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Welcome back, my friends, to the "Battle" that never ends.
We're so glad you could attend. Come inside! Come inside!
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This is 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB') where you listen to different recordings and vote for the one you like best. A new Battle gets posted on the 1st of each month and on the 7th, I place my own vote, tally 'em all up and announce the winner.
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Friend? Foe? Stranger? No matter, ALL are welcome. So pull up a chair, pour yourself 24 oz. of DOG BITE High Gravity Lager (or the poison of your choice) and turn it up to Eleven!
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[NOTE: Links to the first year of 'BOTB' (#1 - #24) can be found at the very bottom of this page.]

Monday, September 1, 2014

'BATTLE OF THE BANDS: 2014, SEPTEMBER 1' (Or, 'MANFRED MANN VS. MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND')

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Republican Vs. Democrat, Male Vs. Female, War Vs. Peace, Light Vs. Dark, Good Vs. Evil, Man Vs. Machine, Love Vs. Hate, Dog Vs. Cat, Sun Vs. Moon, Brain Vs. Brawn, Oscar Vs. Grammy, Angel Vs. Demon, Laurel Vs. Hardy, Beer Vs. Wine, TV Vs. Radio, Pitcher Vs. Batter, Paper Vs. Plastic, Reality Vs. Fantasy, Yeshua Vs. Beelzebub, Conservative Vs. Liberal, You Vs. Me, House Vs. Senate, Offense Vs. Defense, Kramer Vs. Kramer, Spy Vs. Spy, Fischer Vs. Spassky, W.C. Fields Vs. Sobriety, Harold Gimpy, Jr. Vs. Sheldon J. Pismire, Rock Vs. Paper Vs. Scissors, Islam Vs. Everything, Singer Vs. Singer, Band Vs. Band...
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THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS! (‘BOTB’) 
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Shoop-Shooby –
Shooby-duh-Dooby-Doop-Dooby-Dooby-Doo-Wah –
Buh-Doo-Wah!
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Yes, it’s time once again for ‘Battle Of The Bands’ (‘BOTB’)
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Alright, let’s get on it...
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EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER
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MUSIQ QUIZ: Who wrote the song that included the following lines in a verse?:
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A cat’s meow and a cow’s moo
I can recite ’em all
Just tell me where it hurts yuh, honey
And I’ll tell you who to call

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If you guessed Bob Dylan or Tom Waits, give yourself a pat on the back! The correct answer is Bob Dylan, but Tom Waits is worth half a point because he's probably the only other songwriter who "might" have written that verse.
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All of my high school years were spent at "Samohi". A lot of famous folks have come out of that school - at least 8 of them were there during my 3 years (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica_High_School).
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I was involved in the Theatre Department (got the year-end awards for 'Best Body' and 'Shyest' - when did those two ever go together before or since?) I was on the Varsity Wrestling team and I played football with Dennis Smith (later with the Denver Broncos) and with Rod Allen (later drafted by the Chicago White Sox and who played on the 1984 World Champion Detroit Tigers team).
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Wackypedia sez this about Rod Allen:
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He hit a pair of home runs against the Seibu Lions in the 1991 Japan Series and set a Japanese regular season record with four home runs in four consecutive at bats during his time in the league. He is infamous for charging the mound after Kazuhiko Daimon from the Yokohama Taivo Whales hit him in the back with a pitch, and subsequently chasing the pitcher across the entire field with both teams' benches in tow. 
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I know you're dying to see that, and I believe in the slogan "Give The Peoples What They Want", so here it is:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MLkIwnQIw4
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But what I enjoyed most while at "Samohi" was the 'Rock Poetry' class I took my senior year in 1977. It was in that class where I first learned about the great band Traffic, and where I was seriously introduced to the songwriting of Bob Dylan, particularly his album 'Blood On The Tracks' and the recordings from 'The Basement Tapes' with the band The Band.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Basement_Tapes
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The Basement Tapes” consisted of songs that Dylan and The Band recorded while he was recuperating from a motorcycle accident. They were not released as an album until 1975, but for years bootleg copies of the songs had circulated.
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Apparently the British group MANFRED MANN ('Do Wah Diddy Diddy') heard the song 'QUINN THE ESKIMO (THE MIGHTY QUINN)' on a bootleg recording and cut a cover of it which they released. In 1968 their cover of this mostly unknown Dylan original climbed all the way to #10 on the Billboard music chart.
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It is believed by many that Dylan's inspiration for the song was a 1960 movie called 'The Savage Innocents' in which actor Anthony Quinn played the part of an Eskimo.
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'QUINN THE ESKIMO (THE MIGHTY QUINN)'
Manfred Mann
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This Top 10 hit starts out with a flute intro, and has a very Folk music feeling to it. There is background "ahhh-ing" and the final verse is included but it's altered, excising the "Cat's Meow" and the "Cow's Moo".
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GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG
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'QUINN THE ESKIMO (THE MIGHTY QUINN)'
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
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Recorded live for their 1978 album 'WATCH', it has a very orchestral-like beginning. (It leaves out entirely the final "Cat's Meow / Cow's Moo" verse from the Dylan original.) There are multiple tempo shifts and midway there is some synthesizer / electric guitar interplay; toward the end the synthesizer mimics the flute sound found in the intro to the "original cover" of the Manfred Mann studio recording. Overall, this is Manfred Mann's Earth Band's "ProgRock" take on this song. It's definitely BIGGER-sounding, but is it "better-sounding"? That's what you are here to help us decide:
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RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN
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Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome EVERYONE to vote for their favorite of these songs in the comment section below. And feel free to tell us WHY you chose one song over the other. (NOTE: Comment Moderation is activated. All submitted comments that do not transgress "Ye Olde Comment Policy" will be posted as soon as possible. Thanks for taking the time to comment.)
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After voting here, I suggest - actually I insist - you pop over to the blogs of the other 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' participants to see which songs they have chosen and vote there also. (If their ‘BOTB’ blog bits aren’t posted yet, pour yourself two shots of ‘Grand Marnier’ over ice – do it twice – and then return to their blogsto vice your voice ...vote your vice ...voice your vote.)
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Voice Your Vote @ ‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ by clicking HERE. 
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE. 
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ by clicking HERE. 
@ ‘DISCCONNECTED’ by clicking HERE. 
@ 'A WRITER'S LIFE IN PROGRESS' by clicking HERE. 
@ ‘CREATIVE OUTLET OF STRATPLAYER’ by clicking HERE. 
@ 'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS' by clicking HERE. 
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE.
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As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 7th and 21st of each month to post my own votes and announce the winners in the comment sections.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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YE OLDE COMMENT POLICY: All comments, pro and con, are welcome. However, ad hominem attacks and disrespectful epithets will not be tolerated (read: "posted"). After all, this isn’t Amazon.com, so I don’t have to put up with that kind of bovine excrement.

34 comments:

  1. Before I comment on the song for this battle, I must say something about the baseball footage to Yakkety Sax. First, that sax music is awesome accompaniment to just about any crazy situation. Seriously, makes watching anything more fun. And that classmate of yours... yikes! He needs to dig down deep and find his self-control. His temper just ripples off of him. Was he always an angry person???

    Now, on to the battle. I vote for Manfred Mann.

    I just had to say it. Hahahaha.

    I prefer the first one. Or the original second one. You know, the cover. Aaaccchhh. I like the folksy one with the flute intro. I think that I prefer for it for a couple of reasons. I suspect it is truer to the way that Dylan originally wrote it. (Most of his songs have a folksy feel to them, which I really like. I guess it is because the lyrics are so good that he doesn't need synthesizers going off, guitars wailing, and electric guitars riffing around to make it more appealing.) So, I actually really disliked the point in the second version when the synth started screaming. I know that it wasn't actually screaming, but it sure felt like it.

    So, for this girl bigger wasn't better. And that is almost never true!!! Ha!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Actually, I have heard both here. The second is a nice change... the first get the vote.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'd never heard the live version. It's good for a live version--something that would be cool to hear in concert where they switch the songs up some.

    But give my vote to the shorter original. It has a dated sunshiny hippy-dippy sound, but I like it better than the live show off version.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
  4. #1 (the original by Manfred Mann) gets my vote. I don't think the second amped up version is better, and the focus switches to the music behind the singing in that remake. Sometimes the original should be left alone.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I kind of like the second one, myself. I always thought the first version belonged with "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy" and "1 2 3 Red Light" in that netherworld of Bubble Gum Music.

    Arlee askd me to let you know that I'm also doing BOTB at my blog. I'd love to have you come by.

    John Holton
    The Sound Of One Hand Typing

    ReplyDelete
  6. If I were at a live concert I'd probably like the second better. But for this competition, the folksy version gets my vote.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ah, Manfred Mann -- that's a pretty rich vein for cover material there. They've covered several songs and also had songs covered by others. You could have your next several BOTB posts locked up. ;)

    "Quinn" was catchy, but never really grabbed me as more than fluff. Maybe I never listened to the lyrics that closely, but it seemed kind of a throw-away pop song.

    So I'm going to again go against the grain and go for the live version. I really like all the changes and interesting changes they've added. The start of the middle instrumental part actually reminded me of Little Feat, one of my favorite bands. And I like the synth-flute. And the organ parts kind of remind me of Argent.

    The live version for me, by a wide margin.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Foist o' all, I wants to 'pologize to all y'all for taking so long to reply to yer comments. With so many new participants in 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' now, what used to be about a one-hour endeavor has now become more like a two-day process. (Not that I'm complainin', mind yuh. The more the merrier, and I'm happy to welcome all new BOTB participants. It's just that now I have to decide whether to reply to comments left on my blog on Day 1, or visit other BOTB blogs on Day 1 and reply to my comments on Day 2. This being Day 2, I'm prepared to yak bak at y'all...)

    In case yer wondering what music I'm listening to while I yak bak (and I don't know why you wouldn't), I'll tell ya that I'm listening to America's 'Greatest Hits - History'. The first track is the song 'A Horse With No Name' by Neil Young, but the other 11 songs are by America.

    ------- ROBIN (THE GIRL WONDER) -------
    Your comment about Rod Allen... He's now a baseball announcer for... uhm,... The Tigers? Not sure, but I've seen him on TV. Anyway, no, he was never an especially angry dude. Not positive, but I think that footage was shot after he had hit four consecutive home runs in four at-bats. The pitcher did what any decent pitcher WOULD do after that: He plunked Rod with a pitch in the back. And Rod did what any decent hitter WOULD do after that: Rod charged the mound!

    Believe it or not, that's all kind of a traditional part of the game. It's not nearly so shocking to me or any other guy who grew up playing baseball and understands the "unwritten rules", etc. But to you, I can see why it seems outrageously outrageous.

    Actually, going after the pitcher is not that uncommon. What makes THAT footage so great (other than the addition of the marvelous 'Yakety Sax' by Benny Hill) is that Rod chased the pitcher past first base, out into right field and all the way to the left field edge of center field. It's pretty classic! Definitely makes me laugh.

    In truth, Rod Allen was one of the more laid-back guys on my football team. But who wants to get hit in the back with a baseball just because the other team's pitchers stink and keep giving up home runs to you?

    >>... So, for this girl bigger wasn't better. And that is almost never true!!! Ha!

    Ha? "HA!" you say?
    There ain't NUTTIN' funny 'bout that, Sister! You mean all the times womens told me "It ain't the meat, it's the motion" they were lying to me just to make me feel better?

    It's a hell of a thing to learn that all these years later in a 'Battle Of The Bands' installment!

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ------- BROTHER MARTIN -------
      Thanks for yer vote and your continued support of 'BOTB'.

      ------- BOIDMAN -------
      Gotcha down as a vote for the Dippy-Hippie Sunshine.

      ------- D.G. -------
      I totally agree that the focus is on the music in the second (live) version, while it's on the lyrics in the first (studio) take. Thanks for your vote.

      ------- JOHN -------
      Thanks for breaking up the shut-out, Brother! Somebody had to do it.

      ------- DONNA -------
      Great to find you here again! Thanks for your vote.

      ------- CHRIS -------
      I'm pretty sure this is my final Manfred Mann / Manfred Mann's Earth Band entry in a 'BOTB' blog bit. I have a long list of future "Battles" and M. Mann ain't anywhere to be found on it at this point. But I did snag 'Blinded By The Light' and 'The Mighty Quinn' so that's cool, 'cause I had my eye on them early on.

      So, the live version by M.M.E.B. gets a second vote. I know that right now it looks like this is going to be an easy win for the shorter studio version, but I also know that a number of voters haven't checked in yet, and some of those voters I suspect are going to gravitate toward the more ProgRock version. This "Battle" definitely ain't over. ...I don't hear no fat lady singing yet!

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  9. I like the latter version better, although the flute into on the earlier version makes it a tough choice.

    Both blow away the Dylan original.

    From the Dylan archives, there's a "complete" basement tapes release coming out next month...most of those songs were meant to be demos to lure other people to cover them, so the delayed releases of the double album in the seventies, and the four CD set this year is not a shocker.

    Hard to believe it's only about the money for Dylan, but he's certainly mining the depths of things he refused to release in the past.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DOCTOR DISCDUDE ~
      It's funny... I was typing up that last long comment reply to all my voters at the same time you were composing this vote/comment of yours.

      When I wrote "a number of voters haven't checked in yet, and some of those voters I suspect are going to gravitate toward the more ProgRock version", YOU are one of the voters I had in mind. Also, I "think" Beer Boy Bryan will vote for the live version, and I believe FAE and Sheboyganboy Six will also. Judge Nappy could go either way on this one. And my vote... well, that will have to wait until the 7th. But I think this "Battle" is going to end up closer than it appears right now.

      Yeah, Dylan is definitely loosening his grip on a lot of older recordings. In some cases, a lot of people feel that's a good thing. For example, many music critics apparently believe that his song 'BLIND WILLIE McTELL' is a total classic that he mysteriously left off the 'Infidels' album but later released on 'The Bootleg Series'.

      But, you know, trying to understand ANYTHING about Bob Dylan is futile. I don't even know if Robert Allen Zimmerman fully understands Bob Dylan.

      Thanks for your vote and for keeping it interesting.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  10. Well you certainly did kinda take the wind outta my comment by predicting how I would vote. Now I'm interested for you to tell us all why you thought I would vote thata way.

    Oh, and yes your correct I'll give my vote to MBEB and their Prog Rock version of 'Quinn', but my all time favorite (which BTW I'm sure you will hate) can be found here -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TuOzr0jenE It always struck me as pretty funny that these guys were singing about an Eskimo; Are you kidding me? Too long in that equatorial sun, I guess.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. >>... Now I'm interested for you to tell us all why you thought I would vote that-a way.

      You think I have no answer, huh? You think I'm just making sh!t up as I go along, huh?

      The reason I was fairly sure you would vote for the live "ProgRock" version is because I recall you writing long, long ago that you used to really dig Emerson, Lake & Palmer. And if EL&P ain't "ProgRock", I don't know what is!

      So... there ya go. I ain't a mind-reader, and I ain't psychic (all o' da tyme), but I DO pay attention to what peoples say, and I AM... smarter'n the average "Airheadzonan".

      And, FYI, I LIKED that version of 'QUINN'. Had I known about it a few days ago, I might have actually used it in this 'BOTB' blog bit.

      And THAT goes to show how "mind-readerish" and how "psychic" you are! Either you can't read minds worth beans, and you ain't psychic worth beans, or else you simply don't know ME ("the sexiest man on the planet") worth beans. Go ahead and choose one.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
    2. Never for a second did I think you were making this up as you went along. I never claim to be mind-readerish or psychic, you know that. But, I guess this just proves that I don't know beans about nothin'.

      I'm amazed and appreciative that you remember that about ELP. Actually though, I was thinking that the instrumental section in this piece was more Jethro Tullish than ELP.

      Either way you predicted my vote correctly.

      Delete
    3. I gotta stick with ELP-ish more than Jethro Tull-ish. There's too much keyboard and not enough 'fruity, long-haired, prancing in tights with phallic symbol flute-in-mouth' to be Tull-ish. (Besides, if it was Tull-ish, Arlee Boid woulda probably voted for it, 'cause he's a fan of that fruity band. Hi, Lee!:-)

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  11. I was astounded to learn that this was a Dylan song. Like John Horton, I too always equated the song with "I am the Walrus" and "Hey, Hey, We're the Monkees." Unlike John, I like the bubble gum feel to the song, and vote for the original version rather than the tedious second version.

    Sorry to disappoint you by not voting prog-rock. I think we are becoming musically aligned, Brother!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Okay, this was a no-brainer for me. I by far like the first recording with the flute intro with the whole flowers in my hair feel goodness about the song.So, add another count to the Manfred Mann live cut! Thanks for keeping up the BOTB party!

    ReplyDelete
  13. -------- CATHY --------
    I appreciate your vote, so thanks for stopping by with your .02 cents. It seems that, like Arlee Bird, the carefree, sunshiny, flowers-in-your-hair vibe of the late 1960s version appeals to ya. See ya at the next 'BOTB' round on Sept. 15th.

    -------- SHEBOYGANBOY SIX --------
    These 'BOTB' contests fascinate me because so often they end up being NUTTIN' like I 'spected 'em to be. With this particular 'Battle', I wouldn't have dared to try predicting the winner, because I fully anticipated that this one was going to be way too close to call. I thought either version was capable of wining but I would have bet $20. that (to use a horse racing metaphor) this contest was going to be a photo-finish, where one or perhaps two votes (at the very most) would be the margin of victory.

    But now it's abundantly clear that the shorter 1968 studio version is trouncing the 1978 live recording. Although there are still a few votes that will probably trickle in before the deadline of the 7th, and some or all of those few outstanding votes might get registered in the live version's column, the studio cut has far too big a lead to lose this 'Battle' now.

    But the great uncertainty and the often unexpected final results are some of the elements of the 'BOTB' experience that keeps me so interested in it.

    >>... I think we are becoming musically aligned, Brother!

    You think so, do ya? [;-)}

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
  14. After running the numbers I find that adding Yakety Sax to ANY video involving comic action automatically increases its inherent hilarity by a whopping 120%.

    That's just plain science.

    You were part right with your guess, good sir, and part wrong. I did indeed pick the second one, as it scratched my prog rock itch rather nicely, but what you didn't count on was Brandon's agreement with my vote. Make that +2 for prog rock, and -1 for me and my predictability. At least my cohort is still keeping you on your toes?

    ~6B

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BROTHER BEER BOY BRYAN ~
      I haven't the slightest bit of doubt that your math and science are exact when it comes to 'Yakety Sax'.

      It's true that I think I have a slightly better idea of how you are inclined to vote (although you still are capable of surprising me at times) but Beer Boy Brandon is much less clear to me. I did think there was some chance he might vote for the live ProgRock version, but based on the way he voted on something previously (which I can no longer specifically recall) I got it into my brain that he might be more of a mind to go with the British Invasion Pop style rather than the multi-layered, tempo-shifting, synthesizer-infused 1978 version.

      Shows ya how little I knows.

      Oh well, at least your two votes help keep the "Battle" interesting. I thank ya both for 'em!

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  15. Nah... not really!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I was already quite familiar with the first version, and figured it'd be an easy vote for me. No need to even listen to the second one... but I did anyway. And whattaya know? I like the second better! That's saying something for this ol' folk-singing guitar-strumming gal. Sometimes, I just like a song to have more energy and excitement, and the second definitely delivers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SUSAN ~
      Thanks much for your vote. And whattaya know? This "Battle" has somehow managed to remain interesting.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  17. Al Bondigas here. I've been vascillating on this one all week. I've had the "watch" CD by Manfred Mann that I won recently, playing in my car for the past few days. I started to get used to that version and really enjoyed it, but for the time being my vote still goes to the original. Sometimes the judge likes his bubble gum. That's it, that's my rulin'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, that's just FINE! And how many jurors have you kicked outta your courtroom over the years for chewing gum while court was in session?

      GUILTY! Thank you, that is all.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  18. Part 1 Of 2:

    STMcC’s Vote On ‘BOTB - 2014, September 1st
    - Manfred Mann Vs. Manfred Mann's Earth Band’
    And The Final Tally:


    Well, this "Battle" was pretty interesting to me for a number of reasons. One, of course, is that I matched Manfred Mann's earlier band up against Manfred Mann's later Earth Band. (If I recall correctly, the only other time I put a musical artist up against his/herself in a 'Battle Of The Bands' contest was in 'BOTB #1' where I put Bebel Gilberto against herself in order to illustrate a point about the importance an arrangement makes in the likeability of a recording.)

    In a comment above to Sheboyganboy Six I wrote this:

    With this particular 'Battle', I wouldn't have dared to try predicting the winner, because I fully anticipated that this one was going to be way too close to call. I thought either version was capable of wining but I would have bet $20. that (to use a horse racing metaphor) this contest was going to be a photo-finish, where one or perhaps two votes (at the very most) would be the margin of victory.

    But now it's abundantly clear that the shorter 1968 studio version is trouncing the 1978 live recording. ... the studio cut has far too big a lead to lose this 'Battle' now.


    But a funny thing happened on the way to the Finish line...

    First though, my own vote:

    I agreed with some of the observations noted by some of the voters.

    D.G. Hudson said: ...the focus switches to the music behind the singing in that remake.

    Agreed.

    John Holton said: I always thought the first version belonged with "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy" and "1 2 3 Red Light" in that netherworld of Bubble Gum Music.

    Agreed.

    Seahawkanboy Six said: Sorry to disappoint you by not voting prog-rock. I think we are becoming musically aligned, Brother!

    Disagreed.

    Chris Fries said: "Quinn" was catchy, but never really grabbed me as more than fluff ... it seemed kind of a throw-away pop song. ... The live version for me, by a wide margin.

    Agreed.

    Continued Below...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Part 2 Of 2:

      See, here's the thing: The melody of 'THE MIGHTY QUINN' is pretty simple - it's almost like a nursery rhyme, really. ("Bubble Gum Pop Fluff") pretty accurately describes it for me.

      From a lyrical standpoint, the only verse I really like is the one I called attention to...

      A cat’s meow and a cow’s moo
      I can recite ’em all
      Just tell me where it hurts yuh, honey
      And I’ll tell you who to call


      ...but Manfred Mann didn't even keep that verse intact in either recording of the song. And the rest of the words... well, what the hell is this song even about? And, frankly, with a pencil, a sheet of paper, and ten minutes (or less) I could write song lyrics that are no worse than those found in 'The Mighty Quinn'. So, despite this being a Bob Dylan composition, other than that last verse, the lyrics don't impress me.

      So, if the lyrics ain't much to write home about, and the melody's kinda Soda Pop Fizz... what does that leave? Well, you BETTER make the thing musically interesting if you want my record-buying dollars. The original studio cover isn't offensive but I would never consider buying a copy of it.

      The live "ProgRock" version, however, is very musically complex and interesting to me. Yes, I know I've said that I'm not generally a "ProgRock" fan... AT ALL! But when it's done "right" according to my ears (which is damned rare) I genuinely dig it. Manfred Mann's Earth Band almost always did it "right". In the live version of 'Quinn...' there are multiple shifts in tone and tempo but none of it seems jarring and artificial to me, as is the case in so many "ProgRock" recordings by other "ProgRock" bands.

      I've owned the MMEB album 'WATCH' for a long, long time - I give thumbs up to every single track and actually like 'Watch' even better than I liked the monster MMEB hit album 'The Roaring Silence', which I also owned back in the day.

      As I had stated, my first impulse in putting this "Battle" together was that... I would have bet $20. that this contest was going to be a photo-finish, where one or perhaps two votes (at the very most) would be the margin of victory.

      Guess what... It turned out even CLOSER THAN THAT!

      Despite the huge jump that the Top 10 hit "studio cover" version got in the voting, when all the votes were in and counted the final result was this:

      Manfred Mann = 8 Votes
      Manfred Mann's Earth Band = 8 Votes


      A 'BOTB' installment can't get no closer'n dat!

      My thanks to everyone who voted. And please come back for my September 15th 'BOTB'.

      Also, I've got a really, Really, REALLY unique 'BOTB' cooked up for October 15th, and I'll look through my list to try and find something else suitably "strange" for October 1st's 'BOTB'. See all y'all later, eh?

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
    2. You're vote would have surprised me, except for the replies you made in the comment box. glad to see you did not go over to the 'dark side' of bubble gum pop rock, or the fruity, flutey, prancing in tights stuffs either.

      Delete
    3. Thanks, FAE!

      Yeah, I know I kind of gave my vote away early, particularly with my reply to Sheboyganboy Six, but I jus' couldn't he'p myse'f that time.

      And of course you know me, of all people, I am just too much of a "real man" to ever praise a prancing, long-haired man in tights with a flute in his mouth.

      Homophobic much?
      Nah, not too much.
      Just the right amount, methinks.
      Ha!

      Watch for E rEply comin' sometime tomorrow.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  19. Seahawkboyganboy SixSeptember 7, 2014 at 9:49 PM

    Well, fry my huevos and call me Sally!

    I can't figure YOU out any more than you can figure me, apparently. You've been wrong on guessing my choices lately, and I was wrong on yours. You hate prog-rock and I like it... yet you voted FOR prog and I voted against it this time. I was SURE you'd vote original "Quinn" because of your frequent crabbing about all things proggy. Sheesh!

    I quit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha!-Ha!

      SIXBRO, believe me, I am as mystified by this as you are.

      Not all ProgRock is created equal - although the vast majority of it is pretentious crap, in my opinion.

      Finally, I post a ProgRock recording that I do genuinely like a great deal (and that's a real rarity, I assure you), and what do you do? Why, you vote AGAINST it, of course, and favor the simplistic Cotton Candy Nursery Rhyme Pop Fluff instead. We had a chance, after all these years, to agree on the merit of a ProgRock recording, but NO!!! You had to blow the thing to smithereens by voting against type this one time - this one time when I too was voting against type and coulda met you for a pleasant, surprising as hell rendezvous.

      And make no mistake, I really do dig the live ProgRock version of 'The Mighty Quinn' big time. When I saw you cast your vote for the studio Cotton Candy all I could think was...

      DOH!!!

      Yeah, fuhgeddaboudit. I quit too. Ha! (Musical agreement just ain't in our cards, Brotherman. But we'll always have the Jazz.)

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  20. So let's see--you think I used two bad versions of a good song, while you on the other hand used a bad song that no amount of versions could have helped?

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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    1. No, no, LEE, you got it all wrong.

      I think you used one atrociously bad version and one semi-bad version of a "GREAT" song.

      Me, I used one stellar version and one semi-mediocre version of a 90%-mediocre song.

      It may seem like I'm splitting hairs, but there definitely are distinctions to be made here.

      You said your favorite version of 'SEPTEMBER SONG' is by Jimmy Durante. I'd never heard his version, so I went and sought it out. And I liked it pretty well. I didn't like it as well as either of the versions I will be using on September 15th, but it was enjoyable. ("The Schnoz" was likeable on pretty much everything he recorded.)

      I only wish you hadn't gotten so "fancy" with it and had at least given us your favorite version to vote for. I would have been perfectly happy to vote for Durante.

      But, hey, it's YOUR 'BOTB', and as the great philosopher once sang: "You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself."

      But don't worry, my friend, on September 15th I'll fix what you screwed up. And, hey, since you're a good pal o' mine, I'll even do it pro bono.
      [;-)}

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete

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