Lists : 5 Great Live Albums

Aug 14, 2010 Lists
Posted by Adam

A lot of people don’t really care too much for the live album, preferring the polished sound of the studio instead, but not me. I love live records, especially those that aren’t just rehashes of what you can find on the studio releases.

There are few things that I think go into making a really good live record. Song selection is paramount. Yes we probably need to hear what are considered the hits or fan favorites, but please put some tracks on there that deeper fans can appreciate. I also need some or all songs to be worked differently, this can be as subtle as just extending the song or as drastic as playing a balls out rocker as a solo acoustic number. Always nice for me is a cover tune because it is always a pleasure to hear your favorite artist play some of their favorites.

As always this list is in no order, and may not be my favorite all time live records, but every one on here gives me joy. Some of them are retrospective live albums, some released with all new material, some rely heavily on covers and some are all original. Without further delay here are some absolutely great live records….

Tommy Womack : Washington D. C. (2003)

Here is Tommy at his Rock n Roll greatest. This is one of my favorite albums to turn way up and scream along to. There are some songs that only appear on this release and there are some songs from his previous releases. As an added bonus Tommy breaks out some favorites from the bis-quits album. This album rocks from beginning to end without stopping.

My personal favorite tracks on this one are “I Don’t Have a Gun” an “Skinny and Small”. Both songs featuring either avoided or inevitable acts of violence against the people that have wronged the narrator or maybe just pissed him off. While neither Tommy nor myself for that matter would ever  commit such acts sometimes it is just therapeutic to sing about doing so at the top of your lungs over top of some hellacious guitar riffs.

Other highlights include : “Betty Was Black (Willie Was White)” and “Sweet Hitchhiker”.

Jane’s Addiction : Jane’s Addiction (1987)

Staying with the Rock n Roll albums, this debut album from Jane’s Addiction really can’t be beat. While some would argue it is not a true live album (there were some overdubs added) to me it still maintains the feel and energy of a live recording. Adding to the intrigue on this one is that it was their debut record which is always a ballsy move for a band to make, shunning the shelter and safety of the studio and just putting out what has gained them a following in the first place, playing live.

Not only do I  love this album, it is by far my favorite Jane’s Addiction record. It has everything you could want from Farrell and company. Some punk rock influenced screachers, a couple of slower more lyrical tunes, Farrell’s ever strange vocals and Dave Navarro destroying a guitar not to mention drummer, Stephen Perkins.

My favorites on this one are “Jane Says”, which is sort of the cliche Jane’s song but who cares, “Whores” a song about the dregs of L.A. and surprisingly enough two cover songs.

They completely nail the two covers that appear on this album. First off is the Velvet Underground’s “Rock n Roll” which Farrell really just kills. Following that is one of the best Rolling Stones covers I’ve ever heard in “Sympathy for the Devil” .

Todd Snider : Near Truths and Hotel Rooms (2003)

Here we have our first acoustic offering of the list. This is a great way to introduce Todd to people who don’t really like to listen to bootlegs. You can never really say you’ve heard him until you’ve seen him live but this is the next best thing.

On this release they did a great job capturing the Todd experience and packaging it on a single disc. He stretches out on multiple tangents between songs and is able to play some songs that leave you laughing alongside  some that bring tears to your eyes. And that is, after what a Todd show is all about.

Personal bests on this one, “Tension”, one of my all time favorite Todd songs that always makes me smile, “Broke” a song about the things you will do when are in that predicament, and “Waco Moon” a tribute to the late Eddy Shaver.

Nirvana : Unplugged (1994)

Full of teenage angst and superb covers, this album helped define my generation. I dare anyone to attempt to argue the validity of this album appearing on this list. I still listen to this one on a regular basis which is  a lot more than I can say for most of the other things I was listening to at the time.

This performance was by far the best in MTV’s series and is probably my favorite Nirvana album as well. It really showed that they were musicians and not just a bunch of anger driven post adolescents. I love everything about the sound on this one from Cobain delivering fine vocals, the acoustic arrangements and the appearance of the members of the Meat Puppets. Not only did it shed new light on their own songs it showed that they were aware and appreciative of people that came before them in musical history.

My favorites on this one may be all covers, not because I don’t like the originals but because the covers were so well chosen. “Plateau” and “Lake of Fire”, two of the three Meat Puppets covers are fantastic. In addition to those, the not well known David Bowie song “The Man Who Sold the World” and the very well known Leadbelly tune, “In the Pines” (credited as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” are both fucking great.

As for the Nirvana songs on this Nirvana album, the standouts are “Polly”, “Dumb”, and “Pennyroyal Tea”

Will Hoge : Again Somewhere Tomorrow (2007)

Here is another rocker of an album. Hoge seems to be on a mission to save live Rock n Roll and this album goes a long way in doing so. The energy Hoge puts out in his vocals on this recording  is simply amazing. Hoge is like a mixture or Mick Jagger, Chris Robinson and Otis Redding all rolled into one when he gets going.

As always the band backing Hoge on this album is equally gifted, lifting the songs higher and higher throughout.

Favorites of mine on this one are the Motown infused, “Woman Be Strong” , opener “The Man Who Killed Love” and “Southern Belle”, a longing for a specific type of lover.

Every song on this album is great and it is a damn shame that this is the closest I have yet to come to seeing him live (two plan trips have been stopped due to uncontrollable circumstances) but at least it is a great record.

As always this list could o on forever because there are about a million other live albums that I think are great and I’m sure in ten minutes I will be wishing I would have included some of them instead of the ones I’ve written about. Feel free to comment with your favorite live albums or why you think my choices are wrong or right.

Tags: jane's addiction, Lists, Nirvana, todd snider, Tommy Womack, Will Hoge