Friday, November 1, 2024

Battle of The Bands - November 1st, 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 1st and/or 15th 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.

I hope your November is off to a good start. My area of Arizona has finally turned down the heat, so we won’t mind turning the oven on in a few short weeks ;-) I wait all year to have turkey on Thanksgiving, though I’m willing to eat Pumpkin pie anytime. As far as music for the occasion, besides Nat King Cole, and any of those old favorites, a song that comes to mind (because we play it every year) is one by Arlo Guthrie about an unforgettable Thanksgiving, which I’ll just leave a link to, since it’s nearly 20 minutes long.  Instead, here are a couple versions of another song written by Steve Goodman (1970) but made famous by Arlo Guthrie in 1972.  You may be surprised (I know I was) by who else covered this song about riding on a train. 







There you have it, folks. Which do you like best?

Be safe if you're traveling, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!




17 comments:

  1. Strangely, I liked John Denver's cover of this song better than Johnny Cash's. I go with Denver.

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    1. Maybe it's the mountain air... A vote for John Denver. Thanks, John!

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  2. Happy day to all!
    My vote is for the legend Johnny Cash!
    His deep bass voice adds so much depth to the song and story. The guitar rhythm and simple accompaniment allows the story to be felt and not just heard. Love the harmony from June Carter!!
    Have you tried pumpkin pancakes? Yummy!
    Also going to try pumpkin turnovers!
    Love ya, Dana

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    1. Your description makes me want to play it again ;-) Well said. I haven't ever had a pumpkin pancake but I'm thinking of perhaps a new day-after T-day tradition?? A vote for Johnny Cash. Thanks, Dana!

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  3. What fun to hear Alice's Restaurant again! ☺ That's a great Thanksgiving tradition, diedre. And I love City of New Orleans. Many memories attached to that one! I prefer John Denver's rendition, because it's similar to Arlo's.

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    1. A local radio station used to play it without fail, at noon, every Thanksgiving. Guess we kind of stole the tradition ;-) A vote for John Denver. Thanks, Debbie!

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  4. A classic song that I've always enjoyed hearing. Right now my preference is leaning toward John Denver. But they're both fine versions.

    I've listened to "Alice's Restaurant" a number of times. We all loved it back when it came out. I saw the movie as well, but can't recall if it was bad or good.

    Lee





    Lee

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    1. There was a movie? I'll have to check that out. I really liked Guthrie's musical storytelling ;-) I was surprised Johnny Cash covered this as it isn't an especially sad or "tough" story, but he did alright. Meanwhile, John Denver gets another vote! Thanks, Lee.

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  5. dIEDRE ~

    Singin' in the rain... Oh, singin' in the rain...

    Yeah, we got some rain last night, but I was sleepin' (not singin') through it. Gorgeous day today, however. Ideal Fall weather for a change, so I went for a long walk (about 90 minutes).

    Considering it was Johnny Cash, that version wasn't too terrible.

    But I'm gonna go with the John Denver train. Maybe hard to believe, but I always kinda liked Denver. He wasn't cool and he wasn't *real* Country, but he filled a spot that someone needed to cover.

    In Westwood Village (a commercial area in Los Angeles), there was an Alice's Restaurant. I don't think I ever ate there, but I sure walked and cruised by it countless times. Yeah, back in the 1970s, Westwood was still a "cruisin'" destination for teenagers. It was like my generation's version of 'American Graffiti'.

    I like train songs, and I like the South. And I even owned the LP 'John Denver's Greatest Hits' once upon a time.

    ~ D-FensDogG

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    1. "Singing in the rain" went through my mind too :-)
      There was a little diner off the highway here, with a friendly staff who kept a sippy-cup on hand for our little girl. They served the best Sunday-after-Saturday-night breakfasts ever! Another vote for John Denver is much appreciated, my friend. Not sure I owned an album, but I wouldn't doubt it.

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  6. VOTE = JOHNNY CASH

    Sheesh!! This round of battles has been so tough! I like both of these versions, but I've got to go with Johnny Cash - his voice is just too perfect for the story of this song. John Denver, nice, but almost too sweet and innocent. ~Ed.

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    1. Ha! I had the same thought, Ed. The battles all around are good and tough this time ;-)
      This is feeling like a Goldilocks situation where one is too sweet, the other to bold while the original gem (Arlo) reigns just right in the middle.
      Thanks for your thoughtful vote for Johnny!

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  7. I prefer John Denver because it sounds more like folk than country. It makes me wish he were still alive. It was a sho k when he passed away.

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    1. "More folk than country," I think you're exactly right, Birgit ;-) And, his passing was indeed a shock. A vote for John Denver, thank you!

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  8. I'm giving my vote to JOHN DENVER. I like Cash but I really have to be in the mood for his style of singing. John has a more pleasing voice, plus I've heard his cover before. Have a bandtastic day, my friend!

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    1. I thought Johnny Cash might be a good fit until I listened to John Denver...thank you, Ma'am ;-)

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