Greatest MTV unplugged of all time?

YellowSnow said:

Tequilla said:

Nirvana vs Field still isn’t competitive

Clapton is probably 2nd

I think most of the live albums released in the rock era (call it 81%) are non essential, because either (a) the live versions are inferior to the studio ones, or (b) they don't feature a lot of material only available on the live album. Nirvana Unplugged really is on the Mt Rushmore of Live Albums, I think. I think the live takes of About a Girl and Come as You Are best the studio ones. And the Bowie, Meat Puppets, and Lead Belly covers are all essential and equal or better than the originals.

DerekJohnson said:

Fenderbender123 said:

YellowSnow said:

Tequilla said:

Nirvana vs Field still isn’t competitive

Clapton is probably 2nd

I think most of the live albums released in the rock era (call it 81%) are non essential, because either (a) the live versions are inferior to the studio ones, or (b) they don't feature a lot of material only available on the live album. Nirvana Unplugged really is on the Mt Rushmore of Live Albums, I think. I think the live takes of About a Girl and Come as You Are best the studio ones. And the Bowie, Meat Puppets, and Lead Belly covers are all essential and equal or better than the originals.

A lot of live albums suffered from poor acoustics and recording setups. If the crowd is really loud, it's hard for the band to tell if they're singing the right note, too. The Beach Boys released a live album, and Brian Wilson was smart enough to edit the shit out of it, strengthen the vocals, etc. I think there might also be a song or two that wasn't even recorded live. At that point, does it still count as a live album?

Nirvana's unplugged album is definitely the best. As you said, almost every song on it is the best version of that song. Everything is perfectly mixed. No mistakes. And I read somewhere (not sure if true) that Nirvana did the whole thing in one take, whereas normally MTV had the bands re-record some stuff for the official release.

I heard Nirvana's version of Lake of Fire first, and I think it ruined the Meat Puppet's version. It doesn't even sound like the Meat Puppets are playing it correctly....and they wrote the thing! I'm not even a big Nirvana fan, either, but here I am gushing about their Unplugged album. Gushing like a granny I tell ya.

I remember hearing The Beach Boys at the Kingdome after a Mariners game in the early 1980s. I've never been a fan of them, but the acoustics were absolutely awful. Must have been brutal trying to play and keep time with all the echoes and reverbs.

YellowSnow said:

Fenderbender123 said:

Here's my take on why they never crushed it as a live band:

Their original recording contract in the 60s required them to produce 3 new albums a year, which ate up a bunch of time the band could have spent rehearsing for live performances. Necessary for heavy harmonizing vocal type stuff. It's tough getting everyone's part nailed down.

Brian Wilson's deafness in one ear likely made it more challenging to hear himself singing. Then he quit touring altogether in 1964 (occasionally would join) which is a major loss. Then he got into drugs and fucked up his voice in the 70s. So did Dennis.

Much like The Beatles, The Beach Boys were starting to write and record a lot of songs that were difficult to perform outside the studio, due to the instruments and recording techniques used. For example, California Girls was recorded with drums, piano, vibes, assorted percussion, three guitars, both an electric and a double bass, three saxophones, a trumpet, and an organ, not to mention six-part harmony vocals (according to Google). That's just too much to translate to a live performance. And on some songs, they had a session drummer contribute to the recording because Dennis wasn't familiar with certain techniques and patterns. While touring, it was just Dennis. So certain songs (Hawaii, for example) didn't translate well for live performances.

The Beach Boys also weren't especially talented instrumentalists. Best in the business for vocals and Brian was a genius. But Hal Blaine and Carol Kaye weren't going on the road to back them.