By Dan on Apr 25, 2008 in Music
I haven’t done a music blog recently, so here goes.
Although I love hearing bands live, I’m not particularly fond of live albums. The production quality varies greatly and the energy of a live show isn’t usually properly conveyed in an audio recording. That said, there is one live album that I hold dear: the Kinks’ One for the Road.
I purchased this record in high school and proceeded to wear the vinyl down throughout my college years. It eventually succumbed to the digital age of recording and the economic impracticality of once again having my turntable repaired. One of the greatest mysteries of my music collection is why I never repurchased One for the Road on CD.
As for the music, it includes many of the Kinks more rocking songs(Hard Way, You Really Got Me, Prince of the Punks, All Day and All of the Night) played at a punked-up tempo. Listening to it in modern times, it’s easy to imagine these lesser-appreciated crusaders of the British Invasion being right at home on stage with many of the coolest bands from the indie rock heyday of the 80s and 90s.
In fact, I’ve often thought of the Kinks as the godfathers of the post-punk era. Their riff-heavy numbers and their story-telling tunes, combined with Ray Davies refusal to adopt an American accent while singing, combine to make them the shining light from the Sixties and a clear influence on the many bands to come that shunned the classic or arena rock formula. Despite their forays into the Top 40, the Kinks are truly a band that belongs left of the dial and One for the Road provides a good soundtrack for that trip.
Well then, what are some of your favorite live recordings? You can include bootleg recordings if you like, but this blog won’t be held accountable for publicizing your musical piracy.
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“Live at Leeds” – The Who
“Live Rust” - Neil Young
“MTV Unplugged in New York” - Nirvana
Also, Selected live cuts from the following compilation albums:
“Should God Forget: A Retrospective” - The Psychedelic Furs
“The Kids Are Alright” (soundtrack) – The Who
Honorable mention:
“Woodstock”
Dave | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
Jane’s Addiction’s “Jane’s Addiction”. Their cover of the Stones “Sympathy for the Devil” (Sympathy) is fantastic as well as “I Would For You”.
As an aside, I thought “You Really Got Me” was a Van Halen song??? Ha ha!!!
nancy | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
At the risk of incurring warranted wrath and ridicule, I’d have to say that Frampton Comes Alive is one of my favorites (although it was long ago banished to the nether regions of my CD collection, out of site from casual visitors who might accidentally learn my secret). Here’s why - when considering a live album, I think you have to take into account the difference between the live and studio versions of the tracks included. Frampton’s studio work was so flat, tedious and boring (to the point of being cliché) that the energy and vigor of FCA is, by comparison, an enigmatic gem! It also provided the soundtrack to my youth, as you could hardly turn on the radio in the late 70’s and not here the live cuts of Show me the way or Do you feel like we do (not that quantity somehow implies quality, just that when I think of those dog days of summer in say, 1978 my memory is accompanied by many of those tunes).
I also really like KISS Alive II, but just ‘cause I thought it was so dang cool . . .
Rock-Robster | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
Grounds for divorce.
nancy | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
That you (Nancy) somehow snuck your comment in between my original posting and your leaving to pick up the kiddies from school is amazing (yes, I tried to time my post as to avoid your quick review/reply!).
Is “lameness” really grounds for divorce???
Rock-Robster | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
In the landmark case of Lee versus Anderson, it was decided that lameness did constitute reasonable cause for dissolution of a legally binding marriage. Although in the particular case cited, both parties were allowed to persue this action, resulting in a mutual-fault ruling.
Dan | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
If we are now talking about 70s live albums that we liked when we were young and are now embarrassed about it, may I include Bob Segar’s “Live Bullet”. I could not have survived without that album in 1976. “Live Bullet” along with FCA led the charge in the mid-to-late 70s live album rush.
Dave | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
Damn, Dan, that’s funny!
nancy | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
A shiny new dime to whoever can name the device Frampton used to give Do You Feel Like We Do its distinctive sound.
Dan | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
You mean the ‘talkbox’?
1) Peter Gabriel - Secret World Live
2) Johnny Cash - At Folsom
3) Nirvana - Unplugged
4) Foo Fighters - Skin and Bones (or, even better - their Live Earth set from ‘07)
5) Wilco - Kicking Television
6) The Rat Pack - Live at the Sands
Russ | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
Adopting Rock-Rob’s assessment of Frampton, I found a correlation with both KISS Alive and Alive II. They are unbelivable live albums. KISS’ studio work was very subdued compared to the live versions of the same songs on both these albums. On the Alive albums the music came well….”alive!” They are both packed with some serious energy. I think that is what a live album should be about; taking studio work and ratcheting it up several notches. It is my experience that some live music recordings, and two that stand out to me right now is R.E.M. and ACDC, actually do the opposite. I feel that in both cases their studio work is much more effective and vibrant than their live stuff.
It is my understanding that the first KISS Alive album is largely credited with generating the “KISS Army.” I personally became a KISS fan because of the Alive II album.
Ok Dan, now take your cheap shots.
M.B. | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
This next one goes out to a very classy lady. Rags, this song is for you darlin’.
Dan | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
In all honesty, I prefer live recordings (especially bootlegs) over just about any studio album nowadays. Except maybe for Sufjan Stevens’ albums. Those are just incredible.
I don’t even really have a lot of preference. I listen to a lot of bootlegs on Internet Archive’s Live Music Archive. A lot of times, I just select a band I’ve never heard and stream a live show that’s either gotten good ratings or has a lot of comments. I’ve discovered a lot of bands I had never listened to before.
For example:
1) Umphrey’s McGee
2) Assembly of Dust
3) Drive-By Truckers
4) Afroskull
Additionally, the Archive features a bunch of live performances by guys like Warren Zevon, who I think is a pretty great songwriter. Most people only know him for “Werewolves,” and that’s a shame. He was a cool dude, and a talented writer and musician.
Also, I know you don’t like the Dead, but I think it’s cool that the LMA features darn near every Dead show ever recorded. That’s pretty cool. I tend to favor their bluegrass/folk inspired Americana tunes over their spacey jams, but I love the variety of music those guys played. Sometimes I like to listen to early 70s acoustic shows. Sometimes I like to listen to the late 70s rock shows.
You can even find local jam monkeys, The Station, at the Live Music Archive. Some of their shows are worth listening to.
Also Ween has a bunch of shows on the LMA.
Anyway, yeah, I like live music. A lot. And I like listening to it at home. A lot.
John | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
It’s just all out armageddon here. Rock and M.B. in agreement????Seriously, do either of you ever consider the impact of these preferences on your innocent children? PUT THE KISS DOWN and nobody has to get hurt.
To John: Any Ween is good Ween.
nancy | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
Despite my professed lack of interest in live Dave Matthews Band albums, my parents seemed to get me each of those annual releases for a time in the late 1990s. So I have those and will keep them (I have a thing about keeping even unwanted gifts from my family) but I doubt I will ever listen to them. I generally don’t like live CDs either, but a couple of the ones I like run the risk of further solidifying my lameness:
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds - “Live at Luther College” (a sterling acoustic show with the duo)
Fleetwood Mac - “The Dance” (Lindsey Buckingham’s version of “Big Love” on there is outstanding.)
Guster - “Guster On Ice” (How can you not like a band whose drummer literally slaps the drums?)
Metallica - “S&M” (The sympho-metal movement peaked with this one. I have a Kiss-and-symphony CD from my brother that’s amusing, but not that good.)
Pink Floyd - “Is There Anybody Out There?” (The band in its bombastic prime)
Pearl Jam - “Live On Two Legs” and any of their live shows I happened to be at (the only time I’ve ponied up for live bootlegs; I was at their epic Soldier Field show when they pretty much played every song they had, and some Sly & the Family Stone covers)
Nick | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
Here are a few of my favorite official live releases:
- The Allman Brothers Band: Live at the Fillmore East. Arguably the best live album ever released.
- KISS: Alive.
- Derek and The Dominoes: Live at the Fillmore East. Epic 19 minute “Let It Rain.”
- Frampton: Frampton Comes Alive. Obviously.
- Cheap Trick: Live at Budokan. Another obligatory mention right alongside Frampton.
- The Who: Live at Leeds. The Who at the height of their power.
- The Rolling Stones: Get Your Ya Ya’s out. By far the best Stones album in their abundance of live releases, most of which aren’t worth the time. I recommend the bootleg route.
My college jamband phase turned me on to bootleg collecting. Now I scour the web for high quality bootlegs, many of which are far superior to the band’s official live releases. I prefer full length performances over live compilations.
Gabe | Apr 26, 2008 | Reply
Oh man. Just today I was comparison shopping for various editions of “Frampton Comes Alive” looking for the cheapest remastered version. My goodness that album is great. Laugh if you want but Frampton’s guitar playing is fantastic. I braved the rain to go running to the 14-minute version of “Do You Feel Like We Do.” Then, just as I started listening to it for the second time, at the spillway bridge in Washington Park, the right side of the headphones goes out. Bummer. (Incidentally, you can get the album for 9.99 on iTunes.)
Joe Jackson Live 1980-86 is an overlooked classic. Well, not overlooked by me.
IN addition to “One for the Road,” the Kinks have a great live album from the ’90s called “To the Bone.”
“Concert for George” also is not to be missed. Billy Preston wails on “My Sweet Lord” and there’s just a ton of great stuff.
“The Last Waltz” and “Concert for Bangladesh” are good especially if you’re a Dylan fan.
I also like that U2 live album where Bono says, “This is not a rebel song! This is Soonday Bloody Soonday!” Well, I don’t like the album that much but I like hearing Bono say “Soonday.”
Mister Matt | Apr 27, 2008 | Reply
Matt,
I wouldn’t have pegged you as a Frampton fan. Bully to you for owning up to it.
I should obtain the Concert for George album. My son Victor’s favorite song is What is Life.
As for U2s Under a Blood Red Sky, I do like Bono’s pronunciation of Soonday. But what I really find interesting is that when it was originally released the song Electric Co. had “snippets of Stephen Sondheim’s Send In The Clowns and I Want To Live In America from West Side Story.” Subsequent pressings didn’t include them, and suffered from the loss.
And has anyone noticed that Squeeze Singles has some updated lyrics and versions. Why?
Thanks for commenting,
Dan
Dan | Apr 27, 2008 | Reply
I really don’t like how Rock Rob’s unfortuante endorsement of Frampton has just kind of opened the door for other people to act likes it’s all normal or something.
nancy | Apr 28, 2008 | Reply
Nancy - Why is it so strange to learn that other people feel like I do?
Rock-Robster | Apr 28, 2008 | Reply
C’mon Nancy, it’s Frampton. If you lived in the suburbs you were issued it. It came in the mail with samples of Tide.
More seriously:
I second Live Rust and The Last Waltz (I prefer the 4 disc box set but the double album is stellar too) and the Allman’s Fillmore East
as well as
My Morning Jacket - Okonos
Grateful Dead’s - Europe ‘72
Simon and Garfunkel - Concert in Central Park
Dylan’s “The Royal Albert Hall” bootleg
Bob Marley - Live
Springsteen’s Live 1975-1985
Jimmy Page & Black Crowes - Live at the Greek
and of course: Journey - Greatest Hits Live
Those are the ones I came up with off the top of my head but I second what John said above. Now thanks to the internet the best live music is oftentimes bootlegs or soundboards officially released by the band but not considered live albums. Bands like Phish, Widespread Panic and the Drive by Truckers whose reputations (whatever your opinion on those are) are built on their live show and while those acts have released good live albums their best live stuff arent the official releases. Archive.org is great as is bt.etree.org (both completely legal) and there are a ton of illegal sites where you can find boots of bands who dont allow taping. If you’re so inclined.
Reverend Dave | Apr 28, 2008 | Reply
Rock Robster always makes me come alive. Rrrrrrrah! (as an aside gotta side with Nancy on this … sorry…. I just picture a bunch of dirty stoned hippies dancing around during a sunset whenever I hear anything from that Frampton album … though I do appreciate his new Geico ad)
Live albums? Best ever is Rush, All The World’s A Stage. OK, given, it does have “By-Tor and the Snow Dog” but come on! The versions of Bastille Day and 2112 are possible the best things ever embedded in vinyl.
Mike de la Loyola | Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
Um, Mike, thanks for concurring on Frampton, but why introduce Rush to the equation? You’re just going to get him all riled up again.
nancy | Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
Because if it’s not about Rush, it’s not worth talking about …. really, seriously, for the same criteria that all the others have been included - live versions that kick the cr&p out of recorded versions. The studio 2112 is so cold and sterile in comparison to this one.
For one that Rock Robster must agree on … how about Live at the Budokan by Cheap Trick - nothing like that version of “I Want You To Want Me” - rock rock rock.
Mike de la Loyola | May 1, 2008 | Reply
Can’t believe no one’s mentioned Johnny Cash Live at Folsum Prison! Not along the same genre as KISS, Frampton or RUSH, but equally notable among live albums. I have to agree with nancy about the KISS, but as illustrated by the backlash there are probably many more folks who feel the way RockRobster does about these other bands/music. Mike, Cheap Trick’s song is a welcome earworm live or studio recorded!
Uknow | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Uknow….go back and read my comment from April 25. ‘Folsom’ is my #2 pick.
Russ | May 13, 2008 | Reply