The Stones are known as the greatest Rock And Roll band in the world,but when you think of all the songs they do/have done in concert,how many of the actually trump the studio version? Midnight Rambler for sure. Out Of Control,Back Of My Hand. Probably several others,but I feel that they rarely top or even equal their studio work. Any ideas?

Although I love it every time they play it, I think that they'll never capture Monkey Man on stage like they did in the studio.....Or Stray Cat Blues (Mick's snarl on that on is just special)


the shoot 'em dead, brainbell jangler!

In my opinion you can't compare the studio/live versions in a better/worse way, they are different and sometimes (mostly) the live versions kick ass on a higher speed or soul level than the studio ones, even develop new aspects of the songs. Another point is, most Stones tunes work pretty good (or really awesome - "Midnight Rambler" for instance) live anyway, but there are some superb songs, counting the studio version, which never work live - "Silver Train", "Mixed Emotions", "Moonlight Mile" - examples from my opinion.


Truth is stranger than fiction

stoned greetings
G. The Cock

the live versions of JJF have always been different from the unique sound of the studio version that would be impossible to replicate...for me, the Ya Yas version would be the one I'd want to hear if I could only hear one version for the rest of my life.

Sad Sad Sad is better in the studio then performed live imo.

Slipping Away on Stripped is awesome. So much better than Steel Wheels. Same for Dead Flowers I much prefer stripped. I'm Free & Not Fade Awawy I love Strpped versions as well much more than studio. For most part I prefer studio though of course.

These just never sound as good live: Shattered, She's So Cold, Little T&A, UMT. These sound better live: SFTD, HTW

Someone mentioned Moonlight Mile. Would love to hear that live if anyone can post an MP3 of it.

Brown Sugar for sure!

the studio version of YCAGWYW is unsurpassed, to my ear ...


"What do you want - what?!"
- Keith

yes, very much better, they should play YCAGWYW in the studio only

The case with JJF is interesting; On the studio recording they have captured one of the scariest, rawest intros ever recorded, but what have they done with it live? Skipped it! Bring back that intro with the loud bass, and the song will be brought to life again. Also: Mick, please sing "it's alright" like it's done on the studio version!

MidnightLurker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> These just never sound as good live: Shattered,
> She's So Cold, Little T&A, UMT. These sound
> better live: SFTD, HTW
>
> Someone mentioned Moonlight Mile. Would love to
> hear that live if anyone can post an MP3 of it.


Little T & A and UMT were awesome during 81/82 tour.

Midnight Rambler and Out of Control are better live than in the studio. Gimme Shelter the '72 version (STP cd 2) and Paradiso '95 are better live than in the studio. They don't have the same haunting feeling and are different but better.
There are a lot of songs like Saint of Me that are both great live and in the studio but different, hard to compare. Miss You in '78/'81 is another example of that!

Cheers,
Wuudy

DandelionPowderman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The case with JJF is interesting; On the studio
> recording they have captured one of the scariest,
> rawest intros ever recorded, but what have they
> done with it live? Skipped it! Bring back that
> intro with the loud bass, and the song will be
> brought to life again. Also: Mick, please sing
> "it's alright" like it's done on the studio
> version!


totally agree

Often the live versions are the better ones, but if I compare "Let Me Go" on "Emotional Rescue" to the live versions of the 81/82 tour I prefer the studio take. The same goes for "Star, Star" until the Licks tour. The version which they taped on "Four Flicks" is simply great and better than the studio take.

I love Start Me Up but for some reason this has never sounded good to me live even in 81.

Midnight Rambler in contrast always sounds better live then the studio version.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2005-10-26 11:59 by Ket.

Totally agree on JJF. The studio intro is the same as the breaks in the verses on the live version. They should start with that intro and the repeated strum on the B chord then the Da DAh da da DAh. Always sounds flat at the start live.

<The studio intro is the same as the breaks in the verses on the live version.>

Except for the guitars, which are marvellous on the studio intro.

When The whip Comes Down much better on Some Girls. All Down The Line better on Exile. The backing vocals live are always off key and ruin one of my favorite Stones songs. Love In Vain better live with Mick Taylor only. I've never heard a live version of Little T&A that came close to the studio version. Ditto Under My Thumb. She's So Cold was a throw away song on a poor album and it sucked on ice in '81-'82,but has finally reached its potential in 2005!

Midnight Rambler
JJF
Stray Cat Blues
Out Of Control
SFTD (only the 1969 version)
SFM (1973 and 2003 versions)
Under My Thumb (only the 1981 version)
LSTNT (only the 1981 version)

Much more better live:
It' only rock'n roll
If you can't rock me
Most of Keith's songs (including Infamy which is a week studio song but better live)

Doesn't work live (imo):
Rocks off
Get off of my cloud

All the slow numbers are better in studio. Dance Little Sister and Luxury never really worked live. Wanna Hold You was better live.