Acoustic, live, and freaking awesome: Recommendations?

Jan 20, 2008 at 2:50 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 31
Methos1979

Methos1979

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While surfing and searching many a thread here for great albums with GREAT recordings I've found many a good suggestion. I've been thrilled most with the recommendations for great live acoustic recordings. Along with the standards I already owned like Clapton, Nirvana and Alice In Chains Unplugged CD's, I found such gems that I didn't own like Sara MaClachan's Mirrorball, Alisson Kraus and Union Station Live, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, and the one that really blew me away - Nils Lofgren Acoustic Live.

So what else is out there that is just great stuff, totally acoustic, and a terrific sample of great live recording?

M.
 
Jan 20, 2008 at 3:43 AM Post #3 of 31
Found a couple more really interesting and very well recorded acoustic live recordings - Collective Soul's 'From The Ground Up' and Seether's 'One Cold Night'. I really like to hear new rock bands play acoustic live. I was already a give Collective Soul fan but hadn't gotten into Seether much yet. I was very impressed with both. Anything else in this vein?
 
Jan 20, 2008 at 5:34 AM Post #4 of 31
Chris Smither's 'Live As I'll Ever Be' (If you can ever find it!) He's one of the most amazing finger style blues guitar players ever. Great groove. Use's his feet as a drum. Great voice. Amazing wit and intelligence. Bonnie Raitt (no slouch of a blue's guitar player herself) calls him: "My Eric Clapton." Some of his early cd's were over produced. This one is an absolute gem...Also check out Jackson Browne's 'Live Acoustic Vol One' (something like that) He's pretty well appreciated as singer songwriter but this really shows off how well he can accompany himself. Great work. Also some really witty dialogue...Two seasoned veterans at their best....5 out of 4 stars.
 
Jan 21, 2008 at 3:29 AM Post #6 of 31
Quote:

Originally Posted by Methos1979 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I really like to hear new rock bands play acoustic live. I was already a give Collective Soul fan but hadn't gotten into Seether much yet. I was very impressed with both. Anything else in this vein?


I'm talking about quite a long time ago, but the 1st time I ever paid serious attention to Midnight Oil was when they did the MTV Unplugged series...been a fan ever since. Sometimes that live acoustic thing can act as a gateway for exposure to a band that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.
 
Jan 21, 2008 at 3:45 AM Post #8 of 31
Quote:

Originally Posted by barmar46 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Chris Smither's 'Live As I'll Ever Be' (If you can ever find it!) He's one of the most amazing finger style blues guitar players ever. Great groove. Use's his feet as a drum. Great voice. Amazing wit and intelligence. Bonnie Raitt (no slouch of a blue's guitar player herself) calls him: "My Eric Clapton." Some of his early cd's were over produced. This one is an absolute gem...Also check out Jackson Browne's 'Live Acoustic Vol One' (something like that) He's pretty well appreciated as singer songwriter but this really shows off how well he can accompany himself. Great work. Also some really witty dialogue...Two seasoned veterans at their best....5 out of 4 stars.


I'm glad someone recommended the Jackson Browne work. It was the first thing that came to mind when I read the thread title. It really is a little known masterpiece. I don't know how to describe it except to say that it makes you melt away in the music and just let him take it wherever he wants to. He's so mellow to being with, but in this format as an old pro he's really at his best.

I'll have to check out the Chris Smithers recommendation. If it came to mind first, even ahead of Jackson, it must be a blast to listen to.

Since nobody has mentioned it yet, check out Friday Night in San Francisco (by McLaughlin, Di Meola, and De Lucia) if you want to have a blast listening to 3 acoustic guitars battling (but never fighting and never trying to prove that one is better than the others). It's a classic recording made all that much better by the sense of energy that they put into it. You can tell that they're having as much fun as their audience is and you instantly feel like part of that audience.
 
Jan 21, 2008 at 3:47 AM Post #9 of 31
Quote:

Originally Posted by goldenratiophi /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Johnny Cash - Live at Folsom Prison

No other live album quite like that one...


Absolutely! Another one where you feel (well, sort of) like you're part of the audience. He was brilliant at this point in his career (and at various other high points as well, usually when he wasn't high).
 
Jan 21, 2008 at 3:56 AM Post #10 of 31
Quote:

Originally Posted by Wmcmanus /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Absolutely! Another one where you feel (well, sort of) like you're part of the audience. He was brilliant at this point in his career (and at various other high points as well, usually when he wasn't high).


It is a great album but it's not entirely acoustic. Carl Perkins is playing an electric guitar. Listen to the first two tracks, Folsom Prison Blues and Busted, and you'll hear it.
 
Jan 21, 2008 at 4:59 AM Post #11 of 31
Peter Mulvey recorded "Ten Thousand Mornings" live in the Boston Subway as an homage to his early years of passing the hat underground. It's an interesting collection of cover songs in his unique vocal style and original form of open tune guitar arrangements.
 
Jan 21, 2008 at 5:05 AM Post #12 of 31
Quote:

Originally Posted by leftnose /img/forum/go_quote.gif
It is a great album but it's not entirely acoustic. Carl Perkins is playing an electric guitar. Listen to the first two tracks, Folsom Prison Blues and Busted, and you'll hear it.


That's true. You know, I had that same reaction when I saw that recommendation, but I couldn't pinpoint why. I think the recommendation was based on the "live" aspect and not so much on the "acoustic" aspect, although it is largely acoustic, or at least it gives you an intimate feel.
 
Jan 24, 2008 at 8:08 PM Post #13 of 31
Give The Gathering - Sleepy Buildings a try.
cool.gif
 
Feb 14, 2008 at 5:27 AM Post #15 of 31
As noted before, the Nils Lofgren Acoustic Live is a brilliant and incredible sounding recording.

I also add my recommendation to those already made for the great Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic Live cd, and just found out that he will be releasing Solo Acoustic 2 on March 4th! Can't wait.


JC
 
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