Controversial but data-backed ranking of the 20 best live albums

19 - Bill Evans Trio - Sunday At The Village Vanguard

Bill Evans formed his trio with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian, who had left the Miles David band late in 1959. The trio is often cited as highly influential jazz musicians, with Evans's piano playing setting new standards and styles. It was a short-lived trio, though, with LaFaro being killed in an accident in 1961.

Sunday At The Village Vanguard was recorded just eleven days before LaFaro’s death. The trio played at the Village Vanguard jazz club in New York and released this album from that session. If you know jazz, you’ll know this album, which is highly regarded and praised. If you don’t know much jazz, maybe have a listen to what is often nominated as one of the best live recordings. 

18 - Eric Clapton - Unplugged 

Taken from the very successful run of MTV Unplugged albums. When Eric Clapton took his turn at a January 1992 recording, he set the scene for many more to follow. This was a true unplugged set, unlike some others that followed. It was also the biggest seller from the series at 26m albums.

Clapton played some great songs at the session. The emotional highlight was, undoubtedly, “Tears In Heaven”, but the revised version of “Layla” is superb too. He also dipped into a couple of greats with “San Francisco Bay Blues” on there and the old Muddy Waters number, reworked by Clapton from his Cream days, “Rollin’ and Tumblin’.”

17 - Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Live Rust 

It can get confusing around Neil Young and Crazy Horse, their 1978 Rust Never Sleeps tour, and related live albums. This album, Live Rust, is the soundtrack to the concert film Rust Never Sleeps. The album was recorded in 1978 and released in November 1979. It is separate from their Rust Never Sleeps album, released in June 1979.

There is some overlap between the two albums, both taken from the same tour. Live Rust is a double album that allows a more extensive use of Young’s back catalog. It also has some of his then newer material, including the excellent "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)" and "Powderfinger."

Continued on next slide