The Internet killed the Live Album

But live recordings never ever were that popular anyway. Live recordings did not sell very well even before the internet. To get a platin or gold record was always a very huge exception. They can be very cheap to produce, so even a limited sale can be interesting for some companies though.

tul wrote:

But live recordings never ever were that popular anyway. Live recordings did not sell very well even before the internet. To get a platin or gold record was always a very huge exception. They can be very cheap to produce, so even a limited sale can be interesting for some companies though.

That's not true.

Frampton Comes Alive! is a double live album released in 1976 and one of the best-selling live albums of all time. Frampton had four solo albums previous to it that didn't sell very well, but Frampton Comes Alive! became his big break-thru album. In fact, a quick check on RIAA has is at 8x platinum. It also was #1 on the Billboard charts in 1976.

As well, Kiss' first three studio albums didn't sell very well and Kiss Alive! was recorded and became the band's break-thru record and was their first record to go Gold and eventually Platinum.

Thin Lizzy also had a big hit with Live & Dangerous.

In the late 70's and early 80's Live albums were incredibly popular, so it's inaccurate to say, "live recordings never ever were that popular".

I disagree tul, live albums were popular, at least were popular til the late 80's, early 90's. Live albums even broke two of the biggest bands of the 70's, KISS and Cheap Trick.

Ted Nugent, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Judas Priest and Rainbow in the 70's, just to name a handful of albums, had huge hits with their live albums and are considered important , landmark albums in their career.

The last few years live albums have been used to fulfill contracts and also like you said to make a cheap live product for die hard fans.

Just checked on Wiki; the best-selling live album worldwide is Garth Brooks' Double Live, having sold in excess of 21 million copies as of November 2006.

Cheap Trick's Live At Budakon was incredibly popular as well, giving the band their first Top 10 hit with the live version of "I Want You to Want Me". Again, according to Wiki: In the U.S., the album peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and became the group's best selling album with over three million copies sold...

Newer bands don't bother to do them. Probably because bands play so few shows these days. So their future is bleak.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Newer bands don't bother to do them. Probably because bands play so few shows these days. So their future is bleak.

Seems like the "contract-fufillment " release of choice these days is cover/tribute albums.

ultmetal wrote:

Frampton Comes Alive! is a double live album released in 1976 and one of the best-selling live albums of all time. Frampton had four solo albums previous to it that didn't sell very well, but Frampton Comes Alive! became his big break-thru album. In fact, a quick check on RIAA has is at 8x platinum. It also was #1 on the Billboard charts in 1976.

Everybody in the world has Frampton Comes Alive. If you lived in the suburbs you were issued it. It came in the mail with samples of Tide

rawr! wrote:

from what ive observed, youtube primarily satisfies the limited (in quality and other factors) instant online gratification or reminiscing categories of listening to live material, which doesnt really stamp out the need for high quality, full length, personally possessed live recordings. there is definitely some interplay of user intention and what material is available where, but the two media sources currently occupy two overlapping but different niches. companies might feel pressure from a portion of the consumers of both media formats that realize theyve been paying a lot for live material they feel they could theoretically get cheaper to one degree or another. a lot of money is made because of perceived monopolies....if people record their own shows or share a professional recording they defeat the false idea of a monopoly and more people benefit than would have because we arent playing pretend.

Good post. I pretty much agree with everything rawr said.

I remember in the 80's, the rock mags at the time said the live album was dead and their would never be another huge seller like in the 70's..... the Live After Death went platinum showing that the critics never know what they are talking about

Temple of Blood wrote:

Probably because bands play so few shows these days. So their future is bleak.

That's not true at all. Bands tour much more heavily now because live performances have become the meat of their profits. In the 70's and 80's, a group could count on their record sales to make up the majority of their revenue. Record companies liked this as well, for obvious reasons. Since album sales have declined since that time, more time is invested in touring and merchandising. That's why ticket prices are so much higher. A club show with a headlining act can be 20-30 bucks, where stadiums and arenas can sometimes reach into the hundreds of dollars for good seats. When you get to the venue, the merch stands are selling T shirts for $30 and several other overpriced goodies with the logo or punch line stamped on it (still worth it if you love and support that band). Touring heavily can make a lot more money for the band, but it's also extremely expensive, so their profit margin tends to be a lot smaller today than in the 70s/80s, especially after promoters, venues and the record companies are paid. It can also be physically taxing on the band members themselves.

However, playing live and recording live are not the same. The internet certainly killed the novelty of a live album because without actually seeing the band live, it was a real treat to hear them in a live setting.

On the other hand, there's a certain magic and energy captured in a memorable live performance that can't be recreated through an iPhone recording or studio session. A well produced live recording can really showcase the raw power of a live act (Saxon, Iron Maiden, UFO).

So keep buying concert tickets and T shirts, it's how your favorite bands (new and old) are staying alive!

manny wrote:

I disagree tul, live albums were popular, at least were popular til the late 80's, early 90's. Live albums even broke two of the biggest bands of the 70's, KISS and Cheap Trick.

Ted Nugent, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Judas Priest and Rainbow in the 70's, just to name a handful of albums, had huge hits with their live albums and are considered important , landmark albums in their career.

The last few years live albums have been used to fulfill contracts and also like you said to make a cheap live product for die hard fans.

plus some of the Stones live albums are quite good. They have a ton of em but some of particularly good.

Andy wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Probably because bands play so few shows these days. So their future is bleak.

That's not true at all. Bands tour much more heavily now because live performances have become the meat of their profits. In the 70's and 80's, a group could count on their record sales to make up the majority of their revenue. Record companies liked this as well, for obvious reasons. Since album sales have declined since that time, more time is invested in touring and merchandising. That's why ticket prices are so much higher. A club show with a headlining act can be 20-30 bucks, where stadiums and arenas can sometimes reach into the hundreds of dollars for good seats. When you get to the venue, the merch stands are selling T shirts for $30 and several other overpriced goodies with the logo or punch line stamped on it (still worth it if you love and support that band). Touring heavily can make a lot more money for the band, but it's also extremely expensive, so their profit margin tends to be a lot smaller today than in the 70s/80s, especially after promoters, venues and the record companies are paid. It can also be physically taxing on the band members themselves.

However, playing live and recording live are not the same. The internet certainly killed the novelty of a live album because without actually seeing the band live, it was a real treat to hear them in a live setting.

On the other hand, there's a certain magic and energy captured in a memorable live performance that can't be recreated through an iPhone recording or studio session. A well produced live recording can really showcase the raw power of a live act (Saxon, Iron Maiden, UFO).

So keep buying concert tickets and T shirts, it's how your favorite bands (new and old) are staying alive!

Wrong. Established bands tour more. Everyone else doesn't.

True. I can't speak for other bands but Ultimatum use to play a lot more shows in the 90's than we have in recent years. Gas prices killed the weekend touring that we use to do.

Rush will be putting out another live DVD in a month or so..... AC/DC released live at River Plate.....

Don't forget the new Cinderella live album!

Eyesore wrote:

Don't forget the new Cinderella live album!

if i want for live albums, Cinderella would be no more...