Long before you could burn more hours than you’d prefer on the internet, the live album was the only way for fans to experience a concert at home. And many classic rock bands became known for expansive live performances. For some, like the Grateful Dead, the concert experience left the studio album as a mere blueprint. Depending on your age, the live albums below are well-known. But for those hearing these recorded gigs for the first time, you’re welcome.
Jimi Hendrix: ‘Band Of Gypsys’
If you ever wanted to know what a groove sounds like, I mean, a real groove, then listen to the opening track on Band Of Gypsys. Jimi Hendrix with bassist Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles burn through “Who Knows” in a nearly 10-minute jam that sprang funk rock into existence. I’m genuinely curious how many wah pedals this one album sold.
Meanwhile, Hendrix had grown restless with his group, The Experience. He also faced pressure to follow up on the success of Electric Ladyland. Whatever commercial pressure and creative frustration had built up inside him led to one of the greatest live recordings in history. Recorded at New York City’s Fillmore East, Band Of Gypsys borrows from Hendrix’s R&B roots while sending the guitarist off into a new direction. Track two, “Machine Gun”, protests the Vietnam War, and Hendrix uses his guitar to mimic the chaos of a battlefield. Though the Band of Gypsys was short-lived, this live album showcases Hendrix at the height of his powers.
The Who: ‘Live At Leeds’
Without Tommy, The Who might not have survived its financial predicament. But the commercial success of Pete Townshend’s rock opera introduced the band to wider audiences thanks to the constant radio play of “Pinball Wizard” and “I’m Free”. The Who then began recording its shows in the hope of capturing a live album, but Townshend wasn’t happy with the results, so he scrapped the tapes. But people continued to bootleg the shows, so the band’s engineer started rolling tape again.
On Valentine’s Day in 1970, The Who’s performance at the University of Leeds set a new standard for live albums. The original track listing contained six songs and remains the only official live release to feature the classic lineup of Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon. Few rock acts will ever match the ferocious energy captured here. I can’t imagine how loud this gig must have been. It’s still deafening even in headphones.
Ozzy Osbourne: ‘Randy Rhoads Tribute’
When Ozzy Osbourne emerged with his solo debut, Blizzard Of Ozz, few would have predicted the kind of success Black Sabbath’s former singer might achieve. However, by his side was a young virtuoso who helped redefine hard rock and heavy metal guitar playing. Randy Rhoads’ iconic riff in “Crazy Train” gave Osbourne not only a defining track but also set him on a path toward 13 platinum solo albums.
In 1982, Rhoads died while joyriding in a plane that buzzed Osbourne’s tour bus as the singer slept inside. The third pass was fatal, and the music world lost a transformative rock musician. Osbourne released a live album in tribute to Rhoads five years later, documenting the explosive performances launching Osbourne’s prolific solo career.
Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images