# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/61 "2010-04-26T23:59:32Z")
I always preferred the Guess Who version of _Shakin’ All Over_ to the original by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/62 "2010-05-12T14:18:31Z")
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s ['Zat You Santa Claus?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTPQ5i1qXiM) ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/63 "2010-05-12T14:21:27Z")
I love a bunch of the covers of \*Hallelujah \*more than I do the original. I hate Marilyn Manson. I love Marilyn Manson’s _Halloween_. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/64 "2010-05-12T14:47:07Z")
Eazy E’s “Boyz-n-the-Hood” as covered by Dynamite Hack. I win the thread. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/65 "2010-05-12T15:29:05Z")
Watermelon Slim does an acapella version of [And When i Die](http://popup.lala.com/popup/1657606168200348120) that I like much better than [Blood, Sweat, and Tears version.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDWQ8w829tY) ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/66 "2010-05-12T17:54:18Z")
Hewing somewhat closer to the actual premise of the thread (what part of “I’m talking here specifically about _alternate versions by the original artists_, rather than covers” didn’t you all understand?)… I don’t know that I like it “better” than the album version, but I’m very fond of the alternate version of “Birds” that Neil Young put on the B-side of the “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” single. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/67 "2010-05-12T18:58:45Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > Hewing somewhat closer to the actual premise of the thread (what part of “I’m talking here specifically about _alternate versions by the original artists_, rather than covers” didn’t you all understand?)… I guess most all of us missed that point. Different versions later released? Really, outside of live albums, not many artists re-release different versions. The Beatles would be an exception, but I haven’t noticed too many others redoing/re-releasing material. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/68 "2010-05-13T03:49:52Z")
> [@campp](#): > > I guess most all of us missed that point. Different versions later released? Really, outside of live albums, not many artists re-release different versions. The Beatles would be an exception, but I haven’t noticed too many others redoing/re-releasing material. Generally speaking that’s true, but there were a whole bunch of Unplugged CDs released which have provided some good source material for this thread. Some (most?) were recorded with a very small audience, but I’d still keep them separate from the traditional “live albums” which are big concert performances. I’ll add to the votes for “Overkill” to the extent that I hated the original but love the remake. I’ll also nominate the live version of “Love Over Gold” by Dire Straits, which I prefer over the studio album version. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/69 "2010-05-13T05:35:12Z")
Outside of live versions, there might be multiple versions from the same artist due to one being cut for a single, being re-recorded on a major label debut, or sometimes just done again by the original artist without the rest of the band. I mention the last one due to Steve Howe having three guitar-only versions of Yes songs on the one album of his I have; I don’t think that it’s something unique to that album. Plus I like his rendition of “To Be Over” to the original. In terms of live albums, I definitely like The Who’s Amazing Journey off of Live at Leeds much better than the album version. There’s also the possibility that a song might sound exactly the same but have a different impact on the listener due to what surrounds it on the media. But given people having shuffle features and all that, I’m probably the only one left that prefers to listen to albums straight through, and thus sometimes find shuffled lists and best-of compilations a bit jarring at times. ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/70 "2010-05-13T10:50:02Z")
A lot of interesting choices and new old music to ponder – thanks. I like _The Eagles_’ version of “Desperado” and “Hotel California” on the album “Hell Freezes Over” more than the original ones. The live versions of _Marius Müller Westernhagen_’s songs are far superior to his studio recordings; and when I heard _Cultured Pearls_ singer Astrid North live, I was baffled how great their songs could sound if given the chance. Actually, a lot of German singer/bands sound far more interesting live. The same is true for pretty much every Jazz concert/session I’ve ever visited or heard on vinyl/disc. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/71 "2010-05-13T13:27:05Z")
Ca. 1972 a three-album set called _Glastonbury Fayre_ was released in the UK. I was working at a record store at the time and was lucky enough to score it. In these days of ubiquitous CD reissues of one sort or another, I suppose all of its songs have come out elsewhere, but for a long time it was the only source of these tracks, each of which I prefer to the more common versions: “Supermen” – David Bowie (much better than the dreadful _Man Who Sold the World_ version) “Classified” – Pete Townshend (Wasn’t there a different version on one of the _Scoop_ albums? I’m not clear on this.) This set also had a unique version of the Grateful Dead’s “Dark Star” (actually recorded at Wembley Stadium) that I’ve always treasured. I’m sure this has come out by now on _Dick’s Picks_ or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545/72 "2010-05-13T13:39:57Z")
I know it’s getting further and further away from the OP, but oh well . . . I just had to say that Sinead O’Connor does a haunting version of “House of the Rising Sun” that send chills up my spine every time I listen to it. I still like The Animals’ version, but it doesn’t blow me away like O’Connor’s does. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-versions-of-songs-you-like-better-than-the-originals/522545.md?page=3)