the best album ever heard is "Vortex" by Eddie Palmieri |
Eva Cassiday, Live At Blues Alley |
Friday Night In San Francisco, by Al Dimeola, John McLaughlin, & Paco Delucia. |
The Who Live at Leeds is the ne ultra plus of "live" rock and roll recordings of all time. Great sounding recording that really captures the sound and fury of the greatest rock and roll band that ever assaulted an audience with killer decibels, "stick it to the man" attitude, and great chops on top of all that. Sure, I'm biased. I've been a fan since seeing them live at the Fillmore West in 1969. But you certainly won't go wrong adding this one to your collection if you love rock and roll. |
Johnney Winter and Live gets my vote too! |
While not a huge Eagles fan, Hell Freezes Over has got to rank up there as one of the best live albums. |
Alice in Chains--Unplugged (A surprisingly good reference CD)
Tony Williams in Tokyo |
I haven't heard the remastered version, but Bob Marley's Babylon by Bus is a pretty strong recording. I'm not an avid reggae fan, but this live recording is one of my favorites. |
Try "Live Dead" by the Grateful Dead. Of course, they and Jerry Garcia have so many live recordings. But this is a good one to start with... |
Another vote for Friday Night in San Fransisco ! |
Skynard- One more from the road. J. Geils Band- Blow your face out. |
great responses by some; i agree and append:
allmans: fillmore east
grateful dead: live dead
who: live at leeds (my personal favorite)
led zeppelin: how the west was won (if you don't have this, get it---its easily their best record!)
zappa: best band you've never heard in your life
sinatra: live in paris 65 (much better than the sands record)
rhyno |
Little Feat- Waiting for Columbus
Dimeola et al-Friday Night in San Francisco
Yes- Yessongs
David Bowie- Live in Philadelphia: a young David Sanborn on sax
Lou Reed- Rock and Roll Animal
Rare Earth Live- a blast from the past
Sarah McLaughlin live- her voice will make your spine tingle
Dixie Dregs- California Screaming. Steve Morse is one of the best guitar players period.
Widespread Panic- Light Fuse.... |
"Old and In the Way," a classic live bluegrass concert by Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements, and John Kahn, at the Boarding House, San Francisco, Oct. 8, 1973. |
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Some great one listed above.
The best I've heard this year:
JESSICA WILLIAMS LIVE AT YOSHI’S |
A second for Alice In Chains
I agree 100% with Boa2 this CD has an incrediable real presence in your system. If you forget about the two dimensionality this recording surpasses some good vinyl recordings. |
J Geils Full House is pretty good... |
George Gobel "In Person At The Sands". |
You know, Surfgod, I didn't much care for live CD's until
1) we put together our SET/horn system; and
2) I heard that Alice in Chains--Unplugged
I also really enjoy the Neil Young Unplugged CD as well. And the other one that has scary live presence:
Caetano Veloso--Fina Estampa
And I can't fail to mention: I just bought the remastered version of Bob Marley Live, and about every three seconds I get the chills running down my spine. I'm convinced that man is still alive! |
Hi Boa2
Another live CD that puts magic in a dull digital world is Richard Thompsons' two letter words live 1994. The engineer gets the vocals right along with a beautiful acoustic guitar. I have the Neil Young Unplugged and that also is fine, BUT I think nothing beats the Alice In Chains Unplugged. Will look for your recomendations.
Thanks |
Leonard Cohen Live
If you like his music, this is also a great disc.
I'll have to get the Richard Thompson. I'm a big fan of his, and I'm surprised I've never heard that recording. Thanks for the recommendation, Surfgod.
Hey, I thought my brother was the Surfgod! He's got about ten boards, and surfing on the brain.
All the best,
Howard |
I second the Richard Thompson release which is a 2-disc set. It is a long term reference of mine. It was recorded during the 1994 tour (band included Danny Thompson, Dave Mattacks and Pete Zorn) and released on a private label in 1996. I think you can order it through RT's website. None of the private label stuff released since this recording comes close sonically. |
I'll definitely pick up the live RT album. And thanks to your recommendation, I just looked at his site, and found out that he is touring a show called "1000 years of music", and he will be here (Sacramento) in February. He is playing at a 300-seat theater! |
The "1,000 Years of Popular Music" live CD will be available at his shows so you should pick that one up as well. $25 at the show due to no RT original compositions. |
I'll definitely pick that up as well, Linkster. Can't wait to see RT...again. He is so good in concert. |
Consider picking up RT's Live in Providence DVD.......of which I was at that show. |
Yes: Yessongs. While the quality of the original recording was not very good, the sheer artistry, innovation, and talent of the group individually and collectively is unmistakable. I've listened to it hundreds of times over the years. If you can get a good remaster, like progressive rock, and have never heard it before, you owe it to yourself to give Yessongs a long listen. |
Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE on DVD is STUNNING!!! I would have said Eva Cassidy before hearing SMiLE. |
Best Live is Gato Barbierri. I lost the album, but it's something like Live at Montreaux, recorded in the 70s. The audience waited until 2:00 am to hear his band/orchestra from Argentina. Most of the band did not make the flight, so half the musicians on the stage are from various groups. You can hear Gato's percussionist and his pianist running around the stage directing the musicians when to change tempo, etc. It is very visceral and extremely exciting (to my ears and soul). Gato is a man possessed. He sounds like he is bending the sax and forcing his will upon it. He, sort of like Django (I say sort of because Django was always in full control), is in a trance, subhuman and just plays without restraint. Total wild-freedom, reaching for estatic release. I would love to get a recording of this if anyone has it.
Finally, I hate his later 80s crap. Nothing but puppy "salsa". Maybe he did blow his soul out that night in France? |
Not even close. Johnny Winter AND Live. The first 10 seconds of Jumping Jack Flash is ALL I need to hear and you know what the rest of the recording is going to be like. Nothing gets me going like that. There is more energy on that one song than what most bands put on 10 cd's. It just doesn't get any better than that for live music. |
Hey Boa2
Best place I saw RT is in NYC, we have a 170 yr old cathederal named St Ann. They put on a few limited shows and the acoustics were amazing. Hoped you enjoyed the 1,000 yrs show. If you can get a hold of Rts' bootlegs he has a double album called Columbia Gold. If you liked two letter words you will love this one. it was made in Italy which makes excellent boots ( something about the copyright laws ) and its a soundboard recording. Hope you can find it. |
Surfgod ...
Had the pleasure of seeing RT open for Crowded House at Carnegie Hall in 1991. At about the same time, he became part of a touring group of singer/songwriters put together by WNEW/WFUV DJ, Vin Scelsa. They toured under the program name of "In Your Own Words" and played the Bottom Line several times. I saw him in the round with Shawn Colvin; Barrett Strong (Temptaions' songwriter ... he wrote "My Girl," etc.); and Dave Alvin. I was also fortunate to have a table butted against the center of the stage when RT played the Bottom Line solo and he premiered "1952 Vincent Black Lightening."
Regards, Rich |
Johnny Winter And Live: amazing stuff, The Who Live at Leeds: A real blast and intoxicating, The Allman Bro.s Band at the Filmore East: Awe inspiring rock and roll. Abso**ckinglutly!!!
But when I want to be transported to a different place there is only one live rock album for me: Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys (the original on Capital), tight, powerful & soulful with a guitar player that's just on a different level. It still give me goose bumps to this day after nearly 35 years, now for me thats the real deal. (sonics could be better, but that could be said for a lot of the personal picks here)
IMHO |
Stanley Clarke & Friends "Live At The Greek". Excellent recording. His 'friends' are Larry Carlton, Billy Cogham, Deron Johnson, & Najee |
Band of Gypsy's by Jimi Hendrix- I purchased a Audio Tecnica 1/2 speed master and to this day it is the best sounding Live recording in my collection as far as RocknRoll is concerned.
For jazz it has to be my Mosiac boxed set on 150 gram Vinyl of Miles Davis The Complete BlackHawk Sessions. It even sounds better than the original pressing of Volume one i found in a box of records at the County Fair in Northern California in the summer of 83 for 35 cents.. |
Dead Can Dance's 'Toward the Within'. Lisa Girard is a fave of mine and her talents are much on display in that recording. I also like Jethro Tull's 'Bursting Out'. |
Keith Jarrett's Whisper Not or At the Blue Note.
Or Bill Evans' Waltz for Debby or Sunday at the Village Vanguard |
larry coryell-live at the village vanguard......the great jazz trio-live at the village vanguard.....the rolling stones-get your ya ya's out....in that order.......top talent at the top of their game |
Don't know about the best, though a few that i do enjoy
Donny Hathaway.Live
Bill Withers.Live at Carnegie Hall
Tom Waits.Nighthawks at the diner
King Curtis.Live at Fillmore West
Frank Zappa.Live at the Roxy
ditto on Johnny Winter and Band of Gypsy's |
1. Yessongs
2. Humble Pie - Rockin the Fillmore
3. Allman Bros at the Fillmore |
Gratetful Dead, One from the Vault |
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense sounds great on any format, LP, CD and is even available on DVD).
A vote for Sam Cooke - Live at the Harlem Square Club as well, that Album is the "real deal". |
I addition to many of the great recommendations above, also consider:
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College
Hot Tuna, recorded live at the new orleans house, berkeley 1969
Rory Gallagher, BBC Sessions
Bruce Hornsby, Here Come the Noise Makers
Joe Bonamassa, A New Day Yesterday Live
Its hard to pick a 'Best' live album. Hot Tuna is excellent when I'm in a more laid back mood. This is an acoustic set recorded in a small club atmosphere. When I want something with raw energy, Joe Bonamassa, A New Day Yesterday Live never fails. |
Hello Rar1,
I was at the Carnegie show along with the bottom Line shows. ( Boy do I miss that place ) Did you ever see Rt at St. Anns. that is a beautiful 170 yr. old church on court st. in Brooklyn. What great acoustics. |
Hello Surfgod,
No, missed the St Ann's shows. Acoustic artists tend to sound even that much better when in a church. Sounds like it was great.
Regards, Rich |
Definitely ,the Rolling Stones (Get yer ya ya"s out).Incredible amount of energy on tape,I only wish they released the whole concert.I was there and it was magic for about an hour and 40 minutes.Never forgot it. |
Rarl
Did "In Their Own Words" tour with a fixed line-up?
I saw several ITOW shows (including the RT show - as good as it gets!), but my favorite featured Richard Barone of The Bongos and Marti Jones (who, BTW, has a great live disc called "Live at Spirit Square) among others.
N.B. a couple of other live recordings:
Zachary Richard's "Fatras- Live in Montreal" A very young Sonny Landreth on guitar.
Kid Creole's "Live" cd is no demo disc, but captures the spirit of a great live show (and anyone who's seen Kid Creole knows that his show is GREAT) better than just about any recording I know. |
Hi Marty:
"In Their Own Words" was for a time a monthly show at the Bottom Line and each month, for the most part, featured a new cast of songwriters. There was also a touring group of ITOW songwriters just after the show first premiered at the Bottom Line (1991). If memory serves me, Marshall Crenshaw, Richard Thompson, and Don Dixon (Marti Jones' husband) formed the core of that touring group. After about 35 or so Bottom Line shows, Vin Scelsa (WNEW & WFUV DJ and show moderator) called it a day (very bad case of stage fright) and the show limped along with a new moderator for a while longer and then stopped altogether. There were ultimately 2 CD's of ITOW show performances released in the 1993-4 timeframe.
Regards, Rich |
Rich,
How did I ever manage to miss that?!
Crenshaw, Thompson and Dixon all fall on my very, very short list of favorites.
Thanks for the update - but it would have been a bit more useful 15 years ago!
Marty |
