Taylor Swift’s project of re-recording her music was a massive undertaking—and one which has some precedent in music history. While few projects have gained as much attention, other artists have taken to recording new versions of their music, whether a few songs or entire albums. Some artists have recorded entirely new versions of their music, complete with new musical arrangements. Others, much like Swift, have recorded new versions as a way to take ownership of their music.
“1999” by Prince
By 1999, Prince was already locked in a battle with his former record label, Warner Bros., and with the new millennium looming, the label decided to rerelease his hit “1999.” In an effort to regain control of the song, Prince recorded a new version, “1999 (The New Master).” Although he intended to re-record his entire catalogue, that never panned out. “Now you will have two catalogs with pretty much exactly the same music — except mine will be better, and you can either give your money to WB, the big company, or to [Prince’s own] NPG [label],” he told Paper Magazine at the time. “You choose.”
“Baby Loves That Way” by David Bowie
Five years after David Bowie’s death, his estate released the lost album Toy, originally recorded in 2000 and shelved due to issues with Bowie’s label at the time. Toy mostly consisted of new versions of deep cuts originally recorded between 1964 and 1971, including “Baby Loves That Way” and “Can’t Help Thinking About Me,” a staple of his live sets.
Songfacts: Can’t Help Thinking About Me | David Bowie
Bowie admitted when introducing this song during a 1999 performance for VH1 Storytellers, that lyrically, this wasn’t his finest hour: “It’s a beautiful piece of solipsism; it’s called ‘Can’t Help Thinking About Me,’” he said. “And it does contain, though some might disagree, one of the worst… two of the worst lines I’ve ever written. I actually have to sing this: “My girl calls my name. ‘Hi, Dave. Drop in, come back, see you around, if you’re this way again.’”
“Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard
In 2012, rock band Def Leppard rerecorded the hit songs “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and “Rock of Ages” in order to regain some control of them from their label. “We want to get the same rate for digital as we do when we sell CDs, and they’re trying to give us a rate that doesn’t even come close,” frontman Joe Elliott explained at the time.
“Heart of Glass” by Blondie
For the 2014 box set Blondie 4(0)Ever: Greatest Hits Deluxe Redux, celebrating four decades as a band, Blondie re-recorded 11 of their biggest hits, including “Heart of Glass” and “Dreaming.” The re-recordings were made in an attempt to regain control of the band’s rights to their music, and they were almost indistinguishable from their original versions. “I was proud that they didn’t sound like ancient history – just history,” frontwoman Debbie Harry said.
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From left, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker (1939-2019) and Jack Bruce (1943-2014) of British rock group Cream posed in their dressing room at Associated Rediffusion's Wembley Television Studios in north west London on 4th November 1966. Cream are booked to perform the songs 'Wrapping Paper' and 'N.S.U' on the music television show Ready Steady Go! at the studios. (Photo by Ivan Keeman/Redferns) -
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