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Walking to work this morning and 'Fear of the Dark' by Iron Maiden live in Brazil came on and I got to thinking that it is way better than the studio version (because of the energy of the crowd noise I think).
What's yours?
Thunder Road Live at Hammersmith
But then, AC/DC live should always trump the studio version.
King Crimson - Larks' Tongues In Aspic Pt II live in Mexico City from the AzteKc THRAK 2 disc in the 12 disc Thrak box set.
🙂
100 Mile High City by Ocean Colour Scene. They did a best of with a live side 2 and this track was the standout - better than the original.
Flame away
I think all of Queen's song are better live.
Stand out show was Live Aid
I find most live recordings better than studio, much more raw and real. Not talking the rubbish auto tuned pop stuff from today, but rock, punk & ska.
Pretty much ant Townes Van Zandt or Guy Clark song
Don't talk to me about Live Aid - I so wanted to go but my work (part time in a chip shop) wouldn't give me the day off to go. Why I didn't just tell them to do one and go I will never know - a truly once in a lifetime experience. Still - I did manage to see them (with Status Quo supporting) at Maine Road the following year which was amazing.
And Thunderstruck - 100% agree with that choice (which would have been number two on my list). Let There Be Rock (early days with Bon Scott live at Paris) comes in at number three for me 🙂
Everything Reel Big Fish have ever done.
Frank Turner's 'The ballad of me and my friends'.
Magic Bus from The Who Live at Leeds, actually there are probably other songs on that recording that would qualify.
Pretty much any song live is better than the studio version as long as the artist is half decent, the rawness and limited production influences just add to the experience. Live music rules.
Radiohead - Paranoid Android was better live at Glastonbury than the studio version. I think it was the live version making the classical/Spanish guitar much more prominent
All the Cream stuff, Rory Gallagher, Steve Marriott, Richard Thompson etc etc.
There's a reason why all the samples that get used of Marlena Shaw's Woman of the Ghetto are from the Live at Montreux rather than original studio recording:
the whole of this album, by My Morning Jacket
and this version of Numbers by Radiohead
Also, pretty much any Jane's Addiction song that was on the "Nothing Shocking" album.
Radiohead, Fake Plastic Trees. Glastonbury 2003. Truly spine tingling moment in music.
Pretty much ant Townes Van Zandt or Guy Clark
or Steve Earle
song
Best version of Kashmir IMOis the full eqyptian orchestra one on 'no quarter' album. Awesome. With the late Michael Lee on drums
Any studio recordings where production is thin - all of the songs on thin lizzys live and dangerous live album were better, especially still in love with you
Also, dream brother on mystery white boy by Jeff Buckley is a monster
Also , Stay on the Bowie at Glastonbury 2000 is immense
You need to play this loud..
No Ordinary Love - Sade
Good call edlong.
U2’s “bad” at live aid springs to mind.
I'm relatively recent on coming over to Springsteen, used to think he was just music for all american boys. How wrong was I - and that Thunder Road up there is hairs on back of neck good.
Going to california by Led Zeppelin. There's a slightly different inflection at the end of one line on the live versions that's much better than on the recorded versions!
I’m relatively recent on coming over to Springsteen, used to think he was just music for all american boys. How wrong was I
I have a friend who refuses to believe that Springsteen is anything other then a tub-thumping 'Merican good-old-boy, based solely on the chorus of 'Born the USA'.
and +1 on Magic Bus from Live at Leeds. I'd also add A quick one while he's away from the same album.
I have a friend who refuses to believe that Springsteen is anything other then a tub-thumping ‘Merican good-old-boy, based solely on the chorus of ‘Born the USA’.
Has he not heard the verses??
Magic Bus from The Who Live at Leeds, actually there are probably other songs on that recording that would qualify.
Agreed. See also Free Live and Wishbone Ash "Live Dates". Oh honourable mention for the live disc of Pink Floyd's Ummagumma. Far better than the studio performances and for me still the "real" Floyd.
Some bands are just brilliant live and some are just a bit meh.
Nivarna, unplugged in New York.
Amazing album, and one of a series by MTV Unplugged which were pretty pretty good.
As ever, too many to have a favourite. Today, John it's 'Is This The Life' by Cardiacs. 'Holy ****' is all I can say about this musical monument.
Pretty much ant Townes Van Zandt or Guy Clark
or Steve Earle
Steve Earle dies have some good studio stuff, as does Clark tbf. But apart from a few bits and bobs anything Townes recorded in a studio is shit. Its said he didnt really care so let producers do what they like
Malvern Rider - Yes I agree that is better than anything else
ever
Radiohead - Like Spinning Plates from the I Might Be Wrong live recordings, unbelievable piece of music!
I’m relatively recent on coming over to Springsteen, used to think he was just music for all american boys. How wrong was I – and that Thunder Road up there is hairs on back of neck good.
+1
Another Springsteen song being given a very different treatment than the studio version
MalvernRider - bloody good call! Personally I think this one. Miles better than the studio version:
the Ramones, all of them, well all of them on it's alive
play it loud
Whilst we are having a Cardiacs love in I think Big Ship is the best version on that Maresnest video. This is also a stonking version of Jibber and Twitch for their rehearsal before playing old songs at the Garage in London quite a few years ago.
all of the songs on thin lizzys live and dangerous live album were better, especially still in love with you
Oh yes! first album I ever bought ..... how far back!?!!
Ramones?! The worst headline band I ever saw live - they were so stoned they could barely play, out of tune - mind you it was 6 years after the video.
SAHB 1974 Framed, you may have to be over 50 and from north of the border to remember Alex, what a performer and died a wee bit early
Ah Alex Harvey OF COURSE!!!
NEXT.
Ramones?!
yep the ramones, It's Alive no 28 in Rollings Stones 50 greatest live albums and No 9 in the NME list, Hey ho
+1 @fingerbang and ‘sup @moe 😁
In respect of Thin Lizzy, Live and Dangerous is an awesome double album, for me stand out track is Emerald 😎
Loads on YouTube. A few that spring to mind
Portishead in Roseland NYC
Roni Size and Represent doing Brown Paper Bag on Jules Holland
The Verve doing Life's an Ocean again on Jules.
Radiohead The Numbers done on the last page
Yes you're right. Life's an ocean by verve on jools holland is for me the definitive version. The studio version sounds flat and the drums sound crap, whereas the live version is a tour de force. McCabe is making crazy sounds and it's one of Pete Salisbury's best ever drum grooves
First post from an extreme lurker here, but for anyone interested in live Verve stuff, check out the gig at Camden town hall in '92, on youtube, what a band! Oh yeah and the voyager 1 live recording, out of this world.
Just watched Jibber and Twitch. That is astonishing. A mate of mine sort of vaguely mentioned the Cardiacs to me some time ago and I watched a few things on Youtube and thought they were pretty good, but blimey! I must seek out some more.
I cannot think of any live albums that are better than the studio versions to be honest. I mean, if you were there man, maybe they'd mean something.. Usually though, nah. Hate live albums.
The exception though, and what I came to say was...
the Ramones, all of them, well all of them on it’s alive
Gabba gabba we accept you, we accept you one of us.
Storming. The whole thing.
King Crimson – Larks’ Tongues In Aspic Pt II live in Mexico City from the AzteKc THRAK 2 disc in the 12 disc Thrak box set.
Now that’s just showing off! 😉 Still, anything recorded recently by Crimson is a universe away from Earthbound, even the remastered version.
And that’s a marginal improvement, I have the original vinyl as well as the latest reissue - sucker for punishment, me!
Another vote for Thin Lizzy " Live And Dangerous " ..
Saw them on The Vagabonds of The Western World Tour ..and got a signed poster ..Eric Bell was on lead guitar then ..
God knows where that poster ended up ..
Saw them in diluted form again in 2006..supporting Deep Purple ..whose " Live in Japan " album is another good shout ..
Not really a song but the set changed my view of Frank Black, thought him to be a bit of a knob (still do) but you got to respect the delivery of some of the songs.
Pink Floyd - Delicate Sound of Thunder, just in case I’ve missed an earlier nomination. I’ve generally preferred their live versions over and above their studio recordings. To select one particular track would be too limiting for me.
Just watched Jibber and Twitch
There has been a few more of that session made available on youtube in recent years. 'As Cold As Can Be In An English Sea' is notably brilliant I think.
Cream Live at the Fillmore
Chime by Orbital is another one. Famously their tape deck was running fast when they recorded it, resulting in it being slow when it was played anywhere else. Whenever they play it live it is faster than the album version. The faster 'live' version appears in their Glastonbury live compilation album. It has the crowd dancing.
There has been a few more of that session made available on youtube in recent years. ‘As Cold As Can Be In An English Sea’ is notably brilliant I think.
Yes I stayed up late and watched a few more. I'm left wondering if they were genuinely in a "rotten shed". I had to take my phones off to check if it was raining there or here. Oh and where is that ****ing dog?
Live is always best . You can see the effort and skill that goes on and also there is no way to cover up mistakes or if you just aren't very good . This for me is as good as it gets .
The Specials - Too Much Too Young. Studio version is plodding by comparison.
One live album that amazes me is simple minds live in the city of light.
Old of course but, their studio sound is so flat and lifeless in comparison.
Depeche Mode 101 album is also great, although I like their studio stuff too.
Peter Frampton, Baby I Love Your Way - the live version is the only version you ever really hear. Don't think I've ever heard a studio version...
Obvious and I've posted it before but..............
Just to correct a slight mistake made earlier ..the Deep Purple album I was referring to was Made In Japan ..although I think there is a bootleg version called "Live In Japan "..thanks !
Don't know if this has been put forward yet .." Live Rust " Neil Young & Crazy Horse ..an open air gig playing through a thunder storm ..nuts !!
I’m sure Woppit won’t be too upset when I say that The Sound studio albums lacked something in production.
Live in the Hothouse though gives all the songs an extra dimension. So much more depth ,width and everything really. This song was played nonstop when I was younger , dumped and wallowing in a pit of self pity.
Anybody mentioned Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense?
hodgynd
Member
Another vote for Thin Lizzy ” Live And Dangerous ” ..
I love that album. I was very jealous of an Irish housemate years ago, when I found out that he had been in the audience.
Member
Just to correct a slight mistake made earlier ..the Deep Purple album I was referring to was Made In Japan ..although I think there is a bootleg version called “Live In Japan “..thanks !
I seem to remember buying a tape of Live in Japan which was from their 1984 reunion tour. (If you listen carefully you can hear them swearing at each other.) I may be wrong about the title though. I watched a Sky Arts thing about the tour where the interviewer asks the band if they are getting too old for touring. They were 40ish at the time! 😀
A perfect illustration of how good her voice was when she's wasn't spouting no filter nonsense. On form, she can communicate through song like no-one else. There's an energy and rawness to this that the album version can't get near. The rest of The Year Of The Horse live DVD is just as good.
stoked to see Thin Lizzy's L&D getting a shout several times. Absolutely stonking. Also of note is their '75 Live in Derby concert - For Those Who love to Live is on another planet.
Re Queen, Their Montreal 1981 show is peerless- yes, better than their post Live Aid Wembley 1986 reprise which frankly was too long (Big Spender and rock and roll medley ffs) and I say that as an enormous Queen Fan.. Tie Your Mother Down is always breathtaking.
Whole lot of Rosie on If You Want Blood You Got it...
Phil Collins has a million outstanding live efforts too that match or better his studio work. His live Aid set actually is particularly impressive and moving.
Another one ( at the risk of being ridiculed).. Commodores Live..around about 1977 I think..recorded in Atlanta
I've never been a fan of Lionel Ritchie's solo work ..but that band were terrific live and I was lucky enough to see them at Newcastle City Hall on that world tour ..one big party from start to finish ...
U2 - "Please" Live in Mexico City, spine tingling once Edge really gets going...
I’m happy 😃Lizzy fans 👍 Nightlife and Fighting were piss poor studio albums.
Live in Germany and Birmingham, makes them awesome, prior to jailbreak and fame.