# Alternate versions of songs you like better than the originals **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 25, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545 "2009-12-25T14:37:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![HeadNinja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b4bc9f/32.png) [@HeadNinja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeadNinja)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/41 "2009-12-29T19:05:23Z")
> [@Captain\_Mumble](#): > > Colin Hays’ acoustic version of “Overkill” is the definitive version for everyone I’ve ever played it for. > -Mitch It feels like a completely different, but more awesome, song. To the point when it played on Scrubs I did not recognize it. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/42 "2010-01-02T22:32:14Z")
Here’s an odd one - I just tried listening to a couple of the songs from _The Beatles: Rock Band_ over my headphones, and it actually uses a unique mix - a sort of hybrid sound between the better-known mono and stereo releases. The songs are definitely in stereo (for example, you can hear the airplane noise go from right to left in “Back in the USSR,” and the rhythm guitar that opens “Helter Skelter” is panned hard left). But what’s interesting is that the instrument mixes have clearly been redone, so that the drums and lead guitars share the center space with the vocals. There’s none of the “instruments hard to one side, vocals to the other” stuff that mars the stereo versions of even the 2009 remasters. It gives the older songs that nice thump you get in the mono versions, but with some of the spaciousness of the stereo versions. In a lot of ways, it’s the best of both worlds - kind of like what George Martin did on the “Love” soundtrack, although not nearly as extensive. There’s some other alterations as well that don’t work quite as well for headphone listening. Harmonix, for gameplay reasons, boosted the instruments so that players can follow what they’re doing. This is especially obvious for guitar, as whatever part is the “lead” at any given moment gets noticeably moved up in the mix. Overall, though, this is actually how the Beatles have always sounded in my mental “ideal mix version.” The drums sound strong and crisp in the center channel, the bass is richly resonant, and you can clearly distinguish between the separate guitar lines. The songs lose none of their '60s sound (there’s only so much you can do to “modernize” that lovely '60s tone - and why would you want to?!), but benefit enormously from the space and power that only modern mixing technology can produce. Ahh, if only George Martin would see fit to do a modern mix of the full Beatles catalogue… I’d buy it again in a heartbeat. Hell, I’d buy it _right now_ if it was available, and I just bought the 2009 remaster box set last friggin’ _week_. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/43 "2010-01-02T22:47:56Z")
Speaking of Rock Band–Eric Cartman’s version of Poker Face. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/44 "2010-01-02T22:51:03Z")
The version of _Norwegian Wood_ on the Beatles _Anthology_ CD is better than the regular one, I think. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/45 "2010-01-03T00:42:27Z")
I like the a capella version of **Leave it** by Yes better than the original. I also like School of Fish’s rendition of **Father Figure** better than the George Michael original. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/46 "2010-01-03T08:18:27Z")
I own tons of bootlegs, which makes for some agonizing decisions when I’m putting together a playlist for the iPod. Generally, I’ll avoid versions of songs that are on the radio nonstop. So I use the BBC version of “Satisfaction”, a live version of “You Shook Me All Night Long” etc. My Beatles contribution: [This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyRJzVEBG14) version of “You Can’t Do That” blows away all. I never really cared for that song until I heard that one. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/47 "2010-01-03T09:08:18Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Total agreement. Adding Bernie Worrell and others really took the stick out of the ass of this band. I understand that they were going for a very on-time, tight, sound with their albums, but that just doesn’t appeal to me. Conversely, “Stop Making Sense” is one of my favorite albums. The albums almost sound like they were played by different bands. They kind of were. Talking Heads was a four piece band, and I think they had nine people on Stop Making Sense. And yeah, sometimes the studio versions are a little stiff. The live versions are faster and looser and it’s electrifying. I think the biggest improvement is in “Girlfriend is Better,” but “Slippery People,” “Swamp,” “Burning Down the House” - they all get a jolt. And “Crosseyed and Painless” was meant to be performed live. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/48 "2010-01-03T09:13:01Z")
The lead singer from Matchbox 20, Rob Thomas, did a cover of Time After Time that I like more than the original. I also like Alien Ant Farm’s Michael Jackson covers more than the originals. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/49 "2010-01-03T18:17:38Z")
Oh yeah, I also really like the version of “No can do” or “I can’t go for that” that Daryl Hall did with Chromeo. Skip forward to 3:46 for the actual song. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXXvUa5Tzco) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/50 "2010-01-03T18:31:12Z")
I like Dwight Yokem’s version of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” better than Queen. If you haven’t heard Jake Shimabukuro’s cover of “[While My Guitar Gently Weeps](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=829401773913198414#docid=1352016870638076087),” do yourself a favor. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/51 "2010-01-05T01:41:27Z")
I love the [acoustic version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n22ImOPXOnw) of _Dead Man Walking_ which David Bowie played on Conan’s old show. It fits the sad, soulful tone of the song much better than the upbeat electronic track included on the _Earthling_ album. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/52 "2010-01-05T07:55:17Z")
I prefer many of Ahmond’s songs on the original demo to the subsequent wide release LP versions. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/53 "2010-01-05T07:55:19Z")
John Entwistle’s version of “My Wife” on “Rigor Mortis Sets In” is better than The Who’s earlier version on “Who’s Next”. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/54 "2010-01-05T08:25:57Z")
I was never much of a fan of Indigo Girls but my friend put a couple of live versions of their songs on a tape for me years back and I loved them. I think it was Closer To Fine and Galileo. The Automatic Baby (ie half REM, half U2) version of [One](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XM5AdSxaGE) has always been my preferred version. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/55 "2010-01-05T08:39:55Z")
Weezer’s live acoustic version of “Jamie” from the “Say it Ain’t So” single is vastly superior to the plugged version from _Geffen Rarities_. Jimmy Eat World’s original version of “Sweetness” is also vastly superior to the re-done version from _Bleed American_ Let’s see, what else? Hanson’s acoustic version of “Penny and Me” is better than the album version (yes, I do like that song). Ditto the version of “Polly” from _Nevermind_ versus the other version from _Incesticide_. OTOH, I enjoy the _Unplugged_ version of “Come as You Are” better than the album version. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/56 "2010-01-06T09:16:59Z")
Concrete Blonde has a live version of Tomorrow, Wendy on a few of their albums (like Recollection) that is a different arrangement than the Bloodletting album version that I prefer. Ramones have some live versions of songs on the Rock N Roll High School soundtrack that are the definitive versions. Roy Orbison was one of the few artists that never lost his voice the older he got and each new recording he did of a classic was better than the last. Years of experience added to the sorrow in those songs compared to the early 60s studio versions. Also, another vote for Talking Heads Stop Making Sense. My favorite improved version is Psycho Killer. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/57 "2010-01-06T14:19:15Z")
On the two albums of theirs that I have, Five Finger Death Punch has a couple acoustic versions of their songs that are better than the plugged in versions. Likewise, I think I like Breaking Benjamin’s acoustic version of “The Diary of Jane” better than the plugged-in version. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/58 "2010-04-26T16:40:53Z")
I like the Cramps version of Lonely Town better than Ricky Nelson’s. ---
**Author:** ![LittleGreenRosetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c77e96/32.png) [@LittleGreenRosetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LittleGreenRosetta)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/59 "2010-04-26T21:07:17Z")
Bruce Springsteen is a master at this, especially when it comes to live versions that are different than the original album versions. He reworked many of his own songs for the Seeger Sessions tour, and I personally like that version (found on _Live in Dublin_) of _Growin’ Up_ even better than the original, which is one of my favorites to begin with. 🙂 Likewise, I really like the solo piano version of _For You_ better than the original- much more moving IMO. I also prefer the acoustic version of _Born in the USA_, because I think it conveys the feeling of the lyrics better; I think the rocking music contributed to the song being misinterpreted by many. On the other hand, the recent live “blues” version he did of _Reason to Believe_ was simply stunning compared to the acoustic album cut, as was the hard rock version of _The Ghost of Tom Joad_, which I like because, well, it rocks! 🆒 He did have a little help from Tom Morello on that one, but they did play the song with Nils Lofgren doing the killer guitar solo. Tom Joad acoustic: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NKKpmbcSe5E/hqdefault.jpg "Bruce Springsteen The Ghost of Tom Joad live in Studio") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKKpmbcSe5E) Rockin’ Tom Joad (with Morello): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Npo3wp8-ggE/maxresdefault.jpg "Bruce Springsteen Ghost of Tom (Morello) Joad HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npo3wp8-ggE) Reason to Believe “Blues” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5b_jsLmgP0) ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/60 "2010-04-26T21:21:09Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Nowhere I can link to…but do a google search on “sugarcubes birthday jim william reid christmas day mix” and you should find it. Ohhhh. Thank you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545.md?page=4)