If it's the only way I've heard it, then it's cool...ie Just My Imagination, Creep etc.

But, I rather enjoy the CD versions of most songs...lots of folks lose their minds over boots...not me.

jus sayin'

I don't like the extra conversation and the audience noise too much. Yes I do like the CD versions better.

he gives the technicians too many directions
this detracts from the quality of the performance

It's often like

1st verse
directions
chorus with directions
more directions
instrumental
directions
Impro with directions
end or blend with directions

there are the occaisional top performances like when he was showcasing on Leno
and they are great.

nice thread

Yeah, I've never really been all that into listening to live bootlegs tbh. I collected loads on CD & vinyl, and tape trades (remember those?!), but I never listened to most of them, just collected. The classics of course, and I like the Controversy/1999 tour shows.

I do like rehersal stuff though.

most of my stuff is the live stuff...and some rehersal...thier great..

like UPTOWN LIVE 03/31/83....and the SECONED COMING form 1982 is great

and PARADE rehersals r great 2....

The CD-versions are generally better than the live versions.

Yes, me. I'm more interested in the actual recording of songs than their live performances. Most of my friends though swear by the live stuff. There are occasions when a live version sounds better but not many.

I want more new songs rather than live versions of songs I've already heard. I understand why some folks enjoy a live recording but I personally don't need 75 live versions of Kiss clogging up my hard drive or filling up my shelves.

he shows his guitar skills live far more than on record ,that's why i prefer live
[Edited 10/22/09 17:19pm]

LOVE live shit . even with all the cues and stuff cuz i'm used to it now . "on the 1..."

quick question .. for those who answered - they TO DO NOT LIKE THE LIVE STUFF

did you ever play an instrument ? like drums , guitar , etc ???

just a quick test ... cus i love love LIVE music .... and i wonder if there is any correlation to "appreciating the live performance" etc ... as an artform etc ... ???

ColAngus said:

Yes, I've played piano, trumpet, and I sing. It's not that I don't like live performances I just don't revel in it to answer Revolutions' question. I'm more interested in Prince's studio productions (because I've done more of that!). And like pacey68 said I don't need to hear 75 live versions of kiss. Don't get me wrong I LOVE the movies Prince and the Revolution Live, Sign' O the Times, and the Lovesexy tour video. And I love watching him live (of course). But from a collector's point of view I'll listen to a live concert boot of a tour only sometimes, but his studio work all the time.

i agree with ya somewhat ... the problem with me is more "the quality of the boots/live stuff" ...

i probably have 6-8 boots which are unlistenable ...

and then i have 1-2 that are great but they are dvds so i never listen to them just driving around etc ....

On some of the newer stuff, I prefer the live versions but not on the old stuff. The stuff he recorded from 1978-1984 should never be performed with horns on them.

Funny, but I agree with Revolution: I prefer the albums to the live stuff too,

It's rare I think the live stuff is better.

Indigo Nights as an example is just horrible, and so is ONA... Live.

and boots: usually I take a few listenings, then they all collects a lot of dust.


imo.

^
Indigo Nights is a not a good representation of the 2007 London aftershows imo

It could and should have been so much better (although i don't think it's terrible)

Some of those aftershows were brilliant (and i'm so glad i attended one (2007 -09 -13)

Check out the Indigo Chronicles set


Same goes for Ona...Live
[Edited 10/23/09 7:03am]

Dewrede said:

Totally agree re Indigo Nights. I think I played it twice would much rather hear the whole shows. Some of the aftershows were amazing and I still listen to them regularly.

cool

.
[Edited 4/28/11 14:34pm]

Revolution said:

I don't have any boots, though I recently heard one. The sound quality was awful and I can't tolerate it, even if you get to hear Prince talking live. Watching live with audio and visual though, does outshine a cd version but just because there are more senses involved. Overall, I'm also just fine with cd versions.

Overall, I'm not a fan of music that was recorded live. I prefer the control and precision that a studio offers. And I have never been a fan of bootlegs. I prefer to hear the song as the artist considers finished. I haven't heard a bootleg recording of Prince yet that I've liked very much, aside from maybe finding it interesting for the insight it offers into the creative process.

ColAngus said:

I go to 50 gigs a year, I love watching bands perform live. As stated previously I just collect Prince's studio recordings as that in itself is a vast body of work to contend with, especially when you consider the outtakes. If I were to go crazy for live recordings I would be swamped with multiple versions of the same songs, sometimes with very little to distinguish one version from another.

If live recordings are your thing, that's cool. I just prefer to attend a live show rather than listen to one at home... not just Prince, any artist.

ColAngus said:

Yes.

PDogz said:

I should clarify: I LOVE live music when I'm actually in attendance at the concert. I love the experience of the people all grooving to the music, LOVE the theatrics (ie: Pyrotechnics, Choreography, Lighting & other special effects). My point being; I'd rather SEE The Mothership landing on stage in front of me than to hear an audience screaming about it on "P-Funk LIVE - The Earth Tour", lol. If I'm not actually in the audience, I'd rather listen to music that was recorded in a studio (...and preferably, the finished product as opposed to a bootleg).

Just happened to have come across one of my favorite albums of all time today, and realized (...was reminded) that it was entirely live, and it made me remember this thread because I had essentially trashed all live albums, lol. It was Earth, Wind & Fire's "Gratitude": Easily an album in my top 10 of all time, and recorded LIVE, lol. So while studio albums are still my preference, there are some really good live albums out there and in my collection.

pacey68 said:

-----
This is a really interesting topic because on some other threads people are screaming that they want more live shows and video content from Prince but reading the responses on this thread it looks like an audience for the live stuff does not even exist.

except when it comes to Northside...thats HAWT live

Dewrede said:

If its not soundboard..I really rather not hear it..its like REALLY not being there with BAD SEATS....I have enough musicology fan racordings to last me for days

The live recordings are what made me and keep me a fan. I was only a casual fan until I happened upon the world of Prince bootlegs. The only reason I buy the studio albums is out of guilt for trading/downloading dozens upon dozens of bootlegs. Whenever I buy one of his CDs, I listen to it once and then throw it on the pile with the rest. I only revisit the studio albums if I don't have a live version of a particular song I like. I can't think of a single instance in which I prefer the studio version of a song to any live version.

I find his live performances to be rawer, funkier, and more passionate than his studio work, which I feel is sometimes too overproduced and cold. When it comes to live music, I like to hear how a song's arrangement changes from show to show, I like to hear the spontaneous moments, and I actually find it interesting to hear a rare mistake or flaw.

I might be alone here, but 2002-present has been my favorite era of Prince shows. Even when I believe that his albums are sub-par, his concerts never disappoint me. I believe his live performances are what will keep his legacy intact, and I wish he would officially release more live material for this reason.
[Edited 10/29/09 13:30pm]