The Band “Rock of Ages”
I usually stay away from live albums. Rock of Ages was my last chip at The Band’s discography, but what a thrill to hear the band at their peak, a true live-rock classic.
Before this record, I’ve always felt “Across The Great Divide” plays kind of hokey at the helm of one of the top records of all time, but here it nearly brings me to tears, revealing the power of a good song. A considerable chunk of this recording’s force comes from Allen Touissaint’s horn arrangments, adding a level of raw, visceral energy, one that fails to detract from the original tunes (unlike so many last-minute horn-section supplements).
Subtle road-variations kill me: the super-slowed chorus to “Stage Fright” (it should have been like this from the beginning), the embellished arrangment for the “Rag Mama Rag” tag (Touissaint again), not to mention the killer Lowrey Organ solo from Garth Hudson, “The Genetic Method,” introducing blazing hot “Chest Fever,” and Robby Robertson’s emotic guitar solo for “Unfaithful Servant.”
I’m glad I saved it for last. Guaranteed to put everybody in a good mood. Though The Band still had more great material in the wings, specifically Northern Lights – Southern Cross, I say make this your Last Waltz.
Q. Are there any other essential live records?
“Across The Great Divide”
CD Reissue | 2001 | Capitol | buy amazon ]
Original Vinyl | 1972 | Capitol | search ebay ]
MP3 Album | download ]
Also Recommended
Here are a half-dozen random greats from an upcoming Top 20 list that I’m currently working on…
Allman Brothers | Live At Fillmore East
Johnny Cash | At Folsom Prison
Ramones | It’s Alive
Nirvana | Unplugged
Jerry Lee Lewis | Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Little Feat | Waiting For Columbus
dk June 18, 2009 @ 11:40 am
Poco – DeLIVErin’
Rolling Stones – Get Yer Ya Yas Out
Graeme Lynch June 18, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
RS: get your ya ya’s out
james brown: live at the apollo
allman bros at fillmore
the studio (not live) side of zztop fandango. the anti-live recording
anonymous June 18, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
i’m sure this makes no sense, but one of my favorite records of all time is Side A of Loudon Wainwright’s A Live One.
Jeff June 18, 2009 @ 2:42 pm
I agree with every suggestion already made…especially The Allman Brothers “Live at Fillmore East”! I would add Eric Clapton’s “Just One Night”.
ljhord June 18, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
The Last Waltz
Frampton Comes Alive
Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963
It’s Too Late to Stop Now… by Van Morrison
Mad Dogs & Englishmen – Joe Cocker
The Concert for Bangladesh – George Harrison, et al.
Willie & Family Live – Willie Nelson (and family)
Live Bullet ~ Bob Seger
Live at Leeds ~ The Who
Hot August Night ~ Neil Diamond
One More from the Road ~ Lynyrd Skynyrd
Live Rust ~ Young, Neil
Stop Making Sense – Talking Heads
You Had To Be There – Jimmy Buffett
Hammersmith Odeon, London ‘75 – Bruce Springsteen
Dan June 18, 2009 @ 4:36 pm
and a whole bunch of Grateful Dead live stuff.
Dan June 18, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
Curtis live
Neil young live at Fillmore
Bob Dylan gaslight
Bob Dylan rolling thunder
Bill withers live at Carnegie
Townes at the old quarter
Newport blues 3 disc
The roots come alive
Tom waits big time
And lowell George whsf radio sessions with emmylou Harris
nickw June 18, 2009 @ 8:50 pm
I second the Jerry Lee Lewis Live with the Nashville Teens
The Byrds Untitled – Lover of the Bayou is excellent
Bob Dylan and the Band – Before The Flood 1974
The Kinks – Everybody’s In Showbiz double lp with half a drunken live set
Santana – Lotus
Sam Cooke – Live at the Harlem Square Club 1963
Jerry Jeff Walker – Viva Terlingua
Townes Van Zandt – Live at the Old Quarter
The Grateful Dead have many but Live/Dead 69, Europe 72 and Dick’s Picks Volumes 4 & 8 are really choice.
Jefferson Airplane – Bless Its Pointed Little Head
just to name a few
Donovan – Donovan in Concert 1968
The MC5 – Kick Out The Jams
Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs – Live at Sunbury
Jason June 18, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
Georgie Fame And the Blue Flames – R&B At The Flamingo
The Dillards – Live…Almost!!!
The Blues Project – Live At The Cafe Au Go Go
Louder than Milk June 19, 2009 @ 3:53 am
Tim Buckley — Dream Letter: Live in London 1968
hambone June 19, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
Call me crazy, but I just simply love::::::::Devo – DEV-O Live
Cynthia June 22, 2009 @ 5:24 pm
It’s not a live album, but The Who’s A Quick One from the Stones’ Rock n Roll Circus is my all time favourite live track.
Tony November 5, 2009 @ 1:50 am
LIttle Feat’s Waiting For Columbus; go for the extended version. I too am not a huge fab of live recordings, as they tend to offer inferior versions of familiar tunes, often played too fast in the heat of the moment, but this one really delivers. Live Dead, of course; the Dead are one act that plays it very different on stage to in the studio, though both facets are brilliant. Finally, the live album from Floyd’s Ummagumma.
Len Liechti November 5, 2009 @ 5:06 am
The Byrds “Fillmore West, February 1969″ (clarence white man!)
Joe Cocker’s “Mad Dogs & Englishmen”
Grateful Dead’s “Europe ‘72″
Quicksilver Messenger Service’s “Happy Trails”
The Electric Prunes’ “Stockholm 1967″
Hot Tuna “Hot Tuna”
Delaney & Bonnie’s “On Tour” (despite my dislike of clapton, D&B outdo themselves)
Neil Young “Time Fades Away” (no question)
Allman Brothers Band “Live at the Fillmore East”
Gram Parsons “Fallen Angels Live 1973″ (technically not the best, but I still love it)
Hound Dog Taylor’s “Release the Hound”
Jefferson Airplane’s “Bless Its Pointed Little Head”
etc…
Ryan November 5, 2009 @ 10:58 am