BOTB September 15, 2024 Full Moon Rising

 

I may have mentioned I’m somewhat of a lunatic when it comes to lunar events. We’re due for a full Harvest moon (my favorite!) this coming Tuesday! The event is also called a Corn moon because farmers (including Indians) take full advantage of all that extra light to harvest their crops ahead of the Autumn equinox. I’m so excited (you’d think I’d grown out of this by now – ha!) I’ve decided to do this second Battle of The Bands with the moon in mind. I bet at least two, maybe three moon songs just went through your thoughts ;-) I’ll also bet it wasn’t either of the songs I’ve chosen for your keen consideration today.

Just a note: We’re also due for a partial eclipse – wouldn’t ya just know it? – on Wednesday, so get your moon gazing in early, just in case.

On this day in 1965 Ford Motor Company began offering factory-installed  8-Track Tape Players in Thunderbirds, Mustangs and Lincolns. You could purchase your favorite music tapes at your local Auto Parts store! However, later that year 8-track tape roadkill became an issue when the players had a tendency to chew up the tapes causing frustrated music lovers to toss the tangled ribbons out of their car windows. Home 8-track equipment was still a year away.

Getting back to the moon…Doesn’t it seem like everyone’s going?

Once upon a time, long-time lead singer of Styx, Dennis DeYoung may have read my mind and tossed my thoughts right into some of his awesome songwriting.  Especially with this 1984 chart-topper set in my neck of the woods:   Desert Moon

Ten years later, Concrete Blonde seemed to be on the same wavelength in a different locale: under a Mexican Moon

So, which one suits your fancy? Right now, I am firmly on the proverbial fence!  

See you on or about the first day of Autumn ;-)

BOTB September 2024 - Results

 

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to listen and cast a vote on my latest Battle of the Bands! Since the song was practically written for Frank Sinatra, the outcome could have been a no-brainer had I used anyone sounding closer to the famous crooner than the contender I chose. Funny how those things go…I’m learning ;-)  And while Curtis Stigers wasn’t half bad, it seems Emmy had just the right touch to gently bend a slightly leaning lead into an astonishing draw. No losers here - I’m jazzed!    

Contenders                                                      Song(s)                         Votes

Emmy Rossum                                  The Summer Wind                       5  (Including mine)

Curtis Stigers                                    The Summer Wind                       5

 

Recorded in 1966, this signature song by Frank Sinatra charted at #1 on the Easy Listening Chart that same year and was still being played as part of his regular concert performances in 1986. He and Julio Iglesias performed an impressive duet of the song in 1993.

Since the full Harvest Moon this month is only two days after, I’ll be back on the 15^th with a couple of songs about one of my very favorite occasions ;-) Care to join me?

 

 

BOTB September 2024 The Summer Wind

 

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 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 the 8^th day of the month.

Can you believe we’re into the month of September already?  For me, it’s the time of year when the sighs of Back to School blues are blown asunder and out from under the stay-with-me tugs of yesterday’s fun, just out of reach of tomorrow’s promise with passage provided most assuredly by The Summer Wind. The song I’ve chosen for this month’s Battle of The Bands was composed by Heinz Meier, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, and first recorded by Wayne Newton in 1965, followed by Bobby Vinton and Perry Como. However, the most popular version was recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1966.  Here’s a reminder if you need it:

The Summer Wind ~Frank Sinatra

And here are the contenders:  Emmy Rossum and Curtis Stigers

·       

There you have it folks! Enjoy the festivities! I appreciate everyone coming by to give a listen and cast a vote in the comment section. Stop by the links of other participants (located in righthand sidebar) if ya would 😉

 

 

 

Battle of the Bands - August 2024 - Results

 

 

Hello, Everyone!

 Many thanks to one and all for participating in my “Rainy Mood” Battle of the Bands for August! Here are the results:

 

The Cascades    Votes = 6 + 1 (me)

Bruce Hornsby         Votes =3

 

 

Quotes:

“Music is the soundtrack of your life”

~ Dick Clark

 

Fun Facts:

“Happy Birthday” is (still) the most profitable song of all time!

Trivia:

Which rock Icon was the Founder of the Society for the Prevention

Of cruelty to Long-haired Men?

~ David Bowie

 

And, Just For Fun:

For August Birthdays

 

Battle of The Bands - August 2024

 

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.

 On the roster for today were two covers of an epic song by Motown's own King of Soul, Marvin Gaye, but that wasn't happening, so I'm back to thinking about all the glorious rain we've been getting!

First up:

Next:

 

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)

Happy August, everybody! Be sure to join us on the 8th for Battle of the Bands results and a special birthday celebration of our favorite Emcee!

BOTB July Results American Girl

 

Hi All!  Since we last talked, I spent a refreshing week in the woods where windswept clouds draped antique patterns of fine old lace across blue denim skies that wouldn’t let on rain was coming till it suddenly did and had us scrambling for cover. All too soon, though right on schedule, it was time to brave the blazing sun and trade the towering Pines for squatty scrubs that seemed to crouch begrudgingly beside long stretches of simmering blacktop that intersect the lower desert plains.

As I listened to good ole traveling songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival and EricClapton, I just hoped the temps would be mercifully low when we got home. I’d heard we had quite a storm that toppled several power lines across one of the busiest streets on my side of town, so I knew there might be damage. Maybe a chair blew off the patio? Nah, too simple.

It’s National A/C Appreciation Week, and don’t I know it since, as I write, I’m still waiting for the repairman. Gads!  Stay cool out there, folks 😊

But don’t rush off before checking out my battle results – as well as everyone else! We truly appreciate all participants, voters, and anyone who had anything to do with the songs that give us something to talk about each month!

BOTB July Song -American Girl – Tom Petty

Dierks Bentley                              7 Votes (Including me)

The Troubadour Project                          3 Votes

 

In honor of International Blondie Month:

 

BOTB July 2024 American Girl

 

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 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 the 8^th day of the month.

In honor of the Fourth of July, we dodged the last- minute traffic and hit the road for the mountains before the half-day workers had a chance to fill out their PTO forms, while the blacktop temperature was still just below that of molten lava.

The song I’ve chosen for this month’s Battle of The Bands is from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers first album and while it was never really a hit, it was undeniably one of their most popular songs. Despite the urban myth about the song being about a suicidal young woman, Petty said it was not. He also said it wasn’t even as patriotic as many assumed, though the track was cut on the 4^th of July. Whether Tom Petty meant it as patriotic or not, it works for this American Girl!  Here’s a reminder if you need it:

American Girl ~ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

And here are the contenders:

 

Dierks Bentley

 

 

Troubadour Project

 

 

 There you have it folks! Enjoy the festivities! I appreciate everyone coming by to give a listen and cast a vote in the comment section. Stop by the links of other participants (located in the righthand sidebar) if ya would 😉