Studio Versions of Songs that Beat Any Live Rendition to Date

[dillko]

You know how the vast majority of DMB songs are significantly better live than in studio...almost everyone's favourite version of songs is some live version from some official release.

Crush from Warehouse 5, Vol 1
Two Step from Listener Supported
Seek Up from Warehouse 5
Vol 2 - DDTW from Central Park
#41 from Europe)
and the list goes on.

**NOW** this of the EXACT opposite if that. Songs that can never be replaced as good as the studio version.

Here's my first take after thinking how good Idea of You recording is vs live:

The Best of What's Around (UTTAD)
#34 (UTTAD)
Let You Down (CRASH)
Spoon (BTCS)
Sleep To Dream Her (EVERYDAY)
Idea of You (CT)
Again and Again (CT)

What do you think?

[snuffles]

Pig (UTTAD)
Snow Outside (AFTW)

[OutofDarkness]

Halloween
Raven is better than any post-BS rendition, though it's not better than the Summer '00 Ravens.

Agree on Let You Down, Snow Outside, and about half of the songs on Come Tomorrow.

[rain delay]

When the World Ends. It just doesn't sound right when they do it live.

[RiotAct]

I’d put Crash Into Me on that list, as well. It loses something live.

[Cryfreedom09]

Shake muh

[dillko]

Sorry for the typos in the OP - but YES you are all getting it.

Yes, I would totally put full band Crash as album takes the cake. Not comparable directly but D&T versions (Luther College for example) can be pretty unreal.

Also want to agree with The Dreaming Tree. BTCS version is just magical with the multitracking and mix.

Any voters for The Space Between?

[Foreverford05]

I'd disagree with your BOWA, I think the live setting lets that song breathe, especially with Jeff tearing it up. However I would put it up there as a top 8ish studio cut.

[drop2d]

There's a few but Spoon is the top. It's just so good in the studio and they really haven't come close live.

[FeelingGood]

Dreaming Tree, Shake Me come to mind

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[dillko]

Originally Posted by Foreverford05

I'd disagree with your BOWA, I think the live setting lets that song breathe, especially with Jeff tearing it up.

I knew I should have explained that more. Sorry. It’s just the tightness of the studio version has the most incredible drums mix and then the backing signing at the end with everyone singing “Huh-huh, hey-la” over Dave’s lead has never been replicated. The live versions just miss all of that harmonious signing group again. Carter and Rawshan/Boyd (back in the day) never sing that well, and never so harmonies - it’s all unison. So it’s just missing that epic ending on UTTAD. Plenty of amazing live versions in many other ways. For sure. I just don’t know if I had a playlist if I would choose any of them over the studio version which is kind of my benchmark for this thread.

[jaymas9]

Actually, for me, Crush. Not taking away anything from it live, it's one of their best songs live too.

But that studio cut is perfect, everything about it. Not once has Dave sang the chorus to Crush like it was captured in the studio.

[jaymas9]

Also, pretty much every version of the idea of you from 2006 and 2008 through 2016 is better than the studio cut because they don't have the ridiculous chorus drumming of 2007 and Come Tomorrow.

Such an odd/bad decision to randomly revert back to how the song was played one year on tour and apparently how it was recorded in 2007 Batson sessions...but not 2006 ones because it's not how it was played in 2006

[uwdavefan]

Although I love it live of course, I really think the Stone is perfect on BTCS and can’t be matched live

[DMBCardinal]

This may be controversial, but all of BTCS is better in studio. Stay might be the only exception for me. Its hard to beat perfection. A lot of the newer stuff is better in studio also.

[BTBaboon]

I find a lot of Crash exceeds live performances - Proudest Monkey, DIDO, and Let You Down all come to mind

[Speilmen230]

Drive In, Drive Out

[LaLaLaLaHey]

Originally Posted by snuffles

Pig (UTTAD)
Snow Outside (AFTW)

Pig is from BTCS, and fair choice but after having seen Pig live, the energy and emotion it carries live seems greater than the studio version imo.

DIDO is definitely up there. Spoon as well possibly.

[bustedstuff88]

American Baby
Space Between
Snow Outside

[uwdavefan]

Originally Posted by DMBCardinal

This may be controversial, but all of BTCS is better in studio. Stay might be the only exception for me. Its hard to beat perfection. A lot of the newer stuff is better in studio also.

I think that is a totally reasonable take, it is so well produced. It just depends on what you are looking for out of those songs. Last Stop and Crush for example are so good on the album, but the jams at the end live put them over the top for me vs. the tighter album versions

[crounsa810]

All of Away From the World (apart from Sweet this year) sounds better studio than live. Most of Come Tomorrow as well

[dmbcriggidy]

Proudest Monkey is by far and away the most prominent song that comes to mind when I have this discussion with friends. I also think Idea of You was nailed in studio and can be iffy live.

[alec]

Again & Again (*not Bob Law)
Come On, Come On
SMLAM
Spoon

DDTW is an interesting one in this respect. It is so different live and there are some great live versions (Central Park being my favorite), but they have never recreated the way it sounds in the studio live. I love the studio version, so am tempted to include it on this list, but it’s not as cut and dry as SMLAM or COCO.

[zrroot]

Shake Me, Virginia in the rain, American Baby, LYD, Crash, Pig

[dmbnut21]

Angel. It's an armpit of a song but at least it was short on the album. Live it was 10 minutes of torture and the lovely ladies.

[RSSR]

I love what Jon D’Earth’s composition on The Stone and the Kronos Quartet adds to The Stone. It’s perfect, so The Stone for me.

[RSSR]

I love what Jon D’Earth’s composition on The Stone and the Kronos Quartet adds to The Stone. It’s perfect, so The Stone for me.

[Cscottrun]

In my opinion, the studio version of The Stone is basically perfect. So that would be my choice.

[djamieb]

Dreams of Our Fathers, for sure.

[djamieb]

There are some GREAT live versions of Proudest Monkey, but I feel like the studio version is untouchable.

I also agree with Best of What's Around. I've never heard a live version where that final chorus hits as perfectly as it does on the studio version; that moment is magic on UTTAD.