Post by einzack on Nov 11, 2016 8:20:33 GMT 1
Seeing as things are quite round here, thought I'd create a topic about something I've been thinking a bit about recently and also thought it might generate some discussion.
The topic is about what songs are improved when played live when compared to their studio counterparts? I'm not talking about versions of a song before it's been recorded in a studio, I mean after it's been released.
Could be a particular performance at a specific gig, or an entire song. The obvious one that'll spring to everyone's minds is Helicon 1 which changed considerably from when it was recorded in studio to how it's now played live. Initially it was played live at the same tempo as the studio version, but it seems to have quickly changed, and imo, as well as the band obviously, that makes it a better song. How quickly did it change? How long did the process take for the band to identify that hey, if we slow this thing down, it might work a bit better?
Now, Helicon 1 hasn't really changed much since they changed it that first time - it's remained consistent, but others have flip flopped round a bit. Like Herod and Fear Satan being two prime examples of that one. But are any of these "better" than the studio versions? I don't think that question would have the same response as for Helicon 1, which would be 99% in the affirmative I would think.
Me personally, I'm a big fan of some of the early recordings of Fear Satan. I like the more drawn out nature of the intro they did in the late 90's, and the extra drum kit used around that time as well leading to the "drum solo" ending. I prefer these older versions to how it's been played in the last 10 years or so.
As for improved versions of songs recorded live compared to studio versions, it obviously gets rather subjective, not that any of the above wasn't subjective. But the one song/version that made me think about this topic is My Father My King. Now, this is one of my favourite 'gwai songs, but I have always felt slightly underwhelmed by the studio version. I don't feel it captured the song particularly well when compared to live versions I saw, but more-so as I didn't get to see it very often, live recordings that I've heard. The best version of this song I have heard is from the gig from Tree's in Dallas in 2001 (and audio). I've become slightly obsessed with this gig over time, and find myself listening to it more than any other Mogwai recording, album or live. But the version of MFMK, to me, captures the power and brutality of the song in such an amazing way that is missing from the studio recording. To me, this should have been released as the official version.
Also, I'd love them to bring back the early version of the song, like they played at ATP in 2000.
A second example of this for me is Yes! I Am a Long Way From Home. Now, in this situation, I've always loved the album version, but when I heard the version from Gothic Theatre in Dallas in 2006 I was just so impressed, that it has become the "definitive" version for me.
Kinda long-winded, but anyone else think about these kinds of things?
The topic is about what songs are improved when played live when compared to their studio counterparts? I'm not talking about versions of a song before it's been recorded in a studio, I mean after it's been released.
Could be a particular performance at a specific gig, or an entire song. The obvious one that'll spring to everyone's minds is Helicon 1 which changed considerably from when it was recorded in studio to how it's now played live. Initially it was played live at the same tempo as the studio version, but it seems to have quickly changed, and imo, as well as the band obviously, that makes it a better song. How quickly did it change? How long did the process take for the band to identify that hey, if we slow this thing down, it might work a bit better?
Now, Helicon 1 hasn't really changed much since they changed it that first time - it's remained consistent, but others have flip flopped round a bit. Like Herod and Fear Satan being two prime examples of that one. But are any of these "better" than the studio versions? I don't think that question would have the same response as for Helicon 1, which would be 99% in the affirmative I would think.
Me personally, I'm a big fan of some of the early recordings of Fear Satan. I like the more drawn out nature of the intro they did in the late 90's, and the extra drum kit used around that time as well leading to the "drum solo" ending. I prefer these older versions to how it's been played in the last 10 years or so.
As for improved versions of songs recorded live compared to studio versions, it obviously gets rather subjective, not that any of the above wasn't subjective. But the one song/version that made me think about this topic is My Father My King. Now, this is one of my favourite 'gwai songs, but I have always felt slightly underwhelmed by the studio version. I don't feel it captured the song particularly well when compared to live versions I saw, but more-so as I didn't get to see it very often, live recordings that I've heard. The best version of this song I have heard is from the gig from Tree's in Dallas in 2001 (and audio). I've become slightly obsessed with this gig over time, and find myself listening to it more than any other Mogwai recording, album or live. But the version of MFMK, to me, captures the power and brutality of the song in such an amazing way that is missing from the studio recording. To me, this should have been released as the official version.
Also, I'd love them to bring back the early version of the song, like they played at ATP in 2000.
A second example of this for me is Yes! I Am a Long Way From Home. Now, in this situation, I've always loved the album version, but when I heard the version from Gothic Theatre in Dallas in 2006 I was just so impressed, that it has become the "definitive" version for me.
Kinda long-winded, but anyone else think about these kinds of things?