For those of you who tune in to read cute stories about our family life, I have to apologize. You may have noticed that I am a huge music fan, and my blog posts will be peppered with musical references. Having had the fortune to grow up in the 70's and 80's, most of these posts will contain references to classic rock from those decades. So if this doesn't interest you, just move along now and no one will get hurt. But if it does, maybe you will find something that will jog your memory and make you smile as you remember how things seemed so much better and simpler in "the good old days."
Take, for example, today's topic: The totally awesome ear-splitting glory of the live album. Not some random live shot taken with a cell phone and put on the internet. Not some sterile digital clip that has been "doctored." Not some cheesy studio recording with dubbed audience sounds. Oh no. We're talking about monster live recordings of incredible songs that blew away the studio versions. We're talking about drum solos, guitar solos, and kick-ass improvisation captured on vinyl in all their snap, crackle, pop goodness. The only way to top the live album was to go one more step and put out the sacred "double live" album. Holy cow, this was a sure-fire formula for success back in the day.
So here we go with my top eleven (just couldn't narrow it down any more) list of best live albums from the 70''s and 80's in alphabetical order:
1) AC/DC - If You Want Blood You've Got It (1978)
Who doesn't remember Bon Scott singing "The Jack" or "Whole Lotta Rosie?"
2) Black Sabbath - Live At Last (1980)
If you were lucky enough to get your hands on this "unofficial" live recording from 1973, all you had to do was crank up the live version of "Wicked World" and hear your friends go "Wow!"
3) Cheap Trick - Live at Budokan (1978)
The album that put them on the map with live versions of "Surrender", "Ain't That a Shame", and "I Want You to Want Me." And you get to listen to thousands of screaming Asian teenagers...
4) Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East (1978)
"Diamonds and Rust" and "Victim of Changes" blow the studio versions out of the water, as did every other song on the album.
5) Kiss - Alive (1975)
The original and still the best of all of the "Alive" albums. The world will never be the same.
6) Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same (1976)
Released when I was only 11 years old (Do the math), this remains my favorite album (and band) of all time. The live version of "No Quarter" is awe-inspiring. "Dazed and Confused" takes up an entire album side at 26:53. The film of the same name was, and still is, a must-see for any fan of real music.
7) Lynyrd Skynyrd - One More From the Road (1976)
Get out your lighters and yell "Freebird!
8) Motorhead - No Sleep 'til Hammersmith (1981)
The loudest band in the world puts out the loudest album in the world and hits #1 on the UK charts.
9) Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive (1976)
The album that propelled Peter Frampton from zero to hero overnight. This album truly shows the power of the sacred double live album in that it made Peter Frampton a household name. The album remains one of the best selling live albums in history.
10) Rush - All the World's a Stage (1976)
Yes, they ARE the priests of the temples of Syrinx. This monster blew out many car stereo speakers back in the day...And these same three guys are still going strong.
11) Ted Nugent - Double Live Gonzo! (1978)
Terrible Ted yanks you, cranks you, and gets you in his "Stranglehold." He shows that he is actually very good at being a musician when he's not hunting his dinner with a bow.
Looks like 1976 was the peak year for the live album. But then, I personally think that good music peaked a long time ago anyway.
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