Not everyone is better live than they are in studio. It takes a special kind of performer to be able to surpass their own efforts on stage. The three artists below are certainly special. The live version of their songs sound far better than they do on their accompanying albums. Don’t believe us? Give them a listen. You’ll never go back.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Whipping Post” (The Allman Brothers Band)
Some bands might be laughed out of the room if they tried to play a 22-minute version of one of their songs. It’s not easy to keep an audience enticed for that long. The Allman Brothers Band was one of the rare few that were able to accomplish such a thing. They have a famed live version of “Whipping Post” that completely eviscerates the recorded track. It displays the full expanse of the band’s musical power. Despite its lengthy runtime, you’ll be begging for more.
I’ve been run down and I’ve been lied to.
And I don’t know why, I let that mean woman make me a fool.
She took all my money, wrecks my new car.
Now she’s with one of my good time buddies,
They’re drinkin’ in some cross-town bar.
Sometimes I feel, sometimes I feel,
Like I’ve been tied to the whippin’ post.
Tied to the whippin’ post, tied to the whippin’ post.
Good Lord, I feel like I’m dyin’
“Rock and Roll All Nite” (KISS)
In the case of this KISS track, it was the live version of the song that put it on the map. The recorded version of “Rock and Roll All Nite” failed to make a splash for the band when it was first released. It wasn’t until they released Alive! a little while later that it became the band’s signature track. Revisit this stellar live effort, below.
ou show us everything you’ve got
You keep on dancin’ and the room gets hot
You drive us wild, we’ll drive you crazy
You say you wanna go for a spin
The party’s just begun, we’ll let you in
You drive us wild, we’ll drive you crazy
You keep on shoutin’, you keep on shoutin’
“Maybe I’m Amazed” (Paul McCartney)
Despite the Beatles not feeling deeply confident about their live skills, Paul McCartney has made waves as a live performer in his solo career. Take the performance of “Maybe I’m Amazed” below for example. The live aspect of this performance allows Macca to let the song move within him. The live version of this song is far less rigid than the recorded effort and is thus more emotional.
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you love me all the time
Maybe I’m afraid of the way I love you
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you pulled me out of time
Hung me on a line
Maybe I’m amazed at the way I really need you
Maybe I’m a man
Maybe I’m a lonely man who’s in the middle of something
That he doesn’t really understand
Maybe I’m a man
Maybe you’re the only woman who could ever help me
Baby, won’t you help me to understand?
(Photo by Wood/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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