I’m making a compilation of the best acoustic versions/covers of songs.
There are no boundaries to my taste in terms of genre, but I want to stay away from middle-of-the-road rock stuff. It would also be good to get some ideas of songs that you wouldn’t expect to have acoustic versions.
So, any ideas?
There’s a Flatt & Scruggs (bluegrass) version of Dylan’s Rainy Day Women from the Nashville Airplane (c. 1965?) LP. It seems weird until you hear it.
Might not be what you are looking for, but I have fallen in love with the piano version of Teenage Angst by Placebo.
Since I’m a pretty die-hard REM fan, I have to say the acoustic/unplugged version of “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It” kicks butt.
I think it does anyway.
Welcome to the boards, PriorityPie! My vote would go to Tori Amos’ version of Smells Like Teen Spirit. Just a note, this is the type of thread that would normally go in Cafe Society.
Enjoy the SD!
The Eagles Hell Freezes Over album is one of my favorite. The songs covered are pure perfection.
Don’t know if this is the album with the live version of “Hotel California”, but in my opinion it is the best live version of any song by the original artist ever (okay, maybe not ever.
Layla - Erick Clapton
It’s on a greatest hits CD, I think.
“Old Love” from Clapton’s Unplugged CD showcases some of the best guitarwork I’ve ever heard from the man, IMO.
Third Hotel California and second Layla.
I think Bryan Adams MTV Unplugged is a very good buy too.
I don’t believe Nirvana every did a non-acoustic version of “The Man Who Sold The World”, but it’s on their “unplugged” cd. I love that song.
Isn’t that a cover of the David Bowie number of the same name?
-Oli
I’m not sure this qualifies, exactly, but I’m currently obsessed with Chris Isaac’s cover of Roy Orbison’s Only the Lonely. If you’re looking for something more whacked out, Chris Isaac covered a Metallica song at one point, although (dammit-all) I can’t remember which one. The contrast in styles couldn’t have been more extreme.
Peter Himmelman w/ Peter Gabriel do a beeeeeautiful acoustic vs. of In Your Eyes.
Have you ever heard of Duncan Sheik ?
Here’s a website where you can download a lot of the covers he’s done. Some of them are acustic some are not, but you’ve gotta hear Blasphemous Rumors.
Click where it says audio.
http://www.duncansheik.org/
Yes.
Incidentally, to whoever suggested accoustic “layla”… I think it sucks.
“Rock and Roll All Night” - KISS Unplugged
Agreed. It’s worth it just for the “birthday party cheesecake jelly beans PLCCCHHH (instead of the usual “boom”)” line.
bittersweet, is that a reference to “Bittersweet Me”?
(btw–akron tour stop–I’m there)
“All Along the Watchtower” by Michael Hedges.
You can pick prety much anything from Nirvana’s Unplugged set - the power of the final track (Where Did you Sleep Last Night?) has been well documented, but pretty much everything from there is class. For a mix tape, I would suggest Come As You Are - familiar song in an unfamiliar setting.