The 17 Greatest Live Reggae Albums of All Time

Nothing captures reggae's spiritual power like a live performance. From Bob Marley's Live! at the Lyceum to Burning Spear in Paris, vote for the live reggae album that best captures the electricity of the stage.

1. 1
   Live!

   Bob Marley & The Wailers' 1975 essential live document, captured at the Lyceum Theatre in London at the height of the band's raw, electrifying power.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Tear It Up – Live

   Black Uhuru's 1982 live album capturing the Michael Rose, Duckie Simpson and Puma Jones lineup with Sly & Robbie at the height of their international fame.
   509pts
3. 3
   Live in New York City

   Black Uhuru's 1988 concert album from New York, documenting the group's later lineup with Junior Reid on lead vocals.
   407pts
4. 4
   Live at the Rainbow

   Bob Marley's brilliant 1977 London concert recording from the Rainbow Theatre, capturing him at the peak of his global stardom.
   407pts
5. 5
   Live at Montreux

   Dennis Brown's set at the 1979 Montreux Jazz Festival, the Crown Prince of Reggae in peak voice on Wolves and Leopards, Milk and Honey and Money in My Pocket.
   407pts
6. 6
   LKJ in Concert with the Dub Band

   Linton Kwesi Johnson's 1985 double live album, his dub poetry on racism and resistance in Britain delivered over Dennis Bovell's Dub Band.
   407pts
7. 7
   Captured Live

   Peter Tosh's 1984 live album from the Mama Africa tour, a fierce set of militant roots anthems including Get Up, Stand Up and Johnny B. Goode.
   407pts
8. 8
   Live in Paris: Zenith '88

   Burning Spear's powerful 1988 live document recorded in Paris, showcasing his hypnotic meditative stage presence and spiritual intensity.
   344pts
9. 9
   Reggae Sunsplash '81

   A landmark live recording from the iconic Jamaican festival, honoring Bob Marley just months after his death with an all-star tribute.
   344pts
10. 10
    Live and Direct

    Aswad's 1983 live album, largely recorded at the Notting Hill Carnival, capturing the British roots band's heavyweight horns and dub-wise stage sound.
    344pts
11. 11
    Rastafari Centennial: Live in Paris

    Steel Pulse's Grammy-nominated 1992 live album recorded at the Élysée Montmartre in Paris, marking the centenary of Haile Selassie's birth.
    344pts
12. 12
    In Concert: The Best of Jimmy Cliff

    A classic 1976 live recording showcasing Jimmy Cliff's dynamic stage presence and the songs that first brought reggae to international audiences.
    344pts
13. 13
    Live (Toots and the Maytals)

    Recorded at London's Hammersmith Palais on 29 September 1980 and pressed into record shops within 24 hours, Toots and the Maytals' ecstatic set is a soul-reggae classic.
    271pts
14. 14
    Live (Burning Spear)

    Burning Spear's 1977 live album recorded at London's Rainbow Theatre with Aswad backing Winston Rodney through Marcus Garvey-era roots classics.
    271pts
15. 15
    Babylon by Bus

    A double live album from 1978 showcasing the Wailers' extraordinary live energy during their legendary European Kaya tour.
    271pts
16. 16
    Live at the Roxy

    Bob Marley & The Wailers' stunning 1976 Hollywood live recording, capturing an unparalleled night of reggae history in California.
    185pts
17. 17
    Live at the Counter Eurovision 79

    Misty in Roots' 1979 debut, recorded in Brussels at a protest concert staged against Eurovision, a John Peel favourite and landmark of British roots reggae.
    0pts

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