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

7 - James Brown - Live At The Apollo

Everyone knows James Brown was at his best live on stage. This recording from the Apollo Theater in Harlem was his first-ever live album. You can hear his energy and effort in both the music, the pauses, and the talk and introductions in between the songs. There are great raw songs like “Lost Someone” and a medley of several others, including “Night Train”. The album is very much Brown live, at his best, and capturing the intense performance of the man. 

6 - The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East

A seven-track long double album but crammed with great music, extended riffs, and jamming. A highlight is Duane Allman in inspired guitar playing form on the 23 minutes long “Whipping Post”.
The band’s live reputation was renowned, but they were still to reach their real potential on album sales. This 1971 release changed all that. At Fillmore East climbed the charts and went platinum, helping to establish the band further commercially. It's a classic live album of its time.

5 - Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense

The album of a brilliant concert film, Stop Making Sense, was released in 1984. The film is visually stunning. The album is excellent too. It achieved double platinum status, and although it only peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard 200, it spent over two years on the charts.

The album is a very good slice of Talking Heads. Further enhanced releases have followed and added to the tracks. The latest is a remastered 2023 version that added bonus tracks extending from the original nine songs to 16.

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