15 - Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive
You just can’t not include this album. I know some reckon it’s a fluke, an overproduced record, but for me, it is a brilliant double live album. It set the tone for many more live albums to follow. Frampton Comes Alive was, of course, a smash hit in the charts and a must-have record for so many people. Someone at A&M made a brilliant decision to insist on taking the original plan for a single album into a double. Twice as much great music.
14 - Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same
Another great band with several live alums over the years, each attracting different opinions. This is one of, if not the, best live records from Led Zepplin. Released in 1976 it came out alongside a film of the same name. The album rescues the film which was a bit of a mish-mash of scenes on and off stage. One of the criticisms at times is over the sound quality and production. There have been a few re-releases and variations of that, so plenty of options to suit preferences.
13 - Lou Reed - Rock N Roll Animal
Some say this is Lou Reed playing it safe and sound with a commercial eye on an album. Others reckon it trashes some of his best work either alone or with the Velvet Underground. Either way, it’s loud, proud, hard-hitting, and did get chart success. Reed's live album was released in 1974 and recorded in New York City the previous December. It was ranked as gold status and hit number 45 on the US charts and 26 in the UK. If you are looking for a heavy blast of Reed at work, it’s got you covered.
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