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Just listening to Vince Guaraldi & Bola Sete Live at El Matador in mono on the VPI Avenger with Soundsmith Paua. I can hear people talking and having dinner in the background, doors opening, the sound of glasses, etc. All with the piano, guitar and trio sounding full and rich at the same time. This is a wow moment in vinyl listening. It really is as if I'm in the room. Quite remarkable. My question is, what are other fantastic live recordings that reveal some of the detail and nuance of the actual environment, as if you are really there? This was my first "blow me away" type of listening session and now am intrigued to pursue other live albums. I just purchased the Eva Cassidy 4 LP set "Live At Blues Alley" hoping this will get me there as well. Not sure if the recording is that fantastic or my equipment just got better (Avenger upgrade and Soundsmith Paua upgrade), but I'm hooked.
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That old warhorse "Jazz At The Pawnshop" is certainly one of them.Dynavector DV20x2L MC cartridge - Genesis G7.1f speakers - Marantz Reference PM-KI-Pearl Int. Amp. - Oracle Audio Paris MkV turntable - Various Morrow & Valab/King cables -
Not exactly "live" but very real sounding- Chris Whitley's Dirt Floor. Whitley had already been through the wringer- from a top selling debut album to a series of releases that were all different styles, including edgy hard rock played on his resonator guitar. This record is just him and his guitar, recorded on a 2-track in a barn in Vermont. The record is relatively hard to get- the only release on vinyl was through Classic Records, cut at 45rpm- which was a good thing, but I don't think it sold well for Classic, and the remaining copies are in the hands of the small label that issued it, Messenger Records. Worth the trouble to seek out just for the title track- it is haunting.
Live records have a special energy. This is a good topic.Comment
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The Allman Bros Live at the Fillmore has long been regarded as a top "live" record, but to me, it's more about the fluency of that band at their peak- Duane was already gone by the time the album reached a big audience, as I recall, and they played an almost unheard of combination of southern rock and jazz. Sonically, to me, it's just "ok" though.
Little Feat's Waiting for Columbus- particularly the side with Dixie Chicken, is also pretty killer- my recollection is that the commonly available original pressings were mastered by TML.
I'm not a giant Billy Joel fan, but his Songs in the Attic, which includes some of the material that was first released before he got famous, is pretty spectacular, and this even though it was a digital recording- Phil Ramone was responsible, so that's why in my estimation.
I'm sure I have a list of favorites that come to mind, but part of it is what I'm in the mood for at the time~ others here will no doubt have much to contribute. When a band catches the
fever, and the audience starts to respond, there is a certain magic that is hard to duplicate. It elevates the performance of the musicians- and is often unscripted-Comment
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I love LIVE recordings...always have! In terms of "intimate live" I can't say I have too many, but undoubtedly those who are more into Jazz could offer up plenty of suggestions. I'm a big fan of the MTV Unplugged titles, which I find generally to have been well done from a production/sound/vinyl quality perspective. Some notables are Eric Clapton, Alice In Chains and Nirvana (the ORG pressing).
And Neil Young - Massey Hall 1971 (Reprise) is sublime. There is also a Classic Records pressing of this.Dynavector DV20x2L MC cartridge - Genesis G7.1f speakers - Marantz Reference PM-KI-Pearl Int. Amp. - Oracle Audio Paris MkV turntable - Various Morrow & Valab/King cablesComment
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Maybe 'intimate' is the wrong word choice. I was going after the feeling of being in the audience, more of the atmosphere and ambience of the show. There were a lot of MTV unplugged that they never released. The Cure did a show I think, the Cranberries, and many others. Would be cool if they released more of these. -
For sure! I'd certainly be buying whatever Unplugged titles they released.
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Bill Evans "Waltz For Debbie" may be the gold standard.PROGRESSIVE SOUNDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
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Joni Mitchell - Miles of Aisles (Asylum 1974 2LP). Recorded live at the Universal Amphitheatre, LA (other than 2 songs).Dynavector DV20x2L MC cartridge - Genesis G7.1f speakers - Marantz Reference PM-KI-Pearl Int. Amp. - Oracle Audio Paris MkV turntable - Various Morrow & Valab/King cablesComment
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I've the original black label Waltz for Debby, the OJC and the 45 rpm. The 45 rpm has some advantages and the original 33 rpm others. The OJC trails this pair but if you don't have either of the aforementioned pair and the price is right, the OJC isn't awful. The original black label Riversides are hard to find and as usual caveat emptor. Jazz people played their albums to death while classical collectors played them once and then place the LP on the shelf.
For intimacy though, Bill Evans Trio Live at Shellys-Manne Hole is just a smidge better. Especially Chuck Israel's bass. I think Chuck has a group that he plays with in Portland, OR now and Charlie King and my buddy Rich Brown has recorded him.
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Lovely RSD release. Singer/songwriter with his guitar and a mic at a record store.Comment
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Neil Young, Live at the Cellar Door. Small club in DC.Magnepan 1.7i, VMPS Large Sub, Belden 5000 Speaker Cable, Synthesis 510 AC Integrated Amplifier, Celtic Dragon & Grover EX+ Interconnects, Crown SX 722 R/R, PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier, Clearaudio Solution Turntable, Clearaudio Satisfy Tone Arm, Clearaudio Concerto V2 Cartridge, Clearaudio Smart Syncro, Belkin AP41300 Power Conditioner/Surge Protector, Transparent Power CablesComment
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The Neil Young is much better than the Eva Cassidy.
No insult meant. The Neil Young caught me totally by surprise and recommended it to Mark who I know loves it too. If only they had kept it in the analog domain. 
The Neil Young reminds me of the Steven Stills Just Roll Tape that Classic reissued. (in fact Just Roll Tape is very intimate but suffers from some mike overload or distortion at times.) But the reason I brought up JRT is that it, like The Cellar Door release, contain many of their hits in a very stripped down version, without the added harmonies. Serves as a very interesting comparison.
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You can definitely hear the audience on this album. In fact, I think I'll play it now.
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It's late but I'll throw one out album that George Cardas discovered many years ago. Bill Henderson Live at the Times on Discovery Records. Classic later reissued the single "Send in the Clowns."
I'll sleep on the thread more tonight.Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
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A couple of recent Mosaic releases:
Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington @ Cote d'Azur
Thelonious Monk "At The It Club".
The monumental reissue set of Art Pepper "Live At Ronnie Scott's" is incredibly well recorded and Pepper is in great form.
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