... Best Live Recordings ( other than Classical or Opera) on CD...


Hello to all...

I luv testing stereo equipment - and I think one of the best ways to tell just how resolving a recording is IF IT WAS RECORDED LIVE! ( not only how the music sounds, but how the ambience of the venue sounds, and if the clapping/hooting that happens sounds really real...)

What are your favorites? Please send suggestions... ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE DDD.

I'll start with one of my Favorites:
STOP MAKING SENSE: Talking Heads ( done DDD in the late 80's, remaster/reissued late 1999)
justvintagestuff
Two great live recordings that capture the feel of being "there".

Experience: Jill Scott 826+ 2-disc set  (Larger D.C. venue)
Eryka Badu Live (smaller club venue)

DIANA KRALL- LIVE IN PARIS- very "live" sound, good balance of all of instruments-  If you like her music of course.
Here are a few more goodies from my stack
  • John Renbourn & Robin Williamson "Wheel of Fortune". Great recordings of the guitar and harp, should be very dynamic and (in the case of the guitar esp in track 1 surprisingly bassy) -- of course the vocals are somewhat of an acquired taste 😀
  • Nancy Griffith "One Fair Summers Evening". Not a great recording (early digital) but still helpful to see if your system can capture the air and space in the room (Anderson Fair). Also available on LP which is well worth seeking out.
  • Suzanne Vega "Live at the Stephen Talkhouse". Another test to see if your system can reproduce the dynamics of a tight electric band recorded in a small room. My test track is #12 "Luka". As with many of these recordings the truest vocal sound is often one that is almost pushed to the edge of distortion, small room amplified vocals rarely sound "nice"