NOT FADE AWAY 1973's IMMORTAL LIVE DEBUT LPs

‘THE 1973 LIVE LP WAS THE ALBUM ON STEROIDS’

- Tim Jones

Live albums appeared on vinyl not long after the introduction of the LP in 1948, and numerous landmark sets popped up during the following quarter-century. Ask any two fans what’s the best year ever for live albums, and you’ll get two different answers. It depends on your favoured genres and artists, and your personal experience of gigs. But, arguably, 1973 saw the live album come of age, labels issuing live sets by standout performers of the day, making the case for their place in the rock pantheon based on their live as well as studio prowess.

From the late 19th century on, the limits of recording/playback technology meant discs were recorded live, and the louder the better. Hence the popularity of brass bands, opera singers and jazz outfits. But it wasn’t until 1938 that a groundbreaking, dedicated, standalone concert recording, Benny Goodman at New York’s Carnegie Hall, made it onto 78. It was reissued on vinyl in 1950, preceding early milestone (mainly jazz and blues) live sets, including those from Louis Armstrong (1951), Dizzy Gillespie (1954), Duke Ellington (1956), Ray Charles (1959), Muddy Waters (1960), John Coltrane (1962) and Frank Sinatra (1963).