In the spirit of launching a solo concert tour several years ago, Ann Wilson shared her top 10 favorite live albums of all time. If you were anticipating that the list would be filled solely with fellow classic rock legends, you would be incorrect. While gems from Deep Purple, The Who, and Elton John did, indeed, make her list, it also includes Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash and even Duke Ellington. Her top choice will surprise you. The full list of Wilson’s albums and her comments are below. Wilson and her band have a busy 2023 tour this summer and fall. (See the itinerary below.) In a phone interview published June 9, her sister, Nancy Wilson, shared that the pair are once again collaborating on new material for a Heart reunion album. “[The music is] closer to what you would have heard us originally do in the ’70s, late ’70s,” she said. “So it’s really fun, it’s just exciting and inspiring.
“”It’s been a really nice kind of rediscovery of our relationship, working on music together again. So, yeah, I’m really happy about that.”
In 2021, Wilson released a “name your price” live EP, as she prepared to return to the live stage once again. Howlen Live, featuring songs recorded on stage in June 2021, is available here to download, even for free. Watch a teaser clip for the release, including such Heart favorites as “Crazy on You” and “Barracuda,” below. Her most recent studio album was 2022’s Fierce Bliss. The singing legend was born June 19, 1950.
As she noted, “As we finished up the leg, it became clear to me that we made some real magic out there. There’s much more where that came from.”
Listen to selections from Wilson’s free live ep, Howlen Live
Ann Wilson’s Top 10 Favorite Live Albums
10) Duke Ellington, Ellington at Newport: “The sophistication and elegance of the Duke live. Perfect for an afternoon in.”
9) Muse, Live at Rome Olympic Stadium: “Perhaps the most powerful, creative band of today powering it out live. Incredible playing, singing and drama! This record really takes you places.”
8) Johnny Cash, At Folsom Prison: “This is Johnny with his people. There is a connection here that is palpable. Cash in his prime.”
Related: Our Album Rewind of At Folsom Prison
7) James Brown, Live at the Apollo: “The hardest working man in show business working hard. The grooves and the soul are to die for.
6) Joni Mitchell, Miles of Aisles: “Joni at her live best with a great band. Just before jazz and just after folk. Maybe one of the best lyricists and singers of all time. This album is a treasure.”
5) Deep Purple, Made in Japan: “The stuff ’70s rock was made of. Great songs and power performances.”
4) The Who, Live at Leeds: “This one is raw, exciting and truly iconic. The Who on all cylinders.”
3) Elton John, 11-17-70: “Elton in his early trio; Nigel Olsson on drums and Dee Murray on bass. This is a fantastic listen!”
2) Aretha Franklin, Aretha Live at Fillmore West: “The queen with all her fires blazing. Super inspiring!”
1) Harry Belafonte, Belafonte at Carnegie Hall: “When I was a child my parents used to play this. It made me want to perform! Harry Belafonte’s version of “Danny Boy” on this album just put me over the edge.”
Ann Wilson released a new album, Fierce Bliss, on April 29, 2022, via Silver Lining Music.
Ann Wilson 2023 Tour Dates (Tickets for many of the dates are available here)
Jul 07 – Toronto, ON – Danford Music Hall
Jul 08 – Ottawa, ON – Southam Hall
Jul 10 – Quebec, QC – Bureau Festival D’Ete de Quebec
Jul 12 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – FM Kirby Center
Jul 14 – Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park Center Stage
Jul 15 – Mequon, WI – Rotary Park
Jul 18 – Minneapolis, MN – Pantages Theatre
Jul 19 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Place
Jul 21 – Salina, KS – Stiefel Theatre
Jul 22 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
Jul 24 – Chattanooga, TN – Robert Kirk Walker Theatre
Jul 25 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
Jul 27 – Champaign, IL – Virginia Theatre
Jul 29 – Sterling Heights, MI – Dodge Park
Jul 30 – Nashville, IN – Brown County Music Center
Aug 01 – Elk Grove Village, IL – The Village Green (Free)
Aug 03 – Eau Claire, WI – Pablo Center
Aug 05 – Kingsford, MI – Lodal Park
Aug 23 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Aug 24 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
Aug 26 – Englewood, NJ – Bergen PAC
Aug 27 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur
Aug 29 – Albany, NY – Hart Theatre at the Egg
Aug 30 – Syracuse, NY – NY State Fair (Free)
Sep 24 – Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre
Sep 25 – Austin, TX – Paramount Theatre
Oct 03 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center
Oct 04 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys Concerts By the Bay
Oct 06 – Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Oct 10 – Santa Rosa, CA – Luther Burbank Center For the Arts
Oct 11 – Red Bluff, CA – State Theatre
Oct 15 – Airway Heights, WA – Northern Quest Resort & Casino
Watch an entire concert from her 2017 tour that she has shared
Related: Links to 100s of current classic rock tours
3 Comments
Couldn’t agree with Ann more on the Belafonte album. I too grew up with that record and it’s still one of my favorites. “Mama Look a Boo Boo” indeed!
Great list! Back It Up! by Nils Lofgren would make my list. I have to say that Heart always delivered every time I saw them live.
Ice X says “Rock on!”
Have seen Heart several times over the years, and they always leave it all on stage. Saw Annie last summer in NH with her new band, the Dawgs; fantastic!! She just rocks!!