Controversial but data-backed ranking of the 20 best live albums
By StevieMac
2 - Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison
It seems like a crazy idea nowadays, and I suspect it was back then, too. A live record from a bit of a rebel singer in a prison. Johnny Cash, though, pursued the idea and made it happen. He even had words of encouragement from then-California Governor Ronald Reagan beforehand.
The recording was initially released in May 1968, though several updated and extended versions followed. It’s a masterpiece by Cash that incorporates his hard-hitting country style with a raw edge. Almost a perfect fit for a prison.
1 - Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York
Another top album from the MTV Unplugged series. Nirvana had one of the stop-and-listen albums from that concept. They did tweak the setup slightly and squeezed in some electric amplification and guitar effects. The band also played more covers and deep cuts in the session than bigger hits and favorites.
Kurt Cobain was in exceptional form throughout. His shock death just five months later made the set even more poignant as a late live session. It was released as an album in November 1994, almost a year after the recording, and became a great tribute to Cobain and the band. It's very much an album you shouldn't miss, whether you are a fan of the band or not. It picked up a Grammy for Best Alternative Album in 1996 and deservedly ranks high in the top ten unplugged sellers list.
Forgotten band was one of the more successful of the 1980s. Forgotten band was one of the more successful of the 1980s. dark. Next
Summary
The process of amalgamating views and rankings has definitely broadened the list. A few jazz-based albums are featured above. They are live and absolute classics of their style, so that’s fair. Some albums are far higher than I would expect, and others that are absolute live album essentials, as far as I'm concerned, are missing.
To name just one as an example, Frampton Comes Alive ranks slightly lower down the list in the 30s. Alongside Dire Straits Alchemy and Led Zeppelin, The Song Remains The Same. It’s healthy to widen the range, but I can't help but think we should just stick to personal opinion-based lists, after all!
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