Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense. David Byrne's performance is captivating. I've probably watched the video a hundred times and listened to the album countless times. Every song is better than the studio version

Probably a three way tie among:

Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York

Portishead - Roseland NYC Live

Dave Matthews Band - The Central Park Concert

I also have a soft spot for The Complete Monterey Pop Festival

I don't know if it counts as a live album as such, because as far as I'm aware it was never released, but The Weakerthans - Live At The Burton Cummings Theatre is a wonderful show. I ripped the audio from it to put on my iPod, so technically it is a live album to me...

Edit: Totally counts, it's available in all of the places...

I clicked to come in here and post Throwing Copper but then I read the actual post!

Journey's most recent one (Chicago) is great, even sans Perry.

I listen to Rush's Time Machine frequently (even though I saw it live too!)

The live Blizzard of Oz is fantastic as well.

Genesis’ Seconds Out is my favorite live album of all time. For people only familiar with the Phil Collins era of the band, it’s a perfect gateway to their brilliant past. Phil treats the Gabriel vocals with love and affection and really brings his all. Steve Hackett gives possibly some of his strongest work with the band. And the drum interplay between Collins and Chester Thompson (and, on one track, Bill Bruford) is :chef’s kiss:

Zappa/Mothers Just Another Band from LA showcases one of my favorite eras of the band, cut tragically short. The best, most complete rendition of Billy the Mountain until the release of the Carnegie Hall show

I absolutely adore U2’s Under A Blood Red Sky. U2 are my favorite band and I think I have other favorite live shows as bootlegs (Dublin 93!! Point Depot 89!!), but this is my favorite live official release. It is also my bucket list show. If I could go back in time, this is the concert I’d want to go to. Red Rocks is an incredible venue and the performance of The Electric Co. is, well, electric. Also “40”…just an incredible tune and the magic of hearing the audience chant “how long…” is spine tingling. Would have loved to be there.

I think one of my other favorites is Live After Death by Iron Maiden. They perform Flight of Icarus and Rime of the Ancient Mariner and it’s incredible. Also, Phantom of the Opera from the Hammersmith is included on this remaster and that’s in my top 5 Maiden songs.

Can't believe it hasn't been said, Pink Floyd's P.U.L S.E.

Rush - Snakes and Arrows Live 2007. It was a perfect set list. Plus, the cinematography of the concert DVD was beautifully done.

The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East

Do yourselves a favour and find a good copy, put on your headphones or whatever, and enjoy.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_Fillmore_East

Now I will go listen to my copy and smile.

Thanks for making me think of this album.

To speak on the topic generally rather than answer the question specifically, I would say that almost every blues album is better live than studio recorded.

Heilung - LIFA. Their performances are rituals, and you can really feel the energy in the live version vs the studio version. A particularly good example is the LIFA version of Hamrer Hippyer vs the studio version from Furtha.

Metallica’s S&M is a standout for me. It was so fresh and exciting and rich experience to listen to for the first time.

I like Joe Satriani’s live in San Francisco. He generally approaches live recordings as a unique experience so the songs and performance are quite different each time. He’s one artist I almost like his live albums more than his studios

Iron Maiden’s Fear of the Dark live versions are just another level in energy

Simon and Garfunkel's Concert in Central Park. I know Art was choking the whole time but it's just a great album nonetheless. Definitely a concert I would time travel to attend.

Pink Floyd Pulse

Tyler Childers Live on Red Barn Radio.

His music already has a lot of heart and emotion in the studio and it's even better in these live recordings, also excellent set list.

Alice in Chains Unplugged

Paris by Supertramp. The performances, recording quality and song selection are all top notch.

Bjork - Vespertine Live

Every song seems like a slice of magic. It’s both perfect and naturally in-exact.

Two of my favorites that are relatively different (with Spotify links):

• Viva the Underdogs by Parkway Drive: This album was recorded live at Wacken Open Air 2019 and also has a really cool accompanying documentary the band released with the same title. The energy on this album is insane and the band put on an all time performance! I've listened to it repeatedly since its release.

• Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland by Rush: This album was recorded at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH in 2011 on Rush's Time Machine World Tour. This was Rush's first ever live album recorded in the U.S. and is one of their best IMO. They play all the hits and the crowd brings great energy. The full video version is also on YouTube, which is awesome!

S&M - Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony

One of my top albums of all-time. James Hetfield's voice sounds better than on the studio albums. Plus an entire fucking orchestra.

LCD Soundsystem: The Long Goodbye

E&A by Eyedea & Abilities is phenomenal. Eyedea's approach to lyrics pairs well with DJ Abilities unreal scratching and beats!

Blaze Foley's Live at the Austin Outhouse

https://open.spotify.com/album/20jfTvbCUwJjOAhPkeIv61

Blaze was an outlaw country artist who, like many outlaw artists, struggled with relationships and substance abuse. His awareness of these issues made his music more powerful and his early death even more tragic. Recently a biopic was made about his life, named Blaze.

Frank Zappa's "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore: Vol 2 is probably my favorite. At least for commercially released live albums. Choosing someone like Zappa or the Grateful Dead is somewhat cheating as an answer to this question though because they toured relentlessly and recorded all of their shows. So you have thousands of live recordings to choose from.

Sarah McLachlan - Mirrorball

coldplay live in buenos aires 🔥

AC/DC - if you want blood - best live album of all time, peak Bon Scott era.

Motorhead - No sleep till hammersmith - with the classic line up and some of their best tunes played at deafening volume.

Viagra Boys - Shrimp Sessions 1 and 2, probably 3 when it's out

For me it is Fleetwood Mac's The Dance, which brought Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham back into the fold, a decade after recording Tango in the Night. It's not really a hidden gem, as it was very popular, but if you like them and haven't heard it yet, give it a shot.

I remember watching the concert on TV and it was spectacular and magical, so the nostalgia goggles are firmly in place. I don't usually enjoy recorded live albums, but this one holds a special place for me.

I really love A Show of Hands by Rush. It's one of my favorite of their eras, though I feel like the "synth era" isn't as universally loved by fans

Iron Maiden- Live After Death

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XECqZcIO1fU

Aside from having a great setlist, I was a huge fan at the time, and they manage to make minor changes to some of the songs which really enhanced them. I don't usually feel that way about live performances, but I listened to, and watched the hell out of this one.