3 Classic Rock Songs You’ve Heard a Thousand Times—but Not Like This

When songs are legendary, you can almost grow tired of them. There are only so many songs that fall within that descriptor. At some point, we run out of “classics” to return to. The three songs below fall into that lot. We’ve all heard these tracks an uncountable number of times, but surprisingly, there’s more here to discover. These rock songs, though played to death, all have unique alternate versions that some fans may have missed. If you’d like the opportunity to hear these songs anew, revisit these remixes below.

Videos by American Songwriter

“Let It Be” (Naked Version)

The Beatles’ Let It Be… Naked saw the group deliver pared-back versions of the songs from that record. The track that shines the most in this light is “Let It Be.”

“Let It Be” isn’t the most highly produced rock song to start with, but the stripped-down version on this redux record has even fewer frills. It highlights the beauty of Paul McCartney’s lyrics and vocals. Moreover, the band’s entire strength is used to the fullest in this track. There is nowhere to hide for lack of talent. Luckily, the Beatles didn’t suffer from that issue.

[RELATED: Remember When The Beatles Never Released Paul McCartney’s 14-Minute Avant-Garde Song, Later Vetoed by George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Yoko Ono]

“Dreams” (Isolated Vocals and Keys)

The soulfulness of Stevie Nicks’ voice isn’t lost on anyone, but if you needed a reminder of how stunning she is as a vocalist, take a look at the isolated version of “Dreams.”

This Fleetwood Mac track is a staple. Though she has many stunners from her time with the band, Nicks’ signature hit is “Dreams.” It epitomizes her strengths within the group, specifically her mystical lyrics and hypnotizing melodies. This simplistic rendition is a welcome change of pace for this iconic rock song we’ve all heard countless times.

“Creep” (Acoustic Version)

We’ve all heard “Creep” ad nauseam, from both Radiohead and countless other cover artists. It’s a universal staple. However, if you’ve never listened to the band’s acoustic version, you’re in for a breath of fresh air.

This acoustic track significantly changes the song’s emotional core. The intensity remains, but it’s all the more subtle. It lacks some of the punchiness of the original, but it’s still a meritable version of an era-defining classic.

[RELATED: Anniversary Album: 30 Years of ‘The Bends,’ the Album Where Radiohead Briefly and Brilliantly Played the Classic Rock Game]

(Photo by David Brewster/Star Tribune via Getty Images)