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... Best Live Recordings ( other than Classical or Opera) on CD...

Hello to all...

I luv testing stereo equipment - and I think one of the best ways to tell just how resolving a recording is IF IT WAS RECORDED LIVE! ( not only how the music sounds, but how the ambience of the venue sounds, and if the clapping/hooting that happens sounds really real...)

What are your favorites? Please send suggestions... ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE DDD.

I'll start with one of my Favorites:
STOP MAKING SENSE: Talking Heads ( done DDD in the late 80's, remaster/reissued late 1999)
justvintagestuff

Showing 3 responses by folkfreak

folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
One of my go-to discs is "The Moment Always Vanishing" by Vienna Teng. Excellent dynamics and recreation of an intimate concert

Also "Party Doll" by Mary Chapin Carpenter, especially "Stones in the Road"


folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
Here are a few more goodies from my stack
  • John Renbourn & Robin Williamson "Wheel of Fortune". Great recordings of the guitar and harp, should be very dynamic and (in the case of the guitar esp in track 1 surprisingly bassy) -- of course the vocals are somewhat of an acquired taste 😀
  • Nancy Griffith "One Fair Summers Evening". Not a great recording (early digital) but still helpful to see if your system can capture the air and space in the room (Anderson Fair). Also available on LP which is well worth seeking out.
  • Suzanne Vega "Live at the Stephen Talkhouse". Another test to see if your system can reproduce the dynamics of a tight electric band recorded in a small room. My test track is #12 "Luka". As with many of these recordings the truest vocal sound is often one that is almost pushed to the edge of distortion, small room amplified vocals rarely sound "nice"
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
I should stress re the comment on "Luka" the real overload is when she is talking between songs, the sung vocal is actually much better located in the mix

Anyway here are some suggestions more in a more acoustic vein, from the very well known to the more unexpected
  • Bill Evans "Waltz for Debby". Run do not walk to buy this if you don’t already own it. My go to version is the Analog Productions 45rpm
  • Jacqui Naylor "East/West". Two full live sets of intelligent vocal jazz. Versions of "Once in a lifetime" and "My Funny Valentine" that will knock you off your seat
  • Jethro Tull "A Little Light Music". Tull unplugged, enough said, available on a nice 2lp set
For all my suggestions when available on LP that's generally my preference but the music and performances are much more important than the format. Frankly all of these suggestions will sound just great over Spotify
More to discover