hot take: demo/self produced versions of songs often are better than the thing which goes onto the final record. cf. "men at work - down under" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D2lhmqKLais and "blue oyster cult - don't fear the reaper" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8m6oDWLEF4Y

many producers can do amazing clean memorable radio stuff, but only few (john parish, imo) have a feeling for the music.