Professionally mastered and mixed recordings, as opposed to live albums, have always been debated by fans, as they bring more emotion and energy and generally give a better listening experience. The fixtures of a strong live album should include the feeling that the listener was truly at the show, a balance between the crowd’s reactions and the sound on-stage, and a moment that the artist otherwise couldn’t give the fans through a traditional album or EP. With the current state of ticket pricing, it’s difficult for so many fans to gain the experience of hearing their favorite singer in person and feeling the roar of fans behind them, living in the moment and appreciating the music altogether. Since 2020, a great number of artists have shared live recordings, but only a few stand out above the rest.
Honorable Mentions:
Red Clay Strays -“Wanna Be Loved” – Live At The Ryman
The Red Clay Strays were on a meteoric rise to stardom thanks to numerous songs going viral on TikTok and Instagram. This performance is a cultivation of their hard work being showcased on one of the genre’s most coveted stages, The Ryman. While this recording doesn’t have a driving factor that can propel it into the top five, fans who have followed the Alabama band for a long time understand the significance and raw emotions in the vocals.
Chris Stapleton and Dua Lips – “Think I’m In Love With You” ( With Dua Lipa) (Live from the 59th ACM Awards)
A collaboration that took the music world by surprise, these are two artists who are performing for one simple reason: the love of music. A dark-horse favorite from Chris Stapleton’s Higher for many fans, this is a track that not many people would have expected to be highlighted on a major award show. Accompanied by multiple strings, the original recording is on its head as the duo completely reimagines the song. The recording was mixed well, allowing the listener to hear the back and forth between Stapleton and the pop icon Dua Lipa. These two voices are considered second to none in their respective genres; neither is overpowering, and the listener is transported right into the crowd where the performance originally occurred.
Number 5: Zac Brown Band – From The Road, Vol 1: Covers
A lot of live albums are recorded from one show and provide the listener with a complete rendition of what that show was like at the venue. This compilation of songs is unique because it was pulled from various locations across the country. Typically, when a live album is compiled from multiple shows like this, it ruins the ambiance of the listening experience. However, this one is an exception because of how unique the tracklist is. One of the main factors required for consideration on this list is that the recordings had to be something the listeners otherwise wouldn’t have gotten. Zac Brown Band singing generational songs like The Who’s “Baba O’ Riley” or Metalica’s “Enter Sandman” is something that listeners wouldn’t otherwise be able to experience.
Number 4: Willie Nelson – Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 (Live at the Hollywood Bowl)
A world-renowned singer like Willie Nelson deserves every moment to celebrate his historic career, still powering through tours and new records. At 90 years old, there will never be a shortage of moments to celebrate. Recorded at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in California, this celebration of Willie brings together musicians from many generations and genres, like Dave Mathews, Billy Strings, and The Avett Brothers. The album was mixed and mastered excellently, with a great balance of hearing authentic crowd reactions and a clear recording of all the phenomenal singers. Coming in at over three hours, fans likely won’t listen to the entire project from front to back. However, it contains amazing covers, such as Chris Stapleton singing “Always On My Mind.” After checking all three boxes, I found that this compilation delivers on the final piece of criteria, something that fans wouldn’t be able to experience during a traditional album or EP. It’s hard to think of another time when all these wildly talented and intelligent musicians will be on the same stage again, making this instance much more special.
Number 3: Shane Smith and the Saints – Live at Red Rocks
Red Rocks is one of those iconic venues that, once an artist makes their debut, they’ll remember for the rest of their careers; anyone lucky enough to have seen the experience that is a Shane Smith and the Saints concert understands how electric that Red Rocks performance was. Immediately, as the recording starts, they open with the introduction of “Seven Bridges Road,” which puts their iconic harmonies on full display. The set list combines deep cuts, covers, and classics, creating moments for new and longtime fans of the band. The album checks all three boxes of a balanced recording, unique moments, and creating an experience that places listeners in Morrison, Colorado. Accompanied by a concert recording on YouTube, this album captures all the controlled chaos the Texas band brings to live music.
Number 2: Cody Johnson – Cody Johnson & The Rockin’ CJB Live
One of the best performers of this generation, Cody Johnson prides himself on delivering a performance to his fans that they’ll never forget. With preludes before a few tracks, Johnson speaks directly to the audience, and listeners can feel the same emotion years later that those in the venue felt that night. In his third album, after being signed to Warner Records, he talks about how he’s never shied away from being who he is. The one thing missing from this record is his cover of “Traveling Soldier,” which has been floating around on YouTube and social media for far too many years; performed at many other shows, it was missing from this recording. No matter the size of the arena, amphitheater, or concert hall, Cody Johnson brings the same authentic Texas-country rowdiness to every show, and it’s perfectly encapsulated in this recording. Johnson has since updated his live show and setlist with new material since this recording. Still, no matter how he opens or closes, he consistently delivers a top-tier performance—whether it’s a fan’s first show or fifth.
Number 1: Zach Bryan – All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster (Live From Red Rocks)
Released as a Christmas present to his fans in 2022, Zach Bryan capitalized on the momentum of American Heartbreak and Summertime Blues at that point in his career. Opening with Charles Wesley Godwin singing “Country Roads,” the show is immediately off to an electric start with one of the most iconic songs ever. Zach Bryan and his band look to “blow the nonexistent roof of this place” and do exactly that with barn burners like “Quittin’ Time,” “Heavy Eyes,” and an uptempo rendition of “Flying or Crying” that gives the original version a run for its money. Like Shane Smith and the Saints, this album is accompanied by a movie version of the performance that fans can watch to be transported to the magnificent Red Rocks venue. As snow fell on the night of the show, fans were instantly in for a moment to remember. Bryan frequently thanked his fans throughout the show for sticking out in the cold. The album wraps up with a nearly 12-minute version of “Revival” that allows Bryan to acknowledge each band member individually, his openers, and people close to his heart, like his sister, share the stage to sing the iconic chorus with the crowd. “Revival” would become a staple in all his shows and, at times, would be worth the price of admission alone to witness the liveliness of thousands of Zach Bryan fans screaming the same words in unison. This record checks all three boxes of clear audio and mastering, a unique experience, and the artist sharing an intimate moment with fans worldwide. Bryan would go on to release another live record from his following tour but will always remain in the shadows of All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster.
