# where the live version replaces the studio album... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590 "2009-02-12T20:52:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/1 "2009-02-12T20:52:18Z")
Just heard for the first time the album version of Bob Seger’s Katmandu. I say for the first time because this version almost never gets radio play. The only version I have ever heard is the Live Bullet album he recorded at a concert in Detroit. In fact, several of the tracks from that concert are that way… the live version’s pretty much the only one you hear these days, the studio cuts are practically rare. This, to me anyway, seems the reverse of the normal… where a studio track has all sorts of glossing up and the live track is “just” the guy/gal singing. But with Bob Seger’s blue-collar sound, you’re not going to add a lot in studio and I guess the energy of the live crowd actually helps. Any other examples of artists where, for a lot of their songs, the only version you’ll hear of several songs is from a concert? Peter Frampton comes to mind, Frampton Comes Alive. ---
**Author:** ![Wash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@Wash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wash)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/2 "2009-02-12T21:09:19Z")
I pretty sure I’ve only ever heard a live version of Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me”. I’m fairly sure there must be a studio version out there somewhere, but it certainly hasn’t ever turned up on any of the radio stations I’ve listened to, and some of them play that song way too often. It doesn’t seem to get a huge amount of radio play anymore in either form, but for a long time I only ever heard live versions of AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie” too. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/3 "2009-02-12T21:29:48Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > Any other examples of artists where, for a lot of their songs, the only version you’ll hear of several songs is from a concert? Peter Frampton comes to mind, Frampton Comes Alive. Do You Feel Like I Do is the song I came in to post. Only ever hear the live version. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/4 "2009-02-12T21:34:48Z")
I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever heard a studio version of No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley. I’m sure if it exists I have, but I don’t recall. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/5 "2009-02-12T21:34:53Z")
This isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, but the MTV Unplugged version of Nirvana’s “All Apologies” seems to get played about the same amount as the studio album version. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/6 "2009-02-12T23:42:50Z")
I don’t know if Johnny Cash did studio versions of a lot of his songs, like A Boy Named Sue and Folsom Prison Blues. I’ve only heard live versions and I’ve been listening to country my whole life. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/7 "2009-02-13T00:11:04Z")
It used to be the case with McCartney’s _Maybe I’m Amazed_, but I’ve been hearing the studio version more lately. Also, _Free Bird_ also used be that way, but I think I’ve been hearing the studio version more lately. And _Rock N Roll All Nite_… ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/8 "2009-02-13T00:15:34Z")
I prefer the live version of Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam over the studio version. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/9 "2009-02-13T01:36:45Z")
Would go with Cheap Trick, but got beat - so my backup is Social Distortuon’s Prison Bound off Live at the Roxy… Or better yet - UFO’s live version of Rock Bottom off Strangers in the Night - hell yeah. **An Arky** no love for UFO? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/10 "2009-02-13T01:58:34Z")
_Travelin’ Man/Beautiful Loser_ is another by **Bob Seger**. Seems like the radio usually plays **The Stones** _Midnight Rambler_ off **Get Your Yayas Out** , rather than from **Let it Bleed.** ---
**Author:** ![asrivkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9d8465/32.png) [@asrivkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asrivkin)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/11 "2009-02-13T03:06:33Z")
Bad by U2. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard the studio version on the radio, though admittedly the Wide Awake In America version has been somewhat scarce for the last 15 years on the radio also… ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/12 "2009-02-13T11:07:03Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Would go with Cheap Trick, but got beat - so my backup is Social Distortuon’s Prison Bound off Live at the Roxy… > > Or better yet - UFO’s live version of Rock Bottom off Strangers in the Night - hell yeah. > > **An Arky** no love for UFO? 😉 Love it…one of the best live albums evar…but did they get any radio play…can’t recall… _Only yew can rawk meh, rawk meh, come on back now, do it uhgayn…_ ---
**Author:** ![MichaelQReilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/13 "2009-02-13T15:23:16Z")
With some bands, say Dave Matthew or Phish, I’m pretty sure most people listen to the live albums almost exclusively. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/14 "2009-02-13T15:31:15Z")
U2’s _Sunday Bloody Sunday_. The live concert version from _Under A Blood Red Sky_ got tons of play on MTV when I was in junior high. I still can’t listen to the studio version without some part of my brain saying “wait a minute, that’s not the right song.” ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/15 "2009-02-13T15:32:28Z")
I hear a live version of “Hotel California” on the radio almost exclusively. Two songs by Garth Brooks, “Friends in Low Places” and “The Thunder Rolls,” have live versions with extra verses that get more plays than the studio versions. IIRC, until his Double Live album came out, these two were radio-exclusive. ---
**Author:** ![claregirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@claregirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/claregirl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/16 "2009-02-13T16:02:23Z")
Studio and unplugged Layla. They’re both genius. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/17 "2009-02-13T20:33:34Z")
That kind of happened with “Sweet Jane”. The original Velvet Underground studio version from “Loaded” is a classic, but the heavily reworked arena-rock version from Lou Reed’s live “Rock & Roll Animal” LP may get more play. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/18 "2009-02-13T20:40:50Z")
“Godzilla”, by Blue Oyster Cult. Live, it just \*rocks \*a little more. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/19 "2009-02-13T20:55:34Z")
“Burning Down the House” by Talking Heads. I don’t know if the live version (off Stop Making Sense) gets more airplay than the studio version, but it sure blows the studio version away. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590/20 "2009-02-13T21:01:33Z")
I just remembered two more . . . Janes Says by Jane’s Addiction and Mother by Danzig. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-live-version-replaces-the-studio-album/485590.md?page=2)