best ever live album?

not_the_dj

A new suggestion from me:

The Levellers at Glastonbury 1992.

Bootlegged for years of course then finally got an official release as a second disc on their album re-releases a few years ago (although 15 years is missing from that version).

From a slightly nervious start (the band in awe at the size of the crowd) it turns into the perfect union of band/audience/occasion.

Highlights for me are:

The roar from the crowd when Simon adds 'The Spaceman' verse to 'The Boatman"

The incendiary version of 'Battle of the Beanfield' (this was the year the travellers field was closed)

The raucous encore of "The Devil went Down to Georgia"

EricTheWeary

not_the_dj said:

A new suggestion from me:

The Levellers at Glastonbury 1992.

Bootlegged for years of course then finally got an official release as a second disc on their album re-releases a few years ago (although 15 years is missing from that version).

From a slightly nervious start (the band in awe at the size of the crowd) it turns into the perfect union of band/audience/occasion.

Highlights for me are:

The roar from the crowd when Simon adds 'The Spaceman' verse to 'The Boatman"

The incendiary version of 'Battle of the Beanfield' (this was the year the travellers field was closed)

The raucous encore of "The Devil went Down to Georgia"

I had no idea that existed. I was in that crowd. |)

Paul_C

too much wine to read the whole thread . . .

Juliet Turner - Live at the Spirit Store

Zappa - Tinseltown Rebellion

Graham Parker and the Rumour - The Parkerilla

daveww

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Live at the el Mocambo.

Rocker

Mick Hanly "Live at the Meeting Place" is about as live and real as any live album I have heard

mike_l

viz said:

Wow what a list. I have never given so many wisdoms in such a small thread. I would add Iron Maiden's Live After Death "Scream for me Hammersmith!!"

Agreed on L..A.D.

Also, Maiden's Death on the Road.

Floyd's Delicate sound of Thunder and Pulse

paulk

Ramones - It's Alive.

DulcetJones

mart said:

For me, it has to be "Seconds Out".

Me too, while I loved Genesis more before Peter Gabriel left, this is one great live album.

DulcetJones

Muddy Waters - Live at Newport, and Live at Mr Kellys

U2 - Under a Blood Red Sky(already mentioned but hey...)

Kansas - Two For the Show, they still had all the original members and they pulled out all their best songs and played them even better(mostly).

Big Brother and the Holding Company(Janis Joplin) Cheap Thrills, while not all the tracks are live here the ones that are rock.

NickM

Pat Travers Band - Live Go For What You Know (Travers and Thrall on fire!)

Gentle Giant - Playing The Fool (Obviously)

Todd Rundgren - Back To The Bars (The songs man, the songs)

Saga - In Transit (Seriously underrated Canucks)

RocknRollDave

I'm afraid it's a Family Fortunes style Uh-UUUUUUUURRRR from me for the Live After Death votes - to paraphrase Lennon, it's not even the best Iron Maiden live album.

Flight 666...NOW you're talking.  Or Death On The Road. Or Rock In Rio.

Rant over (Sorry!)

On a totally different tack, I really like Morrissey's live album Beethoven Was Deaf (significantly more than the reviewer whose only comments were "Beethoven was lucky" )

AlbionLass

Another vote here for Live & Dangerous also Iron Maiden's Live After Death as it was the first live album I ever bought (on cassette).

chrisj1602

One of my favourites is How The West Was Won - Led Zeppelin - they are really good form on this. 3 discs of it, from acoustic stuff to 25 minute versions of Dazed and Confused to Whole Lotta Love.

mudslide73

^^ You need some boots man. There are some better shows than those believe it or not.

drwiddly

What a great thread!

Rather than add about 50 +1's (which would be very easy), I'll just put in a couple that haven't been mentioned:

MSG - One Night At Budokan

Threshold - Critical Energy

Pagan's Mind - Live Equation

Wishbone Ash - 30th anniversary concert

Grunfeld

drwiddly said:

MSG - One Night At Budokan

Brilliant playing on that album.  There's a great lick at the end of that version of "Attack of the Mad Axeman" which I reckon finds its way into nearly every gig I've ever played!

freakboy1610

1. Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians - Gotta Let this Hen Out
2. The Ramones - It's Alive
3. Rain Parade - Beyond the Sunset

Phil_aka_Pip

Another vote for Lindisfarne Live at Newcastle. Can't listen to it without wishing I'd been there

Here's another acoustic album: Gasworks. They did a live show at the Marquee which was recorded, someone else overdubbed electric bass on it, and that was it. I actually saw them live in 1974 supporting Jonathan Kelly and I'd have been happy to hear the EllPee without the bass, but I can see that it would have added interest, for them that never saw Gasworks Live. http://gasworks.webs.com/

I did have a cassette recording of a show they did at the BBC (I think) but I doubt it would be playable now, even if I could find it.

JAYJO

Framton comes live (Peter Frampton)

Before the Flood. (Dylan and the Band)

Slade Alive (Slade)

Beatles live at the Holywood Bowl).

Alchemy( Dire Straits)

EricTheWeary

Blues Band Official Bootleg Album.

I don't actually own a copy of this but in the days I did voluntary work for my holidays one of the leaders had this on cassette and I thought it was rather excellent and it was our soundtrack for a week. Pretty much a blueprint for putting together a good pub blues band. In the current band I am trying to get off the ground we are doing one song off it and it still sounds good.

On one of the other voluntary work holidays there was an old record player and one LP. This was David Essex live, although the exact album title escapes me. So, hold me close, don't let me go, oh no...

:ar!