# Favorite live albums **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 16, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929 "2020-05-16T16:13:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/41 "2020-05-17T01:41:59Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > #$@&! board timeouts. Ugh. On re-read I thought the “I’ll allow it” was in reference to Get Yer Ya-Yas Out. Then after editing realized I was right the first time. But because of the timeouts the edit window closed before I could edit my edit. Yeesh. I was actually channeling the doop judge. [![](https://morbotron.com/meme/S02E06/371009.jpg?b64lines=IEknTSBHT0lORyBUTyBBTExPVwogVEhJUy4=) ](https://morbotron.com/meme/S02E06/371009.jpg?b64lines=IEknTSBHT0lORyBUTyBBTExPVwogVEhJUy4=) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/42 "2020-05-17T01:53:42Z")
I’m a fan on live recordings just not so much live audiences. With that in mind, I offer up\* The BBC Sessions\* by The Who and _Live at the BBC_ by The Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/43 "2020-05-17T01:57:09Z")
Cheap Trick’s “Live At Budokan” and Rush’s “All The World’s A Stage.” ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/44 "2020-05-17T05:21:49Z")
Not sure if this is what the OP had in mind, but I am going to add it because I love this. The Go-Betweens “Live On Snap”. Not live in front of fans, but live in a radio studio. And it sounds like it. Just fantastic, I go back and forth on my favorites on this but this is one of them, '[Apology Accepted’](https://youtu.be/jwQzgMkH1lo). ---
**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:** [May 17, 2020, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/45 "2020-05-17T08:33:58Z")
_Ben Folds Live_ is a good one. I’ve mentioned this before, but I had the opportunity to go see Alison Krauss and Union Station when they recorded [Live](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_%28Alison_Krauss_album%29?wprov=sfla1). I’m not much of a bluegrass fan (pretty much just them and Old Crow Medicine Show), so I was unfamiliar with the majority of the songs performed. From a technical standpoint, it may have been the best show I’ve ever seen. They recorded the album, and shot a DVD on the two nights they performed. Amazing stuff. And I’m happy to be the first to mention \* Operation: Livecrime\* by Queensryche. ---
**Author:** ![Flare4roach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7cd45c/32.png) [@Flare4roach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flare4roach)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/46 "2020-05-17T08:59:20Z")
I’m gonna get torched by this but I prefer “Love You Live” from the Stones over “Ya Yas”. I like the Taylor years very much but there’s something missing from 69’ show to me. Too smooth and somewhat bland. I much prefer the ragged 75’ sound. The band is coked up and Woody was still in FACES mode. Having said that…I’d offer 73’s “A Brussels Affair” over both of the official releases. THAT is the Stones firing on all cylinders. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![bowlweevils](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@bowlweevils](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bowlweevils)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/47 "2020-05-17T09:20:04Z")
Jane’s Addiction, by Jane’s Addiction, 1987 Scream in Blue Live, Midnight Oil, 1992 Bowie at the Beeb 3, David Bowie, 2000 A l’infini Live Tour, Tal, 2014 (French language, mostly, though) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/48 "2020-05-17T11:41:47Z")
> [@bowlweevils](#): > > Jane’s Addiction, by Jane’s Addiction, 1987 Yeah, it’s not only a great live album, but it’s the best of their records. The record that pops into my head when this question comes up is NOMEANSNO - Live and Cuddly. It rocks. If they did it on that record, it’s almost assuredly better than the studio version. And thoughtfully, they videotaped some of the shows it was recorded at. [Two Lips Two Lungs and One Tongue/Rags and Bones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gtK_4gyf0M) is worth it just for the mid-solo “explanation” of the solo, and [Metronome/No Fgniuick](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRZPMU17oyY) is the end of the same show. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/49 "2020-05-17T12:49:38Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Not sure if this is what the OP had in mind, but I am going to add it because I love this. The Go-Betweens “Live On Snap”. Not live in front of fans, but live in a radio studio. And it sounds like it. Just fantastic, I go back and forth on my favorites on this but this is one of them, '[Apology Accepted’](https://youtu.be/jwQzgMkH1lo). Sure, why not? My Wishbone Ash “Argus” CD has three bonus tracks from a “Live in Memphis” EP that I believe was recorded live at a radio station studio. Great tracks! **blondebear** good call on both Frampton Comes Alive and KISS Alive. I’ve got worn out vinyl copies of both. I haven’t played the KISS album in ages but recently ripped the Frampton album to mp3 and yeah, it still holds up. ---
**Author:** ![JimNightshade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jimnightshade/32/3354_2.png) [@JimNightshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimNightshade)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/50 "2020-05-17T13:02:47Z")
Dire Straits - Alchemy One of the first CDs I ever owned, and with earphones it was pretty amazing. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/51 "2020-05-17T13:13:56Z")
**Wings Over America** **Kiss Alive 2** Hey, I was a teenager in the 70’s, what did you expect? :o And while not an album, **Wings** live version of **Coming Up** was a helluva lot better than the odd version McCartney did in his basement with a Sears tape recorder. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/52 "2020-05-17T13:49:21Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > People are quick to dismiss it these days for various reasons but I think it belongs on any list of great live albums:_Frampton Comes Alive_. After all these years it’s still a joy to listen to. I’m surprised that I had to scroll down so far to see this one. Why is it being dismissed these days? My entries: Friday Night In San Francisco - Al di Meola/John McLaughlin/Paco de Lucía The Cellar Door Sessions 1970 - Miles Davis (There’s a lot of choices here) Concert For George - Many people ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/53 "2020-05-17T15:01:45Z")
Frank Zappa and the Mothers, _Roxy & Elsewhere_ OK, most of the live tracks on the are studio overdubbed. But hey. Chester Thompson’s drumming on this album got him hired to drum with Phil Collins in Genesis. ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/54 "2020-05-17T18:28:08Z")
On the subject of the Who’s _Live At Leeds_, I was amazed to find out that the venue they recorded it at was not a stadium, a concert hall or even a good size theatre; it was in fact the student refectory at Leeds University ([here’s what it looks like today).](https://www.flickr.com/photos/lukpac/albums/72157710499830421) There’s a very informative thread with lots of photos [over at the Steve Hoffman Music Forums](https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/the-who-live-at-leeds-microphones.840650/) about the recording of this album; I highly recommend it for fans of _Live At Leeds_ and/or vintage audio gear enthusiasts! ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/55 "2020-05-17T18:32:21Z")
> [@Flare4roach](#): > > I’m gonna get torched by this but I prefer “Love You Live” from the Stones over “Ya Yas”. I like the Taylor years very much but there’s something missing from 69… I’m one of those _Ya Yas_ fanboys, but I ain’t gonna torch you. Instead, I’m going to crank up _Love You Live_ now…I’ve never heard the whole thing. I’m sure it’s as great as you say, warts and all. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/56 "2020-05-17T18:36:19Z")
> [@Hoops](#): > > On the subject of the Who’s _Live At Leeds_, I was amazed to find out that the venue they recorded it at was not a stadium, a concert hall or even a good size theatre; it was in fact the student refectory at Leeds University ([here’s what it looks like today).](https://www.flickr.com/photos/lukpac/albums/72157710499830421) Wow! That’s about the size of, say, the Village Vanguard! ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/57 "2020-05-17T18:39:15Z")
Right? Imagine how **LOUD** it must have been. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/58 "2020-05-17T18:43:11Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > **Kiss Alive 2** Though I don’t like the song-set as much as I do from their first ‘Alive’ album, and it doesn’t seem as “heavy”, the overall sound is much more representative of how they actually sounded live. ( we know in hindsight the original live record was a bit “doctored” ) ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/59 "2020-05-17T19:41:51Z")
> [@Flare4roach](#): > > …Having said that…I’d offer 73’s “A Brussels Affair” over both of the official releases. THAT is the Stones firing on all cylinders. Wow. This. More votes for No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, Stop Making Sense, and The Fillmore Concerts… Adding to the list, **Judas Priest** , “Unleashed In The East.” Also from them, though not an official album, their set at the US Festival is available on YouTube, in parts, and is amazing. Though Halford definitely got scarier as he got older… Depeche Mode 101 is one of their best albums. U2, Go Home: Live at Slaine Castle, is good too. Under a Blood Red Sky is just too short, though it’s my favorite version of Sunday, Bloody Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929/60 "2020-05-17T19:46:21Z")
**The Allman Brothers** - _Live at the Fillmore East_ is incomplete without “Mountain Jam” from _Eat A Peach_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-live-albums/853929.md?page=4)