Fans of the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones are sharing their thoughts on where to start with the group’s live discography.
Not only were the Mick Jagger-fronted group a powerhouse in the studio but they released a series of live albums worth hearing too. Where to start is a point of contention, though, as listeners take to the r/RollingStones Reddit page to share their thoughts on what album new listeners should start with. A general consensus was reached with the top reply to one user’s question regarding which live album to choose first. They asked: “I’ve never listened to a live Rolling Stones album in my life. What’s the best one?” Replies were mixed to which one is worth starting with, though the top comment on the discussion would lead many to believe Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out is the right choice.
But other suggestions were made, including some which are considered the “peak” not just of the band’s discography, but of their live performances. One listener suggested: “1973, The Brussels Affair – Live from the Vault. Peak Stones live performance.” Another fan agreed, adding: “This is the one true answer.”
A third wrote: “Unfortunately, I can never find good quality of this one, but the little bit I can make out sounds like they blew the roof completely off. I’d say if it was even half of the audio quality of Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out then it definitely would be in the running for me.”
Another user who listed off a handful of live albums worth starting with noted both Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out and The Brussels Affair, but also noted a selection of other necessary listens. They wrote: “Ya Ya’s, Brussels Affair (on the super deluxe edition of GHS), El Mocambo, and Some Girls Live in Texas are great places to start. You are in for an incredible journey.”
One reply praised the Some Girls Live in Texas show, with the user saying it has one of the best versions of a Rolling Stones song around. They wrote: “My favourite Beast and Just My Imagination. If you look closely during Just My Imagination, there’s a part where Bill plays this descending riff, you can see Charlie’s bass pedal hammer every note. It happens a few times towards the end.”
Another added: “Love the Live in Texas one! It has my favourite live recording of Brown Sugar because the audience does the ‘yeah, yeah, yeah, WOO!’ super loud.”
A lesser-loved album, Stripped, was also suggested further down in the comments. One user wrote: “Totally Stripped in Amsterdam is my favourite of the post-89 live material. Along with Wiltern ‘02 and Atlantic City ‘89.”
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