Autumn skies and Pumpkin pies

 

We’re not exactly graced with all the splendors of seasonal changes in the desert. Few of our leaves change color, opting instead to forsake their posts for bony winter fingers. Luckily, our evening sky is often willing to step up and deck out with spectacular flair. Time to buy a couple of pumpkins!

According to a few of my favorite haunts, today was quite the day in music history. In 1967, Arlo Guthrie released a song that would one day become a Thanksgiving tradition in our house, as each year while the swamp cooler works overtime, the turkeys are fried or roasted or smoked on the patio, the sides take turns in the oven of our crowded kitchen, another leaf is added to the table and set for 8 – 12 while we listen to a full-length version of “Alice’s Restaurant” that finishes just as the biscuits begin to smolder.

During a meeting with the rest of the band on this day in 1969, John Lennon announced he was leaving the Beatles. Meanwhile, one of only a handful of successful “fake” bands, The Archies, began a four-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with “Sugar, Sugar” in addition to becoming one of the longest-running one-hit-wonders after eight weeks at the top of the UK charts. "I'm gonna make your life so sweet,"

On this fateful day in 1973, Jim Croce was on his way to perform a second concert of the day when he tragically perished along with five others in the crash of their chartered plane. His song “Time in a Bottle” made an instant come-back, as his other hits also saturated the airwaves.

Kate Bush hit the ground running in 1980 with her first album, “Never For Ever,” the first album by any female solo artist to enter the UK chart at #1. “Running Up That Hill”

“But now it’s time for me to go; the autumn moon lights my way.” Led Zeppelin

Peaceful autumn, everyone!

BOTB September 2023 Battle Results

 

Contenders and votes for the September Battle of the Bands

Song:  The Letter

Joe Cocker - 2

Richard Marx, ft. Hugh Jackman - 6 + 1 = 7

It's not a misprint, folks. It really is the same results as last month, 7 - 2! Richard Marx is more of a surprise than I initially thought. 

True, he was a little slow off the mark, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well Marx (and Jackman) represented a song rumored in some circles to have been performed in a gravel pit by a cement mixer, albeit (to be fair) with an impressive amount of human emotion. Considering the lyrics, the song itself deserves some emotion, I think.

I have to admit, I was even more surprised (and secretly pleased) that so many of you preferred Richard Marx ;-) Here’s one where he really shows off his emotive skills:

I’m off to see how the other battles did. Hope you do the same!

BOTB September 2023 The Letter

 

Hey, hi! Glad you stopped by ;-)

The Battle of The Bands (BOTB) is your basic Which-do-you-like-best contest where the one that gets the most votes wins. All you have to do is show up (the 1^st and/or 15^th of every month) give a listen and cast your vote in the comment section. Votes will be tallied and the winner revealed on or about 8 days later.

In honor of World Letter Writing Day, I’ve chosen a song entitled “The Letter” along with a couple of artists/bands I think you may have heard of to compete in today’s battle. The song was first recorded by The Box Tops in 1967 and was their most successful single reaching #1 on the record charts in both the U.S. and Canada. The lead vocalist, 16-year-old Alex Chilton, later admitted his voice sounded gruff from lack of sleep.

First up, an even more distinctive voice:  English bluesman, Joe Cocker

Next up, an American entertainer whose first seven singles reached the top five on Billboard charts: Singer-songwriter Richard Marx, featuring his buddy Hugh Jackman

There you have it, folks! Which do you like best? And how come? Let me know in the comment section below. Oh! And, before you go, hop around and see the rest of today’s battles (participating sites are located in the top right sidebar of this page)

 

Lastly, on the subject of letters, here is one we can all appreciate (I think) by E.B. White.

 

See you soon!

BOTB August 2023 Battle Results

 

Contenders and Votes for the August Battle of The Bands

Song:  Kentucky Woman

Deep Purple -  2

Waylon Jennings - 6 + 1 = 7

I really thought this battle would be a lot closer than it turned out. I had totally forgotten Deep Purple did this song and was pleased to be reminded. But who else would I use for the battle? Neil Diamond's version is, of course, outstanding and, unfortunately, ineligible. There was Elvis, Gary Puckett, half a dozen decent-sounding unknowns, and Waylon Jennings. I was pretty sure I'd heard Waylon's version and figured why not. Deep Purple is going to win. Then I listened to the country music outlaw and discovered not only was his cover unfamiliar, but it was also fantastic! Sorry about that, Neil...

Thanks, everyone! I'm off to check on the rest of the battles. Hope you'll do the same ;-)

Just a thought...

 

BOTB August 2023 Kentucky - Weird and Wonderful

 

Hey, hi! Glad you stopped by ;-)

The Battle of The Bands (BOTB) is your basic Which-do-you-like-best contest, where the one that gets the most votes wins. All you have to do is show up (the 1^st and/or 15^th of every month), give a listen and cast your vote in the comment section. Votes will be tallied and the winner revealed on or about 8 days later.

How're you doing? Surviving the summer okay?

I decided to head east before heading west. Kentucky is a fascinating state! But, as this is a Battle of the Bands post, I'll try to curb my enthusiasm for tourism.

Popular for bourbon whiskey, milk is the state beverage ;-) Just like 21 other states. Also like other states are some very strange laws. For instance, every citizen of Kentucky is required to shower once a year. Women must obtain permission from their husbands to purchase a hat. Perhaps this explains the extravagant headwear you see in Louisville, the home of the Kentucky Derby, aka "The most exciting two minutes in sports," since any self-respecting Kentucky woman would want to make an impression on Derby Day ;-) Go big or stay home, ladies!

 "Post-it Notes" (for when that pesky "check engine" sign lights up on your dash) were designed and are still produced in Cynthiana.

Vent Haven Museum in Ft. Mitchell claims to have the largest collection of ventriloquist dummies in the world. MC McC will never believe I’d already started this post before he mentioned Jeff Dunham;-)

Beginning with the very first one in 1981, every Corvette in the world has been manufactured in Bowling Green, KY.

Lexington is home to the world's largest (Jif!) peanut butter production plant.

Cumberland Falls is the only place in the western hemisphere where you can see a Moonbow. I'd go there just for that ;-)

The "Father of Bluegrass," Bill Monroe, was born on a farm near Rosine, Kentucky. But he's not a contender in this battle. Neil Diamond didn't make the cut this time either, though he wrote and originally recorded Kentucky Woman in 1967. Instead, I'm offering covers of the song by (I dare say) two highly capable artists/bands.

First up: One of the pioneers of country music's Outlaw Movement - Waylon Jennings

Next: This British rock band made the 1975 Guinness Book of World Records for the "Globe's loudest band" for a 1972 concert where they performed at London's Rainbow Theater" - Deep Purple

There you have it, folks! Which do you like best? And how come? Let me know in the comment section below. Oh! And, before you go, hop around and see the rest of today’s battles (participating sites are located in the top right sidebar of this page)

C'mon People Now

 This has been an incredibly trying month for screenwriters, actors, and all the important (and nearly invisible) people who keep costumes cleaned, lighting and sound just right, fresh flowers in vases, candy dishes refilled, schedule keepers, and deadline meeters.

It hasn’t been much easier for folks in the music industry.

Appearing on the broody “Blue-eyed soul” music scene in 2017 with his independently released single “Bruises,” Irish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi became the first artist to sell out an arena tour before the release of an album. In 2019, “Someone you loved” became the breakthrough single that charted in 29 countries. The song reached #1 on Billboard Hot 100s, making him the first Scottish solo artist to top the US charts since Sheena Easton in 1981. Capaldi achieved 4 more #1 hits before announcing he would be taking an extended, indefinite break from touring due to a recent diagnosis of Tourette’s syndrome, a debilitating bout of which led to adoring concertgoers finishing his performance for him last month at the Glastonbury Festival.

Country music star Jason Aldean is no stranger to controversy. But he is a survivor of the deadliest mass shooting in American history in 2017 at the Las Vegas Route 91 Music Harvest Festival. Aldean was performing onstage when the shooting began, and like most everyone else, he thought the sounds he heard were fireworks signaling the end of the concert. The 3-time winner of the ACM Entertainer of the Year award (2016-2018) is now being chastised for his latest release, “Try That in a Small Town” (lead single from his upcoming 11^th album). In fact, CMT removed the music video from rotation; while the AMA played pre-recorded footage of Aldean performing, ABC refused to show the video for the CMA Fest. Meanwhile, Billboard reports record plays. Apparently, honest response and references to actual news footage of crimes and violence on American streets makes Aldean an inciter of vigilantism, a promoter of violence. He should know better, they say. He’s probably racist, they quip. Eye-roll.  

And just yesterday, the music world lost another icon. At 95 years old, Tony Bennett made the Guinness World Record for the oldest person ever to release an album of new material.  Among the American jazz and Pop singer’s many accolades were 20 Grammy awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Do you have a favorite artist or thoughts you'd like to share?

BOTB July 2023 Battle Results

 

Contenders and votes for this month's "Memphis" themed battle are:

"Memphis"  Johnny Rivers - 3 votes

"Walking in Memphis"  Marc Cohn - 4 + 1 = 5 votes

Not exactly the outcome I expected, but I'll take it! 

Here's a little duel to get us in the mood for August:

And the pleasing sounds of strings - and rain. Because we could use some ;-)

Thanks, everyone! See you next month ;-)