Classic Albums Live

Classic Albums Live is a concert series based in Toronto, Ontario, in which musicians perform a classic rock album in its entirety. The series was founded in 2003 by Craig Martin, a musician who had previously produced a series of boutique cabaret shows as well as composed music for television and film.

The musicians go to great lengths to faithfully recreate every sound on the original album. They have performed with orchestras, sitarists, choirs and schools. The shows are treated like recitals with the album being performed in its entirety followed by a 'greatest hits' set of the featured artist.

In recent years, the series has presented concerts in a variety of cities, including Orlando, Florida, Melbourne, Florida, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Akron, La Mirada, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Lakeland, Coral Springs, New York, New Jersey, Dallas, Houston, Uncasville, Connecticut, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Rochester, New York. On 17 December 2006, Classic Albums Live performed the entire 213-song Beatles song catalogue in one 13-hour concert at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto.

A different line-up performs each album. There is a group of core musicians who are frequently part of the performances, including Nick Hildyard, Rob Phillips, Lindsay Clark, Leslea Keurvorst, Troy Feener, Clifton David, Dom Polito,David Love, Doug Inglis and Marty Morin. Occasionally, more famous Canadian musicians are brought in as well, including Mia Sheard, Kim Bingham, Nicholas Walsh, and ex-members of Moist. In some venues, they will bring in local musicians to fill needed spots. For example, on 16 June 2006, the group performed the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando; they brought in the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra to fill in on the orchestral parts.

When performing in Toronto, they usually play at Massey Hall.^[1] The producer of Classic Albums Live has created a musical called Gig which will run in 2016.^[1]

List of albums performed:

• Classic Albums Live
• Infantry, Ashante (21 August 2008). "With all due respect to The Artist". Toronto Star. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
• Grant, Laura Jean (17 January 2009). "Classic Albums Live returning to Savoy Theatre". Cape Breton Post. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
• Classic Albums ... Live ... in Salisbury
• "He's the head of the Classics Albums Live". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
• "It's only rock 'n' roll 7". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015.
• Ghosts of dead rockers haunt Toronto concert halls
• "The Beatles: Abbey Road - live in Irvine". Archived from the original on 26 December 2016.
• "Nick Walsh from Classic Albums Live". Archived from the original on 29 July 2017.
• "Concert review: Classic albums live, the Beatles – Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016.
• Toronto celebrates 50th anniversary of Beatles concert with another concert
• Fleetwood Mac's Rumours to be recreated by hard-working musicians
• "Tri-Valley A&E: At Livermore gig, top-tier musicians promise true Beatles sound Friday". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
• Rumours of classic hit songs filling the Del Crary Park night air are true
• Classic rock albums relived on stage
• 'Classic Albums Live' to perform The Allman Brothers' greatest hits
• "Classic Albums brings Lizard King to London". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016.
• "Jimi Hendrix, note for note: Classic Albums Live performs 'Are You Experienced'". Archived from the original on 27 February 2016.
• "Rialto Square Theatre channels Pink Floyd". Archived from the original on 28 December 2017.
• "Classic Albums Live: A Canadian Success Story". Archived from the original on 29 July 2017.
• Classic Albums Live to play note-for-note version of Abbey Road
• Beau’s Shows: Classic Albums Live: CCR – Chronicle
• "Classic Albums Live bring the riffs to new home". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016.