[TheWuss]

I've always been a "studio album" listener.  And moreover, I appreciate the craft that goes into the studio album.
And I also feel that this craft most often produces the "definitive version" of a given song.
 
Sometimes, though, a particular song might reach a new level of power and resonance in live performance.  This might be the result of experimenting with a new musical arrangement (Clapton's unplugged Laya, for example), or a moment of cathartic performance, or even both.
 
A fine example, that I'd like to start with, is Fleetwood Mac's "Big Love".
The version on Tango in the Night is a fine song, and a fine album opener.  But, when the song was performed live by Lindsey Buckingham (solo with guitar on The Dance DVD), it seemed to blossom into what I feel is the finest version of the song (and one of the more powerful live performances that I've seen in rock music).
 
Here's a Youtube video of the original version, followed by the live performance...
 

 

 
I'd love to hear what other people might point to, as great examples of songs that found their definitive voicing when performed live, rather than in the studio...
 
And I realize that there will be those among us who prefer live recordings in general.  And also bands whose reputation as live performers might mean that their live albums are the "go to" document of their music (Phish, for example).  But, I'd like to stay away from that subject matter, favoring those more "uncanny", singular live performances that transfixed us, and altered our perception of what the song could be...
 
Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for sharing!
 
Cheers!

The Wuss

 

[tjohnusa]

i love Gentle Giant....alot of thier stuff had studio laced effects but the album "Live Playing The Fool" translates the bands abilities and energy very well. So this is my addition.

 

[Lilley]

I can't help but say
Call of Ktulu
Master Of Puppets
For Whom the Bell Tolls
all by metallica.
But I guess S&M is a little bit more than 'just a live version'.
 
U2 - Bad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHnXOSxka1Q - I would have to say this is the most definitive version of this song there is.
 - Streets have no name.
 

 

[Radioking59]

I don't dislike the studio recordings, but Alice in Chains and 10,000 Maniacs MTV unpluggeds are awesome. Both are great recordings.  I go to them 95% of the time.

 

[roadcykler]

I'm not a big fan of live recordings with two exceptions. Mother by Danzig and Great White Buffalo by Ted Nugent. I think it's because the live version was the first version I'd heard of those songs. 

 

[Redcarmoose]

UFO.......... Lights Out
UFO..........Rock Bottom
Cheap Trick..........Surrender  FTW!
 
 
 

 

[Uncle Erik]

I'm not sure if these strictly count, but Sam Cooke at the Copacabana and Bill Evans' recordings at the Village Vanguard are real favorites. I don't think they have studio equivalents, but they're live albums I love.

And, yes, I usually go for studio albums, too. I like the controlled environment, the performers being able to have several takes, and crowd noise doesn't do anything for me.

 

[aroldan]

I also try to avoid live recordings. But there's a couple of live albums that I actually enjoy:
 
MTV unplugged in New York - Nirvana
Songs of faith and devotion - Depeche Mode

 

[pigmode]

Slow Ride - Foghat Live
Smoke On The Water - Made In Japan

 

[TheWuss]

Quote:

 
Smoke On The Water - Made In Japan

I would also say "Child in Time" from that performance eclipses any other recorded version I've heard.
Made in Japan is just an awesome live document!
 
 

 

[ldtboyl]

King Crimson's "The world's my oyster soup kitchen floor wax museum" is better in Heavy Construkction live album than in the studio.
 
Actually a lot of King Crimson tunes are better live.

 

[Redcarmoose]

Joan Baez wrote Diamonds and Rust but in the day Judas Priest's Unleashed in the East live album had the definitive recording. The studio take of Diamonds by Priest is really not held as the best recording of it by them. 
 
 

 

[Redcarmoose]

Freebird: Lynyrd Skynyrd

 

[Brooko]

Quote:

Freebird: Lynyrd Skynyrd

Defintiely!
 
Pleased to see TheWuss mentioned Layla too - it's the first song I thought about!  Clapton's whole "Unplugged" album is pretty amazing.
 
Here's one that struck me the first time I heard it - 
 
Don't Bring me Down (Sia) - Studio version

 
Live Version (from the album Lady Croissant)

 
Just no comparison.  The live version has so much more impact.

 

[bigshot]

Just about anything by the Kinks.
Procol Harem's Conquistador
ELO's Do Ya (but the Move's version is better still)
Bobby Darrin's Beyond the Sea