SR and R&J Live vs studio - comparisons

[Jimbo]

MM is a great album even if I consider it inferior to the first two, LOG and BIA.
There are two masterpieces (TOL and Skateaway) plus other songs of excellent workmanship (I really like LB and the ballad HiH).
Solid Rock and Romeo & Juliet are excellent songs but they do not enter in my ranking among the first DS 30 songs.
Even if distant from each other in characteristics I have always considered the two songs on the same level (and as a vote I give them 8/10).
They have always been played live and I wanted to make a comparison with the studio version.
In my opinion, Solid Rock studio version has never been surpassed in live performance despite always being played very well.
It is essentially a hard rock song with a beginning that recalls Deep Purple's Smoke on the water with the instruments entering one at a time.
In the live Rainbow an embryonic version is played, as before MM, it is more of a rock-swing-boogie rhythm than hard rock.
The ending is good where Pick invents the solos at the end (he often did it in the other songs too).
Good but I like it less (7/10).

From Alchemy it becomes a different song, a sort of big party saraband, with stadium choirs.
The beginning is always interesting, as is the ending with TW's drum solos that better repeat those of Pick (who however remains the inventor).
My vote: 7,5/10
More or less the same as San Antonio (7.5/10).

SR gets even louder with sax and other instruments in OtN.
Still well played but a bit chaotic for my taste.
Too much party, it seems like it's not taken too seriously compared to the other songs.
I like the beginning less.

Ultimately for me:
1) MM
2) ALCHEMY
3) SAN ANTONIO
4) OtN
5) RAINBOW

[Jimbo]

I think the opposite about Romeo and Juliet that I rate (as SR) with an 8/10 in the MM version, with a dominant drums that embellishes a beautiful song.
In live performances obviously the sound cannot be as perfect as the studio recordings, but in live performances there are some aspects that can surpass the studio (emotion, power, accelerations, solos, new parts).
And R&J in the live versions improves, some aspects are embellished.
On Alchemy there is a deeper bass and the ending is more interesting (8.5/10).
The version of San Antonio is also excellent (8.5/10).
Perhaps the best version for me is the one on OtN, where there is an introduction and a solo before the ending that radically changes the song (9/10).

Ultimately for me:
1) OtN
2) ALCHEMY
3) SAN ANTONIO
4) MM

[Jimbo]

This allows me to make a final conclusion that concerns not only the two songs but all the songs.
In the comparison between studio version versus live album (not when you attend a concert, where there are other sensations and dynamics) the studio versions (if the album is very well recorded) almost always have a very high level of sound, a balance between the various instruments that a live version cannot reach.

The live version can have some advantages, but it must not replicate the studio song, it must be longer, have a different beginning, if possible prolonged, some changes of rhythm during the song, the insertion of some solo, even if short, make the sound of an instrument more intense than the original.

If it differs little from the original it tends to be worse than the original album.

What do you think? Thanks.

[Chris W]

SR gets even louder with sax and other instruments in OtN.
Still well played but a bit chaotic for my taste.
Too much party, it seems like it's not taken too seriously compared to the other songs.

Well it was an encore.
I really don't rate it as a song personally.

[JF]

This allows me to make a final conclusion that concerns not only the two songs but all the songs.
In the comparison between studio version versus live album (not when you attend a concert, where there are other sensations and dynamics) the studio versions (if the album is very well recorded) almost always have a very high level of sound, a balance between the various instruments that a live version cannot reach.

The live version can have some advantages, but it must not replicate the studio song, it must be longer, have a different beginning, if possible prolonged, some changes of rhythm during the song, the insertion of some solo, even if short, make the sound of an instrument more intense than the original.

If it differs little from the original it tends to be worse than the original album.

What do you think? Thanks.

versions on first leg of the tour were even longer with a guitar solo at the end before the pedal steel one

for my taste, I always love the Mandela version

I like very much the RAH 23/5/96 (SOS limited edition) and the Real live roadunning versions too

[JF]

MM is a great album even if I consider it inferior to the first two, LOG and BIA.
There are two masterpieces (TOL and Skateaway) plus other songs of excellent workmanship (I really like LB and the ballad HiH).
Solid Rock and Romeo & Juliet are excellent songs but they do not enter in my ranking among the first DS 30 songs.
Even if distant from each other in characteristics I have always considered the two songs on the same level (and as a vote I give them 8/10).
They have always been played live and I wanted to make a comparison with the studio version.
In my opinion, Solid Rock studio version has never been surpassed in live performance despite always being played very well.
It is essentially a hard rock song with a beginning that recalls Deep Purple's Smoke on the water with the instruments entering one at a time.
In the live Rainbow an embryonic version is played, as before MM, it is more of a rock-swing-boogie rhythm than hard rock.
The ending is good where Pick invents the solos at the end (he often did it in the other songs too).
Good but I like it less (7/10).

From Alchemy it becomes a different song, a sort of big party saraband, with stadium choirs.
The beginning is always interesting, as is the ending with TW's drum solos that better repeat those of Pick (who however remains the inventor).
My vote: 7,5/10
More or less the same as San Antonio (7.5/10).

SR gets even louder with sax and other instruments in OtN.
Still well played but a bit chaotic for my taste.
Too much party, it seems like it's not taken too seriously compared to the other songs.
I like the beginning less.

Ultimately for me:
1) MM
2) ALCHEMY
3) SAN ANTONIO
4) OtN
5) RAINBOW

what I love in the studio version is the way Mark sings "solid rock" during the chorus. He never sung it like that on tour

[Jimbo]

SR gets even louder with sax and other instruments in OtN.
Still well played but a bit chaotic for my taste.
Too much party, it seems like it's not taken too seriously compared to the other songs.

Well it was an encore.
I really don't rate it as a song personally.

Interesting this consideration: it was an encore, so less busy.
It's my feeling, not that it's played badly, it's well performed, but there's a festive atmosphere that is ending.
I also find it in Alchemy and San Antonio.

Chris, I take advantage of your patience and ask you two questions:
1) how did the preparation take place before the OtN Tour? How much time did you have?
2) the phenomenal finale of Money for nothing (which is not reported in the OtN live) how was it created? (It wasn't in BIA Tour).
Thank you.

[Chris W]

SR is an encore, so yes, a celebration, party time, not to be taken too seriously.
I'm not sure I understand your 'preperation' question.

[Jimbo]

SR is an encore, so yes, a celebration, party time, not to be taken too seriously.
I'm not sure I understand your 'preperation' question.

I don't know the exact the english term (I'm italian) .. I mean this:
when you start something long and hard like a tour, .. or you know the setlist perfectly or I think for someone (like in your case) who had never played in DS I imagine it takes a certain period of time to learn the songs and integrate with the others to arrive prepared for the first show (Dublin 1991 ?)

If you tell us a little bit about how long it took, where you and band tried...
more or less this. Thanks.

[Chris W]

It has widely been talked about on multiple threads.
There was a nearly 3 months rehearsal period. Yes, you are expected to basically know the songs before the rehearsals. No one is wasting time explaining the beat, or the chords.
The set list changes while you are on tour. People get bored and want to play different songs, also you get a better idea of what is working and not working so well when playing in front of an audience.

[Jimbo]

It has widely been talked about on multiple threads.
There was a nearly 3 months rehearsal period. Yes, you are expected to basically know the songs before the rehearsals. No one is wasting time explaining the beat, or the chords.
The set list changes while you are on tour. People get bored and want to play different songs, also you get a better idea of what is working and not working so well when playing in front of an audience.

Thank you.

How did the ending with your solo in Money for Nothing come about? (it wasn't on the BIA Tour)
Mark's idea or everyone's idea?

...that's the last question...

[Chris W]

Mark's idea or everyone's idea?

Why not my idea?
It was spontaneous and I personally don't like it, regret it.

[Love Expresso]

Nothing to regret, it fitted perfectly well into the set and was a very good contrast to a majestic Brothers in Arms and the wonderful quiet Going Home. It was really great and I loved how after you ended your solo you got up from your seat and the keyboard loop went on pretty long. It was a great idea from you and very impressing.

LE

[Jimbo]

Why not my idea?
It was spontaneous and I personally don't like it, regret it.
[/quote]
I congratulate you because IMO it is one of the 3-4 most emotional moments of the setlist (another is the beginning of Calling Elvis drums + percussion) of the three concerts I saw in Munich and Milan (2 times).