The best live concert recording ever?

[rumpleforeskiin]

I've seen a lot of great shows: The Who performing Tommy at the Commonwealth Armory in Boston in 1968, Traffic at the Boston Tea Party in 1969, Woodstock later the same year, Springsteen countless times, Dylan and the Band at the Boston Garden in 1972. Some famous ones that although famous weren't necessarily great: the Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965.

The one that got away was The Band over four days at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at New Year's 1971-1972, resulting in Rock of Ages, perhaps the best live album ever before Springsteen's Dublin concert with the Seeger sessions band.

Today, when the UPS driver shows up, he'll be bringing a brand new release, 4 CDs and 1 DVD of that magical weekend in Brooklyn long ago.

Here's a taste of Robbie, Garth, Levon, Rick and Richard from that weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11Y987Uf1wY

 

[protagoras]

My best concerts were the following one, in the early 1970's in Montreal

1) Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
2) The Allman Brothers
3) King Crimson

Then later my musical taste change: I went from rock to jazz.

1976: Elvin Jones at the Rising Sun
1977: McTyner at the Rising Sun


Rashaan Roland Kirk was probably my best show ever. This multi-talented blind musican was recovring from a stroke and his saxophones were modified: I could play them with one arm only. He passed away a couple of months later.

Charles Mingus concerts were also memorable for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsaxODHI3fA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIqLJmlQQNM

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Zappa was brilliant. He and the Mothers spend the entire summer of 1967 at the Garrick Theatre on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. I must have seen them 10 times that summer.

 

[bardamu]

I agree about the Traffic show in Boston. The others:
-Allman Brothers live at Fillmore east (their version of Hot Lanta and "in memory of Elizabeth Reid"!!!)
-Joe Cocker - Mad dogs and the Englishman
-Talking Heads - Stop making sense

In jazz, many many of them stand out. Two of them come to mind: "the greatest jazz concert ever" with Parker, Gillespie, Roach, recorded at Massey hall in Toronto, in 1953. The place was nearly empty - a snow storm that night - to witness one of the greatest jazz performances ever, even if Charlie Parker played with a plastic saxophone. He had lost his regular one at a pawn shop, apparently.

The other one: Chet Baker "live at Ann Arbor".

 

[protagoras]

I agree about the Traffic show in Boston. The others:
-Allman Brothers live at Fillmore east (their version of Hot Lanta and "in memory of Elizabeth Reid"!!!)
-Joe Cocker - Mad dogs and the Englishman
-Talking Heads - Stop making sense

In jazz, many many of them stand out. Two of them come to mind: "the greatest jazz concert ever" with Parker, Gillespie, Roach, recorded at Massey hall in Toronto, in 1953. The place was nearly empty - a snow storm that night - to witness one of the greatest jazz performances ever, even if Charlie Parker played with a plastic saxophone. He had lost his regular one at a pawn shop, apparently.

The other one: Chet Baker "live at Ann Arbor".

Ohhh. A jazz aficionado. I like it!
I saw at the PDA (Place des Arts) a remake of the greatest jazz concert ever in the mid 1980's. Veteran be-boppers played the classics from that crazy period. Unfortunately I have problems to remember who were the playser (my memory is failing me). But I think that Dizz was among the cats playing. For the other ones I'm almost certain that James Moody was there or maybe Jymmie Heath. I don't remember who was the pianist (Barry Harris, Tomy Flanagan...hum no clues!).

Yeah too bad that Bird was an on heroin (the same thing for Chet and Art Pepper, even Miles Davis in his youth).

The most poignant interpretation of Bird was on his record date of Loverman. After the recording he was sent to a mental institute. We can hear the angst while he is playing. I have goose bumps...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJrhOjvDbtg

When he came back to the jazz scene after his cure at Camarillo his play was more joyfull.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJrhOjvDbtg

 

[protagoras]

Another great jazz concert recording: Duke Ellington in Newport.

Babs Gonzales solo is simply amazing Crescendo and diminuendo in Blue is simply amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkElnIiE4U4

 

[bardamu]

The rendition of Loverman by Charlie Parker that you allude to is on the Dial Recordings, vol. 1. It is a pure masterpiece. Every piece is great, but there is another one that stands as well: "A night in Tunisia". There are many versions of that piece of music, but this one is by far the best. The bridge - or what separates the theme and the impro, is considered one of the greatest moment in the history of jazz, if not music, period.

Charlie Parker's Dial Recordings vol 1 and 2, is, for any jazz fan, absolutely mandatory. They did a wonderful job by taking the old recordings - that were frankly poor in quality - and cleaned them to the extent that was needed, just a bit to keep the music while getting rid of all the imperfections.

But we are getting of topic here. These recordings were not live.

The best live recordings of Charlie Parker are certainly "the Savoy recordings". Great also.

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

The best live concert recording I have is the reunion of Cream a few years ago at the Royal Albert Hall.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Does pink floyd Live at pompei count as a live concert since there was no audience?

Hey, if it counts to you, it counts to me.:nod:

Just started listening to The Band new release. The disappointment is that the DVD, while SurroundSound, doesn't contain much in the way of film, just stills on the screen behind the music. Still, the music is fabulous, which you'll learn, if you'd like, on your next visit, sooner rather than later.

 

[Halloween Mike]

The Big Four

How can you beat Anthrax, Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth performing on the same night? LOL

I also like the Quebec Show of Metallica i own, but again Metallica always peform well live, its always amazing. One of my favorite live tune tough is Creeping Death from Colombus Ohio... the public was just crazy and i never heard them loud like that.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Two others I might add are: Otis Redding Live in Paris and Sam Cooke at the Harlem Club. Oh, could those two sing.

 

[protagoras]

How come nobody mentioned yet the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971??????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJfeLkw7-ck

And the bootlegs versions of the infamous Rolling Stones Concert in Altamont?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CG1rbUdHKg

The Jefferson Airplane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HICTkRE0I0

Finally to come back to jazz, one of my favorite lived recording is Miles at the Plugged Nickel. That was jazz!!!!

Here's a faster than usual version of Walking It is almost "running"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYSaX-za64E

 

[Left Coast]

If you are fan of The Band get "The Last Waltz" DVD

I attended this 1976 farewell concert of The Band. With Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Muddy Waters, The Staples, Ringo Starr, Ron Wood, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield, and Ronnie Hawkins making appearances, it was quite an awesome group of the era's rock superstars. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the DVD is very good visually and the sound is top notch. Give it a try.