Best Live Prog album?

If the Gabe was still with Genesis when "Second's Out" (of course, it would be called something other than that! ) was recorded I think that would be my favorite.

I'm pretty sure this has been done before, but I'll give it a whirl anyway.  Here's my favorites,roughly in order: 

Hawkwind: Space Ritual-- IMO, this is the second greatest live album ever, and by far the best listed in the Archives.  The band is tight, yet still jammy, playing some of the heaviest, spaciest stuff ever to come out of the seventies.

King Crimson: The Great Deciever-- The Wetton-era King Crimson was the best group to play under that name, and this captures all of their raw power.  Sound quality is superior to many studio albums!

Yes: Yessongs-- this captures Yes in all of their live glory.  I could hardly ask for a better setlist for the Close to the Edge tour.

King Crimson: Absent Lovers-- This is really what a live album should sound like!  The sound quality is absolutely flawless.  The setlist is incredible, and the band is unstoppable.  This is one of the most talented bands to ever hit a stage, and they give everything they got. 

ELP: Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends-- this is a fantastic record.  Practically a "Best of," featuring among others the two ELP epics, Tarkus and Karn Evil 9, in their entirety.  They sound even better live. 

Gentle Giant: Playing the Fool-- These guys are incredible musicians, and it's always interesting to hear them play live.  They play many favorites, and some less expected ones.  The Octopus Medly is fantastic; the group reinterprets and rearranges and brilliantly transisions their way through to turn a mediocre studio album into an incredible live piece. 

Jethro Tull: Bursting Out-- Perhaps not as powerful as the others, but makes up for it with pure Jethro Tull joy.  It's amazing just how tight these guys were.





Edited by rileydog22 - December 05 2006 at 21:45

Yessongs?? jeez, I could NEVER rate that album too high, it simply sounds AWFUL.

I prefer Yesshows
Seconds out
Paris
Exit stage left

I’ve always liked the Keys to Ascensions by Yes. Together they are perfect.

This has been done a zillion times before, but it's always a pleasure to discuss it!

Oh! I almost forgot! USA, King Crimzo...that version of 21st Century is THE live version for me, on par with the original.

Watchers on the storm-JETHRO TULL LIVE IN DEN HAAG 1980

And awesome keyboards work with Evan and Palmer

Yessongs

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