Live versus Studio recordings

UltraFast69

UltraFast69

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For some reason, not knowing why, I am just not a big fan of live recordings, not all, but most.

Anyone have a preference or does it matter since it is still music?


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I love many live recordings.

EmmyLou Harris - Live at the Ryman. Anyone who’s been to the Ryman, can hear those wonderful acoustics in this recording.

Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall

Harry Belafonte - Live at Carnegie Hall

Kenny Loggins - Outside: From The Redwoods

Hugh Masakela - HOPE

Jazz At The Pawnshop

Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood - Live from MSG. You want to rock? This album is for you.

EAGLES - Hell Freezes Over

There are just too many to mention....


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It depends on the recording. I just listened to Marcus Miller - Live and More and it was stunningly lifelike. Bela Fleck - Live at the Quick is also another one recorded well.

But then look at releases like Triumph - Stages which sounds like listening to a transistor radio in a trash can

So again, it depends on the venue, it's acoustics, and the overall recording.

That said, if I had to choose one over the other for the rest of my life, it would be Studio releases.
 
Mike said:
I love many live recordings.

EmmyLou Harris - Live at the Ryman. Anyone who’s been to the Ryman, can hear those wonderful acoustics in this recording.

Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall

Harry Belafonte - Live at Carnegie Hall

Kenny Loggins - Outside: From The Redwoods

Hugh Masakela - HOPE

Jazz At The Pawnshop

Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood - Live from MSG. You want to rock? This album is for you.

EAGLES - Hell Freezes Over

There are just too many to mention....


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We were replying at the same time and I also had JATPS in my mind
 
CPP said:
One of my fav live recordings, "
The Allman Brothers – ‘Live at the Filmore East’
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For sure!

I was a little tyke when that came out but I have 3 older brothers. That was always spinning. I can remember a day when my mom was on the warpath about something and her nerves were shot. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed was cranked and at the spot in the jam where the same note gets played over and over. My mother yelled "Can't they play another note" I still remember that almost 50 years later.
 
I like some live recordings that sound good, hence, Count Basie Live at the Sands, 1957. Why modern recordings aren't as good.......... That Allman Bros. mentioned is also very good. Live recordings, those not remixed and messed up, have a character that comes through that provides an extra enjoyment, that live ambiance.
 
I like both. Sure, the studio recordings are usually better in a technical sense. But there’s something about live recordings where you can feel the energy of the musicians and the audience.
 
I am a fan of all the open baffle designs (planar magnetic, electrostatic, dynamic driver). They really shine with live recordings. Great at conveying the sense of spaciousness of the venue.
 
Of the approximately 25,000 hrs in my music collection, at least 50% are live.
 
Dizzie said:
I am a fan of all the open baffle designs (planar magnetic, electrostatic, dynamic driver). They really shine with live recordings. Great at conveying the sense of spaciousness of the venue.
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Maybe that is why I can never get the same sound from Jessica Williams - Heather as when I heard it on the Pure Audio Projects with the Field Coil Voxatives driven by a Lampi Int and a Pacific DAC. Hmm, maybe it was the Lampi gear
 
Shadowfax said:
For sure!

I was a little tyke when that came out but I have 3 older brothers. That was always spinning. I can remember a day when my mom was on the warpath about something and her nerves were shot. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed was cranked and at the spot in the jam where the same note gets played over and over. My mother yelled "Can't they play another note" I still remember that almost 50 years later.
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I'm 67 and I still spin that LP. Always sounds good. Nothing like a live jam.
 
DeadHead said:
Live all the way!
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LOL -- the ONLY way to listen to the grateful dead -- i remember a 6-month period where i listened to nothing but live shows. may 1977 was the sweet spot for me with the 5/8/77 barton hall show having the largest play-count. however, 1973 is pretty darn good as well... ymmv.
 
aKnyght said:
LOL -- the ONLY way to listen to the grateful dead -- i remember a 6-month period where i listened to nothing but live shows. may 1977 was the sweet spot for me with the 5/8/77 barton hall show having the largest play-count. however, 1973 is pretty darn good as well... ymmv.
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YMMV
I'll say...72=73>74>>>77
 
There are great studio recordings and great live recordings. I lean more to live recordings as they have that instant organic sound, record a performance in history, the ambience of the venue comes over and tend to have a far more punch in that musical message and last but not least it is live as opposed to an overworked, overpractised studio performance which often sounds stale and predictable, ofcourse the recording in question should be at least average otherwise all is nearly lost. I suppose for me it started with Deep Purple - Made in Japan album, the producers intended this album yet the band were not in favour as live recordings at the time were known to show up faults, errors etc.. But surprise, surprise the Album was a great success, it showed the group at full flow, the musicianship of the players and their love for improvisation (Ritchie Blackmore was not a fan of studio albums, liked to change it in each concert)
 
Like others, I love both, but for me, the best live recordings give me more enjoyment than the best studio ones.
 
Every time I hear a live song/album by Jimmy Buffet it takes me back to the experience of seeing him in concert. It’s a nostalgic feeling. I think nearly all his songs with the Coral Reefer Band sound better live.
 
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