The 10 Greatest Classic Rock LIVE ALBUMS | Ranked 

I’m not the first to say it but you have to include Allman Brothers live at the Fillmore East and Humble Pie Rockin the Fillmore in any classic top 10.

Johnny Winter And Live is a fantastic live album full of energy!

DEEP PURPLE , (Made in Japan) definitely the greatest live album of all time no question about it , from start to finish it just kicks ass , Peace from Australia

ABB Live at Fillmore East, please let’s be fair 👍

Great choices, as usual, Andy. In my top ten I would have to include Humble Pie, Live at the Filmore. I bought it after seeing them live and being transfixed by Steve Marriott. He was like a human whirlwind, playing with the audience and the band. The album is a Marriott tour de force and absolutely nothing like the studio albums which were a bit insipid. I can clearly see why Mick Jagger wouldn't sign him up for the Stones even though the rest of the band wanted him. He would have blown Jagger off the stage with his incredible voice, stage presence and superb guitar work. I was saddened when he died in a house fire as he remained true to his blues/rock roots but never received the recognition he deserved. (Having now read all the other comments I'm starting to think that Stevie Marriott is actually receiving, albeit posthumously, the recognition he deserved. So many mentions of Rockin the Filmore. 😉)

No words for how happy I am to hear UFO get some love!

Scorpions Tokyo Tapes. This is such a great live album. Uli Jon Roth is as transcendeant as John McLaughlin and that's saying a lot. It's like Hendrix and Beethoven had a baby together. He is so melodic, dramatic and full of hooks.

Johnny Winter ..and live

In no particular order, Live at Leeds, Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East, Made in Japan, Live and Dangerous, Strangers in the Night, Tokyo Tapes, On Your Feet or On Your Knees, Unleashed in the East, Wings Over America and Band of Gypsys.

Utterly delighted with your No. 1 selection. Band of Gypsies was a pinnacle performance. Everyone loves Machine Gun - but for me the opening solo of Power to Love makes the hairs on my neck stand on end still today. Great choices.

Lou Reed Rock and Roll Animal is one of my favorite. Intro to Sweet Jane first class .

Rock and Roll Animal by Lou Reed and Live and Dangerous by Thin Lizzy are my two favorites.

Grand Funk live album and The Who Live at Leeds should be on the list!

A really influential heavy rock band that often flies under the radar is Budgie. They released a compilation live album that spans their performances from 1972-1981 called, Heavier Than Air - Rarest Eggs. Maybe not among the elite best, but worth mentioning.

My only comment is that I am so pleased that you put AC/DC as high up as they belong. That album I’ve enjoyed since my childhood, many decades ago. Everything you said about them is dead on. I rarely hear that album talked about, but you nearly did it justice. Good job!

As a 15 year old kid in 1976, KISS Alive changed my musical direction. I couldnt get on with them after that, but I got to see them that year and the next year live. I KNOW! KISS

Yes! "MADE IN JAPAN!" Blackmore's Guitar solo toward the end of "SPACE TRUCKIN'!", is just AMAZING! As well as his solo in "Strange Kind of Woman" utterly SURPASS ANYTHING THAT JEFF BECK HAS EVER DONE... And let's also include the studio version of the song, "Lazy", on the album: "Machine Head"!!! 😊

The Tubes "What do you want from Live" is my number one live album

Some love, please, for Quo Live. It was the first album I ever bought, in 1977 as a 15 year old, and despite now being a huge Miles fan, and enjoying all sorts of Prog and Fusion stuff, I still love Quo Live....that intro!

I saw Whietsnake on the Come & Get It tour at Stafford Bingley Hall. I was at school in Kings Lynn and we somehow persuaded one of the teachers to drive the school bus over and wait outside for us. A great and slightly bizzare night.

I've been looking forward to this. I love live albums, it's a measure of how a great band can play in the moment and stretch out a bit. A great way to get into a new band. Can't wait for the prog version in a couple of days. Your list is good but I would have MiEurope as well as MiJ and Irish Tour 74 even though Rory might not count as 'classic' it's the same blues rock DNA.

This brought back some memories of a misspent youth! Remember a bunch of us drunkenly attending the midnight screening of 'Song Remains The Same' and the room spinning as 'Moby Dick; went on and on and on.........

Frank Zappa - Roxy and Elsewhere , my all time favorite live album !

This is an old post of yours but it just showed up on my YT feed. I have half of the live albums you’re talking about and agree wholeheartedly on everything you’ve said. If You Want Blood is a monumental album as is Live & Dangerous and No Sleep Til Hammersmith. I also have that 10” single of Motörhead & Girlschool :) Thanks Andy :)

Mahogany Rush Live is a guitar fest. Wonderful album

So important is your bringing all this music and passion to mind. Thanks !!

Thanks for another insightful and scholarly presentation. Although I don’t agree with all of your choices, “Band Of Gypsys” is truly the holy grail of exceptional, otherworldly live classic rock albums and the rightful number one on your list. For me, regardless of genre, my favorite live albums include; “Live At Leeds”, “Live Cream Vol 1”, “Seconds Out”, “At The Fillmore (Allman Brothers)”, “Rockin The Fillmore (Humble Pie)”, “Live At The Apollo (James Brown)” and “Frampton Comes Alive”. Bravo!

The proof is in the pudding. Barclay James Harvest always ornamented their compositions subtly and beautufully - sometimes to their aesthetic and critical detriment - but in BJH live they provided strong evidence that there was more than sufficient meat on the bone. Mel Pritchard was a gifted percussionist and drummer, who could hold his own with the best.

Band of Gypsys has one of the most sublime moments in it in the history of rock: the long singing note at the beginning of the Machine Gun solo (and the whole solo). Undoubtedly my favorite Jimi record!

Zappa - Roxy, Live Dead, Framptin, Led Zep TSRTS. Ya Yas Out- Stones, Who at Leeds, Talking Heads....too many, I don't know what's best. I can't wait to hear Andy's choice.

Humble Pie Performance surely top ten!

Bob Seger Live Bullet?

Andy love your videos, have been mining your vault. Learning so much. In one of your videos you said in an off hand manner ‘we don’t like classical music here’. (or something to that effect) I’d be surprised if there wasn’t some classical music you enjoy??

I have to put UFO Strangers in The Night No. 1. I've been listening to that album since its release. It never gets old.

For live Zep I go with the boots. Great list. Thanks.

On Your Feet or On You Knees: Blue Oyster Cult. That's 70's classis rock. Free Live was my favorite album in high school.

All great choices but for me I was more influenced by early-mid '70s albums like Uriah Heep Live, Grand Funk Live, Peter Frampton Comes Alive and Humble Pie Performance Rockin' the Filmore. I think Frampton Comes Alive is still one of the biggest selling live albums of all time.

Yes, you are SO correct to place BNaE in first place. When a friend took me to an almost 3-hour Mahavishnu Orchestra concert in 1973 in a smallish venue (Berkeley Community Theater) my young mind exploded with multiple eargasms! I went to every SF Bay Area show they played thereafter, including the Apocalypse tour with Ponty, a horn section and string section. Jaw-dropping! Thanks for posting!

I agree with many of your choices but where is the amazing Blue Oyster Cult? On Your Feet or on Your Knees Some Enchanted Evening Extraterrestrial Live All Brilliant Live albums Thanks

Listen to Lizzy Philadelphia Tower1977 bootleg. No overdubs. Incredible

Great list Andy Santana: Lotus Probably one of the greatest live albums ever recorded Santana at their finest 🎸 I’d add: Humble Pie: Rockin The Fillmore ABB: Live At Fillmore

Heard BoG as a 10 year old just after it came out. My slightly older neighbour excitedly explained to me what Jimi was ‘saying' during his solo in Machin Gun. 🙂 Incredible album. Another live album I love - Procal Harum with the Edmonton Orch. Greatest straight rock album EVER, Made in Japan.

Couldn't agree more on Band of Gypsys- that year I was immersed in Jazz and then heard what became a Big Bang for me- expanded my listening for the next decade.

Great selection although I wouldn't include "The Song Remains The Same"!!! But where do Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, Rory Gallagher, Derek and The Dominos, Humble Pie, (Peter Green's) Fleetwood Mac fit in??!! Great job, thank you, Andy!!

Thank you for the great video. My top 3 bands of all time are listed 😀 Interesting you included Rainbow On Stage, lot of people dislike it because it lacks the important songs. Rising is definitely a blueprint for heavy metal, an awesome album. I would include The Who At Leeds - raw and powerful. Band of Gypsies is a must have for every jazz fusion fan. A wonderful record. There is a live recording from the complete first show - Machine Gun, issued 2016, it gives us some more incredible live performances.

As an honorable mention, I would add Derek and the Dominos live at Fillmore East, perhaps Eric Clapton's finest live moment.

Mountain - Twin Peaks (live Osaka/Japan (1973) Be Bop deLuxe - Live In The Air Age (1977) Humble Pie - Rockin' The Fillmore (1971)

Aztecs Live (1971) at the Melbourne Town Hall (Australia). Blistering blues rock by Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, the world's loudest band with one of the best vocalists of all time. They damaged the building foundations and cracked windows of nearby buildings. Billy was a child prodigy as was drummer Gil Matthews, who toured America with Buddy Rich aged 14. Their double album Aztecs Live At Sunbury is probably even better (1972). Video from both albums is on RU-vid. Deep Purple played Sunbury in 1975: their roadies famously had a brawl with AC/DC. Queen played there in 1974. On the track, Someone Left me Crying/Time to Live, the Aztecs use the pipe organ of the Town Hall. Mindblowing. See the video.

Humble pie live Fillmore

I finally got my audio system done, pulled out that Humble Pie Performance on vinyl.... I have the Valentines anniversary disc, haven't opened it. Black Rose was the first Lp I bought upon release by Thin Lizzy, created a lifetime Moore fan.

So many great live albums in 70s Frampton ,bob seager ,and guess who live at paramount ,and list goes on your top 10 great choices one uf my favorites came in 90s pink floyd pulse seen it at pontiac silverdome seen zepp there also 1977

Andy wot no Humble Pie. Performance Rockin' the Fillmore (1971). My very first gig was in 1974 I saw the Pie.

Interesting choices, thank you ! For the next season :), I keep in mind Recorded Live-Ten Years After, Bursting Out-Jethro Tull, New Model Army&...Nobody Else, Live At The Milky Way-Captain Sensible etc. etc. Let Music Play !

Led Zeppelin is one of my favorite bands of all time but, when you used the word “tedious” in reference to Moby Dick on TSRTS, I totally agree. In fact, I find some-not all-of their stretched-out live songs to be tedious after a while. It’s definitely “hit or miss”.

Terry Knights Grand Funk Railroad 1970 The Live Album is the "Heaviest" of them all accurately capturing what I witnessed at The Syndrome in Chicago on 10-16-1970; I was 22. GFR came out on stage and asked you , "Are You Ready" , and songs covered a few issues that we were having in 1970 , and then they proceeded to make you feel good about every one of them with a spectacular demonstration of power that took you over, that felt like they might cause you to levitate with crescendos that stretched you higher until you were on your tip toes and couldn't stretch any higher without coming off the floor...and then they would release you and you settle back down into your shoes and on the floor, relieved and amazed while vocalizing one word...WOW! Absolutely the most spectacular high energy, coordinated presentation that I have ever seen It felt like victory. By the way, Humble Pie was 1 of the opening acts and they were ehhh... ok. They played right before GFR, but they could never have followed them.

It’s funny some people get so twisted because their favorite is not on the list but this is his list, his opinion. Saw UFO live twice in the 70s, my god were they great.

I'm new to your channel and really liking it !!! but I was wondering if you where gonna bring up Uriah Heep Live??

great compilation but i miss: the who - live at leeds zappa - roxy&elswhere and live in new york rory gallagher - irish tour '74 santana - lotus rare earth - in concert allman brothers - live at fillmore yes - yessongs colosseum - live ...

Great list, UFO would be my #1. For my favorites I would add: Scorpions "Tokyo Tapes," Humble Pie "Performance Rockin' The Fillmore," Rush "All The World's A Stage," Little Feat "Waiting For Columbus," and The Who "Live At Leeds."

Well I'll add Blue Oyster Cult. Some Enchanted Evening has for me the best ever version of Don't Fear The Reaper & ETL which is just fantastic , particularly Black Blade & Veteran of the Psychic wars. In fact I think I'll put that on now.

This list is good based on the specific description you gave of what classic hard rock is, but Running On Empty and At Fillmore East are tough to beat.

Great list of albums. Obviously ten is not enough, so it is normal that other albums are also mentioned in the comments, but the list is excellent, some are even among my favourites. If we exclude the posthumous live performances, my top 10 is this, even if it is difficult to put them in order Deep Purple: Made in Japan Rory Gallagher: Irish Tour '74 Dire Straits: Alchemy Live UFO: Strangers in the Night The Doors: Absolutely Live Santana: Lotus Saxon: The Eagle Has Landed Jethro Tull: Bursting Out Grand Funk Railroad: Live Album Pat Travers Band: Live! Go for What You Know

That's a great list - and the reasoning for each choice is even better (and much more important than the ranking, I think). It may interest you to know that Martin Taylor - one of the greatest acoustic jazz guitarists around, who can both fingerpick and flatpick as well as just about anybody - recently posted a clip of Hendrix playing Machine Gun live on his Facebook page and said it has his favourite ever improvised guitar solo! High praise indeed.

The list needs to be expanded to 20. Allman Bros, Humble Pie, Gov't Mule, Stones, Blah, Blah, Blah, C'mon Andy Japan brings out the best in rock bands, The Japanese love to rock. Some of the best live albums come out of Japan.

Blue Oyster Cult - Some Enchanted Evening. Criminally underrated.

Great list. I love one live album almost forgotten these days, Live at Paramount, by The Guess Who. I don't love all the Guess Who catalogue (far from it), but for me this album embodies all the best things in early seventies live Rock, the perfect capture of the performance and the AMBIENCE (wich I think is the best capture ever. Even today, hearing the record, close your eyes and you can still feel you are THERE), the setlist, the cover of the album, the extended jams. A perfect testimony of its era... The seventies live albums by The J. Geils Band too, incredible ones..

Great entertaining Andy Edwards Video like usual.Thank you Only one small question: What came first, the definition or the 10 selected live albums? I had never hard rock albums but LedZep albums I have all. And only in the first half of the 70s friends with Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Free Albums. The only live experience I had 1971 with Humble Pie and Grand Funk Railroad Open Air in front of 10 000 stoned US Army GIs in Germany. And because FZ sung about Alvin Lee I thought Ten Years After was a HardRock Band.

The Tubes-"What Do You Want From Live"-It's that simple!!! No one has ever come close to their satire, outrage and insanity (scary at times!). Guitar interplay between Rojer Steen and Bill Spooner is superb; Prairie Prince one of the most underrated drummers of all time. Rick Anderson on bass; Vince Welnick on keys and the amazing Mike Cotton on synths! Plus Re Styles!!! And obviously one of the greatest front men of all times - FEE WALDO WAYBILL!!! Also Slade Alive! (NO EXPLANATION REQUIRED-BEST LIVE BAND OF ALL TIME.)

Mad Dogs and Englishman a favourite of mine, also Guess Who Live at the Paramount , couple others that came to mind

Oh, we could talk this list over for hours! We are of a similar vintage & I have nearly every one of these albums. I think people have been walking back the "Live in the Studio" knock on Lizzy for a while now & there are contemporary live recordings that show how good the Robbo era actually was. I saw the Thunder & Lightning tour & they were still great despite everything. I'd have L&D higher. I'd also find a slot for Hawkwind's "Space Ritual" and have the MSG Live at Budokan as an honourable mention. I'd also try to find a slot for Queen (who are hands down the best live act I ever saw when I caught them in 1980), although Live Killers is a bit sterile, the more recent releases from the Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, & Night at the Opera tours are much much better. A weird thing about the Whitesnake that you didn't mention is its two single live albums from two tours. The first LP from 78 was meant to be a Japan only release like Made in Japan or MSG but sold so well on import they expanded it & released it in the UK. Two different versions of Come on & Ain't no Love to compare... Anyway, great list.

Late to see this video. I don't think these bands would meet your definition, but two of my favorite live albums are Little Feat, Waiting for Columbus and The Allman Brothers Band, At Fillmore East.

LOVE your commentary on AC/DC. Spot on. It is one of the greatest live albums of all time. And Angus Young proves how fantastic and incendiary a player he is throughout. *The Jack solo, just for one, just slays you, and was a major inspiration to me personally. Bad Boy Boogie and Whole Lotta Rosie as well. But all through the record he kills it! Wish I had more time for all the superlatives the album deserves (I became a fan at 12 years old in 1978, with my discovery of Powerage at my local record shop...a life changer for me, just as it was with David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Kiss). Anyway, much to say and no time right now, but you already said so much... so well! • People who don't understand the sheer power, groove and excellence of AC/DC will find it in spades on this marvelous spine ripper of a live album Love the front (and humorous answer back) album cover too! Marc ⚡

Wonderful list Andy We listened to many of these last night at my Wife’s birthday party. She loves white Snake and Hawkwind/mötor head AC/DC (Rammstein) I think Band of Gypsys should be on every list. You explain the brilliance of Hendrix on Band of Gypsys better I have heard. When one listens to it, then no explanation is needed. This recording I think is comparable to “so what” or “my favorite things “. At the party last night, I had my turn to change the direction of the music. I was putting on Jeff Beck live at Ronny Scott’s. Ja, and everyone was sleepy all of a sudden. Next time I serve espressos before Jeff Beck. Hope you consider JB for your upcoming lists. Love all you do.

In my view one of the greatest live albums ever made is Live at the Paramount by The Guess Who. Stunning album! Steppenwolf Live is also a great live album (even though a few of the songs were actually recorded in studio with audience sounds added in later).

I see your shelf bowing a little Lots of weight! haha, thats cool that you preserved your vinyl collection !

Made in Japan (Deep Purple) Rainbow (On Stage) Rush (Exit Stage Left)

My top 10 personal live albums (not in order) 1. Kiss Alive! 2. Cheap Trick at Budokan 3. Yessongs 4. Rush Exit Stage Left 5. Genesis Second's Out 6. Queen Live Killers 7. Blue Oyster Cult Extraterrestial Live 8. The Who Live at Leeds 9. Kansas Two for the Show 10. Built to Spill Live

Your Number 1 selection .. Absolutely.

I would be tempted to put Jimi's performance at Monterey ahead of BoG but both are fantastic. I had the Jimi and Otis Redding Live at Monterey album as a kid (I imagine the record label saying: they are both great, Black and dead, let's do it) and love both performances.

The concert-going experience is another casualty of grid-assembled music. Regardless of tastes, a record shelf included Yessongs, KISS Alive, Wings Across America, DP Made In Europe .. especially satisfying for rural dwellers, far from the tour stops.

Made in Japan is the greatest live Album ... I always loved Free Live ... Band of gypsies ...Always enjoyed Kinks One for the road... Mothers Finest Live ... and thnx for keeping me Happy 🤣😃

I agree with Number One. Live at Leeds? Got Live if You Want It? When I was three I learned Heartbreak Hotel from the radio and 16 years later I saved enough for a used Les Paul Junior, 150 bucks, it was in the corner of the shop gathering dust and was sad because nobody wanted it. Then 15 years later Keith starts playing a yellow LP Jr. on stage and that guitar immediately becomes a very expensive affair. I had no luthier skills at the time so I asked the shop (Freedom Guitar on Sunset) folk to install Shallert tuners and the owner laughed and said "that's like putting Mag wheels on a Volkswagon", making fun of the little guitar. Indeed. I rode a bicycle from 1958 to 2018 for transportation, his insult had zero relevancy as far as I was concerned. In 2017 I found an Epiphone SG for 199 dollars (Sweetwater) and the neck is as perfect as that LP Junior. It took me a couple of weeks of adjustment and sanding to bring the SG to perfection. I can't listen to Machine Gun without crying my eyes out.

Made In Japan. The greatest live Lp ever. Those songs were never played better. The production given the year it was recorded in is absolutely sensational.

Strangers In The Night is my No.1. But all of these are tremendous.

john martyn live at leeds is a great live album,no later studio overdubs,not really rock,though it spirals into space rock,when he hits the echoplex pedal

Love your selection Andy , As a matter a fact I remember well some of your choices when they where released . Here are mine ! 1. The Live Adventure Of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper 2. 11-17-70 Elton John 3. The Who Live At Leeds 4. LIVE DEAD and Europe 72?by the Grateful Dead 5. The BBC Sessions LED-ZEPPELIN 6. The Allman Brothers Band at the Filmore 7. Band Of Gypsys 8. Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out ! The Rolling Stones 9. Live At The Regal B.B. King 10. 2nd part of The Wheels Of Fire by CREAM Live performances (Sublime 👌) All these in no particular order

An almost perfect list, and delivered with real enthusiasm and love. We must be around the same vintage.too. I would have had Allman Brothers Live At Filmore East in there but so good to hear you lavish praise on the great UFO and Strangers In The Night which is my personal favourite. Nice to hear Fishbone name checked too.

Made a Spotify playlist because while I'm familiar with all the bands on the list, not familiar with those specific albums. I'm a sucker for the Who live at leeds and Get your Ya Ya's Out. Also Humble Pie and J. Giels Band Full House because I saw them live around the time those albums came out.

Ramones “it’s alive” I love / live and dangerous too - saw them at Bradford St. George’s hall at this time

Maybe not top 10, but my go to is "Live" by Mott the Hoople. It's a blast.

What about Ted Nugent with Double Live Gonzo and Michael Schenker Group One Night at Budokan, and Queen Live Killers?

Made in Japan was recorded over 3 shows, they released all the three shows on CD Live in Japan 2014. They definitely picked the best cuts for the original. A aside Ian Gillan had a severe respiratory infection during those three gigs, it is why his voice is raspier than other recordings.

Great list dude! I would include in my list Zappa's The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life, Eagles Live, Journey's Captured, Allman Bros Live at Filmore, and Rush's Exit Stage Left. All great badass picks nontheless. Cheers.

That ACDC live album from 1978 is a really killer live album, that drive and energy are fantastic, and than mr. Bon Scott,....wow.

Tony visconti is responsible for popular belief that most of live and dangerous was done in the studio. The band maintain there were overdubs done but that they were minimal. Apparently there have been bootlegs and 100% live albums put out by them since which includes some of this material and by all accounts sounds nearly identical. It seems to be only Visconti saying it was mostly overdubs. I don't think anyone is saying there are no overdubs at all but not to the extent that was alleged. Great album and like the Motorhead one is the essential album from the band.

Quo Live: 100% captures the essence of what a live gig is like.

Totally agree on Band of Gypsies. I was afraid you would not mention it because you left live Cream off your list. Cream in its day was renowned for its live performances. If your criteria for your list was beginning in 1970, I get it.

Love Led Zep's TSTR, warts and all, and played it time after time back in the day. But some of the bootlegs, such as For Badgeholders Only from LA Forum 1977, are possibly better representations of the band's live work (although again with plenty of imperfections!)

I agree with your choices Andy and own all of those albums but what about Humble Pie? BTW talking about UFO what about UFO LIVE with Mick Bolton?

A good and concise reasoning of how the terms heavy/hard rock and metal were typically used, at least in the UK back then. I remember people trying to put me off buying The Song Remains The Same but I went against the advice and loved it. I get the Moby Dick thought but I still enjoyed it. Nice to see Free get a worthy mention, with the great Kossoff on guitar. On the same day that I originally purchased Live In The Heart Of The City, I also bought the Japanese Live At Hammersmith album, which I didn't know at the time made up the second disc of the double album. When I later complained to the manager in HMV Birmingham, I got some money back but kept both albums. If You Want Blood is the finest thing every put on vinyl. Powerage was the ultimate in production values from Vanda and Young in the studio and this live one carries it to the stage. I was so amazed but pleased a little later on when I saw that the BBC had recorded some of the concert at the Glasgow Apollo, buying a video tape of it at a record fair in Brum. Let There Be Rock live is the finest performance that you will ever see from any artist/band. I would put all these 10 on any list of my greatest, although I would likely put other Hendrix live offerings above this one. Exit Stage Left, Live Alive, All The Worlds A Stage, Live All Night Long, Live After Death, One More For/From The Road, Double Live Gonzo, Quo Live would all get great mentions too if expanded.