Category: Classic Rock Live Albums

Classic Rock Live Albums

This category is a bit of a work in progress.

Originally it was a bit of a catch-all but as I’ve found myself trying to categorise live albums into their respective genres, I’ve found some groups that don’t fit.

Led Zeppelin fit nicely into both blues rock and heavy metal / hard rock.

Other bands don’t.

Peter Frampton had huge success his live album Frampton Comes Alive but it’s difficult to categorise. He later struggled to build on his own success because the album was of the moment, rather than fitting easily into a musical category. This album goes into my classic rock category.

Elton John doesn’t fit into my singer songwriter category particularly well because he rarely writes his own lyrics. His albums go into classic rock or pop rock depending on how much they become a summary of his greatest hits.

This category is full of contradictions but in some way that’s what makes it interesting.

Classic Rock Live Albums

Live albums include:

Bryan Adams Live Live Live 1988
The Band The Last Waltz
The Beach Boys In Concert 1973

David Bowie Santa Monica ’72


Cheap Trick At Budokan 1978
Chicago At Carnegie Hall 1971




Phil Collins Serious Hits Live 1990
Cream Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6 2005
Crosby Stills Nash & Young CSNY 1974

Crowded House Recurring Dream Live
Dave Matthews Band The Central Park Concert 2003
Dexy’s Midnight Runners Too-Rye-Ay Rarities / BBC Radio 1 In Concert
Dire Straits Alchemy 1983
Duran Duran Arena 1984
Bob Dylan & The Band Before the Flood

The Eagles Hell Freezes Over 1994

Fleetwood Mac Live
Fleetwood Mac The Dance 1997

Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive

The Guess Who Live At The Paramount 1972

George Harrison & Friends The Concert For Bangladesh
Ian Hunter Welcome To The Club 1979
INXS Live Baby Live 1990/1991



Elton John One Night Only The Greatest Hits 2000


The Kinks One For The Road 1980
Led Zeppelin Celebration Day 2007
John Lennon Live In New York City 1972


Nils Lofgren Night After Night

Dave Mason Certified Live 1976
Paul McCartney Tripping The Live Fantastic Highlights 1990
Meat Loaf Guilty Pleasure Tour 2011

Tom Petty Pack Up the Plantation: Live! 1978 to 1985
Tom Petty The Live Anthology 1976 to 2007




Lou Reed Live aka Extended Versions 1973

Roxy Music Viva
Roxy Music Live




Bruce Springsteen Hammersmith Odeon, London 1975

Bruce Springsteen 1978 Agora Cleveland


Rod Stewart Unplugged And Seated1993
Simple Minds Live In The City Of Light 1986
Sting Bring On The Night 1985








Wings Wings Over America


You can get these albums from Amazon.com – Amazon.co.uk.

The Best Classic Rock Live Albums Of All Time

I have put together a readers poll to help you to find the Best Classic Rock Albums recorded live in concert.

What Are The FIVE Best Classic Rock Live Albums? (Click on the links to go to the reviews)

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You can get these albums from Amazon.com – Amazon.co.uk.

Because there are so many excellent classic rock live albums I have split the poll into two and you may find some of your favourites in the second division. Albums will be promoted when they get enough votes.

What Are The FIVE Best Classic Rock Live Albums (SECOND DIVISION)? (Click on the links to go to the reviews)

View Results

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You can get these albums from Amazon.com – Amazon.co.uk.

You can see the complete list of readers polls at Live Album Polls.

I also recommend you look closely at the other Best Live Albums Polls because your favourite classic rock artists may be lurking in one or more of the specialist genres.

Bad Company Live In Concert 1977 & 1979

Live In Concert 1977 & 1979 is a live album by Bad Company.

It captures two concerts, two years apart:

  • CD 1 was recorded at The Summit, Houston, Texas on 23rd May 1977.
  • CD was recorded at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London – 9th March 1979.
  • one song, Hey Joe, comes from the show in Washington, DC.on June 26, 1979.

For some strange reason, it has taken nearly 40 years for Bad Company to release an official live album from their 1970s prime time. Mick Ralphs released Live In Albuquerque which captured a 1976 concert but other members of the band complained and it was immediately withdrawn.

Sadly I’d argue that the band was by this time in decline, peaking with their first  two studio albums.

  • Bad Company Live In Concert 1977 & 1979

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REM Kcrw Studios Santa Monica CA 3/04/91

Kcrw Studios Santa Monica CA 3/04/91 is a live recording by R.E.M. performing an acoustic set as they promoted the Out Of Time studio album.

REM Kcrw Studios Santa Monica CA 3/04/91

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Tommy Bolin Live At Ebbets Field 1976

Live At Ebbets Field 1976 is a live album by Tommy Bolin.

It was recorded in Brooklyn, New York City on May 13, 1976.

Tommy Bolin Live at Ebbets Field 1976

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Jethro Tull Living With The Past 2001

Living With The Past is a live compilation album and DVD by Jethro Tull.

According to Discogs, the tracks were recorded at the following venues and dates:

Track 1 to 11: Hammersmith Apollo November 25th 2001;
Track 12: Paris, October 22nd 1999;
Track 13 to 14: Acoustic Session In A Stately Home, January 2002;
Track 15 to 17: The Zurich Dressing Room Tapes, October 13th 1989;
Track 18 to 19: 2 Meter TV Session, Holland, October 19th 1999;
Track 20: Class Of ’68 Reunion, January, 2002;
Track 21: Apollo, 2001

Jethro Tull Living With The Past

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Paul Weller Sight & Sound Live At The Royal Albert Hall 2000

Sight & Sound Live At The Royal Albert Hall is a live album and DVD by Paul Weller.

It was recorded in London in 2000.

Paul Weller Sight & Sound Live At The Royal Albert Hall

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The Beach Boys Good Timin’ Live At Knebworth England 1980

Good Timin’ Live At Knebworth England 1980 is a live album and DVD by The Beach Boys.

The Beach Boys Good Timin' Live At Knebworth England 1980

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The Beach Boys Live in Sacramento 1964

Live in Sacramento 1964 is a live recording by The Beach Boys. performing at the Civic Memorial Auditorium.

It was originally released as a digital download exclusive to itunes but it is now available as an Amazon mp3.

The Beach Boys Live in Sacramento 1964

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Little Village The Action In Frisco The San Francisco Broadcast 1992

The Action In Frisco The San Francisco Broadcast is an in concert live recording by Little Village featuring John Hiatt and Ry Cooder.

It was recorded at the Fox Warfield Theatre in San Francisco in 1992 and was broadcast on local radio. It has been released on the Sonic Boom label.

Little Village The Action In Frisco

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Dave Mason Live At Perkins Palace 1981

Live At Perkins Palace is a live album and DVD by Dave Mason, the former guitarist from Traffic. It was recorded in Pasadena, California in 1981.

This is an acoustic recording with Mason supported by guitarist/violinist/vocalist Jim Krieger.

Dave Mason Live At Perkins Palace

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Lou Reed Berlin Live At St. Ann’s Warehouse 2006

Berlin: Live At St. Ann’s Warehouse  is a live album and DVD by Lou Reed.

It was recorded in Brooklyn, New York City in December 2006.

Lou Reed Berlin Live At St. Ann's Warehouse

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