"Turn it Up! (or Turn It Off)" from 2009 #5

Is It “Live” or Is It Vinyl? Fans have been clamoring for this for years, wanting to hear their faves the way they hear them at home. You know, how in the silence between cuts (or for you vinyl users in the scratching between cuts) you can hear the opening notes of the next song in your mind just before the song kicks in. Well, 2009 was the year that saw that all happen. Maybe Steely Dan gets credit for starting the trend with its Rent Party Tour when Aja, The Royal Scam, and Gaucho received the live treatment across the U.S. Cranky Van Morrison also dusted off Astral Weeks for a handful of shows, and though he didn’t adhere to the original LP completely (“Slim Slow Sliding” was moved way up in the set and “Madame George” ended the LP where many listeners always thought the record’s “centerpiece” should be) he seemed to enjoy himself and the Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl proves how strong that record still is. Springsteen, as we said, played each of his first five records live (though The River only once, claiming it was “too long”). Certainly more bands will follow but it’s a good idea that could easily become corrupted. Regardless, here are a few records we’d like to hear done live in their entirety: Elton John, Tumbleweed Connection; Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street, Some Girls; Bob Dylan, Blonde on Blonde, Blood on the Tracks, Highway 61 Revisited, oh, hell, just any Dylan; Neil Young, Tonight’s the Night; Patti Scialfa, Rumble Doll; U2, Achtung Baby!, Patti Smith, Horses…anyone have their own list?