Favourite live albums
As we’re on the topic of live albums…
Do you have a favourite (officially-released) live album?
A list of five would be nice.
I’d have to include Pink Floyd’s ‘P.U.L.S.E’, as well as ‘Delicate Sound of Thunder’, on my list. Neil Young’s ‘Rust Never Sleeps’ cannot be overlooked. The Beatles’ ‘Live at the BBC’ has numerous high points…
And this is where it starts to get difficult.
The Who sounded pretty damn good ‘Live at Leeds’. Nirvana would create one of few recent (well, it’s quite recent) classics when ‘Unplugged in New York’. But can anyone with ears really leave out Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock? Or Monterey? Or the Fillmore East, for that matter? And what of those two great showmen of the 20th century, James Brown (‘Live at the Apollo’) and Elvis Presley (‘In Person at the International Hotel’)?
Let’s see what you come up with. Five, if you can manage it, please. Official recordings only.
If you wish to continue the discussion in the chatroom, doors open tomorrow at 15:00 (UK).
1. Pink Floyd: Pulse
2. Metallica: S&M
3. The Who: Tommy Live
4. Roger Waters: In the flesh
5. Pink Floyd: The Wall
- Deep Purple: ‘Made in Japan’
- Pink Floyd: ‘Pulse’
- Peter Gabriel: ‘Plays Live’
- Queen: ‘Wembley 86′
- Nirvana: ‘MTV Unplugged in New York’
Michèle
Well, PULSE most definitely. Hm… I’m a big fan of 4 Way Street as well and Eva Cassidy’s Live at Blues Alley. All the others you mentioned, I would include in my own personal list, especially Live at Leeds. Well, and especially the Hendrix… Well, and especially the Neil Young…
Also, Benny Goodman Live at Carnegie Hall, Live at Fulsom Prison/San Quentin by Mr. Cash, Ellington at Newport, Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore East, and Clapton Unplugged.
When I was a kid, I listened to Sly and the Family Stone a lot (I still do) and I swear I remember my dad buying me a Sly live cassette from a pawn shop… Long gone now, and I cannot for the life of me remember what it was called. (Trying to remember music from my childhood is like trying to remember smells with your face in a cloud of cigarette smoke – “take me disappearin’ through the smoke rings of my mind, down the foggy ruins of time.”) My mom used to sing So Far Away to me… took so long to get it back.
["Blowing like a circle around my skull..." - FEd]
My five would have to be:
1.Pink Floyd – Is there anybody out there?
2.Pink Floyd – Pulse
3.Led Zeppelin – How the west was won
4.Neil Young – unplugged
5.Rush – Exit stage left
I’m sure that David’s upcoming Gdansk live cd would be on that list, had it been released already.
Have a good week everybody.
In alphabetical order and no repetition of the classics FEd mentioned.
- Jeff Buckley – ‘Live At Sin-é (Legacy Edition)’
(One man with a Blonde Fender Telecaster, reverb & clinking of glasses) RIP :-(
- Jimmy Page & Robert Plant – ‘No Quarter’
(No Comment ;-)
- Portishead – ‘Roseland NYC’
(Trip Hop & Orchestra = :-)
- Queen – ‘Live at Wembley ’86′
(with Nate on backing vocals… and a few others ;-)
- Neil Young & Crazy Horse – ‘Weld’
(‘Like a Hurricane’ just isn’t ‘Like a Hurricane’ unless it lasts for 14 minutes ;-)
[14 minutes isn't quite enough, is it? - FEd]
Great discussion FEd.
Bet everyone will struggle to name just 5. Will be checking up on this blog regularly to hear of any classic albums I may have missed.
Here’s my 5…… er, well I think so.
Pulse cos it also includes DSOTM live
Wish you were here
Tres hombres by ZZ Top
Led Zeppelin 2
Never mind the bollocks by the Sex Pistols
Picked these 5 because I could play them to death and never get bored of them.
This is really tricky, are you sure you didnt mean 50 albums?
[I'm absolutely sure. I could have been really mean and insisted that they're all concert recordings, rather than recordings for television, radio and such like, but then I'd have had to leave out one of my favourites. (And I'm sure that some smart-arse will tell me that these albums shouldn't even count.) - FEd]
1. Cream, Royal Albert Hall
2. The Allman Brothers, Live at Fillmore East
3. Band of Gypsys
4. Bob Dylan, Before the Flood
5. Pink Floyd, Pulse (of course….)
1- Pink Floyd-Pulse
2- Stagestruck-Rory Gallagher
3- 24 Nights-Eric Clapton
4- Irish Tour 74-Rory Gallagher
5- From Across The Pond-Robert Cray
Good one – but pretty hard once you get going. These are I think my Top 5, in that they’re the live albums I listen to most frequently (and in no particular order):
1) David Gilmour – Remember That Night
2) Thin Lizzy – Live and Dangerous
3) Thelonious Monk – Live at the IT Club
4) Benevento Russo Duo – Live at Bonnaroo 2005
5) Kool & The Gang – Live at the Sex Machine
It’s criminal what I’ve left out…but five is five, even though I’m missing out Led Zep’s “How The West…”, Rush’s “Moving Pictures” and countless Phish and Dead live albums. And I bet that the minute I hit the post button another five that I should have posted will pop into my head…
N
Fleetwood Mac ‘Live In Boston, Vol. 1′
‘Jumping at Shadows’, crawls up the back of your neck, and makes ya do ‘The Rattlesnake Shake’. No lie:)
Friends, I’ve had the privilege of seeing another guitar legend. Last night, my son Kameron and I, saw Mr. BB King perform at the Tennessee Theater, here in Knoxville. The theater was built in 1927 and is absolutely gorgeous. It has now been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Last night’s show was a fund raising event to help keep it open for another 75 years or so.
Before the show, there was a private auction for the VIPs, (very invested persons) one of which I am not. After a long period of waiting on the street, watching them sip their cocktails, the doors were opened to the rest of us HIPs (hardly invested persons), yes that’s me, so that we were able to attend a public auction before the show began.
I had never been to an auction before and boy was I excited. There was a replica of BB’s beloved Lucille on auction, and bids were flying in from all over the VIP section. After a couple of Jack Daniels and Coke, I was ready to shout my own bid…
…The guitar closed out at $15, 500, if I remember correctly, which is more than my car is worth.
After the auction, BB came out on stage where he was welcomed with a well deserved standing ovation. I was surprised and a little disappointed that he didn’t play Lucille very much. He told stories most of the time. He said that he couldn’t remember anything recently, except for the fact that he is 82, and that he suffers from an illness called ‘Need More’, which is why he keeps performing. He’s such a funny man. I reckoned that while he was talking he was conjuring up the energy he needed to play out those sultry solos he’s famous for.
During the times that BB played, he didn’t seem like an 82 yr old man, he appeared to be full of vim and vigor, just like always. Even though I didn’t get to hear my favorite song, ‘Sweet Sixteen’, I felt that I had witnessed something very special and will always be grateful that he came out and played for us.
It’s just too bad that my good experience was made less pleasant when this fella with his beautiful, long, curly black hair, walked in 10 minutes after the show started, stinking of gasoline and chewing tobacco, and sat right beside me, yuck, what a waste of such pretty hair:(
Fed, you’ve opened up a can of worms here.
Number 1 is without any hesitation Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s “Live Rust”. I got through my final session of uni with this album keeping me company during the all nighters. There is something extremely special about this album.
No. 2 & 3 is a tie between “Delicate Sound of Thunder” & “Pulse”. Recordings from the 1988 concerts at Wembley made up the majority of “Delicate Sound of Thunder” and, as I was there, it has special meaning to me.
No.4 The first live album that I ever bought was “Made in Japan” Deep Purple. What can I say?
Wilko
Todd Rundgren ~ Utopia Theme
Neil Young ~ Time Fades Away
Frank Zappa ~ You Can’t Do that on Stage Anymore Vol.1
Tubes ~ What do you want from Live
Richie Havens ~ Freedom (Woodstock)
Well, my Favorites are several but I’ll try to list the best:
1. Pink Floyd – PULSE
2. Dream Theater – SCORE
3. Led Zeppelin – Soundtrack From The Song Remains The Same
4. Genesis – Live Over Europe 2007
5. Pearl Jam – Live At The Gorge
So what do you think?
[Not bad. - FEd]
Well Fed, Pulse is a definite choice by far. One More Car One More Rider, Eric Clapton who’s 63 by the way today/yesterday, love “River of Tears” on that. Strat Pack with all those amazing acts except Ron Wood who spoiled an awesome evening. Stevie Ray Vaughn, Live at The El Macombo in Toronto and finally, haven’t seen it but would love to see a release of About Face. So I’ll choose Delicate Sound for now.
Sorry, had to throw another show in there.
My “live recording” listening experience is limited, but here we go…in no particular order:
Pulse – Pink Floyd
Shakira MTV Unplugged – Shakira
Mirrorball – Sara Mclachlin
Alicia Keyes Unplugged – Alicia Keyes
BBC Sessions – Led Zeppelin
I guess that’s pretty eclectic.
When deciding which landmark albums to include in a Top 5 Live Albums, one always has to ponder… how much of this was actually live… and how much was redone in the studio? That’s a tough call. It’s a shame we can’t list top live albums, officially released or not… because I could list several Pink Floyd shows from 1969-71… San Diego ’71… Rotterdam ’71… Fillmore West ’70… Hyde Park ’70… I could go on, but…
Top Five Officially Released Live Albums:
1: Band Of Gypsys – Jimi Hendrix… only 6 songs and the centerpiece, Machine Gun, is perfection!
2: Alchemy – Dire Straits… Perfect flow. Knopfler is superb throughout. Tunnel Of Love is a tour-de-force.
3: Live At Monterey – Jimi Hendrix Experience… Jimi introduces himself to America… and kicks its collective arse!
4: PULSE – Pink Floyd – Disc II is perfect. Disc I has some great moments. Would have preferred Disc I be Shine On followed by Division Bell…
5: Live Bullet – Bob Seger… great, early era Seger
ok, this should be easy (though I can probably name at least 10!). So, in no particular order:
1) Get Your Ya Yas Out – Rolling Stones
2) Young Vic live (included with new Whos Next) – The Who
3) Rust Never Sleeps – Neil Young and Crazy Horse
4) Live at the Boston Tea Party – Peter Green’s Fleet. Mac
5) Live on Two Legs – Pearl Jam
(honorable mention – The Jam – Live Jam / Bruce Springsteen live 1975-1984)
Darren
Great news about David’s live album – something to look forward to.
Hope everyone had a good weekend. This is my last week at my current job and I am looking forward to a little downtime before starting the next one.
5 Live Albums that I’ve revisited recently and really enjoyed.
1) P.U.L.S.E
2) Peter Gabriel Plays Live (especially Disc 2)
3) Supertramp – Paris
4) No Quarter – Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
5) Queen and U2 at Live Aid 1985
Cheers !
Nisha
PULSE (Pink Floyd)
Back in the US (Paul McCartney)
Scab Dates (The Mars Volta)
And All That Could Have Been (Nine Inch Nails)
Is There Anybody Out There? (Pink Floyd)
Nirvana’s Unplugged is a good one as well. I know Pearl Jam actually has a couple of good ones… especially the official bootlegs they released from the 2000 tour. Can’t really think of others that I’ve heard but those are my mentions there.
good topic Fed. not in order, for me:
Ummagumma
Pulse
Eva Cassidy @ the Blues Alley
Dire Straits – Alchemy
Eric Clapton – 24 nights
Deep Purple – made in Japan
The Band – the last waltz
Roger Waters @ Berlin
The Allman Bros band @the Filmore 71
(and the DG live @ Gdansk, I know it will be one of my favourites..)
have a nice week everyone,
ciao
emi
1) Pulse (Pink Floyd)
2) Minimum-Maximum (Kraftwerk)
3) Live aus Berlin (Rammstein)
4) Palast der Republik (Einstürzende Neubauten)
5) Devotional (Depeche Mode)
A lot of German people here, hahaha.
‘P.U.L.S.E’
Get Yer Ya-Ya’s out – The Stones
Frampton Comes Alive – Peter Frampton
Road to Hell & Back – Chris Rea
Live in Aught-Three – James Mcmurtry
An eclectic collection but five is too few to pick
Good morning FEd!
Very difficult, that thing. How many live albums of how many artist have been recorded? Thousands….. you can’t know them all.
I have a collection of nearly 500 CDs, and it contains some of my favorite live recordings:
-Ummagumma / Pink Floyd (my first contact with PF)
-Pulse / Pink Floyd (the LED is still flashing)
-Live at Leeds / The Who
-Just one night / Eric Clapton
-??? / Rory Gallagher (there are several live recordings, I don’t know which is my favorite, maybe that one from the Rockpalast-night in Essen, but it’s officially only on DVD)
Of course, there are some more, but hard to find these five.
Regards
Herbert
This one is a good one, i would go with.
The Who Live At Leeds
Is There Anybody Out There (Wall Live)
P.U.L.S.E
Heaven and Hell Live At New York (black sabbath/with Dio)
Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds Live
A live On An Island cd would be a nice addition to the collection
John
Hi FEd
My favourite albums are
1.P.U.L.S.E
2.On an Island
3.Metallica Black Album
4.Yngwie Malmsteen Marching Out
5.Guns & Roses Appetite For Destruction
1. PF; Ummagumma, June, 1969, (Disc 1)
2. PF; Is There Anybody Out There?, 1980
3. Allman Bros.; Live at the Fillmore East, 3_12&13_71 (SACD)
4. Neil Young; Live at the Fillmore East, 3_6&7_70
5.
Honourable Mention:
Otis Redding; In Person at the Whisky A GoGo, Spring 1966
Led Zeppelin; How The West Was Won, 6_25&27_72
Lynyrd Skynyrd; One More From The Road, 1977
Mahler Series, Michael Tilson Thomas & S.F. Symphony, (ongoing)
[You left a space for David's new one. Good. - FEd]
Well Fed, you pretty much mentioned my 5 live albums already however here is my list in no particular order
The Who – Live at Leeds
Pink Floyd – P.U.L.S.E
David Gilmour – Remember that night (does this count)
Hendrix at Woodstock
Wishbone Ash – Live Dates.
As other lists roll in i’m sure i’m going to wish i could revise this one but it’s the first five that come to mind on a Monday morning.
['Remember That Night' doesn't count, but just look at some of the posts above yours. Five, wasn't it? There's not much counting going on. - FEd]
The ones I always seem to find my way back to are:
Delicate Sound of Thunder – Pink Floyd
Recital Of The Script – Marillion
Live Baby Live – INXS
Unplugged – Neil Young
Live 93 – The Orb
(PS FEd, looks like fourth is all yours now – we just didn’t show up and play yesterday. Dismal performance, apologies to all who sat through and watched that dross).
[I think it would have been a different game had Cahill been playing, that's for sure. - FEd]
You’re not making it is easy with only 5, and offical ones at that!
Hmm let’s see, well..
The first live album i bought was in fact one you mentioned, Jimi Hendrix Live at Filmore East. I paid nearly £20 for this cd, and all that JUST for Machine Gun. As it turns out, it wasnt half bad
Bob Marley, Live at Lyceum, also one of my favourites.
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Famously Ziggy’s last concert, and as i am constantly reminded, my aunt was there.
So where are we now, three albums, two to go…
Does a dvd concert count as a live album? i shall assume it doesnt so i have to discount Mr Gilmour in concert…
Yes this is tricky indeed.
Ok lets pick an obvious one ‘in the fle… no wait.
PULSE obviously, as if i need to give you lot any reasons why?
So to the fifth, i think im going to go for David Bowie’s Stage. it has some of my most favorutie music on there – with that Live twist we all love.
hallo !!!! …
my favorite official live album is ”delicate of sound of thunder”…..
An excellent sound and incredible power !!!
Your great fan !!!!…ALEX
This question of best live albums leads me to a question i wanted to pose..
I was at a party recently, where i got chatting with a guy who was saying that live albums are just not that good unless you had actually been present at the particular concert. Personally i do not agree.
I find listening to music that i love, live, seems to bring a new level to it (sounds awful i know) perhaps level is the wrong word, but you know what i mean, the different arangements and eras in some cases that make the music effect you in different ways. Just looking at marooned for example i have heard many different versions, all slightly different but all superb.
So do you guys think it is important to have been at the concert to enjoy a live album?
[Nah, that's rubbish. - FEd]
Secret World Live; Peter Gabriel, great sphere, and for me first class musicians.
Live Start the Fire: RPWL a German band started as a Pink Floyd cover bad but when a close friend died they started to write and came with an WYWH stylis album; “As God Has Failed”. On this live recording they go back to their roots and cover a Syd Barrett song and some Floyd licks.. fabulous.
Seconds Out; Genesis, a classic.
Another Time, Another Palce; Magenta, if you like Genesis, i think you’ll like this too. An awesome album, with some great guitar work and unbelievable bass loops from Matthew Cohen.
Strange Behaviour; Karnataka. This soft celtic Prog band was too quiet on their studio albums, but this live recording is splendid. Rachel Jones is one of the leading roles and now married with Matthew Cohen, see Magenta. Another lady on this album is Ann Marie Helder and she is the girl friend of Dave Kilminster, one of Roger Waters’ guitarists…
My list..
1. P.U.L.S.E
2. Metallica S&M
3. Rush R30
4. Delicate Sound of Thunder
5. Iron Maiden Live after Death (1986)
Not an easy one Fed!
1. Pink Floyd – Delicate Sound Of Thunder
2. David Bowie – Bowie at the BBC Radio Theatre
3. Ozric Tentacles – Live at The Pongmasters Ball
4. Roger Waters – In The Flesh
5. Metallica – S&M
In no particular order:
Led Zeppelin, How The West Was Won
Deep Purple, Made In Japan
Thin Lizzy, Live And Dangerous
Pink Floyd, Is There Anybody Out There?
The Who, Live At Leeds
On a separate note FEd, I just discovered that there’s a new DVD with a soundtrack provided by David and narrated by the late Arthur C. Clarke called Colours Of Infinity. Apparently it’s now available from Amazon!
Just thought some irregulars might be interested!
Hello,
Five live albums? Nice topic, I do enjoy a good live album, almost as much as chocolate fudge cake.
Mine would have to be, all taken from records I own:
Led Zep. – How the West Was Won
Neil Young – Live Rust
Oasis – There and Then (alright it’s not an album, but it’s rather good nevertheless)
M – En Tête à tête
Aimee Mann – Live at St; Anne’s Warehouse
I didn’t include ‘Pulse’ as it goes without saying that it’s great.
Dom (snowed under with work)
x x x
1. Pink Floyd – Pulse.
2. Led Zeppelin – How The West Was Won.
3. Muse – HAARP live from Wembley.
4. Deep Purple – Made in Japan.
5. Rory Gallagher – Stagestruck.
My 5 in no special order are drum roll…..
Pink Floyd, Ummugumma
King Crimson, USA
David Bowie, Stage
The Tubes, What do you want from live
Genesis, Live (1973)
The wall live
Looking through my music collection I don’t have that many live albums. I used to find them disappointing and lacking in quality. I felt that the thrill of a live performance as in being there and that it didn’t necessarily translate well to a recording. This was some years ago though. Now technology has improved and the quality of live recordings can be almost as good as the real thing. ‘Remember That Night’ is a case in point.
Anyway, the bottom line is that I can’t come up with a list of five. Naturally I’ve got ‘P.U.L.S.E’, although only very recently, and I’ve been meaning to get ‘Rust Never Sleeps’ on CD for some time (vinyl copy is in the loft).
I look forward to hearing other people’s favourites.
with the exclusion of p.f. live stuff (although i would
like to hear a legal live recording of their bbc shows;))
i name my five:
beach boys – live 73
motörhead – no sleep `til hammersmith
grateful dead – live/dead
spiritualized – live at the royal albert hall
brian wilson – pet sounds live in london
jens
Hope I am not too late to send my 5 live choices. I was away in London, got stuck at Terminal 5 – wonderful building but…..
Rolling Stones and REM live albums plus three unplugged (do they count?) Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Eric Clapton
Ian Pearson
[They count. - FEd]
My favourite live albums are
Pink Floyd – P.U.l.S.E.
Queen – Live at Wembley 86
Phil Collins – Serious Hits live
Genesis – The way we walk (The Longs and the Shorts)
AC/DC live
Ten Years After – Live (can’t remember where but it was a double album)
Pink Floyd – Ummagumma (The live album)
Van Der Graff Generator – Real Life
Porcupine Tree – Live in Italy
Soft Machine – Live at the Paradiso
Pete – Coventry
Does the BBC recording of Pink Floyd at the Empire Pool in 1974 count as official because although it hasn’t been released on Cd the fact that it was recorded by the BBC means that they had permission so does it count as an official recording?
[No, it doesn't. - FEd]
Pink Floyd – Pulse
Marillion – Marbles by the sea
Genesis – Live over Europe 2007
Kraftwerk – Minimum Maximum
Roger Waters – In the flesh
And I’ll have to replace one of them if David releases his live album.
[Now the question on everyone's lips: Which one would you replace it with? - FEd]
doh,
Just realised that list was supposed to be ‘live albums’. Sorry about that as i posted in early hours while half asleep.
my new list and still on top is
Pulse
Joe Satriani live at The Grove, Anaheim, CA
George Thorogood live The Cincinnati Gardens
Motorhead No Sleep til Hammersmith
The Who live at Leeds
Hi Everyone,
What an excellent Friday I had, I met Nick Mason (again) at St Paul’s Gallery, Birmingham for the launch of his Relics artwork. He was in a jovial mood and it was great welcoming him back to Birmingham.
Anyway off the top of my head my favourite live albums are as follows:
1. Pink Floyd – P.U.L.S.E
2. Roger Waters – In the Flesh
3. Roger Waters – The Wall – Berlin
4. Pink Floyd – Delicate Sound of Thunder
5. Led Zeppelin – The Song Remains the Same
Best regards.
Julie
Whoops, how can I forget the live section of Ummagumma with the best ever recording of Careful with that Axe, Eugene.
Sorry, I know that now makes six but I was really wracking my brains as I don’t have many live albums.
Pink Floyd – PULSE (who wouldnt choose that?)
Pink Floyd – Is There Anybody Out There?
The Who – Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Yes – Yessongs
And David’s new live album
My favourites:
- Remember That Night
- P.U.L.S.E.
- Delicate Sound of Thunder
- Is there anybody out there? (live)
- Dire Straits – Alchemy
Hi everyone.
1-Noir Désir: Dies Irae
2-Pink Floyd: Is There Anybody Out There
3-Neil Young: Live At Massey Hall
4-Queen: Live At Wembley ’86
5-David Bowie: David Live
P.U.L.S.E. – Pink Floyd
Live at the Massey Hall 1971 – Neil Young
Live at Leeds – The Who
Live Rust – Neil Young
Farewell to the World – Crowded House
[So do you guys think it is important to have been at the concert to enjoy a live album? - rob]
It is extra special if you did happen to attend (as my elder brother, who was at Mothers when Ummagumma was recorded, keeps telling me) but a live album as it happened is the next best thing if you were not there.
Pete – Coventry
WOW,
that’s a Hornby’s style question. Which was the novel? HIGH FIDELITY. And tough too.
What is a good live album? well, a good live album is not the mere repetition of a record. It is “essential” when expands and enhance the record experience. But there are albums that sound preety much like the record version and we like anyway….. In few words there are studio bands and live bands.
Gosh, it is a pity that few people mentioned THE LIVE rock album. I say THE. It is MADE IN JAPAN by Deep purple. Now I do understand many things of you, folks. Listen to that!!!!
Another live album which is THE LIVE PSYCHEDELIC album and has not been mentioned much is UMMAGAMMA disc 1. Gosh, folks? light your torches and listen to it!!
The other three…… I don’t know now but surely the third one is way far from the second….
Ciao!!
1. Deep Purple ‘Made in Japan’
2. Pink Floyd ‘Pulse’
3. Roger Waters ‘In the Flesh’
4. Dire Straits ‘Alchemy’
5. Peter Gabriel ‘Secret World Live’
Renaissance ~ Live at Carnegie Hall
Rick Wakeman ~ Journey To The Centre of the Earth
Pink Floyd ~ Pulse
Yes ~ Yessongs
The Beatles ~ Let It Be
currently listening to: joe cocker, “mad dogs and englishmen”
[When I was a kid, I listened to Sly and the Family Stone a lot (I still do) and I swear I remember my dad buying me a Sly live cassette from a pawn shop... - Jessica]
Was it “Sly & The Family Stone – Live at the Fillmore East 1968″? I forgot about that. That would have made my five…
Speaking of which, if I had a mulligan I’d take back BBC Sessions and pick L-Zep ‘How the West Was Won’. That one gets much more play on my geeky music machine…
1. P.U.L.S.E.-Pink Floyd
2. Unplugged-Eric Clapton
3. Royal Albert Hall-Cream
4. Aqualung live- Jethro Tull
5. Gdansk live- David Gilmour
[currently listening to: joe cocker, "mad dogs and englishmen" - victor]
A GREAT ALBUM!
Nice call…
Interesting lists but in true Andrew fashion I will deviate from the popular norm of what has been listed. Mind you, nothing wrong with the ones listed, for example, I think Clapton’s 24 Nights is awesome as are the PF live releases but I’m choosing a different collection.
1. Les Claypool’s Frog Brigade – Live Frogs Set 1&2 (especially set 2 where they play PF Animals set)
2. Nils Lofgren – Night After Night
3. Queen – Live Killers
4. Guns N Roses – Live Era: ’87-’93
5. Rush – All the World’s a Stage
On the first one in Set 1 they play a 12 minute version of Shine On & you can buy each set separately. I include the Guns set because there is no other official live release & parts of this one really rocks.
Interesting that I haven’t seen anyone mention Cheap Trick Live at Budokan, Skynyrd One More From the Road or KISS Alive! Of course anyone who knows the history, knows that KISS Alive! was not truly a live recording but one that is heavily overdubbed.
Thanks.
Andrew
[So do you guys think it is important to have been at the concert to enjoy a live album? - rob]
Not necessarily but extra special if you were there.
I remember winning tickets to see Alice Cooper play an intimate evening at Electric Ladyland Studios in NYC. Probably 100 people in total at the event and I sat in the first row in front of Alice. The show was recorded and broadcast on radio. I have a copy of that radio broadcast and it is also one of my most memorable experiences.
Thanks.
Andrew
Excuse me for my entry…I haven’t seen it was for five albums:)
[It's not easy, is it? - FEd]
Tell you who I would like to hear a live album by…………..Riverside.
An incredible Polish band. Not very well known about in the UK but, I understand, quite well known in Europe.
They have incorporated ‘SOYCD’ into one of their tunes to great effect.
Pete – Coventry
How about an entry on the two or three worst live albums and why? Could be an interesting twist instead of always asking for the best. Might evoke an interesting debate. No?
Thanks.
Andrew
[If anyone wants to throw that in, I'm sure they will do. 'Best' and 'Worst' is just so subjective. You can't go far wrong with 'Favourite'. - FEd]
Ok, up to the plate:
5.It’s Been A Long Time – Steve Forbert
1.Live Archive 04 (Once Above A Time) – Steve Hackett
3.Live At Nearfest – The Strawbs (band version 1974/5)
2.P.U.L.S.E. – Pink Floyd (I only have the DVD)
4.Year of The Horse – Neil Young
Order is lucridus (oops, sorry Steve H., ludicrous).
This list only because it’s what’s near the top these days. Five ain’t enough or Live-CD is such a constraint (probably good thinking on your part FEd – and life is mostly about constraint & complaint) and I am constantly trying to make this into ‘My Favorite Things – and Why You Should Care.’
Thanks for the distraction.
FEd,
My favourite five, for what it’s worth, are…
P.U.L.S.E.
Is There Anybody Out There?
Delicate Sound Of Thunder
Made In Japan
Coldplay Live 2003
I’ve had the privilege to have seen 4 out of these 5.
Of course you don’t have to have been there, but it’s great to have official album releases of gigs one has witnessed (in the flesh, nope, I didn’t see that one).
[If anyone wants to throw that in, I'm sure they will do. 'Best' and 'Worst' is just so subjective. You can't go far wrong with 'Favourite'. - FEd]
Excellent point. Then how about least favourite?
I’m thinking of one but it is so much not my favourite that I can’t even remember the title.
Thanks.
Andrew
[That works for me. - FEd]
Mine:
1. PULSE – Pink Floyd
2. Yessongs – Yes
3. Live at Wembley – Queen
4. Is There Anybody Out There? – Pink Floyd
5. House Of Yes ~ Live at the House of Blues – Yes
Ooohhh, this is fun. Okay, here are my five:
P.U.L.S.E
Is There Anybody Out There
Eric Clapton-Unplugged
Led Zeppelin- How The West was Won
Duke Ellington- Live at Newport 1956
Of course, there are many more, but these stand out at the moment…
nate, i didnt know portishead had a live album, i’ll definitely look that one up, and your neil young choice.
still havent ventured past ‘after the gold rush’..
My list:
1. David Gilmour – Remember That Night
2. Pink Floyd – PULSE
3. Live8 and (Live Aid)
4. Eric Clapton – Unplugged
5. Pink Floyd – live at Pompei
6. Elvis Presley – Comeback Special ’69
and many, many more…
Hope you like my list, FEd !
Cheers,
Ernest 8-)
Lynyrd Skynyrd – One More From the Road (my first live album and where I mastered the art of air guitar!)
Peter Frampton – Frampton Comes Alive (the only case I can think where a live album defined a career)
Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Rust Never Sleeps (it’s obvious)
The Grateful Dead – Europe ’72 (perhaps “the” live act of all time, the last with member Pigpen)
Jeff Beck w/ Jan Hammer Group – Live (rock fusion heaven)
I feel a little guilty not mentioning our benefactor here. But I think it’s more a case of what wasn’t released.
Cheers!
Mike
My top five would have to be:
1. Pulse – Pink Floyd
2. The Dance – Fleetwood Mac
3. Live Bullet – Bob Seger
4. Live over Europe – Genesis
5. Live in Gdansk -David Gilmour (it’s not released yet, but if the DVD is the same as the album, then I know it’s going to be amazing !!!!!!!!!)
1. PULSE
2. Is There Anybody Out There?
3. Seconds Out – Genesis
4. Live Over Europe 2007 – Genesis
5. Delicate Sound of Thunder
My fav’s would have to be
PULSE
Coldplay live 2003
King Crimson live in Japan
Delicate Sound of Thunder
Is there anybody out there?
FEd,
In no particular order-
Ummagumma-Pink Floyd
Space Ritual- Hawkind
Live at Leeds- The Who
Absolutely Live- The Doors
Rock and Roll Animal- Lou Reed
Not an easy list to make, I’d probably have a different list tomorrow!
Ok this is tougher than I thought…
1) Pulse – Pink Floyd
2) Delicate Sound of Thunder – Pink Floyd
3) The song Remains the Same – Led Zeppelin
4) Live – Robin Trower
5) A New Day Yesterday Live – Joe Bonamassa
Honorable mention…
1) Alchemy – Dire Straits
2) Official Bootleg USA ’06 – Jeff Beck
3) Live at Berkeley – Jimi Hendrix
4) Wild Night Out – Jimmy Thackery
5) Made In Japan – Deep Purple
[Five honourable mentions? That wins me a bet. - FEd]
Most have been mentioned already on here, but here are a few more that merit mention. I leave out Pink Floyd and related albums because those are obvious choices. I include bands that more or less come from a few generations back, because performing their live music was the most important aspect of what these bands did, if that makes any sense. I actually prefer some of these bands’ live albums to their recorded stuff, Lobos excluded (I love all things Los Lobos).
Lobos – Live at the Fillmore
Lobos – Acoustic en Vivo
Grand Funk Railroad – Live Album
Little Feat – Waiting for Columbus
Allman Brothers – Live Fillmore East
Garcia Acoustic Band – Almost Acoustic
Hi Fed.
here are my favorite Live albums.
PINK FLOYD – Is there anybody out there?
NEIL YOUNG – Year of the horse
CREAM – Royal Albert Hall
JIMI HENDRIX – Live at Monterey
FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM – Earth Inferno
bye
Werner
1. Queen: Live At Wembley ’86
2. P.U.L.S.E – Pink Floyd
3. Live Rust – Neil Young
4. In the Flesh – Roger Waters
5. Frampton Comes Alive – Peter Frampton
Happy Monday to you all.
For my $$, Floyd’s all-time best live album was the first disc of Ummagumma. It shows the power of early Floyd. So my list would be:
1. Pink Floyd “Ummagumma”
2. The original “Woodstock” concert album
3. Rolling Stones “Get Yer Ya Yas Out”
4. Chicago “Live at Carnegie Hall”
5. The Eagles “Hell Freezes Over”
[Ah, The Eagles... Who had the stupid idea of keeping the list limited to just five albums? - FEd]
Well first off it was great to be back in the Chat Room today hangin’ out with everyone. I’ve been away too long…that work thing was interfering (in a good way) :-)
I’m going to list my 5 before reading any of the other posts…that’s when I’ll probably start kicking myself after seeing all the good albums I’ve temporarily forgotten about…it was hard to leave out Delicate Sound of Thunder…but my wife’s had me on a Bon Jovi kick lately LOL
1. Pink Floyd – P.U.L.S.E.
2. Alice in Chains – MTV Unplugged
3. Peter Frampton – Frampton Comes Alive
4. Guns N’ Roses – Live Era ’87 – ’93
5. Bon Jovi – One Wild Night: Live 1985 – 2001
If I was still 12…I’d have had Kiss Alive II on there somewhere…so I guess I’m dating myself with that comment :-)
Can’t believe I’m leaving out Rush, Thin Lizzy and Metallica, but I guess Bon Jovi would go when David releases the “official” live recording…
Hi FEd,
nice challenge for us…
Here are my favourite live albums:
5. Monty Python: Live at the Drury Lane
4. Iron Maiden: Live after death
3. AC/DC: If you want blood, you’ve got it
2. Pink Floyd: Ummagumma (Disc 1)
1. ?????
And of course a lot of others that others mentioned or not.
Best regards,
Taki
Bavaria
1. D. Gilmour: Remember that night
2. Pink Floyd: Umma Gumma Live
3. Pearl Jam: Live at the Garden
4. Einstürzende Neubauten: Palast der Republik
5. Muse: HAARP
Part one – the boring bit
Bloomin’ heck. 5 favourites. I have to confess that I have a preference for Live rock albums.
“Why?” I hear you cry
For me the great Live albums represent the definitive version. Studios are great for sitting on stools and polishing and multitracking and so on, but in my opinion something is often lost. Taking our own favourite guitar God as an example, I cannot think of ONE track I prefer on the album to that on the DVD … imagine my quivering excitement at the Live CD if you will.
The great Live album is a single take, preferably unbacked, version as the band wants to play it and by definition is often a greatest hits package as well. The “filler” is too ambarrassing to air on stage.
And liking the heavier end of rock it should also invilve a bit of old-fashioned, balls-out, loud and proud strutting also …
Top five live albums in no particualr order:
Pink Floyd – P.U.L.S.E
Allman Brothers Band – Live at Fillmore East (DeLuxe Edition)
Oasis – Familiar to Millions
Paul Weller – Catch Flame, only 6 weeks to go before I see him live
Neil Young – Live Rust
“That wins me a bet”?
Just make sure my cut is placed in the proper bank account by Friday.
Part 2 – the list (PF etc albums taken as read)
Deep Purple “Made in Japan” – it’s had a few mentions. Every single track is THE definitive version. Studio versions sound like cardboard next to these. Standout moment – “Highway Star” launched little Tim’s love of the electric guitar
Led Zeppelin – “How the West was won” – I thought it couldn’t get any better – then this comes along. “Since I’ve been lovin’ you” is just sublime but this is fantastic from start to finish.
Genesis – “Seconds Out” – Less “Rock” than the others but full of power, panache and, surprisingly perhaps, passion
Thin Lizzy “Live and dangerous” – a few weak spots but I simply cannot let “Rosalie” and “Still in Love with you” escape
The Who – “Live at Leeds” – check out recent “full” version. It’s what we would all like to do with 10 strings, two planks, some tubs to thump and a strutting lead singer at our disposal …
P.U.L.S.E
Still Growing Up-Peter Gabriel
No Security-Rolling Stones
Miles of Aisles-Joni Mitchell, is it my imagination or has no one listed a female artist yet?
David’s new one
There are some great ones mentioned by everyone else.
ash X
[You could be right about the absence of female artists thus far. Good choice. (There's some seriously funky playing going on on 'Miles of Aisles', isn't there?) - FEd]
If the list had been just four albums then it would have been easier for me. I would have easily picked PULSE, Is There Anybody Out There, The Who live at the RAH and David’s new live album. But because its’ five i have to choose one from things like Frampton Comes Alive, Past Lives by Black Sabbath, live Yes, Stranglers and Led Zeppelin albums. Whereas normally people complain they get too little i’m complaining that i got too much! [never satisfied am i?
]
If this was a true desert island discs thing and we all got a special item, would an iPod with 10,000 more music tracks count? I guess that’s strectching the rules.
Thanks for the chat earlier, for some reason i was suddenly logged out and by then the chatroom had been locked so i didn’t get to see the end of the film discussion or say goodbye, but i’ll just have to leave the goodbyes for next time!
Cheers
Thomas
[Film discussion, you say? I don't seem to remember that. Or I don't want to. Hmm. - FEd]
Hello FED, here’s my list of five;
1. Pink Floyd: Pulse
2. Led Zeppelin: How The West Was won
3. Neil Young: Live Rust
4. U2: Rattle an Hum
5. Rolling Stones: Get your Ya Ya’s Out
Of course for the record, David Gilmour’s Live recordings go ahead of the last four on the list.
[I'm sure you mean that the one official live recording will. And I agree. - FEd]
Without rating:
Genesis – Live Over Europe 2007
Chris Rea – The Road To Hell & Back
Queen + Paul Rodgers – Return Of The Champions
Billy Joel – 12 Gardens
Phil Collins – Serious Hits… Live!
Delicate Sound of Thunder – Pink Floyd
A Live Record – Camel
Live Chronicles – Hawkwind
Live Flames – Snowy White & The White Flames
P.U.L.S.E. – Pink Floyd
1. Floyd – Pulse
2. Bob Dylan – Live at Royal Albert Hall (or at Boudakhan)
3. Floyd – Is there anybody out there
4.
5. James Brown – Live at the apollo
[Do you want to choose another one? - FEd]
Coma Divine by Porcupine Tree
Seriously, each open-minded PF fan should give this a listen!
PINK FLOYD- PULSE
EAGLES- HELL FREEZES OVER
PINK FLOYD- DELICATE SOUND OF THUNDER
PINK FLOYD- THE WALL LIVE