10 Live Albums That Are Better Than Studio Albums

From the minute that he became interested in music, Freddie Mercury felt like he was born for the live stage. Even with all of the millions of overdubs that are on any proper Queen album, Freddie always put an added emphasis on being able to translate their recordings to the people in whatever way he could, with his consummate showmanship and powerful voice. After already devouring Wembley Arena during Live Aid though, Queen still had a bit of unfinished business when they pulled in again in 1986.

Being one of the final big tours that Freddie would play before coming off the road due to his struggle with AIDs, this is a good helping of just about every era of Queen that you could ask for. Operating as a crash course through their career, this is a quantum leap from their album Live Killers from a few years prior, churning out pop gems like Radio Gaga and Crazy Little Thing Called Love while also finding some time to mess around like their versions of Gimme Some Lovin and the rockabilly classic Hello Mary Lou.

Then again, the magic moments always come back to the audience being commanded by Freddie, either through his different vocal adlibs to get them riled up or when he all but gives up singing when it comes time for Love of My Life, as the audience sings the entire song back to him. Freddie may not have been meant to be on stage for much longer after this, but it's nice to see him holding that crowd in the palm of his hand one more time.