n the first article of this series on The Best Albums, I talked about the best debut albums by bands or artists, which by no means was an exhaustive list but was based purely on personal preference and the influence the bands went on to have on the industry. Here’s a link to that article:- The Best Albums I- Debut
We now take a look at what in my opinion are some of the best LIVE albums to have been captured on tape.
The LIVE album was an event. It was the hallmark of a great band or artist to have a stellar LIVE record that captured the essence of their music and their relationship with the fans and back in the day when there was no video or internet, the only way the audience got to see their favourite artists were cameo appearances on TV or LIVE Concert venues and of course pictures in the magazines and posters on the wall.
However to reach a wider audience of hungry fans who wanted a piece of the action and who wanted to experience what their favourite bands sound and look like LIVE, bands and performers started to record their LIVE concerts and after some studio overdubs to get rid of the odd glitches here and there, released ‘in concert’ albums which were either culled from a variety of performances while on tour or served straight up LIVE in whatever city the band was playing in.
LIVE albums are always exciting for the band and the audience. Bands get to connect with their audience, revisit their material especially if they’ve been around awhile and they have an exhaustive catalogue and reinterpret their music to add some freshness for the fans. Fans also get to see their idols and experience their music in a new light.
Pop, Jazz, Rock, Metal, Soul, Funk, Reggae, any every other genre and their Uncle has seen a slew of LIVE releases over the decades but in this one we revisit some of the rock and pop releases of the 60’s 70’s and 80’s which capture the sounds of what could arguably be the best era the music scene has well, ever seen…
