In a previous article, I wrote about artists who recorded new versions of their own songs. Far less common, however, are artists who choose to re-record entire albums. Here are five artists who recorded the same album twice.
1. The Smiths
The Smiths' rise to fame was astonishingly fast: the band's first shows were played in early 1983, its first single was released in May of that year, and its self-titled debut album was out by February 1984. However, it could have been released even sooner. The band recorded 14 songs in mid-1983 with producer Troy Tate, but re-recorded them with John Porter when they found the initial recordings unsatisfactory. Though Morrissey was still unsatisfied, the band couldn't afford to record the album a third time. The initial Troy Tate sessions have surfaced as bootlegs, and are a fascinating listen to diehard Smiths fans.
2. Belle & Sebastian
Because Belle & Sebastian's second album If You're Feeling Sinister was recorded extremely quickly (in just a matter of days), not much consideration was given to production, which resulted in the album having a thin, yet charmingly lo-fi sound. Though bandleader Stuart Murdoch considers the album's ten songs to be the best he's ever written, he was never happy with the production, which led to his decision to record Belle & Sebastian's 2005 album If You're Feeling Sinister: Live at the Barbican, a live re-recording of the entire album.
3. Death
Much like the Smiths, death metal pioneers Death made two attempts at recording its debut LP. When the initial recordings for Scream Bloody Gore were rejected by Death's label, the band reconvened in Los Angeles with producer Randy Burns to take another shot at it. These sessions resulted in what is widely considered to be the first death metal album.
4. Cheap Trick
After Cheap Trick's gritty debut album sold less than expected, the band was pressured into recording a follow-up with slicker, more radio-friendly production. The resulting album was In Color, and though it brought Cheap Trick greater commercial success, the band detested the album's overproduced sound. In 1998, the band would re-record the album with Pixies and Nirvana producer Steve Albini, and though this version of the album has yet to be released, a new version of the album's opening track "Hello There" was featured in Rock Band 2, sounding more muscular and even better than the original.
5. Brian Wilson
Perhaps the most famous unreleased album of all time is the Beach Boys' Smile, which went into production in 1966 but was never completely finished, due to the album's highly complex nature and composer Brian Wilson's poor mental health. However, in 2004, Wilson decided to start performing his lost album in concert, and when these performances were rapturously received, he re-recorded the entire album with his live band, releasing it at Brian Wilson Presents Smile. The recordings from the original 1966 Smile sessions would finally be released in 2011.
What other artists re-recorded their albums? Let us know in the comments section!
