Author Topic: Alternate versions of songs that you prefer over the regular album releases  (Read 2206 times)

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Offline ozzy554

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This thread is for all the alternate mixes, demos, or re-recordings that people may find better than the regular album tracks. I would like to exclude cover songs and  MOST live versions as those would be easy picks. I do count live versions that significantly change up the sound or format of the songs. Like making it acoustic, adding an orchestra, or greatly adding onto the original length of the song. Here are a couple of mine.

Candlemass - Witches (The Tony Martin Demo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RihZnl26OY I had no idea this existed or that Tony Martin was ever close to joining candlemass until recently but I really love this version of the song. I like the alternate lyrics better than the later version and Martin's vocal melodys I find more memorable and catchy than the Marcolin's take on it.

W.A.S.P - Hallowed Ground (Acoustic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgGmnnRwUTQ This version really brings out the emotional side of Blackie's vocal range which I think is where he really shines.

Ozzy Osbourne - Mama I'm Coming Home (Demo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLVohjRgNs0 I honestly could've filled this thread full of Ozzy demos. Every one of them that was released on the Prince of Darkness boxset I like more in some way than the album versions. This one in particular I think is better in every way than the version that ended up on No More Tears.

Sanctuary - Die For My Sins (demo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIIKrFvHLCA Really makes me want to hear what Chris "Zeuss" Harris could do with the actual Refuge Denied masters as this demo is far better mixed IMO than the album cut.

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Offline DTA

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I like the demo version of Megadeth’s Symphony of Destruction more simply because of the badass riff that comes after the solo that was cut in the final version.

Offline Shadow Ninja 2.0

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For some reason, the 'main' version of My Immortal on Evanescence's Fallen isn't the version where the full band comes in at the end with Ben Moody's solo. That section really pulls the whole song together, and the version without it just comes to a sort of pitiful end.

Compare:

'Main' version  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta6R6ePVG18

Full band version  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFuc03k4ooU

Why the first one is the one they went with is baffling to me.

Offline PROGdrummer

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Genesis' Carpet Crawlers 1999 is better than the orginal.

Its got the matured and older vocal styles of Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins trading verses with each other and harmonizing. It's beautiful.

Offline jammindude

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 I adore the original of Between You and Me by Marillion, but the remix version is a whole new level.
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Offline jammindude

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I like the demo version of Megadeth’s Symphony of Destruction more simply because of the badass riff that comes after the solo that was cut in the final version.

As an “honorable mention”, I don’t know if I PREFER Trent Reznor’s remix of SoD, but I think I like it just as well.
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Offline Crow

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Offline The Walrus

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I prefer Axl Rose's version of Black Sabbath's song "It's Alright". It's live, only Axl and the piano, the tempo is increased, and Axl sounds way better.
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Offline Architeuthis

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Porcupine Tree.  They did a remake of "She'smovedon" originally on the Lightbulb Sun album. The new version appears as a bonus track on Deadwing and it is miles better..  :tup
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Offline jammindude

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Porcupine Tree.  They did a remake of "She'smovedon" originally on the Lightbulb Sun album. The new version appears as a bonus track on Deadwing and it is miles better..  :tup

Really?   I mean, I knew this, but the last time I checked I couldn't tell the difference.
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Offline PixelDream

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Porcupine Tree.  They did a remake of "She'smovedon" originally on the Lightbulb Sun album. The new version appears as a bonus track on Deadwing and it is miles better..  :tup

Really?   I mean, I knew this, but the last time I checked I couldn't tell the difference.

I’ve never understood the need for that remake. I think the original is better, also from a purely sonic standpoint.
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Online SoundscapeMN

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The original demo/"Please Don't Go" of A Change of Seasons I always have and likely will prefer over the EP version.

Offline Nekov

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I prefer the remade version of The Polices Don't Stand so Close to me that was released in the Greatest hits album. The reggae version never made sense to me.
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Offline Architeuthis

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Oh man, why didn't I think of this earlier?!?!  The live version of "Passage To Bangkok" off of Exit Stage Left absolutely slays the studio version from 2112..   :metal
« Last Edit: April 15, 2019, 10:52:24 AM by Architeuthis »
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Offline pg1067

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The two that come to mind are both live versions (which is a little odd for me since I'm not generally a fan of live albums):

UFO's "Rock Bottom" - the Strangers in the Night version is blows away the album version.

Judas Priest's "Tyrant" - the Unleashed in the East version is considerably better than the album version (and, oddly enough, it's because of Ian Hill's bass line).
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Offline Stadler

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The Buffalo Springfield have a song called "Hung Upside Down" and there's an acoustic demo version on their box set that just SLAYS. It's so good; acoustic guitar and Steven Stills' voice...

The Pearl Jam version of "Love Reign O'er Me" is breathtaking, even though the original is one of my ten favorite Who songs.

I have two versions of Whitesnake's Slide It In, and prefer the pre-Keith Olsen "British Version". 

I like the Trevor Horn version of Fly From Here (by Yes) better than the original.

Offline JayOctavarium

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REO Speedwagon's reggae version of Keep On Loving You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5gITg5xtfY

Enjoy :JayOctavarium:


Fun fact- the is the version I know as a kid (My dad spun that greatest hits CD A LOT. First time I heard the studio version I was like "What the actual fuck?"
I just don't understand what they were trying to achieve with any part of the song, either individually or as a whole. You know what? It's the Platypus of Dream Theater songs. That bill doesn't go with that tail, or that strange little furry body, or those webbed feet, and oh god why does it have venomous spurs!? And then you find out it lays eggs too. The difference is that the Platypus is somehow functional despite being a crazy mishmash or leftover animal pieces

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Offline romdrums

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I adore the original of Between You and Me by Marillion, but the remix version is a whole new level.

I much prefer the remix as well.
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Offline Cool Chris

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I prefer the remade version of The Polices Don't Stand so Close to me that was released in the Greatest hits album. The reggae version never made sense to me.

Good one (though I do not really enjoy either). But reggae in general never made sense to me.
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Offline DTA

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Porcupine Tree.  They did a remake of "She'smovedon" originally on the Lightbulb Sun album. The new version appears as a bonus track on Deadwing and it is miles better..  :tup

Really?   I mean, I knew this, but the last time I checked I couldn't tell the difference.

I’ve never understood the need for that remake. I think the original is better, also from a purely sonic standpoint.

I think the guitar solo is much better in the original too. Feels a bit more "wild" and emotive.

Offline ZKX-2099

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I like the reworked version of Pull Me Under DT started ADTOE with.

Offline Architeuthis

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Porcupine Tree.  They did a remake of "She'smovedon" originally on the Lightbulb Sun album. The new version appears as a bonus track on Deadwing and it is miles better..  :tup

Really?   I mean, I knew this, but the last time I checked I couldn't tell the difference.
There's quite a difference if you listen to each version back to back. The production sounds better on the new take, and to me the guitar solo is more defined. The drumming is also tighter with a bit more attitude. 
In other words, the old version sounds more like a demo when compared to the more polished version on Deadwing..
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Offline Elite

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I like the reworked version of Pull Me Under DT started ADTOE with.

lol here we go again :lol
Hey dude slow the fuck down so we can finish together at the same time.  :biggrin:
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Offline Orbert

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More DT controversy:  The "leaked" version of Octavarium had that beautiful flute solo at the end.  Doesn't matter if it was just copied and pasted from earlier in the tune (as some claimed -- I never bothered to check), I thought it was a perfect ending to a great piece of music, and was disappointed when the official version didn't have it.  Then doubly disappointed when I realized I'd deleted the leaked version when I bought the CD because I didn't think I'd need it, not realizing that they weren't the same.

Offline Samsara

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Fates Warning - Firefly. The "extended" version of the song has so much more emotion. They cut off the ending to make it a single

Fates Warning - Falling Further. For some reason, they did a short 2 minute acoustic version and put that on the album proper, instead of the full version, which is rocking. Not sure why.

Been in a Fates mood for the last couple of months after seeing them a few times, and those really stuck out to me.
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Offline Orbert

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"A Venture" by Yes from The Yes Album.  The original is a short little song that goes into a jam at the end and fades out.  The remaster includes an alternate version which doesn't fade out; the jam goes on for a while and they end the tune properly.  I put this version on my iPod instead of the original because I like having the whole song.

Offline Orbert

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Same thing with "Hour of Need" by Yes from Fly From Here.  The studio version is just a short song.  The extended version includes an instrumental at the beginning and another at the end, forming a 3-part suite.  Again, this is the version on my iPod rather than the original.

Online SoundscapeMN

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Porcupine Tree - Normal >>>>>> Sentimental

Offline JayOctavarium

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Porcupine Tree - Normal >>>>>> Sentimental

I can get behind this.
I just don't understand what they were trying to achieve with any part of the song, either individually or as a whole. You know what? It's the Platypus of Dream Theater songs. That bill doesn't go with that tail, or that strange little furry body, or those webbed feet, and oh god why does it have venomous spurs!? And then you find out it lays eggs too. The difference is that the Platypus is somehow functional despite being a crazy mishmash or leftover animal pieces

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Offline KevShmev

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Porcupine Tree.  They did a remake of "She'smovedon" originally on the Lightbulb Sun album. The new version appears as a bonus track on Deadwing and it is miles better..  :tup

Really?   I mean, I knew this, but the last time I checked I couldn't tell the difference.

The difference is that the original on Lightbulb Sun is significantly better, in every way imaginable.

Offline Architeuthis

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Porcupine Tree.  They did a remake of "She'smovedon" originally on the Lightbulb Sun album. The new version appears as a bonus track on Deadwing and it is miles better..  :tup

Really?   I mean, I knew this, but the last time I checked I couldn't tell the difference.

The difference is that the original on Lightbulb Sun is significantly better, in every way imaginable.
You're imagining things!   :biggrin:
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Offline jingle.boy

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You Or Me - am I really the first to mention this?

I know this isn't about the live vs studio debate, but Van Halen's acoustic version of Give to Live absolutely destroys Sammy's rock version.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.
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Online SoundscapeMN

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while it's sort of splitting hairs, I can't deny:

Kevin Gilbert - The Puppet Suite > Kevin Gilbert - A Tired Old Man

Offline Kwyjibo

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I prefer the remade version of The Polices Don't Stand so Close to me that was released in the Greatest hits album. The reggae version never made sense to me.

I strongly disagree with this one, the original is cool, precise and on the spot (and the reggae influences are just the style Police has used often in their beginnings). The remake is washed out, lazy and Sting sounds like he's slurring because he's completely drunk.
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Offline ShadowWalker

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Acoustic version of Golden Earring's "Vanilla Queen" from the live disc The Naked Truth.