“Best” lists are great for stirring arguments among friends and coworkers, and therefore fare well in
magazines and on websites. We try not to partake in this activity—we’ll leave the annual “ 100 Best
Guitarists of All Time” lists to the other guys—but every now and then we’ll find a list that we think
is worth discussion. In March, UK radio station Planet Rock Radio polled its audience on the greatest live album of all time. The winner was Thin Lizzy’s Live and Dangerous. Inspired, we decided to
give the same topic a crack this month. Here are our staff members’ personal favorite live albums.
STAFF PICKS
Chris Burgess
Senior Editor
What am I listening to?
The sad news of Alex
Chilton’s death sent me
back to Big Star’s first
two albums, which had a
huge influence on me, and which I’d neglected
for far too long. They’re still ahead of their time.
Favorite Live Album:
Live and Dangerous is a great one, for sure,
but there are many rivals. The Who’s Live at
Leeds and Humble Pie’s Rockin’ the Fillmore
both come to mind quickly.
Chris Kies
Associate Editor
What am I listening to?
The Deftones, Diamond
Eyes. I went through
my adolescence with
the Deftones and their newest effort catches
up to my maturing tastes with a good mix of
outer-worldly, futuristic tones and the ferocity
of Adrenaline.
Favorite Live Album:
While I own Live and Dangerous—and love
it—I have to give my vote to Pantera’s Official
Live: 101 Proof. It’s an in-your-face vulgar display of power.
Rebecca Dirks
Web Content Editor
What am I listening to?
Frightened Rabbit,
Winter of Mixed Drinks.
This Scottish band’s
third—and least depressing—release adds thicker, more layered
arrangements behind singer Scott Hutchinson’s
great vocals. I can’t stop singing along.
Favorite Live Album:
I know the lighter side of Alice in Chains
isn’t everyone’s bag, but I just love their
Unplugged album.
The new Stone Temple
Pilots album. Not what
I expected, but those
STP-ized Beatles chord
progressions are growing on me.
Favorite Live Album:
Jimi Hendrix, Jimi Plays Monterey. It’s the
first CD I bought after I got my first CD player, and I haven’t stopped listening to it since
(I even had to buy it again after wearing it
out!). Raw energy and magical moments from
Jimi’s famous 1967 show. Simply great stuff.
Gayla Drake
Paul
Acoustic Editor
What am I listening to?
Joe Walsh, But Seriously
Folks. Digging back into
the archives for some of the tastiest, most
laid-back riffs in rock ’n’ roll—and some great
songwriting, too.
Favorite Live Album:
Stephane Grapelli, Live at the Winery, with
John Etheridge and Martin Taylor sharing
guitar duties, and Jack Sewing holding down
the bottom end. My dad got this record way
back and I have loved it since the first listen.
Taylor stole my heart with “Angel’s Camp.”
Jordan Wagner
Associate Gear Editor
What am I listening to?
High On Fire, Snakes
For The Divine. Another
ripping album from one
of underground rock’s
biggest success stories. “Bastard Samurai”
might be one of the heaviest songs ever.
Favorite Live Album:
Easy—Live and Dangerous. Because it is the
greatest live album ever.
Shawn
Hammond
Editor in Chief
What am I listening to?
Minus the Bear, OMNI.
Accessible songs (think
Flaming Lips but a little
less weird) with great melodies, interesting
instrumental departures, and cool guitar tones.
Favorite Live Album:
Cheap Trick, Live at Budokan. Righteously bristling guitars, palpable energy, and impeccable
melodies. You’re powerless, so just “Surrender.”
Nick Ireland
Marketing Director
What am I listening to?
Dire Straits, Brothers in
Arms. This brings me
back. As a kid, I recall
watching the “Walk of Life” music video over
and over on a BETA cassette—who would’ve
thought Mark Knopfler’s boogie riff and clips
of sports bloopers could work so well together?
Favorite Live Album:
Does a DVD count? Bruce Springsteen and
the E Street Band: Live in Barcelona (2003).
With the Barcelona crowd, anthems like
“Badlands” and “Born to Run” become even
more epic than the studio cuts.
Guest Picker
Andy McKee
Solo Acoustic Player &
You Tube Guitar Star
What am I listening to?
Earth, Wind & Fire,
Greatest Hits. My mom
brought me up on Earth, Wind & Fire and I
just love the way they groove.
Favorite Live Album:
My favorite live album would probably be
Dream Theater’s Live at the Marquee.
