Here's a good ol' good one, first posted in November of 2009. Some slight tweaking in the text, but the songs remain the same.
"Sal, with all the Deluxe packaging these days, will you please do a weekend mix of your all-time top 20 favorite alternate mixes?
Thanks,
Bill"
Sure Bill. How about 14?
TRACKLIST
Grapevine (Remix) Gladys Knight & The Pips
(This Questlove remix of the Motown classic couldn't be any funkier. I actually play this and like this more than the original. When those drums first kick in? Holy Thwack, Batman!)
Such A Night (False Starts) - Elvis Presley
(I'm pretty sure I first heard this on Scott Muni's show long before outtakes and studio chatter became commonplace on reissues. Love hearing him instruct the band. Still a Top 5 Elvis song for me.)
You're So Good To Me (New Stereo Mix) - The Beach Boys
(Self-explanatory really. Just a big, bright, new stereo mix of a Beach Boys classic.)
Baby Blue (Single Mix) - Badfinger
(Todd Rundgren's production gets a bigger drum sound for the single mix.)
Dear God (Band Demo) - XTC
(Speaking of Todd, this is the pre-Todd demo of the "Skylarking" hit." Doesn't sparkle like the finished version, but worthy of inclusion nonetheless.)
Walking In The Rain (Rare Stereo) - The Ronettes
(The super-rare, and "super-irior" stereo version)
It's Different For Girls - Joe Jackson & Elaine Caswell
(Found on the b-side of JJ's "Stranger Than Fiction" single, this acoustic piano duet is a killer and truly one of my all-time favorite "alternates.")
Twilight (Alternate) - The Band
(I think this alternate works much better than the steel-drum infected single version.)
You Can't Resist It (remix) - Lyle Lovett
(The drums get pumped up, the tambourine gets louder, and the overall feel of this remix makes the album version seem flat.)
Lady Stardust (Demo) - David Bowie
(A piano and a double-tracked Bowie vocal, with the original lyric, "Oh how I lied, when they asked if I knew his name." Kind of a genius edit, if you ask me, changing it to, "Oh, how I sighed" for the final product.)
Alison (US Single Version) - Elvis Costello
(I know many who hate this version, but I am a sucker for harmony and strings.)
Once In A Lifetime (Extended) - Talking Heads
(Longer? Yes. Better? On the fence.)
Bold As Love - Jimi Hendrix
(Longer? Yes. Instrumental? Yes. Better? HELL YEAH!!!)
Born To Run (Alternate) - Bruce Springsteen
(Interesting and maybe amazing. Decide for yourself on this one.)
zip
ENJOY THE WEEKEND.
16 comments:
Who's the guy in the upper left of the picture? Is that a Pip?
That's Questlove from The Roots.
Sal, you should be putting compilations together for what's left of the majors.
Gene Friars
that's all you need another dead end career move, lol.
Sal, I give a big enthusiastic thumbs - up to Dylan's " Christmas In The Heart ".
Merry Christmas Bob, & to all the loyal Burning Wood loyalists...
And to you Sal....even though I am required to correct your missteps.
Meanstreets
The Grapevine mix is fricking great....Thanks!
Re: Questlove from the Roots
I've been pondering your response for days and have a question. Why?
Why?
Well, a bunch of artists were given access to the master tapes in Motown's vaults, so that they could create new modern remixes that would be more accessible to the boneheaded 17 year olds who are too dense to simply appreciate Motown for Motown. Questlove, one of the most respected and talented drummers and producers in the hip hop community got hold of "Grapevine" and it KICKS ASS!
I should read more carefully.
Sal,
Fantastic compilation and many thanks. Really enjoying Grapevine, Ronettes and Elvis as didn't expect to. Also pleased that about 30%+ of list I'm not even familiar with the original (must have misplaced my JJ b-sides) get to enjoy as new. Cool of you to include the rationale for each inclusion. The cover works as well - must have taken a minute to put together.
Thanks! Burning Wood rules!
Bill
ps How are the Cowsill bonus tracks?
on the subject of remixes anyone else a fan of this record:
https://www.amazon.com/Alan-Lomaxs-Southern-Journey-Remixed/dp/B0001DMW4S
or the various Blue Note jazz remix efforts. I'm sure some will consider these sacrilegious trash but I found a lot to like.
So sue me..
Almost ten years!
These "reissues" are fun. I "remember" them and I've "forgotten" them. Nice to blow off the digital dust and play again.
Thanks Sal.
Ken,
none of the Blue Notes have stuck with me, but Verve Remixed 3 is a keeper with some great mixes of predominately female singer hits.
Anon: I have only one of the Verve Remixed albums (#2, I think) which I liked. I should try to catch up on the others...
I remember the Grapevine remix from a mix of yours several years and the crazy sax. I really enjoy throwing your Mixes on my ipod. The one I listened to just the other day had The Cookies, Northside Gal, Todd, Evie Sands, etc.
And at least for the day Sunrise is the best song Eric Carmen wrote. I had forgotten about the screaming solo at the end of the song.
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