What are your top 3 favorite "Live" Albums?

[J.B.]

I don't usually like live albums, but there are a few that I feel are simply amazing. Which ones do you like?

#3 Depeche Mode's 101. Great Documentary and album. Martin Gore hits a note in "Somebody" that few Angels could reach.


#2 This is such a fun album. The audience is very much into it.


#1 You know a live album is great when the songs sound as good (or better) than the studio versions.

[sprytel]

3. Peter Himmelman, "Stage Diving"
Never became a household name, but he's a brilliant singer-songwriter... and an amazing performer to see live. This album really captures some of the energy and experimentation he brings to his live shows.

2. Velvet Underground, "Live 1969"
As much as I enjoy the studio recordings, they seem too sterile to me. This album is how the VU should be: gritty and raw and transcendent.

1. Tom Waits, "Nighthawks at the Diner"
When my friend gave me this album, he said it was the best live record ever made. All these years later, I still can't disagree with him. Tom Waits is a genius.

[4NDR01D]

Hüsker Dü- The Living End
Ramones- It's Alive
Stiff Little Fingers -See You Up There

[Mongoose1983]

1. Eagles - Hell Freezes Over.
2. Bee Gees - One Night Only.
3. KISS - Alive II. (That's right, it's the II not the first one which was a huge success. I like this one better mostly because of the setlist as they include their stuff from their multiplatinum trilogy, Destroyer, Rock N Roll Over and Love Gun).

[thunderbolt]

[Mongoose1983]

Can I add one more or replace one from my list, the MTV KISS unplugged is way too good to miss!

[Random Axe]

I generally dislike live albums, but Kansas - Two for the Money is about as perfect as you get.

[WannabeMego]

Styx - Caught in the Act
Eagles - Live '86
Miles Davis & Quincy Jones - Live at Montreux

[kingdom warrior]

1.Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison
2.Elvis Presley - In Person At The International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
3.U2 - Under A Blood Red Sky

Honorable mention:the Beatles Live in Hamburg/Starclub recordings muffled voices but you can hear their raw sound at full blast.

[ShadowAvenger]

My top five live albums would have to be:
1. Absolutely Live (The Doors)
2. Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite (Elvis Presley)
3. Live At Leeds (The Who)
4. In Concert (Janis Joplin)
5. At Folsom Prison (Johnny Cash)

However, my favorite live song of all time has to be Chuck Berry's "My Ding-a-ling."

[MIB41]

1) KISS Alive
2) Queen Live Killers
3) Frampton comes alive
4) Cheap Trick at the Budokan
5) Led Zeppelin : The Song remains the same

[The Bat]

I generally dislike live albums...but if I had to pick 3 it would be these:

Iggy Pop-Metallic K.O
Ramones- It's Alive
Elvis- 68 Comeback Special

[Blue Meanie]

This is a tough one. Most live albums do not impress me because most of the ones I have I've seen those acts live...the experience of the show with thousands around you just can't be duplicated. If I have to suggest live albums it would probably be these three:

1) 'Wings Over America' Paul's best version of Wings after the breakup of the Beatles. The original LP is fantastic and the new archived CD is almost as good as the original album/vinyl. Great companion to Rockshow.

[Blue Meanie]

2) Eric Clapton's '24 Nights' I wish that they would put out the whole set of each different show he did for the 24 nights. One night was blues. Next would be Rock. Next would be Classical.

[Blue Meanie]

3) Genesis' 'Three Sides Live' Try to find the UK version of this album. It is 4 sides live. The track that will blow you away is 'The Cage' Medley. Here it is from the video...but it is actually about 6 minutes shorter than the album version: