Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

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CorwoodRep
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Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by CorwoodRep »

Thought this would be a cool playlist idea. Alternate versions of songs by the same artist that are so much better than the popular versions as to be noteworthy - demos, different arrangements, live, whatever.

A couple that spring to mind immediately:
-the live version of Every Day I Write The Book from the 2003 Punch The Clock remaster.
-the live version of Empire Ants from the new Gorillaz album that's posted over on The Network from that London soundboard
-technically it's not that comparable, but I still think the Black Hawk Down version of Minstrel Boy is a billion times more enjoyable to listen to than the long version
-pretty much any live version of Hallelujah by Cohen. God, I can't stand the studio version.

Any suggestions?
Last edited by CorwoodRep on 25 May 2010, 8:36pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by Heston »

Great idea BJ, I'll have a think.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board

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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by Heston »

The Peel Session version of Bed and Breakfast Man by Madness tramples on the LP version.

Ditto the alt. take of That's Entertainment on the Jam Box Set.
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Pretty much any live version of "Pink Flag" that Wire has recorded, in studio and live, since 2000 is better than the original.

The version of "This Charming Man" off Hatful of Hollow is bouncier, more fun than the single/album version off The Smiths.
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by daredevil »

Greetings To the New Brunette by Billy Bragg is a great song. But the alternate version with Johnny Marr on guitar is even better.
Parklife by Blur on the Live at Hyde Park is much better than the original.

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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by CorwoodRep »

And two by Warren Zevon:
-Seminole Bingo on Letterman. Much better arrangement, salvages a great song from a really shittily recorded/arranged album
-Mutineer on Letterman, for exactly the same reason, and the vocals are a lot more heartfelt given the circumstances.
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by tepista »

Modern Lovers "Roadrunner" Beserkly Chartbusters version.
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

The Beatles video version of "Revolution" has the bite of the single version with the shoo-be-do-wops of "Revolution 1." Best of both versions.
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by Wolter »

In the vein of Minstrel Boy:

The under 3 minute single version of "Inna Gadda Da Vita." All the awesome riffage, none of the endless soloing.
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by tepista »

Dr. Medulla wrote:The Beatles video version of "Revolution" has the bite of the single version with the shoo-be-do-wops of "Revolution 1." Best of both versions.
I prefer Rev1
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

tepista wrote:
Dr. Medulla wrote:The Beatles video version of "Revolution" has the bite of the single version with the shoo-be-do-wops of "Revolution 1." Best of both versions.
I prefer Rev1
I don't dislike it by any means, but it works better electrified and nasty. As one Beatles biographer said, if the lyrics were ambivalent—count me in/out—the electric version sounded like a vote for revolution.
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by Suzanne H. »

The demo version of 'Bye Bye Badman' by the Stone Roses is interesting...no bass or drums, just John Squire's lovely guitar.

Also, the live Glastonbury '09 version of Blur's 'End Of The Century', mostly cos it is a brilliant display of Alex James' often-hidden bass playing skills. And since I want Alex very badly, this appeals to me... :mrgreen:
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by Wolter »

That weird alternate Dutch version of "This is England" that only I like. :shifty:
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by Wolter »

Oh, and the live version of "Folsom Prison Blues" from San Quentin with Carl Perkins on guitar.
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Re: Alternate versions of songs better than popular versions?

Post by Dr. Medulla »

The original, pre-Gillian 7" version of "Ceremony" is much better than the re-recorded, more commonly played 12" version.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

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