OT: Songs where the remake by the same artist was better than the original.

[megadrone]

Miami 2017 by Billy Joel -- Energy was incredible on the version on Songs in the Attic, just not there on Turnstiles.

And I agree with NickKnight1 above on Breaking up is hard to do.

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

Good cover, although I think I still like the original better - also, this is off-topic from .

umm......- the original German version was much better.

Interestingly, the German version hit number 2 on Billboard top pop in the US. But, the English translation version never made the top 20. Nena has never sung "99 Red Balloons" (English version) live- always performing the German version instead.

 

[Armor and Sword]

umm......- the original German version was much better.

Interestingly, the German version hit number 2 on Billboard top pop in the US. But, the English translation version never made the top 20. Nena has never sung "99 Red Balloons" (English version) live- always performing the German version instead.

The English version of Peter Schilling's "Major Tom" is better than the German version.

 

[Armor and Sword]

Nearly every song on Rush's "Exit Stage Left" is better than the original studio version. "Natural Science" on a later live album ("Different Stages", I think) is better than the original.

 

[RU848789]

umm......- the original German version was much better.

Interestingly, the German version hit number 2 on Billboard top pop in the US. But, the English translation version never made the top 20. Nena has never sung "99 Red Balloons" (English version) live- always performing the German version instead.

Not sure what your point is. In my post, I said "good cover, but I think I like the original better." I know the original is the German version. I bought it on vinyl when it came out. Never cared for the English version and never bought it.

 

[1stand3rd]

Speaking of the Beatles, I've always felt George's acoustic version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps is superior to the White Album version.

 

[_dave_]

I'm a big fan of Johnny Cash's version of Hurt by NIN. Although the original is good too.

Best version is by Sad Kermit.

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

Not by the same artist but definitely better than Under Pressure.

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Vanilla Ice better than Queen and David Bowie? Yikes.

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

 

[RU848789]

Vanilla Ice better than Queen and David Bowie? Yikes.

Pretty sure that was sarcasm and if it wasn't Oldman just lost all DJ rights...

 

[Bleed_Scarlet]

Danger Danger - Cockroach

Poley version was a bunch better than the Paul Laine one

Maybe the best hair metal CD ever

(Poley was recorded first, but Laine released first..)

 

[oldman87]

Pretty sure that was sarcasm and if it wasn't Oldman just lost all DJ rights...

The only time I ever play that record was at frat parties upon request so please let me keep my DJ rights, I thought it was a perfect song to go with Spank's IROC.

 

[wheezer]

"roll over beethoven" by ELO..... because it actually incorporated some beethoven into it, making it different than the multitude of recordings

 

[theRU]

I agree with RU848789, but will go a step further and say the acoustic version of Layla is an abomination, compared to the original, with Duane Allman on slide.
Most of the better remakes are live versions, so I'm not sure if it totally fits within the OP's parameters, but the live versions of Cheap Trick's Surrender or I Want You to Want Me FAR outshines the originals.

Abomination? Jesus you guys are tough. I think both versions are great, very different. I think depending on your mood your preference for which one is better can change.

 

[Miramar-RU]

Leonard Cohen performed the original version of Hallelujah, but it is Jeff Buckley's version that is the most famous and well liked.

I heard a rock version a couple of years ago which was (to me) the best version and it supposedly came from a reality show contestant.

 

[JBL7979]

Nirvana's version of "The Man Who Sold the World." Yes, I get Bowie is a legend, and his original is decent. But the emotional, haunting version by Cobain is one of my favorite tracks ever.

 

[RU848789]

Abomination? Jesus you guys are tough. I think both versions are great, very different. I think depending on your mood your preference for which one is better can change.

Your mood, maybe, not mine - the acoustic version just sucks - I was being kind in my first post on that. But that's my opinion and 80's, which is what's so cool about music - it's so subjective...

 

[mdk01]

"Cold Shot" - Stevie Ray Vaughn

The "Live at Carnegie Hall" version blows away the studio one.

 

[RU to the Core]

It's usually a live version that comes out later that becomes the more popular version

Phish: Bouncing Around the Room off of "A live one" is 100x better than the album version and made Phish more mainstream for a jam band
Foo Fighters. Everlong. Acoustic version from the Howard Stern Show. They even play both the acoustic and plugged in version at concerts b/c of that performance
Billy Joel: She's alwasy a woman. Live version is basically the version everyone knows. The original kind of stinks.
Nirvana About a girl from Unplugged.

 

[snowboarder]

For You
Bruce
Live Hammersmith Odeon, London 75
Remake of the recorded version done very slow
The lyrics definitely become more powerful

 

[pigmasty83]

Stones- Midnight Rambler live on Get yer Ya-Yas out is by far better than the studio Let it Bleed version

 

[willisneverrana43]

Since there are so many Springsteen suggestions here, even though they for the most part don't follow the question, it has to be his Ghost of Tom Joad with Tom Morello on guitar over his acoustic version from 15-20 years earlier.

 

[RuBird]

Anyone who has a chance catch Crossroads where The Band Perry and Fall Out Boy combine to sing their hits. "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark" awesome with Kimberly Perry on Vocals.

When we are talking remakes in General. Disturbs "Sounds of Silence" is amazing. Was performed on one of the late shows. Brought tears to my eyes

 

[Kbee3]

Since there are so many Springsteen suggestions here, even though they for the most part don't follow the question, it has to be his Ghost of Tom Joad with Tom Morello on guitar over his acoustic version from 15-20 years earlier.

I agree with this one. Prior to hearing the Boss do that song with Morello on guitar, I thought TM was just that guy who noodled on guitar while Zack de la Rocha yelled at me. Every time I hear his work on Ghost of Tom Joad I'm blown away. Definitely way better than the original version.

 

[Kbee3]

Sorry, couldn't disagree more. The original is one of the greatest tracks from the classic rock era, while the cover sounds like a bad lounge act.

For my money, almost every song on Live Rust is better than the original, especially, Comes A Time, Sugar Mountain, and Like A Hurricane.

I couldn't agree more with this one either. Layla...as done originally with Duane Allman....makes my Top Ten every time. Not much of a fan of the later acoustic version. Sorry, Slowhand
Also, Like A Hurricane on Live Rust makes my Top Ten as well.

 

[RU4]

Speaking of the Beatles, I've always felt George's acoustic version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps is superior to the White Album version.

Totally agree. John and Paul also took out a verse they didn't like.

"As I'm sitting here doing nothing but aging"

 

[ScarletteK80]

I heard Layla at the gym this afternoon, and as much as I like the original version (with Clapton doing lead vocals and guitar), I realized that I liked the acoustic version Clapton did a little better. So I was wondering what songs others feel the same about.

Original:

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Acoustic:

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I have a couple of others I'll post later.

I love, love Clapton, and that song. To bad the one time I saw him at MSG he was so wasted it wasn't a great show.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Another one that I like better than the original is the live version of Gimme Three Steps off of Skynyrd's Gold & Platinum album:

 

[LadyRU09]

My Heart Goes Boom. Original by French Affair:


The much better cover by Cabella feat. Daisy:

 

[Captain Hogleg]

Nutshell by Alice In Chains.

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AIC acoustic is one of the greatest live sets ever performed. Just an amazing band.

 

[PatrickRU92]

I'm going back to Clapton for another one--After Midnight.

I like the updated bluesy version better than the original uptempo one

 

[Captain Hogleg]

Abomination? Jesus you guys are tough. I think both versions are great, very different. I think depending on your mood your preference for which one is better can change.

Duane Allman > Slow hand. Every day of the week.

 

[RU-05]

Guns and Roses, Knocking on Heavens Door.

I loved the live MTV version when it came out, was very dissapointed in the studio version.

 

[RU-05]

And I like slow version or Layla as well.

 

[RU-05]

if we're going with "songs that are better as live versions than studio versions" I nominate Bruce's entire catalog.

Can't this be said for most songs where live versions are available?

 

[RU-05]

Beastie Boys had multiple versions of Root down, or at least different mixes of, one of which was really good, though original was still better imo.

 

[FanuSanu52]

Foo fighters, acoustic version of "there goes my hero"
Fleetwood Mac- Silver Spring in the 90's
I know there's more but those two come to mind

FF's acoustic "Everclear" that was big way back when was also very good, though think I prefer the traditional.

 

[Beancounter88]

I know it's a little fem, but Natalie Merchant "these are days" was a great remake to the 10,000 maniacs. Also, The Eagles had a great live album with too many great remakes to mention.

 

[mikebal9]

Miami 2017 by Billy Joel -- Energy was incredible on the version on Songs in the Attic, just not there on Turnstiles.

And I agree with NickKnight1 above on Breaking up is hard to do.

Songs in the Attic is great. I feel like most of the versions on there are better. She's Got a Way, Streetlife Serenader, Say Goodbye to Hollywood also all better in my opinion.

 

[wheezer]

a lot more soul