his version is amazing! one of his best covers!
also,
Stones: dead flowers, angie, wild horses,
several more…
You really need to listen to Blind Willie McTell’s original version…
I agree about “Personal Jesus”. Same goes with some other Depeche Mode songs, like “Sister of Night”, “Surrender”, and “Blue Dress”.
I’d also like to add that I much prefer cover versions (which are usually acoustic or piano, anyway) to the original versions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.
The song that launched the whole “unplugged” era: Bon Jovi’s “Dead or Alive”.
Just about any of George Harrison’s studio demos of his songs, particularly of “Something”, are more poignant.
Stone Temple Pilot’s unsettling “Plush”.
—I’d also like to add that I much prefer cover versions (which are usually acoustic or piano, anyway) to the original versions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.—
Jeff Buckley’s version has been exploited non-stop in various movies and shows, but it’s definately the best, IMHO.
The KROQ version of Everlong by Foo Fighters
I’ll second this (or third it or whatever). The accoustic version is greatness.
“Alone” by Heart. It sounds… lonelier.
Dylan’s “Shelter From the Storm”, the Cassandra Wilson cover; “Statesboro Blues” the Chris Smithers cover.
“Garden Grove” by Sublime
can’t stand the non-acoustic version
My thought exactly.
Einstürzende Neubauten’s Wüste is a lot more moving in the acoustic. It just begs to be put into a movie, preferably during a scene where the hero’s walking, dejected, through lots of burning rubble.
The pre-Phil Spector version of The Long and Winding Road that appears in the film Let It Be
Holy schnikes that is a good song. The slow, acoustic version performed solo by the esteemed Mr. Grohl makes this into a completely different song.
I don’t know if I prefer it, but I like the acoustic version of The Jesus and Mary Chain’s “Taste of Cindy”.
I also like the acoustic version of “So. Central Rain” by REM.
Another vote for that one. KROQ and Acoustic Rock on Radio AOL have opened my ears.
Frente, an Australian band, did an amazing acoustic version of New Order’s Bizzare Love Triangle. Superior to the original IMO.
More Clapton: Tears in Heaven, from the same Unplugged session as the already-mentioned Layla.
The acoustic version of Tears in Heaven is one of the sweetest songs I’ve ever heard. The studio version that appeared on the Rush soundtrack (among other places, I’m sure) simply does not compare.
Private Universe - Neil Finn (Crowded House)
Layla’s already been mentioned, but it was the first thing I thought of. I did not like the song at all before I heard this version.
Sting did a solo version of Message in a Bottle in, I believe, The Secret Policeman’s Ball (or maybe it was The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball) that I much prefer to the version sung with the Police.
I never was a Bon Jovi fan, but I remember Jon once singing a quiet, guitar-accompanied version of Living on a Prayer that was really rather pretty.