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Andre Moss's avatar

Great list, I would just add Waiting for Columbus by Little Feat.

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Ted Fay's avatar

++ on Waiting for Columbus.

Simon and Garfunkel in Central Park (despite it being abused by PBS for decades)

The Kinks - Lola from the One From the Road…much of the rest of the album can be skipped

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Adam B.'s avatar

Seconded. Word is it was fairly heavily overdubbed in studio but I don’t really care, the live effect it communicates is amazing.

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Matt Fish's avatar

Thanks Andre!

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Goldenstash Lives!'s avatar

Seger. Live Bullet

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Matt Fish's avatar

Rock solid pick :)

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Nobina Robinson's avatar

Interesting list. I would add Edgar Winter Roadwork and Lou Reed Rock and Roll Animal.

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Matt Fish's avatar

The Lou Reed one was on the longlist during the outlining stage. Thanks for reading!

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Robert Burkhardt's avatar

All great choices but I didn’t see one of my favorites: Jerry Lee Lewis Live at the Star Club. He takes no prisoners.

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Matt Fish's avatar

What an icon <3

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Jeremy Shatan's avatar

Many greats here, including James Brown, Miles Davis, and The Who! A couple of my go-tos are Bob Marley & The Wailers - Babylon By Bus and Bob Dylan - Hard Rain. And one more people need to know about is Desvio Onirico by Brazilian psych-rockers Boogarins.

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Matt Fish's avatar

Some great picks there, all worth checking out. Thanks Jeremy!

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Arcadeist's avatar

I loved the whole MTV unplugged series, especially Neil Young and Nirvana. Personally I would have Jeff Buckley Mystery White Boy and Pearl Jam Live on 2 Legs on a list but that’s just personal taste. It’s a great list🍻

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Matt Fish's avatar

Thanks for commenting! I’ve only ever heard the Pearl Jam record, will have to add the other to my list.

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Mar 7
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Matt Fish's avatar

Exceptional <3

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Ricardamundo's avatar

That Allman Brothers double live album is a killer.

One of my old favourites is Delaney and Bonnie and Friends with Eric Clapton Live (sort of the precursor for Layla).

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Matt Fish's avatar

I’ve never heard that one! Adding to my list 🤘

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Chris Stott's avatar

Where is Get your Ya’s Ya’s Out”?

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Matt Fish's avatar

It was one of the last ones cut.

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Chris Stott's avatar

While Cheap Trick catches lightning in a bottle with “ Budakon”, “Ya -Ya’s “ is the world’s greatest rock n roll band-when they actually were.

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Robert Dunn's avatar

Where is Little Feat?! Dude

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Gus's avatar

Seconds Out, Genesis

Space Ritual, Hawkwind

Live ... In The Heart of The City, Whitesnake (the proper version before Coverdale shat the bed)

Live at the Marquee, Nine Below Zero

Live at the Star Club Hamburg, Jerry Lee Lewis

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Lynn Rugh's avatar

Waiting For Columbus.

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Dr AMM's avatar

Thin Lizzy ‘Live and Dangerous’ (1977) is worth a shout too. Saw them live twice. Awesome performances. Lynott was a hugely charismatic frontman.

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Matt Fish's avatar

Another solid pick here, thanks for sharing!

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Dan Pal's avatar

I haven't heard all of these but I'm partial to the Frampton and Cheap Trick albums because they were so huge when I was an adolescent. Generally, I've never been a big fan of live albums. As a kid, my mom used to play the first Sonny & Cher Live album as well as Barbra Streisand's Live Concert at the Forum. I loved both of them but it's hard for me to come up with others I've listened to a lot since then. Nirvana Unplugged was pretty great though.

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Matt Fish's avatar

Thanks for the comment Dan :) I’ve listened to that Sony & Cher album.

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Sidney's avatar

Rory Gallagher ' Live In Europe '.

One of my greatest memories of a live performance was catching Rory in Montreal where the local opening act ( April Wine) was literally booded off the stage.

RORY

RORY

RORY

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David Pickering's avatar

"Irish Tour '74" is great as well. Rory was an absolute monster in concert. He coaxed the most amazing tones out of that beat-up Fender Stratocaster.

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Matt Fish's avatar

Another good pick! :D

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David Nee's avatar

I prefer their THREE Sides Live but Genesis’ Seconds Out really belongs on any best live album list.

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Don Quixote's Reckless Son's avatar

There's so many great live jazz albums but both Bill Evans and John Coltrane recordings "Live at the Village Vanguard" are on par with any.

Does "Let it Be" count as a live album? Then there's the Grateful Dead, who's studio recordings never captured the spark of their live shows. The all acoustic "Reckoning" predates the Americana label by 15 years or so. And The Band's "Last Waltz" predates that by another 5 years.

Oh, and how could I forget "Shadows and Light" and "Miles of Aisles" from Joni?

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