Fave Live CT Song?

[Scott]

Stemming from a mention on the official site...I am curious which song people like best live(relative to its studio version)?

I have very few unOfficial live CT songs. On BBC, Half-Gifts is mine, not my favorite song overall on BBC but one I think most improves(by my tastes) on the studio version.

I'd love to get more live material. I have one Pink Orange Red version from 89 where Liz's voice is particularly moving...not better than the studio in a technical sense...but wrenches me for sure...

[Phil Lawton]

Scott

The difficulty with this is that there are so many bootleg tracks out there that they're not universally known.

Sort of along the same lines for me. I have a live video of "Pink Orange Red" from 1985, which is more desolate than the studio cut - definitely my favourite live track.

Phil

[Scott]

Yeah, it is a bit obscure...I hoped anyway to hear from the folks lucky enough to have some live material or who've seen some shows...I'd like to get a hold of more of bootlegs of course..funny thing is I almost deleted the POR I downloaded at first...soundquality and all..glad I kept it...

[James Soule]

I was fortunate enough to see The Cocteau Twins in a small venue on South Beach(Miami) in 1994. Amazing. I had goosebumps for the entirety of the performance, and will never forget being so close to that sound. Liz sounded fantastic, and the band were right on as well. Cool lighting effects, great sound, all my favorite tunes, and a kick ass tour T-shirt to complete the evening. A show I will NEVER forget, I'm thankful I got to see them before they called it quits.
I've found quite a bit of live material on WinMX, not very good sound quality on most, but keep an eye out for songs from a show at Berkely(sp?)in 94 (or maybe 92). I've got three great sounding tunes from that show. I also have a very cool Cocteau video of a show in New Orleans from 94, and whoever made it was awesome enough to add a bunch of Cocteau videos at the end, including the Jay Leno performance of Bluebeard! I should like to shake the hand of the chap who put that one together!
-Souleman

[Beth]

Serpentskirt Tinderbox and Halfgifts-the album version annoys me with that fairground organ style thingy lol.

[rob]

I Saw the cocteau twins only once in 1985 at chelmsford essex england liz was having trouble with her voice that night but stuggled on. hearing musette and drums belted out with such passion still gets me tingling all over.

[john anderson]

seekers who are lovers and pur where incredible live!

[dynamine]

"BLUE BELL KNOLL" @the mayan 96' (los angeles) much
longer version and the guitars were amazing.

[steven]

I think 'Whales Tales' really sounds awesome live....

[watchlar]

I have to agree with Ross about the 96 LA show....BLUE BELL KNOLL about shot me right through the ceiling....

Violane kicked ass that night too.....

watchy

[mmmender]

but what about the black sessions version of 'pandora'?

[willy]

Spoggle-Toes at the Dinsdale Mecca Ballroom in Throckley, when they were the support act to Joe Longthorne. 1988 I think.

[fornasetti]

"I Should Be So Lucky" at Leeds University, 1984 (I think). That was special.

[Trashmad]

Originally posted by rob
I Saw the cocteau twins only once in 1985 at chelmsford essex england liz was having trouble with her voice that night but stuggled on. hearing musette and drums belted out with such passion still gets me tingling all over.

Rob, agreed I was also at that gig, they struggled with the sound all night. I seem to recall Robin bollocking a sound guy for touching the backing tapes settings

[watchlar]

Originally posted by fornasetti
"I Should Be So Lucky" at Leeds University, 1984 (I think). That was special. crying

[willy]

Originally posted by fornasetti
"I Should Be So Lucky" at Leeds University, 1984 (I think). That was special.

Gee, like...WOW! And Kylie's original wasn't written, recorded or released until 1988. Very ahead of their time, these 'Teaus chappies.

[Funkjedi]

I got into the Cocteaus in 1994. I thought about going to the Royal Albert Hall to see them in 95/96, but passed up the chance. BIGGEST REGRET

[Ghosty]

MILLIMILLENARY

Live at Vera, Groningen.

Better than the original IMO.

[stratton]

mmmm....arrgggghhh....blechhh....i'm BACK!

whew...that was kinda like being reborn. if there's one subject that i never tire of it's discussing live cocteau performances. i saw them live three times. once here in dallas on the holv tour in march of 1991. that experience was so beyond comprehension that it's hard to remember any one favorite as a standout. i DO remember being just amazed at seeing liz standing at the mike with eyes closed, glasses on and hair all curly belting out 'from the flagstones' near the beginning of the show. the real 'crossing over' experience happened for me in boston at avalon in june of 1996. the whole show was really sublime but i was on the verge of tears when they did 'i wear your ring'. complete catharsis occurred during the encore of 'pur'. me insides turned out. ;)

sorry to leave all you kids for such a long time. i had a really bad year...familial deaths, illnesses, etc. i was emotionally unavailable for much else besides dealing with that. but i'm here now and will definitely be in LA for cocteaufest round 2. i think i'll leave the camera at home this time though. lol...

xoxo,

stratton

[andylama]

Hi Stratton!

Sorry to hear about the misfortunes, but nice to see you back here.

OTOH, I've only seen the band live once (Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, nineteen-ninety-whatever), and that was the "dolphin squealing" tour, so I was somewhat dumbstruck...in a bad way. Glad I went to the show, but damn, what was all that yodeling all about?!