Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense. David Byrne's performance is captivating. I've probably watched the video a hundred times and listened to the album countless times. Every song is better than the studio version
this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2023
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Probably a three way tie among:
Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York
Portishead - Roseland NYC Live
Dave Matthews Band - The Central Park Concert
I also have a soft spot for The Complete Monterey Pop Festival
Kurt's vocal on Where Did You Sleep Last Night is one of the most visceral things I've ever heard. Get that on through decent headphones and you'll never listen to it the same way again. That breath he takes before the last lines is absolutely haunting.
Watch the video with headphones. His facial expressions match.
Nirvana's Unplugged in New York album is, in my opinion, as close to perfect as it gets.
Mine is Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Live at Radio City. Someone showed me that as an introduction to Dave Matthews and it was right when I was getting into playing guitar and I was awestruck! Watched the whole thing in one sitting and then learned several of the songs over the next few months.
I don't know if it counts as a live album as such, because as far as I'm aware it was never released, but The Weakerthans - Live At The Burton Cummings Theatre is a wonderful show. I ripped the audio from it to put on my iPod, so technically it is a live album to me...
Edit: Totally counts, it's available in all of the places...
Oh man thanks for the link! I’ve only started listening to The Weakerthans in the past few years and will definitely be checking out this performance
Welcome to the Sad Dad club, where the music we enjoy is about feelings and missing cats. You'll never be happy again, but you'll love the music nonetheless!
It's on Spotify! I love this album and The Weakerthans! Such a great band, hope they come back one day!
I got into The Weakerthans within the last year or two as well. I listened to Propagandhi a lot as a teenager and never really followed what happened with John when he left. Teenage me would not have appreciated/enjoyed it probably, but adult me is loving it - and the live album is amazing!
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I clicked to come in here and post Throwing Copper but then I read the actual post!
Journey's most recent one (Chicago) is great, even sans Perry.
I listen to Rush's Time Machine frequently (even though I saw it live too!)
The live Blizzard of Oz is fantastic as well.
Hahaha I was waiting for someone to toss out Throwing Copper!
I need to check out Time Machine…I love Rush and am sad I missed seeing them live.
Genesis’ Seconds Out is my favorite live album of all time. For people only familiar with the Phil Collins era of the band, it’s a perfect gateway to their brilliant past. Phil treats the Gabriel vocals with love and affection and really brings his all. Steve Hackett gives possibly some of his strongest work with the band. And the drum interplay between Collins and Chester Thompson (and, on one track, Bill Bruford) is :chef’s kiss:
Zappa/Mothers Just Another Band from LA showcases one of my favorite eras of the band, cut tragically short. The best, most complete rendition of Billy the Mountain until the release of the Carnegie Hall show
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I absolutely adore U2’s Under A Blood Red Sky. U2 are my favorite band and I think I have other favorite live shows as bootlegs (Dublin 93!! Point Depot 89!!), but this is my favorite live official release. It is also my bucket list show. If I could go back in time, this is the concert I’d want to go to. Red Rocks is an incredible venue and the performance of The Electric Co. is, well, electric. Also “40”…just an incredible tune and the magic of hearing the audience chant “how long…” is spine tingling. Would have loved to be there.
I think one of my other favorites is Live After Death by Iron Maiden. They perform Flight of Icarus and Rime of the Ancient Mariner and it’s incredible. Also, Phantom of the Opera from the Hammersmith is included on this remaster and that’s in my top 5 Maiden songs.
Under A Blood Red Sky is the reason I added Red Rocks to my travel bucket list!
To speak on the topic generally rather than answer the question specifically, I would say that almost every blues album is better live than studio recorded.
The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East
Do yourselves a favour and find a good copy, put on your headphones or whatever, and enjoy.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_Fillmore_East
Now I will go listen to my copy and smile.
Thanks for making me think of this album.
Rush - Snakes and Arrows Live 2007. It was a perfect set list. Plus, the cinematography of the concert DVD was beautifully done.
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Metallica’s S&M is a standout for me. It was so fresh and exciting and rich experience to listen to for the first time.
I like Joe Satriani’s live in San Francisco. He generally approaches live recordings as a unique experience so the songs and performance are quite different each time. He’s one artist I almost like his live albums more than his studios
Iron Maiden’s Fear of the Dark live versions are just another level in energy
S&M is amazing!! How do you like the second one? Any hopes for an S&M3? I’d love to see some of the new 72 Seasons songs done with an orchestra. And we need more Death Magnetic!!
Fear of the Dark live is always magical.
I haven’t listened to S&M2. Maybe I should give it a try? I’m surprised they did it considering how complete the first one was. And remember them saying how crucial the late Michael Kamen was to arranging it.
Heilung - LIFA. Their performances are rituals, and you can really feel the energy in the live version vs the studio version. A particularly good example is the LIFA version of Hamrer Hippyer vs the studio version from Furtha.
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Two of my favorites that are relatively different (with Spotify links):
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Viva the Underdogs by Parkway Drive: This album was recorded live at Wacken Open Air 2019 and also has a really cool accompanying documentary the band released with the same title. The energy on this album is insane and the band put on an all time performance! I've listened to it repeatedly since its release.
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Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland by Rush: This album was recorded at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH in 2011 on Rush's Time Machine World Tour. This was Rush's first ever live album recorded in the U.S. and is one of their best IMO. They play all the hits and the crowd brings great energy. The full video version is also on YouTube, which is awesome!
Is Time Machine the tour where they performed Moving Pictures in full?
I’m gonna spin this one today I think. Damn, I am sad that I never got to experience Rush live.
That's right! They perform all the songs off of Moving Pictures as well as a lot of other great songs. The set list from their website for the tour was as follows:
spoiler
Set One
- “The Spirit of Radio”
- “Time Stand Still”
- “Presto”
- “Stick It Out”
- “Workin’ Them Angels”
- “Leave That Thing Alone”
- “Faithless”
- “BU2B (Brought Up To Believe)”
- “Freewill”
- “Marathon”
- “Subdivisions”
Set two
- “Tom Sawyer”
- “Red Barchetta”
- “YYZ”
- “Limelight”
- “The Camera Eye”
- “Witch Hunt”
- “Vital Signs”
- “Caravan” (from Clockwork Angels)
- “Moto Perpetuo/Love For Sale” (Drum Solo)
- “O’Malley’s Break”/”Closer to the Heart” (with alternative outro)
- “2112 – I: Overture and II: The Temples of Syrinx”
- “Far Cry”
Encore
- “La Villa Strangiato” (with polka intro)
- “Working Man” (with reggae intro)
- “Cygnus X-1: Book I” teaser (second leg only)
Tyler Childers Live on Red Barn Radio.
His music already has a lot of heart and emotion in the studio and it's even better in these live recordings, also excellent set list.
Bjork - Vespertine Live
Every song seems like a slice of magic. It’s both perfect and naturally in-exact.
Simon and Garfunkel's Concert in Central Park. I know Art was choking the whole time but it's just a great album nonetheless. Definitely a concert I would time travel to attend.
oh this one's in my soul
yeah good call
The unplugged version of Nutshell is such a gut-punch. I still love that intro chord progression. Simple but beautiful.
Frank Zappa's "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore: Vol 2 is probably my favorite. At least for commercially released live albums. Choosing someone like Zappa or the Grateful Dead is somewhat cheating as an answer to this question though because they toured relentlessly and recorded all of their shows. So you have thousands of live recordings to choose from.
E&A by Eyedea & Abilities is phenomenal. Eyedea's approach to lyrics pairs well with DJ Abilities unreal scratching and beats!
Blaze Foley's Live at the Austin Outhouse
https://open.spotify.com/album/20jfTvbCUwJjOAhPkeIv61
Blaze was an outlaw country artist who, like many outlaw artists, struggled with relationships and substance abuse. His awareness of these issues made his music more powerful and his early death even more tragic. Recently a biopic was made about his life, named Blaze.
S&M - Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony
One of my top albums of all-time. James Hetfield's voice sounds better than on the studio albums. Plus an entire fucking orchestra.
"Coldplay Live 2003", mainly because it contains some of my favorite deep cuts.
I really love A Show of Hands by Rush. It's one of my favorite of their eras, though I feel like the "synth era" isn't as universally loved by fans
Iron Maiden- Live After Death
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XECqZcIO1fU
Aside from having a great setlist, I was a huge fan at the time, and they manage to make minor changes to some of the songs which really enhanced them. I don't usually feel that way about live performances, but I listened to, and watched the hell out of this one.
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coldplay live in buenos aires 🔥
Sarah McLachlan - Mirrorball
Maybe Fishmans? I also prefer Carrie & Lowell live over the studio version.
AC/DC - if you want blood - best live album of all time, peak Bon Scott era.
Motorhead - No sleep till hammersmith - with the classic line up and some of their best tunes played at deafening volume.
Viagra Boys - Shrimp Sessions 1 and 2, probably 3 when it's out
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