Demos/alt. versions better?

[skcin]

As I write this, I honestly can't think of an example. But many of you have commented in the past "oh, I like the demo so much better" so I'll give you the subject & you can discuss it amongst yourselves, ala' Linda Richman. I'm getting a little verklempt.

Are there songs that Stevie has released that you prefer the demo or alternate version of?

I just tried to word that 5 different ways & none make sense. You're a bunch of smart kids, I'm sure you can figure out what the hell I'm trying to ask.

[amber]

I predict everyone will say "Smile At You", "Thrown Down", and "The Tower".


whatever Stevie was singing in that "wild heart dressing room" clip that was played awhile back, I like it a lot better than how the song "Wild Heart" turned out.

amber "psychic" g.

[dissention]

-Love Is, the demo, is much, much better than the maudlin sludge that's on TISL.
-The "Wall of Sound" version of Thrown Down is infinitely superior to the one on SYW.
-The eighties outtake of Running Through the Garden is better than the SYW version, too, because it has those rocking dueling vocals.
-I adore the Planets demo on the Rumours reissue, it lays waste to her solo version on TISL.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by dissention

-The eighties outtake of Running Through the Garden is better than the SYW version, too, because it has those rocking dueling vocals.
-I adore the Planets demo on the Rumours reissue, it lays waste to her solo version on TISL.

Point taken on RTTG. And I agree with your POTU comment, although I still like the TISL version too.

Amber - you're right. I'll agree with The Tower - demo is better. Smile at You - I like both. TD - I really, really, really like the album version. Demo's good, but I'm one of the few who prefers the album version.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by dissention

-Love Is, the demo, is much, much better than the maudlin sludge that's on TISL.
-The "Wall of Sound" version of Thrown Down is infinitely superior to the one on SYW.
-The eighties outtake of Running Through the Garden is better than the SYW version, too, because it has those rocking dueling vocals.
-I adore the Planets demo on the Rumours reissue, it lays waste to her solo version on TISL.

I agree with all of these, and will add:

I Sing For The Things. The outtake from RAL rocks my socks. Love the piano, love the drums, love, love, LOVE Stevie's balls-out vocal. The LP version, while quaint and delicate, is a snoozer for me.

Love Is Like A River. While the RAL demo is eternally dated, it's got a moodiness and tension to it that the version on Street Angel lacks.

Think About It. Truth be told, I love all versions of this song, but the Rumours outtake is by far the best version for me. Better instrumentation, and a better vocal performance from Stevie.

And Amber was right, Smile At You and The Tower. Both songs were better to me they way they were first recorded. The simplicity of The Tower makes it beautiful and intriguing - whereas the SYW version sounds like sleepy carousel music, therefore boring and monotonous. Smile At You....as if I even need to say anything.

[amber]

Originally Posted by skcin

Point taken on RTTG. And I agree with your POTU comment, although I still like the TISL version too.

Amber - you're right. I'll agree with The Tower - demo is better. Smile at You - I like both. TD - I really, really, really like the album version. Demo's good, but I'm one of the few who prefers the album version.

That's exactly how I feel about all those songs! We must be right!

[skcin]

Originally Posted by amber

That's exactly how I feel about all those songs! We must be right!

Of course we're right. As usual.

[amber]

Ohhhh, as Karma said, Think About It is a big, big one for me. I think the Rumours outtake is waaaaay better. I like the ISFTT Demo better, too, the one that also has a gypsy demo on it. Very spare, much more beautiful.

[RavenOfRhiannon]

I like 'Goodbye Baby.' It's just as good as the demo IMO.
All of the versions of POTU have meaning for me, depending on my mood.

Smile at You is a far cry better in demo form.

So my contribution will be the Mac version of 'Juliet' if that counts.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by RavenOfRhiannon

I like 'Goodbye Baby.' It's just as good as the demo IMO.
All of the versions of POTU have meaning for me, depending on my mood.

Smile at You is a far cry better in demo form.

So my contribution will be the Mac version of 'Juliet' if that counts.

Of course it counts!

Running to find if I have that version anywhere.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by RavenOfRhiannon

So my contribution will be the Mac version of 'Juliet' if that counts.

Yes, yes, excellent choice! I totally forgot about that one. She really rocks it out.

I have to wonder, what happens to Stevie in the process of recording her songs....what is it that gives her the inclination to reconsider a rockin' vocal performance, like for instance, on the FM Juliet, and decide that it isn't good enough in it's current state? I have to wonder how in the world Juliet became the odd song that it is on TOSOTM.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by skcin

Running to find if I have that version anywhere.

Speak up if you don't, I'd be happy to hook you up!

[LiquidBlue5000]

"The Nightmare"... the piano demo of this song is amazing.... a totally different feel, but i like it slightly better than the released version.. same can be said for "How Still My Love".. love it live, but i like the piano demo version better than what was on Bella Donna...

[skcin]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

Speak up if you don't, I'd be happy to hook you up!

Still searching - what era was the Mac version from?

[EnchantedSLN]

Smile At You
Think About It (Rumours outtake <3)
Running Through The Garden
Love Is
Thrown Down "Wall of Sound" version (but it should include the extra lyrics on the album version to be truly perfect)
Bella Donna (alt. version from one of the master reels)
Beauty & the Beast (alt. version from master reels)
Planets of the Universe (extended version from TISL with the lyrics cut from the album take)
Nomad/Candlebright