As fans of traditional and folk music, we've all been exposed to different versions of the same song. For you, is there a definitive version of some of these songs?

Tonight, I heard two versions of the same song---Cold Missouri Waters. I first bought the Richard Shindell version on CRY CRY CRY's CD. Found the James Keelaghan tape and just got to listen tonight.

Interestingly enough, when I played Shindell's version for my spouse, he didn't like the song. Different story with Keelaghan. He said he thought the song worked best without the backing harmony. On the other hand, I liked Shindell's version better. (Good thing, it saves us fighting over the same CD)

Here are a couple more songs and names of the artist who do the 'definitive' version in my book.

HIGHWAYMAN----Jimmy Webb GREEN FIELDS OF FRANCE---June Tabor CRYING IN MY SLEEP---Art Garfunkel CHOLESTROL---Ed Miller WHITE SQUALL---Stan Rogers (Okay, Stan's the exceptional artist---I like all his work better than anyone I've ever heard covering)

So what do y'all think out there?