Top 10 Live Albums

i like live albums that feature new material and/or do something different than merely rehash studio recordings. from this perspective, good live albums would be jackson browne’s "running on empty", joe jackson’s "big world" and the oft-mentioned fillmore east and band of gypsies. also lou reed’s "rock and roll animal", which completely redoes (and outguns) his studio takes. for whatever reason, i’ve never liked alot of the mtv unplugged stuff (i thought nirvana’s was overrated and clapton’s and dylan’s were pretty awful), but that’s just me.

Neil Diamond "Hot August Nights"

A couple Red Rocks performances...

U2

Dave Matthews

Ricky Nelson "Live @ The Whiskey A Go-Go"

Isaac Hayes "Live at The Sahara Tahoe"

Mary Gauthier "Live at Blue Rock"

John Prine " at the Other End Dec.1975"

John Prine "Live"

Simon & Garfunkel "Concert at Central Park"

This is not a ranking based on which is the best. It is just the order in which they entered my almost 70yo brain.

1.  "Live at the Fillmore East" by The Allman Brothers Band (1970). Simply the best.

2. "Live Johnny Winter And" by Johnny Winter And (1970) Johnny at his best with Rick Derringer on guitar and future Stevie Ray Vaughn "double Trouble" Randy Jo Hobbs and Bobby Caldwell.

3.  "It's Too Late to Stop Now" by Van Morrison (1974). Underrated double live album when Van was like an Irish James Brown.

4. The Last Waltz" The Band and guests (1976) Fabulous tribute concert for arguably the greatest Canadian band ever. Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Mavis Staples, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Eric C;apton, etc.

5. "Live Stock" Roy Buchanan (1975) One of my personal top ten guitarists of all time playing some of his best stuff. Had the pleasure to see Roy at his peak in a small club back in the day. Such a sad end to his story.

6. "Greatest Hits Live" Boz Scaggs (2004)  Good musicians and Boz's fabulous voice and songs. So smooth.

7. "Live From Austin, TX" David Byrne (2007) Saw this tour and band live in the same small club as I saw Rory Gallagher, Roy Buchanan, Woody Herman, Tom Petty, Tim Buckley, Buddy Rich, Moby, Los Lobos, etc. Byrne, his band and the accompanying string section had the place dancing all night.

8. "17/11/70" Elton John (1971) Was lucky enough to see this first major tour and paid a pre-Ticketmaster ticket price of $3.50. Elton blasts off to become a rocket man. One of the greatest live shows ever. Over the top glitz and showmanship.The  early 1970's version of Taylor Swift.

9. ”Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!” The Rolling Stones (1970) The Stones when the really were the greatest rock n' roll band in the world. 

10. "Irish Tour '74" Rory Gallagher (1974) Last, but no where near to least. Saw him four times and each one was a blistering tour de force by the greatest guitarist ever. This double album captures him perfectly. Do yourself and watch Tony Palmers film by the same name released in 2011. One of the top five live concert movies ever made.

@baconboy -

Taj Mahal-The Real thing-

"You Ain't No Street Walkin' Mama, But I Love The Way You Strut Your Stuff."