Dick Brucinson
Dave Sustaine
what Maiden song parts do you think sound live much better than on the original album?
what Maiden song parts do you think sound live much better than on the original album?
- Thread starter Dick Brucinson
- Start date
I actually can’t think of any, which is so different from my lifetime favorite bands Rush and Yes where their live versions often render their studio versions obsolete.
For me studio Maiden is my favorite for audio purposes.
Of course it’s different for videos where it’s so much more exciting to see a huge live crowd going nuts.
For me studio Maiden is my favorite for audio purposes.
Of course it’s different for videos where it’s so much more exciting to see a huge live crowd going nuts.
whitespider
Prowler
I'm actually the opposite, I think in the main the live sound just has that little bit extra oomph. Whether it be the speed, Bruce's singing, extra embellishment with the 3 guitars. Don't get me wrong I love the studio versions but most of the time when I listen to Maiden I listen to the live recordings.
To answer the OP - the entire MOLAD album on the Stockholm soundboard bootleg. The whole thing just elevates an already great album even more.
chaosapiant
Ancient Marinade
Can I Play With Madness/Agnes/Addness has, to me, never sounded great live.
But for the most part, Maiden are a live band and their songs always sound better live than on album.
But for the most part, Maiden are a live band and their songs always sound better live than on album.
BloodOnTheBassistsHands
Educated Fool
The two that stand out for me:
"Sign of the Cross" from Rock in Rio is played faster and heavier during the verses and the instrumental part (right after the Harris/Murray section). Harris used far more power chords at Rock in Rio, giving the song more energy. I like Blaze Bayley, but Bruce Dickinson's vocals suit the song better. This is one of my favourite Maiden songs, but the live edition renders the studio version sterile.
The other one that jumps out is "Revelations" from Live After Death. This is also played faster and a bit heavier during the verses. (Dickinson's vocals seem a bit strained here but, for me, that's a good trade-off). I don't think that playing songs faster is necessarily better though (for example, the much faster "Flight of Icarus" on Live After Death is a mess).
"Sign of the Cross" from Rock in Rio is played faster and heavier during the verses and the instrumental part (right after the Harris/Murray section). Harris used far more power chords at Rock in Rio, giving the song more energy. I like Blaze Bayley, but Bruce Dickinson's vocals suit the song better. This is one of my favourite Maiden songs, but the live edition renders the studio version sterile.
The other one that jumps out is "Revelations" from Live After Death. This is also played faster and a bit heavier during the verses. (Dickinson's vocals seem a bit strained here but, for me, that's a good trade-off). I don't think that playing songs faster is necessarily better though (for example, the much faster "Flight of Icarus" on Live After Death is a mess).
Diesel 11
As you scream into the web of silence...
Really? I think it’s one of those songs that always sounds better live than in studio.
srfc
Ancient Mariner
Yeah, my mate plays the studio version on 45rpm to, in his words, "put it out of its misery"
chaosapiant
Ancient Marinade
Biggest issue I have with FOI on the album version isn’t the tempo, it’s the weird multi tracked vocal effect on the chorus.
Saapanael
Ancient Mariner
Sign of the Cross, hell yeah! One of my favourite Maiden songs.
Vantage Point
Educated Fool
Hallowed Be Thy Name is one for me. I find the dynamics of the song to be much better on LAD than on NOTB. The studio version, I think the intro is too fast, then after the intro it is too slow. For me I think that loses the impact of the main part, as it comes in slower and thus seems less powerful and less exciting. Think they got it right with LAD where the intro is slower, allowing an atmospheric build up, then they are in with a bang for the rest of the track.
Randalf
Ancient Mariner
I think that the same goes for Revelations as well! I love the album version as well and admittedly Live After Death/RIR 1985 versions of it definitely rock, but I think that tempo is slightly too suffocating for the nuances and mystic edge of the song.
Where as the modern takes on Revelations hit that perfect middle-ground, giving the song some extra kick on a live setting without changing it's nature too much.
Trevoire
Ancient Mariner
The instrumental section of The Red and the Black on Live Chapter has some absolute magic that just isn't there on the studio version.
You can hear how much fun the band is having, and the way the tempo just keeps gradually creeping up makes it build in a really exciting way.
You can hear how much fun the band is having, and the way the tempo just keeps gradually creeping up makes it build in a really exciting way.
Ruflux
Ancient Mariner
I blame Janick and his out of tune guitar for that one. If he was in tune it'd probably sound a lot better. I mostly agree with this though, Maiden is often just straight up better live consistently. Sure, there's some concessions. A lot of the 80s stuff has a tinge of "everything's great, but Bruce's voice isn't really there" but the instrumentals are so good they completely eclipse the studio versions.
Listen to SSOASS at Donington '88. Listen to the instrumental section in particular and Nicko's playing. Sweet Jesus it's out of this world.
Effect? That's a vocal harmony and it's fucking great. The song would be super limp without the harmony vocals, same with Aces High and many other 80s classics. It's one of the biggest things modern Maiden is missing because Bruce seemingly can't be assed to do proper harmony vocals anymore even when they would be fitting to the song.