The following albums have been rated as 25/30 in my live album rating system:
Led Zeppelin How The West Was Won 1972
Maze Live In New Orleans 1980
Tom Petty Pack Up the Plantation Live 1978 to 1985
The Rolling Stones Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out 1969
Roxy Music Viva 1973 to 1975
Bruce Springsteen Live In New York City 2000
Rod Stewart & The Faces Coast To Coast 1973
Pack Up the Plantation Live is a live album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
This compiles a selection of performances from six different concerts between July 1978 and August 1985. It was released in November 1985.
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Viva is the first live album by glam / art rock group Roxy Music. It has been pulled together from three concerts at the Glasgow Apollo in November 1973, Newcastle City Hall in November 1974 and the Wembley Arena in London in October 1975.
This is Roxy Music after Brian Eno left. All three concerts feature his replacement Eddie Jobson.
I’m very conflicted about this live album and I’ve been putting off writing a review in the hope that we might get a remastered, extended version that takes away all my criticisms.
But I’ve been waiting for years to get a better version of Viva and I don’t even hear any rumours.
My overall rating – 25 out of 30 (mainly marked down for being too short – I want MORE!)
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Live In New Orleans is the first live album by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and was recorded in the city in November 1980. It also included four new studio recorded songs.
Frankie Beverly is the smooth voiced leader and songwriter of the band.
I have mixed feelings about this “live” album.
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Coast to Coast: Overture and Beginners is a live album recorded in California in October 1973 by Rod Stewart and the Faces.
I have seen plenty of scathing reviews for this album over the years but I really like its sloppy charm.
By this stage Rod Stewart had become the star solo singer with huge hit singles like Maggie May and hit albums like Every Picture Tells A Story. This single and album were number one in the UK and USA at the same time. That’s how big Rod Stewart used to be in the 70s and it was a feat that neither Elvis Presley or The Beatles managed to achieve.
My Overall Rating – 25 out of 30
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Join Together is a recording of The Who performing live in 1989.
It was the first time a live version of Tommy was released although this has also subsequently appeared on an extended The Who Live At Leeds Live At Hull and Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival.
Tommy was played on this tour because the group were celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of the original studio album. Personally I’ve never thought the songs – and especially the studio album – live up to the good reputation it has.
Prepare yourself. Join Together is a very different listening experience to the other live albums by The Who because it features brass.
I’ve heard it called “The Who Las Vegas style” but I like it. You do need an open mind and it comes as quite a shock if you’ve loved Live At Leeds and you want a similar roar in the live recordings of the later songs.
How The West Was Won is a live album by Led Zeppelin from gigs in June 1972 at the LA Forum and Long Beach Arena in the USA.
The world waited for a long time for a Led Zeppelin live album and when it did appear, The Song Remains The Same received a disappointing reception although it’s been improved with the extended reissue.
How The West Was Won was released in 2003 and was immediately acclaimed as the real sound of Led Zeppelin live.
Live In New York City captures Bruce Springsteen reunited with the E Street Band in 2000. Their first concert together for 11 years.
For me Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band belong together like strawberries and cream. One without the other doesn’t feel right and it’s going to be tough hearing them play again with a replacement for the Big Man (Clarence Clemons).
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Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out The Rolling Stones in Concert is the second live album by the Stones following on from Got Live If You Want It.
It’s a classic.
If you’re a fan of The Rolling Stones, then Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out is a must own album from the start of the Mark 2 Stones – without Brian Jones but with Mick Taylor on lead guitar – recorded in New York and Maryland in November 1969 just before Let It Bleed was released. Ya Ya’s was released in September 1970. 
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