Outstanding top 20 live albums of the exceptional 1970s ranked based on data

The 1970s may well have been the top era for live music albums. It certainly had many of the best live albums ever released.
Mick Jagger - The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger - The Rolling Stones / Walter Iooss Jr/GettyImages
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After writing about the top 20 best live albums ever I dug deeper and looked at a couple of specific decades. First off came ranking the best live albums of the 1980s. That had some unexpected entries, and surprisingly, only one live album from the 1980s made it to the best-ever list.

Which made me turn next to the 1970s. That was a classic and exceptional time for live music. That decade seemed to spark a rush of live albums, especially in the world of rock music. That genre is naturally suited to sharing live performances and a great atmosphere. 

In ranking the live albums of the 1970s I’m using the same basis as the other two lists mentioned above. It’s data-backed using information collated by BestEverAlbums.com. They have aggregated over 60,000 greatest album charts together with over nine million member ratings and produced a series of best-ever album lists. 

The top 20 live albums of the 1970s ranked 

That approach usually means other genres get a mention, which makes the lists and ranking particularly interesting. You’d also expect that it might lean towards the usual top-selling, big-hitting, and widely popular records. Well, yes, they do appear, but other artists and live albums find their way into the list. 

That leads to a ranking and list of 20 live albums from the 1970s, which like the others, will surprise many. It will make people question entries, as I have myself. And as always, people will wonder how on earth certain great live records of that era just don't make it to the list. Let’s dive in and take a look at the 1970s caught live. 

 20 - Genesis - Seconds Out

This 1977 album was another brave step for Genesis. They’d managed the transition from Peter Gabriel to Phil Collins well but were now dipping back into that previous era for the tracks on this live album. It’s an interesting comparison with the Three Sides Live album from 1982, this has much longer and more dramatic songs on it. That includes an excellent post-Gabriel “Suppers Ready." Sometimes Genesis fans are divided in two, with some preferring the earlier Gabriel era; this crosses the divide nicely and brings the best of both.

19 - UFO - Strangers In The Night

A parting moment for the incredible Michael Shenker who left the band after these performances. The album reflects the early best of the UK group and is a decent live record of that time. Shekners guitar dominates, as do their two main songs on it, “Shoot Shoot” and “Doctor Doctor.” Is it worthy of a top 20 live album of the 1970s place? Only for hardcore UFO fans, there are too many other better live albums I reckon. 

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