Willie G. Moseley Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 This one might require a bit of a thinking cap as well as some possible research...and I can't suss out everything exactamundo myself, for that matter:There've been threads here and elsewhere about ultimate album sides, which usually refer, of course, to works that were released on record or cassette, with two (minimum) sides. Side Two of ABBEY ROAD is one that gets cited often, and rightly so, and sometimes live sides will be cited as well---Side One of the J.Geils' Band's FULL HOUSE is an example (and again, rightly so, FWMOW).But whaddabout a list of ultimate live sides only? Some albums may be half studio/half live, and cassettes might have an extra song on one side or the other compared to the LP. Such a list would pretty much exclude great live albums that were released on CD like the Allmans' AN EVENING WITH THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND volumes, etc. (unless they were also released on cassette, in which case most folks probably wouldn't know, as they'd be more oriented towards compact discs).What's more, some of the "side" recordings may not have the nice fidelity of digital recordings (unless they've been re-mastered; I've got CDs of remastered and non-re-mastered stuff that was originally on LP) so the emphasis would need to be on great music more so than a so-called state-of-the-art recording...and that's the way it should be. The bottom line is that such sides have held up over the decades.Submitted for your approval are the following recordings, with as much detail as I could uncover:HAPPY TRAILS (Quicksilver Messenger Service), Side One: A multi-faceted cover of "Who Do You Love" that is a lot more complex than some followers of Frisco acid rock may have originally realized, but the drum segment accompanied by tribal grunting from the audience is intriguing in a primal way.FLOWERS OF EVIL (Mountain), Side Two: Solo guitar with violin-like riffs and power chords in an inimitable tone from Leslie West, segueing into "Roll Over Beethoven", then an extended version of "Dreams of Milk and Honey" that interpolates licks from the newer studio stuff on Side One. Final track = "Mississippi Queen"; total length = 27 minutes, and the original LP came with a notice that since that side was so long you had to turn up the volume on your stereo.FULL HOUSE (J. Geils Band), Side One: previously discussedON YOUR FEET OR ON YOUR KNEES (Blue Oyster Cult), Side Three: "Last Days of May", "Cities on Flame" & "ME-262". All five band members played guitar at one point on the last track (no drums). Actually, Side One of the same album ("The Subhuman", "Harvester of Eyes", "Hot Rails to Hell") is close, and Side Two of SOME ENCHANTED EVENING might have actually been cited here (that album was certainly better-produced than OYFOOYK) except a gawd-awful cover of "Kick Out the Jams".A STEP FURTHER (Savoy Brown), Side Two: "Savoy Brown Boogie", interpolating other songs (even "Hernando's Hideaway'). Kim Simmond's tone has never sounded better, adn Chris Youlden averred why he's one of the greatest white blues singers ever.NEAR THE BEGINNING (Vanilla Fudge), Side Two: As was the case w/ the Mountain and Savoy Brown albums cited, Side One has studio tracks, but Side Two has a stereotypical late '60s/early '70s "everybody gets a solo" side-long effort, and it's worth the price of admission for Tim Bogert's ground-breaking bass solo alone. YESSONGS (Yes), Side Six (I think): This album pretty much blew away any and all previous studio versions of songs it had on it, which is why the last side, consisting of "Yours Is No Disgrace" and "Starship Trooper" gets cited; they're so potent there's no comparison to the original versions. The side containing Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman solo pieces+ "Roundabout" is close, but Side Six gets the nod on accounta it's the entire band all the way through. As noted here previously, possibly the best progressive rock album ever. NO SLEEP TIL HAMMERSMITH (Motorhead), Side Two: As noted here previously, possibly the best metal album ever. And ya get to hear Lemmy pronounce the second "B" in the word "bomber".Others?
BCR Greg Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 Side 1 of Van Halen's debut, side 2 of Van Halen's "Fair Warning"Side 1 of Pat Travers "Puttin' it straight"Side 2 of AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds"BOTH SIDES (I know, I know) of Storyville's "Piece of your Soul"Side 1 of Cry Of Love's "Brother"Side 1 of Neil Young's "Harvest"NEITHER side of Pat Boone's Metal AlbumEdit:I'm a dork. I didn't read well enough to see the word "LIVE" in Willie's post. None of my choices are live.Oh, well.
kizanski Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 Side 2 of Abbey Road.A all-time great album side from a band that I have never had any use for.
Willie G. Moseley Posted January 28, 2007 Author Posted January 28, 2007 Heads up, Kiz---LIVE SIDES ONLY, as BCR noted too late. This early in the day, mebbe you need to splash some coffee on yer face and swallow some after shave---that'll getcha goin'.
BCR Greg Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 (A chastised Greg HAMMERS the java in shame.)
tomteriffic Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 Add to those noted:Delaney and Bonnie and Friends on Tour. Side 2.
belgian Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 What pops up immediatly is the live version of Get Ready from Rare Earth. One song - one side.Still love it..;
kizanski Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 Heads up, Kiz---LIVE SIDES ONLY, as BCR noted too late. This early in the day, mebbe you need to splash some coffee on yer face and swallow some after shave---that'll getcha goin'.Oh sh!t...Sorry...I can read...Really I can.
Sentinel Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 Grand Funk Railroad - Live Album: side 4 (one song; Into the sun)
mudshark Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 Taj Mahal - The Real Thing...final side of albumJohn Mayall - The Turning Point...opening sideDan Hick's and his Hot Licks - Where's the Money?...both sidesAllman Bros. Band - Eat a Peach...Mountain Jam sideTom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner...both sides
alpep Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 edgar winter's white trash Roadworkwhich ever side tabacco road is on
BadJaxx Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 All The World's a Stage--Rush---2112 sideFandango--ZZTop---side 1 LiveAlive--Kiss---either side
Citrus Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 Rolling Stones - Love you Live The El Mocambo sideStones doing Chuck Berry, playing rock and roll, and even a little reggae -Crackin upAlso try Van Morrison A night in San Francisco - it's a 2 cd set so I'll choose disc 1 as side !, but this is an AMAZING Morrison show. The Man was on all night - Incredible.Neil Young Arc/Weld - disc 2 or the equivelant would be side one - Blistering powderfinger
Guest pirateflynn Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 Here are 3 good ones:UFO - Strangers in the Night - Side 3McCartney - Wings Over America - Side 2The Band - Rock of Ages - Side 1
hamerboy_ Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 Rush : Exit.. Stage Left side 2. "Broons Bane" into "The Trees", and "Xanadu". Still stands up.-Bobby
elduave Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 Add to those noted:Delaney and Bonnie and Friends on Tour. Side 2.Never heard of D&B til the Crowes covered Coming Home recently. What a kick ass tune!Kiss Alive II Side 1UFO Strangers In The Night Side 1Wings Over America Side 1I'm a side 1 kinda guy I guess...
acb Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 Lou Reed, Rock-n-Roll Animal, Side 1: Intro/Sweet Jane...In my dreams i play like Steve Hunter & Dick Wagner
Cary Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 UFO - Strangers in the Night - Side 3+1000.Beat me to it. Definitely one of the most intense sides ever put on vinyl; the solo on Rock Bottom can still make the hair on my arms stand up.
mathman Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 Grand Funk Railroad - Live Album: side 4 (one song; Into the sun)+1
serial Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 Side 1, 2, or 3 (if you delete "Beth") of Kiss Alive IISide 1 of Cheap Trick at Budokan
Ranger Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 I only have my old Dead albums in a box somewhere. But here goes...Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles Live - whatever side has "Free From Funkadelic Filth" on itLittle Feat - Waiting for Colombus, whatever side has Dixie Chicken (love that Spanish Moon, too. And Willin'.)Another nod for Yessongs, Starship Trooper. (Did you happen to get to see them play "In the Round" back in like '78 or so? Round stage slowly turning in the middle of the venue. Don't bother with the DVD of the era, the sound is awful.)
Steve Haynie Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 Any side of KISS Alive! would do it for me. The straight ahead songs are perfect, and the songs that were drawn out for a concert performance were perfect. If I have to make a choice it would be sides 1 and 3.
Turdus Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 For me it is Rush's "All The Worlds A Stage", side 1. After hearing it, I immediately had to become a bass player, and get a Ric.
Steve Haynie Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 For me it is Rush's "All The Worlds A Stage", side 1. After hearing it, I immediately had to become a bass player, and get a Ric.After hearing All The World's A Stage I told people I liked Rush better than KISS. That was nearly fighting words at the time. I, too, bought a Rickenbacker 4001!
MCChris Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 Side 2 of Thin Lizzy's "Live and Dangerous": "Dancing in the Moonlight," "Massacre," "Still In Love With You," "Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed".
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