When a song REALLY hits you, do you prefer *the* studio take, or hearing it live

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   stanwshuraposted 11 years ago

   When a song REALLY hits you, do you prefer *the* studio take, or hearing it live?
   
   Hey, I love live music, and as a musician myself (not gigging or recording, though), I HAVE to support the live (living!) show or concert.  BUT...when a song is one of your absolute faves (VH's Jump from 1984, Norman Greenbaum's Spirit in the Sky, Judy Collins' recording of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now, Miles Davis' Milestones or So What, Brubeck's (classic!!!) original release of Blue Rondo a la Turk, and The Black Crowes' studio perfection of Jealous Again just HAVE to be the original for my spine to tingle.   
   
   Anyone out there similarly sensitive, or am I just anal? 

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   Electro-Denizenposted 11 years ago

   Biffy Clyro's 'Bubbles' is amazing live at Wembley... The WHOLE crowd is in on it. Much better than studio version!

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      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ahhhh....alas a fault of my question.  Sometimes live performances ARE released in a future recording!  I agree, there.  The Cranberries did a KICKASS performance of Dreams at a show in Paris that I like better than the slightly timid studio take.

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   TheHeavyReviewposted 11 years ago

   Usually my *absolute* favorites I prefer on studio, it's often the not-as-good songs that are better live.  But, like anything else, there are always exceptions.  I will say that songs with a glossy/too clean production job (a pet peeve of mine, so to speak) often sound better in a live environment which can give them a bit more rawness and punch.
   
   Very cool question!

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      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you.  Both you and El.D. seem to get my question.  It's the aesthetic of that *perfect* (to YOUR ears/spine) version to which any other performance would pale.
      
      Lol to your polished peeve!  Can you imagine B.B. King's singing "digitized"? YUCK!

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      Electro-Denizenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      stanwshura that's another point -music honestly sounded much warmer and more orgnanic when it was on vinyl or tape - even digitised versions of 'warm' don't work. That's why many guitar amps still have old fashioned valves with electronics!

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      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ah, you actually point to the more subtle trick of modern music production, be the style that of the boy-toy du jour, or a very talented and blues-influenced K.T. Tunstall.  I was bemoaning the blatant roboticizing of vocals debuted +/- '98 by Cher.

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   cat on a soapboxposted 11 years ago

   Studio versions are technically better and more familiar, but NOTHING beats the rush from hearing a song LIVE as part of a group of like-minded fans!  There is also an unmistakable intimacy w/ the artist/band if the venue is right.

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