Worst demos

[ricohv]

Has anyone heard anything over, say 5 or 6 minutes long they could stand to listen to? These 7, 10, 16 minute versions are just insufferable and I can't imagine that they were really meant to be a demo, like a demo you would send someone to say, "hey, what do you think of this song?". I think they were exercises (or exorcises) in working out the song, probably intended for her own use, maybe to be critiqued and broken down, etc. after more listens to it?
Anyways, next to those, basically there are many demos i don't like but the one that takes the cake for me is...
WHAT HAS ROCK AND ROLL EVER DONE FOR YOU?
I remember loving the title when I heard about it years ago. Something I read about TITN said something like "the ballad WISYA was chosen over the more up-tempo WHRAREDFY" (sheesh, that's I think as long a title as OMBTRARS (One More Big Time Rock And RollStar). At the time I wished anything would've made it over WISYA. Then I heard the demo and I cringe just thinking about it. Especially the super-cheesy "guy whistling" sound. Gag. Puke. Wretch. I can't even imagine....
Ricoh

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by ricohv
Has anyone heard anything over, say 5 or 6 minutes long they could stand to listen to? These 7, 10, 16 minute versions are just insufferable and I can't imagine that they were really meant to be a demo, like a demo you would send someone to say, "hey, what do you think of this song?". I think they were exercises (or exorcises) in working out the song, probably intended for her own use, maybe to be critiqued and broken down, etc. after more listens to it?
Anyways, next to those, basically there are many demos i don't like but the one that takes the cake for me is...
WHAT HAS ROCK AND ROLL EVER DONE FOR YOU?
I remember loving the title when I heard about it years ago. Something I read about TITN said something like "the ballad WISYA was chosen over the more up-tempo WHRAREDFY" (sheesh, that's I think as long a title as OMBTRARS (One More Big Time Rock And RollStar). At the time I wished anything would've made it over WISYA. Then I heard the demo and I cringe just thinking about it. Especially the super-cheesy "guy whistling" sound. Gag. Puke. Wretch. I can't even imagine....
Ricoh

I like the song (sorry to make you gag/puke/wretch), and I think what you read about the song selection was Mick's book (speaking of gag/puke/wretch).

- Jake

[ricohv]

Well I've stood my ground in many defenses for OSOTM so Jake, I guess I'll respect your opinion about a song that was clearly the low watermark in Stevies career as a songwriter. But I do agree with you about the book. It was juicy though! Stevie's could be juicier though if it ever sees the light of day!
Ricoh

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by ricohv
Well I've stood my ground in many defenses for OSOTM so Jake, I guess I'll respect your opinion about a song that was clearly the low watermark in Stevies career as a songwriter. But I do agree with you about the book. It was juicy though! Stevie's could be juicier though if it ever sees the light of day!
Ricoh

I'll take WHRAREDFY over a couple of the drearies on TOSOTM any day, so I guess we'll respectfully disagree.

- Jake

[ricohv]

It's a deal, plus you're wearing me out on all of this replying to each others posts on all these different threads-it would be easier to just call on the phone and go down the list of topics and discuss, as I hate typing (and being glued to my computer! )
Ricoh

[cliffdweller]

Originally posted by paleshadow
Old Fashioned aka. The Dance. PU (sorry Dawn)
Mabel Norman
Tragedy of One's Own Soul
Goldfish and Ladybug
All These Years
Tied up
If You Were My Love SA version
Amber
Any of the ones that had Kenny G playing Sax.

Oooh, I love Amber, I just wish I had a better recording of it. I know I'm going to get railed for this but I don't care for "God's Garden" very much. It's just way too "klonopined" out for me, I skip it on my demos c.d. every time! And I also like the Smile at You version from SYW better than the demo---I know, I know, this is a very unpopular view but the original just doesn't do it for me. I think the SYW version is much cooler and smoother.

[wondergirl9847]

Originally posted by ricohv
Has anyone heard anything over, say 5 or 6 minutes long they could stand to listen to?

Space Needle!

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by ricohv
I can't imagine that they were really meant to be a demo, like a demo you would send someone to say, "hey, what do you think of this song?". I think they were exercises (or exorcises) in working out the song, probably intended for her own use, maybe to be critiqued and broken down, etc. after more listens to it?

I've tried to make this point before... many (if not all) of those 10 minute, +/-, piano demos are a glimpse at Stevie actually writing the song before our eyes (or ears, if you will).

So yeah, some of them most definitely sound aimless and boring... Stevie's working the song out as she goes, and whatever idea floats into her head, gets recorded in the process... and for most people, that's about as entertaining as watching someone paint.

They were never meant for the masses to hear, but the process itself can be interesting if you just consider it a neat little glimpse into how the songs started life, on their way to the final versions.

[paleshadow]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
I've tried to make this point before... many (if not all) of those 10 minute, +/-, piano demos are a glimpse at Stevie actually writing the song before our eyes (or ears, if you will).

So yeah, some of them most definitely sound aimless and boring... Stevie's working the song out as she goes, and whatever idea floats into her head, gets recorded in the process... and for most people, that's about as entertaining as watching someone paint.

They were never meant for the masses to hear, but the process itself can be interesting if you just consider it a neat little glimpse into how the songs started life, on their way to the final versions.

That's why I do like them. It's like being there when Sir Issac Newton discovered gravity!

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
They were never meant for the masses to hear, but the process itself can be interesting if you just consider it a neat little glimpse into how the songs started life, on their way to the final versions.

I love the false starts on some of them, and I love the little quirks like Stevie saying "First Verse!" in All the King's Horses.
And some of the piano demos sound polished and not boring at all. SOTM, Mistaken Love, and No Light come to mind.

- Jake

[Mad4stevie]

Originally posted by darklinensuit
I love the false starts on some of them, and I love the little quirks like Stevie saying "First Verse!" in All the King's Horses.
And some of the piano demos sound polished and not boring at all. SOTM, Mistaken Love, and No Light come to mind.

- Jake

Totally agree!