The Verve - Life's an Ocean (live - Maida Vale Studios 1997)

Recorded at Maida Vale Studios, London, in August of 1997. The best version I have ever heard of this song. The best part by far is from 4:20 where the guitar solo takes off to another plane. I upload it solely out of appreciation for all the amazing music The Verve have recorded and played live around the world.

[@vervor]

My all time favorite recording of any music. This shit is just it.

[@alasdairduncan3796]

This is the best one they did ! The sound engineer deserves massive credit

[@vervor]

It is immense!

[@ashleycrawford9863]

Saw them many times during the 90s and again 2007. This band had that magic mojo, a liquid groove, a spiritual and metaphysical essence. My all time favourite band.

[@paolo-n2000]

One of the greatest bands ever!!! The Verve!!!

[@alasdairduncan3796]

Nick Mccabe at it again

[@lucasm3879]

Bit good isn't he 😅

[@nickvonbehr657]

great version of my fav Verve song. Superb band.

[@christianseaman9485]

Life's an ocean Too much commotion, too much emotion Dragging me down Living for today, don't have time to pray Ready for the game Take a line of fickle flameImagine the future Woke up with a scream I was buying some feelings From a vending machine Say that I will see Something more than I have There's something inside of me Crying out for something else And if someone hears my scream Put it in a letter to me Slippery slimy road downLife's an ocean too much commotionNot enough… Not enough emotion to satisfy me Slippery slidy road down It's slippery slidy road downHold my hand and we'll walk down Dry those eyes and we'll walk downSlippery slidy road down Life's an ocean, life's an ocean Too much commotion, too much emotion

[@a-aron14]

This is pinnacle verve - what they were all about

[@RickStar00O]

Aaron Null One gem of a good few miracles. Check out B sides, albums and 'The Drugs don't Work' is not The Verve. .. it's Richard Ashcroft really. Same as Sonnet ect... thank God its got Nick's magic to make it somewhat special in comparison

[@RickStar00O]

Oh and Si Jones and Pete Salisbury. ..rude of me to leave them out.

[@alasdairduncan3796]

3 years late lol but completely agree with you. Peak verve. Ultimate Verve !!

[@a-aron14]

@@RickStar00O I know them all - I love every bit of them. To me this is McCabe really spreading his wings, Ashcroft getting as astral and beautifully spread as he wants, bass and drums totally in sync which is the real key to everything.. the whole band just groooving. So good!

[@RickStar00O]

@@a-aron14 This is the ultimate version of this. Check out Nick - Totally fly !!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIuxZJSJgKaMrsU

[@SethDranes]

I feel like if you were trying to get a friend interested in early Verve, this is probably the best one you could show them. Everyone in the band sounds powerful here. From Pete's awesome beat, Simon with one of the coolest bass lines in existence, Nick McCabe doing his usual thing and taking you for an absolute ride, and Richard at his peek, spouting powerfully but not taking any attention away from the rest of them, every part of this song just slaps. And yeah, this probably is the best version of it out there.

[@a-aron14]

Yes! It is definitely all of them playing the shit out of a song they have worked on forever and love - cheers!

[@lifeisstr4nge]

No, The Video has an even better one

[@davidfowles5440]

Simon is a cool dude with a great bass line

[@nickgooner8021]

It’s brilliant but the verve comeback in 97 was not early Verve it was their moment and 98 proved it was special. Nick McCabe is god like

[@kevindonnelly9811]

Live on Jools Holland version is the best live version of this song.

[@lucasm3879]

Absolutely! It's musical perfection!

[@alimortezai4639]

I’m with the US tour version from 98 VHS. Instruments have denser quality, and that surreal texture created by Nick at end opening to a string like finish..very moving.. but Jools is awesome too 👌

[@alasdairduncan3796]

@@alimortezai4639 agreed. I can't seem to find a louder version from that on here though. The only video of the USA version seems really quiet .

[@alreadywhere]

I don't understand why people like the Jools Holland version so much. Can anyone explain it?

[@alasdairduncan3796]

@@alreadywhere I also think the audio from the jools Holland one isn't as good. Still great in my opinion but this one is the one for me

[@silverapples75]

Oh yeah!

[@michaelcheerful7085]

what a great sound 👍

[@D_B_Cooper]

Some of these lyrics predict social media imo, people buying feelings through 'likes'

[@porterhall27]

that is just another manifestation of alienation under capitalism...this song is about that alienation..it's always been there

[@HuxleyWasRight]

@@porterhall27 i think its a reference to huxleys brave new world, in which people buy a drug called soma, which is basically an anti depressant.

[@johncolbert]

@@HuxleyWasRight I always thought it was something similar to this as well.

[@alreadywhere]

It's the daydreaming nightmare of someone with a lot of emotional ups and downs in his life. Richard calls this a modern day blues song, and he's right as far as the lyrics' theme goes.

[@lucasm3879]

And anti depressants too. Massive industry.

[@bostondixiecups]

Great upload!

[@alreadywhere]

Thanks! It's still my favorite song and version of it.

[@markorfila3832]

amazing version !

[@alreadywhere]

The way the guitar loops build and swirl gets me every time. I never listen without pressing the headphones closer.

[@RickStar00O]

Sean Green You are member off The Verve World Community on FB. Check it - Nick McCabe is a member too

[@RickStar00O]

Sean Green The Verve World is my page. I was given it when it had just 30 members. 6,500 approx now and growing at approximately 100 a week. Nick does not get to involved unless it's some press article that is totally wrong. But he does keep an eye on the page. It's not all just Verve it's Ashcroft obviously which leads to some great debates over Richards direction musically and we allow that as long as it stays pro and not personal. The only real reason The Verve are not together is between the four (five) members. And that's the way it should be. Nick never puts Ashy down on the page. Though he may have a tounge in cheek harmless dig on his own private page. Too me he is a guitar hero and Black Submarine never got the backing they deserve. But we play BS tracks cos some people from around the world may not be aware of them. Please feel free to join in... like minded people with great musical taste. If you put in @verveworld in the search bar on FB you will find us. Thanks guys.

[@RickStar00O]

Oh and just one question what do you all think the best Life is an Ocean on KZbin. I have two.. a live one (audio only from 97 I think) and the Jools Holland version. .. they smashed it that night. Nick was on fire !!!

[@RickStar00O]

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1617590108314588&id=549319178475025

[@christianseaman9485]

what a great fu**** song

[@porterhall27]

saw thyem 3 times in 90s..incredible

[@nikirst]

02:45

[@alreadywhere]

3:50- but I can't disagree, the whole thing is a dream incarnate.

[@seonghang2816]

Ahora si que 4:20

[@ezrhino100]

if i ever hear someone cover this song at bar, i am going to shit bricks... anyone can cover led zeppelin.