what songs are better live than in the studio?

[chris]

there are a few obvious ones, i think. nearly every version of maybe i'm amazed trumps the studio version, i think (and i love the studio version).

things we said today, from tripping the live fantastic was really good...including the guitar solo that linked TWST and eleanor rigby.

call me back again from WOA (trying not to pick "only" from WOA, seems like cheating)

what are yours, people?

[efghijiloveyou]

I don't agree that Things We Said Today is better live, but the live version on Tripping is really good and I love that guitar solo at the end. Highway comes to mind as being a live one I liked better- in fact I didn't realise it was so good until I heard it live.

[Jeff in Ohio]

"Coming Up" is much better live. About 1000% better. The studio version grates on my nerves, hate to say it, what was Paul thinking with those annoying vocals on the studio version. But the live version is great.

[EddieV]

Maybe I´m Amazed!! The studio version is still great though

[efghijiloveyou]

JeffinOhio said the studio version of Coming Up is grating and annoying and while I do like the live version, I think all of Paul's vocal tricks, the quirky instrumentation and the ethereal nature of the recording is what makes it great! No offense JeffinOhio, just my humble opinion.

[wingflying]

I agree, Things we said today and Got to get you into my life (Tripping the live fantastic versions) are probably the only songs, that I enjoy more with the live version of Paul than with the studio version of the Beatles, but i do enjoy a lot the beatles versions.

Figure of eight is far better live than in studio. There's a few songs that i think are better live than in the studio:

Coming Up
Maybe I'm Amazed
Any song from Venus and Mars
Every night (from unplugged)
That would be something (from unplugged)

And I have a list of songs that I enjoy equally live or in the studio:
From the Beatles
Penny Lane (Paul is live)
All my loving (Paul is live)
Fixing a hole (1993 version)
Michelle (Paul is live)
Hey Jude (Tripping the live fantastic)
I saw her standing there (Tripping the live fantastic)
Can't buy me love (Tripping the live fantastic)
From Wings
Let me roll it (Paul is live)
Jet (Tripping the live fantastic)
Live and let die (Tripping the live fantastic)
Listen what the man said (Wings over America)
Hi Hi Hi (Wings Over America)
Solo
C'mon people (Paul is live)
Peace in the neighborhood (Paul is live)

[eggman1979]

Live and let it die. Definitely. And I'm talking about the sound, not the fireworks which, by the way, are spectacular.

[james1985]

I'd say... almost all the VAM and WATSOS stuff on WOA is better.

But the studio version of Maybe I'm Amazed is the one for me. It's not self-consciously being 'epic' or 'big', and he tears the vocal off. It doesn't need all the big production.

I like live versions of My Love, he's always done that well...and Jet.

Beatles-wise, I love the post-2001 band's Long And Winding Road. It rocks along where the B's version can plod occasionally

[Craigerb]

Highway comes to mind as being a live one I liked better- in fact I didn't realise it was so good until I heard it live.

Totally agree.

[Harrythebannister]

Things we said today and Got to get you into my life (Tripping the live fantastic versions) are probably the only songs, that I enjoy more with the live version of Paul than with the studio version of the Beatles, but i do enjoy a lot the beatles versions.

Waaaah!! How can you better "Got To Get You Into My Life" from Revolver...absolutely nothing from that album could ever be bettered either live or as re-recordings....It was a sublime moment in time!! The Beatles at their peak......and Penny Lane?? These recordings are the Holy Grail, you just can't touch them!!