Let's start with what a great live album actually is. First off, it needs to be a double album. If you don't have 2 albums worth of really good songs, wait until you do. Unfortunately, this rule eliminates Motorhead's No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith and Ian Hunter's Welcome To The Club since it really only has 3 sides live. A great live album should also have improved upon versions of the band's songs. That is, you should want to hear the live version over the original studio version. Got it?
While I may get arguments for some of these choices, let's be clear. We're really only talking about slots 2 through 5 because there is only one album that merits being called the greatest of all time. Up-bup: no discussion necessary. Don't argue, you'll only make yourself look bad.
#1 'Nuff said.
#2 - Kiss' Alive** OK, this is an oldie, but it is excellent from beginning to end. It is a perfect example of a great live album in that it chonicles the bands music of their first 4 albums and contains versions better than the originals. I defy you to put it on and tell me it's dated.
#3 Lynryd Skynryd's One More From The Road This one has one classic after another, better than the originals, culminating in a version of Freebird that is an all-time great. I'm not a country rock fan, and my liking this one so much speaks volumes for how good it really is.
#4 Nightwish's End Of An Era Hey, I know, lets take a heavy metal band from Finland and put a female opera singer in for the lead singer. Nah, that would never work, would it? It most definitely would! Of course, I'll probably take a hit or two for making it #4. Don't knock it until you hear it.
#5 Thin Lizzy's Live and Dangerous This one may be kind of a surprise, but it absolutely meets the definition of a great live album. I think I wore the grooves out on my copy back in the 10th grade.*couldn't be less interested in hearing about your wrong 5 albums.
**WTF? Why does Blogger always do this to me? Why is it publishing the wrong font size? I hate this shit!
8 comments:
O.M.G. you have no idea what you're talking about, because you didn't mention these:
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense.
Van Morrison - It’s Too Late to Stop Now
Rassles, I’m sure you’re a good kid and all, but there is only word for your suggestions in comparison to Mathdude's: Fail.
Mathdude, get that stupid Nightwish record out of there and replace it with The Stones Get Yer Ya's Ya's out and it will be impenetrable.
Oops! Get Yer Ya's Ya's Out is only a single record, but I thought of another that will shore up your list assuming you get the stooooooooopid Nightwish album out of there: 'Aerosmith Live Bootleg', a MOST excellent and often overlooked live album.
I'd tell you my top albums, but even I can admit they would be too embarrassing.
Seriously Alva, how could you not realize that Ya Ya's is a single disc? I mean, if all live albums were up for grabs, then we've got to put the Ramones in there. And James Brown.
Rassles: What songs on Stop Making Sense are better than the originals? It's not good enough to be a live album by a great band.
TA: Coincidently, No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith is being rereleased as a double set with tracks from Ace of Spades. I may have to make some adjustments.
Red: Would your list include live albums by the Partridge Family and the Starland Vocal Band?
Rassles II: The Ramones It's Alive doesn't come close to making this list, and I say that having seen them 4 times. It's just not good enough.
Nightwhat? WTF Mathdude? At least you didn't put Night Ranger on the list. How about...
Ted Nugent Double Live Gonzo!!!!!?
Deep Purple Made In Japan!!!!?
Scorpions Tokyo Tapes!!!!!?
Judas Priest Unleashed in the East!!!?
You score 80%...Nightwish?...dude..
I've commented elsewhere with this little known fact, but it belongs here as well.
The only part of Kiss Alive that was "live" was Peter Chris according to album engineer and mixer, Eddie Kramer. Peter's drumming and vocals are live, everything else was not.
I love this album (then and now) and it's a great album despite it's extensive overdubs and studio surgery.
Kiss did not pioneer the doctoring of Live events but it was taken to new heights with "Alive".
Ironic that Peter was first to be booted. Must have been the terrible secret only he and the band knew. Peter Chris album highlight: Black Diamond.
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