# Best live recordings - what do you think? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 2, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992 "2003-11-02T14:49:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/1 "2003-11-02T14:49:41Z")
I was listening to the radio the other day and a cut from _Frampton Comes Alive_ came on. That got me to thinking about recorded live concerts in general. What’s your opinion about the best live recorded **song** , and the best live recorded **album or CD**? If either of these are not your favorites, then throw in your favorites as well. My favorite live song is _She Loves You_, from _The Beatles Live at the Hollywood Bowl_ album. I remember listening to the radio on the night that the album was released. I sat on my bed with my mouth open through the entire song. I had heard the song before, but never recorded live. The screaming was just amazing. My favorite album also involves the Beatles. This is _The Beatles Live! at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany; in 1962_. The raw power the Beatles had at the time was undeniable. ---
**Author:** ![Lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lola)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/2 "2003-11-02T15:11:39Z")
Best live album, IMHO, is Thin Lizzy’s “Alive and Dangerous”. I’ve changed my mind. Johnny Cash, “Live at San Quentin”. You can hear the riot kicking off. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/3 "2003-11-02T15:13:43Z")
The first that came to my mind were: 1. Metallica’s “S&M” 2. Nine Inch Nails “…And All That Could Have Been” Which are great live albums, but I hate to sound like a metalhead. My favorite live recorded song is “Soma” off the Smashing Pumpkin’s Earphoria. It’s simply splendid! Oh, and “Live From Mars”, by Ben Harper is awesome. Simply awesome. I mean… awesome. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/4 "2003-11-02T20:22:46Z")
Best Live Album: “Allman Brothers Live at Fillmore East.” Best Live Song – “Whipping Post” from the above album. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/5 "2003-11-02T20:24:45Z")
Best song, from best album Peter Gabriel plays live): San Jacinto by Peter Gabriel. Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/6 "2003-11-02T20:39:17Z")
Counting Crows. “Round Here,” from _Mtv Live from the 10 Spot_. Or Alison Krause’s live album. But I’m baised on that one, since I was at the recording of it. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/7 "2003-11-02T21:06:08Z")
**The Who Live at Leeds** , the first (maybe?) _truly_ live album without any post-production audio “cleanups”. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/8 "2003-11-03T06:21:20Z")
“Benny and the Jets” - Elton John Just kidding - yet that’s one of the greatest pseudo-live songs. I’m partial and keen to concert albums where the audience is super-enthusiastic and seems to inspire the band to take their stuff to a higher level. (Many have been said already). \*\* Yes \*\* - _Yessongs_ **Joe Cocker w/Leon Russel** - _Mad Dogs and Englishmen_ **Emerson, Lake and Palmer** - _Ladies and Gentlemen_ **Grateful Dead** - _Europe '72_ **Bob Dylan at Budokan** **Cheap Trick at Budokan** **Opal at Budokan** ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/9 "2003-11-03T06:29:10Z")
**The Last Waltz** Eric Clapton’s **Unplugged** ---
**Author:** ![Snake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Snake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/10 "2003-11-03T07:06:41Z")
I’d hafta say Kiss Alive 1 and 2 are my fav live albums. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/11 "2003-11-03T12:01:48Z")
Songs: **Helpless** Neil Young Unplugged A version of **Little Wing** Eric Clapton A version of **Killing Floor** The Jimi Hendrix Experience Albums: **No Sleep 'til Hammersmith** Motorhead **Paul Kelly Live May 1992** **The Living End** Husker Du **Live at the Regal** B.B. King The Who’s **Live at Leeds** has already been mentioned. Beware the extended version - Townshend is out of tune on _everything_ they left off the original. ---
**Author:** ![Rib\_Eye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@Rib\_Eye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rib_Eye)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/12 "2003-11-03T22:42:06Z")
Iron Maiden - Live After Death ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/13 "2003-11-03T23:08:59Z")
Dropkick Murphys - Live on St. Patrick’s Day And there is a live version of “Hotel California” that I have on my PC. I don’t know where or when it was recorded, but the Eagles rip it up. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/14 "2003-11-03T23:51:43Z")
**Little Feat** - _Waiting for Columbus_ **Black Crowes & Jimmy Paige** - _Live at the Greek_ **Grateful Dead** - _Dick’s Picks Vol 3 (Pembroke Pines 5/22/77)_ ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/15 "2003-11-03T23:59:39Z")
The Correct Answers: Kate Bush Live At Hammersmith Odeon Jeff Buckley Myster White Boy Jeff Buckley Live at Sin-E Bette Midler Live at Last Jane Siberry, Victoria Williams, Holly Cole, Mary Margaret O’Hara, and Rebecca Jenkins, Count Your Blessings ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/16 "2003-11-04T00:18:30Z")
“Nirvana Unplugged” by Nirvana is amongst the great live albums. ---
**Author:** ![moes\_lotion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@moes\_lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moes_lotion)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/17 "2003-11-04T04:58:09Z")
I have a soft spot (heart or head, not sure which) for “Happy Together” from the Mothers of Invention “Fillmore East - June 1971”, with Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, from the Turtles, on vocals. Especially the spoken bit leading into the song featuring the immortal line, “Alright baby, I know when I’m licked, all over. Bend over and spread 'em, here comes my BULLET” In another catagory, the film “Buena Vista Social Club” has a great moment near the end - forget which song/singer - where there is a seque from the concert in New York to the concert in Amsterdam, mid-song. ---
**Author:** ![BIH\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/49beb7/32.png) [@BIH\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIH_Boy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/18 "2003-11-04T10:48:50Z")
Albums: Get Your Ya Ya’s Out - Rolling Stones Live After Death - Iron Maiden Songs (apart from the entire Stones Album): Grendel - Marillion Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash That’s all I can think of, don’t think I own many live albums. ---
**Author:** ![Cholo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Cholo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cholo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/19 "2003-11-04T11:48:36Z")
**The Lost Brussels** - live radio show (now a bootleg) from the Rolling Stones circa 1973 when Mick Taylor was on FIRE! Unbelieveable!!! ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992/20 "2003-11-05T16:03:19Z")
Live at Leeds - The Oo, yet another vote just beats Live and Dangerous - Thin Lizzy (that’s just ‘Live’ **Lola** ) brilliant album but has the reputation of being tweaked (ahem) after the event. Couldn’t really choose a track, how about the Hendrix take on the Stars and Stripes? (gawds I hope I got that right) it’s sort of in a league of its own. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-live-recordings-what-do-you-think/210992.md?page=2)