A bunch of my fave live albums have already been mentioned (some multiple times), so I had to dive a little deeper to come up with new ones. They are:
- The Band: Live At The Academy Of Music 1971. The Band's Rock Of Ages 2-LP set has been mentioned numerous times, but my nominee is this related boxset. The Band performed four live shows at The Academy in the last week of ’71, the Rock Of Ages set presenting only a portion of those shows. The boxset contains the complete shows on four CD’s and one DVD. You can’t have too much Band music.
- The Blasters: Over There---Live At The Venue, London. The Complete Concert. In 1982 Slash Records released Live At The Venue as a 12"/6-song EP. Last month’s RSD saw the release of the entire concert as a 2-LP set. Prior to the appearance of Los Lobos, The Blasters were the best band In Los Angeles. When Dave Alvin left the band to join X, he took his songwriting talent with him. leaving his brother Phil high-and-dry. Then saxophonist Steve Berlin left to join Los Lobos. Bummer.
- The Byrds: Untitled. By the time this album was released, only one original member of the Byrds---Roger/Jim McGuinn---remained. Though the group had lost David Crosby, Gene Clark, and Chris Hillman---a trio of talent far in excess to that of just about any band you care to mention---they had gained the guitar playing brilliance of Clarence White, one of the all-time greats (he was idolized by Tony Rice, for cryin’ out loud!). One disc of this album is live, the other studio.
- Derek & The Dominos: In Concert. D & TD were a quartet with about as much talent as four musicians can have. The presence of drummer Jim Gordon alone is enough reason to own this 2-LP set.
- Bob Dylan And The Band: Before The Flood. Others have already mention this in it’s original 1974 2-LP version, but my nominee is the expanded version recently released. Columbia issued a 27-CD boxset (!), and Third Man Records a 3-LP set containing recordings not included in the 1974 LP release.
- The Dave Edmunds Band: Live---I Hear You Rockin’. Dave is my favorite solo Rock’n’ Roll guitarist, producer, and live performer of the 1970’s and 80’s. Quite a statement, ay? I stand by it! On this live album Dave is provided accompaniment by a very good band. I saw them twice, once in NYC, the other in L.A. My ex-wife’s all-time favorite live show.
- The Everly Brothers: Reunion Concert. The Everly Brothers made music as good as it gets, and have been roll models for many who followed them (including John and Paul). They had the best songs, the best voices, and the best musicians. On this live recording they have Albert Lee playing guitar, reason enough to own this album.
- Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks: Where’s The Money? Recorded at The Troubadour in February of 1971, this album is the most fun you can have with your pants on.
- George Jones: First Time Live! George is and was the favorite singer of a lot of other singers, some of them perhaps favorites of yours. Gram Parsons, Elvis Costello, many others. Try as they might, no one comes close to equaling his singing. Thanks to that talent, George was given first right of refusal by the cream of Nashville songwriters. George’s drinking lead to his nickname, No Show Jones. Producer Billy Sherrill managed to get George to this show on time, and sober.
- Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, and Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives: Sweetheart Of The Rodeo 50th Anniversary, Live. Two of the Byrds members who recorded the Sweetheart album in 1968 joined forces with Marty Stuart and his great band (imo the best in the biz) for a few live shows in 2019. This 2-LP set was a RSD release this past April.
- Martin Mull And His Fabulous Furniture: In Your Living Room. Recorded before a small audience at Western Sound Studios on March 14th, 1973. Amusing yes, but also musically excellent. Accompaniment provided by the likes of Ray Brown, Harvey Mason, Red Calendar, David Grissman, and Sneaky Pete Kleinow. More fun than a barrel of monkeys.
- Randy Newman: Live. "Just" Randy and his piano, performing for an audience at The Bitter End in NYC on September 17-19, 1970. One of the very best songwriters of our lifetimes.
- NRBQ: Diggin’ Uncle Q. As good as their studio albums are (and they’re GOOD), you have to see NRBQ live to get their full measure. I’ve seen them thrice (pretentious? ), and they’re one of my three or so favorite live bands. This album was recorded with their classic line-up of Terry Adams, Joey Spampinato, Al Anderson, and Tom Ardolino.
- Townes Van Zandt: Live At The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas. Another Country music singer bedeviled by the bottle. In spite of that he managed to write a lot of great songs, and get them recorded. This 2-LP live package (just Townes and his guitar) is essential.
- The Ventures: On Stage. Recorded in Japan, England, and The U.S.A., released in 1965. My first favorite band, prior to the British Invasion.