I’ve been going on about how great live albums were back in the 1970s. And that's true and undeniable, there was a large number of amazing examples at the time. Have a read about ten of the best from that decade if you need any convincing.
It was a fabulous decade for music, and as more artists released superb live albums, others caught on and wanted to join in. Now, that could have meant a real surge of tremendous concerts with amazing atmospheres put down on record. And, to a great extent, that's what happened.
Unfortunately, though, it also meant a more cynical and streetwise approach from some record labels and artist management. Some saw a live album as a cheap alternative to a studio album. Others reckoned this was an easy way to fulfill a contractual obligation for a new album. In some cases, there just didn't seem to be enough focus and attention to make a really great record.
Seven live 1970s albums you can miss out
For those and a variety of other reasons, there were a few live albums from the 1970s that just didn't deliver well, some of which came from major artists. That's a shame, really, as often a live album is a great starting point for a new listener following up on an artist. They can tap into all the great hits and fan favorites in a live setting.
Here are seven live albums from the 1970s that you would be better avoiding. In several cases there are better live offerings from those artists over the years to listen to instead.
Two major names with disappointing live albums
Bob Dylan - At Budokan
When it comes to major artists Bob Dylan is surely one of the biggest. At Budokan caught Bob Dylan on his world tour in Japan in early 1978. Dylan has admitted he needed the high earning tour for a financial boost after an expensive divorce from his wife Sara the previous year.
While the album does feature many of Dylan’s hit songs, the arrangements for the live versions are quite different. They are perhaps a bit more toned down from the originals. The band he had with him included woodwind instruments and I have to say there’s way too much flute on the record. It becomes quite intrusive rather than in the background.
Although a fresh version of a song on a live album can be fun, it’s also not what the fans want to hear. These newer versions fall quite flat, and, notably, his tour drew media references to being Las Vegas style. That's too glitzy for the gritty Dylan. He faced a lot of criticism for At Budokan and his reasons behind the album and performances. Ultimately, if you want a live album from Dylan, this isn't where to start.
Lou Reed - Live: Take No Prisoners
This is a weird album from 1978. The raw, dangerous, and lively Lou Reed should be a plus for a live record. As Reed himself mentions at one point he has Bruce Springsteen in the audience for the recording. That's no great plus, either.
Reed is very talkative throughout, and that can be fun at a gig. It’s not what you buy a live record for though. He does get into a few songs, but interrupts them and doesn't cover many through from start to finish. There are a few rants and not enough songs, it’s an insight into Reed, but a frustrating slice of his musical abilities.
Two more albums you can ignore
Rolling Stones - Love You Live
Released in 1977 the Rolling Stones looked like a band heading for a breakup. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger were at loggerheads. They had major disagreements over which tracks to include on this double album record. In the end, the content was taken from tour dates in 1975 and 1976, plus a special gig at El Mocambo in Toronto in 1977. The latter gig had an album side allocated as the band went back to their blues roots.
They should have stuck with that theme or devoted more of the album to it. An extended version from El Mocambo released in 2022 is worth a visit, though. The rest of Love You Live reflects tired and sloppy performances that just don't hit the mark. It’s quite a thought to reflect that the band sounds far better on tour today than back then, well over 40 years ago, on this record. If you want to hear Mick and the rest live then Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!, or the later Live at the El Mocambo record, are the go-to’s.
10CC - Live And Let Live
It’s all about the timing of this 1977 album. Recorded in London and Manchester earlier that year, it reflected significant band lineup changes. Kevin Godley and Lol Creme had left the band in 1976. The new album Deceptive Bends came from the pens of Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman. Live and Let Live featured that new album very heavily, all bar one song from it. That meant they left out many of the previous tunes from Godley and Creme.
It’s an acceptable album with some good songs on it. But it's lacking the breadth the band had when they had four great songwriters in those two pairings. It also sounds slightly overproduced, reworked, overdubbed, and lacking some live rawness. This all makes you think how sad it is that they hadn’t been able to capture the band at their full-member prime a year or two earlier.
Two more live albums you can skip
Elvis Presley - In Concert
Here’s quite a sad one to miss out on. CBS signed Elvis up for a TV special filmed at several concerts in June 1977. That special and the RCA live album of the concerts were shown and released in October 1977, two months after the singer's sudden death.
Elvis was clearly in poor shape for the events. Nowhere near his prime and a sad reminder of what he had been before. There is some stumbling over words, some low par singing and moments to forget rather than treasure.
To be honest had it not been for his tragic death I can't see that the record nor the TV special would have been released. They are both best forgotten. Presley’s music will live on in other ways, let's just skip well past this one.
Rainbow - On Stage
This choice could be contentious for some. On Stage is an ok record of Rainbow on tour in Germany and Japan back in 1976. The band are in decent form, the album rocks along and it has several well known Rainbow favourites.
So what's not to like? Well, it's just a bit flat in places for one thing. Ok is the word, not outstanding or great. Rainbow was amazing as a live band. Sadly that doesn't come across, here well enough. For me, though, the other big reason to walk on by this album is that it's a double album measuring in at 64 minutes and 11 seconds long. The four album sides range from 13 minutes to 18 minutes long. That feels very short and I’d have to question if it’s ticking a contract box.
Elton John - Here And There
This is both a disappointing album and a fantastic one. It's a "please avoid" and a "must listen." The reason for those conflicting and contrasting views is very simple. The first and shorter version of the album is pretty dull and concise. An extended version released in the 1990s is far superior for several reasons.
The original album was released in 1976 and featured Elton John playing live in two concerts, one on each side of the album. He was playing here and there, with here being the Royal Festival Hall in London. And there is New York's Madison Square Garden, both in 1974. The album is a single disc with nine tracks. Five from London and four from New York. All the signs of another contract filler.
Then came a much warmer and more fan fulfilling extended version in the 1990s. Here And There was now a double album. Still following the same premise of covering the London gig, now on one disc and New York on the second disc rather than side. Nine tracks went to 22, and more hits and favorites were included.
Perhaps most notably, the New York disc also features Elton playing live with a special guest on stage, John Lennon. The pair covered three Beatles numbers on the album. A great use of extending an album. Some touching moments with the two stars. That first simple nine-song-long album has been properly sidetracked and overtaken.