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Another inspired thread from somewhere else here - a multi-artist journey through rock music via the live album. I chose 100 live albums / shows that were either listed amongst the most essential on random internet pages, live albums that were influential for me, a few suggestions already in this forum, and well anywhere else I could find. This is a long term project I think so we should keep adding with your recommendations. I am going to try to keep an active list, but just note I am leaving off jazz because that’s a whole journey unto itself. The order I am going through is largely chronological, with a balance of release date versus when it was recorded depending on where it fits on the arc of our journey (aka Led Zeppelin’s How the West Was Won was recorded in 1972 and released decades later).
Follow along, make suggestions, comment on the album, listen along…I’ll post what’s next at the end of each post so we are all listening.:.things will get Jolie, and some of these I have never heard.
This is the oldest live album on this journey and an appropriate starting point. Muddy Waters influenced so much rock music, especially that huge wave of English rock stars that are often considered synonymous with 60s rock. On this release, it’s really the interplay between harmonica, piano, and drums that define the performance beyond its main draw - that voice! As the show progresses here, Waters holds the crowd in the palm of his hand, and absolutely demolishes I’ve Got My Mojo Working to the extent that he just goes ahead and plays it again to the delight of the crowd. Note the last 4 songs are studio tracks of some of the live songs played. No complaints here.
The Essential Performance: I’ve Got My Mojo Working
Moving from blues to rock n roll, though the differences are quite slight, one thing sticks out pretty quickly, Bo’s band can play. This is very much the beach party, and until today never once thought of Bo Diddley as surf rock, but it kind of is. Despite the poor quality audio, the energy here is palatable, and things really start kickin’ at Hey Bo Diddley and keep growing in energy through a rollicking Road Runner, though my pick here is the instrumental Bo’s Waltz, which is really outstanding.
There’s no question that James Brown is best known for his live performances. The burst of energy here is huge right out the gate, establishing that high octane soul - which is really when this thing is at its best. Yes, the slow jam in Lost Someone is really great, but it’s in the closing Night Train and opening I’ll Go Crazy and those quick instrumental bridges where he shines brightest.
When it comes to blues, there’s almost a caricature-like sense of King’s definitive sound. King sounds great here, but the band really brings it here, and King feels more like he’s reading the crowd, like he’s capable of much more than he’s actually doing. That cat and mouse feel leaves you wanting more, which maybe is the point.
The Essential Performance: Every Day I Have the Blues
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