Favorite live albums...besides the basics

journeyman wrote:

Not to derail the thread, but talking about "live", I've been a little disappointed by the way bands seem to think its cool to use pre-recorded stuff instead of figuring out a way to do it LIVE (I've got the album already and don't really feel the need for you to push play for me). Hendrix figured out a way to play all along the watchtower even though it was physically impossible for him to play it exactly the way it is on the album. I think it is just pure laziness myself and get turned of when I see it. I paid money to see the band play, not a listening party with accompaniment.

I admit I ride the fence on this one.

What I do embrace fully is overdubs on live albums. I like to call them 'enhancements.' It's a trust issue, really: I have to trust the band kicked ass that/those night(s) and the overdubs are there to bring that out. Call it ignorance is bliss, but I'm totally fine with it. I'm also totally fine of live albums with no overdubs (Made in Japan is my all-time fav).

What I DON'T like is Van Halen's two shitty live videos. The hell, man. Especially Right Here Right Now (which was taken from the Selland Arena here in Fresno) which was culled from two different nights SPLICED TOGETHER. I got so sick of seeing Sammy's spandex change colors every other shot.

Almost all that I like are already listed.

Alive in Athens by Iced Earth.

Scorpions Tokyo Tapes and World Wide Live
Rainbow On Stage (on of my very first albums ever - didn't like Dio's voice at that time)
Speaking of Dio - love several live CD's and DVD's reissued not that long ago

I have to mention I've never cared for live albums indeed. Usually I love the version of a song I heard first and have a hard time listening to any different one for some reason, and more often than not it is studio original. Without video backing up they seem useless.

journeyman wrote:

Iron Maiden - Maiden Japan
Iron Maiden - Beast Over Hammersmith
Whitesnake - live in the heart of the city
Scorpions - World Wide Live
Great White - recovery live (the one from the 80's)
Many of the ones already listed also.

Love live albums and in many cases better than the studio versions. I like live albums so much I guess because I love concerts.

Not to derail the thread, but talking about "live", I've been a little disappointed by the way bands seem to think its cool to use pre-recorded stuff instead of figuring out a way to do it LIVE (I've got the album already and don't really feel the need for you to push play for me). Hendrix figured out a way to play all along the watchtower even though it was physically impossible for him to play it exactly the way it is on the album. I think it is just pure laziness myself and get turned of when I see it. I paid money to see the band play, not a listening party with accompaniment.

I think that it depends on how it's done. DTP (who I have already mentioned on this thread) pretty much have to use backing tracks because of how the songs are constructed, (that or clone Anneke and take a full orchestra and choir on tour with them, I don't think that they are that wealthy), but everyone knows this and there are also excellent musicians on display too. If a band is using pre recorded stuff to be lazy or they are just not as good as they have been made to sound on the record it is pretty sucky.

I love live albums, too many to name but my favorites:

AC/DC-If You Want Blood
UFO- Strangers in the Night
Jimi Hendrix- Band of Gypsys
Sex Pistols- Filthy Lucre Live
Black Sabbath- Live Evil
Deep Purple- Made in Japan
Deep Purple- In Concert
Rush- All the World's a Stage
AC/DC- Live
KISS- Alive
and list could go on and on and on and...

Even though its not metal (too be fair, several albums mentioned aren't either   ) I have to mention one of my personal favorites, Journey-Captured. I know several of you here don't like them, but Journey, and this record in particular got a lot of turntable time during my high school years. It's the last time we got to hear the 70s version of the band before Jonathan Cain took over keys and that classic rock and roll sound changed. Many of the hits rocked a little harder than the studio versions and Steve Perry's liberties and expansions of the vocal lines show his versatility. I don't know (and don't really care) if there were overdubs done. This album is 70s Journey at its best. *steps off soapbox*

I also enjoyed Kansas-Two For The Show in addition to many of the essentials already listed.

Captured is such a great live record.

One I've always loved is Samson's Live At Reading '81.

I'm also a big fan of Tesla's Five Man Acoustical Jam.

Because it was really my first exposure to the Rolling Stones Still Life is also a favorite. Going To A Go-Go tops my Stones song list.

QuothTheRaven wrote:

Even though its not metal (too be fair, several albums mentioned aren't either   ) I have to mention one of my personal favorites, Journey-Captured. I know several of you here don't like them, but Journey, and this record in particular got a lot of turntable time during my high school years. It's the last time we got to hear the 70s version of the band before Jonathan Cain took over keys and that classic rock and roll sound changed. Many of the hits rocked a little harder than the studio versions and Steve Perry's liberties and expansions of the vocal lines show his versatility. I don't know (and don't really care) if there were overdubs done. This album is 70s Journey at its best. *steps off soapbox*

I also enjoyed Kansas-Two For The Show in addition to many of the essentials already listed.

 Gotta agree with on Journey. Great album. As is the Kansas album. The 30th anniversary version is top notch.

bass63 wrote:

QuothTheRaven wrote:

Even though its not metal (too be fair, several albums mentioned aren't either   ) I have to mention one of my personal favorites, Journey-Captured. I know several of you here don't like them, but Journey, and this record in particular got a lot of turntable time during my high school years. It's the last time we got to hear the 70s version of the band before Jonathan Cain took over keys and that classic rock and roll sound changed. Many of the hits rocked a little harder than the studio versions and Steve Perry's liberties and expansions of the vocal lines show his versatility. I don't know (and don't really care) if there were overdubs done. This album is 70s Journey at its best. *steps off soapbox*

I also enjoyed Kansas-Two For The Show in addition to many of the essentials already listed.

 Gotta agree with on Journey. Great album. As is the Kansas album. The 30th anniversary version is top notch.

Yeah That 30th anniversary is a definite get!!!! Kerry say there are NO overdubs and after listening to many Kansas live bootlegs, I believe him.

Live After Death is horrible, I don't understand why people like that one. Bruce sounds like he's gotta take the meanest dump for the duration of the whole show. Live in Ullevi is the best one next to Rock in Rio for Maiden

More classics

Rainbow - On Stage
Black Sabbath - Live Evil
Ozzy Osbourne - Speak Of The Devil
Ozzy Osbourne - Tribute
Whitesnake - Live..In The Heart Of The City
Angel - Live Without A Net
Aerosmith - Live Bootleg
Aerosmith - A Little South Of Sanity
Deep Purple - Made In Japan
Riot - Riot Live
Ted Nugent - Double Live Gonzo
Scorpions - Tokyo Tapes
Y & T - Open Fire
Starz - Live In Action

bass63 wrote:

More classics
Scorpions - Tokyo Tapes
Y & T - Open Fire

How could I forget those two!!!!! Y&T is so kick ass live!!!!!

Some of my faves:
Raven Live at the Inferno
W.A.S.P. Double Live Assassins
Savatage Ghost In The Ruins
Overkill Wrecking Everything (which is particularly epic on DVD)
Gamma Ray Skeletons in the Closet

Boris2008 wrote:

journeyman wrote:

Iron Maiden - Maiden Japan
Iron Maiden - Beast Over Hammersmith
Whitesnake - live in the heart of the city
Scorpions - World Wide Live
Great White - recovery live (the one from the 80's)
Many of the ones already listed also.

Love live albums and in many cases better than the studio versions. I like live albums so much I guess because I love concerts.

Not to derail the thread, but talking about "live", I've been a little disappointed by the way bands seem to think its cool to use pre-recorded stuff instead of figuring out a way to do it LIVE (I've got the album already and don't really feel the need for you to push play for me). Hendrix figured out a way to play all along the watchtower even though it was physically impossible for him to play it exactly the way it is on the album. I think it is just pure laziness myself and get turned of when I see it. I paid money to see the band play, not a listening party with accompaniment.

I think that it depends on how it's done. DTP (who I have already mentioned on this thread) pretty much have to use backing tracks because of how the songs are constructed, (that or clone Anneke and take a full orchestra and choir on tour with them, I don't think that they are that wealthy), but everyone knows this and there are also excellent musicians on display too. If a band is using pre recorded stuff to be lazy or they are just not as good as they have been made to sound on the record it is pretty sucky.

As an example of what I mean, Black Label Society on the Gigantor tour, when they did Concrete Jungle, the whole beginning wasn't played by the band, but a pre-recorded thing. I would much rather hear an arrangement of the song that they could actually play.

I have no problem with fixing up a live recording because watching a show and seeing the flubs or misses are easier to understand when your part of it and not so when listening to a recording. However their is a line when a live recording turns into a re-record. Sometimes songs take on a whole different vibe live and that's why I dig them.

chewie wrote:

bass63 wrote:

More classics
Scorpions - Tokyo Tapes
Y & T - Open Fire

How could I forget those two!!!!! Y&T is so kick ass live!!!!!

 Have you heard Y & T's latest live album? Live At The Mystc. Jaw dropping stuff. Double cd. Well worth the $12 at Amazon. 

Boris2008 wrote:

journeyman wrote:

Iron Maiden - Maiden Japan
Iron Maiden - Beast Over Hammersmith
Whitesnake - live in the heart of the city
Scorpions - World Wide Live
Great White - recovery live (the one from the 80's)
Many of the ones already listed also.

Love live albums and in many cases better than the studio versions. I like live albums so much I guess because I love concerts.

Not to derail the thread, but talking about "live", I've been a little disappointed by the way bands seem to think its cool to use pre-recorded stuff instead of figuring out a way to do it LIVE (I've got the album already and don't really feel the need for you to push play for me). Hendrix figured out a way to play all along the watchtower even though it was physically impossible for him to play it exactly the way it is on the album. I think it is just pure laziness myself and get turned of when I see it. I paid money to see the band play, not a listening party with accompaniment.

I think that it depends on how it's done. DTP (who I have already mentioned on this thread) pretty much have to use backing tracks because of how the songs are constructed, (that or clone Anneke and take a full orchestra and choir on tour with them, I don't think that they are that wealthy),

or just re-arrange the songs.

I'd love to see a band like Nightwish perform all their symphonic stuff arranged for just the band that is on stage.

How could I forget Yesterday & Today Live! One of my first live albums, major intense.

RAIDwarden wrote:

Live After Death is horrible, I don't understand why people like that one. Bruce sounds like he's gotta take the meanest dump for the duration of the whole show. Live in Ullevi is the best one next to Rock in Rio for Maiden

Bruce sounds fine and the album sounds great - killer album (and a great video), minimal (if any) overdubs, love the mix with Dave in the left channel and Adrian in the right.

If you are talking about Ullevi 2005, that isn't an official release - it's a boot of a Nordic TV broadcast... I wish they could clean it up, give it a good mix and officially release it. Fantastic show!

Rock In Rio is better than Live After Death..... as is En Vivo (IMHO), but LAD is still a KILLER release and THE seminal live album of the 80's.

thejokeriv wrote:

RAIDwarden wrote:

Live After Death is horrible, I don't understand why people like that one. Bruce sounds like he's gotta take the meanest dump for the duration of the whole show. Live in Ullevi is the best one next to Rock in Rio for Maiden

Bruce sounds fine and the album sounds great - killer album (and a great video), minimal (if any) overdubs, love the mix with Dave in the left channel and Adrian in the right.

If you are talking about Ullevi 2005, that isn't an official release - it's a boot of a Nordic TV broadcast... I wish they could clean it up, give it a good mix and officially release it. Fantastic show!

Rock In Rio is better than Live After Death..... as is En Vivo (IMHO), but LAD is still a KILLER release and THE seminal live album of the 80's.

Even though I don't really like live albums, Live After Death got immeasurable plays from the gang I hung around with back in the day so I have a great connection with it.

Speaking of Maiden, maybe you guys can help me out. It seems with every live Maiden album, Nicko can't seem to keep things together during Two Minutes to Midnight. Whenever they reach the pre-chorus, the tempo seems to go out of whack. Is it just me?

I'm not a live album kinda guy usually, but I love Triumph's Stages.  I got it when I was first getting into Rock and Metal and just about wore it out.

ETA: How'd I manage to forget Gary Moore's We Want Moore?

Helloween- I Want Out Live
Pink Cream 69- Live In Karlsruhe
Blind Guardian- Tokyo Tales
Def Leppard- Mirror Ball
Evergrey- A Night To Remember
Flotsam and Jetsam- Once In A Deathtime
Gamma Ray- Alive '95
Iced Earth- Alive In Athens
The Killers- Live From Royal Albert Hall
king Diamond- In Concert '87
King Diamond- Deadly Lullabyes
Kiss- Alive III
Metallica- Live Shit
Ozzy- Live and Loud
Queensryche-Live Evolution

Pink Floyd-Live In Pompeii
J. Geils Band-Live: Blow Your Face Out
J. Geils Band-Full Huse
Climax Blues Band-FM Live
Chicago At Carnegie Hall AKA Chicago IV
Queen-Live Killers
John Lee Hooker-Alone 1 & 2
John Lee Hooker-Bedroom Boogie
Neil Young-Live At Massey Hall 1971

thejokeriv wrote:

RAIDwarden wrote:

Live After Death is horrible, I don't understand why people like that one. Bruce sounds like he's gotta take the meanest dump for the duration of the whole show. Live in Ullevi is the best one next to Rock in Rio for Maiden

LAD is still a KILLER release and THE seminal live album of the 80's.

  Now I know that you are a big fan and won't be swayed on this, but still!

James Brown-Live At The Apollo
Townes Van Zandt-A Gentle Evening With Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt-Live At The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas
Santana-Lotus
Otis Rush-All Your Love I Miss Loving: Live At The Wise Fool's Pub
Fleetwood Mac-Blues Jam In Chicago Vols. 1 & 2