Live Albums Were Their Big Break

i can think of two acts who went from relative obscurity to the big time with the release of a live album: Frampton Comes Alive and Cheap Trick Live At Budokan

any others come to mind?

KISS Alive

Deep Purple's made in Japan?

Foghat
Bob Seger

Allman Bros.,Live at Fillmore East. That album opened a lot of ears to the Allmans.

The Police
:lol:

KISS Alive

Yes, as a KISS fan, this was a big break. On their last studio album just prior to Alive (called Dressed to Kill), "Rock and Roll all Night" was their first big break for radio and the band's best known song. But rather than a live album, KISS put in a considerable amount of studio work to make Alive sound clearer without making it too sterile. Alive II out four albums later was a little overproduced and doesn't have the same random feel to it.

The Song Remains the Shame

hard to consider some of those mentioned as a big break..


how about Cheap Thrills and Inagadadavida

Can't forget about these guys!

0lxyRjzXvxo

Allman Bros.,Live at Fillmore East. That album opened a lot of ears to the Allmans.

+1

My wife was at that one and this somewhat unknown band (to many) became a top grossing act. I didn't know much about them, other than the Allman's being famous already, until after Duanne died but then discovered him with the Layla sessions.

How about just one live song: Ten Years After's performance of "I'm Going Home" on the Woodstock sountrack.

I third the Allman bros at Fillmore East

While I always thought the first J. Geils band album was a killer, it was Full House that made them a household name, with many songs from their first two albums.

The other two I agree with are the Peter Frampton live album and definitely the Allman Brothers at Fillmore East.

Live At The Regal. BB King

Slade.

Definitely "Frampton Comes Alive" and The Allman's "At the Fillmore East". I'll also agree with Cheap Trick's "At Budokan" - that version of "I Want You To Want Me" was the first I really remember of that band. "Alive" was KISS's big break.

What about Johnny Cash's "Live at Folsom Prison"? I know he was already well known prior to that, but wasn't he kinda on the outs just prior to that record and that record brought him back to the top, or am I mistaken?

Yes, as a KISS fan, this was a big break. On their last studio album just prior to Alive (called Dressed to Kill), "Rock and Roll all Night" was their first big break for radio and the band's best known song.

The studio version did not break them -- the single peaked at #57. It was the live version that did it when it rose to #12 on the charts in the fall of 1975.

Exit...Stage Left (for me at least)

Folsom Prison was a big comeback album for Johnny Cash, so I'd say it counts.

I'm not sure if Bob Seger's Live Bullet was their 'big break', but the album sure had legs--I don't think I've ever even heard the studio version of "Turn the Page" or "Katmandu."

U2 - Under a Blood Red Sky (Live at Red Rocks)

... not much of a fan myself, just answering the OP.

Edited to correct the album title.

Judas Priest "Unleashed In The East" sorta bookended the first phase of their career and set the stage for the more polished, commercial direction that came next.

Similar for REO Speedwagon "You Get What You Play For". Great album BTW.

Tim

How about just one live song: Ten Years After's performance of "I'm Going Home" on the Woodstock sountrack. Absolutely. I saw them before Woodstock and honestly their studio stuff paled compared to those guys live.

Definitely "Frampton Comes Alive" and The Allman's "At the Fillmore East". +1.

IMO Johnny Cash woulda kept on being big even without FPB.

An oddball thing and not an album so OT but: Elvis '69 (?) comeback thing, black leather, some of the Sun guys. That was a TV even but it sure reestablished that star.

I think

Rory Gallagher's live albums caught him a lot of attention. First, the line Taste album, then "Live In Europe," "Irish Tour '74" were all stunners. I still find "A Million Miles Away" transfixing, nearly 35 years after I first heard it.

Oh no, I'm that guy! When the **** did that happen?

+another for allmans at filmore east. And although Layla and assorted love songs was really the defining album, I think derek and the dominos live at filmore east is an incredible album (it does miss duane though)

+1 for:
Humble Pie Rockin the Filmore
Allman Bros Live at the Filmore East

2 albums that had huge influances on me and my musical direction, especially Steve Mariot and Peter Frampton in Humble Pie.