1 Neil Young, “Sedan Delivery” (Live Rust, 1979) Young’s drawling intro makes the perfect start to any live mix: “Let’s play some rock ’n’ roll ...”
2 Sam Cooke, “Chain Gang” (Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963) Amazingly, soul’s all-time voice sounded even more vibrant onstage.
3 Grateful Dead, “New Potato Caboose” (Two From the Vault, 1992) It could be argued every Dead tune sounds better live than on album; this ’68 gem represents the lot.
4 John Coltrane, “My Favorite Things” (Afro Blue Impressions, 1963) Sacrilege? Not once you hear the fountain of ideas pouring out of Trane and McCoy Tyner here.
5 Bruce Springsteen, “Lost in the Flood” (Hammersmith Odeon, London ’75, 2006) The Asbury Park cut’s no slouch, but this peak-of-his-prowess reading packs the spinal shivers.
6 The Who, “A Quick One, While He’s Away” (The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, 1996) Feel the 1968 crowd react to the band’s mini-opera, as The Who puts the host Stones to shame.
7 Bob Dylan, “I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Have Never Met)” (The Bootleg Series, Vol. 4: The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert, 1998) Scream “Judas!” all day long, but the ’66 electric rendition tears up the acoustic original.
8 The Roots, “The Next Movement” (The Roots Come Alive, 1999) The studio take sounds downright muted compared with this in-your-face concert version.
9 Johnny Cash, “Jackson” (At Folsom Prison, 1968) The toe-tappin’ original is classic, but a revved-up crowd and a little Johnny-June banter really up the ante.
10 Spacemen 3, “Suicide” (Performance: Live at the Melkweg 6/2/88, 1995) Even on CD, the space-rock drone will have you reaching for earplugs. –SP