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I notice a lot of PP songs on peoples "Better on the album" list. I wonder if that has to do with Steve Berlin's flutes and flourishes?
For me: M@W, Springtime, Grace, 100th and Wheat Kings are always my "Dammit, that was the best version of that song I've ever heard" after each show.
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Can I admit this in public? I think Courage is one of the worst songs in the Hip catalogue (although it's still better than Coconut Cream). It is definitely better live than on the album, but it's still a low point for me. It puts on display the weakest aspects of their songwriting, a tendency to go on without going anywhere. To each his own, I guess.
Most songs are better live. After listening to them live, they seem to plod on the disc. A few don't work live for me: Fireworks and Little Bones are two. They don't work as well unless the sound is right on, I think.
The quieter songs (Bobcaygeon, Wheat Kings, etc.) are usually better on the album but the odd performance will surprise you.
Now that I've had the Courage to confess I don't like Courage, I'm going into exile. It couldn't have come at a worse time, I guess.... :oops:
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I love Fireworks on the album - that way I can skip it. :thumb:
And live, The Luxury does my body good.
"We're forced to bed, but we're free to dream"
Dana
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So am I the only one who thinks Springtime in Vienna live is one of mankind's greatest creations?
Also, whoever said Train Overnight, I'll second that one. I liked it on the album until I heard them play it live. I haven't been able to go back to the album version since. Even the tapes don't do it justice.
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It A Good Life If You Don't Weaken...I was never really into this song until I heard it live. Gord really belts it out.
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Interesting that two fans can disagree so strongly...if I was going to get a beer mid-show, Good Life would be my cue. As heard on the SARStock 2003 bootleg, in my opinion, it's the biggest buzzkill in the Hip's catalogue. That's cool that you "feel it", though!
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It's a Good Life is a great song when Gord remembers the lyrics. haha
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How can ANYONE condemn 'The Luxury???' What a classic!! 'Zoo Lion' is one of the best characters in Gord's freak show.
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The songs that improve for me the most in concert are:
Poets
Thugs
Music at Work
Grace, Too
Little Bones
Hundredth Meridian
Locked in the Trunk
50 Mission Cap
Gus
Tiger the Lion
Josephine
Courage
New Orleans
Don't Wake Daddy
Springtime
Nautical
Fully Completely
Twist My Arm
Wheat Kings
Mean Streak
The ones that don't work as well for me live:
Long Time Running
Scared
Good Life
You're Everywhere (based, admittedly, on one show)
Vaccination Scar (ditto)
Lake Fever
Dark Canuck
Escape (sorry, folks, I know, but it just doesn't work as well as on the CD, IMO)
Fireworks
Silver Jet
ABAC, usually
Gift Shop
Something On
Are You Ready
700 Ft. Ceiling
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The album version of Gift Shop is definitely one of my all-time favorites. For some reason they've never been able to capture the power, emotion and overall majesty of the studio version in a live setting. Not sure why that is, since 99% of their songs always sound better on stage.
Anything from Fully Completely is better live, mostly because of the lousy production on the album.
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Have you heard the Gift Shop from the end of Glastonbury and Elsewhere? It's from 96-06-29 Washington DC, but that FM bootleg is nowhere near the pristine quality of this one song from the GAE boot. I'd be curious to see what you thought of that version?
