Title says it all.
I realized today that I listen to at least 50% live work. Not nearly a conscious choice. I frequently enjoy live cuts much more than studio cuts of the same song. Many performers or bands are all about variations and flexing the muscles of their songs.
Do you listen to live recorded tracks? How much of what you’re listening to on a regular basis ( cell phone, portable media, iPod, etc ) is live opposed to studio and why?
Figured I’d put up the first poll reply - 60% for me.
I’ll play.
While I have a lot of live recordings, I don’t really listen to them that much. When I do listen to them, it’s usually because of one specific song that has an unusual solo, or because the mix of songs (yes, I’m an older guy who doesn’t use playlists that much) is a good one. In some cases, I listen because I was at that particular performance or at a similar one on the tour.
Overall, it’s hard to get the same sound quality from a live performance. I miss the overdubbed parts that often don’t make it through to a live performance and I don’t get a big rush from simply knowing that the performer is “pulling it off” live on stage.
Significantly less than 20% of what I just listen to is live recordings, but I do like watching live performances on YouTube.
I said 20% because it was the lowest. I think it’s less than that. I don’t own any recordings anymore, and listen to live stream (Pandora) or SiriusXM.
Yeah, in general (with some exceptions), live recordings offer the “worst of both worlds” between studio recordings and attending a live performance, IMHO.
I will say it has improved dramatically since the early days of my collection (1970s) The live performance albums had so much crowd noise it was hard to enjoy the music.
I went 20 but the reality is more like 5% of what I own and 10-12% of what I listen to. Some depends on the group/performer and there are albums that are mixed live/studio pressings especially in some of the “best of” types.
Probably about 8% overall. About 60% of the jazz, maybe 25% of the “classical,” but just 5% of the rock, pop, “world,” folk, etc.
Almost none, maybe 1% or 2%. Way too low to round up to 20%, so I didn’t answer the poll.
Off to Cafe Society
You do know “live recordings” are edited?
They take pieces of songs from various shows. It’s not uncommon to add in tracks recorded in the studio.
The audience is real and their reaction adds to the enjoyment of the recording.
My favorite live album is Bob Seger Live Bullet. One of the greatest live Rock N Roll albums ever made.
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison
Monterey Pop Festival
are on my mp3 player
Same with me.
20% is too high but still the lowest option available.
Why is zero not an option? i imagine that would be the most likely choice for most people. Anyways, zero.
Almost none, well-below 20%
With the exception of the Kinks and some of the more highly-produced megabands, most of the live tracks put out by the bands I prefer to listen to are really poor recording quality. I do enjoy watching the bands perform live just to get a feel for how they interacted with the audience and each other, but for listening pleasure or background noise I prefer studio. A singular exception is The Cramps. My god their live performances were amazing in every way.
I’m not a huge fan of jazz, but given its spontaneity it seems like it would be hard to listen to studio performances where the musicians aren’t able to respond to the audience. Similarly, it doesn’t get much better than a good blues man hamming it up for the crowd.
Sounds about right.
For straight listening, maybe 2% or so. If YouTube/Vevo/Cello is included, then it’s around 90%.
This may help the discussion.
I have several of these in my collection. Maybe 15? I plan to add a few more.
You’ve probably heard these live albums years ago.
Rolling Stone ranks the 50 best live albums ever
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-greatest-live-albums-of-all-time-20150429
I’m not sure I can answer this poll, but almost 0% With a few major exceptions (Cheap Trick Live at Budakan), I just do not like live recordings.