I love live music. It’s the best way to hear an artist. In their element as a performer and in surroundings that bring out the magic in that performance. No restrictions of time and editing, the freedom of interpretation and expression. No time limit, just music raw and unrehearsed. At least that was the way live recording used to be. Back in the 60’s and up till mid-70 live recorded music was not in an artist catalogue for the purpose of making money. A live recording was a way of giving an artist or band a brief period of rest to work on other projects and create new material.
In September 1975, with the release of Kiss “Alive” and six months later Peter Frampton’s “Frampton Comes Alive”, that all changed. Those two albums went on to sell well into the millions and began the commercialization of live recorded music. Record companies saw the dollar sign and decided whatever artist was under their contract it was time to release them live. That’s when the studio entered the arena. They began to mix, edit, re-record and try to make a live recording a studio production. They wanted to make money, but the fear was that people wouldn’t buy if it didn’t sound just like the original record. So they made the live recording nothing more than a studio manufactured live recording. That feeling of hearing the artist live was lost to the studio mixing board and producer. What they wanted you to hear is what ended up being put on vinyl and was not a true rendition of the performance.
I have heard an abundance of live music. I have been behind the mixing board while a band was performing and enjoyed that raw energy and the thrill of” live” music which is for “me” exhilarating. My first live concert was in the early 70’s at one of those of several county fairs around the area. It was Ann Murray and Jerry Reed. Can you tell what music was playing in the house? But my first venture into the rock music arena was in 1975. Just two months after the release of the album that put them on the rock and roll highway and before it truly exploded on the charts I saw Kiss. That was 37 years ago and in that span of time I have seen and heard live music in almost every genre and on almost all different stages. As a matter of fact I have been to a lot of different events of meaning in my life time. I have seen every Chicago professional team at least once (the Blackhawks leading the way). I have seen the Stanley Cup lifted in victory and skated around on the ice (not the Blackhawks). I have been to the Indianapolis 500 twice. I have seen the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, both too many times to count and the Elgin Symphony twice. I have seen the plays, Wicked, Lion King, Dirty Dancing.
I guess you can say I am multi-cultural in the fact that I do not limit myself to just one thing. You will also find this to be true were music is concerned. I already made mention of the classical music I have enjoyed but the following list (though it may be very incomplete due to recollection or lack of) it is a list of the acts I have seen and enjoyed over the past 37 years. The list is in no particular order, (again it’s from memory) or genre, it runs the gamut. It is a testament to my love of music played live. I have no idea as I start this list how long it will be so bear with me and I hope it doesn’t become tedious and boring.
1. Kiss (5)
2. Mott the Hoople
3. Mountain
4. Alice Cooper (2)
5. The Baby’s
6. The Dictators
7. Burton Cummings – former leader of the Guess Who
8. Emerson Lake and Palmer
9. Uriah Heep
10. Styx (3)
11. Walter Eagan
12. Golden Earring
13. Fore Play
14. Point of Grace
15. 4 Him
16. Ray Boltz (2)
17. Cheap Trick
18. Enuff Znuff
19. Kenny Wayne Shepherd (4)
20. DNA
21. Third Day(2)
22. Newsong (4)
23. Steven Cutis Chapmen
24. Out of the Grey
25. Cindy Morgan
26. Michael O’Brian
27. Nicole Nordeman
28. Identical Strangers
29. Bad Company
30. Deep Purple
31. Billy Squire
32. R.E.O. Speedwagon (2)
33. Survivor(2)
34. Off Broadway
35. Lynyrd Skynyrd
36. Aerosmith
37. Zoegirl
38. Newsboys (3)
39. Geoff Moore and the Distance (2)
40. Plankeye
41. Twila Paris
42. Clay Crosse
43. Kenny G (2)
44. Michael Bolton
45. Ted Nugent
46. Skid Row
47. Saliva
48. Phil Keaggy
49. FFH
50. Avalon
51. Jars of Clay (2)
52. Audio Adrenalin
53. DC Talk
54. Take 6
55. Burlap to Kashmir
56. Matthew West
57. Jeremy Camp
58. Force 5
59. Skillet
60. Toby Mac
61. Reliant K
62. Need to Breathe
63. Kirk Franklin
64. Disciple
65. Joe Williams
66. The Waiting
67. Anthony Evans
68. Glorious Appearing
69. Crystal Lewis
70. LaRue
71. Jaci Velasquez
72. Natalie Grant
73. By the Tree
74. Jonny Lang
75. Buddy Guy
76. Howlin’ Wolf
There you have it. 76 different artists I have seen and heard live. I told you I love live
music. There are a couple of bands I wish I could have seen but didn’t. The main one being Queen. So hopefully the list is impressive and gives me some credibility as far as knowing live music. Now after all of that there are five albums in my catalogue that to me are the best live recordings of acts at their best in front of an audience.They are all from 1976 or earlier.
1. “Made In Japan” by Deep Purple
2. “Alive” by Kiss
3. “FM Live” by The Climax Blues Band
4. “One More From the Road” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
5. “Blow Your Face Out” The J. Geils Band
The music that comes from these grooves is a pure discovery of a band at its best. It feels live, sounds live and you can tell the band is getting into playing because the response from the crowd is igniting and energizing their playing. Now I know that this will be contested as to a legitimate proclamation as to the best live album argument, but this is just “my” opinion. Want to way in feel free. This is going out over the web and I will stand by my top five. Will be happy to hear what groups make your top 5.
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