# Best acoustic versions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2003, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354 "2003-07-18T10:32:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PriorityPie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@PriorityPie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PriorityPie)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/1 "2003-07-18T10:32:53Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![radsmats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@radsmats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radsmats)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/2 "2003-07-18T15:37:36Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Kithara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8491ac/32.png) [@Kithara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kithara)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/3 "2003-07-18T16:18:58Z")
Might not be what you are looking for, but I have fallen in love with the piano version of _Teenage Angst_ by Placebo. ---
**Author:** ![bittersweet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@bittersweet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bittersweet)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/4 "2003-07-18T16:24:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/5 "2003-07-18T17:40:36Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![WillSantini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@WillSantini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillSantini)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/6 "2003-07-18T19:14:43Z")
**The Eagles** _Hell Freezes Over_ album is one of my favorite. The songs covered are pure perfection. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/7 "2003-07-18T19:39:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WillSantini \* > \*\ ***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_. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/8 "2003-07-19T07:25:20Z")
Layla - Erick Clapton It’s on a greatest hits CD, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/9 "2003-07-19T08:11:55Z")
“Old Love” from Clapton’s Unplugged CD showcases some of the best guitarwork I’ve ever heard from the man, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![maleinblack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@maleinblack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maleinblack)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/10 "2003-07-19T08:28:36Z")
Third Hotel California and second Layla. I think Bryan Adams MTV Unplugged is a very good buy too. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/11 "2003-07-19T13:04:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![starman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@starman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starman)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/12 "2003-07-19T14:53:33Z")
Isn’t that a cover of the David Bowie number of the same name? -Oli ---
**Author:** ![pestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e5b9ba/32.png) [@pestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pestie)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/13 "2003-07-19T15:54:10Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![chattywine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5daacb/32.png) [@chattywine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chattywine)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/14 "2003-07-19T17:45:25Z")
Peter Himmelman w/ Peter Gabriel do a beeeeeautiful acoustic vs. of In Your Eyes. ---
**Author:** ![dragongirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@dragongirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragongirl)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/15 "2003-07-19T19:00:10Z")
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/](http://www.duncansheik.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/16 "2003-07-19T23:32:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by starman \* > \*\*Isn’t that a cover of the David Bowie number of the same name? > -Oli \*\* Yes. Incidentally, to whoever suggested accoustic “layla”… I think it sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/17 "2003-07-19T23:54:10Z")
“Rock and Roll All Night” - KISS Unplugged ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/18 "2003-07-20T03:18:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bittersweet \* > \*\*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. \*\* 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) ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/19 "2003-07-20T08:19:57Z")
“All Along the Watchtower” by Michael Hedges. ---
**Author:** ![stigoftdump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@stigoftdump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stigoftdump)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2003, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354/20 "2003-07-20T10:00:49Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acoustic-versions/189354.md?page=2)