Only going to react to Live after Death, because that's all I own, except for the 12" inches that were pulled off the album.
I eagerly awaited this album and it's safe to say, it didn't disapoint. The thing with live albums is, that the really good or great ones are a combination of great performances and great audience atmosphere/reaction. I never new Martin Birch was the producer that also did Deep Purple's Made in Japan, but that being one of the very first live albums I ever owned and heard, it made total sense. Having been a performer in bands for over thirty years I know of the perils of recording live. Either the equipment sucks or bums out, or the performance is flawed or lackluster (perfect sound and a shitty performance or a 'dead' audience, yeah, been there, but also: great performances captured by glorious 'mono' handheld walkmans...yeah been there as well!). Plus imagine my huge disapointed when I found at KiSS's Alive was studio-doctored. With Maiden off course, you know the show will be great, it's just a matter of the singer being at the top of his game and the audience being 'getting into it'. With this one, everything fell into place.
Once Churchill's voice starts up with the airplanes in the background, you know its on. Then the quickfire one-two punch of Aces High/2 minutes to Midnight and you're right in the thick of it. Then the first stellar song: Revelations oh, the atmosphere! Then Flight of Icarus and this is probably the definetive version of the song they recorded. Strangely Number of the beast isn't all that special on this recording, but Powerslave, Hallowed be thy name and Rhime of the Ancient Mariner all made up for that. When the closer 'Running Free' (of the Long Beach concert, that is) hits, I'm already exhausted of rocking out. Bruce is at his best here. 'But thusday didn't do it, Friday didn't do it, Saturday didn't do it, Long Beach! This is your chance to fuck up my hearing for good!" Dam near fucked up mine in the process, I'll tell ya that!
The Hammesmith portion is a nice bonus, but Long Beach is where its at.
Live after Death is a classic live album and Always will be.