Live albums

I have been reflecting a lot recently on the question:  who am I?  I think of the answer primarily in terms of, "I am the kind of person who..."  For example, I am the kind of person who listens to a live album and thinks:  why would I want to listen to this when there is a much better version recorded in a studio?

I get it, people value the spontaneity of live music.  I guess I don't, for the most part.  I have The Who's "Live at Leeds" album, which is generally regarded as one of the best live albums ever.  I kind of appreciate it, the random interjections, the weird transitions and musical medleys.  But I've had that album for 30 years now, so I've gotten used to it.  I just listened to a different live album, and I can't help thinking:  yuck.  This is just like the studio release, only sloppier.

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