Hits Revisited: 20 Artists Who Remade Their Own Songs

If at first you don't succeed ... well, you know the rest. But if one of your songs works the first time, sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone. Here are 20 acts who remade their own songs, often (but not always) at great risk of redundancy.

'Candle in the Wind,' Elton John
Original: 1972; remake: 1997

Sir Elton's ode to Marilyn Monroe, originally on the 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' album, hit the US Top 10 in 1988 in a live version. That was eclipsed in 1997 when John rerecorded the song as his worldwide blockbuster tribute to Princess Di.

Which Is Better: The remake -- 10 tons of teddy bears and roses laid at Buckingham Palace makes this an easy call.

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'Tom's Diner,' Suzanne Vega
Original: 1987; remake: 1990 (with DNA)

For her second album, 'Solitude Standing,' the latter-day folkie recorded the insidiously catchy 'Tom's Diner.' Three years later, the song was reborn as a dance track featuring Vega's vocals, courtesy of the British act DNA. It became a Top 5 hit.

Which Is Better: The original -- folk guitar, unlike dance production, never falls out of fashion.

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'Walk This Way,' Aerosmith
Original: 1975; remake: 1986 (with Run-D.M.C.)

Not only was this remake historic for its pioneering blend of rock and rap, it set the stage for Aerosmith's comeback. Make of that what you will.

Which Is Better: The remake -- it was the second-best Boston/New York match-up of '86, after baseball's World Series (which New York won).

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'Don't Stand So Close to Me,' The Police
Original: 1980; remake: 1986

Six years after the Police's hit single about jailbait was a transatlantic smash, the band remade the track -- which appeared on a greatest-hits album -- at a slower tempo. When drummer Stewart Copeland broke his collarbone during recording, he and Sting argued over which synthesizer to use for the drum programming.

Which Is Better: The original -- unless you're happy the discord in redoing it broke them up.

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'How You Remind Me,' Nickelback
Original: 2001; remake: 2001

When your big hit is destined to become the most-played radio song of the decade, you might as well milk it for all it's worth. At least that was the thinking for Nickelback, who squeezed the udder dry with an acoustic version of their career-defining hit.

Which Is Better: Toss-up -- Is a poke in the eye preferred to a punch in the stomach?

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'Hello It's Me,' Todd Rundgren
Original: 1968 (with the Nazz); remake: 1971

The song craftsman first recorded 'Hello It's Me' as a member of the Philadelphia group the Nazz. The version on the band's self-titled 1968 debut was wispier (and more faux-British) than the solo remake that would become Rundgren's biggest hit.

Which Is Better: The remake -- some things need to marinate to reach their full flavor.

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'We Will Rock You,' Queen
Original: 1977; remake: 2000 (with Five)

A stomping standard at sporting events, Queen's world-famous gang chant hit No. 1 on the UK singles chart in 2000 in a remake by the British boy band Five. Surviving Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor shelved their self-esteem and appeared on the remade track.

Which Is Better: The original -- even a quintet of singers can never equal the vocal prowess of one Freddie Mercury.

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'This Old Heart of Mine,' Rod Stewart and Ronald Isley
Original: 1966 (Isley); remake: 1989

In its original recording by the Isley Brothers, this song became a Top 20 hit in 1966. A decade later, Stewart released his own version, which peaked at No. 83. Stewart and Ronald Isley duetted on an updated version for Stewart's 1989 'Storyteller' anthology, which reached No. 10 the following year.

Which Is Better: The originals -- sometimes 1+1 = minus 2.

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'White Lines (Don't Don't Do It),' Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Original: 1983; remake: 1995 (with Duran Duran)

The cautionary drug tale 'White Lines' had a big impact on the group's New Wave contemporaries. In 1995, Flash and Melle Mel appeared on Duran Duran's remake for the group's covers album, called 'Thank You' – they owed us at least that much.

Which Is Better: The original -- someone should have told the Durans, "Don't do it."

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'Layla,' Eric Clapton
Original: 1970 (with Derek and the Dominos); remake: 1992

Clapton reworked his Derek and the Dominos classic for his massively popular 1992 'Unplugged' album, reimagining the epic rocker as a slow, bluesy acoustic number. It became a hit in its own right and earned the Best Rock Song Grammy.

Which Is Better: The original -- Duane Allman's guitar is half the song; Jim Gordon's piano coda adds the grace notes.

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'Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,' Neil Sedaka
Original: 1962; remake: 1975

The Brooklyn-born teeny-pop singer and Brill Building songwriter Sedaka revisited his biggest hit with an Adult Contemporary version a decade and a half after the original lament. That's a long time to get over a romance.

Which Is Better: The original -- the re-do's turgid tempo notwithstanding, it's the lack of "down-dooby-doo-down-down" that dooms it.

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'25 or 6 to 4,' Chicago
Original: 1970; remake: 1986

Though the band is often remembered for the hot air of its later Adult Contemporary ballads, this early rocker smokes. After the departure of singer Peter Cetera, Chicago released a David Foster-produced remake with new bassist Jason Scheff on lead vocals. By then, the ashes were cold.

Which Is Better: The original -- the newer version is to Chicago what Steve Bartman is to the Chicago Cubs.

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Foo Fighters, 'Times Like These'
Original: 2003; remake: 2004

Dave Grohl's acoustic version of the Foo Fighters' song quickly became almost as familiar as the original single version. When President Bush's reelection campaign used the new recording without asking, Grohl went out and stumped for Bush's opponent, John Kerry.

Which Is Better: The original -- no offense to the former president, but his yay vote is a nay to most rock fans.

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'Money,' Pink Floyd
Original: 1973; remake: 1981

The cynical 'Money,' from the enduring blockbuster 'Dark Side of the Moon,' was reworked by guitarist David Gilmour for Pink Floyd's 'A Collection of Great Dance Songs' compilation in 1981. Gilmour played all of the instruments except the sax solo, which featured the original performer.

Which Is Better: The original -- ironically, Gilmour's remake meant more "money" for estranged Floyd songwriter Roger Waters.

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'Valerie,' Steve Winwood
Original: 1982; remake: 1987

A minor hit off the former Traffic singer's 1982 album 'Talking Back to the Night,' 'Valerie' had better success when it was remixed by engineer Tom Lord-Alge for Winwood's compilation 'Chronicles.' The song surfaced again in 2004 as inspiration for house-music producer Eric Prydz, retitled 'Call on Me.'

Which Is Better: Toss-up -- both versions prove that '80s production endured throughout that decade.

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'John, I'm Only Dancing,' David Bowie
Original: 1972; remake: 1974

Released as a single in Britain in 1972, Bowie's remake of this song just two years later contrasted sharply with the glam-rock original: Renamed 'John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)' and unreleased until 1979, this version was made in a funky disco style that hasn't aged nearly as well as the Thin White Duke himself.

Which Is Better: The original -- until the disco revival surpasses the glam one.

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Electric Light Orchestra, 'Xanadu'
Original: 1980 (with Olivia Newton-John); remake: 2000

Originally a duet between Olivia Newton-John and ELO, 'Xanadu' was a hit from the flop musical of the same name. For ELO's boxed set 'Flashback,' founder Jeff Lynne recorded a less lush version. "I always liked the song," he wrote, "and fancied another go of it."

Which Is Better: The remake (barely) -- Lynne's de-ABBA-fication brings out the superlative melody.

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'Missing You,' John Waite
Original: 1984; remake: 2007 (with Alison Krauss)

The former Babys singer scored a solo No. 1 in 1984 with 'Missing You.' Years later, Waite reprised his vocal for a country-tinged version of the song, this time as a duet with bluegrass star Alison Krauss. It appears on her 'A Hundred Miles or More' compilation.

Which Is Better: The remake --Krauss improves everything her voice touches. Just ask Robert Plant.

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'Here Comes the Flood,' Peter Gabriel
Original: 1977; remake: 1990

Originally gracing the former Genesis lead singer's 1977 debut solo record, this anthemic track reappeared as a stark ballad – less flood than trickle -- on Gabriel's 1990 hits album.

Which Is Better: The remake -- the stark arrangement serves as a perfect setting for Gabriel's anguished voice.

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'Lady,' Styx
Original: 1975; remake: 1995

The song that introduced these Illinois rockers to the pop charts in 1975, 'Lady' was remade 20 years later as 'Lady '95' for a Styx greatest-hits album. We'll forgive the band if Dennis DeYoung promises not to redo 'Babe.'

Which Is Better: Toss-up -- whether it's fresh mozzarella or aged cheddar, good cheese is always tasty.