What exactly is an "outtake"?

For years I assumed that outtakes are the unused takes for a given song.
Let's say you recorded 10 takes of your new song and take 7 was chosen as the best one and so it was overdubed and mixed.

The remaining, unused nine takes are the outtakes of said song.

But now I've seen people using the term while referring to songs that didn't end up on the albums they were recorded for. Shouldn't we call them "outsongs"?

Anyway, I'm confused.
Can anyone put some light on this?

 

In my mind an outtake is an unused song. Discarded takes of a released song is an alternate take.

 

You will find different definitions here. I tend to think of it as a song that was finished or almost finished, but not used for the lp. (So a live lp can have outtakes)
But many times, people will call something a rehearsal, implying it was never seriously considered for an lp.
An example is Springsteen's Lonely Night in the Park. It is an outtake from Born to Run, but the sloppy nature of the vocal and missing lyrics conveys to some that it was a rehearsal that never progressed beyond messing around.
When you're dealing with stuff that is 'out there' it often gets very archaic and hair splitting. I've heard the Stones version of For Your Precious Love called an outtake and a demo. I say, just enjoy the song.

 

Different than demo. Sometimes seems better than the released version. But perhaps that's because the released version has become overly familiar. Then maybe it becomes known as an alternate take.

 

Yup. That's how B-Sides are born!

Or I mean were...

 

This "rehearsal" (The YT description calls it an outtake - lol) is one of my favorite tracks from the band!

 

And let's not forget the piss-take;

 

Those nine takes are indeed outtakes but more correctly known as 'alternate takes'.

Those songs/tracks are indeed outtakes (but not 'alternate takes').​

 

Outtake for me is a multi tracked song worked on during the album sessions but left off the album. Not a demo recorded before the main album sessions. Not an alternate take or mix.

 

Literally a song "taken out" of consideration for inclusion on the album. Some outtakes become B-sides.

 

Blind Willie McTell an obvious example.

 

So an unused take of System Of A Down "Chop Suey" could be an outtake or take out???

 

What if a release includes 2 takes of a song previously not released? Are both out takes or 1 an out take and the other an alternate take?

 

I don't think the usage of these terms is settled.

For myself I say outtake = unissued different version of a released song
alternate take = issued different version of a released song
unused song = song that was recorded but not released in any version (the song may be unused for a variety of reasons)

 

Yes true, but I still would argue that the meaning unissued song = outtake is leading the polls.
Just look at this wiki entry for Bob Dylan's Bootleg Series 1-3, perhaps the first comprehensive collection of outtakes in rock music. Alternate takes are termed alternate takes, demos are termed demos, and songs not included on albums are termed outtakes.

The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991 - Wikipedia

 

I'm kinda on-board with the OP here. If I record 10 takes of a song and take 8 is the keeper, the other nine are unused. I then track take 8 and finish the song.

But then ANOTHER decision takes place - do I include it on my current album or not? Surely there is a difference between take 3 with just backing track and a breakdown, and a completed mix of take 8. "Outtake" is too general a word.

Perhaps takes other than take 8 is an "alternate take" (including the unfinished take 8) and the mixed take 8 is the "outtake".

 

Both are outtakes. None of the two are alternate takes.

 

no, I'd say both are outtakes. When they did those Van multi disc sets, we got many takes of the same song (in one case, a song not even on the lp) and they sure weren't rehearsals, they were actual lp sessions. But they weren't used, sometimes for obvious reasons. With someone like Van or Bruce you could have an alternate take of the song that sounds fantastic that he never gave the slightest thought of putting on the lp, but for me it's still an outtake

 

An alternate take is also an outtake.

 

Depends on who you ask really. Which is fine.

 

It may be thought of that way, but I'm thinking it should not.

 

Wrong, could be unissued as well.

 

What if I ask you?

 

Just don't ask Bruce Springsteen because he has no problem re-recording new lead vocals over a vintage (30+ year old) track while potentially adding other modern embellishments (strings, horns, etc.). Still an outtake? Or is it now a new song?

 

So my opinion is wrong. OK!!