Relive 5 Live Rock Albums Released In The 1970s

Raw and Energetic

Live albums are tricky business and they’re often a hit or miss. But for the following rock acts, their live releases became a watershed moment for them and propelled them to another stratosphere of stardom. It captured the magic of their performances and their ethos as a band. They were clearly at the height of their powers, ready to take on the world.

The LPs became game-changers, transforming these rockers into legends.

5. The Who – “Live at Leeds” (1970)

Recorded at the University of Leeds Refectory on February 14, 1970, The Who was looking for a worthy follow-up to the musical masterpiece “Tommy”. They previously recorded a couple of gigs but didn’t like the result so they booked the venue specifically to record a live album. At that point, they already gained the reputation of being stellar live acts particularly with Pete Townshend and Keith Moon’s onstage antics. “Live at Leeds” captured the band at their absolute best, powering through songs with enough enthusiasm and energy to leave every listener in awe. Roger Daltrey told Classic Rock magazine, “It was our playing peak, that came out of playing Tommy in its entirety on stage – or almost in its entirety. Talk about a sixteen-round boxing match. New things were happening at just about every gig.”

4. Peter Frampton – “Frampton Comes Alive!” (1976)

“Frampton Comes Alive!” is proof that one great live album can turn a musician into a household name overnight. And that’s pretty much what happened to Peter Frampton. His first four solo LPs achieved minimal commercial success but all that changed with the double live LP “Frampton Comes Alive!” Recorded at Winterland in San Francisco on June 17, 1975, the Long Island Arena in Commack, New York on August 24, 1975, and on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus in Plattsburgh, New York on November 22, 1975, it was initially intended to be a single disc but it was the record label who suggested recording more shows and therefore expanding it into two discs. Frampton recalled, “It was a great sense of satisfaction, obviously. But that’s where I got very nervous. No. 1 is a little scary, because there’s only one place to go from No. 1.”

3. Deep Purple – “Made in Japan” (1972)

Recorded over three nights from August 15 to 17 during Deep Purple’s first Japan tour in 1972, the band wasn’t keen on releasing a live album but it was their Japanese record company who convinced them. It has since become a landmark album in hard rock and heavy metal. Every member of the legendary “Mk II” lineup is in top form and that reflected in their epic and show-stopping performances. The extended jams highlighted the band’s musicianship and it’s nothing short of spectacular. Jon Lord revealed, “That double album … wasn’t meant to be released outside of Japan. They wound up putting it out anyway and it went platinum in about two weeks.”

2. The Allman Brothers Band – “At Fillmore East” (1971)

Recorded for over three nights in March 1971 at Fillmore East in New York City, The Allman Brothers Band pulled out all the stops and it remains their crowning achievement, unmatched and unrivaled even after all these years. It was a risky and bold move for them but in the end, it was well worth it. The twin guitar attack of Duane Allman and Dickey Betts brought the house down, blowing every other guitarist at the time out of the water. It was their artistic and commercial breakthrough, opening up new opportunities for them as they ushered in a new legion of fans. Betts said, “There’s nothing too complicated about what makes Fillmore a great album. The thing is, we were a hell of a band and we just got a good recording that captured what we sounded like.” Unfortunately, a few months after the release of “At Fillmore East”, Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident.

1. Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band – “Live Bullet” (1976)

Recorded at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan, Bob Seger has been in the music industry for years and still hasn’t broken into mainstream. Thanks to his raw and gritty brand of rock ‘n roll, he already had a loyal following but was still relatively unknown in the rest of the country. But he struck gold with “Live Bullet”. Seger’s on fire, bringing his A game with every song. The album captured Seger at his creative zenith.