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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.