The Great Live Albums of the 70s
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The Live album peaked in the 1970s an age of Stadium rock shows and listening parties. By the 1980s video had killed the radio star and big live albums became more and more rare.
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- The Who, Live at Leeds. Who wouldn’t want a 15 minute rendition of My Generation ?
- The Rolling Stones, Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out! The Stones at their bad boy peak. Well worth it for Midnight Rambler alone.
- Neil Young, Rust Never Sleeps. Neil recorded all new music live in front of an audience that never heard the tunes before.
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- Cheap Trick, at Budokan. Still pretty unknown in their native USA, Cheap Trick went to Japan and were treated like Rock Gods. Wisely captured the magic and soon America audiences were screaming like Japanese girls .
- The Band, The Last Waltz. Yes the Band get two for being the best musicians of their generation. Maybe any generation.
- The Band, Rock of Ages.
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- Allman Brothers, Live at the Fillmore East. This album captures the live experience so well that many listeners now swear they were there.
- Little Feat, Waiting For Columbus. Lowell George and Little Feat brought in the The Tower Of Power. Perfection.
- Peter Frampton, Frampton Comes Alive! Peter Frampton’s studio albums never sold well and this live album exploded. Soon it was in every suburban house.
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- Bob Segar, Live Bullet. He recorded this in his hometown of Detroit and this kicked off a commercial success run.
- Kiss! Alive. Did they cheat the live aspect by overdubbing? Sure. But would you really listen to them without it?
- Deep Purple, Live in Japan. Early hard rock and metal forefathers. Highway Star is a classic.
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- J. Geils Band, Blow Your Face Out. The J.Geils Band live shows were historic. The live albums epic and must haves.
- J. Geils Band, Full House.
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