Last Updated on 27 January 2026 by Massimo M.

What are the best live records ever?

A question that is very difficult to answer because many of the evaluations that are made by listening to a record, whether it is live or not, are subjective.

However, there are objective qualities, above all the quality of the recording, through which one can try to make a ranking of the best live recordings from a technical point of view.

Live albums capture the very essence of a band’s energy in concert, making you feel like you’re actually there.

Not all live performances are perfectly successful, in fact there are some that are very bad.

But there are others that are excellently recorded and that manage to bring the atmosphere and sound of that event to your home.

As already said it is always difficult to create a “best list” but we try anyway by focusing our assessments within the “mare magnum” of rock.

So let’s see what are the best live records ever

The Who: Live At Leeds (1970)

Live at Leeds has always been considered THE live album par excellence. By the late 1960s, The Who had earned a reputation as one of the biggest live rock bands in the world, and Live At Leeds deservedly led this list of the best live albums in history. Already on the date of its release it was defined by the New York Times as the “best live rock album ever made”.

It was recorded on the Leeds university campus, in England, in February 1970. The track list does not reflect the lineup actually followed that evening but is a choice among those which at that moment were judged, I would rightly say, to be the best performed during the concert..

Only six pieces, less than a third of the entire concert, but of devastating force and impact.

The first pressing of the album was packaged in a bootleg cover containing several surprises, gadgets and memorabilia, including twelve Maximum R&B inserts and posters. It goes without saying that this version, although not extremely rare, is highly coveted by record collectors.

The Allman Brothers Band: At Fillmore East (1971)

Following the demise of the brothers’ fledgling bands The Second Coming and Hourglass, Duane and Gregg Allman formed their celebrated self-titled band and, in 1971, they laid down one of the best live albums in history at the famous Fillmore East venue in New York.

Vocalist Gregg (on organ and piano) and guitarist Duane are joined by guitarist Dickey Betts, harmonica player Thom Doucette, congo player Jai Johanny Johanson, drummer Butch Trucks and percussionist Bobby Caldwell.

The engaging mix of blues and rock is evident on versions of Blind Willie McTell’s ‘Statesboro Blues’ and classics such as ‘Stormy Monday’, ‘Trouble No More’ and ‘Done Somebody Wrong’. Overall, this stirring blend of guitar, drums and Hammond B3 organ creates the identifiable Allman “Wall Of Sound”.

At Fillmore East remains a true classic from the early 70s.

The Rolling Stones: Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!: The Rolling Stones In Concert (1970)

Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! was recorded on 27 and 28 November 1969 in Baltimore and at New York’s Madison Square Garden, and was the first live album to reach No.1 on the UK charts.

Its tongue-in-cheek cover photo of Charlie Watts was shot by David Bailey, while the title came from a song by blue singer Blind Boy Fuller, who spent time in prison for shooting his wife in the leg! Mick Jagger and co are having unadulterated fun on the album, shown in a swaggering version of ‘Midnight Rambler’.

Keith Richards’ guitar work is sizzling and an exuberant show ends with fine versions of ‘Honky Tonk Women’ and ‘Street Fighting Man’. The deluxe version includes songs by the additional performers of the calibre of BB King and Tina Turner.

Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! is one of the quintessential rock albums of all time from the great Rolling Stones.

Nirvana: MTV Unplugged In New York (1994)

Towards the end of 1993, with MTV’s Unplugged series enticing more and more artists to perform acoustically, Nirvana filmed a performance for the show.

It was released on the album MTV Unplugged In New York, and ‘About A Girl’ was its only single – posthumously for the song’s writer, Kurt Cobain, who died six months earlier.

The album, certified five times platinum, won the Grammy award for Best Alternative Music Album and features potent versions of ‘Dumb’ and ‘All Apologies’.

There is also a cover of David Bowie’s ‘The Man Who sold the world’.

The band drummer Dave Grohl, today leader of Foo Fighters, sings in the choirs of the song “Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam”.

The album stands as testimony to Cobain’s talent and versatility.

KISS: Alive! (1975)

Culled from numerous concerts, Alive !! (released in the autumn of 1975) made KISS rock’n’roll superstars; it climbed into the Top 10 and its accompanying single, ‘Rock And Roll All Nite’, made it to No.12.

The album has everything a heavy metal fan could want: from Gene Simmons, “The Demon”, pounding away on bass, to Paul Stanley’s guitar antics and Peter Criss’ driving drum work.

The band’s youthful energy is contagious, and the album’s thumping electric versions of their finest early material easily makes this one of the best live albums of all time.

Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense (1984)

One of the memorable fashion statements of 80s pop was David Byrne’s “big suit”, and the showmanship of Talking Heads was in full flow on their live album Stop Making Sense.

There is a rousing version of ‘Psycho Killer’, powered by a horn section and powerful backing singers, and ‘Take Me To The River’ is mesmerising.

This 1984 concert film and its soundtrack (the first rock movie made using entirely digital audio techniques) showed why this edgy, intelligent band were such fun.

Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison (1968)

Johnny Cash’s concert at Folsom State Prison, California, on 13 January 1968 is one of the best live albums in country music. Cash, whose hits such as ‘I Walk The Line’ and ‘Ring Of Fire’ had made him a household name, knew all about human frailty; his empathy with the prisoners drew out a magnificent live performance.

The set included his 1955 hit ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ (the chilling song about someone who shoots a man in Reno “just to watch him die”) and he also delivered an impassioned version of the traditional song ‘Dark As A Dungeon’. A raw and honest masterpiece.

Neil Young And Crazy Horse: Live Rust (1979)

Recorded in October 1978 at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, Live Rust was originally released as a double-album and was the soundtrack to the concert film documenting Neil Young’s Rust Never Sleeps.

Young is no stranger to concert recordings, but Live Rust easily ranks among the best live albums he made. Young plays guitar and harmonica deftly as he reels off introspective songs such as ‘Sugar Mountain’, ‘I Am A Child’ and ‘Comes A Time’, then, showing his versatility, he moves to piano to deliver a haunting version of his brilliant song ‘After The Gold Rush’.There is also a stunning version of ‘Powderfinger’.

A master musician captured at his peak.

Bob Marley And The Wailers: Live! (1975)

The Live! version of ‘No Woman, No Cry’ immediately became the definitive recording of the song, which is enough to earn its parent album a place among the best live albums.

The recording also became Bob Marley’s first hit, reaching No.22 in the UK chart when it was released as a single in 1975. It would later reach No.8 in the UK when it was re-released after Marley’s death, in 1981; while it never charted in the US, the song would later be ranked at No.37 in Rolling Stone’s Greatest Songs Of All Time.

One of the transcendent albums of the modern pop era, Live! was recorded on 18 July 1975 at the second of two sold-out shows at the Lyceum Ballroom in London, and released in the UK on 5 December the same year.

The line-up of The Wailers that arrived in London comprised the long-standing rhythm section of Aston Barrett (bass) and Carlton Barrett (drums) together with Al Anderson (lead guitar), Tyrone Downie (keyboards), Alvin Patterson (percussion) and a depleted vocal section of Rita Marley and Marcia Griffiths (Judy Mowatt missed the London shows). Live! also boasts brilliant versions of ‘Trenchtown Rock’, ‘Burnin’ And Lootin’’, ‘I Shot The Sheriff’ and ‘Get Up, Stand Up’.

The album is a spiritual and musical wonder.

Deep Purple: Made In Japan (1972)

Recordings of three concerts in Osaka and Tokyo in August 1972 were collated into the live double-album Made In JapanMade In Japan, which captures the line-up of Ian Gillan (vocals), Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Jon Lord (organ), Roger Glover (bass) and Ian Paice (drums) at their explosive best.

There are plenty of songs from the Machine Head album, including the seminal ‘Smoke On The Water’. The whole of the fourth side is taken up by a 20-minute thrashing version of ‘Space Truckin’’.

U2: Under A Blood Red Sky (1983)

Capturing a band on the cusp of greatness, Under A Blood Red Sky: Live At Red Rocks merits its reputation as one of the seminal concerts in U2’s nearly 50-year career.

The concert, which was also released as a video, was recorded at the stunning Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, in June 1983. The concert came after torrential downpours but despite the sodden conditions, singer Bono and the band (The Edge on guitar, Adam Clayton on bass and Larry Mullen on drums) put on a magnificent display of live rock, especially with a momentous version of ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’.

The footage of Bono carrying a white flag of peace during the song is one of the most iconic images in modern rock history.

Grateful Dead: Live/Dead (1969)

Grateful Dead were one of the most popular touring bands of the 60s and their live double-album from 1969 shows why.

With no shortage of candidates to consider among the best live albums of all time, Live/Dead “was our first live release and it remains one of our best-loved albums”, said drummer Bill Kreutzmann. “Its appeal was that it took great ‘you-had-to-be-there’ live versions of songs like ‘Dark Star’ and ‘The Eleven’ and put them right in people’s living rooms.”

The artwork for the album was created by Robert Donovan Thomas and the music inside showcased the talents of band members such as Tom Constanten on organ.

As well as stirring versions of the Dead’s own songs, including ‘Feedback’, there is also a moving blues cover of The Reverend Gary Davis’ classic ‘Death Don’t Have No Mercy’, on which Jerry Garcia sings with mournful elegance.

Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains The Same (1976)

Three years after live tapes had been made at Madison Square Garden during Led Zeppelin’s record-breaking 1973 tour, guitarist Jimmy Page went into the studio to mix the songs for release as The Song Remains The Same.

The album was released alongside a film of the concert.

The band powered through versions of ‘Rock And Roll’, ‘Heartbreaker’ and ‘Whole Lotta Love’, and there is a 29-minute version of ‘Dazed And Confused’ which shows off John Bonham’s skill as a percussionist.

There is also a fine version of ‘Stairway To Heaven’, the Page and Plant that remains one of the greatest works in 20th-century rock.

Stevie Ray Vaughan: Live Alive

When it comes to Stevie Ray Vaughan we are always at very high musical levels and this double live album is no less. Live Alive, originally released in 1986, is an essential Blues double album formed by selecting the best from four live performances by Stevie Ray Vaughan with Double Trouble band.

Performances were recorded in 1985 at the Montreux Jazz Festival (July 16), the Austin Opera House (July 17 and 18), and the Dallas Starfest (July 19).

The incredible live disc is filled with gems from SRV’s first three albums, plus a great rendition of “Willie The Wimp” with his brother Jimmy (who also makes a guest appearance on “Love Struck Baby”, “Look At Little Sister”).

A record that cannot be missing in a rock lover record collection.

Queen Live killers

Live Killers at its release reached third place in Great Britain and sixteenth in the USA, awarding the group the Gold disc in the mother country and across the ocean. Raw and powerful record recorded during the 1979 European tour which took place between January and March.

Live killer returns the image of Queen in their moment of maximum energy charge and great creativity. A perfect live to understand the sound of the origins of the band of Brian May and associates.

AC/DC If you want Blood you’ve got it

This record is a must for those who have never seen AC/DC live with Bon Scott on vocals. Early fans of the band (we’re talking before Highway to Hell) often advertise this record for its raw and distant sound from that which characterizes productions with Brian Jones on vocals. “Whole Lotta Rosie”, “Let There Be Rock” vee the underrated “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be” are just some of the songs that make this live unique.

Ramones It’s alive

Early Ramones at their best. Recorded in late 1977 in London, this is an essential live album for any punk fan. The Ramones shows were energetic and direct. Everything played was basic, nothing was mere filler, especially when it came to the classic lineup of Joey, Johnny, Tommy and Dee Dee. All the early classics are on this live, including ‘Rockaway Beach’, ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ and ‘Teenage Lobotomy’.

George Harrison Concert for Bangladesh

“An album to play whenever your faith in the power of music starts to waver”, as Tom Moon described this record. It is a live show which, beyond the musical quality expressed, is of great importance because it demonstrates how great results can be achieved in terms of solidarity using music.
Due to the enormous commitment made to the organization and its presence in the lineup, the concert for Bangladesh is often identified as George Harrison’s fourth album. In reality, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell participated in the concert, among others.

This list is certainly not exhaustive but we hope that it will serve as an incentive to listen or re-listen to certainly important records.