live or studio

[flipflop444]

if your listening do you prefer live albums or do you pick the studio albums.
tell me why.

[FunkHouse9]

I'd choose live, hands down every time. I love the energy you usually get from a live performance. Without the studio tricks, it's a lot more authentic. I am also a huge fan of cover songs. I always love hearing a new take on someone else's song. Because I love live versions of songs and cover songs so much, live versions of covers are an added bonus for me, even when they s***.

[flipflop444]

I'd choose live, hands down every time. I love the energy you usually get from a live performance. Without the studio tricks, it's a lot more authentic. I am also a huge fan of cover songs. I always love hearing a new take on someone else's song. Because I love live versions of songs and cover songs so much, live versions of covers are an added bonus for me, even when they s***.

i like the the live stuff better to. i think that it makes it better to hear it the way jimmy really does it.

[rmissbrook]

It depends on the song. If he is doing the upbeat ones then it is usually better live. You can hear the audience and feel the energy.

But if he is doing ballads and uses his barroom baritone, then I prefer the studio version. The only times these sound good is when he is in front of a small audience.

[FunkHouse9]

I'd choose live, hands down every time. I love the energy you usually get from a live performance. Without the studio tricks, it's a lot more authentic. I am also a huge fan of cover songs. I always love hearing a new take on someone else's song. Because I love live versions of songs and cover songs so much, live versions of covers are an added bonus for me, even when they s***.

i like the the live stuff better to. i think that it makes it better to hear it the way jimmy really does it.

I do feel compelled to mention that I am not just referring to Jimmy's music, but live and cover versions across the board.

[SMLCHNG]

Studio for me. And that goes for most artists I like. Generally most of them don't sing well live. But that is MY personal preference.

[HurricaneSeason]

Back in the day, ha ha, around the time Jimmy lost some steam with Riddles and Mango I listened to You Had To Be There more than any other album. I found myself playing that a lot along with Somewhere Over China and One Particular Harbour a lot. When Feeding Frenzy came out I listened to that a bit but it didn't last as long. I enjoyed listening to Floridays and Hot Water and even Off To See The Lizard more than the live album - partially because there aren't any current songs on Feeding Frenzy! Nothing from the Lizard album made it, which was disappointing. The newest song was Work In Dis Bidness. I never did like The City but I did like Jamaica Farewell and some of other album cuts like Honey Do and Fins and even Volcano. Overall I thought it was and still is a weak live album. Since then of course he's released quite a few live albums, with Tuesdays and Hawaii being his best two of the entire bunch I think (Hawaii slightly gets the nod more so because it features songs that were about to be released). Tuesdays could have at least included something from the Beach House album (!!!) but he went for the live hits comp instead. Great version of Pencil Thin on that album and overall it's a really good live album.

I prefer, however, the studio recordings. In general, they are the definitive versions of the idea of the song, which lasts much longer than how something is performed over the years. For example, and I can't place when it started, but these past few years or more I'd much rather listen to the studio versions of Changes In Latitudes and Cheeseburger or even Margaritaville (without all the salt) and a few others etc because of the yelling words instead of singing and obsessive ad-libbing.

And some of the songs he just won't play live so the studio versions are all we get.

[SeattleParrotHead]

You're missing the third choice . . live boobies!

Hands down, live! Studio, you get Jimmy the singer . . live, you get Jimmy the ENTERTAINER.

[HurricaneSeason]

Studio - singing.

Live - SHOUTING.

[changingchannels]

i gotta agree with some of the above comments. most of the songs he does live i feel are better than the studio versions especially the anguilla album and tuesday, thursdays, saturdays. but at the same time i wish jimmy would concentrate more on singing then resorting to shouting.like someone else said changes in latitudes is a prime example. and after hearing the material from the encores album i feel like he can do better vocal job. thats one of the things i dont like about buffet hotel. it sounds like his voice is all over the place.

[AnInnocentMan]

I've got to go with live. As much as I love the albums, there is an energy that comes across in the live setting that the studio albums can't touch, for me.

[phinsinohio]

I would say it all depends on the situation. This coming weekend I plan on drinking quite a few boat drinks and that usually calls for live music. In the car on long drives, I find studio music a little bit more enjoyable.

[AmerigoJoe]

Live, Live, Live - you get nuances of emotion, humor, etc. that you don't get in studio albums. I love the commentary that takes place regarding a particular venue, day of the week, or history of a song.

[OriginalTinCup]

Depends on my mood - live, studio, either, or... it's Jimmy.

[IrishPirate]

Studio most of the time for me!!!! Especially "Margaritaville", no Salt, salt, salt!!!!!

[tigzoe]

I had heard a story a while ago that related to kids generally downloading certain songs off of albums instead of listening to the whole release and not fully appreciating the story the artist was trying to tell. I do like the energy from live releases, but I usually only listen to the shows that are not the norm (Freddie and the Fishsticks, the two shows form the gulf). There are some songs I can listen to over and over again, but give me Coconut Telegraph start to finish any day of the week.

[OriginalTinCup]

In terms of the market for music and how music is being marketed and packaged these days it would seem that we've actuially come full circle in that we - or "the kids nowadays" - are back into buying "singles" - the hits only, thank you.

That use to be buying 45's (2 songs) vs. LPs/albums (33 & 1/3) (10 to 14 songs - usually).

However, now in the digital download age you only get one song for $0.99. No "B" sides and all the artwork and artist info is completely optional, i.e. download it if you feel like it or feel like using disc space for it - or not. With most of the artwork and info available/accessible on-line, the industry itself has made it non-essential to own.

Being an old school music collector I still want the complete package. I'll download my own playlist of "hits" to my iPod.

[tigzoe]

In terms of the market for music and how music is being marketed and packaged these days it would seem that we've actuially come full circle in that we - or "the kids nowadays" - are back into buying "singles" - the hits only, thank you.

That use to be buying 45's (2 songs) vs. LPs/albums (33 & 1/3) (10 to 14 songs - usually).

However, now in the digital download age you only get one song for $0.99. No "B" sides and all the artwork and artist info is completely optional, i.e. download it if you feel like it or feel like using disc space for it - or not. With most of the artwork and info available/accessible on-line, the industry itself has made it non-essential to own.

Being an old school music collector I still want the complete package. I'll download my own playlist of "hits" to my iPod.

Remember the controversy when long boxes were all the rage because it showed more of the artwork, but yet, it was killing trees?! Nothing like a gate fold album, and reading the lyrics as you heard the music. These days I need to get a magnifying glass to read the liner notes. Give me the thrill of listening to an album from start to finish any day of the week.