# Songs where the live version is sooo much better than the studio version **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434 "2013-02-15T20:54:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/1 "2013-02-15T20:54:46Z")
Just about everything Genesis has done was better live, but _Carpet Crawlers_ and _Cinema Show_ off the **Seconds Out** album make the studio versions disappointing. Same with Todd Rundgren. _The Last Ride_ off **Back to the Bars** is magnificent. The studio version…not so much. Paul McCartney and Wings _Maybe I’m Amazed_ live version also. Any more? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/2 "2013-02-15T21:09:57Z")
Barenaked Ladies - [Life in a Nutshell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGCVUS1AbYk) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/3 "2013-02-15T21:25:29Z")
Does an _Unplugged_ version count as live? If so, “Layla”. Sooo much better than the original. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/4 "2013-02-15T21:25:45Z")
Talking Heads, “Girlfriend is Better”. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/5 "2013-02-15T21:57:54Z")
Benny & the Jets! (just kidding) ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/6 "2013-02-15T22:08:21Z")
“Surrender” and “I Want You to Want Me,” by Cheap Trick ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/7 "2013-02-15T22:12:57Z")
I’m a huge Robin Trower fan and I gotta say every song on the 1976 _Live_ album is sooo much better than the studio version. ---
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/8 "2013-02-15T22:13:52Z")
Sheryl Crow’s “Safe and Sound” from the America, Tribute to whatever 9/11 thing. So much better than the version from her album. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/9 "2013-02-15T22:59:12Z")
I prefer **Pink Floyd’s** Live at Pompeii versions much more than their studio versions, especially _Echoes_. ---
**Author:** ![Rain\_Soaked](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@Rain\_Soaked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rain_Soaked)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/10 "2013-02-15T23:10:28Z")
Dire Straits “Telegraph Road” live version is much better than the studio album. Knopfler agrees. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/11 "2013-02-15T23:12:12Z")
Anything and everything by\*\* [James Brown](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2nybY647F0)\*\*! His studio cuts are outstanding but his live performances were fucking magnificent! Make them little white girls scream! The link is probably one of the best performances in music history! Wait for Please Please Please. (Uh-oh. I’m afraid I’m starting to sound like that James Otto Sweetheart girl, but man oh man, nobody could work an audience like JB.) ---
**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:** [February 15, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/12 "2013-02-15T23:13:18Z")
The J. Geils Band took years to be as exciting in the studio as they were live. Their album **Full House** was better in all respects to the albums that came before it, even though it had most of the same songs. Elton John’s “Funeral of a Friend” is terrific live, and deadly in the studio version. John’s live version of his early work, **11/17/70** , is also far better than the recorded ones. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/13 "2013-02-15T23:15:50Z")
Talking Heads - “Burning Down the House” Jimmy Buffett - “One Particular Harbor” Bruce Springsteen - Just about anything. Watch “Live In New York City” and see what happens to songs like “Prove It All Night” and “Murder Incorporated.” ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/14 "2013-02-15T23:22:58Z")
free bird ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/15 "2013-02-15T23:36:52Z")
Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?-- The Ceamps Bela Lugosi’s Dead-- Bauhaus ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/16 "2013-02-15T23:43:08Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Talking Heads - “Burning Down the House” What I came here to say. So I’ll add…Rolling Stones, Midnight Rambler. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/17 "2013-02-16T00:22:38Z")
just about any band that was a jam band did better live. many of these got lots of feedback from the audience which helped the band get on fire. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/18 "2013-02-16T00:23:54Z")
There’s a reason that “Legend” contains a live version of _No Woman No Cry_, rather than using the version from “Natty Dread”. > [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Same with Todd Rundgren. _The Last Ride_ off **Back to the Bars** is magnificent. The studio version…not so much. I haven’t heard the live version, but _Last Ride_ was my favorite song on “Todd”, so it might not be magnificent but it wasn’t a toss-off. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/19 "2013-02-16T00:27:36Z")
“Jane Says” Jane’s Addiction ---
**Author:** ![sir\_viks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@sir\_viks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sir_viks)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434/20 "2013-02-16T00:35:04Z")
I always thought Yes’ “Perpetual Change” was way better live than the studio version off “The Yes Album”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-live-version-is-sooo-much-better-than-the-studio-version/650434.md?page=2)