal back then in high school, too.
Wildcard would be Grand Funk Railroad Caught In The Act. Crank that up and Led Zep's blooze might not seem so lofty.
I highly agree with this list. A few additions possibly but these all make the top 10 cut easily. +1 rep
No "Made In Japan" by Deep Purple?
It was good until I found out there's no "Made In Japan", then it failed.
I agree with Nick. Leaving out "Made in Japan" makes me question the author's musical knowledge. If The Who's "Live at Leeds" hadn't been included here, I would've dismissed this article as nonsense.
Then again, one has to wonder why Kiss's "Alive" album wasn't mentioned. Upon its release, almost every 16 year-old kid owned a copy.
get segar off the list,johhny cash or kiss should be on the top 7
Personally I love Wings Over America.
what about "UFO-Strangers In The Night" by far the best rock guitar live album ever -Michael Schenker at his best!!
Could it be that it's simply not possible to just have a list of seven? A Top Twenty list would run less of a chance of leaving out all the good ones.
Funny how nobody's mentioned bootlegs ;)
Could it be that it's simply not possible to just have a list of seven? A Top Twenty list would run less of a chance of leaving out all the good ones.
Funny how nobody's mentioned bootlegs ;)
Everybody here who posted comments is welcome to join the nominating and voting process. We change subjects about once a month. Just go to the message boards and scroll down to the songfactors music of choice and be a part of the proceedings.
Some glaring omissions. Granted we're only dealing with seven albums, but where were any one of these?
Springsteen "Live/1975-'85"
KISS "Alive!"
Allman Bros "At Fillmore East"
Cash "At Folsom Prison"
James Brown "Live at the Apollo"
Deep Purple "Made in Japan"
U2 "Under a Blood Red Sky"
Grateful Dead "Dicks Picks [any]"
AC/DC "If You Want Blood, You've Got It"
Simon & Garfunkel "Live in Central Park"
Of course there's lots more.
Say what you will about Cheap Trick, but At Budokan should really be on this list.
Little Feat- Waiting For Columbus
Jimmy Buffett- You had to be there
Wow. He shouldn't have stopped at 7--shoulda just listed 10 so he woulda had room for--
The Clash-From Here to Eternity Live
X-Live at the Whiskey a Go-Go
Elvis Costello Live at the El Mocambo
Wow. He shouldn't have stopped at 7--shoulda just listed 10 so he woulda had room for--
The Clash-From Here to Eternity Live
X-Live at the Whiskey a Go-Go
Elvis Costello Live at the El Mocambo
Well that's not a very good list. Leaving off a lot of classics. My personal favorites go like this
1) Live at Leeds - The Who
2) Stop Making Sense - Talking Heads
3) Hammersmith Odeon London '75 - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
4) Get Yer Ya Ya's Out - Rolling Stones
You left off other classics like James Brown, Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton and all Clapton projects. You gotta put more energy into these lists.
The greatest live album ever recorded was Little fat's Waiting For Columbus. The fact it's not on your list does two things: 1) It immediately robs your list of credibility; 2) it indicates that you're probably so young as to think that ANT Nirvana recording can TOUCH anything Lowell George did with Feat.
Perhaps everyone should post their own "Top 10". Then all the titles could be listed and a vote by the members to determine the "Official" Songfacts Top 5,10, or 20, etc. 'Greatest Live Albums Of All Time'.
OK My Top Ten:
1. No Sleep Till Hammersmith - Motorhead
2. How the West was won - Led Zep
3. Live After Death - Iron Maiden
4. Live at Leeds - The Who
5. The Jam (Live) - The Jam
6. If You Want Blood Youve Got It - AC/DC
7. Liveline - The Angels (Aussies - thies version of "Take A Long Line" has to be the defining moment of Australian live Rock - all credit to acdc but they will never match these boys as a live act)
8. Barking Spiders Live - Cold Chisel (Aussies)
9. ROnnie Lane Appeal for ARMS - Clapton, Beck, Page, Cocker, Widwood, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Woods, Mick Taylor, plus a host of other legends - not the best muscial offering from these greats but worth preserving for it moments of brilliance and genius that will never be heard again
10. Loud Plowed and LIVE - THe Beat Farmers (Needs a few beers to sound at its best).
THere are many great live acts that I havent listed simply because their live recordings do not do them justice or do not exist- especially the Aussies such as Rose Tattoo, Midnight Oil, Hunters and Collectors, The Radiators, Spy V Spy, Hoodoo Gurus, Noiseworks, The Choirboys, Swannee, Joe Camilliri, Richard Clapton to name a few.
Granted many good Albums have been mentioned, but many have not...
Black Sabbath ~ Live at Last
Kiss ~ Alive
Fleetwood Mac ~ Live
Dokken ~ Beast from the Esat
ColdPlay ~ Live 2003
Led Zeppelin ~ How the West was Won
NickleBack ~ Silver side up
Live at home
Rush Differant Stages ~ Live
Rush ~ Exit Stage Left
Rush ~ In Rio
Journey ! Live in Houston
1981 Escape Tour
Yes ~ In The Round Live {BootLeg}
Ac/Dc ~ Live with Bon Scott BootLeg
QueensRyche ~ Live Evolution
How about The Grateful Dead, Styx, Pink Floyd, Thin Lizzy, Santana, Paul McCartney, Metalica...
My feeling is, making up a list of top Albums is Moot, cause your not always not going to list someone that someone else likes more, and really...theres too many good ones to list..[these days as compared to the good ol' days, there aint too awful many "GOOD" groups anymore. Alot of the newer bands just don't have that sound and quality that bands did say,back in the 60's and 70's, even the 80's.
So you see, the music that was and is a part of each of our lives is from differant times and consits of differant tastes. There are a great many that we may or may not aggree that SUCKS !!!
If something tastes BAD you SPIT it OUT. People need to SPIT MORE. Help create a better selection of MUSIC, let's get Rid a the C'rap'.
Granted many good Albums have been mentioned, but many have not...
Black Sabbath ~ Live at Last
Kiss ~ Alive
Fleetwood Mac ~ Live
Dokken ~ Beast from the Esat
ColdPlay ~ Live 2003
Led Zeppelin ~ How the West was Won
NickleBack ~ Silver side up
Live at home
Rush Differant Stages ~ Live
Rush ~ Exit Stage Left
Rush ~ In Rio
Journey ! Live in Houston
1981 Escape Tour
Yes ~ In The Round Live {BootLeg}
Ac/Dc ~ Live with Bon Scott BootLeg
QueensRyche ~ Live Evolution
How about The Grateful Dead, Styx, Pink Floyd, Thin Lizzy, Santana, Paul McCartney, Metalica...
My feeling is, making up a list of top Albums is Moot, cause your not always not going to list someone that someone else likes more, and really...theres too many good ones to list..[these days as compared to the good ol' days, there aint too awful many "GOOD" groups anymore. Alot of the newer bands just don't have that sound and quality that bands did say,back in the 60's and 70's, even the 80's.
So you see, the music that was and is a part of each of our lives is from differant times and consits of differant tastes. There are a great many that we may or may not aggree that SUCKS !!!
If something tastes BAD you SPIT it OUT. People need to SPIT MORE. Help create a better selection of MUSIC, let's get Rid a the C'rap'.
Ya know, if you just visited the link mentioned in that little yellow box you see on top you would find out
a) there is no one 'author'
b) the list is based on a set of nominations put forward by songfacts members
c) those nominations are voted on by songfacts members
d) the votes are counted
e) a final list is put up
If you want to whine, go ahead... but head over to the forums and the people making the list will actually listen to you. No, you know what? Go TAKE PART! lazyboneses.
Why do people insist on posting negative comments without first reading how the list was compiled?
Why do people feel that hurling insults will make a difference, when in fact just joining in on the nominating/voting process certainly WOULD make a difference?!
Hey, naysayers and yeasayers alike, go to this link to see the voting and nominating process that resulted in this list. I think it will appease many of you. If not... get over it.
http://forum.songfacts.com/showtopic.php?tid/144444/
i was expecting P.U.L.S.E. bya certain band called Pink Floyd on this list
Gopal my dear,
I nominated P.U.L.S.E. and it didn't make it to the final 7, but came very close. It's a democratic system and I advise you to read how we put this top together in stead of click 'n post instantly.
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "One More For (From) The Road."
Why isn't Iron Maiden's "Rock in Rio" on here???????? or "Live After Death"??????
Favorite live R&R that I actually own or owned at one time:
Live Rust by Neil Young. 'Nuff said.
The Cream LP Wheels of Fire--Crossroads is live. I played it hundreds of times when I was a teenager.
Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Live in Barcelona(DVD) 6 months after 9/11--very intense.
Cheap Trick Live at Budokan.
Eagles: Hell Freezes Over. DVD and CD.
Humble Pie Rockin' the Fillmore
Good choices, Zeppelin at #1 definitely. Although I like "Song Remains The Same" better then HTWWW.
And Metallica deserves no spot in this list for sure, though Maiden is a close call.
how about this monster for a list !
1. Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsies
2. Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace
3. Yusef Lateef - Live at Pep's
4. Bob Seger - Live Bullet
5. Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour
6. The Allman Brothers - At Fillmore East
7. Eric Dolphy - At the Five Spot
8. Woodstock
9. Thin Lizzy - Live & Dangerous
10.Johnny Winter - Captured Live
11.James Brown - Live At The Apollo
12.The Who - Live At Leeds
13.Cream - Live Cream Vol. 1
14 Keith Jarrett - The Koln Concert
15.Jerry Lee Lewis - Live At The Star Club
16.Van Morrison - It's Too Late To Stop Now
17.Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison
18.Deep Purple - Made In Japan
19.The Rolling Stones - Get Yer Ya Ya's Out
20.Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive
21.AC/DC - If You Want Blood, You've Got It
22.Bob Marley & The Wailers - Live
23.Elton John - 11.17.70
24.The Grateful Dead - Live Dead
25.The Who - Live at Leeds
26.Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same
27.The Rolling Stones - Love You Live
28.Lynyrd Skynryd - One More For The Road
29.Grand Funk Railroad - Caught in the Act
30.Motorhead - No Sleep Til Hammersmith
31.Neil Young - Live Rust
32.U2 - Under A Blood Red Sky
33.Johnny Cash - At San Quentin
34.Bob Marley - Babylon By Bus
35.ZZ Top Fandango
36.joni Mitchell - Shadows and Light
37.Miles davis - Bitches brew
38.The Doors - Absolutely Live
39.Joe Cocker - Mad Dogs & Englishmen
40.Coltrane, Live at the Village Vanguard
41.Foghat - Live
42.Scorpions - Acoustica
43.Little Feat's Waiting for Columbus
44.The Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks Volume 4
45.Yes - Yessongs
46.Ten Years After - Recorded Live.
47.Pat travers band - Go For What You Know
48.Van Morrison - Live in San Francisco
49.Pat metheny - Travels
50.Queen - Live Killers
Paul
rockrevivaltripleh@blogspot.com
Post a Comment