Of all the different music I listen to, my favorite recordings are always live, scaled down versions of songs that were originally recorded with a full band (often covers, but not necessarily). For example, I just listened to a version of Purple Rain done by Martin Sexton with just hisself and a guitar - fantastic.
So, then, here’s my question for you folks:
What songs have you heard redone in this way that made you sit up and say Wow? How about ones that made you want to leave the room? Songs that are now recorded only with a full band that you would like to hear some savvy musician take on in solo acoustic form? Any genre is fine (although my personal tastes tend to gravitate towards the rock music).
I heard Dave Grohl do an amazing acoustic version of the Foo Fighters’ song Everlong on the radio. It’s just amazing how the same song can be played 2 different ways.
I also have a recording of (allegedly, though the harmonica sounds like Popper) John Popper, Les Claypool, and Jerry Cantrell playing Last Caress that’s…different. And rocks. In a hoe-down kinda way.
Ben Harper does a mean cover of Sexual Healing live.
After hearing part on the radio, I had to buy Sounds Eclectic Too, a compilation from (I think) a college radio station who frequently has people come in and do scaled-down stuff in their studio. It’s a fantastic album.
Chris Martin’s solo piano version of “Yellow” is far superior to Coldplay’s album version; and Tom McRae’s “You Cut Her Hair” and Zero 7’s “Distractions” are completely different, more intense songs without all the extras.
Dave’s done several of these. My Hero, Times Like These and Learn to Fly are all great.
That Last Caress recording is Popper, Cantrell, Claypool and Metallica. It’s from a radio special Met did to promote ReLoad. Same special that gave us Tuesday’s Gone from Garage, Inc. Pretty cool, but The Four Horsemen sounds even better.
Pennyroyal Tea is a good call for Nirvana. I thought the acoustic Dumb was very good, too.
Warren Haynes, for the people who know who he is ;), is great as a solo acoustic performer. I particularly dig Glory Road when he does it that way. He also does covers of U2’s One and Radiohead’s Lucky that I realy like.
To each his own. If you like that chaotic tangle of electric noise that Derek and the Dominoes released, that’s your business. I prefer the mellower, more lyrical sound of the acoustic version, released by an obviously more polished and mature Clapton.
It is my business, and it’s one of my favorite songs. I also get bugged when people answer opinion questions with talk about how obvious it is that they’re right.
