U2 - "The Wanderer"

U2's 1993 record Zooropa is an underrated gem of the band's catalog. It held the hits "Lemon", "Stay",  and "Numb", yet is oft-considered the younger sibling of the monster hit Achtung Baby from the year prior. Even the band's guitarist Edge has referred to it as nothing "more than an interlude". Recorded while the band was on the Zoo TV tour for that earlier record, Zooropa was an extension of the Achtung Baby aesthetic, but bathed it the realities of touring, and free of the sterility of the studio. Many of the songs were loaded with societal critique, and the broken-hearted romance of its predecessor was largely left behind. Those songs that did qualify as "love" songs had a more positive bent, and were more about finding love, than lamenting its loss. Case in point, the album's final track, "The Wanderer".

A bit of an anomaly on the record, the song (which was written and recorded by U2) has vocals by the late Johnny Cash. This is, depending on your perspective, a lovely close to the album by one of music's greats, or the lost chance to hear Bono's vocals on one of the record's best compositions. Here at HAD, we've always fallen between the two camps: The writing on the tune is unquestionably killer, and it's one of the albums highlights. Moreover, we had never had access to a Bono version of the track, so there was no real way to know what we were missing — until now.

Over the weekend, we stumbled upon the video above while browsing the interwebs. Filmed at a Johnny Cash tribute after his death, the clip features the band singing "The Wanderer" in full as a tribute to Mr. Cash. And, we must say: it's amazing. The tune's range is perfect for Bono's late-career vocals, and Edge adds a Dion-style backing vocal not found on the album. The two come together to flesh out the tune and allow it to come together as something it never was on Zooropa: the album's defining track, allowing the band to head out into the world to explore the next big thing, and go wandering.

Talking Heads - "Cities" (Alternate Version)

When the Talking Heads reissued their entire catalog a few years back, there was a lot to take in. Not only were all the records released in 5.1 surround sound, but they were remastered and included a whole slew of bonus tracks. We were so enamored with the 5.1 remasters (which didn't include the bonus tracks), that we only just started digesting all the awesome bonus material that's on the stereo sides of these discs.

Case in point: an alternate take on "Cities", from Fear Of Music. While the take on the song is, on the surface, very similar, it actually has a dynamic and feel that is vastly differentiated. Notably, the bass line is turned WAY up in the mix, synths are ricocheting all over the place, and Byrne's vocals are even more aggressive than in the freaked out original. Combine that with the fact that the track ends on a resolve, rather than fading out, and you have yourself a wholly different piece of music.

It seems as though all great bands spend a lot of time iterating on their work, to find the sweet spot where everything truly clicks. Obviously this is true with the Talking Heads, and the alternate take on "Cities" illustrates just how much the subtleties of mix and production can contribute to the feel of a final record. Having that insight not only makes the band a more dynamic entity, but also illustrates exactly why they are noted by so many admirers as explorers of the new.

mp3: Talking Heads - Cities (Alternate Take)