Learning to Drive (Beautiful Day)

[interpol]

You know, thanks to this site i found the unreleased outtakes and just as someone said before, i was really excited to hear that "Learning to Drive "was on the "Bug" soundtrack but i wasn`t going to buy the soundtrack for just one song,regardless of how big fan I am.
But comparing " Beautiful Day" from Happy in Galoshes and " Learning to Drive (outtake version)" I very much do prefer the outtake version over the new version. The new version chugs on slower ( and its not something i mind either) and the addition to the chorus (keepin`up with the Jones`) is jarring to me after listening to the original outtake for the past 3 years or so. Don`t get me wrong its still a great song on a great album but Learning To Drive meant so much to me because i felt really cool about having these unreleased songs in my possesion ( even though maybe millions had before and after i did lol), and maybe thats why i still prefer the original over "Beautiful day". But what a brilliant artist this man is!!!!

[crackerdude]

Yikes! The keeping up with the jones' part kills the song! It's seriously beyond horrible!

I agree with you, it is a bad transition and the song was perfect without it.

[Five Star Edge]

Yikes! The keeping up with the jones' part kills the song! It's seriously beyond horrible!

I disagree.  I think it makes the song better.

I also like the addition.  At least he added something new, and didn't just re-record the STP outtake (although I think some of the vocals were taken from that version)

[Rik]

Beautiful Day

Leave me here
I'm ok
Just got back from hell today

Open doors
Feeling light
Hours they pass
Try to fly

Leaving home
Steven's gay
Not much more to contemplate

Nothing's changed
Nothing's real
Must have more diet pills

Wander Wander Wandering
Have you ever been?
Ever been?

Keeping up with the Joneses
We'll catch them if we can
The promises made with a smile on her face
To the lonely man
Keeping up with the Joneses
And catching them as we can
I'll believe anything it's a beautiful day

Beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful day
Beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful day

Everything
Out of sync
Who am I?
Who is she?

We'll stay home
We're ok
Safe and sound
Commiserate
Summer school
At the astral plane
One more class to levitate

Doing well
Feeling fine
Modulate
Higher mind

Wander Wander Wandering
Have you ever been?
Ever been?

Keeping up with the Joneses
We'll catch them if we can
The promises made with a smile on your face
To the lonely man
Keeping up with the Joneses
And catching them as we can
I'll believe anything, it's a beautiful day

Beautiful beautiful beautiful
Beautiful day

Beautiful beautiful beautiful
Beautiful day

Written by Scott Weiland & Douglas Grean
Produced by Scott Weiland & Douglas Grean
Recorded by Douglas Grean
Vocals, Drum programming & Keys: Scott Weiland
Electric Guitars: Douglas Grean
Steel pans: Joseph "Panhead" Peck
Drums & Bass: Allen Smithee

[STPGurl]

After examining the liner notes and finding no mention of the DeLeos, I question whether or not this was, in fact, ever an STP song.

I know that when we first received the 5 "Unreleased Outtakes" it was labeled as an outtake from the No. 4 sessions -- but other than that, do we have any actual proof?

This one NEVER sounded like STP to me - the experimental nature of the music (that whole Beatles-y part with the horns...) - that always tasted a little more like Weiland solo to me.  

Is it possible that whoever is responsible for "leaking" the Outtakes may have mislabeled "Learning to Drive" as STP rather than Weiland solo?

Since he's been working on HIG for around 10 years or so, it could have very well been written as a SOLO song during the time the band was writing material for No.4/SLDD.  

It's been a long time, and I really don't know the details of the Unreleased Tracks (like how much information was given with them - lyrics credits/music credits, etc.).  Just my $.02, though.

[SoftVinyl]

Good question. Never thought about it in that light.

[netocr1]

For what I've read the Joneses's part have created divided opinions.  :-
I like it very much until the transition to: Beautiful beautiful beautiful...

The transition reminds me a little to The Beatles song A day in the life

[Atlantic]

Now that I go back and listen to the old demo outtake, it sounds incomplete and I anticipate that awkward, out-of-sync transition. And when I listen to the HIG version, it sounds awful because of that transition.

This new version has ruined this song for me...

[Vasoline*Val]

For what I've read the Joneses's part have created divided opinions.  :-
I like it very much until the transition to: Beautiful beautiful beautiful...

The transition reminds me a little to The Beatles song A day in the life

 



I could not agree more.. i showed my dad this song.. a very avid music listener of all types.. he said this son reminded him of the beatles like magical myster tour or SGT pepper era.. i agree.. with my pops.. and that exact;y the anserw i was hoping hed say.. i knew hed hear it and pick it out!

[VelvetLounngeFly]

it's not an stp song, when i first came on this i saw it as a download for an stp song but during velvet revolver slash was asked about scott's solo album and he had said that scott had been writing and working on it since 99 and that he played a shit load of songs for him, he said that he played something called "learning to drive in a beautiful day" (which is probably why we've heard 2 names for this song) and that  it reminded him of the beatles and the beach boys and how scott wanted to add more to it but slash thought it was already great. so yeah its def not an stp song

[SoftVinyl]

I loved the outtake version after the very first listen. When i heard the new version the first time, i didn't like it as much. Well...after only listening to the new one so much lately...i have come to LOVE it much more than the original. The older version sounds empty in comparission and the drums are WAY better on the newer one.

[STPGurl]

Beautiful Day(much better than the U2 song)

Eh... same name - different song.  

Just like TLC's "Creep" isn't the same as STP.  Or Radiohead.  

[Casual]

Beautiful Day(much better than the U2 song)

Eh... same name - different song.  

Just like TLC's "Creep" isn't the same as STP.  Or Radiohead.  

No worries, I know it isn't a cover of the U2 song.    I just never liked the U2 song cuz it always annoyed the hell out of me.

[CagedTiger]

Beautiful Day(much better than the U2 song)

Eh... same name - different song.  

Just like TLC's "Creep" isn't the same as STP.  Or Radiohead.  

But the REAL name for 'Creep' is 'Half the Man I Used to Be' anyways  

[KingSnake]

So I JUST got around to getting this album.  If I was single, didn't have a wife, 3 kids and tons of bills, I would of picked it up exactly like I picked up 12BB, instantly.  That said, wow, I really really like it.  Much different than 12BB.  I was happy to hear Beautiful Day/Learning To Drive on there.

That was a No 4 outtake, right?  I wonder if he needed to get the band's permission to make that one a solo cut?