On October 27th, 2023, we will have even more Taylor’s Version to listen to as part of the series of re-recorded early Taylor Swift albums. Jumping around in order, Swift has remade 1989, her fifth album, for mass consumption with all of the original and bonus tracks, but the best part comes at the very end of the tracklist: the never-before-heard “From The Vault” tracks. To celebrate these new songs, written but never released during the album sessions, let’s revisit the best of the previous Taylor’s Version records.
Mr. Perfectly Fine
Taylor Swift’s country-pop breakout Fearless featured a small appearance from singer Colbie Caillat, but this massive success otherwise rested on Swift’s shoulders alone. For the batch of new songs from the Fearless era, Swift enlisted country stars Maren Morris and Keith Urban for guest spots, but once again, her pop songwriting prevailed with the single-worthy track “Mr. Perfectly Fine.” This song, featuring a simple but catchy chorus, has all the punch of a lesser “Love Story” or “You Belong With Me,” so we can only guess why she did not want it released before the 2020s.
Electric Touch
Swift’s official foray into rock and pop on Speak Now gets further illuminated by “Electric Touch,” a propulsive number with a supremely fitting guest appearance. Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy sings and plays electric guitar on the song, getting a verse to himself and melody on the chorus, and his soaring vocals could not have been a more suitable addition. Further rock sidemen show up on the song as well, including Josh Kaufman (Muzz), Ben Lanz (Beirut), Joe Russo (Cass McCombs’ touring band), and recent frequent collaborator Aaron Dessner (The National).
Castles Crumbling
On the gentler side of her discography, “Castles Crumbling” makes a highlight for any era of Swift’s music, and Paramore’s Hayley Williams fits in effortlessly. Her vocals intertwine with Swift’s amid floating strings and winds; what the song lacks in daring, it makes up with an alluring atmosphere. Like every track on Speak Now, “Castles Crumbling” gives writing credit only to Swift, a rare feat both for her albums as well as any pop album.
Nothing New
Featuring like-minded indie singer/songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, “Nothing New” is not only one of the best “From The Vault” tracks but also one of the best Taylor Swift songs of late. The lyrics plumb the depths of her soul more than any other song from the Red era, evidently too much to include on a record that early in her career. Standing next to towering pop singles like “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “Nothing New” is a quietly masterful triumph.
All Too Well (10 Minute Version)
The pinnacle of the “From The Vault” series is, without question, the expanded “All Too Well” that the listener instantly recognizes as far too personal, narrative, and authentic for a typical pop star. Fifteen years after her unassuming debut, Swift is ready to put way too much on a single track; for her mega-fans and critics who mistake her for a meek, conforming songwriter without audacity, this ten-minute version knocked more than a few socks off. For appreciators of the grippingly biographical or storylike approach that Swift has often incorporated in her music, “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” is the top listening choice.
All available Taylor’s Version albums are streaming now wherever you listen to music.