Live tracks that are better than the studio version

[Johnnytheboy]

In line with other recent music comparison threads, can anyone think of any tracks that they have live versions of that are better than the studio originals?

IMHO most music recorded live sounds a lot worse than the studio tracks, but there are exceptions.

As ever mine will have a fairly rock/metal slant.

Slayer - Hell Awaits off the 'Decade of Aggression' album, in fact anything on there off their pre-'Reign in Blood' studio material.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg_xG15KJRU

MC5 - 'Kick out the Jams'. The whole set is better than any of their studio stuff. Best track probably Rocket Reducer #62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WDCWbK-_-w

Motorhead - Bomber and Motorhead off 'No Sleep 'til Hammersmith'. And probably We Are the Road Crew.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyE8yjZvg-U&fea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7PgsnQvOWM (random live recording as I can't find the 'No Sleep...' version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8utegByWGA

Masters of Reality - Tilt-a-Whirl/Swingeroo Joe off 'How High the Moon'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7PgsnQvOWM

This is worth a listen if you're not familiar with the band. Halfway through the song it just turns into a whole different song. In fact the whole live album's full of little tricks (they are that kind of band), e.g. one song kicks off with the right lyrics but to one of their other tunes, just for the hell of it.

[mrtwisty]

Pennyroyal Tea from the 'Unplugged' album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h2a7N2zJfY&fea...

[AlleyCat]

Bob Marley - No Woman No Cry

the live version is awesome!

[Joyrider1]

I actually prefer to listen to live versions than studio (at least when the recorded version is good quality, can't stand bootlegs)

A few favourites of mine:

Fingers of Love - Crowded House (particularly when they get into the guitar solos)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siOKxJhC_J8

Yahweh - U2 (acoustic version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkEQS5SJZPU

and I couldn't post something in the Music forum without mentioning Archive so today I will go with Finding It So Hard (basically IMO all of their stuff live is on another level compared to the studio stuff, and this one builds up and up and from 5mins in is totally awesome):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlNhb7v3LLA&fea...

[blueb8]

This version of Stairway, makes the studio version sound crap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q7Vr3yQYWQ

[jas xjr]

Charlotte sometimes by the cure. I heard the live version first and the preferred it to the studio one

[goldblum]

Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick - 1972

http://youtu.be/toHlMD50eYY

[MagicalTrevor]

Joyrider1 said:

I actually prefer to listen to live versions than studio (at least when the recorded version is good quality, can't stand bootlegs)

A few favourites of mine:

Fingers of Love - Crowded House (particularly when they get into the guitar solos)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siOKxJhC_J8

Yahweh - U2 (acoustic version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkEQS5SJZPU

and I couldn't post something in the Music forum without mentioning Archive so today I will go with Finding It So Hard (basically IMO all of their stuff live is on another level compared to the studio stuff, and this one builds up and up and from 5mins in is totally awesome):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlNhb7v3LLA&fea...

Excellent choices there, especially Yahweh

[The Hypno-Toad]

Burning Down The House - Talking Heads
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnKYO7jiW2k&fea...

Gonna Be A Beautiful Night - Prince
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbuMm-wSYrY

[vit4]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xYgJz1gxOY

Stereophonics - Dakota

The "Live From Dakota" album is probably my favourite live album ever. Such a good live band.

[craigb84]

For me....pretty much every single Muse song. They are simply epic live.

[Mojooo]

Springsteen and U2 are 2 of my fave live acts and many if not most of their live recordings can be the studio recordings.

Springsteens Darkness of the Edge of Town album is pretty much bettered in every form on the live tour supporting the album.


Prove it all night

studio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DXlOHUSnAw&fea...

live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3vUKBOJ5sU

[zax]

Crooked Still - Come on in my kitchen. Walks all over the album version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB1ZGels-dY

[offspring86]

I'm at work so can't provide YouTube links.

Metallica - S&M
I have always preferred Metallica's live sound over their studio sound. Their live performances went downhill a bit around the St Anger period, but having seen them at Sonisphere this year they seem to be back to their best.

Eg: Listen to the studio version of Master of Puppets and then the S&M (or other live versions) performance.


Dave Matthews Band
I group who I believe are one of the best bands ever. Phenomenal writing ability and extremely talented. Their albums are good, but live they are a completely different league.

Eg: Listen to the studio version of Ants Marching and then the Central Park version.

[marcgti6]

jas xjr said:

Charlotte sometimes by the cure. I heard the live version first and the preferred it to the studio one

I agree. I also think that the acoustic version of 'Lullaby' sounds much better than the studio version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAxpMt8Qa00

[DanoS4]

Jamiroquai - Love Foolosophy performed/recorded at Abbey Road for Channel 4.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY0TJJ7PNl8

[Hawmaws]

craigb84 said:

For me....pretty much every single Muse song. They are simply epic live.

I agree. I struggle to listen to their albums. But they are probably the best live band I've ever seen. I think it's because their songs are actually fairly simple, but the playing/showmanship of Mr Bellamy is actually different class.

[Stu R]

Hotel California - the acoustic version is ace with the trumpets etc at the beginning, and of course the original.

[V100]

Stu R said:

Hotel California - the acoustic version is ace with the trumpets etc at the beginning, and of course the original.

Good call.

[paulmurr]

Anything Cheap Trick did live was better than their studio stuff. "Surrender" live at Budokan is just awesome.