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Thread started 05/09/16 6:41pm

TrivialPursuit

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Songs That Translate Better Live

There has been plenty of times that a song on a P album is okay, or good. But then when I hear it live, it gives it new life for me. I kind of have the same experience with some Madonna songs, or even Janet.

prince

I'm watching his appearance on Arsenio, and "Daddy Pop" is kinda funky live (sans Tony M.'s big mouf). However, I don't think "Cream" did well as a live song (at least on this playing).

prince

Have there been songs that were just okay on a record for you, and you liked the better once you heard them live?

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #1 posted 05/09/16 6:49pm

dustoff

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TrivialPursuit said:

There has been plenty of times that a song on a P album is okay, or good. But then when I hear it live, it gives it new life for me. I kind of have the same experience with some Madonna songs, or even Janet.

prince

I'm watching his appearance on Arsenio, and "Daddy Pop" is kinda funky live (sans Tony M.'s big mouf). However, I don't think "Cream" did well as a live song (at least on this playing).

prince

Have there been songs that were just okay on a record for you, and you liked the better once you heard them live?


I like the "Slow Down" version of "Little Red Corvette" he'd been doing the past few years a lot more than the original.

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Reply #2 posted 05/09/16 6:53pm

soladeo1

What Prince song sounds better live?

All of them.
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Reply #3 posted 05/09/16 6:56pm

Nickadoo

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The studio version of Fury is dull as hell IMO, but the live version can melt your face off.

Dig if U will the picture of U and Marvin Gaye and the kids.
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Reply #4 posted 05/09/16 6:57pm

dustoff

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soladeo1 said:

What Prince song sounds better live? All of them.


Yeah, pretty much.

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Reply #5 posted 05/09/16 7:01pm

Goddess4Real

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The Homecoming tour 1983: Vanity 6, The Time and Prince sounded funker than the album versions, especially Vanity 6 set eg. Make-up and Drive Me Wild.

[Edited 5/9/16 19:01pm]

Keep Calm & Listen To Prince
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Reply #6 posted 05/09/16 7:06pm

214

soladeo1 said:

What Prince song sounds better live? All of them.

Really?

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Reply #7 posted 05/09/16 10:38pm

twistyt

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I agree and have always notice that as well🤔 Some of Prince's tunes that may be slightly dull or average on the album recording just explode with a live performance. Daddy Pop on Arsenio just flat out kills.The Cross in Sign 'O Times. Fury(any live performance) and 3121 on some BET awards show a few years back I can't remember which one it was.

I think some of his songs just translate better with full band and the visual and energy of a live show.
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Reply #8 posted 05/09/16 10:43pm

mcmk785new

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Head in the Controversy tour

Controversy

Why You wanna Treat Me So Bad

until then i'll pretend this fuchsia light is god...
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Reply #9 posted 05/09/16 10:50pm

CynicKill

Songs I never thought he could pull off live that were actually great:

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Reply #10 posted 05/10/16 1:22am

phoenixrising

dustoff said:



soladeo1 said:


What Prince song sounds better live? All of them.


Yeah, pretty much.



Co-sign....he was probably one of the best if not the best, ever imho


Although I can't say that I liked the slow down version of LRC, even when he did the sampler set, there was something about hearing him sing it live versus recorded...as the Who said, I can't explain ...
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Reply #11 posted 05/10/16 1:33am

GoldStandard

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What percentage of his songs do you think he has played live over the years? 50%?
Imagine his albums re-released as bootlegs with live versions of each song... One can dream!
Nobody I know gun' bite
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Reply #12 posted 05/10/16 3:26am

KingSausage

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I don't think Clouds sounded better live.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #13 posted 05/10/16 3:27am

KingSausage

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Also, I don't think I've ever heard a live version of When Doves Cry that can compete with the studio version. They all sound a bit "off."
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #14 posted 05/10/16 3:29am

bluegangsta

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KingSausage said:

Also, I don't think I've ever heard a live version of When Doves Cry that can compete with the studio version. They all sound a bit "off."

Agreed. They either run too fast of the keys sound too thin for what is supposed to be a hard-hitting (yet, simple) production.

Always cry 4 love, never cry 4 pain.
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Reply #15 posted 05/10/16 3:48am

TheW00denLeg

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phoenixrising said:

dustoff said:


Yeah, pretty much.

Co-sign....he was probably one of the best if not the best, ever imho Although I can't say that I liked the slow down version of LRC, even when he did the sampler set, there was something about hearing him sing it live versus recorded...as the Who said, I can't explain ...

I didn´t get the concept of this at all anyway.

My first touch with Prince was the Sign o´the Times movie and I hated his studio sound when I first heard it. I was 10 or 11 and bought a tape of 1999. I wanted the fast stinging brass sets, the poppy snare and the Fusion/Rock-crazyness going on in ´It´s gonna be beautiful Night´. And what did I get? Oberheims and Linns all the way lol But after all I think it´s is one of his biggest achievements to (at times) make a live version sound totally different from the actual song on the album. A different experience everytime.

I´d prefer any livecut of ´Strange Relationship´ over the SOTT version. Or ´Rave...´ from Small Club.

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Reply #16 posted 05/10/16 3:59am

Askani

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Peach kind of just lays there in its studio version. By the time it came out, he had fleshed it out and given it some energy in the live performances. Too bad he didn't cut a version more in that vein for release.


Fury is another obvious one. Although after hearing the video studio version on that Anthology set in the past week, it could have been great on record.


Days of Wild is another one. I like the studio version. But it basically exists as a foundation for a jam, so the live versions are usually better. Not always, though.

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Reply #17 posted 05/10/16 4:26am

KingSausage

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Kiss and Dorothy Parker are also better in the studio.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #18 posted 05/10/16 12:20pm

214

I don't understand the love you've got for the SOTT film version of the songs, most of you say is better than the studio version; when it comes to me i don't see it that way at all.

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Reply #19 posted 05/10/16 12:30pm

214

KingSausage said:

Also, I don't think I've ever heard a live version of When Doves Cry that can compete with the studio version. They all sound a bit "off."

Indeed.

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Reply #20 posted 05/10/16 5:07pm

radici27

Fury
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Reply #21 posted 05/10/16 5:19pm

reddfoxx1

soladeo1 said:

What Prince song sounds better live?

All of them.

This
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Reply #22 posted 05/10/16 5:33pm

TrivialPursuit

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reddfoxx1 said:

soladeo1 said:
What Prince song sounds better live? All of them.
This

I'd still disagree. "Cream", "Kiss", and "When Doves Cry" never sound great. WDC has bass put back in it a lot of times, and it changes the whole vibe. "Kiss" is a falsetto song that sounds thin live, and the bands have never been able to get that gated guitar sample sounding right. "Cream" has that organ in it, but live it sounds like something is missing.

prince

One song I forgot was "Willing & Able". I've always loved the Diamonds and Pearls Video Collection version much better than the album version.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #23 posted 05/10/16 5:53pm

FunkiestOne

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Irresistible Bitch studio version is weak but he tore it up live....so much better.

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Reply #24 posted 05/10/16 5:55pm

FunkiestOne

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KingSausage said:

Also, I don't think I've ever heard a live version of When Doves Cry that can compete with the studio version. They all sound a bit "off."

I agree with the post above that the Tokyo 1990 version is the only one that works, but still not better than on the album of course.

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Reply #25 posted 05/10/16 6:09pm

jazzvirtuoso

Years ago, I heard a version of "soft and wet" he did at some radio station event, its two, no THREE times better than the album version, seriously could not believe my ears! Trust me when I say I had a serious EARGASAM!! smile lol
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Reply #26 posted 05/10/16 7:06pm

214

FunkiestOne said:

Irresistible Bitch studio version is weak but he tore it up live....so much better.

eek eek What the hell? weak in which way

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Reply #27 posted 05/10/16 7:15pm

jesme1999

Peach
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