There is such an extensive range of music and artists available from the many live albums released in the 1970s. And so many amazing ones which came out back then. There were very few you could or should ignore from the decade. It was a time absolutely crammed with stunning live albums. Especially so after a few like Frampton Comes Alive started to hit astonishing levels of success.
Even before that one from Peter Frampton rejuvenated his career and encouraged more live releases artists were putting out their stage acts on records. In some cases, this was well before they hit the top spot with a huge hit. Meaning we now can still hear them play live at an early high point in their musical career. Or we get to hear songs from some of their earlier albums that may be less played now.
In some cases, a live album provided a real boost. An artist’s studio albums perhaps weren't attracting enough attention or excitement. An album showing their exceptional talents live on stage instead then helped them make a breakthrough to the next level and a wider listening audience. That’s certainly what happened with some of the albums featured here.
Here are ten amazingly brilliant 1970s live albums
You won’t find too many of the usual list of top sellers here. If you want to see more on those you can easily check back on a previous top ten list where several are included. They have had their share of the limelight though. Other live albums, like the ten here, get mentioned less often. But that doesn’t make them any less worthy whatsoever. Let's take a look now at these ten amazingly brilliant 1970s live albums.
Rush - All The World’s A Stage
Rush is another band who have been quite prolific with their live albums with 11 released. To be fair though they have a lot to offer from them given their brilliant live shows. All the World's A Stage marked quite a few firsts and started a trend.
It was released in 1976 as their first live album. The band set a pattern from this one of producing a live album after every four studio albums. That avoided overlapped and repeated content on their live releases and continued until 2003. Choosing your favorite Rush live album is more about selecting which period and studio albums you want to hear songs from and going to the right live release for them.
All the World's A Stage was their first album to reach the top 40 in the US Charts as it headed towards platinum status. Since then their live albums have become more and more polished, this first one had raw energy and power though, of the exciting sort that needs to be kept. It brings the live show home to the listener.
This is a super summary of their early albums and the trio comes across extremely well live on the record, as of course, they do on stage.
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Two absolute rockers from the J. Geils Band
“Live” Full House
The first of two superb live albums from the J. Geils Band released in the 1970s. A third, Showtime, came out in 1982. This was well before their hit singles came out but the band still had plenty of great songs in their set list at this point. They had a reputation as an amazing live band but were struggling to make an impact with studio albums. Getting the act on record for a live release seemed an obvious move.
That paid off to some extent. The band made sure their live show and energy was captured on the album. It got them noticed and attracted more attention and airplay for their songs. As an album itself, despite being a perfect example of what a live album should be like, didn't achieve amazing sales levels. But it did pave the way for them to make more of a breakthrough with their follow-up album, Bloodshot.
The only drawback with “Live” Full House is the decision to make it so short, only 34 minutes long. They had so much more to offer. Have a listen to their live version of John Lee Hooker's song “Serves You Right To Suffer”, it’s superb.
Blow Your Face Out
The J. Geils Band released their second live album Blow Your Face Out in April 1976. It was recorded over two nights in November 1975, one in their home city of Boston, the second in Detroit where “Live” Full House was taken from. That was also where Showtime was recorded in 1982.
This almost had to be a double disc as it was following in the footsteps and guitar solos of Frampton Comes Alive which had just set the world alight. Record labels and artists were keen to try and repeat that. The J. Geils Band with their strong live act reputation and earlier excellent live album gave them a chance for their second live record.
Blow Your Face Out was the outcome, 75 minutes of live music and an exceptional concert atmosphere. The band also managed to avoid repeating much of the setlist from “Live” Full House. Just one song, “Looking For Love”, appears on those two live albums. It’s a superb live album and ranks just ahead of their first by being more than twice as long.
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Two fantastic artists making their live album debuts
Scorpions - Tokyo Tapes
Japan was a great location for a live album. The technology to ensure a great sound was there and the audiences lapped up live music of all sorts. In 1978 Scorpions was the latest band to release one and their first live album at that. Tokyo Tapes was recorded in April of that year and released quickly after in August, but only in Japan. It was early 1979 before it came out in the US.
It’s very much the best of Scorpions at that stage, both in content and in quality. The album covers the period of their first five albums. It also marks the last time Uli Jon Roth played with the band before going solo. His brilliant guitar work is evident across the album.
There are some vocals from him too, a small awkward point about the album, he was an awesome guitarist, but it’s a bad idea to let him loose as a singer. Roth also has spoken subsequently of the audience applause in places somewhat amazingly being taken from Frampton Comes Alive rather than their own show. That all aside, Tokyo Tapes is a must listen to release, a great chance to hear the early Scorpions live and at their early prime with Roth in place.
Leon Russell - Leon Live
Leon Live is somewhat overlooked and could be a hidden gem for some. It's not often quoted alongside the live big hitters of the 1970s. Though Leon Russell did achieve Gold status in the US for this 1972 live album. If you’ve heard any of it, then you’ll know why it's listed here.
The album buzzes with energy, it's like a cross between a Baptist prayer meeting, a gospel revival, and a blues band live. Russell at his piano with his band and singers are very good. It’s a lively and spirited show throughout and you can't help getting caught up in it all. Russell includes his great version of “Delta Lady”, perhaps best known as a song by Joe Cocker, but written by Russell. Look it out if you haven't heard this one before.
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Another two fine examples of first live albums
Jethro Tull - Bursting Out
This is a neat way to catch up on Jethro Tull. Released in 1978 Bursting Out captures their live performances and presents a fine selection of their music at that point. Although, well known hit “Living In The Past” doesn’t feature, but was included in a later extended reissue.
Jethro Tull has always been a unique band with their distinctive sound. They mixed prog rock, folk, blues, and jazz successfully incorporating many different instruments and, of course, Ian Anderson’s flute. It's all here on this, their first live album.
They give fine performances of many great songs from several albums over the years. It’s very live-sounding, capturing the personality of the band as well as great music. And if you thought Jethro Tull was just all about the flute and a whimsical song or two - go play “Thick As A Brick” from this album to hear the heavy end of their remarkable range.
Blue Oyster Cult - On Your Feet Or On Your Knees
Here’s another example of a great band playing live at an earlier point in their career, before some bigger hits, but still sounding amazing. This is the first of several live albums from Blue Oyster Cult. Released in 1975 it drew from their first three studio albums for its 12 songs.
If you like guitar based rock with a very real live sound from the 1970s, this is an album for you. It delivers all that and more well with terrific versions of the band's top songs at that time. Sure their classic “Don’t Feel The Reaper” was still some way off being written but top tracks like “Red And The Black” or a quieter moment with “Then Came the Last Days of May” show what the band was capable of.
Like other live albums mentioned here, it’s one that elevated the performance of songs from their studio albums. That helped show what they are like as a band on stage, exceptionally good. The album deservedly drew more attention to Blue Oyster Cult.
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Two brilliant live albums from amazing guitarists
Ted Nugent - Double Live Gonzo
Ted Nugent is another of those artists who perhaps didn't always provide his best work on studio albums. Not that is by comparison to his wild and full-on frenzy of a live show. Nugent’s heavy metal undoubtedly comes across best on a stage where he gives his all. Which makes him another ideal act for a live album.
But as we know the live work of many can somehow fall apart when it comes to making a live album. And while some play it safer with a single disc release, others fall flat by spreading it out too far in a double disc. Nugent gets it spot on here. You probably can’t get enough of his 1978 release Double Live Gonzo if you like metal and guitars.
Nugent and his band deliver stand-out versions of his songs, especially so from his debut album, the self-titled Ted Nugent, amazingly just three years prior. This one is a real blast, they play it loud and heavy, and the distortion, solos, and sound overall are just right. Don’t miss it, Double Live Gonzo is one of the best live metal albums.
Jimi Hendrix - Band Of Gypsys
Although he had a tragically short musical career there are quite a few Jimi Hendrix live albums. That leads to the obvious debate over which is the best one. That’s almost a never-ending discussion with a few top contenders. This one is one of his very best if not top of the list.
Recorded at Filmore East in New York, as were many other great live albums, it captures Hendrix and his new band over four performances from December 31, 1969, and January 1, 1970. This was Hendrix moving on and progressing musically from his early days with The Experience.
There were newer songs, away from his usual setlist. They were a bit bluesier, more rhythmic, and definitely funkier. There were some mixed reviews when it came out in March 1970, but it secured top ten rankings in both the UK and US, and deservedly so. This was his last full album release before his death later that year, we can only imagine how his music would have developed further over the years.
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Nils Lofgren - Back It Up - An Authorized Bootleg
Nils Lofgren is probably best known these days for his role in the E Street Band playing with Bruce Springsteen. He was also in Crazy Horse for a while, backing Neil Young. Lofgren has been a fabulous guitarist for years and had a long solo period along with being part of Grin.
Back It Up is his first live album released in 1975 as a promo bootleg on a limited basis. That made it quite limited in terms of audience and it became very much sought after. A CD version was eventually released widely in 2007.
It was recorded for a broadcast on San Francisco’s KSAN-FM. There is still a very live feel to this as Lofgren and his band play and jam on seven great songs. There have often been mentions of them sounding similar to the Rolling Stones, there’s a nod to that when they play "Keith Don't Go (Ode to the Glimmer Twin)" about Keith Richards.
He did release a second live album, Night After Night, a couple of years later, but although much shorter, this earlier album is by far the better of the two. Lofgren and his band are excellent on it. The songs played were great selections and there's a superb and very live version of “Beggar’s Day” at the end worth the money on its own.