Demo versions vs. released versions

[greendaze5]

Any demo (or alternate version) of a SN or FM song you prefer to the officially released one?

I think ‘Sweet Girl’ on ‘Enchanted is far superior to the one on ‘The Dance’, and the demos of ‘Smile At You’ as opposed to the one on ‘SYW’ (which ended up sounding like a copy of ‘Caroline’ from ‘TITN’).

Also, the alternate version of ‘You Make Loving Fun’ on the 2 CD’s re-release of ‘Rumours’ where you hear Stevie prominently on backing vocals at the end of the song. I don’t know why they mixed her out.

Oh yeah, I can’t say I like this better, put the alternate version of ‘Beautiful Child’ (on the 2 CD’s re-release of ‘Tusk’) with LB’s electric guitar up front is cool.

Roland

[ButterCookie]

Planets of the Universe. Gah I LOVE the one on the Rumours double CD

[Christopher]

The Tower vs. Goodbye Baby

Lindsey and Stevie sucked the strong melody in the verses right out of the the song. The intimate vocal delivery along with the awful looping lullabye backing track that Lindsey produced, does nothing to lift the song.

After all those years in the vault, The Tower was for me the biggest disappointment/missed opportunity on SYW.
The demo had a beautiful melody and vocal.....Lindsey should have stuck to an even more stripped down, less is more, beautiful acoustic guitar arrangement....and Stevie should have stuck to her original melody and lyrics.

[seekerj]

Love Is.
I really loved this song when TISL came out. Then I heard the demo. Now I never listen to the released TISL version. The demo is so much more emotional.

Destiny (the long Wild Heart outtake).
Again, so much more emotional than the bland version on Street Angel. But it has to be the long version, not the edited version. It's so cool because just when you think the song is over, here comes that drum beat and then you get to sing along to "crying, in the morning" for another twenty minutes! (exagerating just a little).

Candlebright.
Much better with Lindsey than with Sheryl.

Totally agree about Sweet Girl... the demo is killer.

And I agree about Goodbye Baby, too. But I think that's because of Lindsey's production, and not the addition of the new lyrics. I like the new lyrics. But that "ticky-tocky" production and the whispered vocal just suck the sentiment right out of the words.

But a little off-topic... Goodbye Baby... why does everyone call the demo "The Tower"? Is it just because Maureen Loftus did? All the reel-to-reel tapes from the 1970's clearly label the title as "Goodbye Baby" right on the boxes. I know because I own two of them.

[Sahara]

I'm the opposite ... Sweet Girl with the Mac was much better than the demo, and the same for Twisted with Lindsey. I can't stand the demos of either track :sorry:

[chiliD]

There's nothing in "demo" form that even comes close to the released version...of ANY song.

[louielouie2000]

I actually tend to prefer the various outtakes more than most of Stevie's recorded songs. There's just a certain amount of soul and emotion that's lost in translation from dem0 to outtake to official recording.

I'll give some instances. The outtake of Bombay Sapphires has an extra verse which I think completes the song: "That's my dream... so it seems. To still see dreams, when there are none." Stupid little things like that which are often left on the cutting room floor can totally be a counter point for Stevie's rambling lyrics. And it's not just lyrics I'm talking about. There are so many outtakes from the Trouble In Shangri La sessions that have just these little extra pieces of instrumentation on them that completes the painting. A few extra little bars of piano/percussion for the intro of "Candlebright," just little touches like that can make all the difference in a song.

I think Fleetwood Mac totally botched Thrown Down too. That was such an emotional song as a demo... and almost seems campy as an album track. In an odd twist of fate, I actually strongly dislike the addition of the "shaking the faith" verse... sounds very amateurish to me.

That said... there are certainly some instances where the final production makes all of the difference. The early versions of Gypsy, for instance, are horrid. The early versions of Gold Dust Woman are so cut and dry... lacking any of the magic which is so pervasive in the album version. It all just depends I suppose! :D

[Fiver]

Planets of the Universe. Gah I LOVE the one on the Rumours double CD

This is my pick. The drums... I love them. :nod:

Also, as much as I love Stevie's harmony on the alternate YMLF on Rumours disc 2, I think YMLF's production is perfect, I wouldn't change a thing. But, the other version is great to hear, like a high quality version of the live version or somethin'.

[goldustsongbird]

The Tower vs. Goodbye Baby

Lindsey and Stevie sucked the strong melody in the verses right out of the the song. The intimate vocal delivery along with the awful looping lullabye backing track that Lindsey produced, does nothing to lift the song.

After all those years in the vault, The Tower was for me the biggest disappointment/missed opportunity on SYW.
The demo had a beautiful melody and vocal.....Lindsey should have stuck to an even more stripped down, less is more, beautiful acoustic guitar arrangement....and Stevie should have stuck to her original melody and lyrics.

I liked the way it sounded on the DR doc with just Stevie singing. It's the monotony of Stevie's voice that gets under my skin more than anything, but that stupid metronome sound doesn't help.

The early versions of Gypsy, for instance, are horrid

I had all but blocked these from my mind. Thanks. :laugh: Those were ridic.

Beauty and the Beast is so much better as a demo and live. I'm not a fan of that song in general, but if I had to listen to it, I'd pick the first time she played it for Tom on the piano (where she's re-telling the movie. "La bete, la bete!" :laugh: ), or Largo '83.

And this:
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[Musicman408]

We've debated this before, and we always hear different things! :nod:

Honestly with me, I go back and forth. Right now I like the released stuff!

[vivfox]

I like the released version of It's a Heartache better than the demo.
I like the demo to Bette Davis Eyes better than the released version.
I like the released version of Black Velvet better than the demo.

These three songs are the BEST songs Stevie's ever written.

[belladonnadream]

No Light piano demo over Planets...hands down.

[equeen102289]

This is the first time I've done this so let's see how long my list becomes...(snowing like crazy here today. I have nothing better to do. Homework doesn't count).

Demos I like better than released versions (Not in any order):
1. After the Glitter Fades
2. I Sing for the Things
3. Jane
4. Juliet
5. Love Is
6. No Light (Planets of the Universe)
7. The Tower (Goodbye Baby)
8. Smile at You

Hmm. Less than I thought. There were a few though that I couldn't pick a favorite between the demo and released version:
1. That's Alright (Designs of Love)
2. Candlebright
3. If You Ever Did Believe
4. Think About It

[ButterCookie]

This is the first time I've done this so let's see how long my list becomes...(snowing like crazy here today. I have nothing better to do. Homework doesn't count).

Demos I like better than released versions (Not in any order):
1. After the Glitter Fades
2. I Sing for the Things
3. Jane
4. Juliet
5. Love Is
6. No Light (Planets of the Universe)
7. The Tower (Goodbye Baby)
8. Smile at You

Hmm. Less than I thought. There were a few though that I couldn't pick a favorite between the demo and released version:
1. That's Alright (Designs of Love)
2. Candlebright
3. If You Ever Did Believe
4. Think About It

I've not heard that one! Would you be able to post it? :D

[equeen102289]

^^
I actually don't have it on my computer right now. Maybe someone else does? Anyway, until then, I found it on youtube.

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[BigLee770]

I think Fleetwood Mac totally botched Thrown Down too. That was such an emotional song as a demo...

Does anyone have this demo - could you post it please ??

[wheart]

I also prefer the demo of Sweet Girl, same with Love Is. I also prefer the demo of Trouble in Shangri La to the released version. I love her vocal and the spartan production. It's far more haunting and mysterious than the album version, which is perhaps a bit too glossy.

[Jondalar]

The Twisted Demo is more powerful than then the one on the soundtrack.

[ButterCookie]

^^
I actually don't have it on my computer right now. Maybe someone else does? Anyway, until then, I found it on youtube.

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Thankyou! :xoxo:

[goldustsongbird]

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[Artemis]

Any Smile At You demo is better than the album version. I just do not like it, at all :sorry: For me that song needs the crazy vocals and all the anger. The "flaming" demo has to be the one of the best ones.

The Planets Of The Universe demo on the Rumours bonus disk is so much better than the version on Trouble In Shangri-La. Her voice is perfection on that demo, and so full of emotion, it's wonderful.

Running Through The Garden. I think I'd quite happily give up my right arm for a studio-quality version of the demo from the early 80s. I love her vocals on it and the production. That being said, I DO like the version on Say You Will, infact, it's one of the best songs on the album, but the demo version... there's something about it that's fantastic. Pity I don't have it in brilliant quality.

Juliet too, the Tango (?) demo is much better than the version on The Other Side Of The Mirror.

Also, Sorcerer and Candlebright Buckingham Nicks demos are better than the versions on Trouble In Shangri-La. Sorcerer in particular is haunting.

And, the demo version of Oh Daddy on the second Rumours disk, where Stevie's vocals are louder, so it almost sounds like a duet. It's brilliant. It gives Oh Daddy the twinge needed to move it from "bland" to "haunting" xD

[jedw]

1982 mirage "smile at you" demo and 1984 "mirror mirror" demo of running through the garden would both have been WAY better than what ended up on SYW.

I wonder if anywhere high enough quality tapes exist of enough 80's demos be make a possible release anytime.

[LittleCharmer]

With regards to FM, I've found I prefer the versions Say Goodbye and Peacekeeper from Lindsey's 'Bootleg Gift Of Screws' to the final album versions..
As for Stevie, just loads of the piano demos really. Though I wouoldn't say I 'prefer' them, as I generally enjoy the album versions for what they are.. I just like hearing a different side to the songs. Some of them are prettier.. sometimes I just like them for the raw vocals and the music that hasn't been overly fiddled with.

[michelej1]

With regards to FM, I've found I prefer the versions Say Goodbye and Peacekeeper from Lindsey's 'Bootleg Gift Of Screws' to the final album versions..


That's a good point. Chili when you say that no demo is ever better than the final version, are you including the GOS demos? I want to make sure your blanket statement still holds.

Michele