Songs that sounded better recorded live than the studio versions

[davidscott]

I'll start with a short list :
Santana Europa
REO Speed Wagon Riding the Storm Out
Blue Oyster Cult Astronomy
Earth Wind and Fire Reasons
Neil Young Like a Hurricane
And the Beatles Twist and Shout.
I'm sure I forgot some

 

[MattyB]

I think I am not alone in being much more familiar with Too Much Too Young on the The Special A.K.A. Live! EP as it was the hit and is always the version they play on the radio and so the actual studio version on the first Specials album just doesn’t sound right at all.

 

[VonMagnum]

Say Goodbye to Hollywood by Billy Joel from Songs in the Attic (much better than than studio version and so much so they used that version on his greatest hits collection along with She's Got a Way, although I think the studio version is similar quality there).

 

[JerryLove]

I prefer David Draiman's rendition of "Sound of Slience" from the Conan O'Brian show.
I prefer Cœur de pirate's performances of "Adieu", "Comme des Enfant" and "Golden Babies" from Studio Q.
I'm sure I've got others. I need to think about it. Some from MTV's unplugged at least.

Supporting links:

 

[TankTop5]

Korn live at Red Rocks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

American Woman - The Guess Who - Live at the Paramount Theater Seattle - 1972

 

[DonMac]

The Band has a lot of songs that are better live, but the song "Smoke Signal" is one that really stood for me as being a lot better live than the album version.

The Band "Smoke Signal" (album version)

The Band "Smoke Signal" (live version)

 

[MLadia]

Freebird!

 

[John Parks]

I think we are missing one:

Not that anyone has heard of it... Or maybe this other sleeper?

Of course, both had monster hits due to the live performances not studio albums.

 

[davidscott]

Agreed! Man those albums sure bring back some memories.

 

[Ponzio]

Everything on UBoob from The Last Waltz concert has this version shortened. Here's the CD version from the 2002 remaster.
The Band - Up On Cripple Creek [live '78]