Who Did It Better???

[GGJaguar]

I agree the MCC version seems a little under-produced, and the PS version is better, though dated with the 80s instrumentation (further enhanced by the Aquanet big-hair girls in the video).

 

[tonepoet]

The only thing I will say about Rod Stewart is..............I wish he had chosen soccer as a profession.

I Liked him in the Jeff Beck Group, The Faces and his first three solo albums (Gasoline Alley -1970, Every Picture Tells a Story -1971 and Never a Dull Moment -1972) but I lost track of him after he went into the "Do You Think I'm Sexy?" and disco phase.

 

[tonepoet]

As much as I love MCC the songs needs some more grit. And I think Patty Smyth does a good, yet 80's pop-ish version. I'll take Patty on this one.

I like MCC's minimalist approach.

I love Smyth's vocals but the musical arrangement is a bit much for me. I think my favorite part is where the dynamics drop after the short sax solo.

Tom Waits still wins this round for me.

 

[GGJaguar]

I Liked him in the Jeff Beck Group

He killed it on the Truth and Beckola albums. I think that's when he was at his best.

 

[davismanLV]

Okay so I'm in a household that is a huge Dylan fan. Not to say I'm not... he's amazing. But help me here....



The voice and crappy guitar really ... I'm ... okay how about THIS ONE??

 

[walrus]

That's tough, but I enjoy the "musicality" of The Byrds version better.

walrus

 

[davismanLV]

That's tough, but I enjoy the "musicality" of The Byrds version better.

walrus

me too!!

 

[Sal]

The first “Old & in the Way” record was recorded 50 years ago this month. A side project for Jerry Garcia; his banjo playing and all the musicianship on the recording are sublime. It was for many decades the best selling bluegrass recording of all time. This is one of my favorite cuts from the record.

Old & in the Way / Wild Horses


The Rolling Stones / Wild Horses original

 

[Sal]

Mavis Staples / Wrote A Song For Everyone


Creedence Clearwater Revival / Wrote A Song For Everyone original

 

[GGJaguar]

Byrds, Stones, Creedence

 

[tonepoet]

Byrds, Old and In The Way, Creedence.

"Old and In The Way" is a fairly obscure album that I wore out back in the day. I still have it on vinyl. I like their bluegrass take on "Wild Horses"

 

[kitniyatran]

I've chosen not to cast votes in this thread, but having listened to at least some of each"Downtown Train" I have to agree with Tom. Patty Smyth nails it, with Mary Chapin Carpenter for the runner up. Tom Waits voice is worse than terrible, Rod Stewart's isn't much better, and Bob Seger has sucked ever since he put the Silver Bullet Band together

 

[kitniyatran]

I Liked him in the Jeff Beck Group, The Faces and his first three solo albums (Gasoline Alley -1970, Every Picture Tells a Story -1971 and Never a Dull Moment -1972) but I lost track of him after he went into the "Do You Think I'm Sexy?" and disco phase.

Yeah, in the Jeff Beck Group Rod Stewart's voice worked and he was tolerable with Faces and his first solo album or two, but really, once he stopped working with Ronnie Wood he was useless

 

[tonepoet]

Tom Waits voice is worse than terrible

I admit that Tom Waits is an acquired taste. His voice is, I guess you would say a "character" voice that fits some of his songs like no other voice could.

I recall, as a teenager back in the 1970's, I walked into the house while brother was playing Waits' "Small Change" album when his voice was more of a growl. I said "What is this crap? Man, turn it off." And my brother said "You need to listen to his songwriting. Here, take his first album ("Closing Time") and listen to it once, beginning to end and see what you think then."

I took the album and listened to it twice in a row and was sold on him. I agree that he has put out some unlistenable material, now and then, but man, when he nails it... he nails it.

When he put out his "Heart Attack and Vine" album in 1980, I had my Dad listen to Waits' song "Jersey Girl." When the song faded out my Dad said "Play it again." After the second listen, my Dad said "There will never be anybody who could sing that song better than that guy." I agree.

 

[Bernie]

Sorry If I arrive a bit late, but I like this version of 'My Back Pages' and was wondering what's that Guild Tom Petty is playing on this version ? Some D25-12 it looks to me, but how is it called?
Lots of good people here and nice guitars too... www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbPa31KOZg0

 

[kitniyatran]

Sorry If I arrive a bit late, but I like this version of 'My Back Pages' and was wondering what's that Guild Tom Petty is playing on this version ? Some D25-12 it looks to me, but how is it called?
Lots of good people here and nice guitars too... www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbPa31KOZg0

There have been discussions of Tom Petty and the 12 strings on here before and it seems he used a D25-12 and a D212 I believe.

 

[Bernie]

To me it looked like a D 25 12 strings, but I suspected there would be some kind of usual Guild's 12 strings name to call it (like D 212 then), and didn't know which one that could be ! So it seems like both names and models do exist (now I will have to find in what way they differ). A quick Google search made a D-1212 appear too ! Guild doesn't lack of mysterious things (to me still at least)...So who does it better

Thanks Mr. Kitniyatran and Tonepoet

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Nanci at a walk.

Now here's another no-brainer:

The cover:



The original:

 

[Rocky]

Well, the 3DN version is quite dumbed down from the original. Which is not to say it's not a masterpiece of arrangement in it's own right. And in the dumbing down, it gains a different source of power than in the original. Admittedly, I'm much more familiar with the cover, but I would argue the better version would be situational.

 

[davismanLV]

That's a tough one. I am a total Laura Nyro fan from way back, but I had both versions. And I'm gonna prefer Laura's version, but it's not by much. Just a visceral preference. What a great song!!