| ili 29.01.2015 01:42 |
since someone started a poll about White Queen, I'd like to know what other songs you think sound better than the studio versions when performed live by Queen. I think everyone will agree on Staying Power. Other than that I would say: Hammer To Fall (especially Wembley '86) We Will Rock You-slow (Houston 77) Now I'm Here (in the 70s) Save Me (performances without keyboardist onstage) Under Pressure (Budapest) In the Lap of the Gods Revisited Son and Daughter '39 Another One Bites The Dust I Want To Break Free |
| The King Of Rhye 29.01.2015 04:59 |
Action This Day |
| BETA215 29.01.2015 05:17 |
God Save The Queen live is the shit. As Procession. |
| tomchristie22 29.01.2015 05:18 |
I agree on Save Me, but not '39. '39 live is nice, and different, but not quite as good in my mind. At best, it has great three part harmonies and is a nice stripped back sort of moment in the show, at worst it's dismal (Houston 77). Freddie didn't often sound to be enjoying it much, either, kind of gives the impression that he's just meandering through it, though he does throw in some nice note variations on 1979 shows like Hammersmith and Newcastle. I'm gonna say The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke as one of mine - the album version is a great studio creation, and of course it's meant to feel claustrophobic (like the painting), but I still prefer the live version which has less 'clutter'. The piano solo followed by guitar solo, then into the bridge with Freddie banging those punctuated piano chords while singing 'Soldier, sailor...' is just incredible, as are the harmonies all the way through. If Freddie actually hit the high note on 'ploughboy' on any occasion, even better, though he definitely didn't hit it cleanly on 31/3/74, as much as QPL would like us to think he did ;) Not a live version, but I prefer the Top of the Pops re-recording of Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy to the album version. Only slighlty different, but better in my opinion - the guitar solo consisting of one line rather than a bunch of overdubs sounds tighter to me, the backing vocals on 'Grow faster, faster' are punchier, and we get to hear Roger sing 'Hey boy, where'd you get it from...' I like the versions of If You Can't Beat Them where Freddie and Roger harmonies in the verses, at the points where Freddie must have decided he couldn't hit the notes he did on the album. I don't know if I like the whole song live better than in studio, but I very much like the live version for the aforementioned reason. In the Lap of the Gods - it was always performed very well, and I like Freddie's natural voice rather than slowed down. Liar - a display of live virtuosity for all four members. Virtually nothing is lost in the transition from studio to live, and a lot of energy and extended jamming is gained. Seven Seas of Rhye live was always killer, especially when Freddie was in good vocal form, but I'd say the best versions are on par with the album rather than better than it. Lastly, You Take My Breath Away - love the live versions from Hyde Park and Edinburgh. The stripped down version suits the song much better imo, as opposed to the album version which is overproduced (though the guitar work is nice). The live version also benefits from the removal of that looped and loudening coda which eventually becomes clearly pronounced, 'take my, take my, take my, take my breath away'. |
| tomchristie22 29.01.2015 05:22 |
BETA215 wrote: God Save The Queen live is the shit. As Procession.On that note, slightly unrelated to the topic - could someone clarify to me the difference between the 'early' versions of these instrumentals, and the album versions? i.e. they played a version of Procession before the Queen II version was recorded, and the same is true for God Save the Queen, which played on the SHA tour, before the ANATO version was done. |
| Sebastian 29.01.2015 05:34 |
'Procession' was a work in progress, 'God Save the Queen' was probably the same recording but a different mix. Regarding the original topic, I think Queen were a far better studio band in general. 'Save Me' was phenomenal live, but again there's 'the bigger the better' factor: live there were four great instruments and three great vocal parts, in the studio there were easily a dozen instruments and a dozen vocals; same for 'Now I'm Here' or 'Brighton Rock.' |
| tomchristie22 29.01.2015 05:37 |
Ah, thanks. I could never hear too much of a difference. Brighton Rock's chorus is miles better on the album, I feel. They never quite nailed the harmonies live - perhaps they especially need to be big to sound great in that case. |
| Bigfish 29.01.2015 06:42 |
Another one bites the dust is better live ??? oh please... |
| tomchristie22 29.01.2015 06:49 |
I'd say it's better live in some ways, for sure - the muted sounding drum loop which starts the album version can't come close to the same drum part in the early live versions (see Rock Montreal). The studio version easily takes the cake over any live version for Freddie's vocal, though. |
| ili 29.01.2015 08:05 |
Bigfish wrote: Another one bites the dust is better live ??? oh please...yes, why not? I like it when Fredddie interacts with the audience and have them repeat what he says. |
| LucasDiego 29.01.2015 08:25 |
AOBTD live is better in the game and HS tour, TW tour is horrible with the eletronic drum, and magic tour, is nice, but too long. |
| Oscar J 29.01.2015 08:45 |
tomchristie22 wrote: Ah, thanks. I could never hear too much of a difference. Brighton Rock's chorus is miles better on the album, I feel. They never quite nailed the harmonies live - perhaps they especially need to be big to sound great in that case. Live Killer's version of BR kicks arse, though I'm unsure of how much of it is live. |
| tomchristie22 29.01.2015 09:04 |
Hmm, I do kind of like that. Freddie almost sings the right lyrics on the second verse, even! Except 'It would be of no avail' rather than 'small avail', and 'weave my spell' rather than 'say farewell'. His different note choices on the verses are nice too. The harmonies still don't do much for me - I think I've identified that Freddie having a lower vocal line than his most prominent one on the album is what makes it sound underwhelming to me. |
| Mr.Mouth 29.01.2015 09:12 |
Oscar J wrote:Roger once said that only live thing on Live Killers was his drumming on Brighton Rock,sure he knew how all album is pretty much remastered.tomchristie22 wrote: Ah, thanks. I could never hear too much of a difference. Brighton Rock's chorus is miles better on the album, I feel. They never quite nailed the harmonies live - perhaps they especially need to be big to sound great in that case.Live Killer's version of BR kicks arse, though I'm unsure of how much of it is live. |
| Rokku 29.01.2015 09:13 |
Really love Drowse live version... ouch |
| tomchristie22 29.01.2015 09:21 |
Mr.Mouth wrote: Roger once said that only live thing on Live Killers was his drumming on Brighton Rock,sure he knew how all album is pretty much remastered.I believe he said the bass drum is the only thing live on the album, jokingly of course, but it's not really true that it's full of overdubs. If Real Wizard's analysis is accurate, which I trust it to be, there's actually no reason to believe much of it is overdubbed, save for a few obvious points - Freddie's vocals on Don't Stop Me Now's intro and We are the Champions, both of which exceed any vocal he ever did live for those songs, Roger's perfect high bridge vocal on '39, stuff like that. |
| malicedoom 29.01.2015 12:39 |
I've both read and heard a lot of people prefer the live version of Staying Power, but I really like both versions equally (might even prefer the studio version in fact). |
| Oscar J 29.01.2015 13:04 |
Staying Power and Back Chat are so much better live, in my opinion. |
| Mrmarioanonym 29.01.2015 13:10 |
TomChristie22 while he did overdub his vocals on WATC for LK, he did more than surpass that version in an actual live setting several times, just not on the Jazz tour. |
| Oscar J 29.01.2015 13:12 |
Yeah, his high C in that overdub is so weak. Hammersmith's C5 is ten times better. |
| fran1979 29.01.2015 17:57 |
Flick of the wrist, Liar, White Queen, Ogre Battle, Hammer to fall, TYMD Montreal version are GREAT live. |
| RafaelS 29.01.2015 18:47 |
malicedoom wrote: I've both read and heard a lot of people prefer the live version of Staying Power, but I really like both versions equally (might even prefer the studio version in fact).Reasons why Staying Power sounds better live are because the beat is faster, there's no synths and there's a real drum. |
| tomchristie22 29.01.2015 19:47 |
RafaelSomma wrote:The entire bass part was played on keyboard in live versions, which is in essence the same thing as the synth bass part on the album track.malicedoom wrote: I've both read and heard a lot of people prefer the live version of Staying Power, but I really like both versions equally (might even prefer the studio version in fact).Reasons why Staying Power sounds better live are because the beat is faster, there's no synths and there's a real drum. |
| ggo1 30.01.2015 00:01 |
Can't believe A Kind Of Magic isn't getting a mention. A great pop song on record, a fabulous rock song live. I adore magic on the 86 tour, So much more powerful than the album version. GG |
| ili 30.01.2015 01:07 |
ggo1 wrote: Can't believe A Kind Of Magic isn't getting a mention. A great pop song on record, a fabulous rock song live. I adore magic on the 86 tour, So much more powerful than the album version. GGthat, I can agree with. Especially the ending of the song during live shows. i also think God Save The Queen sounded better when Brian performed it live on the roof. ...hey, almost forgot about Last Horizon (ok, not originally a Queen song, but sounds better when performed onstage during Queen+ shows) |
| ITSM 30.01.2015 02:35 |
Spread Your Wings Let Me Entertain You '39 Get Down Make Love |
| Grizzly Adam 30.01.2015 09:26 |
No one mentioning Love of My Life? |
| Nitroboy 04.04.2015 04:35 |
ili wrote: since someone started a poll about White Queen, I'd like to know what other songs you think sound better than the studio versions when performed live by Queen. I think everyone will agree on Staying Power. Other than that I would say: Hammer To Fall (especially Wembley '86) We Will Rock You-slow (Houston 77) Now I'm Here (in the 70s) Save Me (performances without keyboardist onstage) Under Pressure (Budapest) In the Lap of the Gods Revisited Son and Daughter '39 Another One Bites The Dust I Want To Break Free Funny you should mention Wembley's Hammer To Fall, since that is filled with overdubs done in the studio... |
| Sue Dounim 05.04.2015 03:48 |
I'll take Dragon Attack live over the studio version anyday. Same for Father to Son, Ogre Battle, Now I'm Here, all the Hot Space material, If You Can't Beat Them, and It's Late. |
| Sebastian 05.04.2015 08:53 |
'Now I'm Here' certainly benefits from the faster tempo and Roger's phenomenal live drumming. I think 'Hammer to Fall' also sounds a hell of a lot better on stage, for the same reason. The harmonies on the studio recording are beautiful, but drumming's rather poor compared to the live versions. |
| magneddu 05.04.2015 09:15 |
fairy feller's master stroke,white queen (rainbow march version),back chat.. |
| HighWideandHandsome 05.04.2015 17:52 |
I fell in love with the live versions of Ogre Battle, White Queen (especially Freddie's piano playing on it), Father to Son, and Son and Daughter when I purchased Live at the Rainbow last year. Those four songs in particular are much better than their studio versions (though one could make a case for the album version of Ogre Battle, which is played at a much faster tempo). |
| tomchristie22 05.04.2015 18:54 |
Sue Dounim wrote: I'll take Dragon Attack live over the studio version anyday.If they'd played the full song with the bridge section in the middle, it would've been so much better. That's easily my favourite part of the song. |
| brENsKi 06.04.2015 03:41 |
magneddu wrote: fairy feller's master stroke,oh no, sorry, never. studio version is perfection. the existence of one recorded live version of a song doesn't make it better. also, FWIR, wasn't most of the rainbow overdubbed? |
| Sebastian 06.04.2015 05:17 |
I think both versions have their own gems. As much as I like the sound of the harpsichord, I prefer piano, so having just the latter is indeed a bonus point. The three part harmonies on the live version (yeah, they might have been overdubbed and/or tampered with) are beautiful and the fact they're simpler than in the studio doesn't make them 'worse.' Something I really like about the live version is that you get to hear the instrumental solos (piano and guitar) as there are no multi-tracked vocal harmonies to distract you. The studio one, on the other hand, has those exquisite guitar choirs that for obvious reasons couldn't be done live in the format the band had (even if Brian had used a harmoniser, it wouldn't be the same, as they'd be parallel). To each their own, I think I actually like them both equally. And yeah, maybe the live one we've all heard is as 'live' as KISS's so-called live albums, but even in that case, it's a very nice alternative version which I completely understand if some people prefer over the album one. |
| tomchristie22 06.04.2015 05:50 |
Though this is only suspicion, I believe they only recorded overdubs for those eight or so tracks which they were originally going to issue on the live album of the 31/3/74 concert - the same overdubbed tracks which comprised the only bootleg version of the show that existed for ages. There's no evidence that they were ever planning on including anything but those tracks, so why would they have done vocal overdubs for Fairy Feller? I will say without a shadow of a doubt that there are only three vocals at any one time on the 2014 release of it. Whether those vocals themselves are overdubs or not, I can't prove. However, the fact that virtually every single vocal overdub on the old versions of the Rainbow shows was stripped away for the 2014 release makes it seem pretty clear to me that they aren't overdubbed on Fairy Feller. Pitch correction in Pro-Tools, on the other hand, is another story entirely. Apart from the now infamous high note by Freddie in the bridge, it's certainly possible there was tampering throughout the song. Or, maybe the harmonies were just that perfect on the night. Who knows? |
| tomchristie22 06.04.2015 05:52 |
I agree with Sebastian on enjoyment of live and studio - I must say I like the harmonies better when sung by all three members rather than three (or more) Freddies. The keys and guitar solos are also a bit more polished since, as Sebastian said, they're not being overshadowed by any lavish arrangements - they are the focus. And I do prefer the solo section played on piano rather than harpsichord. Those punching piano chords in the bridge, too, are an excellent quality which the studio version really doesn't emphasise. |
| Viper 06.04.2015 06:00 |
Don't Stop Me Now, Dreamer's Ball, We Will Rock You, '39, Brighton Rock, Spread Your Wings, We Will Rock You [fast], Staying Power, Is This The World We Created...?, We Are The Champions, Now I'm Here and Keep Yourself Alive are the live ones I hear the most. Better than the studio versions IMHO. |
| HighWideandHandsome 06.04.2015 13:14 |
I love the fast version of "We Will Rock You" live (though it was technically recorded first in the BBC session). "Now I'm Here" was really showing its age by the Magic Tour (in my opinion, it is one of the most dated songs in the Queen catalog), but the live jams that they did on it were wonderful. |
| Chief Mouse 06.04.2015 13:24 |
A Kind Of Magic, Radio Gaga, I Want To Break Free, Play The Game, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Save Me, Body Language. |
| Ghostwithasmile is BACK! 08.04.2015 06:09 |
I prefer the studio versions of DSMN , YMBF, SYW.... |
| noorie 08.04.2015 09:08 |
I am surprised nobody has thought of See What A Fool I've Been. I totally dislike the album version, but just love the live Hammersmith 1975 version. Freddie's voice is amazingly powerful, and Queen have got the mood down to perfection. Another live version which is much better is You Take My Breath Away at Earl's Court. Also White Man performed in Houston. |
| Sebastian 08.04.2015 09:41 |
noorie wrote: I am surprised nobody has thought of See What A Fool I've Been. I totally dislike the album versionTo be fair, there's no album version, as it was not on an album. It was the B-side of a single. noorie wrote: Another live version which is much better is You Take My Breath Away at Earl's Court.I disagree. Sometimes less is more, but sometimes more is more. Piano < Piano, Guitars and Percussion. Great lead vocal < Great lead vocal + great harmonies. noorie wrote: Also White Man performed in Houston.Same: 1 Great Guitar < Many Great Guitars. 2 Great Backing Vocal Parts < 3-4 Great, Multi-Tracked, Massive, Backing Vocal Parts. |
| magneddu 08.04.2015 10:42 |
brENsKi wrote:this...in your opinion..magneddu wrote: fairy feller's master stroke,oh no, sorry, never. studio version is perfection. the existence of one recorded live version of a song doesn't make it better. also, FWIR, wasn't most of the rainbow overdubbed? I Know all the story about the March version(pitch correct..etc etc..)..but i think the color of Freddie's voice,and some varations..made the song most powerful and granitic.. Yes..there were doubt if was totally a real live recording...but..with this diamond..who really care?!? |
| Chief Mouse 08.04.2015 12:06 |
Sebastian wrote:I think it's subjective and depends on what each person prefers. I personally like both live and studio version of You Take My Breath Away equally. Though depending on the mood sometimes I might prefer one of them over the other.noorie wrote: I am surprised nobody has thought of See What A Fool I've Been. I totally dislike the album versionTo be fair, there's no album version, as it was not on an album. It was the B-side of a single.noorie wrote: Another live version which is much better is You Take My Breath Away at Earl's Court.I disagree. Sometimes less is more, but sometimes more is more. Piano < Piano, Guitars and Percussion. Great lead vocal < Great lead vocal + great harmonies.noorie wrote: Also White Man performed in Houston.Same: 1 Great Guitar < Many Great Guitars. 2 Great Backing Vocal Parts < 3-4 Great, Multi-Tracked, Massive, Backing Vocal Parts. |
| Sebastian 08.04.2015 14:16 |
Chief Mouse wrote: I think it's subjective and depends on what each person prefers.Yeah, that's a given. The way these discussions usually work is: Person A states why he/she likes C more than, less than or equally as, D. Person B either agrees or disagrees and states his/her reasons to do so. As long as neither A nor B state or imply their perspective is inherently 'superior' to the other's, there's no problem. |
| Chief Mouse 08.04.2015 14:32 |
Sebastian wrote:Yes, you are correct.Chief Mouse wrote: I think it's subjective and depends on what each person prefers.Yeah, that's a given. The way these discussions usually work is: Person A states why he/she likes C more than, less than or equally as, D. Person B either agrees or disagrees and states his/her reasons to do so. As long as neither A nor B state or imply their perspective is inherently 'superior' to the other's, there's no problem. What do you think of A Kind Of Magic live? |
| Sebastian 08.04.2015 16:22 |
Pros of the live version: * Live drumming. * Brian on backing vocals (occasionally). * Roger virtually dueting with Fred at some points. * It's got an actual ending. * Guitar throughout. * Less cheesy synths. Pros of the studio version: * Fred hits all the high notes. * No Spike (unless he plays keys). * Guitar harmonies (some played by Roger, in fact). |
| Chief Mouse 08.04.2015 16:53 |
Sebastian wrote: * Fred hits all the high notes. * Guitar harmonies (some played by Roger, in fact).Leiden first night is probably the definitive live version vocal-wise. Wish we had that in pro. Interesting point about Roger - I didn't know this :) |
| Sebastian 08.04.2015 18:13 |
Not only did Roger record some of those multi-tracked bits, but he played the Red Special, no less! |
| noorie 08.04.2015 19:53 |
Sebastian wrote:Actually I own the 1991 Hollywood Records reissue, and See What A Fool I've Been is a bonus track on it. Perhaps that does not count..?noorie wrote: I am surprised nobody has thought of See What A Fool I've Been. I totally dislike the album versionTo be fair, there's no album version, as it was not on an album. It was the B-side of a single. . |
| noorie 08.04.2015 19:59 |
Sebastian wrote:I think all the harmonies take away from this simple yet amazing song. Just the man with his piano and incredible voice gives the song more emotional value, makes it feel more intimate.noorie wrote: Another live version which is much better is You Take My Breath Away at Earl's Court.I disagree. Sometimes less is more, but sometimes more is more. Piano < Piano, Guitars and Percussion. Great lead vocal < Great lead vocal + great harmonies. |
| Oscar J 09.04.2015 06:23 |
I like both, though to me there's no doubt the harmonies in the studio version of YTMBA are among the best ever in pop/rock music. |
| cmsdrums 09.04.2015 07:49 |
Oscar J wrote: I like both, though to me there's no doubt the harmonies in the studio version of YTMBA are among the best ever in pop/rock music.+1. Possibly my favourite Queen track; the lead vocal, vocal harmonies, the delicacy of the piano, the superbly thought out guitar parts and intricate bass are all perfection |