Songs That Did Better Live Than Studio

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Many artists are bound to be successful from day one with their hits, but some have hits that chart much better live than do the studio counterparts.

Bob Seger, Turn the Page

 Before he formed the Silver Bullet Band in 1974, Seger dropped a few records of his own. 1973's Back in '72 features one of the most iconic soungs he penned about the stress and pressures that being a musician can do a number on you. Although I really love the jazzy studio version, it was the live version three years later that got far more attention - this version appearing on his 1976 record Live Bullet and made at Detroit's Cabo Hall.

Peter Frampton

 He's had mutiple songs, so let's cover them now. In 1976 he released one of the most significant live albums. The album included Baby I Love Your Way that hit number 12 on the US Bilboard Hot 100 and claimed 3rd spot in  Canada. The album also featured Show me The Way, which made #6 in the US, #2 in Canada, and brushed the top 10 in the UK. This song, as well as the ever lengthy Do You Feel LIke we Do is known for featuring one of the most notable electronics in the history of popular music. Furthermore, Baby I Love Your Way was mashed up with one of Skynyrd's signature songs by American Miami dance band Will to Power and dubbed Free Baby. This version charted at #19 in the US in 1988. Six years later it was covered by reggae band Big Mountain whose version I think is the best.

Paul McCartney Maybe I'm Amazed 

 Fresh out of the Beatles, Sir Paul's first song written and recorded by him was not released as a single when it came out on his debut solo record McCartney (1970); however, six years later, it was recorded live, at a much slower pace, on the Paul McCartney/Wings record Wings over America. By '77, the song made the top 10 in the US and Canada, and the top 30 in the UK.

(Interestingly, I think radio should play the shorter, original version even though it was not released as a single - just my $0.02 on the subject matter).

As you can see, these songs were previously recorded in the studio but failed to chart. While they are slightly more superior than their live counterparts, their live counterparts actually outperformed them.

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