Alternate version of Corduroy better than original?

pearljamin
pearljamin New York City Posts: 18
edited April 2011 in The Porch
Finally got around to listening to the box set today. Oh my word is the alternate take on Corduroy good. Here's the differences I could pick up. Anyone notice others?

High hat keeping beat in the intro right from the start of the song, much louder bass.
Random Eddie babbling at the beginning:
    "fade away from the punch"? "To do is to be" "To be is to do" "did he do it too?"
The first verse comes in with a 2nd guitar that wasn't on the original and its sounds an octave lower (this is the best most noticeable improvement to the song IMO)

Other alternate lyrics:
"can't let you roam around my head" - instead of "can't let you roam inside my head"

"then again, who's felt this way before" - instead of "never would have known of me before"

"all the sermon text, it's up to us what might not be best" - instead of "I'll take the varmint's path...oh, and I must refuse your test"

"lived inside a hole, like I'll be damned" - instead of "I'll end up alone like I began"

"left inside of her" - instead of "take my hand"

"this ain't bad, the same picture" - instead of "take my hand, not my picture"

The alternate lyrics in general seem more up-beat and less frustrated. Interesting to wonder why Eddie changed these, it sounds like it was a result of frustration or wanting to take a more bold path with the song. Anyways, amazing to hear how one of my favorite songs could be made even better.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Carey
    Carey Posts: 2,361
    Sounds great! I can't wait to check it out!
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  • LikeAnOcean
    LikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    Call me insane, but did this alternate version ever leak in the mid-90s?


    I swear I've heard it before, either on the radio or through a friend..


    I like the album lyrics better, but I've been really enjoying this alternate version. It's brought new life to the song. I like the mumbling and the singing right before "everything has changed"..

    If you add the mumbling and the extra lyrics to the album version, I'd be happy.
  • Mcam55
    Mcam55 Posts: 1,407
    While it's a nice alternative....nothing beats the original. flawless song in my opinion.
  • thefin190
    thefin190 Posts: 918
    Mcam55 wrote:
    While it's a nice alternative....nothing beats the original. flawless song in my opinion.

    I agree, one of Pearl Jam's best songs.
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  • reece77nz
    reece77nz Posts: 30
    i have this version on a home records bootleg that comes from italy that i got about 10 years ago
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  • Fastrichie
    Fastrichie Sandy Hook, CT Posts: 922
    reece77nz wrote:
    i have this version on a home records bootleg that comes from italy that i got about 10 years ago


    Reece-anything else really good we should know about on the bootleg??!!!!
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  • TT8270
    TT8270 Posts: 429
    edited April 2011
    LikeAnOcean wrote:
    Call me insane, but did this alternate version ever leak in the mid-90s?


    I swear I've heard it before, either on the radio or through a friend..

    Yes it did, it circulated quite wide (during the 90s tape trading era) as a part of "Vitalogy demos" tape. But that collection of songs is nothing more than probably un-mastered version of Vitalogy. The other songs are exactly the same as on the official release. I have the tape somewhere...there was some additional count-ins also. And the intro to Betterman was in a different place. If I remember correctly the tape also included Hard To Imagine. Nothing truly special really.

    I dig the bass @ the beginning.
    Post edited by TT8270 on
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  • TT8270
    TT8270 Posts: 429
    double post error quote.... :roll:
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  • TMudrick
    TMudrick Posts: 267
    Mcam55 wrote:
    While it's a nice alternative....nothing beats the original. flawless song in my opinion.


    Cant argue with this at all... Took the words right out of my mouth... Corduroy is in deed on of their most flawless songs and after giving it repeated listens off the remaster it just keeps getting better and better.
  • Mikeo
    Mikeo Posts: 199
    TT8270 wrote:
    Yes it did, it circulated quite wide (during the 90s tape trading era) as a part of "Vitalogy demos" tape. But that collection of songs is nothing more than probably un-mastered version of Vitalogy

    i just listend to these...they are different. listen to the every first ' ill end up alone like i began'

    anyhoo, both are great versions.
  • DeLukin
    DeLukin Posts: 2,757
    The album version definitely sounds more pissed-off. And it's a pissed-off album so I gotta go with the original. Some of those alternate lyrics are pretty cool, though...
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  • red mos
    red mos Posts: 4,953
    I really like the raw feel of this alternative take. But, the version on the album suits the album. :P
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  • SVRDhand13
    SVRDhand13 Posts: 27,020
    I feel like the alternative version would have been a better fit for Vitalogy honestly.
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  • Riot_Mac
    Riot_Mac Posts: 473
    I think I like the alternate version better because it seems heavier to me. Not as polished as the original on Vitalogy. More of a live sound to it. I am not crazy about the lyric changes though. I think the original lyrics are better.
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  • Travelar
    Travelar Posts: 3,453
    I'm completely digging the alternate version. The sound seems a little more raw.... which works for me.
  • mfc2006
    mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,491
    i didn't order the boxset...is there a site out there that has this streaming? i'd love to hear it! thanks in advance!
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  • Backspacer 76
    Backspacer 76 Posts: 964
    mfc2006 wrote:
    i didn't order the boxset...is there a site out there that has this streaming? i'd love to hear it! thanks in advance!
    This demo version of Corduroy along with the Nothingman demo are on gremmie.net.
    The sound is not that great though. The Vs./Vitalogy reissues sound much better.
  • Dr. Delight
    Dr. Delight Posts: 11,210
    Backspacer 76 wrote:
    mfc2006 wrote:
    i didn't order the boxset...is there a site out there that has this streaming? i'd love to hear it! thanks in advance!
    This demo version of Corduroy along with the Nothingman demo are on gremmie.net.
    The sound is not that great though. The Vs./Vitalogy reissues sound much better.
    Those demos are NOT the same demos found on the new releases.
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  • dimitrispearljam
    dimitrispearljam Posts: 139,747
    Mcam55 wrote:
    While it's a nice alternative....nothing beats the original. flawless song in my opinion.
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