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... 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
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
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"
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
Wow - thanks to all for exceptional expanding my Live possibilities!

folkfreak's Suzanne Vega "Luka" comment is interesting - are there any Live recording anyone knows of that are not small-room, vocal amplified?
There must be some acoustic ( and I mean REAL Acoustic) recording out there...

ALSO: TO ALL ABOVE: do you compare the LP and CD before making it a favorite? 
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
I should stress re the comment on "Luka" the real overload is when she is talking between songs, the sung vocal is actually much better located in the mix

Anyway here are some suggestions more in a more acoustic vein, from the very well known to the more unexpected
  • Bill Evans "Waltz for Debby". Run do not walk to buy this if you don’t already own it. My go to version is the Analog Productions 45rpm
  • Jacqui Naylor "East/West". Two full live sets of intelligent vocal jazz. Versions of "Once in a lifetime" and "My Funny Valentine" that will knock you off your seat
  • Jethro Tull "A Little Light Music". Tull unplugged, enough said, available on a nice 2lp set
For all my suggestions when available on LP that's generally my preference but the music and performances are much more important than the format. Frankly all of these suggestions will sound just great over Spotify
erndog's avatar
erndog
261 posts
 
Check out Nils Lofgren, "Acoustic Live."  My favorite cut is 'Keith don't go' and 'Mud in your eye.'
crwindy
123 posts
 
Tito Puente's Golden Latin Jazz All Stars Live at the Village Gate is an incredible recording for the music and the quality. I used it as one of my test recordings when looking for new headphones.
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