Long before you could burn more hours than you\u2019d 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\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n
Jimi Hendrix: \u2018Band Of Gypsys\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n 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 \u201cWho Knows\u201d in a nearly 10-minute jam that sprang funk rock<\/a> into existence. I\u2019m genuinely curious how many wah pedals this one album sold.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Fillmore East, Band Of Gypsys borrows from Hendrix\u2019s R&B roots while sending the guitarist off into a new direction. Track two, \u201cMachine Gun\u201d, 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. \u00a0<\/p>\n The Who: \u2018Live At Leeds\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Without Tommy, The Who might not have survived its financial predicament. But the commercial success of Pete Townshend\u2019s rock opera introduced the band to wider audiences thanks to the constant radio play of \u201cPinball Wizard\u201d and \u201cI\u2019m Free\u201d. The Who then began recording its shows in the hope of capturing a live album, but Townshend wasn\u2019t happy with the results, so he scrapped the tapes. But people continued to bootleg the shows, so the band\u2019s engineer started rolling tape again.<\/p>\n On Valentine\u2019s Day in 1970, The Who\u2019s 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\u2019t imagine how loud this gig must have been. It\u2019s still deafening even in headphones.<\/p>\n