Top 5 live versions that surpass the studio original

1. Won't Get Fooled Again-The Who (The Kids Are Alright)
2. Aren't You Glad-The Beach Boys (love it, very spontaneous) (Live in London, originally from Wild Honey)
3. A Quick One -The Who (Rock n' Roll Circus-The A Quick One original is a bit stiff in comparison)
4. Get Back-The Beatles (What I believe is the second of three rooftop versions)
5. Hound Dog-Elvis Presley (Milton Berle TV grind version)

 

Summer Song - Joe Satriani (Live in San Francisco)

Deep Purple - Strange Kind Of Woman (Made In Japan)

Thin Lizzy - Boys Are Back In Town (Live And Dangerous)

UFO - Lights Out (Strangers In The Night)

Sammy Hagar - Bad Motor Scooter (All Night Long)

 

In no order:
1) Rock And Roll All Night- Kiss
2) Strange Kind Of Woman- Deep Purple (any 70's version)
3) Sympathy For The Devil- Stones- RNR Circus
4) Catch The Rainbow- Rainbow (any 76/77 tour)
5) The Fly- U2 (any tour)

 

Great minds think alike, Claus!

 

Also in no order...

anything, really, by Kiss
"Do You Feel Like We Do" - Peter Frampton
"Smoke on the Water" - Deep Purple
"Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)" - Pat Travers Band
"Maybe I'm Amazed" - Macca

 

Wipe Out - The Ventures......they absolutely smoke live.

 

"Substitute"- The Who Live At Leeds
Packs a greater punch than the studio cut, too bad it's a truncated version.

"We Got Married"- Paul McCartney Tripping The Live Fantastic
Went from a mediocre album track on Flowers In The Dirt to a concert highlight, with a thrilling vocal performance. Alternate choice, "Figure Of Eight".

Every Venus And Mars song on Wings Over America, plus "Let Me Roll It" (actually, every live version of "Let Me Roll It" beats the studio cut.)

"Searching For A Heart"- Warren Zevon
The acoustic version on Learning To Flinch strips away the synth-heavy 80's production of the studio cut, and the song is much better for it. Same effect for "Splendid Isolation"

"Folsum Prison Blues"- Johnny Cash
The Johnny Cash At Folsum Prison version. You can cut the tension in the room with a knife, I'd have hated to have been a prison guard that day. Makes the Sun version sound tame and whipped. "Play it, Luther!"

 

Midnight Rambler - Rolling Stones (Ya Yas)
Up in Her Room - The Seeds (Merlin's Music Box)
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed - Allman Brothers Band (Fillmore East)
Substitue - The Who (Leeds)
3/5's of a Mile in in 10 Seconds - Jefferson Airplane (Pointed Head)

 

Bruce Springsteen:

Just about any live version of any of the Darkness material, most of the Born To Run material, most of The River material, I could go on but you get the picture.

Jeff

 

I Want You to Want Me - Cheap Trick

Conquistador - Procol Harum

Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton

Take It Easy - Eagles (Hell Freezes Over)

Here, There and Everywhere - McCartney - Back in the US (yes, I think it's actually better than the studio version on Revolver)

 

"YYZ" -- Rush

The studio version has a short drum solo that is incredibly lame. The live version on Exit...Stage Left is the only way to hear it as far as I am concerned.

 

"Dixie Chicken"--Little Feat. Not even close!

 

In no particular order:

"One Step Beyond" by Madness (from Dance Craze)
"Rock and Roll All Nite" by Kiss (from Kiss Alive!)
"Coming Up" (Live at Glasgow) by Paul McCartney & Wings (from the single)
"Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash (from Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison)
"Midnight Rambler" by the Rolling Stones (from Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!)

 

I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man-Live from Sign of the Times movie-Prince
Just my Imagination (Runnin' away with Me)-Garden State 78-Stones
Jeannie Needs a Shooter-Stand in the Fire-Warren Zevon
My Love Won't Let You Down-Live in NYC-Springsteen
Build Me Up Buttercup-David Johansen Group Live
Southern Man-4 Way Street-Neil Young
Stone Cold Fever-Performance-Humble Pie
Just Like a Woman-Concert for Bangladesh-Dylan
You're a Big Girl Now-Hard Rain-Dylan
No Quarter-Song Remains the Same-Zeppelin
Love Like a Man-Fillmore East 1970-Ten Years After
First I loo at the Purse-Full House-J. Geils Band

 

Just about anything by The Dave Matthews Band, in particular:

The Stone off of the Warehouse special live disc 2002

 

"Sparks" - The Who (as at Woodstock, you need an unremastered "Kids Are Alright" soundtrack to hear this properly )

"Heaven And Hell" - The Who (Live at Leeds '95 version)

"In The Cage" - Genesis (check the 3 Sides Live video - WOW )

Hole In The River - Crowded House (limited edition live CD)

Queen - Love of My Life (Live Killers - why didn't they think of doing it that way before?)

 

My picks for live versions that are better than the studio versions:

Sun Goddess-Ramsey Lewis with Earth, Wind & Fire
Smoke On The Water-Deep Purple
The Greatest Love Of All-George Benson
Happy Feelin's-Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
Show Me The Way-Peter Frampton
Baby, I Love Your Way-Peter Frampton
Do You Feel Like We Do?-Peter Frampton
Devotion-Earth, Wind & Fire
Maybe I'm Amazed-Wings

 

Bad - U2 (From Wide Awake In America)
Bad - U2 (From Rattle & Hum)
Larks' Tounges In Aspic Part III - King Crimson (Live in Japan video)
Controller - Oingo Boingo (From Farewell)
Red River - Laika (from Lost In Space Vol. 1)

 

The 'oo - Heaven and Hell from Isle of Wight
Stones - Midnight Rambler (ya ya's)
Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love - BBC Sessions
Dylan - I Don't Believe You (Live 1966)
Grateful Dead - Dark Star (Live Dead)

 

Amy Grant's Too Late, as it appears on all releases of "In Concert Vol. 2" and the CD version of "The Collection," surpasses the studio version on "Never Alone." The 2 "In Concert" albums do have the the highlights from her first 3 albums (self-titled, My Father's Eyes, and Never Alone) in excellent live versions and her voice has overall matured (gotten better) since the originals were first recorded and the original studio were released between 1977-1980 and alike for both neophytes and diehard Contemporary Christian music and Amy fans, these live albums are essential as is "The Collection" which showcases many of the best tracks from 1979-1986. "Her Greatest Inspirational Songs" on BMG Heritage isn't essential and in fact, Word didn't even consider releasing "Her Greatest Inspirational Songs" to the Christian bookstore market. The studio and live versions of "Father's Eyes" are both excellent and as of 1992, Amy herself thinks that this is one of the best songs she has ever recorded. In fact, Degarmo & Key provided the more rock accompaniment to "In Concert Vol. 2."

well recorded bluegrass live albums

I agree with the previous picks of "Folsom Prison Blues" as it appears on Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison and "Substitute" on Live At Leeds, the 3 Peter Frampton choices made by Grant and many more.

 

"Dizzy Miss Lizzie" from The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl.

Evan

 

I think I actually prefer the 1970 McCartney version but that's just me.

 

Everything from Frampton Comes Alive.
I Want You To Want Me - Cheap Trick at Budokan

 

I'd also add "Reasons" (from Gratitude) to these.

 

My 2 Cents

Bad - U2 - Wide awake In America
Little Queen - Heart - California Jam2
Conquistador - Procol Harum
No Quarter - Led Zeppelin - Song Remains The Same
Bullet The Blue Sky - U2 - Rattle And Hum

Later Cenobyte