Live Performance Battle: Gold Dust Woman

[bluecalmsea]

Favorite performance? Likes/ Dislikes?

Japan 1977:
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Solo/ In Concert:
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Solo/ 1981/ Bob Welch:
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Solo/ 1983/ US Festival:
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Tango:
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The Dance:
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Solo/ 1999/ Sheryl Crow:
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2004/ Boston:
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Solo/ 2008/ Chicago:
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Solo/ 2013/ Dave Grohl/ Sound City Players:
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Or other not listed?

[elle]

Wembley 2009 -

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........ including guitar humping ;)

[TheWILDheart]

This is an odd one, because Stevie has been seriously ripping up Gold Dust Woman of late.

I love the musical arrangement on the Bella Donna tour version. The more fast paced drums on the chorus are brilliant and I love the way it all builds up.

Her vocals on and passion on the recent Sound City versions have been INCREDIBLE. Same with soundstage, and I love the whole "baby, you should see me now" improv.

However, I think for obvious reasons, I have to go with the Bob Welch and friends performance.

[FierySequences]

This is an odd one, because Stevie has been seriously ripping up Gold Dust Woman of late.

I love the musical arrangement on the Bella Donna tour version. The more fast paced drums on the chorus are brilliant and I love the way it all builds up.

Her vocals on and passion on the recent Sound City versions have been INCREDIBLE. Same with soundstage, and I love the whole "baby, you should see me now" improv.

However, I think for obvious reasons, I have to go with the Bob Welch and friends performance.

See, I disagree, if this was Not a compliment.
GDW is one of the few songs that gets better over the years, regardless of whom she sings it with.

Bob Welch-great show, TITN-a new version, The Dance-it gets better, yet, Soundstage-almost flawless, 2009-WOW, Sound City-almost perfection.

Hell, even the 1994 version with Bekka and the Mac is Really good. This all makes me rethink that GDW is one of the best, versatile songs Stevie has ever written. A song that can be played some 35+ years later, and still sound fresh and relevant, regardless of who the singer and players are. That is a high mark of a great composer.

[TheWILDheart]

See, I disagree, if this was Not a compliment.


I meant it as a good thing :thumbsup:

[GypsySorcerer]

"Gold Dust Woman" is a fantastic live song. (It's been better than "Rhiannon" live for years.) The '77 Japan version is great- I love Stevie's performance here (really sexy) - and that hair!!! The Welch one is wonderful too. And of course, The Dance version...she was like the hippie chick from yesteryear here. Back when I had the Dance on VHS(!), I used to rewind her wail over and over. :o And I love "shaaadow, she's a draagon!"

And recently, she's been killing it with the Sound City players....the most energized we've seen in a long time.

[elle]

makes me rethink that GDW is one of the best, versatile songs Stevie has ever written. A song that can be played some 35+ years later, and still sound fresh and relevant, regardless of who the singer and players are.

GDW is BY FAR my favorite SN song and i think it's also hands down her best FM song all together... it is also one of the rare SN songs that i love. i hope i get to hear it live.

[Sanne2]

I love the Japan video, she looks out of it and yet still completely stunning, and the random footage of Japan add to creepy vibe of the song.

[badanimals87]

And recently, she's been killing it with the Sound City players....the most energized we've seen in a long time.

I totally agree! Have you seen the Hammerstein Ballroom performance? IMO it was the best yet. I took some of the Youtube audience recordings and made a multi-cam video of GDW...hope you guys like it.

Tim

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[stevierocks87]

Tim that video is fantastic, thank you! Definitely the best version of the shows this year, and one of the best ever for sure---such a great band!!!!

I guess I am most loyal to The Dance version- that UNREAL possessed yell- wild Stevie was back! Me and my mom always said what a mistake it was that it wasn't put on the CD.

I also love the 81 version- that beautiful blue shawl, the way she twirls in, great vocal, and of course she looks absolutely beautiful.

Soundstage is technically pretty perfect, but I find the versions this year more raw and edgy.

[Artemis]

One with Bob Welch is always going to be my favourite, those wails!

I always like to think of the amazing 1997 one as a reaction to Bekka singing it (I like that version too) sorta Stevie's way of reminding everyone who's song it is. :laugh:

[cantgoback]

Japan '77
Bob Welch
The Second One
oh hell... they're all good

[Hawkeye]

Wembley 2009.

[elle]

Wembley 2009.
Thank you -I couldn't believe how jazzed up this version was. :thumbsup: Not sure whether it was the same during US leg.

[Hawkeye]

My favorite part is how much she belts kingDOMMM UP FOR SAAAAAAAALE. And she still did that at least in rochester early on on the tour. But by England Lindsey's guitar improvisions reached new hights. I'm glad you mentioned this first. People tend to bring up soundstage and very recently the Dave grohl versions for great modern day GDWs but for me the entire unleashed tour was the best so far and wembley just happens to be a great quality late in the tour example.

[drzubritsky]

The Dance, hands down for me. My only quibbles with it are Lindsey's oddly subdued playing of the lead guitar lick (a signature part of the song), and the use of Stevie's backup singers on the coda. But any version with a wail as awesome as that is a winner. I also love the way she sings the "So rock on ancient queen" line...really evoked her 70s voice and was the last hurrah for that softer, almost whispered vocal before she began singing everything from the gut with virtually no dynamics.

But I agree that with the above comments that this song has worn well as Stevie's voice has changed over the years; rarely is there a bad performance.

[Hawkeye]

One with Bob Welch is always going to be my favourite, those wails!

I always like to think of the amazing 1997 one as a reaction to Bekka singing it (I like that version too) sorta Stevie's way of reminding everyone who's song it is. :laugh:

What wails from the bob welch version. Its a great version but it's got maybe the least amount of wails of any gold dust woman. Now that ending jam kicks ass and I loved that crazed look at times in Stevie's eye

[jcalzaretta]

Soundstage (Chicago) and the rare 1981 are amazing.

[MacShadowsBall]

Soundstage (Chicago) and the rare 1981 are amazing.

Excellent choices. The best versions are ones we're Stevie's vocals are awesome! :cool:

[David]

Do you guys remember the Baton Rouge 1978 performance? I love that pooped-out quality.

And doesn't anyone like the recently released 1977 performance on the Rumours Deluxe? Nobody's been talking about any of that live stuff.

[StandbackStevie]

I prefer Soundstage Live in Chicago Version,Live at Roxy with Bob Welch,Live in Boston,Live hbo white wing dove concert 1981.Live with Sheryl Crow in central park, and Unleashed Tour 2009 Are my favs I don't care for the version she is doing recently with Dave Grohl for some reason its seems painful to watch for me.