The 18 Live Albums that topped the Billboard 200
Although live songs topping the Billboard charts is an ever rarer feat, live albums that reached No.1 on the Billboard 200 aren’t a common sight either. Only 18 live albums (as of 2025) have topped the US charts out of 1200+ No.1 LPs in total. That’s less than 2% of all chart-toppers!
These albums stand out not just for their sales power, but because they capture the raw, unfiltered energy of live performance, they freeze magic in time that’s tough to replicate in the studio. Whether it’s the roar of the crowd, the impromptu solos, or the artist feeding off the vibe of the venue, these records prove that sometimes, the stage is where the real magic happens.
18 Chart-Topping Live Albums
1. “The 12 Year Old Genius” – Little Stevie Wonder
Genre: Soul | Duration: 23:36
Recorded live at Chicago’s Regal Theater in 1962, this album showcases Stevie Wonder’s talent at just 12 years old, hence the title. Fueled by the success of the chart-topping harmonica-driven hit “Fingertips,” it made history by reaching No.1 on the Billboard 200 in 1963.
It was Motown’s first live album to top the charts, and it cemented Stevie as a prodigy to watch. Short and punchy with youthful energy, it still holds up today.
2. “Beach Boys Concert” – The Beach Boys
Genre: Surf Rock | Duration: 32:07
Released in 1964, this live recording from the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento captured the band’s surf-rock charm at its peak. “Beach Boys Concert” became the first live rock album to hit No.1 on the Billboard 200.
Packed with early hits like “Fun, Fun, Fun” and “I Get Around,” the album rode the wave of the band’s growing national fame. It stayed on the charts for over a year – proof that surf-rock was meant for screaming crowds.
3. “TCB” – Diana Ross & the Supremes with The Temptations
Genre: Pop, Soul | Duration: 41:00
“TCB” (Taking Care of Business) was more than just a concert, it was a Motown television special turned live album, recorded in 1968 at NBC Studios in Burbank. The combination of The Supremes and The Temptations was electric, and the chemistry between them helped the album top the Billboard 200 chart that same year.
It featured covers, medleys, and signature hits, blending soul with theatrical flair. This was the last No.1 for the Supremes before Diana Ross went solo.
4. “4 Way Street” – Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Genre: Folk Rock | Duration: 85:59
This double LP was recorded during the group’s fiery 1970 tour with performances from New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The blend of acoustic intimacy and electric tension gave “4 Way Street” a raw, emotional core that resonated deeply.
It reached No.1 in 1971, fueled by the band’s ongoing success and political edge. The record stands as a defining moment in the folk-rock movement of the early 1970s.
5. “Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite” – Elvis Presley
Genre: Rock, Pop | Duration: 62:48
Recorded live at the Honolulu International Center in 1973, this was the first concert broadcast globally via satellite and was watched by over 1.5 billion viewers. The album, released shortly after, topped the US Billboard 200 chart that year.
With Elvis Presley in peak form, the performance included hits, covers, and heartfelt ballads. “Aloha from Hawaii” reinforced the King’s international appeal and rock ‘n roll dominance.
6. “Frampton Comes Alive!” – Peter Frampton
Genre: Rock | Duration: 78:06
This iconic double LP captured the British guitarist during his 1975 tour, with recordings from San Francisco’s Winterland and other U.S. venues. Released in 1976, the live album spent 10 weeks at No.1 on the Billboard 200.
Tracks like “Show Me the Way” and “Baby, I Love Your Way” became FM radio staples. And with over 11 million copies sold worldwide, it’s also one of the best-selling albums of all time.
7. “Wings over America” – Wings
Genre: Rock | Duration: 115:33
Recorded across several dates on Wings’ 1976 US tour, this triple LP featured Paul McCartney revisiting Beatles tunes live for the first time.
Released later that year, it quickly reached No.1 on the Billboard 200. Fans loved the mix of Wings hits and Beatles classics like “Yesterday” and “Blackbird.” It was a tour that proved that Paul could do it without the Fab Four.
8. “Barry Manilow Live” – Barry Manilow
Genre: Pop, Easy Listening | Duration: 71:34
This album showcased Manilow’s Broadway-style showmanship. The album was recorded at the Uris Theatre in New York City in 1977, and It also reached No.1 on the Billboard 200 that year.
Featuring “Weekend in New England”, “Mandy”, and an audience singalong of “Can’t Smile Without You,” it’s an intimate and fun document of his early live success.
9. “Live and More” – Donna Summer
Genre: Disco, Soul | Duration: 77:35
Released in 1978, this double album featured one live disc recorded at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles and one studio side. It topped the Billboard 200 thanks to Donna’s electrifying performances and the Billboard Hot 100 Top 3 hits “MacArthur Park”, “Love to Love You Baby”, “The Way We Were”, and “Last Dance”.
The album captured disco at its peak and Summer at her best. It helped solidify her title as the Queen of Disco.
10. “Live 1975–85” – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band
Genre: Rock | Duration: 216:13
This massive five-LP set pulled from over a decade of performances across multiple U.S. venues was released in 1986. It debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 and gave fans a sweeping retrospective of Springsteen’s legendary live shows.
From “Born to Run” to “The River,” and “Nebraska”, it’s packed with heartland rock at its finest. Even at over three hours, it never drags.
This live masterpiece also features on our Top 10 Longest No.1 Albums list.
11. “Pulse” – Pink Floyd
Genre: Progressive Rock | Duration: 147:59
Recorded during the band’s 1994 “Division Bell” tour, mostly in Europe and the UK, “Pulse” featured a full live performance of the band’s best-selling album – “The Dark Side of the Moon”.
The live album hit No.1 on the Billboard 200 the same year it was released, 1995. The album is celebrated for its stunning sound quality and atmosphere, and it features the best rendition of “Comfortably Numb“ that you’ll ever hear.
Read: 15 Fun Facts About Pink Floyd You Didn’t Know
12. “From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah” – Nirvana
Genre: Grunge | Duration: 53:55
Compiled from performances between 1989 and 1994, this raw and aggressive live album showed why Nirvana are considered Grunge pioneers.
It was the band’s second posthumous release following Kurt Cobain’s death and contrasted their more subdued MTV Unplugged. The live album topped the Billboard 200 in 1996 and its a must-listen for fans who prefer their early loud and heavy music.
13. “Double Live” – Garth Brooks
Genre: Country | Duration: 47:08
Recorded at various U.S. venues during Garth Brooks’ massive 1996–98 world tour, “Double Live” captured the stadium-sized energy of modern country music.
Released in 1998, it debuted at No.1 and became the best-selling live album in US history (23x Platinum). Featuring fan favorites like “Friends in Low Places,” it’s a high-energy LP from start to finish. Brooks proved country could rock arenas just like pop or rock stars.
14. “How the West Was Won” – Led Zeppelin
Genre: Hard Rock, Blues Rock, Folk Rock | Duration: 150:27
This triple album wasn’t released until 2003 although it features performances from two 1972 California shows in Los Angeles and Long Beach.
It topped the Billboard 200 that year, satisfying decades of fan anticipation. With extended jams of “Dazed and Confused” and “Whole Lotta Love,” it captures Led Zeppelin at their peak. A true reminder not only of their stage dominance, but also of their unparalleled live energy and uniqueness.
Read: 10 Interesting Facts About Led Zeppelin
15. “Unplugged” – Alicia Keys
Genre: R&B | Duration: 72:22
Recorded live at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2005 as part of MTV’s Unplugged series, this intimate performance showed Alicia Keys’ range and charisma. The album debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart which is a rare feat for an Unplugged release.
The LP featured hits like “Fallin’”, “If I Ain’t Got You”, and “You Don’t Know My Name” with simplified arrangements. Alicia‘s blend of soul, classical piano, and R&B truly shines here.
16. “Live on the Inside” – Sugarland
Genre: Country | Duration: 44:20
This CD/DVD combo is packed with twangy sound and features a mix of live tracks and behind-the-scenes footage from Sugarland’s 2009 tour, primarily filmed at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The live album debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, showing the duo’s strong fan base.
They mixed country anthems with pop and rock covers, giving it crossover appeal. The LP perfectly captures not only their mid-2000s rise, but also the spirit of that era.
17. “Hope for Haiti Now” – Various Artists
Genre: Multi-genre | Duration: 78:29
This benefit album was recorded during the 2010 telethon for Haiti earthquake relief, featuring artists like Beyoncé, U2, Madonna, Coldplay, Rihanna Sting, Shakira and Jay-Z among others.
It became the first digital-only album to debut at No.1 on the Billboard 200. It was more than just a charity live album, it was a unifying cultural moment.
18. “Live in No Shoes Nation” – Kenny Chesney
Genre: Country | Duration: 129:10
Spanning over a decade of stadium and beach party shows, this 2017 double live album featured guest spots from Taylor Swift, Dave Matthews, and other country icons. It debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, further cementing Chesney’s status as a live show heavyweight.
From Gillette Stadium to Red Rocks, it captures Kenny‘s bond with his fans a.k.a. the “No Shoes Nation.” It’s both a party and a greatest-hits set rolled into one.
Final Thoughts
These LPs are time machines – from Motown to metal, country to grunge, Elvis’ hip shakes to Springsteen’s crowd chants, these 18 live albums that topped the Billboard 200 prove that live music has a charm and energy that studio recordings can never match.
Whether it’s the historic significance of Stevie Wonder’s breakout or the sheer energy of Garth Brooks’ stadium shows, each record on this list captures lightning in a bottle.
If you’re tired of overproduced tracks and want something real, these albums are the perfect place to start. Press play, close your eyes, and pretend you’re there.