Live tracks that you prefer to the studio versions

[AdamDam]

Are there any live tracks that you enjoy listening to more so than the studio versions? If so, feel free to share! It would be great if you could also write why you think the live version of the song sounds better to you than the studio version.

Here are a few examples from my Spotify library, to start:

https://open.spotify.com/track/3PVLZhNOmeWCfbMsPoCRVg?si=Kc7Q87xhRlyXzcLbxqozxA

I think I prefer this live version of “Spanish Castle Magic” by Jimi Hendrix to the studio version of the song (from his 1967 album Axis: Bold as Love) because of the extended yet focused instrumental passage in the middle of the track. You can hear Hendrix improvising with the bass and drums in this part of the track, allowing the song to develop further than does the studio version.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3Ms6XKYtPe734prL3H3uSq?si=P3Y71bpKTcyPXwkrjPaZKQ

I think I prefer this live version of “Dawn” by Elephant Tree to the studio version (from their self-titled 2016 album) for a couple of reasons. One is that the vocals sound a bit more distant here than on the studio version of the song, and I think they don’t distract me as much from the music. I also like the bass solo towards the end of the song, which is unique to this live version and sounds like a wah pedal was engaged (one of my favorite guitar effects).

https://open.spotify.com/track/1DfOxEiYPhQlN2D1arscnN?si=5iL_uXdFQ6a-T54z851hvA

I think I prefer this live version of “No Excuses” by Alice in Chains to the studio version of the song (from their 1994 album Jar of Flies) because lead guitarist Jerry Cantrell plays acoustic- instead of electric guitar, and it sounds more relaxing to me than does the studio version. I especially like his brief solo midway through this track, which I think sounds even better on acoustic guitar. In addition, the band plays the intro to “Enter Sandman” by Metallica (one of my favorite Metallica songs) at the end of this live track.

Cheers!

[Ivan]

Hey @AdamDam,  

Let me join you on this one. 

My first thought was of two tracks I've been listening to for years. The first one is Toss the Feathers by The Corrs, included in their 1999 live album The Corrs Unplugged. I love this instrumental since it sounds much more energetic and powerful when performed live and including the sounds made by the audience. The album version from Forgiven, Not Forgotten (1995) sounds a bit stiff to me.

spotify:track:0fqyQzsgwxj72IFo7E0FMh:small 

The other track is Strangers by Portishead from their album Roseland NYC Live (1998). The original track, included in Dummy (1994), sounds a bit basic and lacks the development you can hear in the live version, which is symphonically orchestrated.    

spotify:track:2Q33gu9J31oKIn3prU7xSu:small 

Hope you'll enjoy them  🎼  🎸   

[jamesdal]

I've always felt like a lot of King Krule's stuff sounds dramatically better live, especially everything off The Ooz. Krule's Tiny Desk performance of Midnight 01 (Deep Sea Diver) is light years ahead of the studio version in my opinion.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5wogkmCiovgDIbUqSJGMti?si=_3mUW21nQJq1xOClsj6J7A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UA1iR4ZfUc

[StupidEmoTeen]

this is mine!

https://open.spotify.com/track/7BhbxVV8F55B4vwMThf2EJ