60s Edition: 4 More Times The Live Version Was Better Than The Studio Version {List 3}

Peter, Paul, and Mary. Image source: Courtesy of David Gahr via kpbs.org

The 60s: a time of turbulence, social changes, activism, and musicians who have made a significant impact on culture and history. Many listeners consider it to be the era where music was at its highest point as a lot of the industry's veterans that are widely known today came out of this decade. Here is the 60s edition of our continuing series when there were 4 times the live version was better than the studio version.

"America" by Simon & Garfunkel. The Late Show with David Letterman (2003)

Okay, this performance isn't from the 60s, but the song is! "America" made its first appearance in the album Bookends and was released in 1968. Simon & Garfunkel haven't performed together since 2010, but their appearance on Letterman shows that they still have that spark that makes them universally known today.

"Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan. Newport Folk Festival (1964)

Bob Dylan performs "Mr. Tambourine Man" at the Newport Folk Festival. It's amazing how quiet the audience is considering how much people there are. But of course, that's the effect you get with a musician like Bob Dylan-- he is simply a great storyteller.

"If I Had a Hammer" by Peter, Paul, and Mary. Newport Folk Festival (1963)

This song was originally written by Pete Seegers and Lee Hays in 1949 and was written in support of the progressive movement. Not only was Peter, Paul, and Mary known for their political and social activism and commentaries in their music, but they were also known for giving raw performances with nothing more than two guitars, their voices, and Mary's iconic hair flips.

"Ball and Chain" by Janis Joplin. Monterey Pop Festival (1967)
This was probably Janis Joplin's best performance of all time as she was seeping with emotion when she sang this. A little fun fact about this video: she and her band had already performed this song the day before, but festival coordinators convinced them to do it again the next day so that they can record it on film. There were probably no regrets that day as the result only confirmed her status as "The Queen of Psychedelic Soul."