# Best Live Album Ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 4, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599 "2003-01-04T13:50:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/41 "2003-01-05T06:25:55Z")
I’m a big fan of **The Band** ’s concert film _The Last Waltz_. I also like the associated 3-CD set. **Van Morrison** ’s 2-CD set _A Night in San Francisco_ was recorded on different nights, but I hope it still counts! It’s one of my favorites. And don’t forget **James Brown** ’s _Live at the Apollo_ recordings – three different volumes, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/42 "2003-01-05T13:41:22Z")
**Babylon By Bus** by Bob Marley & The Wailers was my introduction to the music of a legend. Shame he left us so early… ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/43 "2003-01-05T14:29:43Z")
Nailbomb - Proud to Commit Commercial Suicide. ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/44 "2003-01-05T22:37:56Z")
**Woodstock** , for boomers and boomerettes. 1. Shattering, one-time-only performances (Hendrix - “Star Spangled Banner” with sound effects), 2. Nods to folk tradition (Ritchie Havens, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez leading 400,000 in “Amazing Grace”) 3. Boogie (Canned Heat) 4. British Invasion (The Who) 5. Supergroups (“This is only our second gig, ever.” Crosby, Stills & Nash) 6. Antiwar (Country Joe & the Fish “Fish Cheer”) 7. Groups at the top of their form (Santana at its richest percussion stage, Sly & the Family Stone before he disintegrated, burnin’ up the stage with world class funk) There’s even a tongue-in-cheek nod to the 50’s from Sha-N-Na, gold lamé and all, a similar nod to the dippiest of the 60s from John “far out” Sebastian, and the obligatory indulgently long guitar&vocal from Ten Years After. But wait, there’s more! Chip Monck! Wavy Gravy! and introducing Max “nothing but fun and music” Yazgur! And if that ain’t enough, there’s Woodstock II. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/45 "2003-01-05T22:43:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yawndave \* > \*\*No contest:Live At Leeds \*\* Which Live at Leeds album do you refer to? I know of at least two. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/46 "2003-01-05T22:48:06Z")
I’m going to have to resort to the Irish method: PNYC (aka Portishead Live at the Roseland Ballroom) Pink Floyd: Is There Anybody Out There? 16 Horsepower: Hoarse The Kinks: To The Bone Fleetwood Mac: The Dance One of those five … maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/47 "2003-01-05T23:32:30Z")
Who - Live at Leeds. I have the extended version with more songs than the original LP, but not the full concert like I’ve seen around. Ramones - It’s Alive. Delirious - Live and in the Can. Of course, I doubt many, if any people here know them. ---
**Author:** ![Coffeeguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@Coffeeguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coffeeguy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/48 "2003-01-06T01:25:38Z")
The Who: Live at Leeds Elp: Pictures at an Exhibition -CoffeeGuy ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/49 "2003-01-06T06:46:38Z")
**Iggy and the Stooges** - Metallic KO **MC5** - Kick Out The Jams (2nd vote for …) **Velvet Underground** - 1969 live **Iron Maiden** - Live After Death **Spritualized** - Live Royal Albert Hall **Napalm Death** - the live album with ‘Harmony Corruption’: includes an extended version of ‘You Suffer’, the length of which is tripled by the count in. **The Birthday Party** - Live 82-83 **Lou Reed** - Take No Prisoners: file under ‘comedy’ Also, I’m a sucker for the ‘You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore’ series ( **Frank Zappa** ) ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/50 "2003-01-06T06:47:43Z")
Damn, how did I forget to add: **Turbonegro** - Darkness Forever ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/51 "2003-01-06T07:42:49Z")
**Peter Gabriel** - Plays live. Amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/52 "2003-01-06T15:07:27Z")
Curtis Mayfield’s **Curtis Live!** is my favorite live album. I also have a sweet spot for **Ben Harper** ’s recent(?) live album. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/53 "2003-01-06T17:33:31Z")
The Sympathy For The Devil cut on the Stones’ **Love You Live** is the finest I’ve ever heard, although for some reason it doesn’t seem to get a lot of air time. Karl’s right about **Get Yer Ya Yas Out** as well. I’ll third the **Nirvana Unplugged** and toss in **Alice In Chains Unplugged** for good measure. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/54 "2003-01-06T18:00:38Z")
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East Sinatra - Sinatra at the Sands ---
**Author:** ![yawndave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/43a26b/32.png) [@yawndave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawndave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/55 "2003-01-06T19:00:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Evil Death \* > \*\*Which Live at Leeds album do you refer to? I know of at least two. \*\* Actually, there are at least FOUR versions: –The original vinyl w/all the neat inserts –The CD re-issue, with some extra tracks –The CD Deluxe re-issue, with TOMMY –Live at Leeds “Complete”,a bootleg, supposedly the raw, uncut version. Each one captures an amazing band having an amazing night with a great crowd. ---
**Author:** ![li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/li_l_Dickie_Dirtz)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/56 "2003-01-06T21:06:26Z")
From a purely technical standpoint, I like Joe Jackson’s **Big World** , released in 1986, I believe. It was recorded live direct to two-track digital. The audiences were asked to remain quiet until recording for each track was completed. Pretty neato, especially considering the timeframe. I also like Elvis Costello and The Attractions’ **Live at El Mocambo** and SRV and Double Trouble’s **Live at Carnegie Hall**. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/57 "2003-01-07T01:15:10Z")
OK, the best ones have been mentioned, but way back in the classic rock days, FogHat had a good live album. And so did Sammy Haggar (circa 1978). And did anyone list “Framton Comes alive?” Probably not. I know he fell way out of favor, but he was really pretty good live. I saw him several times, and that album wasn’t half bad at the time. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599/58 "2003-01-07T01:26:10Z")
Local Band Tina and the B-Side Movement’s [Last Polka](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=8:20:07%7CPM&sql=Agcv1z83a4yvj) (kind of a Janis Joplin feel to it) Tom Waits’ [Nighthawks at the Diner](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=8:22:28%7CPM&sql=Alsu06j2h71w0) which is kinda live and the perfect CD for a long road trip to keep one entertained. and Poi Dog Pondering’s[Liquid White Light](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=8:22:28%7CPM&sql=Alsu06j2h71w0) everytime I hear the open song, Angelika Suspended, it just puts me in such a peaceful place. Woof! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-album-ever/146599.md?page=2)