One of those tracks that I have always adored is “As I Lay Me Down” by Sophie B Hawkins. She’s not necessarily one of my “favourite artists” (although I have a couple of albums), but there is something about this particular track that strikes a chord. It always gets put on any playlist, is on all my portable devices etc etc
Anyway, Ms Hawkins has just released “Whaler Re-emerging” which as you may have guessed is a re recording of some of the 1994 album Whaler, and I’m really liking the new version of “As I Lay Me Down” – compare and contrast in the comments…..
This re imagining of old albums seems to be becoming more popular these days. I know sometimes its the artist re gaining control of the music, but maybe it’s that they have run dry of creative juices and need to put something out?
So which ones have worked ? Which improve (or at least give a fresh take on) the original ? Should they just be left alone ?
Compare and contrast
The original from 1994…
The new “re-emerging” version….
I love the original, but the new one is a bit too much like a John Lewis advert. It might grow on me.
I didn’t know that song or Sophie B (who I think I was confusing with Sheila E, Prince acolyte who is embarrassing on the “Greatest night in pop” film). Anyway, nice song, I think I prefer the original though I would have been up for an acoustic version as I don’t especially like that 90s synth keyboard pad which ruined Springsteen albums around the same time. Unfortunately the acoustic version has a funny plinky piano thing going on which is quite annoying. I’ll explore her other work though.
This was her big hit, or at least the only one I know. Features ‘of its time’ production.
Yes that’s horrible. I tweeted Ben Watt once and asked him if they could rerecord Idlewild live in the studio with a small jazz rhythm section. He answered “you don’t want much”. That awful toy town drum machine does my head in.
Shame, as that is a pretty good song (so there).
Well, quite – I bought it (on CD single). I suppose in another 10 years that early ’90s production style will be a ‘thing’, like the early ’80s is now.
I had a soft spot for Sophie B. Hawkins. She was so eager, like a puppy, but her songs never quite hit the spot (a bit like Eddi Reader after she left Fairground Attraction). Except this one, this was great:
Copycat versions on regaining the rights are clearly useful to the artist, but less so the listener. However, revised revamps I like a lot. These take 2 main formats, the acoustic and the speed change.
Electric folk bands do often the first, with Oysterband’s The Oxford Girl and Other Stories being a favourite.
It’s a tie for speed changers, and tends more to individual songs. So Goodbye Girl, by Squeeze, is one, the other being Any Trouble and Playing Bogart.
Re. Any Trouble- I thought I might be the only person to have heard both versions of this song! I have both albums containing the song.
I meant to post both versions, having written about it, 11 years ago. However, the vid of the slow one is no longer available. So I have had to make one.
Here’s the piece:
https://sixsongs.blogspot.com/2014/10/same-artist-different-version-playing.html
and here’s the slow version:
I also have the Any Trouble synth pop album, not that easy to get (and also nobody wants it…)
You’ve reminded me that I bought ‘where are all the nice girls’ when it came out. Haven’t played it in decades, I should give it a spin. IIRC they got stick in the music for being Elvis Costello copyists.
It’s the only Any Trouble album I don’t have two copies of.
You have two of the 1983 EMI America eponymous Any Trouble release? Where they went all synth for a while? AKA the not very good one, but still has some corking songs, viz Northern Soul?
Need ’em both?
I’ve got just one copy. I should try listening to it again…
Are you looking for a copy?
I used to have it on tape. If I saw it at a used cd stall, I’d probably buy it. I’ve not gone as far as Discogs sourcing yet.
I don’t think it was ever on CD… but the LP is cheap on Discogs. I played mine yesterday and quite enjoyed it, honestly better than I remembered it.
Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill Acoustic is a superb album, better than the original, which was also pretty damn good.
It’s not what you’re asking but I’d pay good money to hear Born in the USA re-recorded with less polished production. I may have said this before.
Now we’re cooking with gas!
Now do No Surrender 🙂
I take it that’s from the forthcoming Nebraska Box Set
Much better than the well known version
Funny how the uncompromising message in the lyrics got completely lost when the song was tarted up, turned into a radio friendly hit and was subsumed into Reagan’s presidential campaign. Much better in this version.
It was also played at the Ryder Cup around the time of Trump’s arrival 🙁
For the record I bought the album during my lunch break day of release and rushed home to play the opening track before getting back to work. Was always clear to me that it was an angry, vitriolic song with a stunning vocal and band performance (recorded live in the studio I believe). Didn’t strike me at the time as an obvious pop hit at all. I did listen to the lyrics though
I do like the alternate version too.
China Crisis brought out China Greatness last year, interesting but can be a bit wearing to listen to.
This is the description:
A beautifully packaged compilation of China Crisis’ greatest hits and favourite tracks. The chosen songs have been arranged by Jack Hymers and recorded and mixed in a cinematic style by three-time Grammy Award winning engineer Mark Phythian. Featuring ‘Wishful Thinking’, ‘Arizona Sky’, ‘Christian’, ‘King in a Catholic Style’, ‘Black Man Ray’, ‘It’s Never Too Late’, and many more.
@BryanD
Big Chinas fan here but this is a mis-step.
@FreddySteady just saw this in my spam folder.
I would agree, got a signed copy when I saw them live last year but I have hardly played it, which is always the test. Brilliant concert though.
@BryanD
They are absolutely superb live. I’ve seen them about 6 times on the last 3 years and thoroughly enjoyed them each time even if the set list hardly changes – just the odd deep cut here and there. Gary Daly’s banter is great (I don’t think he’s actually repeated any stories at all) and there is a lot of love for the band.
Lucinda Williams completely re-recorded Sweet Old World as This Sweet Old World a few years back. The pace of the original was slowed down with a more bluesy musical backdrop and the laidback vocal drawl that Lucinda was employing at the time. Considering the original was one of her best albums it’s hard to understand the logic in re-recording it. It was a pleasant listen but added little to the original version.
Natalie Merchant also did that trick, with her (IMHO) best album, Tigerlily, rejigging it, 20 years on, with Paradise Is There (The Tigerlily Sessions.) I can’t say I listened more than about a couple of times, not helped by the fact that, on the tour to nominally present the new versions, she played next to none of them.
The original album is unbeatable, a very rare example of a star going solo but keeping it simple. A small well-rehearsed band playing mostly live, with her own piano playing giving it a feeling that she never surpassed. I think the guitar player did an incredible performance here… and nowhere to be seen on the remake, along with Natalie’s piano.
I agree. Tigerlily is one of my favourite albums and “Wonder” is a song I go back to again and again.
I don’t think that the 1992 version of Temple Of Love is better than the original, but then again that’s a pretty tough ask. However, I do think that it’s a magnificent beast in its own right. There are times when I think it’s the last great British Heavy Metal song.
I agree – prefer the 92 version as well
(and I thought I was alone in that)
You are. Hawkfall (and I)* both prefer the original.
*There could be a film in that…
RT has plenty of previous on this as he plays many songs solo which were recorded with a band (and with his band). I love this one as he manages to get the whole arrangement onto one acoustic guitar.
Original…
Acoustic…
Tubular Bells => Tubular Bells 2003
30 years later, Mike decides he never liked the recording and re-records it all.
Not sure it adds much to the legacy – I bought it, but still reach for the original.
I couldn’t bring myself to listen to it. It’s perfect as it is.
See also: Jean-Michel Jarre’s ‘digital’ re-recording “Oxygène: New Master Recording”.
No, JMJ, we liked the squelchy analogue synths of the original.
Thankfully that version seems to have been replaced by the original! Also: Oxygene 3 (the album, not the track) is a banger. As is Oxymore (actually a Zoolook type of album). You can’t ever write him off…
As someone who normally steers well away from acoustic “reimaginings”, Paddy McAloon’s 2007 re-recordings of (most of) Steve McQueen for the anniversary edition were an absolute pleasure. A few of them I actually prefer to the originals, such as this:
Pretty in Pink. The original on Talk Talk Talk is ace.
The version on Midnight to Midnight is not.
The later version was “smoothed” for the film soundtrack. Why? Should’ve stuck with the original version.
@rigid-digit
It’s just wrong.
One word: cocaine.
That’s why.
That and they surely employed an image consultant.
Happy Mondays are a good example of this, as the remixes of Wrote For Luck (WFL) by Vince Clark and Paul Oakenfold were different beasts to the original album version, and turned them into pop stars ( I think Bummed is their masterpiece, but Martin Hannett’s production is very dense)