Two AIs, one task: List the best 1970s live albums

Creating lists of the best live albums is tricky. People have such diverse musical tastes that it’s hard to reach a consensus, even when focusing on a specific era like the 1970s. Everyone’s ‘best of’ list will likely be quite different.

I’ve been exploring how to compile lists of the greatest live albums. While sales figures are one option, best-selling albums aren’t always considered the *best* by critics or fans. Other methods that rely on data also have their weaknesses, and often result in surprising or incomplete lists – sometimes missing truly great albums.

Perhaps the key is simply accepting that everyone has different tastes in music and that there will never be a single, perfect ‘best of all time’ list. However, I also wondered if technology could help. Could artificial intelligence create a list that more people would actually agree on?

AI lists the best 1970s live albums

I asked ChatGPT and Proximity, two well-known AI programs, to each create a list of the greatest live music albums from the 1970s. Both happily provided lists that included many familiar titles, along with a few surprising choices.

Let’s examine the AI’s results to understand what it included, what it left out, and how the two apps compared in their album selections. Interestingly, only four live albums from the 1970s appeared on both lists.

At Fillmore East – The Allman Brothers Band

It’s no surprise this album consistently ranks among the best live rock releases. Fans are quick to defend it, and for good reason – it’s a fantastic, energetic, and blues-infused performance that everyone should experience.

Made In Japan – Deep Purple

While touring Japan, Deep Purple embraced new digital audio technology, resulting in high-quality performances that have impressed even discerning fans. The band’s classic lineup – Ian Paice, Jon Lord, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, and Ritchie Blackmore – all played exceptionally well.

Live At Leeds – The Who

Unlike that Deep Purple album, this release from The Who sounds more like an unreleased live recording. Instead of a collection of their popular songs, it captures the band at their most energetic, performing live – complete with the raw energy and imperfections that come with a live show.

Frampton Comes Alive – Peter Frampton

This album is essential for any collection of great live albums from the 1970s. Peter Frampton’s incredible success with it inspired many other bands to release their own live recordings. It’s a true classic and consistently appears on ‘best of’ lists and in music fans’ personal collections.

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5 more 1970s live music albums recommended by Perplexity

Those were the four live albums from the 1970s that both AI tools highlighted as top choices. After agreeing on those, each tool suggested additional albums they considered the best live recordings from that decade. Let’s explore those other suggestions, starting with five from Perplexity.

Wings Over America – Wings

This expansive triple album showcases Paul McCartney and Wings performing many of their biggest songs. While it’s a fantastic record, it’s often overlooked when people compile lists of their favorite albums, with other Wings releases frequently considered stronger.

Hendrix In The West – Jimi Hendrix

Following Jimi Hendrix’s untimely death, many live recordings were released, making it hard to choose the very best. While some fans prefer the *Band of Gypsys* album, this particular release offers a different collection of songs, including some less common tracks and covers.

Elvis In Person at the International Hotel – Elvis Presley

If you’re looking to experience Elvis at his peak, performing live in Las Vegas, this album is a great choice. It really showcases his voice, stage presence, and the energy of his live shows. While it could be considered one of the best albums ever, it’s sometimes overlooked in favor of his more rock-focused recordings.

The Song Remains the Same – Led Zeppelin

Okay, so as a Zeppelin fan, let me tell you, picking the *best* live album is a total rabbit hole! This one definitely has its supporters, but it also gets a lot of flak. They nailed some incredible songs live here, but honestly, some tracks just don’t quite hit the same way as other live versions. Still, it’s Led Zeppelin live, so it’s always in the running for a top spot, you know?

Europe ’72 – The Grateful Dead

It’s tough to pick just one live album for a band known for its improvisation, like the Grateful Dead. However, this three-disc release is often considered the best and really showcases what their concerts were like during that period.

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4 more 1970s live music albums recommended by ChatGPT

If You Want Blood You’ve Got It – AC/DC

ChatGPT identified a late-1970s AC/DC album as their strongest live recording. It’s a great example of the band’s raw power, high energy, and features Bon Scott singing – which is all many fans need to be happy.

The Last Waltz – The Band

This album is a classic and represents the end of a significant period for the artist. It’s enhanced by a variety of guest appearances and interesting collaborations, with my personal highlight being the track “Caravan” featuring Van Morrison.

Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! – The Rolling Stones

This is the Rolling Stones’ second live album, and it perfectly captures the band’s incredible energy and peak performance from a live show. Featuring many of their biggest hits and a fantastic atmosphere, it’s everything you could want from a live album.

It’s Alive – Ramones

The Ramones were an incredibly energetic band, especially when performing live. While their albums weren’t massive commercial successes, they were renowned for their exciting and fast-paced concerts. This is a fantastic portrayal of the band and their signature sound.

Has AI created a definitive live album list?

As a music fan, looking at these AI-generated lists got me thinking… where’s the love for so many other amazing live albums? I mean, what about Queen, Bob Seger, Foghat, the Scorpions, Cheap Trick, Thin Lizzy, and tons of other bands with incredible live records? It’s not shocking there are so many other albums that could be on there, and it really shows you can’t expect AI to give you a perfect, final answer when it comes to something as subjective as the best live albums.

AI tools generate lists by gathering information from across the internet. They analyze numerous articles to understand common opinions and then compile their lists based on what people are already saying.

The AI’s answers will probably be different each time you ask, and will depend on where you are located. People in the US, UK, or other countries will see lists customized for their region, regardless of their usual music preferences. Ultimately, having lots of different lists is a good thing – it all comes down to personal taste.

2025-10-09 13:01