Vital is the first live album from progressive rock group Van Der Graaf Generator. It was recorded at the Marquee Club in London in January 1978.
For some reason Generator was dropped from the name and the album is billed as Van Der Graaf.
Tag: Live Rock Albums With Saxophone
Live Rock Albums With Saxophone – With A Wide Definition Of “Rock”
I have a huge weakness for a mixture of lead guitar and saxophone in albums and especially live albums.
I also like flute, oboe and some of the other brass instruments.
But in the main it is saxophone.
I thought I’d include this “live rock albums with saxophone” to help others like me find music to hear and buy.
Sometimes, the presence of the saxophone is obvious. Clarence Clemons, The Big Man was such a large part of the sound that made the E Street Band make the songs written by Bruce Springsteen sound fantastic. Roxy Music have always featured Andy MacKay and his oboe and sax.
Sometimes it is a surprise. David Bowie’s live album called David Live is drenched in sax thanks to David Sanborn (alto sax and flute) and Richard Grando (baritone sax and flute).
Bob Seger Nine Tonight 1980
Nine Tonight is the second live album by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. It was recorded in 1980 in Detroit when Seger had become an international superstar.
Before his first live album, Live Bullet, Bob Seger was a hard working rock’n’roll singer who had gained a great reputation in his home territory of Detroit, Michigan but he wasn’t well known or very popular elsewhere in the USA or internationally.
Live Bullet is a fiery, energetic set which demanded attention and Seger had the nous to capitalise on it with his following commercial studio albums, Night Moves and Stranger In Town.
Releasing Nine Tonight was an obvious move to give the fans a chance to hear the new Seger show with the hits.
This album was remastered in 2011 and an extra song – Brave Strangers – has been added.
Bob Seger Nine Tonight
The Band Rock Of Ages 1971
Rock Of Ages is the first live album recorded by The Band from shows at the Academy of Music in New York City December 28 to 31, 1971.
I think this is a much better album than the more famous live album The Last Waltz which captured an all-star cast at The Band’s last gig.
The Band Rock Of Ages
Roxy Music Concerto or Ladytron 1979
Concerto is a live album by Roxy Music recorded in 1979 and released in 2001. It has also been released as Ladytron in 2002 and Concert Classics in 1998.
Confused?
This is Roxy Music after they’ve reunited and recorded the Manifesto studio album so it’s a much smoother, perhaps less interesting group.
This album has been released under license and Briyan Ferry and the other members of Roxy Music have had nothing to do with the release.
Roxy Music Concerto
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Van Der Graaf Generator Real Time 2005
Real Time is a live album by progressive rock group Van Der Graaf Generator which captures their reunion concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England on 6th May 2005.
I think of Van Der Graaf Generator as hard-core progressive rock. If you’re attracted to them by the similarities between Peter Hammill and Peter Gabriel’s voices then you need to be aware that there is none of the Genesis whimsy.
VDGG didn’t play it for laughs and you have to be in the right mood to appreciate the beautiful but depressing music. Then it can be remarkably uplifting.
Van Der Graaf Generator Real Time
Bob Seger Live Bullet 1976
Live Bullet is a live album by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band in 1976 in his home city of Detroit, Michigan.
This album turned Seger from a big name locally into a well known international rock’n’roll singer thanks to the intense, energetic performance captured here. After Live Bullet he went on to release best selling studio albums like Night Moves and Stranger In Town.
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band Live Bullet
Bruce Springsteen Hammersmith Odeon London 75
Hammersmith Odeon 75 captures the first visit by Bruce Springsteen to the UK in 1975 after Born To Run was released.
The retrospective Live 1975 – 85 is a very comprehensive collection of Springsteen live but fans were critical because it was a live performance compilation.
Hammersmith Odeon is how long-standing fans really want to hear Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play live – a complete concert that captures the excitement and passion of a Springsteen gig.
Bruce Springsteen Hammersmith Odeon 75 Overall Rating – 29/30
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Bruce Springsteen Live 1975 – 85
Live 1975 – 85 was Bruce Springsteen‘s response to the demands for a live album.
He’s been one of the most bootlegged artists since the mid 70s and with Live 1975 – 85, he tried to produce an epic drawn from many different concerts recorded.
This album was released to follow up on the immense success of the Born In The USA album which made Springsteen a much bigger international star.
I was thrilled when it first came out as he had such a great reputation as a live performer but all it’s done is prove that there’s much more that could appear.
Bruce Springsteen Live 1975 – 85 Overall Rating – 26/30
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Roxy Music Live 2001
Roxy Music Live is a record of how this great group sounded on the 2001 world tour after being apart from 1983.
Until this album, Roxy Music have been relatively poorly served by the quality of their live albums – Viva, Concerto / Ladytron and Heart Still Beating. I think plenty of people have been burnt by the confusing releases from the 1979/80 tours.
Roxy Music Live
My Rating – 24 out of 30 (that feels stingy but it’s what the three individual ratings add up to).
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Bruce Springsteen Live In New York City 2000
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).
Bruce Springsteen Live In New York City Overall Rating – 25/30
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