2 any1 who has heard the original studio version of Spirit Of The Stairs - originaly going to be on the "Try Whistling This" album as a b-side or a-side ... Does any one know why the Zeigiest line:

quote:

"...To sad to bad your tongue tied / How many times a day I'm 2 dumb 2 shy? / Count the stairs spirit's here what I should've said / After she's gone..."

was left of the studio version when it was such a Highlight in the live version. It's there on the studio but you can barely hear it. How can such a potent line by the master Neil Finn leave of that line in the quintessential and all important historical studio version?

Well, AFAIK the studio version was not the final version, and SOTS developed quite a bit on the '98 tour (I was sad to hear the break featuring the "rapping-with-knuckles" on the guitar body was not present in the studio version either). As far as the "too sad / too bad / how many times a day I'm too dumb / or too shy / two, three, four, five / count the stairs / spirit hears what I should have said" bit, this only came to the front when Neil had to adapt the song for the live shows (or revert to the demo). I agree with you, it's essential and beautiful, and I wish the studio version was as sparse and lean as the ...errr... one in my memory (phew).