I've always preferred live music over studio albums. Even if it was a cassette, or an album (anyone remember those?) and even now with MP3's I've sought out the innocence, and the reality of live recordings.
Take for example what I'm listening to now: The Doors Live in Detroit. Now, I've perused The Doors' catalog in various record outlets for going on 25 years, and I don't ever recall seeing a album or tape that featured this concert. There was the Hollywood Bowl concert captured, in part, on Alive She Cried, but from a pure album standpoint I don't think I ever saw this one. Regardless, I have it now, and I couldn't be happier.
In my estimation nothing captures the true essence of a band like a live recording does. In the studio, you can do anything; in a live recording, you're at the mercy of the crowd, the elements, the equipment, nature, your own limitations, and force majeure. A live concert, or a live recording, is the true essence of a band, and hearing that band live strips them down, lays bare the talent and ability, and demonstrates their true essence.
I prefer live recordings of my favorites, and especially older bands like The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd....I guess I'm a purest in that respect as I prefer live recordings of bands well before the advent of electronic enhancement. Put the purity of Jim Morrison singing against someone like Britney Spears and you'll see what I mean - Jim Morrison's voice is raw, real and exudes a power and sexuality that Britney can only get via studio enhancement and "lip syncing". Morrison never lip-synced, and never had to. That's real music.
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