Ten brilliant live albums from the 1970s

Humble Pie - Performance Rockin’ the Fillmore 

It’s quite a feat to have two amazing live albums that are highly regarded and from the same decade. Step up, Peter Frampton. Before he stormed the world with Frampton Comes Alive Frampton was in Humble Pie and a key part of this exceptional live album. 

In 1971 he and Steve Marriott, along with bassist Greg Ridley and Jerry Shirley on drums were live onstage at The Fillmore East in New York. A great venue for live performances, many of which have been recorded for superb live albums.  This is yet another of those. 

Perhaps slightly oddly Performance Rockin’ At The Fillmore has just one original song from the band. Several others have been considerably adapted by the band. There are just seven tracks across the four sides and they are all great, Frampton still saves a couple, “I Don't Need No Doctor” and “Four Day Creep” to play as an encore in his current live set. 

This album is another example of a terrific live band known for great performances on stage getting their work down live better than in a studio. Marriott and Frampton are two superb guitarists, the range of rock and blues songs on here is amazing too. If it does rock your boat then a four-disc extended album, Performance Rockin’ the Fillmore: The Complete Recordings,  with much more from those Fillmore gigs, is available too.