Live versions that are better than the originals...

onebigfish wrote:

Live versions that are better than the originals Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:40 am
I have found that there are live versions of some songs that come off better than the originals. Order some songs you think that are better live than on the original album?

Thought this was an interesting topic that I read on another board.

Cheap Trick - I Want You To Want Me
The version of Live at Budakon is the ultimate version. The studio version on In Color is good, but a bit weak in comparison.

Thin Lizzy - The Rocker
The live version on Live & Dangerous is exactly as the album titled suggest. It's heavy and raw and exactly how rock and roll should be.

I'm sure I can think of plenty more, but those two popped into my head immediately.

Testament - Disciples of the Watch
Live on Return to the Apocalyptic City. Absolutely love that EP.

I've always felt the live version of Rock And Roll All Nite of Alive! was 10 times better than the studio version off Dressed To Kill.

Magnum Opus is way Killer live than on the Leftoverture album.

Turn The Page off of Seger's Live Bullet is way better than the studio version IMO.



Pat Travers - Boom Boom Out Go The Lights.

AC/DC-Problem Child, High Voltage, The Jack, oh hell the entire If You Want Blood is superior to the studio versions.

Aerosmith-Come Together and Chip Away the Stone (Live Bootleg)-sounds sleezy, sloopy, drug filled mess like they should sound

Deep Purple-Highway Star, Smoke on the Water- from the legendary Made In Japan set

ultmetal wrote:

Testament - Disciples of the Watch
Live on Return to the Apocalyptic City. Absolutely love that EP.

Most people don't even realize that's Glen Alvelais on guitar on that one. He is an amazing guitarist and completely underrated. I wish he was in TESTAMENT now instead of Skolnick, and I was a huge Skolnick fanboy growing up. He used to be one of my absolute favorite lead guitarists.

I question how live most "live albums" really are so I can't think of one off the top of my head.

Probably not one most people are familiar with, but I love the live version of:
ROSE - On My Knees off of the Intense Live Series.
The studio version is sort of flat in comparison.

KISS - Alive! Need I say more? ALL the live tracks are better than the studio versions.

KISS-Alive II and I am going throw in KISS-Alive III, I know you asked for individual songs, well this two albums kick the sh*t out of the studio versions, and I don't give a rat's ass if some of the tracks had overdubs on them, still kick ass.

Judas Priest-The Ripper, Tyrant, and ...oh hell the entire 'Unleased in the East' played at the proper volume will make you want to pick a fight with a smaller dude and beat the hell out of them.

Ted Nugent-Great White Buffalo-will blow the balls off any Rhino 50 yards away.

Most if not all of the songs on the Who's Live at Leeds destroys anything their studio counterparts sounded like.

GrandNational wrote:

Most if not all of the songs on the Who's Live at Leeds destroys anything their studio counterparts sounded like.

I can't believe I forgot 'Live at Leeds' and of course Hendrix (God) 'Band of Gypsys' just is excellent.

manny wrote:

KISS-Alive II and I am going throw in KISS-Alive III, I know you asked for individual songs, well this two albums kick the sh*t out of the studio versions, and I don't give a rat's ass if some of the tracks had overdubs on them, still kick ass.

Judas Priest-The Ripper, Tyrant, and ...oh hell the entire 'Unleased in the East' played at the proper volume will make you want to pick a fight with a smaller dude and beat the hell out of them.

Ted Nugent-Great White Buffalo-will blow the balls off any Rhino 50 yards away.

Agree with you on Priest too!!! Throw in At Budakon too.... I prefer the studio versions to Alive II, but some of the tracks on Alive III are much better than the studio versions. Watchin You is frakin awesome on Alive III!!!!!!! Domino blows away the studio version, but most of that is because the Gene's bass tone on Revenge sucks donkey dicks - what was Bob Ezrin thinking? He could have come up with a much better bass tone!!!!!!

I need to throw in Iron Maiden - Rock In Rio... AWESOME versions of the Brave New World tracks, the ultimate version of Fear Of The Dark (250,000 Rock In Rio attendees can't be wrong). AND the Bruce/Adrian versions of the Blaze tracks so 1 million times better than the studio albums!!!!!!!

I would say almost all the songs on Another Lesson In Violence by Exodus are better than the originals IMO. But then again that's just my O. If I want to listen to the old stuff I grab it first.

manny wrote:

GrandNational wrote:

Most if not all of the songs on the Who's Live at Leeds destroys anything their studio counterparts sounded like.

I can't believe I forgot 'Live at Leeds' and of course Hendrix (God) 'Band of Gypsys' just is excellent.

Thought about Hendrix too myself, love the jams on that album. The only reason I didn't mention it is because the original release had basically all new songs and not based on studio tracks, from what I remember.

GrandNational wrote:

manny wrote:

GrandNational wrote:

Most if not all of the songs on the Who's Live at Leeds destroys anything their studio counterparts sounded like.

I can't believe I forgot 'Live at Leeds' and of course Hendrix (God) 'Band of Gypsys' just is excellent.

Thought about Hendrix too myself, love the jams on that album. The only reason I didn't mention it is because the original release had basically all new songs and not based on studio tracks, from what I remember.

Well you are correct the studio version for some of those cuts were not released til after his death, so I am counting it, simply because Hendrix is God.

manny wrote:

GrandNational wrote:

manny wrote:

GrandNational wrote:

Most if not all of the songs on the Who's Live at Leeds destroys anything their studio counterparts sounded like.

I can't believe I forgot 'Live at Leeds' and of course Hendrix (God) 'Band of Gypsys' just is excellent.

Thought about Hendrix too myself, love the jams on that album. The only reason I didn't mention it is because the original release had basically all new songs and not based on studio tracks, from what I remember.

Well you are correct the studio version for some of those cuts were not released til after his death, so I am counting it, simply because Hendrix is God.

Yes sir, you said it, not me.

I can't believe I forgot the Who's Live at Leeds, for its day it was a very heavy album and almost a proto type metal album, may the rock gods forgive me for my oversight!

Not metal but the live version of U2's Bullet the Blue Sky on Rattle and Hum.

manny wrote:

I can't believe I forgot the Who's Live at Leeds, for its day it was a very heavy album and almost a proto type metal album, may the rock gods forgive me for my oversight!

It's OK Manny, that's why you have a support group here with us.

Hmmm. It's hard to narrow it down to just individual songs because I tend to be a fan of live albums. I totally agree with the mentions of Thin Lizzy's Live and Dangerous, Maiden's Rock in Rio, and definitely Priest's Unleashed in the East, though. Those are all favorites.

Also throw in Kreator's Live Kreation (the '90s songs in particular sound WAY better live), and Blind Guardian's Tokyo Tales (it has my favorite versions of "Valhalla," "Majesty," "Traveler in Time" and "Banish From Sanctuary"). And Slayer's Live Undead, if live in the studio counts.

Hadley wrote:

Not metal but the live version of U2's Bullet the Blue Sky on Rattle and Hum.

I prefer this one , as well. It Kills!!!!!

chewie wrote:

Hadley wrote:

Not metal but the live version of U2's Bullet the Blue Sky on Rattle and Hum.

I prefer this one , as well. It Kills!!!!!

Incredible live version and I agree kills the studio version.