Live albums you actually listen to

[Stumpy Pepys]

I always got the impression that the Grateful Dead were a very different beast live than they were on record.

[Kevin S]

UK sales certifications: double platinum for Grace (at least 600k) and silver for Mystery White Boy (between 60k and 100k). People haven't really stopped buying/consuming Grace.

Aha, cheers Auntie, and Satchmo Distel .

[Eggchaser]

Obviously another vote for Live After Death for me.

The Name of This Band is Talking Heads and Stop Making Sense are both excellent and show the band at very different periods in their existence.

[andrew7610]

I don't know if they still do it as I haven't seen them live in a while, but Underworld used to record all their live shows and release them in limited batches on a double CD pretty much straight after the gig - I have one where I was there but had to leave early (they didn't come on stage until after 11pm and I needed to catch the last train home around midnight). With bands like this its difficult to know how much is 'live' anyway - you wouldn't really know the official release 'Everything Everything' is but for the cheering crowd between tracks.

I love Minimum Maximum by Kraftwerk. They recorded every gig on their world tour, and then released the version of each track they felt was best, which is why the venues on the track listing are all over the shop rather than the traditional format of one show from start to finish 'live at Hammersmith' or wherever.

[Ray de Galles]

As well as the obvious Rush (both the first two live albums), Motorhead, Ramones, Johnny Cash, AC/DC, MC5 and Thin Lizzy ones already mentioned I still return to Elvis's 'Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite' and 'Hot August Night' by Neil Diamond quite a bit.

'Ben Folds Live' is probably the most recently recorded one I listen to a lot but that's almost twenty years old now.

I always loved live albums because I was very gig-orientated in my teens and twenties. It was often the case with rock bands that if I had the live album then I didn't necessarily feel I needed anything else by them.

Examples like 'Alive' by KISS, 'Live! Bootleg' by Aerosmith (at least until the late nineties comeback duo of albums), 'Speak Of The Devil' by Ozzy Osbourne, 'Intensities in Ten Cities' by Ted Nugent and 'Highway Songs Live' by Blackfoot being the ones that readily spring to mind.

[Ray de Galles]

Bunnymen Live in Liverpool

That's a 21st Century recording isn't it? I'd like one by them at their peak and have seen a 'Live At The Albert Hall 1984' "album" on Spotify. I presume that is from the same gig as the absolutely astounding version of 'Do It Clean' from the b-side of the 'Killing Moon' 12" which was the best thing they've ever done. If so, I need to check it out.

[Snake Plissken]

Pearl Jam release every gig as a download around six months afterwards. I think Metallica do now, or at least the majority of them. They (Metallica) just put last years Manchester show on Youtube.

There was a brilliant setup in the early 2000s where you could pay for a recording of the gig before it started, wait about 20 minutes after it ended and pick it up on a freshly minted CD. I thought that was a brilliant idea - and judging by the queues - a decent moneyspinner.

[Gangster Octopus]

No mention of the live album of Umma Gumma?

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

That's a 21st Century recording isn't it?

Yes - 2002, I think. The Albert Hall show from 1983 is them at their peak, but I saw it as a video, rather than a live album.

[Ray de Galles]

Ah, the live album (a recent release, I imagine) is 1984 so must be a different show but definitely from their peak era.

[Gert from the Well]

Mentions above for Judas Priest gives me an excuse to post the following:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTQz1ABtzek

Enjoy

There's a better version with more motorcycle whipping but I can not find it, sorry.

[Nocturnal Submission]

There's a better version with more motorcycle whipping but I can not find it, sorry.

Such a shame that SNL decided to go with the cowbell.

[ale]

No mention of Bowie first one David Live. Got it at time and was totally underwhelmed. As were most of contemporary reviews. Which dont seem to have shifted much in the ensuing 45 years. At this remove it is possible to view more it much more kindly-in effect the transformative US tour where Bowie was ditching the comfort blanket of glam and asking his audience to listen to soul. The earlier songs are re-interpreted with this in mind. By contrast Stage three years later is a much more literal reproduction of the studio songs and is much more popular for doing so.

[MsD]

I absolutely LOVE David Live, and listen to that and to him live in Madison Square Gardens.

On the former: his voice is brilliant, and I love the wailing sax and Garson's piano.

My favourite version of Sweet Thing/Candidate is on that album.

[Gert from the Well]

H?sker D? - The Living End

There's also an excellent DVD from a show in London from around the time of New Day Rising, complete with a mind-blowing cover of Eight Miles High that is worth searching for.

[ad hoc]

This one? He's a tiny bit stoned methinks
https://youtu.be/salbSLGlePM

[danielmak]

This doesn't fully fit the thread because it's not one I listen to. I think it came out as an audio release (in addition to a VHS and then DVD) but probably the most bizarre live recording: The Cramps at the Napa Valley Mental Hospital. There are a lot of crazy live music events that are true head scratchers but I don't know if anything tops an entertainment coordinator for a mental hospital thinking the Cramps were the band to book for the patients' entertainment. I assume the entertainment coordinator did the deal with the condition that Lux could not wear his bikini bottoms.

[Hot Pepsi]

Pearl Jam release every gig as a download around six months afterwards. I think Metallica do now, or at least the majority of them. They (Metallica) just put last years Manchester show on Youtube.

There was a brilliant setup in the early 2000s where you could pay for a recording of the gig before it started, wait about 20 minutes after it ended and pick it up on a freshly minted CD. I thought that was a brilliant idea - and judging by the queues - a decent moneyspinner.

Fugazi has every show online. Suggested price for each download is $5

[Ray de Galles]

This one? He's a tiny bit stoned methinks
https://youtu.be/salbSLGlePM

That's from the Camden Palace (as was) and was for some concert series on TV, possibly as part of the Night Network late night strand.

I think we've said before that Bored and I literally wore out our VHS tape of the show's broadcast through repeated plays.

It wasn't released as a live album at the time, though it wouldn't surprise me if it's emerged as one since.

[Bored Of Education]

Yes, I've got "The Living End" but have never into it and would love to have a CD of that. Quite astonishing on first viewing.

As well as the obvious Rush (both the first two live albums), Motorhead, Ramones, Johnny Cash, AC/DC, MC5 and Thin Lizzy ones already mentioned I still return to Elvis's 'Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite'

Actually, one I forgot but am still not sure whether it quite qualifies is "68 Comeback Special". I mean there is an audience and it is all live (pretty much) but it is obviously a TV special.

'Hot August Night' by Neil Diamond quite a bit.

I wonder if you have heard this episode of Radio 4's excellent "For One Night Only" series which really is a companion piece to this thread (and it includes 68 Comeback Special)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007wt0w

Examples like 'Alive' by KISS, 'Live! Bootleg' by Aerosmith (at least until the late nineties comeback duo of albums), 'Speak Of The Devil' by Ozzy Osbourne, 'Intensities in Ten Cities' by Ted Nugent and 'Highway Songs Live' by Blackfoot being the ones that readily spring to mind.

Lots of good calls there including some that, oddly, I haven't got copies of and must remedy. Indeed, this whole thread has lots that I am going to buy.

The first Quo live album is great as well and incredibly heavy.

[Bored Of Education]

really? I wouldn't say there's a great tradition of hip hop acts being that great live.

Run DMC, Beastie Boys (through all stages of their career), Cypress Hill were all great live acts. Public Enemy are probably one of the greatest live acts that I have ever seen.

[slackster]

Most live LPs come over a bit flat to me, but Dr Feelgood’s Stupidity captures the essense of the Wilko-era band much better than the studio albums.

Others not mentioned (I think) I like include Otis Redding Live in Europe and Roxy Music’s Viva.

A strange one I’ll add is Wire’s Document and Eye Witness. I was at the gig where it was recorded, which made me angry at the time because they didn’t play any songs - apart from a short fragment from 12XU - anybody knew and got heckled badly whilst they just ignored the audience and put on a “performance art” show. It seemed like they were taking the piss. Listening to the album later I can sort of see what they were trying to do, and (some of) the tunes grew on me.

[Gert from the Well]

Yes, I've got "The Living End" but have never into it and would love to have a CD of that. Quite astonishing on first viewing.

I think it may have been bootlegged (the London show) as a vinyl release back in the 80's. I'll try and find out more if I can. I have it on DVD and can lend if you want?

There's also a Spin radio bootleg as well- I've got t somewhere but at the moment I'm without a turntable.

[Gert from the Well]

Found it on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CphIHzsxduY

Looks likes it taken from the DVD so good quality

Has anyone got the Savage Du boxset?

[G-Man]

Most live albums are crap, but there are some that eclipse the studio recordings.

The best example is Crowded House's Farewell To The World set. Of course, Crowded House were always a better live than studio band, but it's still unusual to find that every track on a live album is better than their original.

Similar things apply to Maze feat. Frankie Beverley, who put out two absolutely mighty live double albums (New Orleans and LA). I can't even listen to the studio versions of the featured tracks.

Earth, Wind & Fire's Gratitude is superb as well. The studio version of "Reasons" is as masterwork. It is eclipsed by the live version. And the live take of "Devotion"... oh man!

I also have much affection for Side 1 of the Casino Lights album, on which Randy Crawford and Al Jarreau cover a bunch of songs. So much warmth! Jarreau's Live In London is great, too.

Since I have confessed to my liking of Billy Joel before, I shall feel no shame in declaring Songs In The Attic one of my all-time albums. On that album, Joel selected tracks whose studio recording he regarded as inadequate. All of them are a huge improvement.

I gladly listen to Bruce Springsteen live sets, and I have a hierarchy of bootegs I rate. Talking of which, I recommend the bootleg of Lou Reed at the Bottom Line in 1978, and Simon & Garfunkel at the Hollywood Bowl 1968.

And Frank Sinatra's live album with Count Basie... it's an experience.

I'm sure I'll regret not naming some other worthy nominees.