✅ Rolling Stone (France) - Les 100 meilleurs albums live

[Honorio]

I stumbled upon this list on a recent trip to France. The 13th special edition of the French Rolling Stone published on August of 2012 features "les 100 meilleurs albums live" ("the Best 100 Live Albums"). I found it wandering through the magazine shops of Paris-Orly airport, otherwise I probably had not known nothing about it. Or maybe I'm wrong, probably the Spanish Rolling Stone will release shortly a list suspiciously similar.

The list:
1. JAMES BROWN 'Live' at the Apollo (recorded 1962, released 1963)
2. VARIOUS ARTISTS Woodstock. Music From the Original Soundtrack and More (recorded 1969, released 1970)
3. JOHNNY CASH At San Quentin (recorded and released 1969)
4. BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS Babylon By Bus (recorded 1975-1978, released 1978)
5. NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE Live Rust (recorded 1978, released 1979)
6. THE ROLLING STONES Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (recorded 1969, released 1970)
7. THE WHO Live at Leeds (recorded and released 1970)
8. JOHNNY CASH At Folsom Prison (recorded and released 1968)
9. THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND At Fillmore East (recorded and released 1971)
10. AC/DC If You Want Blood You've Got It (recorded and released 1978)
11. GEORGE HARRISON & FRIENDS The Concert for Bangladesh (recorded and released 1971)
12. JIMI HENDRIX Jimi Plays Monterey (recorded 1967, partially released 1970 as "Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival", released in complete form 1987)
13. OTIS REDDING Live in London and Paris (recorded 1967, partially released 1967 as "Live in Europe", released in expanded form 2008)
14. THIN LIZZY Live and Dangerous (recorded 1977, released 1978)
15. BOB DYLAN The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert (recorded 1966, released 1998)
16. THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE Winterland (recorded 1968, released 2011)
17. ELVIS PRESLEY Complete '68 Comeback Special (recorded 1968, partially released 1968 as "Elvis: TV Special", released in extended form 2008)
18. BOB DYLAN & THE BAND Before the Flood (recorded and released 1974)
19. THE ROLLING STONES The Brussels Affair (recorded 1973, available as a digital file on stonesarchivestore.com 2011)
20. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E-STREET BAND Live 1975-85 (recorded 1975-1985, released 1986)
21. JIMI HENDRIX Band of Gypsys (recorded and released 1970)
22. FRANK ZAPPA Zappa in New York (recorded 1976, released 1978)
23. DEEP PURPLE Made in Japan (recorded and released 1972)
24. RORY GALLAGHER Irish Tour '74 (recorded and released 1974)
25. MOTÖRHEAD No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (recorded 1980-1981, released 1981)
26. BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND 'Live' Bullet (recorded 1975, released 1976)
27. SIMON & GARFUNKEL The Concert in Central Park (recorded 1981, released 1982)
28. DEREK AND THE DOMINOS Live at the Fillmore (recorded 1970, released 1994)
29. QUEEN Live Killers (recorded and released 1979)
30. ARETHA FRANKLIN Aretha Live at Fillmore West (recorded and released 1971)
31. BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS Live! (recorded and released 1975)
32. NIRVANA MTV Unplugged in New York (recorded 1993, released 1994)
33. PETER FRAMPTON Frampton Comes Alive! (recorded 1975, released 1976)
34. MARVIN GAYE Live at the London Palladium (recorded 1976-1977, released 1977)
35. MC5 Kick Out the Jams (recorded 1968, released 1969)
36. DAVID BOWIE Santa Monica '72 (recorded 1972, officially released 2008)
37. THE DOORS Absolutely Live (recorded and released 1970)
38. NIRVANA Live at Reading (recorded 1992, released 2009)
39. THE BAND The Last Waltz (recorded 1976, released 1978)
40. JOE COCKER Mad Dogs & Englishmen (recorded and released 1970)
41. JOHNNY WINTER Captured Live! (recorded 1975, released 1976)
42. NEIL YOUNG Live at Massey Hall 1971 (recorded 1971, released 2007)
43. B. B. KING Live at the Regal (recorded 1964, released 1965)
44. SANTANA Live at the Fillmore '68 (recorded 1968, released 1997)
45. LED ZEPPELIN How the West Was Won (recorded 1972, released 2003)
46. RAMONES It's Alive (recorded 1977, released 1979)
47. LYNYRD SKYNYRD One More From the Road (recorded and released 1976)
48. WINGS Wings over America (recorded and released 1976)
49. CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG 4 Way Street (recorded 1970, released 1971)
50. TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS Pack Up the Plantation Live! (recorded 1978-1985, released 1985)
51. AEROSMITH Live! Bootleg (recorded 1973-1978, released 1978)
52. JEFF BUCKLEY Live à l'Olympia (recorded 1995, released 2001)
53. LOU REED Rock n Roll Animal (recorded 1973, released 1974)
54. JERRY LEE LEWIS "Live" at the Star Club, Hamburg (recorded and released 1964)
55. METALLICA Live Shit: Binge & Purge (recorded 1989-1993, released 1993)
56. IGGY AND THE STOOGES Metallic KO (recorded 1973-1974, released 1976)
57. QUEEN Live at Wembley '86 (recorded 1986, released 1992)
58. ALAIN BASHUNG La Tournée des grands espaces (recorded 2003-2004, released 2004)
59. DIRE STRAITS Live at the BBC (recorded 1978-1981, released 1995)
60. STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN AND DOUBLE TROUBLE Live at Carnegie Hall (recorded 1984, released 1997)
61. JACKSON BROWNE Running on Empty (recorded and released 1977)
62. LEONARD COHEN Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 (recorded 1970, released 2009)
63. KISS Alive! (recorded and released 1975) / KISS Alive II (recorded and released 1977)
64. PETER GABRIEL Plays Live (recorded 1982-1983, released 1983)
65. THE CLASH Live at Shea Stadium (recorded 1982, released 2008)
66. U2 "Under a Blood Red Sky" (recorded and released 1983)
67. DAVID BOWIE A Reality Tour (recorded 2003, released 2004)
68. CHEAP TRICK At Budokan (recorded and released 1978)
69. EAGLES Eagles Live (recorded 1976-1980, released 1980)
70. GENESIS Live (recorded and released 1973)
71. PEARL JAM Live on Ten Legs (recorded 2003-2010, released 2011)
72. TALKING HEADS Stop Making Sense (recorded 1983, released 1984)
73. JACQUES HIGELIN Higelin à Mogador (recorded and released 1981)
74. THE WHITE STRIPES Under Great White Northern Lights (recorded 2007, released 2010)
75. BLUE ÖYSTER CULT On Your Feet or on Your Knees (recorded 1974, released 1975)
76. TÉLÉPHONE Paris '81 (recorded 1981, released 2000)
77. CREAM Live Cream Volume II (recorded 1968, released 1972)
78. YES Yessongs (recorded 1972, released 1973)
79. JEFF BECK Performing This Week... Live at Ronnie Scott's (recorded 2007, released 2008)
80. ELVIS COSTELLO Live at the El Mocambo (recorded and released 1978)
81. TED NUGENT Double Live Gonzo! (recorded 1976-1977, released 1978)
82. TOM WAITS Nighthawks at the Diner (recorded and released 1975)
83. JACKSON 5 Live at the Forum (recorded 1970-1972, released 2010)
84. THE POLICE Certifiable: Live in Buenos Aires (recorded 2007, released 2008)
85. PORTISHEAD Roseland NYC Live (recorded 1997-1998, released 1998)
86. PRINCE & THE NEW POWER GENERATION One Nite Alone... Live! (recorded 2002, released 2003)
87. ROBIN TROWER Live! (recorded 1975, released 1976)
88. OASIS Familiar to Millions (recorded and released 2000)
89. NOIR DÉSIR Dies Irae (recorded 1993, released 1994)
90. JIMMY PAGE & THE BLACK CROWES Live at the Greek: Excess All Areas (recorded 1999, released 2000)
91. THE PRETENDERS Live in London (recorded 2009, released 2010)
92. R.E.M. Live at the Olympia in Dublin: 39 Songs (recorded 2007, released 2009)
93. SLADE Slade Alive! (recorded 1971, released 1972)
94. ZZ TOP Live from Texas (recorded 2007, released 2008)
95. THE BEATLES At the Hollywood Bowl (recorded 1964-1965, released 1977)
96. RADIOHEAD I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings (recorded and released 2001)
97. BJÖRK Live Box (recorded 1994-2001, released 2003)
98. CHRIS ISAAK Live at the Fillmore (recorded 2008, released 2010)
99. THE CURE Bestival Live 2011 (recorded and released 2011)
100. BEN HARPER Live from Mars (recorded 2000, released 2001)

Some comments (if you don't mind):
- Some (purposely I suppose) unexpected choices at the top ("San Quentin" instead "Folsom Prison", "Babylon by Bus" instead "Live!"). But don't get fooled by this, all the usual suspects (and more) are here.
- Most of the material comes from the late 60s - early 70 (of course, this is Rolling Stone!). It may not seem like that if you look at the dates of release, that's why I've added the date of recording. A breakdown: 4 albums from 1956-1965, 43 (!!) from 1966-1975, 29 from 1976-1985, 6 albums from 1986-1995, 9 from 1996-2005 and 9 from 2006-2012. 48 albums from the 70s!! And moreover some of the albums from 2006-2012 are from renowed 70s artists (Police, Pretenders, ZZ Top, Jeff Beck). Obviously this is unfair but I must point that the double live album was a typical 70s artifact, specially for hard-rock and prog-rock bands. No band at the time was really big without a double live album.
- Almost half of the albums features what we can consider guitar heroes, it seems that prominent use of rock guitar is what makes a show important. Well, singers and drummers are allowed too. Few keyboards (no electronica at all) and almost no horns (no jazz at all and little soul).
- Being a list from a French magazine it shows a grand total of... 3 French albums! No surprise at all but a list from US Rolling Stone with only 25 albums featured a French album that it's not on the French list. I'm talking about Daft Punk's "Alive 2007".

Well, the problem for me (as usual) is the name of the list. If they have used "favourites" instead "best" (well, "meilleurs" in this case) I would have no complain at all. But a list of best albums from a group of critics should have been less one-dimensional.

Searching on the web I found that list from US Rolling Stone that I mentioned. It seems that it was published on 2007 and I'm not sure if it's already included in AM. Possibly it's more interesting that the French list, it features the usual suspects too but it includes Wilco, Jay-Z or Daft Punk, opening the scope a little more.
The list (not ranked):
- THE WHO Live at Leeds (recorded and released 1970)
- KISS Alive! (recorded and released 1975)
- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E-STREET BAND Live 1975-85 (recorded 1975-1985, released 1986)
- RAMONES It's Alive (recorded 1977, released 1979)
- BOB DYLAN & THE BAND Before the Flood (recorded and released 1974)
- DAFT PUNK Alive 2007 (recorded and released 2007)
- GRATEFUL DEAD Europe '72 (recorded and released 1972)
- WILCO Kicking Television: Live in Chicago (recorded and released 2005)
- PHISH A Live One (recorded 1994. released 1995)
- U2 Rattle and Hum (recorded 1987-1988, released 1988)
- RADIOHEAD I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings (recorded and released 2001)
- LED ZEPPELIN How the West Was Won (recorded 1972, released 2003)
- THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND At Fillmore East (recorded and released 1971)
- CHEAP TRICK At Budokan (recorded and released 1978)
- NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE Live Rust (recorded 1978, released 1979)
- TALKING HEADS Stop Making Sense (recorded 1983, released 1984)
- JIMI HENDRIX Jimi Plays Monterey (recorded 1967, released 1987)
- BOB DYLAN The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert (recorded 1966, released 1998)
- THE ROLLING STONES Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (recorded 1969, released 1970)
- JAMES BROWN Live at the Apollo (recorded 1962, released 1963)
- JOHNNY CASH At Folsom Prison (recorded and released 1968)
- THE BAND The Last Waltz (recorded 1976, released 1978)
- NIRVANA MTV Unplugged in New York (recorded 1993, released 1994)
- JIMI HENDRIX Band of Gypsys (recorded and released 1970)
- JAY-Z Unplugged (recorded and released 2001)

And (finally) the Top 50 live albums on AM list (sorry, Henrik, maybe I skipped some albums).
This is really a much better list:
1. JAMES BROWN Live at the Apollo (recorded 1962, released 1963)
2. THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND At Fillmore East (recorded and released 1971)
3. JOHNNY CASH At Folsom Prison (recorded and released 1968)
4. MC5 Kick Out the Jams (recorded 1968, released 1969)
5. BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS Live! (recorded and released 1975)
6. THE WHO Live at Leeds (recorded and released 1970)
7. B. B. KING Live at the Regal (recorded 1964, released 1965)
8. NIRVANA MTV Unplugged in New York (recorded 1993, released 1994)
9. GRATEFUL DEAD Live/Dead (recorded and released 1969)
10. THIN LIZZY Live and Dangerous (recorded 1977, released 1978)
11. DUKE ELLINGTON Ellington at Newport (recorded and released 1956)
12. DEEP PURPLE Made in Japan (recorded and released 1972)
13. BILL EVANS TRIO Sunday at the Village Vanguard (recorded and released 1961)
14. MOTÖRHEAD No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (recorded 1980-1981, released 1981)
15. THE ROLLING STONES Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (recorded 1969, released 1970)
16. SAM COOKE Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 (recorded 1963, released 1985)
17. BENNY GOODMAN The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert (recorded 1938, released 1950)
18. MUDDY WATERS At Newport 1960 (recorded and released 1960)
19. VAN MORRISON It's Too Late to Stop Now (recorded 1973, released 1974)
20. TALKING HEADS Stop Making Sense (recorded 1983, released 1984)
21. BILL EVANS TRIO Waltz for Debby (recorded and released 1961)
22. THE QUINTET Jazz at Massey Hall (recorded and released 1953)
23. KEITH JARRETT The Köln Concert (recorded and released 1975)
24. JIMI HENDRIX Band of Gypsys (recorded and released 1970)
25. KISS Alive! (recorded and released 1975)
26. JOHNNY CASH At San Quentin (recorded and released 1969)
27. VARIOUS ARTISTS Woodstock. Music From the Original Soundtrack and More (recorded 1969, released 1970)
28. ERROLL GARNER Concert by the Sea (recorded and released 1955)
29. THE VELVET UNDERGROUND 1969: Velvet Underground Live with Lou Reed (recorded 1969, released 1974)
30. BOB DYLAN The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert (recorded 1966, released 1998)
31. JOHN COLTRANE Coltrane "Live" at the Village Vanguard (recorded 1961, released 1962)
32. ELVIS PRESLEY Elvis: TV Special (recorded and released 1968)*
33. CHEAP TRICK At Budokan (recorded and released 1978)
34. JERRY LEE LEWIS "Live" at the Star Club, Hamburg (recorded and released 1964)
35. OTIS REDDING Live in Europe (recorded and released 1967)*
36. JOE COCKER Mad Dogs & Englishmen (recorded and released 1970)
37. JAMES BROWN 'Live' at the Apollo, Volume II (recorded 1967, released 1968)
38. THE BAND The Last Waltz (recorded 1976, released 1978)
39. LOU REED Rock n Roll Animal (recorded 1973, released 1974)
40. SONNY ROLLINS A Night at the "Village Vanguard" (recorded 1957, released 1958)
41. JUDY GARLAND Judy at Carnegie Hall (recorded and released 1961)
42. PETER FRAMPTON Frampton Comes Alive! (recorded 1975, released 1976)
43. RAMONES It's Alive (recorded 1977, released 1979)
44. CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG 4 Way Street (recorded 1970, released 1971)
45. BOB DYLAN & THE BAND Before the Flood (recorded and released 1974)
46. ERIC CLAPTON Unplugged (recorded and released 1992)
47. AC/DC If You Want Blood You've Got It (recorded and released 1978)
48. ART BLAKEY QUINTET A Night in Birdland Vol. 1 (recorded and released 1954)
49. RAY CHARLES Ray Charles at Newport (recorded and released 1958)
50. JIMI HENDRIX / OTIS REDDING Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival (recorded 1967, released 1970)*

* by the way, Henrik, if you finally include this list probably you should assign the votes for Presley's "Complete '68 Comeback Special" and Redding's "Live in London and Paris" to the original releases. Even "Jimi Plays Monterey"'s points (on both RS lists) probably should be assigned to the original split album with Otis Redding. But maybe not (the original 1970 release featured only 4 Hendrix songs).

[Henrik]

Thanks for the list, Honorio. Great comments. However, there are a lot of non-live albums lists I have to include first, so I can not promise that I will ever get to this one...

[Honorio]

Of course, Henrik, no hurry at all.