I don't know if it's because the live version is what I was exposed to first, or if it's actually "better" in some way, but there are a couple of songs that I much prefer the live versions of.

Bouncing Around The Room by Phish

I recently heard the studio version of this song, and I couldn't believe how lacking in energy it seemed.

Hey Girl by O.A.R.

The studio version sounds very "pop" or light rock to me, but the live version is much more of a rock song.


I'm sure there are other songs like this. These are just examples that really stuck out to me.

"I Want You to Want Me" and "Surrender" by Cheap Trick.

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2

And my karaoke version of Clarence Carter's "Strokin'"

Every song an disk one, side one of 1969 Velvet Underground Live With Lou Reed:

"Waiting for the Man"
"Lisa Says"
"What Goes On"
"Sweet Jane"

I think each is the definitive version of those songs, particularly "Sweet Jane", as that particular live version has a graceful and subtle quality that's sadly lacking elsewhere in the other versions the Velvets (and Lou) released.

'Cities'/'I Zimbra' - Talking Heads (from 'Stop Making Sense' and 'The Name of the Band is...')

Down in the Tube Station at Midnight by The Jam

"Ashes of American Flags" by Wilco. Nels Cline does some really pretty guitar work in it that wasn't there on the studio version. There are a couple of others like that, too ("Airline to Heaven" is one), but Ashes is the first to spring to mind.

Tusk - Fleetwood Mac

About half the songs on The Concert in Central Park.

Heart of the Matter - on The Eagles Hell Freezes Over

Abacab

Definetly.

"Roadhouse Blues" The Doors

"Growin' Up" and "Backstreets" from Springsteen's Live 1975-85

"Biko" Peter Gabriel

Joe Cock - With a Little Help From My Friends

Talking Heads - Once In a Lifetime

Orbital - Halcyon+on+on

I imagine "Joe Cock" live shows are very entertaining, but I doubt they have much musical merit.

Absolutely, anybody that has the original version vs. the live version (or well known version) can hear that right away.

I'll add "The Last Resort" from that show. There's just so much more emotion in the live version.


Other songs:

"The Thunder Rolls" by Garth Brooks. Love the extra verse.

"Suite Sister Mary" by Queensryche. The live performance on the "Building Empires" tour and the recent Mindcrime anniversary tour w/ Pamela Martin reprising her character as Sister Mary for the song. Definitely a sight to see.

And "Friends in Low Places" with its extra verse as well. Fun song.

Pretty much any Frank Zappa instrumental, but mainly "King Kong" and "Black Napkins."

Actually, the 'original version' (which can be heard as a bonus track on the re-mastered version of their debut album) has a drum beat and shuffle feel that sounds more like Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz". The second studio version, which was on their second album In Color - is pretty lame. They blame their producer at the time for the crappy arrangement, because even they don't like that version. The live version is definetly the way to, though.

I'll also add...

Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Tuesday's Gone" and "Freebird"

Peter Frampton - "Do You Feel Like We Do" (same story as Cheap Trick, crappy studio arrangment)

Todd Rundgren & Utopia - "Just One Victory" - from Another Live, kicks the studio version's ass, and has a great extended guitar solo.

Thin Lizzy - "Don't Believe A Word" (from the Live/Life album, as they play the song in the original slower arrangement it was written in - although I still like the 'rocking' studio version, too)

KISS - almost anything on ALIVE sounds better than the studio versions of the same songs, but particularly - "Rock N Roll All Nite" and "Black Diamond".

AC/DC - "The Jack" (dirtier lyrics), "Rocker" (longer guitar solo) - both from If You Want Blood...

U2 - "Bad", "Bullet the Blue SKy" and "With Or Without You" (which has an added lyric refrain not on the studio version) - from Rattle & Hum (the movie).

Eric Clapton - "I Shot the Sheriff" - from Live At Hyde Park, "Old Love" - from Eric Clapton & Friends - Crossroads Benefit.

...and not that I like it better than the Mazzy Star original, but Flickerstick's live cover "Fade Into You" is pretty damn sweet, too.

I usually prefer the live version to the studio on just about everything. I like songs to end rather than fade out. Rock guitar just seems so much better to me when live. There are exceptions. Don't care much for live versions with a lot of audience participation also there are poor quality live recordings. Practically anything Clapton or Zeppelin is better live. Never liked the Song Remains the Same version of "Rock and Roll" but the How the West Was Won version is awesome. The hard rockin' version of "We Will Rock You" that opens Queen's Live Killers is great too. Blue Oyster Cult live is superior to studio.

Ah. I actually have the re-mastered CD, will take a listen to it again (has been awhile)...but I meant the one that was on the 'original' album.

I think Wilco's entire catalog is better live than on cd. I love their albums but their live performances are leaps and bounds more gripping and interesting. "Spiders", "I am Trying to Break your Heart", and "Misunderstood" come to mind immediately. I love Wilco.

Agreed, his guitar playing doesn't get enough recognition.

Judas Priest: "Green Manalishi" and "Diamonds and Rust" from Uleashed In The East

I also prefer live tunes to studio recordings in most cases. This site has been posted here before but is well worth repeating, http://www.archive.org/audio/etreelisting-browse.php Thousands of live shows, all from tape friendly artists. A few of the highlights include: Jack Johnson, Ryan Adams, Guster, Hank Williams III, G Love & Special Sauce and more.