Just saw "She´s so cold" from Austin 2006. Very nice song on the record but one that I never liked live. I can´t really put my finger on the reason. The original pace is perfect, as is Mick´s singing, but they always play it too fast for my taste and Mick overdoes. To me, it´s one of those songs that need to be played as close as possible to the record - slow, more calm.

"Sway" is another example, for different reasons. I would like to know your opinions on this matter: the songs of our loved band that don´t sound right onstage.

To me, Shattered never sounds right live, especially during the Shidoobee part.

The obligatory Satisfaction over the last 20 years has seemed like nothing more than an exit song to the limos awaiting in the tunnels...always rushed (it always has been played FAST...see Charlie is My Darling)...Which tour was it that it was played at the start?

When The Whip Comes Down also comes to mind as being better than live
Gomper is probably best left on vinyl as well

Midnight Rambler - never came close to the studio version. Since it's live debut it's just been a party song, a boogie. Yeah, it's great and everything, but doesn't hold a candle to the studio version, which is almost avant garde in it's cinematic creepiness.

Mr. Yeats wrote on Dec 11^th, 2014 at 9:56pm:

Midnight Rambler - never came close to the studio version. Since it's live debut it's just been a party song, a boogie. Yeah, it's great and everything, but doesn't hold a candle to the studio version, which is almost avant garde in it's cinematic creepiness.

I think I generally agree, however, I saw a STELLAR version in 2005...it had just started to mist/drizzle on us...Jagger comes out in a duster, fedora and thru the rain lit spots plays the harp...it was amazing visually and sound wise...
Oct 6 2005 Charlottesville VA

"Silver Train" 2013-2014.  Can't even be bothered to put Mick Taylor on it.

Fact is, the Stones have always been heavily reliant on the studio for much of their magic, especially from '67-'76.
Of course they're a great live act, but they've seldom sounded like their studio recordings live (for better or worse). '78-'81 would be notable exceptions, albeit quite a bit faster.
Since '89 they've attempted to reign in the speed and recklessness they sometimes surrendered to, and attempted to replicate certain studio elements, such as Woody playing the high guitar part on JJ Flash, which was completely ignored in the Taylor era. Of course Satisfaction has never sounded remotely close to the original since '66 or 7. Those just being two more obvious and well known examples.

Mr. Yeats wrote on Dec 11^th, 2014 at 9:56pm:

Midnight Rambler - never came close to the studio version. Since it's live debut it's just been a party song, a boogie. Yeah, it's great and everything, but doesn't hold a candle to the studio version, which is almost avant garde in it's cinematic creepiness.

Seriously?  The studio version lacks the tempo changes and frenetic ending that have made the song a major showpiece since 1969.  Why do you suppose they put the Ya Ya's version on Hot Rocks?

Bitch wrote on Dec 11^th, 2014 at 7:27pm:

To me, Shattered never sounds right live, especially during the Shidoobee part.

Seen this ?


http://youtu.be/MYvy3kBYN4Q

Mr. Yeats wrote on Dec 11^th, 2014 at 9:56pm:

Midnight Rambler - never came close to the studio version. Since it's live debut it's just been a party song, a boogie. Yeah, it's great and everything, but doesn't hold a candle to the studio version, which is almost avant garde in it's cinematic creepiness.

I've always found the studio version (whilst a very good track on its own merits) a bit underwhelming compared to the live versions, myself.

Its consistently their greatest live song for me. The Ya Yas version was always up there alongside the (studio) Gimme Shelter as the greatest record they ever released.

And then they topped that version by finally releasing the one from Brussels in 73.


One song that they played to death for a while but could never get right was Anybody Seen My Baby on the 1997-98 tour. I think the studio version is a greatly underrated gem - and being the lead single it was a number they probably felt they had to promote by playing it in concert every night.

It was almost without exception bloody awful. Mick could never get the key right and made the spoken part sound like he was reading a breakfast menu - and after having got the crowd worked up for the first 20-25 minutes of a show, this one killed the momentum for the next 15 minutes and went over with all the popularity of a fart in a space suit.

The most obvious one that many people will probably cite is Miss You, which is maybe a bit unfair as it WAS good in concert from 1978-82. Bringing in some awful synth in 1989 to replace the harmonica part and that arse numbing 15 minute version they did in the late 90s when Mick would lick Lisa's feet every night made me want to never see it played live again. They mostly rested it on the Licks tour - but when they did play it, it was stripped down, not over-long or self indulgent and didnt outstay its welcome. Its been laregly 'meh' ever since though. Its a pity because from what I can see its resulted in a lot of Stones fans overlook how fucking brilliant a record the studio version really is. Bill Wyman's greatest nine minutes for me.

"The obligatory Satisfaction over the last 20 years has seemed like nothing more than an exit song"

I thought Satisfaction at the Licks opener in 2002 was one of the best song of the night.  I noted as much here after the show.  It had all the punch that the studio version had.

Sad that it has become so weak.

<  ------- Undercover of the Night !!!!!!!!!

I think Fingerprint File stinks live...just an excuse to overuse analog delay...

Worried About You always seems to be missing Wayne Perkins on the live versions too

undercover & dance are just terrible

start me up is nice to hear live, but
still nothing like the album version
rocks off too...

Let Me Go

nankerphelge wrote on Dec 12^th, 2014 at 8:49am:

"The obligatory Satisfaction over the last 20 years has seemed like nothing more than an exit song" I thought Satisfaction at the Licks opener in 2002 was one of the best song of the night.  I noted as much here after the show.  It had all the punch that the studio version had. Sad that it has become so weak.

You are thinking of the Bridges tour in 97 that opened with Satisfaction, Nanky.  I take your point though.  It was great on, say the DVD from St. Louis with Keith running out in the leopard-print coat.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ps04rowQF4E/TSfJAic9u2I/AAAAAAAAA3k/FhooYlZOEn4/s1600/24richards3-popup.jpg

They all sound good to me in concert.

I think some of you have your head screwed on backwards.

Live MR, any live MR is far superior to that tamed studio version.

If there is one song that always brings out the best, it's Midnight Rambler.

Miss You is a strange number for Stones fans. Most die hards hate it and chose that time to go take a piss, but it's the song that usually featured a really strong Bobby Keys spotlight.

Start Me Up. 

I think this is an interesting discussion, and in my view most of these songs have "got live if you want it" (to use a Stonesy term), if the Stones choose to do it right.

I live "Paint It Black" live and She's a Rainbow.

No it was the Licks opening show I meant -- not that Satisfaction was the opening song

It was near the end of the show as I recall.
I looked in the archives for my review, but I recall distinctly saying that the best played tune of the night was Satisfaction.

It was just much more punchy than any other time I have heard it.  Really had that buzz of the recording.

Talking about Mick kinda ruinning nice songs like "Anybody Seen My Baby", I think the same used to happen to the great "Love Is Strong", or at least to the live versions I heard over the years. The band usually played it decently, but, as in "She´s So Cold" and others, it´s one Mick should sing as close to the record as possible because that´s the way the song sounds right. In most of the versions I came to hear that low and "menacing" tone only lasts two or three lines, and he sings the rest of it like he does in almost every other song of the gig.

Mick didn´t ruin "Love Is Strong" live, but it would sound much much better if he imitate himself on the record, leaving the open voice to the "what are you scared of..." bits. I suppose it´s hard for him, being in a stadium facing hundreds of people, to keep a low and calm singing for more than two minutes. Maybe he thinks the audience would get bored or something.

Voodoo Lounge is a great record.  I love, among others, "Brand New Car".

VL really shines, in my view.

Mr. Yeats wrote on Dec 11^th, 2014 at 9:56pm:

Midnight Rambler - never came close to the studio version. Since it's live debut it's just been a party song, a boogie. Yeah, it's great and everything, but doesn't hold a candle to the studio version, which is almost avant garde in it's cinematic creepiness.

I think the opposite. Studio version is dull and boring. Live is when it really lives.

Paint It Black, Monkey Man, Fingerprint File & Heartbreaker

Monkey Man is GREAT live!!!!
Paint It Black?.......Charlie's drums live....Keith' opening???
K'Mahn!!!!!
It was even better live with Brian on sitar.

Roostah wrote on Dec 20^th, 2014 at 9:41pm:

Monkey Man is GREAT live!!!! Paint It Black?.......Charlie's drums live....Keith' opening??? K'Mahn!!!!! It was even better live with Brian on sitar.

Not to my hears.

From the VL shows Monkey Man didn't seem to work.

Paint It Back sounds lame to me live. I think everyone loves the tune so it passes the live test in that respect but it really is lacklustre live.

Completely agree about Fingerprint File. Love the IORR album version. Not too crazy about any of the live versions I've heard. Same with Moonlight Mile. Sticky Fingers version one of my favorite songs but not too crazy about the live versions.

Factory Girl wrote on Dec 13^th, 2014 at 3:38pm:

Voodoo Lounge is a great record.  I love, among others, "Brand New Car". VL really shines, in my view.

Aaaaah, finally somebody who loves "Brand New Car".  I thought this would never happen. At least, I haven't read on this board about somebody who does. One of their last really great tracks where they go back to their roots. THE SONG, one of their best, they should skip live is "Sway" imo. Terrible! But that's probably because the studio version is so fucking great.

Tumbling Dijs wrote on Dec 28^th, 2014 at 4:02pm:

Aaaaah, finally somebody who loves "Brand New Car".  I thought this would never happen.

Smells like caviar.......  :thatwassmart


http://youtu.be/d34rkIcICQ4