Wow, this thread has given me quite the list to check out and many albums I had completely forgotten about. I'll have to come back to this when I have the time to sample everything. I like to use Spotify, pull the bands up, go to discography, scroll down to the oldest or first album and start listening...fast forward in segments to get the sense of each song and if I feel like I might really like it, start it over and begin recording it. If it makes it to the end of the song without me stopping it, it's usually a keeper.
I have gotten through some band's entire discography, sometimes at least a dozen albums, in an hour; sometimes far less as I realize I just dont like the band and I'm wasting my time. The less I like the songs the faster it goes! I can usually tell within 15 seconds of sampling a song whether it's worth a longer listen for me. I'm well practiced at this now!
Another favorite came to mind:
Styx Grand Illusion
Oh YA, and REO Speedwagon:
View attachment 698116
I really liked "You Can Tune a Piano But You Cant Tune a Fish", even though I was a hard rock kid. They were outstanding live. Like Skynard, they could play the songs album perfect. Ronnie Van Zant said something to the effect of: "They come to see what they hear on the album, our job is to give them that". The band was terrified of him and practiced their parts to perfection. I have a concert on DVR from some years ago of Skynard with Johnny on the mic. If you close your eyes, you would think it was an album until between songs where the audience cheers...then it sounds like a live album! Every song album perfect.
Some bands go off the rails in their concerts and forget the concert is for the fans, not themselves. All the screaming fans go to their head.
Anything from Don Williams or Jimmy Buffet was great too. It seems I'm one of the youngsters of the group. But majority of what's being posted is what I grew up on. Guess I have an old soul, cause I'm digging it.
I am an old soul...should have been born 10 years earlier, I swear! This thread is showing a wide range of musical interests...in a lane for sure, but varied.
Lots of great stuff. I have always had a thing for the live albums and live shows so stuff like The Who Live At Leeds, Bob Marley and the Wailers Live, Cream Goodbye, Rolling Stones Love You Live are a couple that got a lot of play. This led to collecting and recording live concerts. Some artists never released any or much live material like Pink Floyd but there are some special recordings made in the 70's that are amazing. Now, that's what I listen to almost all the time and have a collection exceeding 25,000 different recordings. Been on the road recording New Orleans Jazzfest, The Rolling Stones in Vegas, Seattle, NJ and an indy band Warpaint the past 3 weeks and have Tedeschi Trucks Band tomorrow night at home. Then I need to smoke some meat Sunday since I am craving BBQ before I head off to Europe for a festival in Norway, Pearl Jam in Dublin and Manchester and Nick Mason from Pink Floyd in London.
Now THAT'S immersing yourself in it! Is this professional or hobby interest?
You mentioned Bob Marley live. For anyone who cares I think Babylon By Bus is the best because it has the bass most of the records dont have. The earlier records were kind of tinny, Babylon By Bus gives some of those songs new life.