The GREATEST live rock album of all time?
I've been listening to Humble Pie's "Performance - Rockin' The Fillmore - The Complete Recordings."
The original album was pulled from two day's worth of perfomances, afternoon and evening shows. The box set has the full 4-show run. This may not be "THE" greatest live album...I would definitely put it in my top 10, though, along with The Allman Brothers' own Fillmore set.
What's YOUR pick?
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I can't find any recordings from that album on youtube. I may have to upload it at some point.
Many Swans fans would pick Public Castration is a Good Idea, which is a good one. Here's the full album. Start your speakers on low, just in case, but Swans is best at higher volumes...and drunk.
It was like being assaulted 
A record store/dj friend of mine says there were times when they played that they'd have the doors locked to prevent people from leaving! I don't know if that's true but it's a good story!
Accept no substitutes.
I grew up with the triple vinyl and twin vinyl follow-up.
The box set has the full "Woodstock Boogie" from Canned Heat, Janis doing "Ball and Chain," and the Dead doing "Dark Star." Maybe not the BEST "Dark Star"...Woodstock was not a real success for them...but it is still interesting to hear it.
"Oh...I'm SORRY. Did we make you WAIT?"
I love it, but that's part of being a Lou fan. It's not like all of his albums are "Rock & Roll Animal."
I bought my first Iron Maiden album because of the zombies on the cover, and I was happy the band didn't suck. I'm not too into them anymore, but I still enjoy a song here and there. 
Because I was there both nights when it was recorded.
Good times!!!
There were a couple of "Record Stores" (remember those, kids?) in Palo Alto CA that I used to frequent. They were the only game in town outside of a trip to San Francisco when it came to imports. I bought all of the Sex Pistols' import 45s and things like "Spot The Pigeon" from Genesis:
EVERYONE I knew wanted a copy of "801 Live" and you had to know how to sweet-talk store owners to get one.
Looks like someone uploaded the entire 801 Live on YouTube:
"Dalai Llama lame puss puss
Stella maris missa nobis
Miss a dinner Miss Shapiro
Shampoos pot-pot pinkies pampered
Movement hampered like at Christmas
Ha-ha isn't life a circus
Round in circles like the Archers
Always stiff or always starchy
Yes it's happening and it's fattening
And it's all that we can get into the show..."
They don't write 'em like that any more.
Got one of the first ten copies of the Pistols LPs in MPLS. Had to give the manager a couple of lines of coke to get him to set aside a copy of Siouxsie's "Hong Kong Garden" for me!
Bought it and Monty Python's double EP "Python On Song" on the same day. Why do I remember these things??? 
Traded all my original UK Pistols singles, except for "Anarchy" which I never laid hands on - in perfect picture sleeves, even "Holidays In The Sun" - to a buddy who owned a record shop back in the Nineties. He gave me $500 in store credit and kept them for himself. This guy had/had seen EVERYTHING and had never, ever seen a mint Holidays sleeve AND single.
Which reminds me, I have to dig out Ronnie Spector and the E Street Band's monumental, astounding "Say Goodbye To Hollywood." Still gives me the shivers every time I hear it.
"Skull & Roses" was the first Dead album I ever bought. I currently own 132 Dead albums / box sets (according to my iTunes it's 3273 songs, or 17.2 straight DAYS of Dead music). For sentimental reasons, as well as the music itself, "Skull" remains my favorite.
"Three From The Vault" was froom the same era...Pigpen still on board, no Keith & Donna yet (that was my favorite era as well, but a damned close second woud be the end of Pig's tenure).
It's the complete show from February 19, 1971 at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, New York.
They just hit a groove on this one that's hard to explain...the hard-assed jamming of the "Live Dead" era but also the finesse that would come with the initial Keith & Donna years.
Two Ditties: "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" (Friend, Franklin), "Spring Song" (Mendelssohn) — 1:19
"Truckin'" (Garcia, Lesh, Weir, Hunter) — 8:09
"Loser" (Garcia, Hunter) — 6:23
"Cumberland Blues" (Garcia, Lesh, Hunter) — 4:58
"It Hurts Me Too" (Elmore James, Tampa Red) — 6:10
"Bertha" (Garcia, Hunter) — 5:21
"Playing in the Band" (Weir, Hart, Hunter) — 5:14
"Dark Hollow" (Bill Browning) — 3:15
"Smokestack Lightning" (Howlin' Wolf) — 14:42
"China Cat Sunflower" (Garcia, Hunter) — 3:24
"I Know You Rider" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) — 7:02
Disc Two
"Greatest Story Ever Told" (Weir, Hunter) — 4:22
"Johnny B. Goode" (Chuck Berry) — 3:26
"Bird Song" (Garcia, Hunter) — 7:04
"Easy Wind" (Hunter) — 8:17
"Deal" (Garcia, Hunter) — 4:22
"Cryptical Envelopment" (Garcia) > "Drums" (Kreutzmann) > "The Other One" (Weir) — 16:09
"Wharf Rat" (Garcia, Hunter) — 9:08
"Good Lovin'" (Artie Resnick, Rudy Clark) — 18:43
"Casey Jones" (Garcia, Hunter) — 5:00
I sometimes lost patience with Pigpen's extended "blues raps" but on the version of "Smokestack Lightning" offered here the legend gets separated from the hype...the fucker sounds dangerous. Every song shines here, it's like taking the level of "Skull & Roses" up a couple of notches.
..."Leeds" was recorded on Feb. 14, 1970, and the band recorded the next night's show at Hull University as well. John Entwistle's bass dropped out of the first 6 songs of that show and "legend has it" that the record company seriously considered issuing it instead of Leeds except for that fact.
The whole Hull show is now on the "40th Anniversary" reissue of "Leeds." The record company simply lifted the bass track on the six songs in question from "Leeds" and ovverdubbed them on the defectivve tracks.
Johnny was one of the most incendiary guitarists of all time and the lead track from Captured Live! showcases that fact.
"Captured Live" is one BRUTAL album.
For my money, he OWNED "Highway 61" in the same way that Jimi owned "Watchtower."
He also blowtorched Dylan's "From A Buick Six" on the "Still Alive And Well" album. Listening to that track tells you where young guns like Kenny Wayne Shepherd got a few of the tricks in his trick bag.
The thing that amuses me MOST about the track is that it wasn't on the original album...it was a "bonus track" on the CD remaster.
One of the few tunes that I have no problem saying the cover was better than the original. Obviously a different grove, but as you said, Johnny OWNED that song.
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band-Live Bullet,
Mott the Hoople-Live
...one cornerstone of Ian Hunter's sound is that "barely controlled chaos / coming off the rails" thing, and that song is saturated in it.
I will have to check it out.
One in Irvine, one at the Forum, and one in New York.
...and yes, "Tobacco Road" is 100% completely off the HOOK.
Not to mention the album's "People keep asking me, uh...where's your brother" moment.
Yeah, I'm pretty new to the whole vinyl collecting thing. But I'm only 30, so this stuff was kinda before my time. 
At the rate we oldsters are aging collectable vinyl will become ever more available, I suspect.
Grace and Marty were terrific and The Great Jack Casady lays down some truly mind-roasting bass.
The Grateful Dead'--"The Closing of Winterland".
...a 51 minute run that is as tight and tasty as it gets.
The very beginning: Bill Graham dressed as Father Time floating across the stage in a giant, smoking doobie, as Dan Ackroyd counts down to midnight, after which the band breaks out into my most favorite version of "Sugar Magnolia". It doesn't get much better than that! I wish there was still a video of it on YouTube. One of these days, when I get the funds, I'm going to buy the DVD of that event.
...including the Bill Graham bit. Take another look...this clip is the entire three hour show, from YouTube.
I didn't watch it yet, and assumed it was just the clip of the songs you mentioned. I know what I'll be watching tonight!
Bill & Mickey
Idiot Wind and Shelter From the Storm are great performances with so much emotion and context...
Wikipedia:
The original double LP album was recorded in autumn 1978 at shows in Chicago, Illinois and Louisville, Kentucky. This was UFO's last concert recording with guitarist Michael Schenker before the band's reunion in 1993. Schenker left the band during this tour; this led to the band having to recruit former band mate & ex Lone Star guitarist Paul Chapman. It has been rumoured that Schenker refused to record any overdubs for the album, which would make this an accurate account of his live guitar work. When he has discussed the album, Schenker has spoken of disappointment with the chosen tracks, saying "there were better takes they could've used". In a Guitar Player Magazine interview, Schenker stated that it would not have been possible to overdub the guitars because they also came through the drum microphones.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strangers_in_the_Night_%28UFO_album%29
My favorite may be "Mercenary Territory," which I understand was recorded at a sound check, not in concert. The "Deluxe" version also has "On Your Way Down," a fave of mine from "Dixie Chicken."
I'm judging it by the sound of the album itself, not the uber hype machine that was to come later, as well as Simmon's well known abrasiveness. It was never about "They put on a great show" to me. KISS of the early-mid 70s is great basic hard rock and roll. That Album ( even though studio retouched ) captures their signature sound the best I've ever heard.
...all of the shows they performed on that visit. The shows have been released in another form previously, but this is the cleaned up version.
I still think they choose the best performances for the original album. The band was pretty indifferent about the whole project. I'm sure they felt a lot better after the royalty checks started coming in, but the record label had to talk them into it and they kind of copped a "so what" attitude after it was recorded.
My pick: Broadway The Hard Way
On this album he totally destroys Reagan, Nixon, and the BFEE, and makes an absolute mockery of televangelists like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. Plus there's a Sting cameo and an awesome Police cover of "Murder By Numbers".
...he went on record as saying it was his "least favorite" Frank album.
This is one of the newer "Zappa Family Trust" releases:
It has a special place in my heart because I saw him at Boston Music Hall (with CHUCK BERRY as his opening act) on this tour. The set pretty much matches the show I saw, the Flo and Eddie band, ABSOLUTELY the FILTHIEST show I have ever seen.
My brother set up a blind date with his next door neighbor. I was 15 years old, so was she. If you remember Carole King's "Tapestry" album cover, she looked like her little sister. VERY quiet. Wore jeans, a white turtleneck sweater, and a BIG peace medal on a leather strap.
I could FEEL her tensing up as Howard and Mark sang about God's girlfriend on the sofa with the "Magic Pig."
My brother drove us home after the show, and the SECOND the car's wheels came to a stop in her driveway, she opened the door without looking at me or saying a word and marched briskly into her house.
How did I know? I was as mortified as she was. Maybe more.
(God speaks German)
Did they do the Mud Shark bit? That was screamingly funny and still is. "Let's just say you are a touring rock band called, oh, The Vanilla Fudge, with a Big Hit Single in The Charts...."
Also "Brain Police" and a couple of older Mothers songs. The "centerpiece" of the show was the Magic Pig and that's pretty much when I knew it was going to be a first AND last date.
The Flo and Eddie band was GREAT.
I remember buying the album the day it came out and hearing it for the fiirst time. STILL gives me chills.
We got to see him do it live with nearly that original line up including Duke and Bozzio. We were so fortunate.
I think another great Frank solo is found right there on Bongo Fury in Advance Romance. They were at the top of their game right there, all of them, Beefheart included.
For those that might not be familiar. After the Denny Walley slide solo, Frank cuts loose at 4:57. George Duke exclaims, "My goodness!" Fowler on bass is unreal. Love the Captain Beefhart harmonica.
Where she had said that Frank had recorded enough music both studio and live that the Zappa Trust could release a new album of studio or live material every year for the next 100 years! 
Oh and definitely see Dweezil live if you get the chance. Definitely awesome.
...yep, Beefheart was the "opening act" for the "Bongo" show, but didn't share a single moment of stage time with Frank. Beefheart announced that John "Drumbo" French was going to do his "solo," and he walked center stage and did a little silent soft shoe / tap dance while the audience booed him.
At one point Frank tied his hair back into a pony tail and told the audience "I have to do this, because the next song is SERIOUS MUSIC," and then proceeded to SCREAM and HOWL on "Black Napkins."
The "Roxy" show was at the Circle Star Theater in San Carolos. It's been plowed under and is some kind of high-rise now, but it featured a small, revolving, circular stage. I had third row seats, which meant I was probably no more than 20 feet away from the band. At one point I was sitting there in awe and looked right at George Duke and he caught eye contact wiith me and bugged out his eyes at me. I laughed out loud. It was all of that tight interplay that can be heard on the "Roxy & Elsewhere" album. At the beginning of the show, the announcer said "The opening act tonight was PERSONALLY SELECTED by Frank, and he would like you to sit back and enjoy him."
It was a solo Tom Waits, who had just released his first album.
The one performance I really wish I could have witnessed is "Torture" from the first YCDTOSA set:
Insane guitar solos, but the highlight for me is Bozzio's drumming...just LISTEN to the fills he's doing as the band comes out of the solo, around the 14 minute mark. By the time frank is singing "Look at her, look at him" (15 minutes) and the ending "That's what's the deal we're dealin' is," it sounds more like gunshots than drum rolls. I've seen Bozzio play with Frank, he's NUTS. While he's firing off these fills and rolls he just routinely springs up in the air from his drum stool.
Frank was a lot like John Mayall in that his bands were a "finishing school" for the best and brightest musicians who have ever walked the planet. I'm not sure Adrian Belew would have been able to handle that extended tenure with King Crimson if he hadn't woodshedded with Frank first.
There's some definite gems in there. But that's one of the highlights. I love both Zappa and Crimson, and I seriously think that Frank Zappa could be music's Kevin Bacon. You could play the "six degrees" game and link nearly any popular rock band from the last sixty years back to Frank in some way, shape or form. Hell I've even seen George Clinton's band perform a cover of "I'm The Slime".
He reverts to his feral state on that one. Absolutely insane, pure testosterone and adrenaline.
...it gets named "best live album of all time" again and again, and for good reason.
...they were playing it and when I heard "Hard Driving Man" I asked "What the HELL is THAT?" I bought a copy on the spot.
"You heard of the Boogaloo? You heard of the Boston Boogie? You heard of The Philly Freeze? We got the DETROIT DEMOLITION here for you tonight..."
The other highlight, obviously, is when Geils' guitar coils up out of silence and EXPLODES 5 minutes and 50 seconds into "Serves You Right To Suffer."
My sister and brother in law took me. Got carded, said I had to have a "parent or guardian" and I said "RIGHT HERE."
I was listening to Leon Russell's "Shelter People" album earlier today and was reminded of just how much Leon contributed to EVERYTHING. He seldom gets adequate credit, he really IS the "master of space and time."
My favorite part of the entire "Mad Dogs" album is at the end of "Blue Medley"...Joe's take on "I've Been Loving You Too Long" is also my all-time favorite Cocker performance...and we hear a woman yell out "Joe COCKER!" (at the 12:37 mark).
Joe Cocker, indeed.
Gots it on vinyl.
Pulse did not make my number one slot, I gave that to Yessongs and voted it in above but Pulse seems to have missed this list... or maybe I missed it.
Pulse and Yesssongs, and in that vein I'll add "Seconds Out" since I saw the same setlist at Winterland (the Wind & Wuthering tour). Like many people, I stopped following the pop version of the band (when Hackett left...I hated "And Then There Were Three" . But the Wind & Wuthering show was a real jaw-dropper. Every member of the band kicked ass in unimaginable ways.
Thanks for the Genesis link as well.
There used to be a POWERFUL clip of "Los Endos" that mirrored what was on Seconds Out that I had bookmarked, only to find out that when I went back to look at it, it had been removed. I've been listening to Hackett's "Genesis Revisited II" album and its "Live At Royal Abert Hall" and "Live At Hammersmith" counterparts. It's nice that he's keeping that sound alive.
Do you have a favorite live album?
.... because the kind of stuff I really dig can generally only be done in the studio.
That said here are two exceptions:
1) Emerson Lake & Palmer - Pictures at an Exhibition. This was recorded 1970 or so at the Isle of Wight festival. The band had only been together a relatively short time (around a year). The performance is wonderful, with the possible exception of some of Lake's overwrought lyrics. In any event an incredible listen and done 100% live, a performance most bands couldn't do with a year in the studio From one of the most unfairly villified bands in the history of pop music.
2) King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black. Now admittedly this recording was only about 1/2 to 2/3 done live. But some of the most stunning parts of it were in fact recorded live at the Concertgebouw in 1972 or 3. When released, it was presented as a studio album and only much later was it revealed that much of it was recorded live. A fine record but not for those who enjoy the insipid
