Here's 11, sorta off the top, but some of my all time favs (recording and musical quality here) are:
1. Humble Pie (Performance-Rockin' the Fillmore). For live sound, you can't beat this one. I have the vinyls, and I wouldn't take a chance on a CD. If you crank it, and stand well positioned in front of the speakers, it's like you are there at the Fillmore.
2. Flying Burrito Brothers- Last of the Red Hot Burritos. First side is mixed Alt Country and Rock, 2nd side, they get down and dirty...shit kickin' good. I think Gram was elsewhere or in the Happy Hunting Ground of his ancestors when this baby came out.
3. The Weavers -Live at Carnegie Hall (the first live concert, I think around 1959, Christmas Eve? ) It's a gem. Get this one. I've got an original (very scratched vinyl...Grandma's) and a CD re-issue.
4. Gordon Lightfoot-Sunday Concert. Early pre-Warner Bros Gordie...pure, ragin', Canajun. Massey Hall; replete with over warbly vocals and tooo much reverb! It's the feeling that counts. In some respects I still think Ballad of Yarmouth Castle is better than Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. For that one song alone, I think this is worth getting (if you can find it....damned scarce).
5. Chambers Brothers- Love Peace and Happiness (the live sides). Poor recording quality, compared to the ballsiness of their concerts during that era, but brings back memories. One of the best shows I have ever seen/heard. They may not have been the best musicians on earth, but they played hard, and defined the show in showmanship.
6. Midnight Oil-Scream in Blue. Compilation of some of their earlier show pieces. Big sound, Aus-some.
7. Johnnie Thunders and the Heartbreakers- Live at Max's Kansas City 1979. Pure angst and raunchiness. Walter Lure was lead guitar on this one. It's da bomb.
8. John Coltrane-Live at Village Vanguard (the original release). Has Chasin' the Trane on it, which has gotta be the most impossible solo I have ever heard. Stupefying.
9. Jimi Hendrix-Band of Gypsies-the Original release, not the new updated, re-mixed whatevers. I do like the re-released "complete" versions of those shows as well (New Years eve 69/70), but the original track sequence and selections had a very nice "flow" to it.
10. Ralph Towner-Solo Concert . Recorded live in Germany, or was it Austria? Transcendant. Excellent sound quality, and beautiful pieces. Just saw him in concert here. Seek him out, if you have never heard of his work, and love guitar. G O D
11. Cecil Taylor-Air Above Mountains (buildings within). Solo piano, Austria 1973. the musical stratosphere. Only listen to this with no possibility of distractions while listening. Each piece is over 1/2 hour (there are 2).
