It's not what you play, it's how you play it: live music puts a tiger in my tank
"Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio."
That is a quote by one of my heroes: Hunter S. Thompson. Hunter...I miss your honesty, your true grit and your wisdom. Oh, your wisdom; the wisdom found in this statement prances and preens like one of your precious proud peacocks. I can't agree more with what Hunter is saying here: Music = Fuel.
I want to take that one step further. If music is indeed fuel, then live music is super-unleaded; high-test; moonshine.
I've been heavily into the live portion of my collection as of late. Great live albums/songs are touchstones to me. If I need a pick me up, if I need to be jolted or if I just need a cheap thrill...I can always turn to some fave live music.
Case in point...I am trolling the back catalog lately in anticipation for three purchases that will happen in the next two weeks: all of them live.
I love this time of the year. Record labels are putting out lush box sets hoping to hook holiday gift buyers and solo splurgers. I am a
record company's chum; sharks sniff me out and attack and rip me...and my wallet...to shreds. Bring it on. These sets tend to be grandiose with a price tag to match. It is not that I have money to burn...if I did I would be an arsonist...but I know what I like and what I gots-ta have.
The three sets I am pacing the floor for are:
The Rolling Stones: Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out [40th Anniversary Deluxe Version]. This is the proud black panther crawlin' up and down my hall. As far as live music goes, this may be the best show of 'em all: a flat-out, hands-down, sure-bet live masterpiece. This set has the whole kit and caboodle: Three LPs, three CDs, one DVD, books, posters and a lock of Mick's pubic hair. Go HERE to check out this magnificent booty.
This album may contain my fave live tune EVER: "Little Queenie". This song has it all: Mick teases the home crowd with a shout out ("You talk a lot New York City...."), it is a cover tune and it takes that cover tune and turns it into a stone cold monster...a raunchy, only when the moon is full, full-tilt, evil-twin version. It also has multiple guitar solos in it. "Little Queenie" sets the standard for what live rock and roll can be. All this and it has Keef Richards playing some of the his best riffs ever. Dirty.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: quot; target="_blank">The Live Anthology. Four CDs of live TP & The HBs from way back to right now. Everything I hear about this positions it as bow-down material. I think I have to go BluRay version for this.
Tom Waits: Glitter and Doom - Live. I'm going for vinyl on this one. When ever I get done with a Tom Waits listening session I am unsure whether or not red means stop and green means go. Tom Waits swims against the current.
Live music...it is going to be my fuel for the holidays. I want to share a few fave live tunes with you. There is NO WAY I could begin to put together a list of ALL of my faves...not possible. What I have for you here are ten front-burner faves that I always can turn to when my gage reads "E".
Normally I like to embed a playlist here in this post; I couldn't find all the songs I wanted to share. Instead, I am gifting them to you in a download. Tis the season, eh? Here is what you will find in the playlist, including a bit of twitter'esque commentary on each:
- Everyday I have the Blues (BB King - "Live at the Regal"): this is the first song on the album. The crowd is in BBs hand before Lucille's second solo rings out.
- Live Wire (AC/DC - "Bonfire"): This takes place in a radio studio with a small live crowd. How do they strike sparks this fast?! Combustible music.
- Mean Woman Blues (Jerry Lee Lewis - "Live at the Star Club, Hamburg Germany"): Pure, unadulterated raw power. The Killer is on fucking fire here.
- Walk It Talk It (Lou Reed - "American Poet"): Again this one is recorded live in a radio studio. Lou Reed is a rock and roller on this one...it has a definite Chuck Berry sound.
- Cowgirl in the Sand (Neil Young - "Live at the Fillmore"): Neil covers the spectrum of his guitar playing abilities on this: intense. Listen to Jack Nitschze's haunting piano: creepy.
- Little Queenie (Rolling Stones - "Ya-Ya's"): Like I said, this is unmatched R&R.
- Don't Think Twice Its Alright (Eric Clapton - "Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Special"): "Bobfest", as dubbed by Neil. This might be Clapton's last great performance. The second guitar solo makes your head shake involuntarily. Whew. And...its a cover song.
- Emotionally Yours (The O'Jays - "Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Special"): Wow...this song has that rising power that takes you soaring with it. Emotional, indeed...
- Caravan (Van Morrison - "Last Waltz") - Another qualifier of live greatness: the all-star jam. Van takes this one over the top with a handful of crescendos...and with a crazy purple spandex outfit [yikes!]
- You Don't Know Like I Know: (Sam & Dave - "The Complete Stax Singles, Disk 4"): Arguably two of the greatest live performers ever. Listen to the fun and excitement in this one. You can't help but move to it.
Download the "Live Moonshine" playlist HERE.
Comments (25)
Clapton: on most of these guest spots that he does (albums or shows) he seems to take the mellow route...except when there are a handful of other stars & legends. I think on this one he decided to let it rip.
Agreed: definitive version for sure. No "precious time" wasted listening to this one over and over and over...
I'll also say, with regards to fuel (and because this 'incidentally' came up on twitter today), that the one track that gets me going more than any other is The Band's version of 'Baby Don't You Do It.' It was the encore at the Last Waltz, but Scorcese knew what he was doing using it as the movie opening. This video came through my stream today...never saw a video where Danko had that sweet, sweet stache before:
http://tinyurl.com/ygtxxp5
Thanks, Judd!
If I could have been in one band ever...it would have been The Band.
I saw the Black Crowes in Sydney last year and the final encore was Don't Do it. Excellent, but not LW level.
Have you hear the original Marvin Gaye version?
Yup, love Levon (I think one of our first convos was about Dirt Farmer)...one of the things i enjoyed most about that video is the camera angle that lets you see him use the kick drum. Singing drummers are the best, and Levon was the best of them.
Thanks for the tunes!
"Badlands" gave me chills...the crowd was so INTO IT!. YES! LIVE MUSIC! You feel it in your bones.
The crowd is very much part of this recording...that is what makes it so damn IMPORTANT to us fans. Go to that link and download it courtesy of Pete.
Wait until you hear the intro to "Candi's Room". I needed two beers to get through that. Is it ok it fist-pimp in your living room alone with the volume cranked? NO!
Thanks, Pete!
As for live gems . . . too tough to be definitive. But as far as whole albums go, Talking Head's Stop Making Sense (1984), Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert (1993), The Last Waltz (1976); and Clapton & Winwood: Live From The Garden (2009) are my faves. All for the same reason: they contain tracks that are the best version of that particular track ever recorded -- IMHO. Eric and Steve's 16 minute version of Voodoo Chile is chill-inducing stuff. TH's Life During Wartime is mind blowing. The way that Eddie Vedder & Mike McCready's reading of Masters Of War and Richie Havens' Just Like A Woman stunned The Garden was so rare and something to behold. Last Waltz, of course, is littered with classic renditions.
The can of worms in my head has been opened. Thanks again guys . . .
If I had to name my number one live album...? Otis Rush's "All Your Love I Miss Loving: Live at the Wise Fool's Pub Chicago". Of course it isn't fair to have to choose, but I keep going back to that one.
It is so raw and unrelenting. His band is outta sight and tight in the pocket. Here is a link to try out a couple songs: http://bit.ly/79yjq2
I think I might have shared this one with you. It's front-burner material.
Strangely, I never did pilfer Otis Rush's All Your Love I Miss Loving from you. But I'm downloading as I type. Can't wait to give it a twirl.
I too love the Buddy Miles track on the Eric/Steve set; although I didn't realise he died! As an aside, doesn't this set make you realise how similar Eric and Steve's vocals are in that musical environment? Hard to tell them apart sometimes.
I was visiting and entertaining some local clients, giving them the fried okra, lobster, bib 'n beers thing in a classic blues joint. No one even noticed Buddy quietly get up and plug in with the band already on stage -- who were about ten songs into their set. That is until I heard the line "coz I'm so broke, I'm so broke right now, that I can't even spend the night!" drenched in that unmistakable lead lickin' of his. Sadly, I had to inform my local guests who the hell Buddy was. My estimation of the value of an MBA from Kellogg dropped considerably that night.
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