songs that are better live

Some songs just arent nearly as good in the studio version as they are live or in live recordings.

The first thing that comes to mind is VU's live at Max' kansas city which has better versions with lou reed singing the nico parts and a much better version of New Age.

Also Rife by Foetus is just much better than alot of the recorded versions especially private war/anything.

"Devil's Dance Floor" by Flogging Molly. The live version often includes a 10-15 minute jam session in the middle of the song. Incredible to experience. Actually every song they play live blows away the studio recordings, (which are still great).

I-I-I wanna rock and roll all ni-i-i-ight, and party every day...

Motorhead - Bomber

U2 - 'Bad'

Anything by Phil Collins 3.

http://tpc3.gfort.com/

wilco - spiders (kidsmoke)

i dont generally like listening to live music unless im actually there, but tori amos' version of "sugar" is sooo much better live.

placebos sleeping with ghosts album. Its just got so much more kick to it.

i don't know about songs,
but I know a couple bands which are better live.

polyphonic spree
mates of state

others I can't think of off the top of my head.

Rolling Stones - Under My Thumb - or about 8 million other songs - I don't mean live recording - I mean being there.

Everything by Bell Orchestre is wonderful recorded, but because an all encompassing musical/spirital revelation when experience in a live setting!

Everything by the Circle Jerks.

For my part, I like live performances, so long as I'm there. Listening to Sepultura play Orgasmatron live a Donnington was one of the most awesome performances I've ever attended. I managed to get a copy of the entire set on CD, and when you're in the crowd in front of the stage, you never realize exactly how bad the mix really is.

Don't get me wrong, I love live music, and prefer live music to listening to CDs, but it's more about 'the experience' rather than just the song for me.

The Aquabats

95% of Arcade Fire songs.

Break Your Heart - Barenaked Ladies

The entire Cheap Trick catalogue.

Wilco's entire Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album.

I'll go so far as to say I prefer most songs in the recorded version.
That being said, some artists just give their best live.
Ani DiFranco comes to mind.
Not that anyone here will have heard of him, but Mike West puts of a great live show. (He's a smartass new orleans banjo player. His songs make sense on their own, but they really make sense when you hear the spoken introduction to them. That, and he tends to work small clubs where you can really get into the fine points of the music.)

i thought you meant better "live" as in being there, in which case i must say
"all of them"

Bob Marley - No Woman No Cry