Beyond “Double Live” Albums, Let’s Look At Single-LP Live Albums – Our Favorites

*Crappy picture of live LPs from Townshend, Hendrix, Elton, Lou Reed, Jackson Browne, Faces/Rod, and the Blues Brothers by your intrepid blogger who moonlights as a very bad photographer

While my listening of late has been very 1985-centric what with both Dire Straits (Brothers In Arms) and INXS (Listen Like Thieves) releasing deluxe editions of their respective albums from that year, I also find myself drawn to live albums of late. For reasons unclear, this week I listened to both Clapton’s Just One Night and Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band’s Nine Tonight. I’ve been in a bit of a “double live” bender. Of course both of the aforementioned deluxe editions from ’85 had a contemporary concert which has probably spurred me on towards live albums. That and I keep returning to Sting’s new live disc, Sting 3.0 Live. 

Live albums have a bit of a spotty reputation. They’re either dismissed as “concert souvenirs” (like Wings’ Wings Over America) or lauded as a group’s landmark/signature album (The Allman Brothers’ At The Fillmore East). If you started listening to music in the 70s, even the late 70s like me, or are a fan of rock n roll from the 70s, you really couldn’t escape the big, bad “double live” albums. It’s like everyone had a double live album that was “must listening.” I absolutely love a good live album. The performer can stretch out, there’s generally good chemistry between the band and the audience that can absolutely charge a band up and elevate the performance. Of course many bands never felt like they could capture the same magic in the studio that they did on stage, so the clear answer in those situations was, yes, a live album (J. Geils Band, Cheap Trick).

The double live album did provide you an experience that was “the next best thing to being there.” Sometimes, like in the case of the Seger album I mentioned above, was taken from a tour that I actually got to see, so it brought back some very pleasant memories. I will admit, the Seger show I saw on the Against The Wind tour was the first show I saw a woman remove her shirt and flash the band which left an impression. What can I say, I was at a formative age. It was only years later, in this millennium really, that bands like Pearl Jam, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Springsteen started releasing recordings from each show. Those, for me, are the ultimate experience… I want a full show. It just feels more immersive.

But as I played the Sting disc this week I started to think about all the live albums out there that were originally only 1 vinyl LP. Forget double live, these albums were single live. Frankly I think it’s harder to pull off a compelling live album over the length of one album. It’s like the difference between writing an epic poem or writing a Haiku. Everything has to be perfect on a single live album. Which is why the albums on this list, for the most part, are flawless. Yes, I did put a few sentimental favorites on the list to represent both bands I love and well, live albums that conjure specific pleasant memories.

I have posted in the past, on my B&V Comes Alive, my list of essential live albums. But I thought these special single live albums deserved a special shout out. Yes, many of these overlap to the Comes Alive list, but we’re always up for revisiting great live albums. Any band who can spin up a captivating live performance in less than 45 minutes deserves a bow. Here’s my list:

• AC/DC, If You Want Blood You Got It – AC/DC’s first live album is oft overlooked but it features Bon Scott (the only live stuff released in his lifetime) and who can resist Bon? The 10 songs on this album are much like the way Bon lived, hard and fast. In the Brian vs Bon debate, I lean towards Bon.
• Beatles, Live At The Hollywood Bowl – It’s the Beatles, of course it’ll be on our list. It’s the only live document we have of them except for the BBC stuff and the Rooftop Concert from Let It Be. Those early Beatles concerts were short and sweet as is this album. My brother had the original vinyl LP, and I think they might have turned the crowd noise down on the re-release. Pretty good performance considering they really couldn’t hear each other onstage.
• The Blues Brothers, Briefcase Full Of Blues – This is a sentimental choice, credibility be damned. I only had the courage to buy this LP after I heard it playing in my friend’s big sister’s room…Stephanie was beautiful, it had to be cool music if she liked it. It awakened a life long love affair for me…with the blues (and blues rock), not Steph, who despised me. Think what you want but this was a crack blues band behind Belushi & Aykroyd.
• James Brown, Live At The Apollo – “Are you ready for Star Time?” Brilliant 1962 performance (released in ’63) with the Famous Flames recorded at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. It’s probably my favorite James Brown record. “Lost Someone,” at almost 11 minutes is epic stuff from Soul Brother Number 1!
• Jackson Browne, Running On Empty – A live concept album from the road, about being on the road. I heard Jackson interviewed one time, and he said something to the effect that these were songs the crowd had never heard before so it took them a while to warm to them. We all certainly warmed to them after this release. I could listen to “You Love The Thunder” all day long.
• Johnny Cash, At Folsom Prison – Largely considered a comeback album, the Man In Black had wanted to perform for prisoners since his hit “Folsom Prison Blues.” “I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die,” is about as stone cold as you get. He brought June Carter Cash and Carl Perkins with him, Merle Haggard was in the audience…because he was in jail. You can’t make this stuff up.
• Cheap Trick, Live At Budokan – This record came out just as I was discovering rock n roll in 1979. They’re one of those bands whose live album made them famous. They were originally only going to release this in Japan… fools! I remember listening to this on 8-track in my buddy Brewster’s Monza on the way to school. I don’t remember what happened to that car…
• Sam Cooke, Live At The Harlem Square Club, 1963 – Recorded at a groovy club in Miami, this is such a great live album. Sam Cooke wrote, sang, produced, ran a record company, he could literally do it all. But letting him loose on a stage, oh baby, that’s money! He was as smooth as fine, aged whiskey. He’s a little more raw and unguarded here and I’m all for it.
• Rod Stewart/Faces, Coast To Coast: Overtures And Beginners – Another sentimental favorite. I love the Faces. You can tell what state these guys were in by the fact the record company made them call it “Rod Stewart/Faces” like they were just a backup band. It was our only official live document of the band until Faces At The BBC. Admittedly, while the Faces could be magic on stage, this was not one of those nights but we still get superb covers of “Jealous Guy” (Lennon), and “I Wish It Would Rain” (the Temptations). I’m lucky enough to have this on vinyl.
• Aretha Franklin, Aretha Live At the Fillmore West – The Queen of Soul in all her live glory. She’s backed by King Curtis’ band which included Billy Preston on keyboards. After legend Bill Graham announces her she launches into “Respect” and we’re off to the races. She then rolls through covers of Stephen Stills, Simon & Garfunkel, and the Beatles and owns each tune. Sublime stuff with a great band. This should have been on my list of greatest live LPs, an egregious oversight. This version of “Dr. Feelgood” will curl your toes, in a very good way.
• Jimi Hendrix, Band Of Gypsies – This may have been a contractual obligation for a deal he’d been tricked into signing, but his playing is next level. New rhythm section (the Band of Gypsies) featuring Billy Cox (bass) and Buddy Miles (drums) just cooks. There’s blues, R&B and soul mixed into this guitar goodness. This was the only Hendrix live LP released in his lifetime, alas. “Machine Gun” is perhaps the greatest recording of electric guitar any where, any time.
• J. Geils Band, Live Full House – Like many bands in the 70s, the J. Geils Band seemed to struggle to capture their essence in the studio. You had to experience them live, thus they released not one, but two incendiary live LPs over their storied career. This was the first one, their third album. This album will get you off your seat and holding a lighter in the air. And what can I say about Magic Dick on harmonica!
• Billy Joel, Songs In The Attic – Forced to use studio musicians on his early albums, which weren’t hits, Billy recorded some of those early tracks on stage to more fully capture what he was looking for. This is the definitive version of “Miami 2017.” He was right…they should have been using his backing band all along.
• Elton John, 11-17-70 – I’m diving deep into Elton’s catalog for this one. It’s only six songs but what a performance! It’s just Elton (piano), Nigel Olsson (drums), and Dee Murray (bass) but what a sound. My favorite tune is “Bad Side Of The Moon,” but he also does great covers of the Stones and Beatles. Great, raw performance before superstardom.
• B.B. King, Live At The Regal – The raw affection the crowd shows B.B. on this classic live album makes the audience a part of the show. B.B. serves up some of his greatest tunes on this, my favorite of his live albums.
• Bob Marley And The Wailers, Live! – I don’t think Bob has a bad live album. Featuring tracks from Catch A Fire and Burnin’, this album is stacked with fabulous songs. “No Woman, No Cry” is definitive here. It’s all a laid back groove.
• Otis Redding, In Person At The Whiskey A Go Go – This album, similar to the Sam Cooke album above, captures Otis in a small club letting it all hang out. He also had the fabulous live album recorded in Europe with Booker T. and the MGs, but I lean toward this one.
• Lou Reed, Rock N Roll Animal – Lou Reed turns (mostly) to his old Velvet Underground catalog and turns in some lean, melodic versions. I seem to recall Lester Bangs disliking this album, but I could be wrong. Lou at his most accessible.
• The Rolling Stones, Get Your Ya Ya’s Out – The Stones have so many live albums. Just last year they released two (Live At the Wiltern and Welcome To Shepherd’s Bush) but Ya Ya’s with Mick Taylor on lead guitar is the definitive Stones live album. “Sympathy For The Devil” is probably my favorite track… we used to ride around downtown drinking beer and cranking that one in another lifetime…
• Talking Heads, Stop Making Sense – Originally a single LP live album, this one has been enhanced over the years and the entire show (from the movie of the same name) has been released. This album turned me into a Heads fan. It was concise but a great listen in it’s original incarnation.
• Pete Townshend, Deep End – I bought this on vinyl as soon as it came out. David Gilmour is on hand to play lead guitar. Great version of “After The Fire” can be found. The whole unabridged “Deep End” show can be found in Townshend’s recently released box set of live solo shows over the years.
• U2, Under A Blood Red Sky – Recorded on the tour for War, their breakthrough album, in both the U.S. and Germany it’s a great snapshot of a band hitting the big time. “I Will Follow,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “40” all shine here. I think I speak for everyone when I say, I wish the Edge would play guitar like this again.
• Joe Walsh, You Can’t Argue With A Sick Mind – Another sentimental favorite, this album was mostly taken from the Don Kirschner Rock Concert show. This was right before Joe joined the Eagles and was still popular at parties I attended when I started to listen to rock n roll a few years later… Tellingly, three members of the Eagles show up (Frey, Henley, Felder) on “Help Me Thru The Night.” I love the version of “Turn To Stone,” (despite the flute solo) which is my favorite Walsh solo tune among many.
• The Who, Live At Leeds – It’s hard to believe this live album from the original lineup was only a single disc. It’s been released several times in longer formats. This album finds the Who at an absolutely spectacular peak. Side one had a lot of covers, but what magnificent covers: “Summertime Blues,” “Young Man Blues,” and “Shakin’ All Over.” Maximum R&B, indeed.
• Warren Zevon, Stand In The Fire – Newly sober Warren Zevon comes out and proves he’s still an absolute rocker onstage. Recorded in 1980, this version of “Mohammed’s Radio” included some funny references to Iran’s then-leader Ayatollah Khomeini. I hope he enjoyed the tune. Zevon was such a witty songwriter…

These are my favorite single-live albums, but you may have one that you’re particularly fond of. If there’s one I missed, drop it in the comments. If I haven’t heard it, it’ll give me something to check out. And again, everybody’s list will be different, season to taste. And yes, the Blues Brothers pick will likely bring scorn but that was a great blues band – Steve Cropper, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Duck Dunn, Steve Jordan – and that album fostered my life long love of the blues.

Hope this list will turn you onto something you haven’t heard or reconnect you with an album you haven’t blared in a while! “Live music is better, bumper stickers should be issued!”

Cheers!