diff --git a/lib/mb_match.py b/lib/mb_match.py
index faa4454..248853a 100644
--- a/lib/mb_match.py
+++ b/lib/mb_match.py
@@ -224,6 +224,11 @@ def _lucene_escape_phrase(s: str) -> str:
     return s.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"')
 
 
+# A parenthetical/bracketed "(Live …)" marker — the live signal denoise() strips
+# from the title. Mirrors _NOISE_GROUP_RE but for the `live` term only.
+_LIVE_GROUP_RE = re.compile(r"[(\[][^)\]]*\blive\b[^)\]]*[)\]]", re.IGNORECASE)
+
+
 def build_recording_query(artist, title) -> str:
     """Lucene query for /ws/2/recording. Built from the DENOISED fields —
     the noise we strip (author credits, "(Live)", "(v2)") would otherwise
@@ -242,7 +247,13 @@ def build_recording_query(artist, title) -> str:
     # REUSE the studio recording, so filtering them would drop the very recording
     # we want (verified against MusicBrainz — `-secondarytype:Compilation` cut the
     # AC/DC studio "Highway to Hell" recording entirely).
-    if q:
+    #
+    # EXCEPT when the source chart is itself a live take: denoise() strips the
+    # "(Live at …)" qualifier from the query, so filtering Live would leave the
+    # genuinely-live chart with NO correct recording. Only a parenthetical marker
+    # counts — a bare title word ("Live and Let Die") is a real word, not a live
+    # tag — mirroring what denoise removes.
+    if q and not _LIVE_GROUP_RE.search(str(title or "")):
         q += " AND -secondarytype:Live"
     return q
 
diff --git a/tests/test_mb_match.py b/tests/test_mb_match.py
index ed793a1..cb560ea 100644
--- a/tests/test_mb_match.py
+++ b/tests/test_mb_match.py
@@ -154,6 +154,18 @@ def test_build_recording_query_denoises_and_quotes():
     assert q == 'recording:"thunderstruck" AND artist:"acdc" AND -secondarytype:Live'
 
 
+def test_build_recording_query_keeps_live_for_live_charts():
+    """A chart that IS a live take must NOT get the live filter, or its only
+    correct recording is excluded. A bare title word ("Live and Let Die") is a
+    real word, not a marker, so it still filters."""
+    live = m.build_recording_query("AC/DC", "Highway to Hell (Live at Donington)")
+    assert "-secondarytype:Live" not in live
+    assert 'recording:"highway to hell"' in live
+    # A real word "live" in the title is not a live marker → still filtered.
+    bare = m.build_recording_query("Wings", "Live and Let Die")
+    assert "-secondarytype:Live" in bare
+
+
 def test_build_recording_query_escapes_and_handles_missing_artist():
     q = m.build_recording_query("", 'Say "Hello"')
     # Quotes are punct-stripped by denoise, so nothing to escape here — but