>>>My favorite "two versions" song is Eric Clapton's Layla. In the old recording, it was with his group at the time, Derek and the Dominos. Derek is Eric Clapton, of course. First years later I realized that it was the same melody.
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>>Thanks for the links. I like Clapton and I like the "regular" version of Layla, more than the mellow, unplugged version.
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>>Obviously, there are exceptions to my rule about guys and songs from the heart....like Clapton and "Tears from Heaven" and the circumstances. Fear of losing my daughter is a million times greater than the sum of all my other fears combined - I just cannot imagine experiencing that.
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>Many years ago I read Clapton's autobiography (I like reading musicians' autobiographies because they do not try to embellish things and show themselves in the best light, like politicians, for example). Two things stuck in my mind, one of them is that Clapton (I don't know if he does that still) would, every morning, get down on his knees and pray for God to give him strength to stay away from drugs and alcohol that day.
>I have always felt a sympathy for alcohol and drug addicts.

Have you read Elton John's autobiography Me? I have read it several times, it's both very funny and interesting. I recommend it, he hides absolutely nothing.