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What are the songs that you think the BB's have done better live than in the studio? I'd say Marcella, Let the Wind Blow, Aren't You Glad, Darlin', Wouldn't it be Nice and You Still Believe In Me.  What do you think?

Let The Wind Blow is the ultimate example - Not a Mike hater, but anyone who prefers his vocal to Carl's on that is crazy

really?
Wouldn't it be Nice?!?!?

This is my fav song of all times, but that studio track? the guy's perfect vocals? How could a live performance compete? what era are you preferring? the ones without Brian, how?

During the early 70's. For some reason i think Al Jardine's voice suits the song better than Brian's maybe i'm just crazy.

Maybe I don't know

I don't by any means consider them superior, but I really dig the Hawaii rehearsal versions of Good Vibrations and Surfer Girl, as well as the subsequent Wally Heider version of God Only Knows...there really is a whole lot of passion in those versions. Kind of like a feeling of innocence lost.

i've always been a fan of Darlin' performed at Knebworth, it's really fast, but I enjoy that.

It's not really better, but just different, I like the rocking version of "Heroes and Villains" on In Concert. Al & Carl do a great job on the vocals.

haha I was just going to post that one. I'm listening to it now, it carries on far more energy than the studio version....LOVE it.

It is my favorite Live Beach Boys song....really well done on In Concert. But I don't find it better than the studio version.

I think Do It Again live is FAR better than the studio version.

"Darlin'" is better than it's studio counterpart, at least until 1980. I'd also say "Marcella", I much prefer the live take of that to the studio one.

This, a bazillion times. The 'Liveness' of the Heider tunes aside, they are insanely beautiful.

Excellent thread!

73 Concert -

Sail on Sailor
Don't Worry Baby
Leaving This Town
You Still Believe in Me
Rhonda
 
Live in London - 1969
Do It Again
Wake the World
Bluebirds

Knebworth  - 1980
Lady Lynda
Surfer Girl - Dennis introducing Brian!
God Only Knows 
Cottonfields/Heroes and Villains

Songs from Here and Back
Little Deuce Coupe 
Kokomo
Dance, Dance, Dance

Sorry if I put in too many songs.   It is hard to choose; there is so much great stuff!   ;)

 

 

I can't think of any, really, aside from "Darlin."  As much as I love the Beach Boys live, I've always been more partial to studio versions of songs in general. 

Yeah, they're definitely a studio band first and foremost. I honestly think they should have all stopped touring and begun writing individually and collectively more. Alas.

Plus, although I think Carl's vocals are superior in live versions of "Darlin'" what I miss is the awesome phat piano sound that the recorded version (and all of Wild Honey obviously) has... it's awesome.

What Brian has done in the past decade with performing rarities live, there's a lot to choose from.

Marcella (I know, not so rare)
Salt Lake City (pretty on par with original)
Pet Sounds (instrumental)
Lay Down Burden (far superior to the studio cut)
YOur Imagination (same thing)
Melt Away (I LOVE hearing Jeff's voice on this)
Please Let Me Wonder (Brian's band of angels once again)
Love and Mercy (All Star Tribute Live with Boys Choir Harlem)
The Night Was So Young
Friends
Keep an Eye on Summer (acoustic live)
Little Girl I Once Knew
Good to My Baby
Busy Doin' Nothin'
Do it Again (love the capella part at the end)

Definitely You Still Believe in Me and Marcella.

I definitely prefer the live versions of Do It Again and Marcella live over the original.
Always dig the lick on the intro to Do It Again, one of my favorite concert moments!

Their version of 'I Get Around' from the TAMI show kicks the sh*t out of the studio version.  One of my favorites!

There's really not much as I miss Brian's voice on most of the prime live tapes. We Got Love was better live, Surfer Girl from the 67 rehearsal and Gettin Hungry from the Hawaii concert come to mind. All I Want To Do On Rarites is better I think. Pappa Omm Mow Mow wasn't as good on Party. Hide Your Love Away and Barbara Ann (with Brian in the sixties) were better live as the Party versions are sloppy.

I know it's regarded as a throwaway track, but Papa Oom Mow Mow from The Lost Concert is just awesome-for a small moment Brian just seems to forget where he is and goes for it.

I really must do myself a live compilation this weekend

Great thread, by the way

let us know what you put on the compilation.

The first song that popped into my head was "Do It Again".

Will do-lets just say there is alot of evidence to get through. I'm thinking 15 tracks as 'The Beach Boys' and then 5 or 6 tracks from Brian/Carl solo shows. Any good ideas where to start?

"Funky Pretty."

Oh, yes, indeed!

And, We Got Love (from Concert - 1973) ;) :woot

I don't know if it's so much a case of preferring a live version to a studio version, but a lot of the songs take on a new dimension in the live arena.

Heroes and Villains is great live. I'd say I prefer it over the studio version. Brian may have been the lead vocalist on the studio version but this type of song is just fit for Al. Most of the 1966-73 songs work better live, especially You Still Believe In Me, Wild Honey, Aren't You Glad, Darlin', Wake the World, I Can Hear Music, Forever, Cool Cool Water, Surf's Up, Feel Flows, Marcella, and Sail On Sailor.

This bad boy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRbBPhodF4Q

Even if purists do point out that the "classic members" are actually contributing very little.

I know i've said this before somewhere but i prefer Wonderful live, I always thought Carl's voice suited the song better than Brian's.

love Blondie's lead on Wild Honey

Agreed.

Ok, it's a Brian Wilson solo, but 'Love and Mercy' with the Harlem Boys Choir (on the BW tribute dvd) is jaw-dropping and far superior to the studio version.

Wonderbill.  H&V with Ricky on drums.   Funky Pretty on Nassau boot.  Disney Girls on Paramount 93.
KTSA from Knebworth.  Do it Again, the rougher the better.  All or most of the "car" songs.  Surfin USA live is almost always good, especially when Carl or someone else nails the CB intro with the live drums pounding.

alot of the horn parts on the Live in London album are really good.
Always enjoyed Brian's vocal parts on trumpet for Do it Again.
Aren't You Glad has a great horn part.

But then again, when they performed Aren't You Glad at the Big Sur in early 70s, I loved the organ parts

Barbara Ann. Leaving This Town. Keeping the Summer Alive.

The gospel choir version of "That Same Song" from the '76 TV special stomps the studio version into the ground.

A personal note on the Do It Again intro...
It was a bright summer day in Sweden at the venue and day of The Beach Boys show... the past weeks and days had been really busy...
3.30pm it was time for soundcheck... I was busy with getting everything ready before doors opened... so I hadn't given a thought to the meaning of soundcheck... I was crossing the field in front of the stage

Suddenly I hear a familiar beat from Cowsills drums... I turn to the stage as Scott starts the intro lick on his guitar... everyone in the band looks at me as I'm standing at the empty grass field... I break a smile and cry a bit of pure happiness... and then Mike begins to sing Do It Again...

I was thinking of a bonus CD of live Barbara Ann's just for AGD?!! :)

Great suggestions guys-can't wait to go through all of these over the weekend with a beer or two

I like the live version of "Darlin'" much more than the studio recording.

As far as "Barbara Ann" is concerned, it is probably not at the top of the rock music "food chain" but  I would liken it to "Jingle Bells" as Christmas music, teaching young children.  Not my first choice, but when you teach 4 and 5 year olds first, you dig into and "access" their background and what they know, before you teach new material, and, in an effort not to ever dim their natural enthusiasm, you play it anyway and make a big deal when they sing along, learning to use their young voices. 

When you see the faces of the kids, so enthusiastic about being able to "know the words" and tell them they are the "smartest kids in the world," they "respond" by singing "from their toes" at a school show.

Most people at a Beach Boys or Brian Wilson show would never "own up" to saying it was their favorite song, because it is sort of a goofy song, but not unlike the 4 and 5 year kids, the audience just becomes enthusiastic and "rocks out," because they "know the words," but they are swept up with the "party ambiance" that the venue has taken on, through the show. They are "responding" to the rest of the performance.   

Toward the end of the show, everyone is having a blast and no one really cares about how "intellectual" musically it is. It is fun. And,  I have read that having to sing that song, drove Carl crazy but would venture to guess, and have seen him, in spite of himself, have a "belly laugh" watching the crowd go bonkers, so it does have its "place" in the catalog.   

 ;)   

"Let The Wind Blow" and "Sloop John B." from In Concert.
Even though I LOVE the studio version of "Sloop", I'm just slightly fonder of the live version.
Probably has to do with Carl's voice.

Big Bri~

"As far as "Barbara Ann" is concerned, it is probably not at the top of the rock music "food chain" "

not even at the top of the garbage chain.....If I were a raccoon I wouldn't touch it.

'California Girls' from the Lei'd in Hawaii rehearsals. In it's own way I find it better than the studio version....it depends on what mood I'm in.