18 - Genesis - Three Sides Live
This live release from Genesis in 1982 followed their album Abacab and its subsequent tour. That wasn’t felt to be one of their best but the break from touring gave them a chance to redeem that by selecting a range of live performances for this album. The title could be slightly confusing in some places. In the UK the fourth side of the double album also contained live songs. Elsewhere it had tracks from a previous EP.
Critics were mixed in their views, some felt it was all a bit flat and lackluster. Others felt it was much crisper, sharper, and to the point compared to the earlier and live Seconds Out with lengthier songs. Proving you can't please everyone. The number 18 position suggests plenty of music fans liked it.
17 - Sting - Bring On The Night
Sting does jazz and live too. He’d gone a bit jazzy in places on his debut solo album, Dream Of The Blue Turtles, and then went all in here. Bring On The Night had him working live with jazz musicians as his band and working up improvisations of many of his best songs from that first album and some other Police songs too. It’s great to hear a different take on them in a live setting.
16 - David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust The Motion Picture
An album from the film of the same name. David Bowie was filmed during the final Ziggy Stardust Tour back in 1973. Although few, if any, beyond Bowie himself were aware at the time that it was the end of that era. He famously announced the end of his band and the Ziggy/Aladdin Sane personas live on stage at the Hammersmith Odeon, as captured by the film. Musically the album is decent, but it does cut some tracks and makes short his retiring the band speech. But it still has a great live feel of a great artist on stage.
15 - Rush - Exit Stage Left
Rush brings their powerful live performance to this 1981 album. They filled one side from Glasgow and the other three from Montreal. Drawing mainly from their previous four albums it's quite a storm rocked up and captured here. Fans may debate which of several Rush live albums come out on top, this will be a favorite for many.
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