Best recording of a live rock performance?
Posted by: MDS on 08 March 2014
Over the years I’ve become accustomed to being disappointed with recordings of rock concerts and generally avoid buying them. I’ve found that they often suffer from one or more of (a) the loudness of the concert masking weaknesses in the performance which are all too obvious when the recording is played (b) the acoustics of the auditorium make the recording flat or distant and (c) the audience seems separate from the performance of the band so it all feels a bit contrived. There are exceptions, I know, and playing one this evening has caused me to think I should pose the question what do you think is the best? The one I’m going to nominate is this:
The opening song, Thunderstruck, sets a very high standard. The performance of every instrument is spot on, and the interaction of the crowd makes for a wonderful ‘almost-being-here’ atmosphere. It always gives me goosebumps and the need to take a breath at the end of the performance. That sort of ‘connection’ is what good music should be able to do to in my book.
Any other nominations?
I'm coming a little late to this party, but does anyone else enjoy this?
I first heard this accidentally right in the middle of my teenage obsession with electronic music and, improbably, listened to it regularly for over a year. I still know all the solos from memory - not a proud boast, perhaps, but true. I was delighted when the video was released on Blu-Ray.
Rather like the Grand Funk Railroad album liner notes mentioned earlier, this also had claims of being excerpts of a single live performance with no re-recordings or overdubs of any kind. Having just checked, though, my remastered CD doesn't have the same claim.
Mark
There's been lots of chat about Wilko Johnson recently, and rightly so in the circumstances. This is a great live disc taken from two shows - the Cricketers at the Oval, and the Half Moon Putney, from 1990. I was at the Cricketers gig and nattered to Wilko's son, who was on the tiny recording desk.
And UFO were a blast live back when Michael Schenker played that Flying V lead guitar with them. This record, Strangers in the Night, is from 1979 and has a really good sound. Apparently Slash's favorite live LP. Need I say more?
And Thin Lizzy's Live and Dangerous deserves a photo, even though its had a mention. Fiddled with, but magnificent.
Oh yes, whilst I'm at it - Love You Live from the Stones from 1977 (ish) was generally pants and marked the beginning of their descent into self parody. But side three is cracking good - recorded live at the El Mocambo Club in Toronto at the height of Keith's drug problem and the scandal over the Canadian Prime Ministers wife…...
Ok it isn't a great sounding album but none the less a great album.
Funnily enough the last 2 I have posted are not classic rock live albums, they are but good but I used to play both to death when they come out.
Both bands were great live.
By far and away the best - and longest - live album ever made: Throbbing Gristle's "24 Hours", a briefcase containing 26 tapes of in-concert Gristle.
Limited to approximately 200 sets, with 60 going to Japan. Each set was personalised for the buyer and dated. Each copy is unique with hand-made collages on each of the primary (signed) information card. The sleeves for IRC A and IRC B (which were only available in this box set) were also hand made. Each set also came with three color-copied inserts (color copies were very expensive and rare in 1980 when these were made). One featured an informal shot of the band while another was a collage by Genesis P-Orridge of the proposed "Industrial Records HQ". Copies also contained 2 full-sized b&w original photos: one a classic press shot and the other an informal image of the band being interviewed (by a small radio station in US).
Box sets often varied in contents between each other as they were supposed to contain the "most recent twenty four tapes" (quoted from the mail-order catalog). Thus early buyers (low numbered copies) would get tapes IRC2 to IRC25 while later buyers would get later tapes. The 1980/81 Industrial Records catalog stated that buyers would get IRC5 to IRC26 + IRC29/30/33 (note that IRC31 was by Clock DVA and and IRC32 was by Chris Carter hence not included in this set).
Note that IRC1, "Best Of ... Volume II", was a collection of live and studio recordings, note there never was a Best Of ... Volume I until much later, which was (initially) a bootleg as IRC00.
Copy #50/50 (personalized to Mike Wilkins, dated 29th August 1980) was an exception as this contained 24 live TG performances plus IRC1 plus 3 additional cassettes of non-TG recordings. This was because Mike Wilkins worked at Industrial Records and made this for himself.
Initially offered for £77 for the UK, £80 for Europe and £82 for the rest of the world.
By the time of the 1980/81 mail order catalog, each set retailed for 88 UK pounds (for UK and Europe) or 99 UK pounds rest of the world (postage paid). A complete minty set would now set you back about £1,000 or so. 
Later released on CD, but not as much fun:
These two Doors live albums are also excellent.
Superb! G
This is very good...
CLIMAX BLUES BAND LIVE
Bought this CD on the back recommendations in this thread. Gosh, this has some energy!