Thanks, Dave.  It's amazing how I'm drawn to live albums more than studio projects.  
 
I've always wondered (and all of us who played in bands will know this vibe) why bands didn't record like this:  Get an album's worth of tunes, play them on the road till they get to just that moment where they just flow, then drop in and record them in nothing flat while they're hot and fresh and jumpin'.
 
I suppose it's because this only works on the way up:  Once you've all made money, take months off, have families, you're no longer breathing each other's air 24/7 . . . OK, I answered my own question.  But if I was in that position, you could always do the 2 week club stint and work 'em up.
 
J o e y

That's how Miles always liked to make records. Obviously there were some exceptions, like when when he made three records in one day for prestige.

Here's a must have in the category Rock n' Roll movies (documentaries)  
 
This is Spinal Tap
 
Why didn't I mention this one earlier... Shame on me!

Speaking of live performances ... Gentle Giant has a live DVD from the deep dark 70s. (I actually saw them play live twice in Boston in the 70s.) It's amazing how tight the band is live!
And I just got a live DVD of Chick Corea and the Electric Band from 2004. MY GOD ... outstanding! John Patatuchi (probably spelt his last name wrong)has his own Yamaha 6 string signature model bass ... the man is a modern god on the instrument! Of course it would be nice to see him play an Alembic 6 string bass BUTTTT I'm sure his Yamaha is top shelf! And he'd sound awesome playing a $300 Ibanez! I highly recommend looking into his work and the Electric Band if you're in search of some mind blowing bass playing!

Raymond,
I second both of your suggestions, I love the Gentle Giant (got the DVD and the live CD - Playing The Fool, plus a couple of their reissued studio efforts (it's their 35 anniversary reissue). I got Chick and the Electric Band at Montreaux and it's phenominal. Chick gets the whole audience singing along (call and response) on Spain and some others - he really has fun with it.
Mike

for those miles davis fans
check out the 2 dvd set from montreux