# "Live" recordings that made the charts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 7, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670 "2008-11-07T17:52:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/21 "2008-11-07T20:27:35Z")
Johnny Cash’s live version of “Folsom Prison Blues” was the #1 country song of 1968. #32 pop. The whole album was #1 country, #13 pop. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/22 "2008-11-07T20:39:51Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Nope. Not a live recording. “Bennie and the Jets” was recorded in the studio. The whistles and applause came from some of Elton’s live concerts, but their placement in the song is studio effects. > > [Bennie and the Jets - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennie_and_the_Jets) Wow, I never knew. That’s pretty interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/23 "2008-11-07T22:02:07Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Was Lola recorded live? Not the original version obviously. They had a #1 hit in the Netherlands in 1980 with a live version of Lola, but it looks like that did not get to the charts in the States. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/24 "2008-11-07T22:52:28Z")
The live version of “Freebird” gets a lot of radio play. (Whence the cultural phenomenon of shouting “Freebird!” during a lull at any random concert.) ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/25 "2008-11-08T12:47:40Z")
Kinda close: The live version of _Rock And Roll All Nite_ by KISS made #12, and it’s the only version I ever hear on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/26 "2008-11-08T13:29:13Z")
Paul McCartney’s “Coming Up (Live in Glasgow)” made it to #1 back around 1980. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/27 "2008-11-08T13:34:08Z")
How could I forget- Cheap Trick was largely unknown until their “Live at Budokan” album, which yielded the live hit “I Want You to Want Me.” Larry Groce recorded his novelty hit “Junk Food Junkie” live in front of a small crowd. There was also Elvis Presley’s “The Wonder of You,” a big hit in the USA and a much bigger hit in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/28 "2008-11-08T19:44:16Z")
“The Blues Brothers” had five Top-40 hits from live albums: “Soul Man”, “Rubber Biscuit”, “Gimme Some Lovin’”, “Who’s Making Love”, and “Think/Peter Gunn”. Their live album, “Briefcase Full of Blues”, went to #1. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/29 "2008-11-08T23:36:22Z")
Bruce Springsteen’s [War](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_(Edwin_Starr_song)) was released from his live set. ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/30 "2008-11-09T03:35:07Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > How could I forget- Cheap Trick was largely unknown until their “Live at Budokan” album, which yielded the live hit “I Want You to Want Me.” Yup. See post #2 and #5. I came in to offer up this one. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/31 "2008-11-09T04:06:14Z")
Bob Seger **Turn the Page** ---
**Author:** ![phil417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@phil417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phil417)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/32 "2008-11-09T04:14:14Z")
How about Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” aka Night Shift. Love, Phil ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/33 "2008-11-09T13:23:54Z")
Joey Dee and the Starlighters - Peppermint Twist was #1 back in the early 60s and I believe it was recorded live at the Peppermint Lounge ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/34 "2008-11-12T17:21:21Z")
If we’re counting albums that charted, Allan Sherman recorded all of his live and _My Son, the Nut_ peaked at #1. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/35 "2008-11-12T17:32:43Z")
That would also include Bob Newhart’s “The Button Down Mind” and “The Button Down Mind Strikes Back!” Both reached #1 on the album charts. But the list of live albums that charted is a big one. The Who “Live at Leeds,” the Eagle’s “Hell Freezes Over,” the Rolling Stones, "Get Your Ya-Yas Out, " The Doors “Absolutely Live,” and just about every big name group who did a live album had something that hit the album top ten. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/36 "2008-11-12T18:03:10Z")
10,000 Maniacs’ version of “Because the Night” missed the Top 10 by one place. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/37 "2008-11-12T18:08:38Z")
I’m embarrassed to even know this, but John Denver’s _Thank God I’m a Country Boy_ was a live recording. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/38 "2008-11-13T03:47:35Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > That would also include Bob Newhart’s “The Button Down Mind” and “The Button Down Mind Strikes Back!” Both reached #1 on the album charts. Yeah, but he doesn’t sing. 😉 > [@](#): > > _But the list of live albums that charted is a big one. The Who “Live at Leeds,” the Eagle’s “Hell Freezes Over,” the Rolling Stones, "Get Your Ya-Yas Out, " The Doors “Absolutely Live,” and just about every big name group who did a live album had something that hit the album top ten._ They also likely released singles to help promote those albums. AFAICT, Mr. Sherman only had one single crack the top 100. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2008, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670/39 "2008-11-14T08:16:36Z")
The story behind Barry McGuire’s number one hit _Eve of Destruction_ is interesting. It was written by P.F. Sloan a songwriter singer and guitarist of the 60s. He played the guitar intro on _California Dreamin’_ and wrote \*You Baby \*, _Secret Agent Man_ and _Where Were You When I Needed You_ among others. He was friends with McGuire, best known as a sweet voiced folk singer with **New Christy Minstrels** and got him to do the vocal on a demo of the song. McGuire sang it reading the lyrics off a sheet of paper. McGuire’s phrasing was spotty, at at one point he interjected an “ahhh” where he momentarily couldn’t read the words. He offered to do another take but Sloan said not to bother they would fix it up later. Over the weekend someone from the studio leaked a cut of it to a radio DJ who began playing it. The fixed version was never recorded. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-recordings-that-made-the-charts/471670.md?page=1)