Well, it's Friday and you know what that means. Yes, my Eurasian fille de joie Fah lo Suee and I are off to scenic Mar-a-Lago for a fin-de-la-semaine ballroom fete featuring what's being billed as "la première lecture dramatique" of Les Dossiers Epstein.
Not sure what that means, but it sounds very existential, so just in case I'm having my beret re-blocked.
In any case, posting by moi will necessarily be sporadic for a few days.
But in my absence, here's a fun project for you all to contemplate:
MOST OVER-RATED OR UNDER-RATED LIVE ALBUM BY A POST-ELVIS POP/ROCK/FOLK/SOUL/COUNTRY GROUP OR SOLO ARTIST!!!
No arbitrary rules whatsoever, for obvious reasons.
And my totally Top of My Head Top Six, in both categories, are:
6. Peter Frampton -- Frampton Comes Alive!
As Mike Meyers says in Waynes World 2:
"Exqueese me? Have I seen this one before? 'Frampton Comes Alive'? Everybody in the world has 'Frampton Comes Alive.' If you lived in the suburbs you were issued it. It came in the mail with samples of "Tide".
5. Marshall Chapman -- It's About Time...
C'mon -- singing "Jailhouse Rock" to an audience of inmates at a women's prison? Conceptual masterstrokes don't come any neater.
4. Ritchie Valens -- In Concert at Pacoima Jr. High School
At his Alma Mater, not long before the plane crash. Primitively recorded, but a heart as big as all outdoors.
3. The Band -- The Last Waltz
Sorry -- any live album featuring Neil Diamond is by definition unfit for man nor beast.
2. Television -- Live at the Old Waldorf
I'd forgotten just how spine-tingling that is. Seriously -- two guitars, bass and drums just don't get any cooler-sounding.
And the all-time underrated live album is...
1. The Floor Models -- Floor by Four: Live at JPs in 1982
What -- you didn't see that coming? 😎
Alrighty then -- what would YOUR choices be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!!!
Mixed feelings about J. Geils Band's 'Full House.' When I was a teenager, I thought it was the most exciting slab of vinyl ever. Later audits by mature ears suggested that it had been augmented with extra audience frenzy. Still, the performance kills.
ReplyDeleteHaven't heard it in years, but I seem to recall that it was very, very good. And having seen Geils live a couple of times in their prime, I would be very surprised if its not.
DeleteAnd at the risk of further tooting my own horn, listening to the Television and Floor Models tracks back to back surprised me in what a smooth transition it made. We were hugely influenced by Television, so that's very gratifying.
ReplyDeleteThe Bootleg Series Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall.
ReplyDeleteDylan at his acoustic peak. "Spanish Harlem Incident" is one of the most beautiful, haunting renditions of a song ever. You can actually feel the heat of a late-night New York summer's night.
Absolutely.
DeleteGummo, perfect! I was wondering what I would listen to on my prep period today. Bob's show was recorded October 31st, 1964, so I will celebrate its anniversary!
DeleteLittle Feat's "Waiting for Columbus". I like the band, and the album is fine, but I don't get why it's considered so great.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to get me in trouble, but I never got the fuss about The Who Live at Leeds. Sorry to say that The J. Geils Band’s Blow Your Face Out did little for me, too. Perhaps this is because I really don’t enjoy live albums that much anymore. (Said the man with countless live LPs, official and otherwise.)
ReplyDeleteLive albums I actually still enjoy:
Zevon - Stand in the Fire
Mott The Hoople Live
Beatles - Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Lou Reed - Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal (I know, I know)
Stiffs Live
Various- Live at the Roxy (UK punk live compilation)
I'm a huge Lou Reed fan, but don't get me started on Rock n Roll Animal. 😎
DeleteLet's start with this and I'll be back with more selections later once I'm truly awake:
ReplyDeleteWorst Ever (but I absolutely love it!)
The Kinks Live at Kelvin Hall - 1967
Rumor has it former Prince Andrew was there looking to pick up a screaming 13 year old girl.
Captain Al :-)
mr. andrew mountbatten windsor - one hopes he receives a fair trial
DeleteTo paraphrase the immortal Larry Mendte, "He has yet to face a judge or jury. But in the court of public opinion, he has been found... despicable."
DeleteHere's a couple of live albums that i return to - in their dvd form, to be precise - from time to time and think should be very highly rated:
ReplyDeleteTodd Rundgren - Healing - the 2010 show -
the way the young chorus digs in on "Shine"
sends shivers down my spine
Peter Gabriel - Secret World Live - Paula Cole appears
good stuff - in my opinion
Joe Ely - Live at liberty lunch and Marty Jones- Live at spirit square are good live albums
ReplyDeleteOoh….the Marti Jones.😎
DeleteLive At Spirit Square is one of the better live records, uh, ever.
DeleteI prefer Joe Ely-Live Shots
ReplyDeleteMarshall Chapman - thats a blast from the past.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Spartanburg, SC I was friends with her brother. This is all I know - 1. He was an Undertaker at the families Funeral Business.
2. He mentioned that his sister, Marshall, was a country singer.
Off to the family estate to go swimming there was Marshall stretched out on a chaise.
She had just released "Rode Yard, Put, Up Wet" 😉
I was a huge fan. Interviewed her for the magazine….ill try to find the link.
DeleteShe looked good in that Bikini 👙
DeleteContinuing:
ReplyDeleteJefferson Airplane: Live at Monterey Pop 1967
Captain Al
Rolling Stones: Got Live if You Want it! EP 1964/5
ReplyDeleteCaptain Al
My Can't Live Without Collection -
ReplyDelete1. Allman Bros. - Live at the Fillmore
2. Joni Mitchell - Miles of Aisles
3. Genesis - Watcher of the Skies
4. Be Bop Deluxe - Live in the Air Age
5. The Dirt Band - Will The Circle Be Unbroken
6. I know that there has to be a Live Waylon Jennings Album somewhere
😉 rob ☕
Dylan:
ReplyDeleteSingle track: Isis - Biograph (live 1975)
Album: Royal Albert Hall (Manchester) 1966
"Judas!" indeed!
Captain Al
Sha Na Na The Golden Age of Rock n Roll
ReplyDeleteGarland Jeffries Rock And Roll Adult
both good and underrated.
rs
Neil Young
ReplyDeleteRust Never Sleeps - Powder Finger
"Look out Mama there's a white boat coming up the river ..."
I effin Love this song .
rob
Lou Reed - Take No Prisoners
ReplyDeleteAllman Brothers - American University, Washington DC 12/13/70
Grateful Dead - Barton Hall 5/8/77 (duh)
Lounge Lizards - Live in Tokyo/Big Heart
Under-rated: Allman Brothers Fillmore sides one and three.
ReplyDeleteOver-rated: Allman Brothers Fillmore sides two and four
Beatles: Great - Rooftop 1969!
ReplyDeleteSucks - Star Club 1962
Grateful Dead: Great - Two From The Vault 8/23-24/68 LA, CA
Cleveland Jeff - I agree!
Captain Al
Thanks Al. Lotta noodling around on sides 2 and 4
DeleteWell it looks like quite a few of us think that the Dead were pretty good live.
ReplyDeleteGoing back to the Fillmore East (Skull and Roses) album -
Merle Haggards - Momma Tried
Merle Haggard live in Muskogee
ReplyDeleteWe don't take our trips on LSD 🎃
DeleteDespite the slice and dice of the shows from different years, I've loved the Beatles at Hollywood Bowl since it came out. A Beatle freak friend has gifted me with many live Beatles shows-I love 'em all.
ReplyDeleteThe Last Waltz: I am beyond puzzled regarding the reverence for this piece of crap. The film captures the feeling that the 70s were about played out and something new was around the corner.
Bob in IL
The Last Waltz as a piece of crap is quite the take...but Rock of Ages is a alternative...but you kinda, have to like The Band in either case...:)
DeleteFirst time commenter. I've lurked since about 2010 and never said anything. Love Powder Finger. Easily Neil's best song. Not really pertinent to the subject, but I saw Marshall Crenshaw at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica last Sunday night. Probably the best concert I have seen in 50 years of concert going. He should be considered among the best singer/songwriters ever. His lead guitarist was the best since I saw Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1989. His name is Fernando Perdomo. Just terrific. They did a cover of Bob Dylan's 115th Dream that was killer. Will have to check if Crenshaw has a live album.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteDave J -- welcome (officially) on board. And you don't have to convince me about Fernando Perdomo -- he's a friend of PowerPop and I've been a fan since his work with the great Cait Brennan.
DeleteHmmm.... and I thought he was Canadian.
ReplyDeleteGood point 😉
DeleteJefferson Airplane - Bless Its Pointed Little Head
ReplyDelete