I would have to agree on the Tesla albumbeing great. I wasn't even a Tesla fan at the time, and still don't have any of their other CD's but I love this album anyway. However I wouldn't give them all the credit for launching the "Unplugged" thing. Paul McCartney did one before that, and from the first song on the Tesla CD, it's clear they were inspired by the Grateful Dead, who did acoustic sets throughout their career, releasing an "unplugged" album called "Reckoning" in the early 80's.


Now as for my favorite live albums......

The Who Live at Leeds : Even in it's original vinyl form it was one of the greatest live albums ever made. Now, digitally restored and twice as long as it used to be, you simply can't find better. While the Beatles were breaking up, the Stones were changing gears with a new guitarist, and Zeppelin was just barely getting off the ground, Roger, Pete, John, and Moon the Loon took over and between from 1969 - 1972 it was almost impossible to beat these guys. This album was recorded right in the middle of that time. There's also a 2 CD set from the same period from their Isle of Wight show, which features them performing Tommy in it's entirety. It's also a great performance, but "Leeds" wins on basis of sound quality.

Sex Pistols Live at Chelmsford Top Security Prison : Sound quality is definitely NOT the main selling point here, but just the whole idea of the most notorious punk band in the world playing live before a crowd of violent criminals makes this an album well worth having. You'll laugh your ass off as Johnny Rotten talks to the crowd... "You're all stupid you got caught! Do your homework next time". Unbelievably, nobody was killed......