There are songs that became more famous, and often big hits, by the same artist, in their later live versions, as opposed to their original studio versions.

Here's a great example:

Paul McCartney & Wings
"Maybe I'm Amazed"
1977

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYSXNrb4U8s

Paul McCartney
"Maybe I'm Amazed"
1970

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpEDNqmdWPQ

"Frampton Comes Alive" was one of the MONSTER hit albums of the 1970s. Some say it was even a fluke of sorts. But he had originally done "Baby I LOve Your Way" on his 1975 solo album "Frampton".


Peter Frampton
"Baby I Love Your Way"
1976
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5CCvdEpxGc

Peter Frampton
"Baby I Love Your Way"
1975
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPXOGemTV4Q

The live 1972 version is the one that caught my ear during Jr. High School and became a hit:

Procol Harum - Conquistador

Live, hit version w/ Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (1972)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd_uKWWgOxw

Original studio version (1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXjIGRYBzEY

Chuck Berry's novelty song "My Ding A Ling" worked much better as a live song, which reached #1 on the Billboard chart in 1972. Nobody even knows about studio version, which was recorded in 1970 or so.

Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCSSIEUukk


Studio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr-YF_dTTZM

Stevie Nicks was always disgruntled that her song "Silver Springs" was relegated to the B side of the "Go Your Own Way" single in 1977, instead of being on the "Rumours" album where it rightfully belonged. This situation was rectified in 1997 when a version of the song, recorded during their televised live concert "The Dance", rose in the charts, giving the song a new life.

Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RYRoQO15ZI&list=PLVMgMdYqIEkbTuwXPKa1Vv5ZHppG7w9VU&index=15

Studio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FLXwCc9kCk

Bob Seger Turn the Page.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQW2Lq5pA5k


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_Lb7imIq7Y


Cat

How about Candle in the Wind by Elton John? He first recorded a studio version in 1973 for his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album; 13 years later he recorded a live version which became a hit on the charts.

How about Candle in the Wind by Elton John? He first recorded a studio version in 1973 for his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album; 13 years later he recorded a live version which became a hit on the charts.


I sort of think of these as different songs. One was in honor of Marilyn Monroe & the other in honor (or is that honour) of Princess Diana.


Cat

I sort of think of these as different songs. One was in honor of Marilyn Monroe & the other in honor (or is that honour) of Princess Diana.


Cat

Actually, the 1997 version was in honor of Diana; he called it “Candle in the Wind 1997.”

The live version that I was referring to was recorded in 1986 (11 years before Diana died) and has the same lyrics as the 1973 recording - about Marilyn Monroe.

The original studio version (1973):
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The live version (1986):
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Actually, the 1997 version was in honor of Diana; he called it “Candle in the Wind 1997.”

The live version that I was referring to was recorded in 1986 (11 years before Diana died) and has the same lyrics as the 1973 recording - about Marilyn Monroe.


Ok. I stand corrected.


Cat

Ok. I stand corrected.


Cat

No problem  :)

I’ll probably think of others…

Paul McCartney repeated his "Maybe I'm Amazed" trick with "Coming Up" in 1979/80, although in a different way. A single was released of the studio version from his "McCartney II" album, on which McCartney played all the instruments. A live version played by McCarney & Wings in Glasgow was on the B side. The studio A side went to #2 in the charts in the UK, but in America and Canada DJs started flipping it over and paying the live B side, which went to #1 in the US and Canada. The record company had a little to do with this. They started pushing the B side as they thought the A side was a bit too freaky.

Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jwliUb56Dk

Studio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmfxnYIl6yQ

Bob Marley & The Wailers
"No Woman, No Cry"

Originally recorded in 1974, the 1975 live version is the one everybody knows.

Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8RoUOW8ma0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfNymCvydHc

Cociane as performed by Eric Clapton. (Song written by JJ Cale.) Eric first recorded the song in 1977 for his Slowhand album; three years later he recorded a live version for his album Just One Night. The live version became a hit on the charts for him in 1980.

Cociane as performed by Eric Clapton. (Song written by JJ Cale.) Eric first recorded the song in 1977 for his Slowhand album; three years later he recorded a live version for his album Just One Night. The live version became a hit on the charts for him in 1980.


Clapton also had a hit with the live re-imagining of "Layla" from 1992's "Unplugged", but I won't say it is better known than the original, because the original is so legendary. But it holds it's own.

Clapton also had a hit with the live re-imagining of "Layla" from 1992's "Unplugged", but I won't say it is better known than the original, because the original is so legendary. But it holds it's own.


I love the unplugged version. I like it better the original.


Cat

Clapton also had a hit with the live re-imagining of "Layla" from 1992's "Unplugged", but I won't say it is better known than the original, because the original is so legendary. But it holds it's own.

Yep. Of course, he recorded the original as a member of Derek & The Dominoes; he later recorded the unplugged version as a soloist. Both are favorable in their own regards.


I love the unplugged version. I like it better the original.


Cat

Me too. O0 I love to hear the unplugged version.

Yep. Of course, he recorded the original as a member of Derek & The Dominoes; he later recorded the unplugged version as a soloist. Both are favorable in their own regards.


Another interesting thing is that when the original "Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs" album came out in 1970, it didn't sell and the song "Layla" wasn't even a single. Nobody bought it because they didn't know it was Eric Clapton, which is kind of the way he wanted it. It was released as a single from the 1972 compilation "The History of Eric Clapton" which was released for a couple of reasons. 1) As a stop gap while he was doing nothing but being a junkie 2) to capitalize on his appearance at the Bangla Desh concert (and subsequent movie). A photo of Clapton at the Bangla Desh concert adorns the front cover. The single was released without the extended piano instrumental coda. Which brings us to the next phenomenon. The hit single version lacks the piano coda, but one would NEVER hear that version on the radio today. Indeed, one would feel ripped off. "Where's the ending?". Also in 1972, "Nights In White Satin" by the Moody Blues was released as a single, even though the album it was on came out in 1968. The single was released without the spoken poem at the end. Again, one would NEVER hear that shortened version now. Likewise "I'd Love To Change The World" by Ten Years After and "Dream On" by Aerosmith, both of which were released as singles with pivotal guitar parts omitted. Again, one would NEVER hear the shortened versions now, save for maybe showing up as bonus tracks on compilations and box sets. An interesting phenomenon. "The vanishing short versions".


1972's "The History of Eric Clapton" from which the edited "Layla" single emerged:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/62/EricClapton_AlbumCover_History_of_EC.jpg

Dreamer is a song from the 1974 Supertramp album Crime of the Century.  It peaked at #13 in the UK in 1975, and in 1978, saw a peak of #75 in Canada.  A live version from their 1980 live album Paris went on to peak at #15 in the US and #1 in Canada.

1974 - Studio Version
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1980 - Live Version (recorded in 1979)
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Layla is a song by Derek and the Dominos, sung by Eric Clapton, which in 1972 peaked at #7 in the UK, #10 in the US and #9 in Canada.  In 1992, Clapton recorded a non electric version in front of a small live audience for his MTV Unplugged album, and while it did not supersede the original in the UK (#45) or the US (#12), it was a #1 single in Canada.  This may be one of the best live versions of a studio recording ever because it's the same song, but it's different and it's fantastic!

1972 - Derek and the Dominos
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1992 - Clapton Unplugged
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Everything Counts is a 1983 single by Depeche Mode that peaked at #6 in the UK and #17 on the US Dance chart.  A live version recorded in 1988 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was released as a single in 1989 and peaked at #22 in the UK, #16 on the US Dance chart and #3 on the Canadian Dance chart.  There are people who prefer the live version to the original, but I am not one of those people.  I do still like the live version though

1983 - Studio Version
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1989 - Live Version (recorded in 1988)
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Layla is a song by Derek and the Dominos, sung by Eric Clapton, which in 1972 peaked at #7 in the UK, #10 in the US and #9 in Canada.  In 1992, Clapton recorded a non electric version in front of a small live audience for his MTV Unplugged album, and while it did not supersede the original in the UK (#45) or the US (#12), it was a #1 single in Canada.  This may be one of the best live versions of a studio recording ever because it's the same song, but it's different and it's fantastic!



We already covered the two Laylas in some detail.

We already covered the two Laylas in some detail.


Dang, not sure how I missed that

Here's an interesting one...

Money Changes Everything is a (cover) song by Cyndi Lauper, released as the 5th single from her debut album She's So Unusual.  On the album, it is a studio recording, but the single release was a live version, which I was not aware of for many years until I found a physical copy of the 45.  As a single release, the track peaked at #27 in the US and #23 in Canada in 1985 so at the time, it would have been the live version that was more popular, but I still prefer the studio version.

1983 - Studio version
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1985 - Live version (recorded in 1984)
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Billy Idol's cover of the 60s classic Mony Mony was first released in 1981, appeared on his 1983 EP Don't Stop and as a single, it failed to chart.  A live version from his 1987 album Vital Idol topped the chart in both the US and Canada, and peaked at #8 in the UK

1981 - Studio Version
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1987 - Live Version
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Billy Idol's cover of the 60s classic Mony Mony was first released in 1981, appeared on his 1983 EP Don't Stop and as a single, it failed to chart.  A live version from his 1987 album Vital Idol topped the chart in both the US and Canada, and peaked at #8 in the UK

1981 - Studio Version
1987 - Live Version


Everyone who grew up in the 1980's knew the "words" to that one.  ;D