5 Demos that Are Way Better Than the Final Release
A demo is an incredibly powerful musical tool—it’s the seed of a song.
A good demo means there’s a good idea to begin with—which will always be more important than studio trickery. You can throw any amount of fancy production at a lousy demo, it will most likely still be a lousy track.
The raw emotion captured in a demo is sometimes so unique that it doesn’t need much more. A demo can be so awesome that it’s even better than the fully polished track! In fact, taking a good demo and trying to ‘finish’ it can compromise the quality of the demo in the first place.
Some artists just need a mic and a guitar or a simple beat to make a legendary song. Every song on this list is proof that sometimes your first take is the best take, and that demos deserve to be mastered and released too!
Here are our 5 favorite song demos that beat the original by far. What’s yours?
1. Velvet Underground — All Tomorrow’s Parties
The Peel Slowly and See (1995) box set is a godsend for the hard core Velvet Undergound fans.
The standout is without a doubt the demo for “All Tomorrow’s Parties”—the iconic song written by Lou Reed for The Velvet Underground & Nico’s 1967 debut album. The demo is an 18-minute session recorded in a New York loft on Ludlow Street.
The demo shows a strong folk background and undeniable Bob Dylan influence that isn’t as directly obvious in the album version.
Unlike the final version on which Nico sings the lead, this version features Lou Reed on lead vocals—alongside John Cale and Sterling Morrison singing harmonies. The demo shows a strong folk background and undeniable Bob Dylan influence that isn’t as directly obvious in the album version.
The most charming part of “All Tomorrow’s Parties” demo is perhaps how relatable Lou Reed’s interjections are. Peppered with swearing, these raw takes show that even the greats mess up and need to start over!
2. Michael Jackson — Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough
“Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” is Michael Jackson’s first Billboard top hit. The home-recorded demo version showcases Jackson’s musical genius and quirk in full bloom.
Is that someone blowing in a glass bottle? This demo contains an array of strange musical elements that make it way more intriguing than the final version. What would it look like if Jackson released a “This is where I recorded and mixed the album and all the gear I used” photo? My guess is that it would have involved quite a few kitchen items.
Is that someone blowing in a glass bottle? This demo contains an array of strange musical elements that make it way more intriguing than the final version.
The final version of “Don’t Stop” was produced by Quincy Jones and Jackson, and got him a Grammy in 1980. But sadly, the final version was released with the kitchen utensils left on the cutting room floor.
3. Drake — Fall For Your Type
“Fall for Your Type” was originally recorded by Canadian rapper and producer Drake for his 2010 debut Thank Me Later. Drake wrote this slow jam with Noah “40” Shebib and Noel Campbell. A different version of the song ended up on Jamie Foxx’s album Best Night of My Life.
Raw and no frills, Drake’s version of this slow jam delivers what could be one of his most moving vocal performances.
Raw and no frills, Drake’s version of this slow jam delivers what could be one of his most moving vocal performances.
In Jamie Foxx’s version, the auto-tune is more present and the vocals less convincing. Foxx’s version fails to bring the emotion that Drake conveys singing the same chorus. And let’s be real, Drake is still the best part of Foxx’s version. Sorry Jamie!
4. Feist — The Water
The Red Demos is a selection of home recorded and self-produced demos by Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Feist. Recorded in the summer of 2001, most of these tracks eventually made onto her successful debut album Let It Die (2004) and other records.
The demo of song “The Water” is a beautiful jam that features guitars and percussion that were stripped away from the final version appearing on The Reminder (2007).
The demo has an undeniably enveloping vibe, with lush guitar arrangements.
The album version of the track is a more introspective song, with a minimal jazz arrangement including cello, trumpet and a focus on the piano. Feist’s dynamic vocal performance—easily going from fragile to powerful—shines best in the album version of “The Water.” But the demo has an undeniably enveloping vibe, with lush guitar arrangements.
It’s almost a tie here between demo and original, but the demo definitely shows why “The Water” is an incredible song and Feist an amazing performer.
5. Amy Winehouse — Rehab
Do you know the feeling when you’ve just heard a great song too many times and you start to forget how good it is?
Listening to the demo of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab,” I remembered how much I loved (and still love) it. It’s less produced, the sound is more raw and the instrumentation is simpler—it’s an iconic ol’ rockabilly tune. That soulful vintage feel shines through, and so does her incredible vocal performance.
But what makes it a timeless song is the authentic message and feeling that Winehouse poured into it—a quality that shines through more in the demo than in the final version.
Of course Mark Ronson’s production on the album version of “Rehab” is great—it really makes it a top hit. But what makes it a timeless song is the authentic message and feeling that Winehouse poured into it—a quality that shines through more in the demo than in the final version.
Demo Let’s Go
Listening to demos shows you how powerful and important your first ideas are during the creative process.
Musicianship isn’t about the flash—it’s about the emotion. These 5 demos prove that production never beats substance.
Demos contain the raw and real initial spark of a composition. They tell the story of a song in a way that finished tracks can’t. So never delete your demos! In fact, think about mastering and releasing them! Your demos are a vital part of your music journey.
Leticia is a lover of acid basslines and hypnotic techno. She DJs and produces under the name softcoresoft. Writer at LANDR.
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