Re-recordings that are better than the originals

Is their any song, in which you prefer a re-recorded version over the original?

I prefer this re-recording of The Chiffons "One Fine Day". I have it on a k-tel LP and although this re recordings lacks some of the original spark, i still prefer it to the original.

I also prefer the 1962 RCA re-recording of Paul Anka's Diana better than the original.

 

Sun is Shining by Bob Marley

 

The new Anacrusis disc is chock full of superior re-recordings

 

Carpenters - Ticket to Ride. I prefer the re-record for their Singles: 1969-1973 album.

Howard Jones - No One Is To Blame. I prefer the hit single version produced by Phil Collins over the original version which appeared on the album, Dream Into Action.

 

Nine Inch Nail's album Still, in my opinion, has some amazing reinterpretations of songs that are better than their original counterparts.

 

A lot of the songs on Loudon Wainwright III's Recovery album. Especially 'The Man Who Couldn't Cry.'

Also, 'Hello It's Me' on Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything

 

I'll throw another Loudon Wainwright III track in: "Lullaby." Love the re-recording he did for the "Knocked Up" soundtrack--I think Richard Thompson plays guitar on this re-make.

 

I would add a lot of David Bowie's Toy to that list

 

Roy Orbison rerecorded an album of his hits in the mid '80's, most of which for me are better, or equal to the originals. Some of McCartneys rerecordings of his solo work on the 'Broadstreet' album I like better than the originals.

 

Ernest Tubb re-recorded "Walking the Floor Over You" several times and I prefer the early 60s version over the original. It was a livlier version backed by a superb group of Texas Troubadours.

 

Buddy Holly; That'll Be The Day
Little Feat: Willin'

 

The Boingo Alive version of Oingo Boingo's "Dead Man's Party" has become the definitive version over the original LP version.

 

The Everly Brothers' Cadence re-recordings for Warners are pretty great, arguably better sung than the originals.

Aaron Neville did a 70s rerecording of "Tell It Like it Is" that's on a lot of reissues, and I probably prefer that one.

 

Bauhaus "Terror Couple Kill Colonel", a 1980 single re-recorded in 1982 for a John Peel BBC radio session.

 

Siouxsie & the Banhees' "The Thorn" EP is made up of re-recorded versions of their earlier songs. I'd say two or three out of four are improvements over the originals.

 

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While I'm certain I am probably influenced by the copy of THE VERY BEST OF THE EVERLY BROTHERS my aunt had and I played as a child, I agree the remakes are sung and played better on the WB remakes.

My main complaint about that compilation is that during the late 60's or early 70's they changed the cover to this kinda lame photo:





I realize they wanted the Bros. to look more contemporary, but I still like the original cover, which it should have switched it back to about 30 years ago!

 

Kraftwerk: I prefer the re-recordings on The Mix album of "Autobahn" and "Pocket Calculator"

 

This re-record is what we play on Real Country.

 

I think Gordon Lightfoot re-recorded some of his earlier tunes, and I prefer the re-do's.

 

Yes he did, and these re-recordings are on Gord's Gold.

 

I prefer the re-recordings on Gordon Lightfoot's Gord's Gold over the original United Artists versions.

Track listing († Re-recording):

1."I'm Not Sayin'/Ribbon of Darkness"† – 3:06
2."Song For a Winter's Night"† – 3:02
3."Canadian Railroad Trilogy"† – 7:05
4."Softly"† – 2:39
5."For Lovin' Me/Did She Mention My Name"† – 3:29
6."Affair on Eighth Avenue"† (not included in the CD release)
7."Steel Rail Blues"† – 2:49
8."Wherefore and Why"† – 2:48
9."Bitter Green"† – 2:46
10."Early Morning Rain"† – 3:18
11."Minstrel of the Dawn" – 3:27
12."Sundown" – 3:36
13."Beautiful" – 3:32
14."Summer Side of Life" – 4:05
15."Rainy Day People" – 2:49
16."Cotton Jenny" – 3:26
17."Don Quixote" – 3:40
18."Circle of Steel" – 2:48
19."Old Dan's Records" – 3:05
20."If You Could Read My Mind" – 3:49
21."Cold on the Shoulder" – 3:01
22."Carefree Highway" – 3:41

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gord's_Gold

 

I'm not a huge fan of remakes, but here are a few of my the ones that I might play over the originals...

"Respect" by Aretha Franklin (On the otherwise fairly lame "Blues Brothers 2000" soundtrack)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWDVCe-Fybc

Nat King Cole's later stereo versions of many of his songs (to be reissued on SACD any minute now), like "Mona Lisa" and "Too Young", I find much more enjoyable than the originals.

This one is pretty obscure, but, Bobby Hackett's mid '60's cover of Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Seranade", gives that song the extra oomph, I feel that it's always needed.

I know that there are others that I like, but those are the ones that I've currently got in my head.

Chris C

 

I don't necessarily prefer it to the original, but I like the version of Mother that Pink Floyd used in the film.

 

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