Five Great Live Recordings
Submitted by slipkid71 on Fri, 07/26/2002 - 03:03
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- The Who, "Live at Leeds": Any self-respecting critic will probably tell you that the Who were the best live rock act ever, if not the most volatile. This classic recording of the band's legendary "St. Valentine's Day 1970 Massacre" appearance at Leeds University is available in three formats: the original 6-track LP, the 1995 14-track remaster, and the complete 2001 remaster, containing a full version of "Tommy". From the opening metaphysical hurl of John Entwistle's "Heaven and Hell" to the must-be-heard-to-be-believed 14-minute workout of "My Generation", the band serves fair warning that loud, abrasive, passionate, and sloppy are the key essences of rock and roll. Play this LOUD!
- Van Morrison, "It's Too Late to Stop Now": The notoriously aloof and difficult Irishman sheds his combative nature, and what he reveals is a true joy. His LP's reflect his deep love for the R&B and jazz that serves as his influence, and on this album, his influences come to full light as he makes them his own. Backed by a super-tight, fluid backup band, complete with a brassy jazz-hall horn section and a string trio, it's Morrison's voice and phrasing that dominates. His rendition of his "Listen to the Lion" dazzles and hypontizes, as he digs deep into his soul and delivers a powerhouse performance. You can even hear him laugh during his spirited, joyful extended version of "Caravan".
- Bob Marley and the Wailers, "Live!": You get the sense while listening to this album that the raucous audience that night at London's Hammersmith Odeon was the congregation, the Wailers served notices of praise and joy, and Marley was the fiery, passionate preacher chanting to the converted and baptising the uninitiated. His now-legendary "No Woman, No Cry" shakes the foundations of the theatre which served as his church, while "I Shot the Sheriff" skillfully manouevers away from the unintentially comedic and lurches panther-like, conveying the desperation of an innocent man. Pity it's such a short album; if there would every be a 6-CD set of this particular recording, it would still manage to stir you deeper into your soul.
- Frank Sinatra, "Sinatra at the Sands": Just when his career was hurtling into the ring-a-ding-ding shtick that Phil Hartman so cleverly lampooned on "SNL" years later, Sinatra proves he could reign himself in and pack quite the punch. Backed by the subtle-yet-ferocious swing of Count Basie and his orchestra, Sinatra smoothly powers his way through several of his best-known classics as well as some obscure gems. This album proves Sinatra was in his best element in a small, smoky setting, and listening to his howlingly funny 12-minute monologue, you feel like a priviledged guest in his living room, scotch and Marlboros and all.
- King Crimson, "The Nightwatch: Live at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw": It's November 1973. Due to contractual obligations, the band, already cold and tired from what seems to be an endless stream of concert dates, must wait until after midnight to perform in this famed Amsterdam opera house, as a classical performance had to be cleared out. Despite the ridiculously late start and the frail mindset of the band, Crimson deliver a powerful set filled with high-tension rock riffing and spooky, surreal improvisations. Amidst the chaos of sustain-laden feedback and thumping, brusing rhythm, "Trio" emerges as a quiet, melancholy improv, minus drummer Bill Bruford, that sets the tone for life on the road.
Author Comments:
These are five of my favorites. Unedited, heartfelt, unapologetic. The way a live performance should be.
Some good stuff here, but I will be a bit honest. I usually find some editing helps most live discs. In fact, I'll let you in on a secret - even the deluxe edition of Live at Leeds has been edited! And I don't mean just song shuffling!
Don't tell!
Great list!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Oh, that's not a secret you're letting me in on. The original LP version of "Leeds", which I own (and the Decca records version, not the MCA US release), states it plain as day that all the bumps and scratches and whatnot have been included, whereas the remastered versions on CD cheerfully acknowledge the removal of such. So much for trying to preserve the bootleg-like quality!
Hmmm. You seem to indicate that I'm talking about digitally 'cleaning up' the album, which has certainly (for better or worse) been done. But I'm really alluding to cut time, missing bits of stuff - Actual edits, not just manipulation.
Is that what you meant, or did I just misunderstand you?
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Well, both, really. I don't mind the length of some live albums, if it does indeed give you the feel of somewhat having been there. What bothers me most is the faux editing: awful redubbing and what not.
What I meant to add was on most live albums, the production value suffers when, out of nowhere, the audience begins to cheer, and you can tell this sudden rush of noise has been overdubbed onto the mix. Nothing like shoddy editing to turn me off.
And, yeah, a lot of live albums suffer from the inclusion of too many songs not worth hearing.
I definitely agree with you on The Who "Live at Leeds". I used to own the old original LP too that indicated the scratches and pops were "normal", (white label with brown or red hand-written lettering if I remember right). Unfortunately, I'd got it from a Salvation Army store so I couldn't tell the difference. I couldn't wait to buy a new replacement copy after I'd heard the music.
I also want to mention another "live" record that's since it's release has had some stigma attached to it by it's stars downfall. It's still the best recording of a Live performance I've ever heard production-sound-wise. "Frampton Comes Alive".
The Who Live At Leeds has always been my favourite live album, until recently when I discovered Free Live - even better.
that king crimson live album is pretty good, i havent heard others