Some lame bands aren’t even worth going to see live–their live stuff sounds exactly like the studio version. What songs can you think of where the live version is just so much better than the studio version?
I nominate “I Go To Extremes” by Billy Joel. The original itself is pretty cool, but live, it’s awesome. He does a lot of variations on the basic melody of the vocals, Liberty changes some of the durm accents, and it seems like every time he plays it the jam part at the end gets more and more wild.
Hmmmm, virtually every song by Cowboy Mouth, The Red Elvises. and, well, vitually every band I’ve seen live that can remember their lyrics and who’s vocalist isn’t synthesised or touched up on the album.
D.E. Edwards plays this instrument called, I believe, the bandoneon, which creates a very rich, very low drone that’s thrilling and so ominous when you hear this song live. The instrument is all but lost in the mix when you hear the song recorded.
Lots of bands are better live. The early J. Geils Band, for instance was much better than their studio cuts. Luckly, they finally recorded a live album (Full House) that captured the act. Some really great live songs included “First I Look at the Purse” and “Whammer Jammer.”
I saw Pink Floyd do an incredible live version of “Careful With That Axe, Eugene” (yes, I know the one on Ummagumma was live, but this was even better).
I second Cowboy Mouth. I saw them live for the first time last Saturday, and they were the kickin’-est show I’ve seen in years!
My first thought, though, was “Everything Counts” by Depeche Mode. The effect of everyone in the audience singing that particular song is just a great live experience.
I used to have the old Blasphemous Rumours 12" that was backed with a live track called “Ice Machine”. I love that track live. Finally got a studio version and it’s utterly bland.
When I saw Ben Folds perform at a little club in November I was completely blown away. He performed songs from his solo album before playing a set of BF5 songs all by his lonesome, just him and his piano, and let me tell you, Evaporated was one of the most powerful things I’ve ever experienced. It’s amazing how such a little guy can emote so much. Also, when he brought the rest of his band back to finish the show with Song for the Dumped it was absolutely amazing. These songs are great anyway, but the sheer emotion of the live performances was incredible.
Almost any jazz, bluegrass, or reggae song qualified for me. Those genres were meant to be heard live, and any attempt to record them ends up missing something.
[ul]
[li]Sweet Jane & Heroin, The Lou Reed live versions from R&R Animal.[/li][li]I’m Going Home & At the Woodchoppers’ Ball, Ten Years After. I don’t know if there were studio versions of either.[/li][li]Godzilla & RU Ready 2 Rock, Blue Oyster Cult[/li][li]Reelin’ & Rockin’ (R-rated version) from Chuck Berry’s London Sessions {We boogied in the kitchen, we boogied in the hall, I got some on my finger so I wiped in on the wall}[/li][li]For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her, Simon & Garfunkel[/li][li]Workin’ For MCA, Skynyrd[/li]Aneurysm, Nirvana[/ul]