# Solo Acoustic versions of songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 8, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312 "2003-09-08T15:08:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RiffRaff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@RiffRaff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiffRaff)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/1 "2003-09-08T15:08:34Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/2 "2003-09-09T02:04:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![smaft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@smaft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaft)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/3 "2003-09-09T02:37:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/4 "2003-09-09T03:06:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*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. > \*\* 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. ---
**Author:** ![verbenabeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@verbenabeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/verbenabeast)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/5 "2003-09-09T03:12:01Z")
Bruce Springsteen, _Thunder Road_ live and acoustic… awes me… and I ain’t a Springsteen fan. ---
**Author:** ![Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/6 "2003-09-09T04:20:17Z")
There’s always Nirvana’s Pennyroyal Tea from the Unplugged album… and George Harrison’s While my Guitar Gently Weeps. I think Grohl does a really great job of this… sadly the only other person I can think of who’s done this is a friend of mine. –If you can find any live versions of songs from the Smashing Pumpkins album Adore I do not doubt that you will be amazed (that is, if you dig them). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/7 "2003-09-09T04:41:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/8 "2003-09-09T05:44:23Z")
The acoustic version of _Layla_ by Eric Clapton is so far superior to the original version that there’s simply no comparison whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/9 "2003-09-09T05:49:01Z")
> [@](#): > > The acoustic version of Layla by Eric Clapton is so far superior to the original version that there’s simply no comparison whatsoever. ::Tries to post his disagreement, but falls out of chair laughing and begins to hemorrage.:: ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/10 "2003-09-09T05:56:58Z")
Tori Amos does a vocal-and-piano-only version of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” that’s simply stunning. Let me see: Yes, you can hear an excerpt on [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002ITU/qid=1063087484/sr=1-13/ref=sr_1_13/102-2120618-2042567?v=glance&s=music). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/11 "2003-09-09T05:58:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*::Tries to post his disagreement, but falls out of chair laughing and begins to hemorrage.:: \*\* 😛 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. Oh, and :p. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/12 "2003-09-09T06:03:43Z")
> [@](#): > > If you like that chaotic tangle of electric noise that Derek and the Dominoes released, that’s your business. 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. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/13 "2003-09-09T06:15:43Z")
Not to nitpick, but the newer Layla isn’t Clapton solo. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-acoustic-versions-of-songs/200312/14 "2003-09-09T06:19:30Z")
Again, sir, I say :p. 😃 Oops…that does say “solo” up there, doesn’t it?