Do you insist on original, definitive recorded versions?

[Buried Alien]

When it comes to recordings of your favorite songs, do you insist on the original, most widely known and distributed studio-recorded versions (i.e. the definitive, historic versions), or does it really not matter to you? Are you equally happy with a live version (provided it's good) or even a later re-recording of the song by the original artist?

I tend to insist on original studio versions myself, unless a live version becomes definitive (i.e. the live version of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me" or Peter Frampton's "Baby I Love Your Way").

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Jessica Drew]

Almost to a song, yes. Though I allow for a few exceptions (re-recordings by country artists and blues artists, usually, as often those secondary--and sometimes tertiatry--recordings follow the original by sometimes a decade or more; and even then, I already have the original recording. Oh--and I don't count live versions; to me, they're a different beast altogther), for the most part, I do insist on having the original, historical version, especially in the case of '50s and early '60s records, as lapsed copywright laws have opened up the market to about as many godawful re-recordings and pseudo re-recordings as one can imagine.

[twilight]

I prefer original studio versions.

Live versions can make for an interesting distraction but I prefer the original.

-Twi

[howyadoin]

Whatever sounds best, in my opinion. I like knowing the trivia behind it, but ultimately my ears are the final criteria.

[Ilash]

Generally, yeah, the studio version wins. There are some exceptions though. The NIght They Drove Old Dixie Down by the Band is better in its live Last Waltz form than its original. Ditto live takes of the Who's A Quick One.

Live versions are also often interesting supplements to the originals (see the Stones' live versions of Jumpin' Jack Flash).

[x_goalkeeper]

I like the studio recordings better usually, but like live for a change sometimes

[The Confessor]

I'm usually a purist about it and prefer to hear the original studio versions but there are occasions when a live version or even a later re-recording can surpass the original.

Ultimately, it's whichever version I like best and more often than not that's the original studio version.

[Romero]

When it comes to "oldies," I prefer the original studio recordings to cases where the same artists have done studio re-recordings. It just is never quite the same to me.

While I love seeing live music, I generally dislike live records. There are exceptions but I mostly don't own any live records.

[Imaginos666]

I've got no real preference, except for those songs I've heard a million times. As much as I like Don't Fear the Reaper, the live version on BOC's Extra-Terrestrial Live album is probably better. It's a more elaborate song in a live setting. But it lacks the ambiance of the studio original.

That being said, I always prefer original studio versions to later studio "re-recordings." If I want to hear Chuck Berry play Johnny B Goode in 1977, I'll find a concert recording. There's something inadvertently sterile about "updating" your own song in a studio.

[The Black Guardian]

Whatever sounds best. But I think studio versions of songs are sterile and artificial, by design, and prefer live recordings.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Well I like the Killers "Sam's Town" thats on Sawdust than the album version.

[Ontir]

It depends. There are times that I want the original version, but while I love T-Rex's Bang a Gong, I equally love the Power Station's Get it On (Bang a Gong). If there are multiple versions, one may suit a situation better than another, regardless of which came first, or who did it.

The one exception is Neil Sedaka's Breaking Up is Hard to Do. I loathe the ballad version!

[jesse_custer]

Most of the time. I do like multiple versions of Elvis Costello songs, though, and I picked up this two-disc live set of Roy Orbison that's pretty awesome. Hearing him hit that final AMAZING note in "Running Scared" live is a must.

[40footwolf]

Same here. I like Jimi Hendrix live and I like The Who live and I like some Metallica live and that's about it. I'll take the original version most any day.

[Imaginos666]

Oh, and sometimes a live version is the definitive version. "The End" by The Doors comes to mind.

[Jonathan Bogart]

Oh, and sometimes a live version is the definitive version. "The End" by The Doors comes to mind.
Yeah, I'd call Nico's live version the definitive one there. (The one from the 1974 concert with Eno, Cale, and Wyatt.)

[Ullar]

I really like the live versions of Rancid and The Ramones. I also think the definitive versions of Metallicas songs are from teh 1989 tour.