Quote:
Originally Posted by Dark Party
This should start some discussion -- I hope. What is the best live reggae album ever recorded?
My pick -- and my argument -- is Burning Spear "Live in Paris -- Zenith '88."
If you've ever heard this masterpiece -- then you probably know what I'm talking about. Simply classic roots reggae.
But I'd be interested in your picks. |
Personally I don't think
Live in Paris is a particularly exceptional album and Burning Spear has at least a dozen more important albums in his considerable body of work. Spear has made six different live albums and I don't think
Live in Paris is even his best live album.
Live at the Montreaux Jazz Festival 2001 has far better sound quality and captures the firery passion of Spear's live perfomances better than
Live in Paris. I think the primary reason it's a better album is that the Montreaux Festival has always produced high quality performances, even back in the Sixties, because they've always had a state of the art sound board and the trees that surround the performance area provide a buffer against white noise.
Hear samples at this link:
allmusic ((( Live at the Montreaux Jazz Festival 2001 > Overview )))
My all time favorite live reggae album is
In Concert with the Dub Band by Linton Kwesi Johnson. Dennis Bovell's Dub Band is still the best live reggae band I've ever heard. I got to see Linton and the Dub Band perform this entire set on their East Coast tour of America with Gil Scott Heron. It's the best concert I ever attended.
Hear samples at this link:
allmusic ((( In Concert with the Dub Band > Overview )))