The Allman Brothers Band's legendary 1971 concert set, Live At Fillmore East has topped a new UK list of the “20 Greatest Live Albums.” The list, posted by Britain's The Independent, gave local heroes, the Who, the runner-up position for its 1970 behemoth, Live At Leeds. Coming in at Number Three was James Brown & The Famous Flames' 1963 set, Live At the Apollo Vol 1, with Jerry Lee Lewis' 1964 collection, Live At The Star Club Hamburg, sitting at Number Four. Van Morrison rounded out the Top Five with his 1974 live album, It's Too Late To Stop Now.
Dickey Betts, who was forced out of the Allmans back in 2000, is best remembered for his timeless contributions including “Blue Sky,” “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed,” “Ramblin' Man,” and the instrumental “Jessica.” We asked him if he feels he's the keeper of the Allman Brothers Band flame today: “People are making me feel that way. I, I never felt that way, but when you get out there and you talk to the fans — I don't just go in and then disappear like Batman. Y'know, I go in, I talk to a lot of people and to see how the show's are selling out. Fans are telling me how much interest there is, that I am the guy now that can produce this music, 'cause I wrote half of it, y'know?”
Roger Daltrey told us that although he loves the Live At Leeds album, he isn't wild about his particular performance that night: “I always felt under pressure when anything was knowingly being recorded. I didn't mind if people were kind of surreptitiously doing it. Personally, it wasn't one of my best gigs, but the individual in the band never sees the band in the audience's perspective. It's a great album. I love that album because it captures a moment in time.”
The “20 Greatest Live Albums” – according to Britain's The Independent:
1. The Allman Brothers – Live At Fillmore East, 1971
2. The Who – Live At Leeds, 1970
3. James Brown & The Famous Flames – Live At The Apollo Vol 1, 1963
4. Jerry Lee Lewis – Live At The Star Club Hamburg, 1964
5. Van Morrison – It's Too Late To Stop Now, 1974
6. Deep Purple – Made In Japan, 1972
7. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Live!, 1975
8. Nirvana – Nirvana Unplugged In New York, 1994
9. The Rolling Stones – Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!, 1969
10. Johnny Cash – At Folsom Prison, 1968
11. Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Live Rust, 1979
12. Thin Lizzy – Live And Dangerous, 1978
13. The Band – The Last Waltz, 1978
14. Bob Dylan – Live 1966, “The Royal Albert Hall” Concert, 1966
15. B.B. King – Live At The Regal, 1965
16. Rory Gallagher – Irish Tour ’74, 1974
17. MC5 – Kick Out the Jams, 1969
18. Procol Harum – Procol Harum Live: In Concert With The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, 1972
19. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – Live Bullet, 1976
20. Free – Live!, 1971
