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...
.
THE
BATTLE OF THE BANDS! (‘BOTB’)
.
Shoop-Shooby
–
Shooby-duh-Dooby-Doop-Dooby-Dooby-Doo-Wah
–
Buh-Doo-Wah!
.
Yes,
it’s time once again for ‘Battle Of The Bands’
(‘BOTB’)
.
Please be sure to visit and welcome our new BOTB members MARY BURRIS of the blog 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' and JANIE JUNEBUG of the blog 'WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME'.
Alright, let’s get on it...
Please be sure to visit and welcome our new BOTB members MARY BURRIS of the blog 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' and JANIE JUNEBUG of the blog 'WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME'.
Alright, let’s get on it...
.
 |
| EUGENE MARTONE VS. JACK BUTLER |
The band 'TRAFFIC' was an influential hybrid of Rock, Folk and Jazz. It was formed in the late 1960s and its first lineup included Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason. All of them went on to have notable solo careers.
The song 'MEDICATED GOO' was written by Winwood and producer Jimmy Miller. Let's hear it first. (I'm providing you with the lyrics. You can thank me later.)
.
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| GOODNIKS VS. NO-GOODNIKS |
'MEDICATED GOO' - Traffic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ISxSn7vxSs
Pretty Polly Possum, what's wrong with you?
Your body's kinda weak
Your body's kinda weak
And you think there's nothing we can do
Good Golly, Polly, shame on you
'Cause Molly made a stew that'll make a newer girl out of you
'Cause Molly made a stew that'll make a newer girl out of you
So follow me, it's good for you
That good old fashioned Medicated Goo
Ooo, ain't it good for you!
My own homegrown recipe'll see you through
Freaky Freddy Frolic had some, I know
He was last seen picking green flowers in a field of snow
Get ready, Freddy, they're sure to grow
Mother nature just blew it
and there's nothing really to it, I know
Get ready, Freddy, they're sure to grow
Mother nature just blew it
and there's nothing really to it, I know
So follow me, it's good for you
That good old-fashioned Medicated Goo
Ooo, ain't it good for you!
My own homegrown recipe'll see you through
Aunty Franny Prickett and Uncle Lou
Now they really sock it to their friends
Frantic friends and neighbors charge the door
They caught a little whiff now they're digging it and seeking more
So follow me, it's good for you
That good old-fashioned Medicated Goo
Ooo, ain't it good for you!
My own homegrown recipe'll see you through
.  |
| GODZILLA VS. KING KONG |
Interestingly,
cowriter Jimmy Miller also produced a number of popular songs and
albums by other bands such as 'Blind Faith', 'Motorhead', 'Primal Scream'
and 'The Rolling Stones'. According to Wackypedia, Jimmy Miller's "father, Bill, was a Las Vegas entertainment director and the man who booked Elvis Presley into the International Hotel for his 1969 return to live performance."
Another band that Jimmy Miller produced was 'KRACKER' (at first, five Cubans).
Wackypedia sez: "The band was originally formed in South Florida in 1970, but moved to Chicago in April 1971, where they were introduced to producer Jimmy Miller. With Miller, they recorded their first album, La Familia, ... In early 1973, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards developed an interest in Kracker, resulting in a deal whereby the band's second album was licensed for distribution outside America by Rolling Stones Records, making Kracker the first band on that label. The association with the Rolling Stones continued when later that year Kracker moved to London and toured Europe as the opening act for the Rolling Stones."
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| MICK JAGGER WITH KRACKER: BERLIN, 1973 |
Not all that surprisingly, 'KRACKER' recorded a cover of the Winwood/Miller song 'Medicated Goo'...
.
.
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| RIDDLER VS. BATMAN |
Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whoever you are) to vote for your favorite of these songs in the comment section below. And feel free to tell us WHY you chose one song over the other.
.
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 blogs to
.
Voice Your Vote @ ‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ by clicking HERE. [NOTE: FAE is outta town and unable to participate in BOTB this time.]
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'BOOK LOVER' 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.
@ 'DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THIS BELLE ROCKS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ALEX CAVANAUGH' by clicking HERE.
.
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.
.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
.
Stephen, this is a new-to-me song and so are both bands for that matter. Yeah, that comes as no great surprise! Anywho, I really, really liked it AND thanks for including the lyrics. It was great fun to sing along(no one here, except the dogs on the street to be bothered by the sound coming from these four walls). I enjoyed both bands. Kracker has a funky, danceable feel which pulls me back into the 70s, but my favorite has to be Traffic. The clarity in the vocals and music remind me a lot of Chicago which makes Traffic my pick for this BoTB show-down. Good job and thanks for the introduction of two new old groups!!
ReplyDeleteMad World #BOTB
CATHY ~
DeleteThanks for your vote. Go ahead and rile them dogs! Ha!
Glad I could turn ya on to some new old stuffs that you liked.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
The arrangement choices led to two very different songs. I'd say Traffic was the better of the two. And quite the funny song title!
ReplyDeleteALEX ~
DeleteYeah, I always like it in BOTBs when the arrangements are so drastically different that they seem like two totally unrelated songs.
I wouldn't say THIS is quite to that degree, but it's gettin' there.
~ D-FensDogG
I was expecting Kracker to start into a Steve Miller Band song that I don't recall the name--their version starts out in a similar way. I like the funky sound of the group and the organ, but that doesn't win me over the Traffic version
ReplyDeleteI've gotta go with Traffic. So many great memories attached to that song and the Best of Traffic album. One of the best groups ever. Nice tasty guitar work with a driving steady percussion and bass back-up. Vocals are preferable too. Yes to Traffic.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
BOIDMAN ~
DeleteYour vote comes as no surprise to me, as I remembered you were a big Traffic fan.
One element in the Traffic original that I particularly like is that deep, honking Bass-line like sound that becomes very prominent in a few places. I'm not even quite sure what I'm hearing (a bass, a baritone sax, an organ?), but I digs it. Very funky feel.
~ D-FensDogG
Woo-wee, Stephen! I really was enjoying the Traffic version - but then - Kracker had this beat that won me over. And I really love a good organ! (I hope that sounded okay.) Such a tough choice - terrific battle!
ReplyDeleteMy vote is for Kracker!
DIXIE POLKA ~
DeleteAwww, you done gone and wrecked my shutout! Tsk!-Tsk! (...and thanks!)
>>... And I really love a good organ! (I hope that sounded okay.)
Ha!-Ha! 100 points for you! [:-)}
Glad you dug what they were layin' down here.
~ D-FensDogG
First, my Battle of the Bands is up and running, though it's not showing in your sidebar (again... dang Blogger!).
ReplyDeleteI preferred Traffic over Kracker. Still sick (and I think getting sicker... sigh), so I don't really have the insight to break it all down for you. Traffic was just more my speed. Kracker sounded more frantic maybe. Anyway, chalk one for Traffic.
GIRL WONDER ~
DeleteIt's showing now. Not sure why it's so slow to update sometimes (and often especially with your blog).
I would say Kracker's kover is definitely more frantic, which may or may not be a good thing depending upon the ears hearing it.
~ D-FensDogG
I'm thinking I prefer Traffic over Kracker. It's more catchy and... folky, I guess? I like it.
ReplyDeleteI may give this a try on my blog! I'll have to figure a song first, though...
Welcome, MADILYN!
DeleteThanks for stopping by, listening, and voting.
If you decide you want to join 'Battle Of The Bands' on our June 15th edition, just let me know and I will gladly include a link to your blog.
~ D-FensDogG
Good pairing; very different styles. Traffic sounds great and Kracker sounds like a cousin of Steely Dan.
ReplyDeleteSmile for the camera, ya'll!
My vote has to go for TRAFFIC!!
CHERDO ~
DeleteA cousin of Steely Dan? Hmmm... I'm a Dan fan but wouldn't have made that connection. (Although I certainly got the "smile for the camera" connection.)
If I had to concoct a comparison, to me, KRACKER sounds almost like a 3-way combination of THE ROLLING STONES (not surprising, given their history), WILD CHERRY, and SLY & THE FAMILY STONE.
If I come up wid sumpin' else, I'll letcha know.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
As we've discussed, Traffic is one of my favorites from that era. On this piece they have a wonderful bluesy-funky groove that is just fantastic! I like Winwood, but his early stuff is better than his older. I liked his solo work a bit longer than you did, but loved Traffic and Blind Faith MUCH better.
ReplyDeleteKracker sounds like someone is playing a 33-1/3 RPM record on 45. This was my first exposure to those dudes, and while I can appreciate the drum work driving the band, it just seems totally wrong for this song. It had me wondering what went into the thought process of choosing this song. Why choose it if you are going to make it sound so vastly different than the original? Did they not LIKE the original? Did they think: "this original song is pretty good and has a funky groove, but think how good it will sound if we play it as fast as we can! THAT will sound great!"
It was fun to get some insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of choosing a BoTB contest. Thanks, Brother!
SHEBOYGANBROTHER SIX ~
Delete>>... It had me wondering what went into the thought process of choosing this song. Why choose it if you are going to make it sound so vastly different than the original?
Well, I ain't a musician, so I can only guess. But I think sometimes there's a lot to be said for taking a good song and altering it pretty drastically, making it "your own" in the process.
As you know, deciding on today's BOTB installment gave me fits! (I'm pretty sure I told you that the song I was originally planning to use today, I am going to use on June 15th, but minus Traffic. It'll be the competitor I initially intended to use versus that well-known hit cover. I still think the hit version is going to get beaten, but not as badly as if I'd used Traffic.)
Although Kracker is getting klobbered, I don't regret using their cover. (But I sure am glad it ain't a shutout.) I like all the connections between Traffic/Winwood/Miller and Kracker/Miller/Rolling Stones.
Aside from that, and on the music front, I prefer the fact that both versions here are so different. I did indeed go back and compare side-by-side-by-side these two and the Black Crowes cover. In fact, I listened to that same Black Crowes version twice, after I last wrote you.
What I found was that the B.C. cover kind of bored me. It was, for the most part, not all that different from the Traffic original, except when it got to the long guitar jamming section. The problem with that was that the guitar playing seemed totally pedestrian to me and both times that I listened, I found my mind wandering during that portion of the song. NOT a good sign. I felt that after about the first 40-seconds, the guitarist had said EVERYTHING he had to say, musically, and then it just started sounding like a bunch of rehashing the same licks over and over. (Not as bad as 'FREE BIRD', because it was shorter, but long and musically pointless solos really turn me off.)
I figured the Black Crowes would get more votes than Kracker would, just on name brand recognition alone, but I don't like those kinds of votes anyway. That "I'm voting for The Famous Band because that's the version I know the best" kinda vote makes me wanna tear my garments, put on sackcloth and scatter ashes on my head. (I don't really get too many votes like that, but I think poor Lee does.)
Although I knew Kracker would be a bigger underdog than the Black Crowes would have been, I thought their version was tighter and more interesting, even though (or maybe because) it was so dramatically different from the Traffic original.
Thanks for helping me design this BOTB blog bit. You had a hand in helping me with the next one (June 15th), too.
~ Rupert J. Van Oslow
KRACKER gets my vote, reminds me of some old songs, and if Jagger thought they were interesting, that says a lot. It's by default, though, since the other video of Traffic isn't available to Canadians. Not available it says. . .Wow discrimination by the video gods. And I like Kracker's guitar work, especially at the end. . .
ReplyDeleteD.G. ~
DeleteThanks!
And once again, the video gods dump on the Canadians. WTH?!
~ D-FensDogG
The Kracker version is new to me...and when it started I did not think I was going to like it (almost had a heavy metal vibe), but it got good and funky there in the middle, which is leaving me with a tough choice.
ReplyDeleteI am going to vote Traffic, but it's a close call-if Kracker's version was a little slower tempo (on the verses it wore on me a little), I may have gone the other way.
DOCTOR DISCDUDE ~
DeleteHokey-Smoke, man! I can't believe I found a band you didn't already know.
Also, it's pretty cool that you actually felt this was something of a "tough choice" to make.
Suddenly, I feel a lot better about this blowout. Thanks!
~ D-FensDogG
Back in the 70's, you were really at the mercy of what your disc jockey played-and I do not recall ever hearing these guys.
DeleteI am surprised that others are find it a slam dunk-if you listen all the way through the cover gets real interesting.
A lot of people are going to go with the name, I guess.
Yeah, probably so. I admit to being a major Traffic fan, and although I figured for certain that Traffic had this BOTB in the bag, I also thought it would be closer than it is.
DeleteReally, Traffic is still a somewhat "under-the-radar" band, and I thought the Rolling Stones / Cuban connection would intrigue some of the voters. (Plus, KRACKER's cover really does have a kind of SLY & THE FAMILY STONE / WILD CHERRY sound to it, so I believed a fair number of voters would enjoy it.)
Well, it's BOTB so... one never really knows nuttin' for sure until all the countin' is duhn.
~ D-FensDogG
When you get a chance, can you e-mail me from your current address?
DeleteI sent you an email a week or two ago, but it went to your old address (that's what was saved in my computer) and I am thinking you do not check that one anymore. A shame, too, since the content was Pulitzer Prize writing with content that deserved a Nobel Peace Prize.
LC ~
DeleteWow! Those are some serious prizes to miss out on, man.
Yes, the old address is strictly Nappy's now. I will send you my new E addy as well as my new physical addy tomorrow. It's about time I let peoples know where to find me.
~ D-FensDogG
Oh I definitely have to go with Traffic. I love their signature sound and am a huge fan. I never heard this particular song before and I like the way they do it over Kracker's version. Kracker is good, but I just think Traffic does it better. My vote is for Traffic.
ReplyDeleteGood battle. Thanks for introducing me to a new Traffic tune! Love that.
Michele at Angels Bark
MICHELE ~
DeleteThanks for your thoughtful comment and vote.
Traffic... I learned about them in 12th grade during my 'Rock Poetry' class. They did so much stuffs that I still like, and the fact that some of their songs were so heavily covered is testament to their quality.
Having said that - and having admitted that I am a real fan of the band - there are, in my opinion, some covers out there of Traffic originals that I think are even better than the originals.
Is Kracker's 'Medicated Goo' one of them? We shall see on June 7th, eh?
~ D-FensDogG
Kracker sounded muddy and rough, which I think rock and roll should sound like from time to time.. but I was drawn to Traffic. My vote goes to Traffic. Thank you for the warm welcome to the battles!
ReplyDeleteMARY ~
DeleteThanks for the analysis and the vote.
I haven't gotten to a number of the Battles yet, yours included, but I will before the voting window closes.
~ D-FensDogG
I vote for Traffic here. I liked their version better; it was more musically interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, JOHN.
Delete~ D-FensDogG
That was interesting - they almost sounded like two completely different songs! ☺ I'll go with Steve Winwood and Traffic; it just sounded smoother to me.
ReplyDeleteDEBBIE ~
DeleteYeah, this one was VERY different sounding. I have done some BOTB competitions where the songs sounded even MORE dissimilar, if you can believe that. But this was surely drastically different, from the tempo to the instrumentation.
Thanks for the vote.
~ D-FensDogG
I'll bet you are grateful for Dixie and D.G.!
ReplyDeleteYeah, and now Donna and Birgit, too.
DeleteMan, when even Alex "Captain Heavy Metal" Cavanaugh failed to vote for the louder, faster version (usually a forgone conclusion), I knew that we had trouble. Yes, trouble right here in River City!
~ D-FensDogG
Here's the "e" that got left behind because it was as slow as an Airheadzonan.
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Shouldn't Grand Mariner be heated? With all that pepper breath and brimstone I suppose over ice would be more comfortable for an Admiral sailing at the edge of the universe. I'll bring you a drop or two of cool, clear, cold stuff. We went up looking at the lake and all we found was the Dam, dry and not so bottomless anymore. Treasure those ice cubes before us Jeffersonians cut you valley boys off. Of course, that would likely reduce my wine supply, so, might be a standoff. Mariner it is then . . .
ReplyDeleteThese were both pretty good, but I think I'll vice my chips with Kracker. They had a disco-esque sound, and even on a Monday, dancing is my favorite drinking game :) Smile real big for Mick too.
>>... Shouldn't Grand Mariner be heated?
DeleteHa!-Ha! We hot Admirals ALWAYS drink our Grand Mariner heated!
Dancing can be a drinking game? Damn! I had NO IDEA! Had I known, I would have taken up Dance Drinkin' long ago.
Thanks for helping Kracker to make a (barely) respectable showing. I was sure Traffic would win by a comfortable margin, but I didn't expect a blowout of epic proportions. (Just be glad I didn't write "...of J__n H____s proportions", like I initially thought to do.)
~ D-FensDogG
"Treasure those ice cubes before us Jeffersonians cut you valley boys off. Of course, that would likely reduce my wine supply, so, might be a standoff." oops!!
DeleteYou know how sometimes you are talking to your mother on one line and that prospective date on another, and you say something your mother should never hear? Yeah, it was like that. Never talk to two Steven's at the same time. Ya caught me cheating.
Ha; my ears, or reputation, are not delicate. Be warned when we talk off-line.
DONNA, you know better'n to ever let anything stand between you and your wine! It ain't proper. It ain't right. I just ain't DONE!
Delete~D-FensDogG at the corner of Drunk and Staggering
Kracker is over-produced and too fast. I can hardly understand it. I have to vote for Traffic.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
JANIE ~
Delete"Too fast"? Fair enough.
(Link:->) Thanks... for... your... vote. I... genuinely... appreciate... it.
[Not being sarcastic or disrespectful. Just being funny. If you don't believe that, ask my mudder - she'll tell ya.]
~ D-FensDogG
I clicked on the link, and yes, it's fast, but I understood every word. What I don't understand is how they got all those photos of me. I've had a lot of different looks over the years.
DeleteJANIE ~
DeleteFor the record, I absolutely LOVE that song! It's also one of those songs that, to me, is like a potato chip: You can't eat just one (or, play it just once). Once I hear that song, I must play it 2-4 times in a row before I can move on.
If there's a faster song than that, I'll guarantee it's not half as musical!
As for your photos, well... let's face it, "the camera loved you" and your fans never forgot ya. (Even I gotta admit you had "GREAT HAIR!")
~ D-FensDogG
POSTSCRIPT:
Guess what I'm gonna do right now!
Yep, you guessed it: I'm gonna play that song again 2-4 times. Hopefully, after that, I'll be able to get on with my life (such as it is).
OK Traffic reminds me of Woodstock and I do like the combo platter of musical styles but I am giving my vote to Kracker. I surprise myself because I know Traffic is the better band but there is something more "fun" about their version which just seems to go with these lyrics. Oh and yup-had to go to Youtube to listen to the Traffic version. Who knows what goes on:)
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT ~
DeleteFirst of all, thanks for making the "Extra Effort" to hear the competition. 100 points for YOU, too!
>>... there is something more "fun" about their version which just seems to go with these lyrics.
OOOoooooh! Good point! When you take the meaning (?) of the lyrics into consideration, suddenly the Kracker version seems almost more... relevant(?)
Did I REALLY write that, or am I just dreaming in 'ICKY' India Pale Ale colors?
What a totally different and "psychedelically unique" view you presented, Birgit. Thanks!
~ D-FensDogG
Blogger ate my comment last night, so I'm back for a second attempt. After listening to the song, I went back and read the lyrics which made me appreciate it more. Thank you, Stephen! Traffic gets my vote, as Kracker seemed to roll over the lyrics too quickly. Your rock poetry class must have been fun!
ReplyDeleteJulie
GEM JULIE ~
DeleteDoggone that BUGGER!
I know that feeling and it is SO frustrating, especially when a lot of time and work went into the "disappearing comment". (And those are usually the ones that get eaten. It's never the short, little 1 or 2 sentence comments that do a Houdini. The Blogger system, how do it know?!)
My 'Rock Poetry' class was the only class I enjoyed in 3 years of high school. Go figure.
Thanks, as always, for your vote. And Traffic just keeps on speeding forward. (Better watch out for that motorcycle cop with the radar gun hiding behind that billboard up ahead!)
~ Stephen
Thanks, HOLLI!
ReplyDelete~ D-FensDogG
Well now, this battle surprised me, because I hate traffic, and I am a cracker, and yet I felt oddly compelled to vote for Traffic. So did my cohort. The vocals are better, it's got a great bluesy sound, and Kracker's version is just a little... disjointed, maybe?
ReplyDeleteIt still beats anything their Uncle put out in the 90s, though...
~6B
6-B ~
DeleteTwo more votes for Traffic. Hoo-Wee! Who's gonna win this Battle? The suspense is killing me!
A cracker? You?
That's not what I heard. The word on the street is that you're a "Crackapeno".
My thanks to you and your Crackapeno cohort for the votes, Brother!
~ D-FensDogG
Cool battle! My vote will go with Traffic!
ReplyDeleteThanks, MIKE!
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Al Bondigas here. Sorry to come so late to the party. I usually prefer slower songs to the lickity split variety, but, in this case I make an exception and go with Kracker. both versions were ok, but I enjoyed the faster rhythm for this song. That's it That's my rulin'..
ReplyDeleteJUDGE AL ~
DeleteA lot of times, I try to guess in advance how some of my regular voters might vote on the current BOTB installment.
In this one, I really was pretty clueless about your vote. On one hand, I know you often like slower or mid-tempo songs to uptempo ones. But on the other hand, Traffic definitely has a Folk/Jazz feel to their playing which I know isn't normally your cuppa beer. And I can definitely hear a Wild Cherry / Sly & The Family Stone "family tradition" in Kracker, that I thought might appeal to you.
I was about 50/50 trying to guess your vote on this one, but I'm glad you helped out the underdog a wee bit here.
~ S. T. McBocephus
POSTSCRIPT: In my June 15th BOTB, I am again going to use a Traffic song, but this time Traffic won't be involved. It's going to be a cover version versus a cover version. And... I know with 100% certainty how YOU are going to vote in the next BOTB. I would bet every single "collectible" I own that I know how you will vote next time. Your vote's in the bag on June 15th. And, BTW, I think the artist you will vote for is also going to win the BOTB even though they will be the underdog going into the contest.
STMcC’s Vote On ''2015, June 1st: Battle Of The Bands'
ReplyDelete(Or, 'Traffic Vs. Kracker')
And The Final Tally:
Although I avoided a shutout by a comfortable enough margin, this was not one of my closest BOTB contests. In fact, this was a true blowout.
I think the KRACKER kover of 'MEDICATED GOO' is actually fairly decent. I liked the texture that the addition of the conga drums gave the song, as well as that heavy-riffing electric organ. (You already know I love the electric organ on just about everything.)
I did think there was a very SLY & THE FAMILY STONE / WILD CHERRY kind of style to the Kracker cover and I thought that might appeal to more voters than it did.
As far as my vote goes, I first really learned about TRAFFIC in 1977 during a Rock Poetry class I took in high school. I loved them then; I love them now. While I can't say I love every single song TRAFFIC ever recorded (I can't say that about ANY musical artist), I can say that they are certainly one of my very, very favorite Rock groups of all time, certainly in my Top 10. (And that's pretty good company, which includes Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, Steely Dan, Tom Petty, early Tom Waits, early Dire Straits, etc.)
So, my vote also goes to TRAFFIC, which only adds one more stone to the stoning:
Traffic = 19 Votes
Kracker = 5 Votes
As always, my very sincere thanks to EVERYONE who listened and voted. I hope to see you all back here during the week beginning JUNE 15th when I will AGAIN feature a song by TRAFFIC in my 'Battle Of The Bands' contest.
Next time, however, the TRAFFIC original will NOT be a part of the Battle. It's going to be two cover versions of a well known Traffic song going against each other. One of the two contestants will be displaying the Billboard hit they had with that Traffic song. I'm guessing that the underdog cover version will not be a recording most of you have heard previously. I'm also predicting that the underdog is going to surprisingly clobber the hit song which you've all heard before. Maybe not a blowout, but an easy win. Should be interesting to see if this one goes the way I anticipate.
So, be here for my BOTB # 46 or... be somewheres else.
Thanks again, y'all.
~ Stephen
Not surprised by the outcome. Traffic is hard to beat at their own game.
ReplyDeleteNext song? "Feelin' Alright" or "Dear Mr. Fantasy" are the ones come to my mind first as they've been covered by so many artists. I'll be interested to hear who the underdog version is by.
This was a good contest even though skewed heavily in favor of Traffic, but I guess that deck was kind of loaded.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Wrote By Rote