Courtesy: PBS/Public Media Distribution
This year was another strong one for live recordings. Between recordings released in bundles and those released either as standalone CDs or DVDs/BDs, the recordings that serve audiences who might have otherwise not been able to take in a live show, proved on both fronts to be largely solid offerings. Given, there were some disappointments including Jane’s Addiction’s latest live recording Alive at Twenty-Five and the archived Les Paul tribute concert Live From Universal Studios Hollywood. For the most part though, this year’s field of new live recordings — both on CD and DVD/BD — has proven to be quite impressive as has already been noted in the previous live recordings lists. Keeping that in mind, it is only fair, having noted the best live CDs and best new live DVDs and Blu-rays to present one list of the year’s best new overall live recordings.
This year’s best overall live recordings pull from both audio and audio-visual fields, proving that recordings can be enjoyable in both arenas. Topping this year’s list of best live overall recordings is PBS’ in studio “concert” from Richard Sherman, one half of the famed Sherman Brothers creative team, Songs of A Lifetime. Slipknot’s new live recording Day of the Gusano is on this list, too thanks to the combined impact of its CD and Blu-ray presentation. Of course while Alter Bridge, Jon Cleary and Experience Hendrix, LLC all released new recordings that were CD only, they deserve their own spot on the overall list. Eagles of Death Metal’s new live recording Live at the Olympia Paris also deserves to be on that list along with The Rolling Stones’ new From The Vault offering Sticky Fingers Live at the Fonda Theatre 2015 — again because of the overall impact of its audio and audio/visual sides. It’s just one more on that list.
As with every previous list, this entry offers this critic’s 10 best new titles in the category along with five additional honorable mention titles for a total of 15 titles. Enough rambling. Without any further ado, here for your consideration is Phil’s Picks 2017 Top 10 New Live Recordings.
PHIL’S PICKS 2017 TOP 10 NEW LIVE RECORDINGS
- Richard Sherman: Songs of a Lifetime
- Slipknot — Day of the Gusano
- Mumford & Sons — Live in South Africa
- Between The Buried & Me — Coma Ecliptic Live
- Jon Cleary — Live at Chickie Wah Wah
- Curtis Knight presents Jimi Hendrix — Live at George’s Club 1965 & 1966
- Eagles of Death Metal — Live at Olympia Paris
- The Rolling Stones — From The Vault: Sticky Fingers Live at The Fonda Theatre 2015
- Foghat — Live at the Belly Up
- Black Sabbath — The End
- Jeff Beck — Live at the Hollywood Bowl
- The Who — Live at the Isle of Wight 2014
- The Winery Dogs — Dog Years — Live at Santiago & Beyond 2013 – 2016
- The Who — Tommy Live at Royal Albert Hall
- The Dead Daisies — Live & Louder
That’s it finally for the live recordings categories. Up next will be the year’s top new albums overall. It’s going to be an interesting list, needless to say as it may well change before it even gets posted up in the next day or so, so stay tuned! Also on the way is a handful of lists for the year’s new DVD and Blu-ray titles including box sets for families and for grown-ups as well as family DVDs and Blu-rays. Stay tuned!
To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.
philspicks 