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!
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.
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.
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 ;-)
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.
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)
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 11th
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?
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.
Hi again, everyone!
Move over, Werthers; there’s a new treat in town! According
to emcee McC, who passed the suggestion on from his Brother the Judge, Al
Bondigas, Mango Ginger Chews are the snacks to chow – and it’s healthy for you
too!
It took a while for the song “Summer Rain” to quit strolling
around in my mind! Now that I’m over the initial shock of last month’s Johnny
Rivers blowout battle against The Motels, I’ve decided to see how well he’ll do
in a Memphis-themed contest.
Did anyone know there’s a Memphis in Egypt? Something new
every day. Memphis, TN., is also a five-time winner of the nation’s cleanest
city award.
First up is actually a cover (of a Chuck Berry) song that,
charting at #2 in America, spawned a live album called “Johnny Rivers at the
Whiskey a Go Go,” with “Memphis” as a single that effectively launched his
career.
Marc Cohn wrote this next one himself after an unremarkable
visit to Graceland. A weathered sign along Highway 61 that read “Hollywood” led
him to a small diner/music joint called “The Hollywood Café,” where a lady
played piano in a corner and sang songs in a smoked-honey voice that brought him to the
heart of what he'd been walking around looking for.
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)
I’m likely on the
road as you read this, but no worries. My destination is only half a day away,
so I’ll check back in real soon!
