Essential Live Albums

[liebzz]

…another Dead week, this one taking us from the 80s into the 90s. If ‘70-‘72 and ‘77 were prime years for the Grateful Dead ‘87-‘90 is one more great time period to mine. We start with Dylan and the Dead, not the best but underrated, and move into a Jerry Garcia surprise and then into the Dead proper. This will be my last run with them in this journey with maybe only a few visits around remaining releases.

[liebzz]

Dylan & the Dead

You’d be much better off if you looked up a show in this tour and just listened to it. For the most part, the selections here play off neither strengths or Dylan or the Dead, which is unfortunate because I recall listening to a couple of these, specifically the July 4th show I think was in Philadelphia that tour, and they were excellent. A shame they didn’t take the full swing with this release. That said, Watchtower is still pretty damn good.

The Essential Performance: All Along the Watchtower

Up Next: Jerry Garcia Band - GarciaLive, Vol. 13: September 16, 1989 Poplar Creek Music Theatre

[liebzz]

Jerry Garcia Band - GarciaLive Vol. 13 - September 16, 1989 Poplar Creek Music Theatre

With the E Street Band on hiatus, Clarence Clemons made a number of appearances with Jerry Garcia on this tour, but this one is particularly fun since he sat in for the whole show. Much like so many of Jerry Garcia’s solo shows, it’s a predominantly laid back affair - unrushed with plenty of space for Jerry and Co. to kick the tires on originals and cover tunes. Clarence found his spots here, but also subtle enough that he doesn’t overtake things. Always a favorite of mine from JGB, there are many moments where the band builds into a frenzy, like Dear Prudence, Let’s Spend the Night Together, The Night They Drive Old Dixie Down, Tangled Up in Blue and Knockin on Heaven’s Door. A must for JGB fans:

The Essential Performance: Tangled Up in Blue

Up Next: Grateful Dead - Formerly the Warlocks

[i got bugs]

Wild how all of those JGB official releases basically have the same track list

[liebzz]

It’s funny because it’s primarily cover songs despite an expansive solo discography, many of which made their way to the Dead sets. The JGB shows are not really all that repetitive feeling, but he did have a core set of songs he liked to play with them - at least much more consistently than the Dead setlists. JGB is far more laid back than the Grateful Dead shows, and are not at all traveling into psychedelic spaces like the middle of the second sets in Grateful Dead shows. They won’t be the end all greatest shows you ever heard, nor are they meant to be. Largely a more lighthearted venture. I have really enjoyed them when I am in that space.

[liebzz]

Grateful Dead - Formerly the Warlocks: Hampton, VA October 1989

This release is a two-show run in Hampton, VA, October 8 & 9. The first set from the first show seems like largely a warmup at least compared to rest of the two shows, a sort of getting comfortable in the place. Everything seemed quite solid, but then they take off in set two and the first show immediately becomes something special, particularly in the Help On the Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower run. Coming out of Space into a buoyant I Need a Miracle > The Wheel > Gimme Some Lovin’ was really a change of pace since they usually draw you out of the more psychedelic zones with subdued material. This finishes with a really killer Morning Dew followed by the Goodnight encore. Special second set.

In night 2, things pick up right where they left off, with set one’s best highlight a cover of Dylan’s Stuck Inside of Mobile… set two again though is a different beast altogether and definitely my favorite extended psychedelic jam session I can remember. Not only do they reach into crazy spaces here, the Dark Star jam gets downright menacing. Brent does quite well for himself out of the haze with Dear Mr. Fantasy > Hey Jude, Throwing Stones is very good. This show was superior to the first but a set of nights that recall this band’s peak.

The Essential Performance: Dark Star

Up Next: Grateful Dead - Without a Net

[liebzz]

Through the 80s now (i am sure to go back to a few things here and there). So a top 50 check in (descending order):

50. Grateful Dead - To Terrapin: Hartford, CT 5/28/77
49. Deep Purple - Made in Japan
48. U2 - Under a Blood Red Sky
47. Grand Funk Railroad - Live Album
46. Primus - Suck On This
45. Jerry Garcia Band - GarciaLive Vol. 13: September 16, 1989 Poplar Creek Music Theatre
44. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Live at Carnegie Hall
43. Jimi Hendrix - Blue Wild Angel: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival
42. Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same
41. The Who - Live at the Isle of Wight Festival
40. Grateful Dead - One From the Vault
39. George Harrison - Concert for Bangladesh
38. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Pack Up the Plantation Live!
37. Queen - Live at Wembley
36. Pink Floyd - Delicate Sound of Thunder
35. Credence Clearwater Revival - Live at Woodstock
34. Credence Clearwater Revival - The Concert
33. The Rolling Stones - Get Yer Ya-Yas Out
32. The Who - Live at Leeds
31. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live at Monterey
30. Grateful Dead - Live / Dead
29. Led Zeppelin - How the West Was Won
28. The Rolling Stones - Some Girls Live in Texas ‘78
27. The Rolling Stones - Live at the El Mocambo 1977
26. Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense
25. Grateful Dead - Formerly the Warlocks: Hampton, VA October 1989
24. Little Feat - Waiting For Columbus
23. The Who - Live at Hull
22. Grateful Dead - Europe ‘72 Vol. 13: Bickershaw Festival, Wigan, England 5/7/72
21. Iron Maiden - Live After Death
20. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Live at the Fillmore East 1970
19. Grateful Dead - The Closing of Winterland
18. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Live Rust
17. The Band - Rock of Ages
16. Grateful Dead - Veneta, OR 8/27/72: the Complete Sunshine Daydream Concert
15. The Rolling Stones - Ladies and Gentlemen…
14. The Rolling Stones - The Brussels Affair
13. Grateful Dead - Europe ‘72
12. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - The Darkness Tour
11. Jimi Hendrix - Live at Woodstock
10. Grateful Dead - Dick’s Picks Vol. 8: Harpur College, Binghamton, NY 5/2/70
9. Bob Marley and the Wailers - Live!
8. Lynyrd Skynyrd - One More From the Road
7. The Band - The Last Waltz
6. The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East
5. Grateful Dead - Cornell 5/8/77
4. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Hammersmith Odeon, London 1975
3. Grateful Dead - Dick’s Picks Vol. 3: Pembroke Pines, FL 5/22/77
2. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Live 1975-85
1. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - The Legendary No Nukes Concerts

[Captain Termite]

Whenever I give Dead shows from the 80's a try, they just sound so much worse to me than their 70's shows in basically every aspect. And I don't like being the negative or skeptical one, and I don't want to be the killjoy. But I have to admit there is a tiny cynical part of me that suspects people want those shows to be good more than they actually are, for various reasons.

[liebzz]

Whenever I give Dead shows from the 80's a try, they just sound so much worse to me than their 70's shows in basically every aspect. And I don't like being the negative or skeptical one, and I don't want to be the killjoy. But I have to admit there is a tiny cynical part of me that suspects people want those shows to be good more than they actually are, for various reasons.

1979-1986 I would agree, but 1987-1990 they were a rejuvenated band, and many of the shows I listened to were quite good.

[liebzz]

Grateful Dead - Without a Net

On that note, this compilation is a great example of the Dead at their best in 1989 and Spring 1990. This one is so consistently good, it’s hard to pick out one, let alone multiple highlights. To that end though, Feel Like a Stranger is as good as it will ever sound, Althea is just a great song, Bird Song is really fabulous with a hooky by psychedelic breakdown in the middle, Let It Grow is great, China/Rider is faster than usual but sounds good, Eyes of the World with Branford Marsalis is smooth jazzy almost but so great even if laid back, Victim or the Crime is awesome and loud, and Help on the Way/Slipknot!/Franklin’s Tower is really good in this period particularly with the Slipknot transition going on.

The Essential Performance: Bird Song

Up Next: Grateful Dead - Dozin at the Knick

[i got bugs]

One of my fav versions of half step is on that

[liebzz]

One of my fav versions of half step is on that

It’s maybe the document of their late period, though currently enjoying the uniqueness of Dozin’, which has a bunch of songs I haven’t heard in ages, like Dupree’s Diamond Blues.

[i got bugs]

What is the best billy joel live album? There's a bunch on spotify

[liebzz]

No one recommended one for me, so none made this list. I think there’s a newer Shea Stadium one that Jenn Sherman from Peloton likes. I have very little Billy Joel background.

[i got bugs]

Hes one guy I always wanted to see but never did.. not a gigantic fan but I like him.. 2 of my buddies see him all the time.. I missed out on the Philly show w Stevie N.. closest I came was a tribute band at the beach

The newly released one was good but it's his early non hit stuff

[liebzz]

Grateful Dead - Dozin’ at the Knick

If Without a Net is the standard for a late period Dead live album, Dozin’ at the Knick is the hidden gem. Taken from 3 nights in Albany, NY in 1990, the selection here leans less on classics and more of a deeper dive into the catalogue with songs that are beloved and yet not mentioned too much among their best. Dupree’s Diamond Blues is the first such example. Hell in a Bucket is a late era high point, and the performance here is also fantastic. Row Jimmy and Blow Away work as fantastic closers to a “first set”. The entire second set from the 2nd show follows and it features a phenomenal Uncle John’s Band with a Lady With A Fan > Terrapin Station that really is the one moment where the hits come rolling out. Mud Love Buddy Jam > Drums > Space is a long instrumental section but the first two are pretty great. Coming out of that with The Wheel is always solid, Watchtower is real good and gives way to a beautiful Stella Blue. Black Peter rounds out the highlights here on yet another great Dead release.

The Essential Performance: Stella Blue

Up Next: Grateful Dead - Wake Up to Find Out (the last Dead live album for quite a while)

[Happy Trees]

What is the best billy joel live album? There's a bunch on spotify

Songs In The Attic.

Live versions of his early songs from the Glass Houses tour.

Unique concept at the time but it's phenomenal.

It's also the first digitally-recorded live album, I believe. Or one of the first.

[wease]

What is the best billy joel live album? There's a bunch on spotify

Songs In The Attic.

Live versions of his early songs from the Glass Houses tour.

Unique concept at the time but it's phenomenal.

It's also the first digitally-recorded live album, I believe. Or one of the first.

Does he do any Grateful Dead tunes on it?

[LooseGroove927]

What is the best billy joel live album? There's a bunch on spotify

Songs In The Attic.

Live versions of his early songs from the Glass Houses tour.

Unique concept at the time but it's phenomenal.

It's also the first digitally-recorded live album, I believe. Or one of the first.

Songs in the Attic is excellent. If you're looking for something with more of the "hits," you can't go wrong with Live At Yankee Stadium, 1990.

[Happy Trees]

Songs in the Attic is excellent. If you're looking for something with more of the "hits," you can't go wrong with Live At Yankee Stadium, 1990.

It does have the "hit" version of Say Goodbye To Hollywood. The original studio version had been ignored and it was the single from this album.

And the studio versions of some of these songs became FM staples later.

The only one missing is "Piano Man" (thank god).