A Staple of the 1970s, Remembering the Live Album

I’ve never been a big fan of the live album, preferring instead to supplement the clean studio productions by attending live performances. But they sure had their heyday. As the concert industry took off in the 1970s, live albums became a defining moment for many artists. Bands for whom the live performance was their natural element (The Who, Allman Brothers). Artists that greatly elevated their popularity with the live album (Kiss, Frampton). And those bands that enshrined their last concerts with a live album (Velvet Underground, The Band). Fans got in on the action and flooded the market with bootlegs. Now with the availability of live streaming at our fingertips, memorializing a concert for posterity is not as important to a band’s legacy. So, let’s hark back to the time when an album was the only way to hear your favorite band live without actually going to the show. Yes, it’s time for another list and the inherent differences of opinion. “I like that one, too.” “How could you include that album, it’s terrible?” “How could you leave off this classic album?” My top 12 has some automatics, a few surprises, and a couple nostalgic picks.

#12 – Where We All Belong by the Marshall Tucker Band (1974):

Ok, I know you won’t find this on many (any?) best-of live albums list. Before the advent of punk and new wave, southern rock had a place on my turntable. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” and the Outlaws’ “Green Grass and High Tides” were blasting through the college dorms. Add Marshall Tucker’s “24 Hours at a Time” to the epic guitar jams. This was an anthem for us with Toy Caldwell’s guitar solo and fiddle by guest Charlie Daniels. Where We All Belong is a double album with new studio recordings on disc one and a live album on the second disc. Disc two also has an extended version of “Take the Highway,” from their southern rock classic debut album. Seeing them from the lawn of the Santa Barbara Bowl on April 11, 1976, was a highlight of the time.

#11 – Performance Rockin’ the Fillmore by Humble Pie (1971):

The standout from this double album, “I Don’t Need No Doctor,” was spotlighted in my best cover songs post Top 20 Rock ‘N’ Roll Cover Songs From Aretha to X. Singer Steve Marriott’s raspy vocals were a focus of the English group’s rock and blues swagger on stage. Muddy Waters’ “Rolling Stone” and Dr. John’s “I Walk on Gilded Splinters” both exemplify the long jam tendencies of the ’70s rockers by taking up one side each.

#10 – David Live by David Bowie (1974)

The first live album from David Bowie is uneven in sound quality, particularly with Bowie’s voice. While “Rock N’ Roll Suicide” is a fine example of Bowie’s powerful vocals, on other songs his voice sounds hoarse and tired. The song he wrote for Mott the Hoople, “All the Young Dudes,” is a treasure here. The album makes the list for me because it captures one of his definitive transitions from the glam of Aladdin Sane to the soul of Young Americans. As Bowie said at the time, “this was the end of Ziggy.” His baggy trousers and shoulder pads on the cover say it all.

#9 – Frampton Comes Alive by Peter Frampton (1976)

Frampton Comes Alive is one of the best-selling live albums of all time. It spent almost two years in the Top 40 and was everywhere in 1976. Opening song “Somethin’ Happening” introduced millions to Peter Frampton. But it was the singles “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way,” and “Do You Feel Like We Do” that were all over the airwaves. The guitar talk-box effect had been used before, but never to this extent, particularly on the extended “Do You Feel.” Has the album stood the test of time? Probably not, but it sure brings back memories.

#8 – 101 by Depeche Mode (1989)

The live album 101 is accompanied by a documentary film by D.A. Pennebaker (Don’t Look Back), of the final leg of the Music for the Masses tour at the Rose Bowl. It was the 101st stop on the tour and Depeche Mode was celebrated by a packed, loud crowd. They played their hits, including “Never Let Me Down Again,” “Black Celebration,” “Everything Counts,” and closer “Just Can’t Get Enough.” It still provides an excellent overview of the band and brings to mind both cheerful memories of their 2020 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and sadness with the recent passing of founding member Andrew Fletcher.

#7 – Rock N’ Roll Animal by Lou Reed (1974)

Four of the five songs on this album are by the Velvet Underground, with only “Lady Day” being a Lou Reed composition. It makes my list for the dueling guitars of Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner (future members of Alice Cooper’s band). “Sweet Jane” becomes a magnum opus with its exquisite guitar solo intro and closing track “Rock n’ Roll” a fireworks show of guitar. Play it loud!

#6 – Made in Japan by Deep Purple (1973)

Deep Purple went to Japan after the release of their most acclaimed and popular album Machine Head. “Smoke on the Water,” “Space Truckin’,” “Lazy,” and “Highway Star” all received the royal rock treatment in Osaka and Tokyo. Another double live album with only seven songs and many a noteworthy, improvised jam. This is explosive rock n’ roll that doesn’t let up.

#5 – Keys to Ascension by Yes (1996)

This one has special significance to me. It’s not every day that a major band comes to your small-town theater. What was Yes doing in San Luis Obispo? Jon Anderson lived in the area at the time and got the band’s classic line-up to perform here: Jon Anderson (lead vocals), Chris Squire (bass), Steve Howe (guitar), Rick Wakeman (keyboards), and Alan White (drums). The album captures the band’s creativity and musicianship with a 20-minute revelry of “The Revealing Science of God” (from Tales from Topographic Oceans) and encores “Roundabout” and the majestic guitar of “Starship Trooper.” For three days in early March 1996, San Luis Obispo was the center of the progressive rock universe.

#4 – Live at the Mocambo by Elvis Costello (1978)

This early live record from Elvis Costello is unusual, a promotional radio show on CHUM FM Toronto presented by CBS Records Canada. There was a time when I thought my vinyl LP was somewhat valuable but came to find out there were numerous counterfeit copies made before the concert was reissued for mainstream release years later. Elvis rocks out the songs from his debut, My Aim is True, as well as the upcoming This Years Model. It’s raw, energetic, and classic, except for the lone dude screaming his way through the entire show. (See my post Concerts: Let’s Celebrate Their Return with a Highlight from “Before”: Elvis Costello and Blondie 2019 Tour for a more recent Elvis concert experience.)

#3 – MTV Unplugged in New York by Nirvana (1994)

This deserves a special place in the history of live albums. There is simply nothing else like it. While live albums generally showcase a full band’s electric, free-styling force, here stands an intimate acoustic session. Rarely have acoustic numbers generated such power as heard on “About a Girl,” “Come as You Are,” and “All Apologies.” Cobain’s vocals on “Pennyroyal Tea” are wrenching. Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World” gets an unforgettable rendition. Lesser-known Nirvana songs and covers also resonate. It’s a transcendent album; folk rock has never sounded like this before. Cobain wanted the set decorated like a funeral. He would be dead a few months later.

#2 – At Fillmore East by the Allman Brothers (1971)

The heralded place this album holds in live music history was touched on in my most recent post My Cross to Bear Book Review: Gregg Allman’s Candid Autobiography. A live album was a risky move for a third release when the first two weren’t very successful. But they had been touring relentlessly sharpening their sound and knew the stage was where they thrived. And influential concert promoter Bill Graham loved them. The blues-based southern rock all comes together at Fillmore East. Again, just seven songs on four sides, including long jazzy improvs of “Whipping Post” and “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” Duane shines on slide guitar on the opener “Statesboro Blues” and Allman summons the clouds in “Stormy Monday.” Two harmonious drummers and two fierce guitar players amplify the tour de force that was the Allman Brothers.

#1 – Live at Leeds by the Who (1970)

The Who followed up Tommy with some epic shows at Leeds University. The full performances included lots of songs from the rock opera, but the resultant album is a single one with six tracks, including covers and songs from earlier in their career. A concise hard rock statement countering the artsy, theatrical Tommy. “Young Man Blues,” a standard of the band’s stage repertoire at the time, opens it up. The infectious energy of “Substitute” proves why it’s a long-time fan favorite. “Summertime Blues,” from Eddie Cochran, erupts as a power chord monster. The 15-minute “My Generation” includes a medley of Tommy songs and a tease of “Naked Eye.” An extended “Magic Bus” closes the album with a wailing Roger Daltrey on voice and harmonica. In contrast to the bland album cover resembling a bootleg, Live at Leeds is a musical volcano. It’s the only live record with the classic foursome.

As usual with these best-of lists, I’m concentrating on live albums from my collection that I’ve listened to for years. There are many stellar live albums that I don’t own or am not that familiar with, a partial list being: The Concert for Bangla Desh (I actually have this one), Woodstock, Kiss Alive, Stop Making Sense (Talking Heads), Europe ’72 (Grateful Dead), Last Waltz (The Band), Under a Blood Red Sky (U2), and Bob Marley and the Wailers Live. These could be some of your favorites and I know there are many more.

Trivia: Who is the only artist to appear on two of my top 12 live albums?

Answer: Peter Frampton. He was an original member of Humble Pie leaving the band shortly after the live album to start his solo career.