I've found this to be true in some instances.

I think "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" sounds much better live than recorded.



Anyone else feel that this can be true in some cases?

As a rule, early things sounds better in live, especially Atom Heart Mother in rock version without orchestra, A saucerful of secrets and Careful with that axe Eugene - in single version they are much more trivial.

OlgaHH Wrote:As a rule, early things sounds better in live, especially Atom Heart Mother in rock version without orchestra, A saucerful of secrets and Careful with that axe Eugene - in single version they are much more trivial.

I wouldn't necessarily say that; "Saucerful..." sounds awesomely eerie and unique on the studio cut, but there is a lot of other Floyd that does sound amazingly better live. I must say that even though I like the studio "Saucerful...", the Pompeii version is by far my favorite one. You are right; the live, rock version of "Atom Heart Mother" is freaking great. When I first obtained a copy of it, I was so excited to hear it...

Depends what it is. The live versions of Cymbaline and CWTAE always sound better cuz they are jamming.

Actually, not to take anything away from the original question, but what sounds better, songs on the album or live songs before the album was recorded? For instance, I prefer Raving and Drooling to Dogs, which is weird cuz Dogs is one of my fave Floyd songs.

Also I like the live versions of Us and Them better on the 1972 tour than the recorded version

I'd say the whole of WYWH sounds better live. Comfortably Numb is way better live. I think the great thing about a band like Pink Floyd is that they were fantastic at jamming while doing an established piece. So the solos would be extended, the keyboards would be different....I love it.

Most things are better live, speaking in general and not just about Pink Floyd. The issue with Pink Floyd and a lot of other bands, however, is that a lot of them didn't seem to be able to produce a live album which sounds as clear as a studio one. In fact, I didn't know how good a live album could sound until I started listening to Frank Zappa.

I have come to the conclusion that A Saucerful of Secrets is much better live than studio.

Recently Ive been thinking about this: ABITW2 and Learning to Fly are MUCH better live.

I wouldn't agree on ABITW2, but Learning to Fly is pretty good.

The best song live is Echoes. All the extra improv makes it great.