Queen songs live vs. studio

since someone started a poll about White Queen, I'd like to know what other songs you think sound better than the studio versions when performed live by Queen.

I think everyone will agree on Staying Power. Other than that I would say:

Hammer To Fall (especially Wembley '86)
We Will Rock You-slow (Houston 77)
Now I'm Here (in the 70s)
Save Me (performances without keyboardist onstage)
Under Pressure (Budapest)
In the Lap of the Gods Revisited
Son and Daughter
'39
Another One Bites The Dust
I Want To Break Free

Action This Day

God Save The Queen live is the shit. As Procession.

I agree on Save Me, but not '39. '39 live is nice, and different, but not quite as good in my mind. At best, it has great three part harmonies and is a nice stripped back sort of moment in the show, at worst it's dismal (Houston 77). Freddie didn't often sound to be enjoying it much, either, kind of gives the impression that he's just meandering through it, though he does throw in some nice note variations on 1979 shows like Hammersmith and Newcastle.

I'm gonna say The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke as one of mine - the album version is a great studio creation, and of course it's meant to feel claustrophobic (like the painting), but I still prefer the live version which has less 'clutter'. The piano solo followed by guitar solo, then into the bridge with Freddie banging those punctuated piano chords while singing 'Soldier, sailor...' is just incredible, as are the harmonies all the way through. If Freddie actually hit the high note on '[b]plough[/b]boy' on any occasion, even better, though he definitely didn't hit it cleanly on 31/3/74, as much as QPL would like us to think he did ;)

Not a live version, but I prefer the Top of the Pops re-recording of Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy to the album version. Only slighlty different, but better in my opinion - the guitar solo consisting of one line rather than a bunch of overdubs sounds tighter to me, the backing vocals on 'Grow faster, faster' are punchier, and we get to hear Roger sing 'Hey boy, where'd you get it from...'

I like the versions of If You Can't Beat Them where Freddie and Roger harmonies in the verses, at the points where Freddie must have decided he couldn't hit the notes he did on the album. I don't know if I like the whole song live better than in studio, but I very much like the live version for the aforementioned reason.

In the Lap of the Gods - it was always performed very well, and I like Freddie's natural voice rather than slowed down.

Liar - a display of live virtuosity for all four members. Virtually nothing is lost in the transition from studio to live, and a lot of energy and extended jamming is gained.

Seven Seas of Rhye live was always killer, especially when Freddie was in good vocal form, but I'd say the best versions are on par with the album rather than better than it.

Lastly, You Take My Breath Away - love the live versions from Hyde Park and Edinburgh. The stripped down version suits the song much better imo, as opposed to the album version which is overproduced (though the guitar work is nice). The live version also benefits from the removal of that looped and loudening coda which eventually becomes clearly pronounced, 'take my, take my, take my, take my breath away'.

[QUOTE] [b]BETA215 wrote:[/b]

God Save The Queen live is the shit. As Procession.[/QUOTE]

On that note, slightly unrelated to the topic - could someone clarify to me the difference between the 'early' versions of these instrumentals, and the album versions? i.e. they played a version of Procession before the Queen II version was recorded, and the same is true for God Save the Queen, which played on the SHA tour, before the ANATO version was done.

'Procession' was a work in progress, 'God Save the Queen' was probably the same recording but a different mix.

Regarding the original topic, I think Queen were a far better studio band in general. 'Save Me' was phenomenal live, but again there's 'the bigger the better' factor: live there were four great instruments and three great vocal parts, in the studio there were easily a dozen instruments and a dozen vocals; same for 'Now I'm Here' or 'Brighton Rock.'

Ah, thanks. I could never hear too much of a difference.

Brighton Rock's chorus is miles better on the album, I feel. They never quite nailed the harmonies live - perhaps they especially need to be big to sound great in that case.

Another one bites the dust is better live ??? oh please...

I'd say it's better live in some ways, for sure - the muted sounding drum loop which starts the album version can't come close to the same drum part in the early live versions (see Rock Montreal). The studio version easily takes the cake over any live version for Freddie's vocal, though.

[QUOTE] [b]Bigfish wrote:[/b]

Another one bites the dust is better live ??? oh please...[/QUOTE]

yes, why not? I like it when Fredddie interacts with the audience and have them repeat what he says.

AOBTD live is better in the game and HS tour, TW tour is horrible with the eletronic drum, and magic tour, is nice, but too long.

[QUOTE]

[b]tomchristie22 wrote: [/b] Ah, thanks. I could never hear too much of a difference.

Brighton Rock's chorus is miles better on the album, I feel. They never quite nailed the harmonies live - perhaps they especially need to be big to sound great in that case.[/QUOTE]

Live Killer's version of BR kicks arse, though I'm unsure of how much of it is live.

Hmm, I do kind of like that. Freddie almost sings the right lyrics on the second verse, even! Except 'It would be of no avail' rather than 'small avail', and 'weave my spell' rather than 'say farewell'. His different note choices on the verses are nice too. The harmonies still don't do much for me - I think I've identified that Freddie having a lower vocal line than his most prominent one on the album is what makes it sound underwhelming to me.

[QUOTE] [b]Oscar J wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE]

[b]tomchristie22 wrote: [/b] Ah, thanks. I could never hear too much of a difference.

Brighton Rock's chorus is miles better on the album, I feel. They never quite nailed the harmonies live - perhaps they especially need to be big to sound great in that case.[/QUOTE]

Live Killer's version of BR kicks arse, though I'm unsure of how much of it is live.[/QUOTE]

Roger once said that only live thing on Live Killers was his drumming on Brighton Rock,sure he knew how all album is pretty much remastered.

Really love Drowse live version... ouch