Best live musical moments on "Saturday Night Live"

Willie G. Moseley

Willie G. Moseley

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Oh-tay, the Gilda Radner impersonation of Patti Smith recollections from the Hall of Fame thread (+1 on wondering what the hell Smith ever did to merit inclusion) inspires a new thread. I nominate the following (in no particular order):

Joe Cocker & John Belushi duet of "Feelin' Alright"

Devo: "Satisfaction" (Gawd only knows how many people, in late '78, saw that quintet that looked rejects from a nuclear waste disposal site and said "Whut the hayull izzat?")

Elvis Costello: Meltdown on "Less Than Zero" (I think) switching to "Radio Radio". Re-hashed in person on one of the anniversary shows...but who remembered the original?

Fran Tarkenton singing "Feelings"

The best part of the Blues Brothers initial appearance was Ackroyd and Belushi's "choreography". I always thought the Blues Bros. was self-indulgence by that twosome, but at least they got some ace backing musicians...and Duck Dunn sez he thought Ackroyd and Belushi were sincere in what they were trying to do.

Belushi horning in on Frank Zappa's band...on more than one show as I recall.

Funny, a lot (if not all) of these happened in the same decade, and I bet such recollections are somewhat generation-based. May add more later if I think of more, but will also note that one of the worst appearances was Faith No More.

 
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No guitar work, and don't fault my sentamentality, but I remember "Just the Way You Are" with Billy Joel on an electric piano accompanied only by a sax player. Timeless melody. And obviously a memorable performance.

 
My favorite will always be the '81 Karen Black/Cheap Trick show. It just rocked. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - "Refugee" and "Don't Do Me Like Dat". A favorite.

Ditto on the Costello performance.

I also REALLY liked the '91 Teenage Fanclub spot.

Recently, I think the Strokes were great as was the Pearl Jam show from a year ago or so.

 
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Choppin' Broccoli comes immediately to mind (Dana Carvey). Also Queen doing "Little Thing Called Love" It rocked.

 
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There were SO many great ones including those mentioned already.

Belushi with Zappa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sKkv_EcFcM

Some of the ones I remember were the really bad ones....

What was the band that did "She drives me crazy, ooo ooo... like noone else... ooo ooo" The singer was SO far off it was awful.

How about 4 Non Blondes? Singer was obviously sick and couldn't sing, but did anyway. Take that Jessica's sister! Of course she's doing very well these days as a song writer, musician and maybe producer?

 
DavidE said:
What was the band that did "She drives me crazy, ooo ooo... like noone else... ooo ooo" The singer was SO far off it was awful.
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Fine Young Cannibals

How about Rod Stewart doing "Hot Legs" with Tina Turner guesting in a micro-mini-dress?

 
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Paul Simon in the chicken suit doing "Still Crazy After All These Years"

Blondie doing "Dreaming" (is free) Great drums in that song.

Oh, and does this count? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxQ2g24C1os

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+1 on Paul Simon's multiple appearances, including dueting w/ George Harrison, and singing "The Boxer" to open the first SNL after 9/11.

 
Willie G. Moseley said:
Oh-tay, the Gilda Radner impersonation of Patti Smith recollections from the Hall of Fame thread (+1 on wondering what the hell Smith ever did to merit inclusion) .
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definitive cover of gloria

I should stop just after that one

dancing barefoot

people have the power

frederick

because the night

definitive cover of so you want to be a rock and roll star

maybe not Yessongs but good stuff

edited to add the Patti Smith Band doing My Generation on SNL was unbelievable. A memorable performance.

 
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I certainly haven't seen them all, but one of my best has to be The Replacements. In their peak just before Bob lost it. Probably drunk and still mischevious, you could almost lip read "WTF is up with Bob?" after Bob tossed his Les Paul. Great and sad at the same time.

Keith Richards w/ Expensive Winos were memorable. Keith's amp bleeding thru the mix. Drayton and Jordon swapped bass & drum duties. I could hardly hear Waddy.

The Cowboy Junkies were sublime and smooth and, believe it or not, Terence Trent D'Arby was very good.

Noticable flubs ~ 10,000 Maniac bassist total missed going back to a verse. Fuc|<ed it really bad. Also, The Bangles had a guest key player for "Hazy" (I'm thinking it was David Kayne living a fantasy) totally screwed one of the 2 second fills he had to perform. Toast!

I haven't seen many episodes since 2000....I'm may be fortunate. I always managed to catch, say, Bobby McFerrin and miss Midnight Oil /emoticons/default_tongue.png I have a higher recollection of King Crimson being on Fridays!

 
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Stever Marting singing King Tut.

Eddie Van Halen Stompin 8.

Best Non musical was Sam Kinneson. They banned him from SNL for his comedy skit that he did.

 
Definately Elvis Costello

The Talking Heads

George Harrison and Paul Simon

and even Patti Smith (because the night!)

Man, what great show the 1st couple of years!

 
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