Hello everyone!

There has recently been talk here about songs that people feel don’t sound as well live as they do on the original albums, e.g. „It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll“ („Angie“ would be another example that to me doesn’t quite work live).
But surely the greatest live rock ‘n roll band in the world has managed to get some things to sound better on stage than in the studio. Here are a couple of suggestions for songs that tend to work (even) better live than on the records. What do you think?

1. Start Me Up
To my ears the album version has a somewhat thin sound without real power, whereas live it’s an absolute monster. I really think that if it hadn’t been for the live renditions of this song it wouldn‘t have become the super warhorse that it is now. Obviously, it has to be one of the versions where Keith gets the opening riffs right!

2. Midnight Rambler
The album version is certainly one of the greatest pieces of rock music ever recorded, but the live version manages to go one better. The tension build-up, the extended solos, the exchanges between the band members, the tempo changes – everything is a bit sharper on stage making it a true highlight of every show. Obviously, it has to be one of the versions where Mick Taylor is playing!


P.S. This is my first post here, although I have been following the Tell Me forum and the rest of the great IORR site for a while - it’s always a nice place to visit! Thanks to BV for all his fantastic work on this site and to all others who contribute their time and unique knowledge to these pages!

Agree, especially on Midnight Rambler. I would add:

She's So Cold
Out Of Control
Under My Thumb (studio version does sound nerveless in my ears)
Streets Of Love ( I mean it! Mostly thanks Ronnie's solo, on ABB tour)
Let Me Go
Saint Of Me


And others...

Not fade away 1994-95 version

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laertisflash
Agree, especially on Midnight Rambler. I would add:

She's So Cold
Out Of Control
Under My Thumb (studio version does sound nerveless in my ears)
Streets Of Love ( I mean it! Mostly thanks Ronnie's solo, on ABB tour)
Let Me Go
Saint Of Me


And others...

Indeed several very worthwhile examples here.
Saint Of Me and Out Of Control really get a different dimension live, with the audience sing-along and all.
I was thinking about Under My Thumb too, which they always play very differently live. My problem with this one is that I have mostly heard it on the 1981-1982 Tour, which to me was musically their weakest.

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Gooo
Not fade away 1994-95 version

That's right. That was an absolutely thrilling opener on that tour!

Jumpin Jack Flash surely.

Midnight Rambler
Jumping Jack Flash
Out of Control

Definitly not:

Stray Cat Blues
Monkey Man
Paint it Black
Satisfaction

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PaintMonkeyManBlack
Midnight Rambler
Jumping Jack Flash
Out of Control

Definitly not:

Stray Cat Blues
Monkey Man
Paint it Black
Satisfaction

Jumping Jack Flash is surely a fantastic song live, but it is also a fantastic song on the record, isn't it? For me it is hard to tell which is better.
Satisfaction is also difficult. I used to think it was not too good, even dispenable on previous tours, but on this tour they seem to have found a way of making it sound exciting again, worthy to be the closing number.

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Bastion
Jumpin Jack Flash surely.

In 1969. Not since.

Happy
Start Me Up
Midnight Rambler
Stray Cat Blues
Street Fighting Man

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GasLightStreet

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Bastion
Jumpin Jack Flash surely.

In 1969. Not since.

To each their own I guess.

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Bastion

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GasLightStreet

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Bastion
Jumpin Jack Flash surely.

In 1969. Not since.

To each their own I guess.

Sure. But it's difficult to deny that they haven't played it worth a shit since 1969! Maybe the early 70s. But since then?

HORRIBLE!

the live Angies are better than the album..just my opinion..

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duke richardson
the live Angies are better than the album..just my opinion..

The 1973 one is amazing. Live, that is.

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duke richardson
the live Angies are better than the album..just my opinion..

I can't say that about the couple of "Angies" I've heard on recent tours. They somehow seem to rush through them, as if they are a bit bored.
Back in the 70s (e.g. Brussels Affair) - well, that's a different matter of course.

For me the Stones are the best live band in the world and they sound always live better than on record.

Well, almost...

Brown Sugar and JJF are fantastic on record and difficult to top.

But even a song like Angie, which I realy don't like at all, sounds live ok.

one song from the album that isn't surpassed live (maybe equaled) is...

gimme shelter..again, just my opinion..

None

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Gooo
None

Even not Midnight Rambler?

I first heard it on Yaya's and Hot Rocks the 1969 live version and when I went buying also all the studio albums I realy was surprised that the original studio version was so different and without the power that the live versions all have.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-06-13 20:38 by GJV.

I never bought into the whole "Saint of Me" as a great live number argument.

Yes,it gets the crowd into a sing-along and it is somewhat enjoyable IF you are actually there but,on a live record ('No Security') or on other live recordings,it just doesn't translate well enough.

Maybe it is because I am not personally big into the "crowd sing-along" type of songs. ??

The live versions seem to be based more on the short single edit version as opposed to the 'Bridges to Babylon' album version. >>>> The live versions are missing a section from the studio album version.

The 'Bridges to Babylon' album version is very crisp. The Todd Terry re-mix is not too bad either.

Overall,the 'Bridges' version is probably best.

I always thought that "Low Down" should have been done more than just the 1 time .

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duke richardson
one song from the album that isn't surpassed live (maybe equaled) is...

gimme shelter..again, just my opinion..

Can we get something other than "just" your opinion? Is there something else since it's "just" your opinion?

Inquiring minds must know.

Midnight Rambler
Out Of Control
Angie
Happy
Streets Of Love

better on album,
SMU
JJF
SFTD
IORR
SSC
Emotional Rescue
Undercover Of The Night
Saint Of Me

I prefer the live recordings v. studio versions up until 1981. After that - the Stones started sounding like a State Fair band fattened up with competent back up musicians (Chuck Leavell however is AWFUL). They also lost all sense of style - clothing and music wise - became cliché's - and now are a complete joke.

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GasLightStreet

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duke richardson
one song from the album that isn't surpassed live (maybe equaled) is...

gimme shelter..again, just my opinion..

Can we get something other than "just" your opinion? Is there something else since it's "just" your opinion?

Inquiring minds must know.

in other words, you want facts not opinions...

ok here's a fact-

the Stones are better than the Beatles.

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sodapop
I prefer the live recordings v. studio versions up until 1981. ....

Well, "Love You Live" from 1977 in my view is not a very good live recording, and certainly the best studio albums fall within the pre-1981 period.
And I would say that after 1981 there is a fair amount of decent live albums - especially if you include the DVDs from the the 1990 Tour (Terrifying), the Licks Tour, The Biggest Bang etc.

Midnight Rambler



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-06-13 23:01 by More Hot Rocks.

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duke richardson

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GasLightStreet

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duke richardson
one song from the album that isn't surpassed live (maybe equaled) is...

gimme shelter..again, just my opinion..

Can we get something other than "just" your opinion? Is there something else since it's "just" your opinion?

Inquiring minds must know.

in other words, you want facts not opinions...

ok here's a fact-

the Stones are better than the Beatles.

Well this is going to be about opinions - what else?
An opinion poll among Stones fans.

The thing about the Stones is that throughout the years, they've changed how they play songs live. I like Start Me Up off of Still Life where the chorus sounds similar to the original when Mick sings Grown man cryyyyy but in later years, he sings the cry part very short.
Also, Angie from 73 sounds more like the original but more recently, they skip verses and Mick doesn't sing the high parts like on the album version.
Play With Fire from 89 and As Tears Go By from 06 sound good but it would be interesting to hear them live without drums like the album.

Ruby Tuesday

None.