Re-recordings that are better than the originals

I've got a really good re-recording of The Troggs "Wild Thing" on cd. It's actually better IMO than the original. It's very dry, and mono too.

 

I love both, but I think Jim Croce's re-record of "Age" (originally on the "I Got a Name" LP - included as opening track on DCC's awesome "Words and Music") is better than the first version on the "Croce" LP from '69 - the one before his first huge hit album, "You Don't Mess Around with Jim".

Jeff

 

Not a re-recording, but an alternate. The Unreleased Mix of "Summer of Love" by the B-52's blows away the awful version they somehow managed to release on Bouncing off the Satellites.

 

I prefer the Donovan remakes of "Colours" and "Catch The Wind."

The Monkees..........
I prefer the remakes of "You Just May Be The One" (Headquarters), "Words" and "She Hangs Out" (both on PAC&Jones ltd.) over earlier TV versions.
(but prefer earlier TV versions of "Valeri" and "I'll Be Back Upon My Feet" to what ended up on Birds Bees & Monkees)
"Zor & Zam" - not sure, like both

Blue Oyster Cult........
"The Red & The Black" over "I'm On The Lamb But I Ain't No Sheep"
(though I like both)

Little Feat - "Willin"

Beatles - "One After 909"

 

Records, Starry Eyes - I think the anthemic quality of this terrific song comes across better on the re-recorded album version.

 

not in my world... as a ry cooder fan the first version is tops

 

Not sure if i've posted this or not, but I much prefer the 1963 RCA version of Paul Anka's "Diana" to the original ABC-Paramount recording.

 

While I still vastly prefer the original recordings, but I do have a soft spot for the K-tel version's of "The Twist" and "Let's Twist Again".

They played the K-tel version of The Twist all the time on the radio, and I was unaware that it wasn't the original version until downloaded an realmedia file off an old fan site and realised "Hey! this is the same version as the one in the video clip on youtube!" And it turned out that video clip (the iconic Dick Clark Beech-nut Show one) was him infact miming to the 45.

Now with "Let's Twist Again" I remember hearing the original years ago, then I got a cassette tape which had the re-recording and didn't realize it was the same song until couple of years later I decided to search the internet and found the original for that as well.

 

Not in my book. Sometimes the Beatles' attempts at rocking out come across as a little forced and overwrought to me. I prefer the sly, laid back groove of the album version. It seems to fit the lyrical theme better.

 

The Fabulous Wailers (Tacoma, Washington) the 60s-era garage/proto-punk band, recorded a couple of their most famous songs twice, with different vocalists: "Hang Up" and "You Weren't Using Your Head."

I don't have the records in front of me to check, but I think each re-recording was better.

Original "Hang Up", 1965


The remake is a template for 90's grunge....Early 1966!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-xmOCYO4jo

"You Weren't Using Your Head" original, 1965 or so:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY9N0W8LtlA

The remake was issued 1967 under the name of their original vocalist, Rockin' Robin Roberts, but it is my understanding that it is actually the Wailers again. (Try not to be distracted by this odd, nearly porno Italian video of men drinking wine from women's crotches. It's the only version I could find on youtube.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqlP_TbPj5U

 

KISS recorded an entire disc full of classic songs for the release of "Sonic Boom" that are all far superior to the originals.

 

I notice that this thread has entirely avoided calling any live versions "re-records," so I fear I'm opening a can of worms here. Apologies if I am.

The Kinks' original studio version of "Celluloid Heroes" is endless. It feels like it should end about two minutes before it does. The version on "One For The Road" got a lot of airplay, and feels like the definitive version to me. In spite of the lengthy synth intro, it feels shorter. And heck, for all I know, it might not be so live, anyway.

 

Jonathan Richman's acoustic-band "Roadrunner Twice" is in some ways better than the earlier Modern Lovers' "Roadrunner Once" (they share a single.) It has a great speaking-in-tongues ramble at the end that Greil Marcus writes on at length in "Lipstick Traces." I also prefer his mid-70s single version of "Government Center" to the Modern Lovers' demo.

 

UFO re-recorded Lights Out for their Walk on Water CD and it's equal to, if not greater than the original.
(There is also a new version of Doctor Doctor but I don't think it's quite as successful)

 

Joe Walsh's 1974 version of "Turn To Stone" on the album So What is significantly better than the original, from 1972's Barnstorm. The later version growls.

 

The Any Trouble re-recording of both Open Fire and Wheels in Motion best the originals although just barely on WrongEnd of the Race.

I also like Richard and Teddy Thompson's re-recording of Persuasion. I still like the version that Tim Finn and Richard did as well but there's something about the duet dynamic that makes that song work better for me.

My wife likes the remake better as well but I prefer the original...it's untamed.

Not sue that I would call the remake of Pretty in Pink better but it is more direct and muscular sou ding to me even though I grew up with the original version. The remake is tighter and it works its favor.

 

James Taylor redid Country Road and Something in the Way She Moves for his "Greatest Hits" package release Nov 1976
this compilation has sold over 11 million copies

The later and far inferior Best Of was much more uneven despite having two discs to work with and used the original "less known" versions of those songs

 

Hmmm. That original WB cover is missing something I vividly remember:"Newly recorded in High fidelity". It's as if the Cadence originals weren't high fidelity (which they were) or even available in stereo (I've heard that at least some Cadence sides were mixed in stereo).

As for that new cover, that is so 70's (look at the length of their hair and clothes).

 

The hit version of Helen Reddy's I Am Woman is a re-recorded and expanded version of the original, and much better IMO.
But I'm torn between the original and re-records of Harry Nilsson's Daddy's Song. Both are great, but very different. The sound is warmer and the production more quirky on the original, while Harry sings better on the re-record but the sound seems kind of cold and harsh.

 

Somehow I've never heard the acoustic remake of "Roadrunner" (I only know the version on the Modern Lovers LP), but you're right that the remake of Government Center is far superior to the Kim Fowley-produced version.

 

Donovan's re-recording of Lady of the Stars is better than the original version from his self-titled album in my opinion.

 

I like Billy Fury's re-recorded hits better than the originals. I think his voice was better, but the recording techniques were better as well. I love both though...wouldn't part with either.

 

Magazine "The Light Pours Out Of Me" I'm actually torn between the two versions. The original has so much unrelenting power and energy. The later Martin Hannett-produced version is maybe more interesting with the electro-snare and wailing sax. That's the one CFNY used to play back in the day.

 

I've seen Bowie mentioned a few times in this list, so not to repeat, but I do think he's got a knack for revisiting sometimes half-baked ideas and turning them into truly memorable tracks:

"Space Oddity" (original for Deram c. 1969, famous remake 1969)
"Moonage Daydream" (Arnold Corns original c. 1970, remade for Ziggy Stardust in 1971).
"Holy Holy" (single c. 1970, remade for a b-side c. 1972)
"John, I'm Only Dancing (Sax Version)" (original, still very good, recorded c. 1971, superior remake c. 1973)
"I'm Afraid of Americans" (original 1995, remade for Earthling in 1997)

... and pretty much everything on Toy vs. the originals, though I do truly enjoy the originals of "In the Heat of the Morning", "Silly Boy Blue", and a few others, too.

Unfortunately, Bowie's skill for rework can also be turned to evil, as it was in the 1980s:
"Neighborhood Threat" (original on Iggy's Lust for Life in 1977, ruined for Tonight in 1984)
"Tonight" (same as previous)
"China Girl" (I know opinions on this are divided...)

Also not a favorite:
"Strangers When We Meet" (I think I'm in the minority who prefers the Buddha of Suburbia version)