BOTB RESULTS FOR JUNE 15, 2017 (Or, PHIL COLLINS VS. MERRY CLAYTON VS. FRANKY PEREZ)

.

.
STMcC’s Vote On '2017, June 15th: Battle Of The Bands' (Or, 'Phil Collins Vs. Merry Clayton Vs. Franky Perez') And The Final Tally:
.
Hokey-Smoke! I have a "SONGS TO BOTB SOMEDAY" list with so many match-ups on it, and many of them have been on the list since Day 1 of Battle Of The Bands. But sometimes an idea will occur to me and I will run with it on a whim, rather than using one of my match-ups that have been waiting patiently for years on my BOTB list.
.
This was one of those instances where I went with an idea that popped into my mind suddenly -- inspired by the upcoming changing of the BOTB schedule for this blog. (From now on, one Battle per month, occurring on the 15th.) My mind jumped to the Bob Dylan classic, 'THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'', and I went to see what the potential cover versions had to offer, settling on three distinctively different treatments of the song.
.
I figured that due to "name brand" familiarity, PHIL COLLINS was probably the favorite to win the Battle, with the all-Spanish version by FRANKY PEREZ being the underdog. I thought all 3 covers of this song were quite good and so I hoped for a tight race. But the Battle turned out even better'n I'd hoped for!
.
After a total of 12 votes had been cast, the score was 4 to 4 to 4. You just can't even hope for a closer contest than that! With 16 votes in, Franky still had 4, while Phil Collins and MERRY CLAYTON had 6 each. And you know what that means? It means that MY OWN VOTE gets to determine the winner! This is my very favorite of ALL Battle Of The Bands potential outcomes. I love it when I get the final say! You can't beat that!
.
Well, as I stated, I enjoy all three recordings, but my favorite is definitely that Black Gospel version by MERRY CLAYTON With The Brothers And Sisters Of Los Angeles. I truly dig that Gospel style and I own a fair number of albums in that genre -- heck, I've got 5 discs just by Mahalia Jackson alone!
.
Phil Collins = 6 votes
Merry Clayton = 7 votes
Franky Perez = 4 votes
.
For a BOTB contest that I just put together quickly on the spur of the moment, this one turned out to be a true gem!
.
As always, I thank every one of you who took the time to listen and submit a vote. Y'all made this a really fun Battle for me! And I hope to see you all here again on JULY 15th for my next BOTB installment here at this blog. Thanks!
.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
.

2017, JUNE 15: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, PHIL COLLINS VS. MERRY CLAYTON VS. FRANKY PEREZ)

.
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...
.
'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').
.
Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
.

EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER

.
FIRST, A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
For those of you who did not see my previous blog bit, beginning with THIS Battle, THIS blog is going to a new BOTB schedule: From now on, I will be constructing just 1 BOTB contest per month. My Battles will always appear on the 15th of every month, with my own vote noted and the Battle Result being announced on the 21st of each month.
.
However, I want those BOTBers who decide to retain the old schedule of two Battles per month (the 1st and 15th) to know that if you make me aware of your First-Of-The-Month BOTB installments, I will continue to vote on them just as if I also had a Battle in progress at that same time (although I won't because the TIMES they have a-changed!)
.
To commemorate "the changing times" of most BOTB participants who have decided to reduce their BOTB involvement to once-a-month, I decided to use the classic Bob Dylan song 'THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING' in this round. It's unquestionably one of the most quoted songs of all-time and played a large part in Dylan being (justly) recognized as the greatest American song lyricist.
.
Wackypedia sez:
"The Times They Are a-Changin'" is a song written by Bob Dylan and released as the title track of his 1964 album of the same name. ... Ever since its release the song has been influential to people's views on society, with critics noting the general yet universal lyrics as contributing to the song's lasting message of change. Dylan has occasionally performed it in concert. The song has been covered by many different artists ... [It] was ranked number 59 on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
.
(But then again, what would those tards at 'Rolling Stone' know?!).

This is a 3-Way Battle with each version being radically different in style from each other -- from Rock to Gospel to Spanish...
.

GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS

.
PHIL COLLINS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reyjhbOcm04

.

GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG

.
MERRY CLAYTON w/ The Brothers & Sisters Of Los Angeles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2haiLrFRJqY

.

RIDDLER  VS.  BATMA

.
FRANKY PEREZ & Los Guardianes del Bosque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c80OYHIcgFc

.
Question:  Will someone win this Battle?
Magic 8-Ball:  "As I See It, Yes"
.
That, almost certainly, means it will be a tie.
.
Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whether I know "you" or not) 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 vice your voice ...vote your vice ...voice your vote.)

Voice Your Vote...

@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 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
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.

As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bit on the 21st of each month to post my own vote and announce the winner in the comment section.
.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
.

HAUNTING OLD VIRGINIA CITY (Or, STINKY HULA GIRLS)

.
It had been so long since I'd been on a real vacation that when I decided to drive up from Reno to Virginia City to spend the night, I was going to do whatever I damn well pleased, and the co$t? I would pay it no never mind. In the 2 years and 2 months I've lived here in Reno, I've driven up to Virginia City 6 or 7 times. But this time I decided to "get a room".

Why Virginia City, Nevada? Because that's home to me. As a recently freed Black slave and preacher of God's Word in the late 1800s, I moved to Virginia City. I may even be buried there. Am I joking? What do you think?

FUN FACT: Virginia City is where Samuel Clemens first began writing professionally (as a newspaper journalist) and where he became "Mark Twain". 

I stayed at the Silver Queen Hotel. No TV. No A/C. 1800s, baby!

And in the saloon at the Silver Queen, I paid 4 bits to the Ol' Miner to tell me my fortune.
.

.
"I see a trip ahead in your near future and a great deal of money. Your life may take you to many distant lands, but you will always return safely again. I see much adventure for you! There will be a special letter awaiting you in the mail. Your future looks bright and promising. A bald man brings you luck, but beware of a young woman in a red sports car. Wearing a green stone will bring you peace of mind."

Got it! While in foreign lands, I'll be lucky if I can stay away from bald, red-headed women in green sports cars!

I'm reminded of the fortune I got in a cookie at the Hong Kong restaurant in L.A.'s Chinatown in the 1980s:

"Your road to glory will be rocky, but fulfilling."

OK, the "rocky" part has been fulfilled. Now when is the "fulfilling" part fulfilled?

After an unfulfilling breakfast (good coffee though!) I had a great meditation session at Miner's Park. Then it was time for some "Evidence", some "Clam Chowder", some "Rub-Of-The-Brush". In other words, it was time to wet my whistle with liquid refreshment at the Virginia City Brewery & Taphouse.
.

.
Sadly, the brewery is no longer brewing. They're open but pouring beers from other brewers, and even their own 601 India Pale Ale is not their own. It's being made for them by another brewer and it's not the same.
.

.
Then it was time to stroll up my favorite street in America to see what be happenin'.
.

C  STREET,  VIRGINIA  CITY,  NEVADA

.

.

.

.
In that photo above, if you look at the hillside in the background, toward the left you can see one somewhat oblong-shaped boulder by itself, clinging to the mountain. In all the years I've been coming up to Virginia City (the first time circa 1972) I've wanted to hike up to that boulder. Well, this time, on my last day, I "fulfilled" that rocky climb.

At times, I was down on all fours going up the mountain, hoping I wouldn't put a foot down on a rattlesnake or a hand down on a poisonous spider. I was surprised to find just how large and non-oblong-shaped that boulder really is. It's not a boulder at all, but an outcropping of dark rock. I also found the remains of an old 1800s mine up there.

In coming back down from the "boulder" I discovered a couple of paths that I could easily walk. That is to say, all of that "down on all fours" to get up there had been unnecessary. Don't ya hate it when that happens?!
.
On a couple of prior trips to Virginia City, I hiked up to the tip top of Mount Davidson above the letter "V" in this photo: 
.

.
This time I was determined to explore that "boulder" at the other end of town.
.
Again, I took a ride on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad to Gold Hill and back. I highly recommend it! The conductor / narrator has a wonderful sense of humor and relates a lot of interesting historical information on the 35 minute round-trip.
.

.
In the early evening, I walked the one mile down C Street to Gold Hill to have a few drinks at one of my all-time favorite bars, The Gold Hill Hotel Saloon, founded in 1859. 
.

.
And for the first time, I added a dollar of my own to their stapled collection on the ceiling and door.
..

.

.
At the saloon, I had a shot of Beam & a Beer, and then after that, two "Yellow Jacket" Margaritas (which includes Grand Marnier). I like to live dangerously! Then I had to stumble up that steep, narrow, zig-zagging road with no sidewalks back to Virginia City. This should be attempted only by professionals! (God watches out for professional drunks like me.)
.
The next morning I had a good breakfast at the Delta Cafe and then another excellent meditation session at Miner's Park. After that, I paid my respects to Virginia City's dead:
.

.

.
I was originally planning to leave in the late afternoon or early evening on Friday, but I just wasn't ready to go yet. And since I'd promised myself that this time I'd pay no never mind to the co$t of anything, I checked in at the supposedly haunted Sugarloaf Mountain Motel. I've stayed here many times in the past...
.

.
...but the first time was in 1986. My buddy Pooh and I were on an extensive road trip -- heading to Virginia City by way of Cheyenne, Wyoming. When we got to Reno, I wanted to stay one night but Pooh said, "I think we should keep going. I have a bad feeling about this place!" But would I listen? NO-oooooo! We got so drunk that we couldn't even find our motel afterwards. We were aimlessly wandering the streets of Reno, and nobody helps drunken cowboys in Reno! (The full story of that night and the following day and night is pretty damned hilarious, but I'm not telling it here.)

Well, somehow, "somehow" we woke up the next morning in our motel room -- neither of us could remember finding it the night before -- and we had hellacious hangovers! We walked to Harold's Club (now Harrah's) and I tried the "hair of the dog" cure -- one 7&7 strictly for medicinal purposes. Then we packed our shit stuffs and started driving toward Virginia City.

But while we were going up Geiger Grade, I could feel that 7&7 coming up, too. I told Pooh to pull over, and somewhere on the side of that mountain, I spilled one 7&7 and my soul. (I later memorialized that event and feeling in a poem titled 'Trying To Up-Chuck Your Life On Geiger Grade'.)

In Virginia City, we checked into the Sugarloaf Mountain Motel, and I had the worst hangover of my life. Imagine the worst hangover YOU'VE ever had. Now multiply it a godzillion and six times!! Now you're in the ballpark. It was probably about 10:00 AM and my day was already done. I spent the entire day in bed, on my back, staring at the popcorn ceiling.
.

.
Pooh, meanwhile, went out drinking on C Street. Sometime that night, he came stumblin' & bumblin' into our room, fell face-forward onto his bed, kicked off one shoe and then passed out. I spent the whole night waiting for that other shoe to drop. 

To this day, that was the worst hangover of my drinking career. Experiencing something like that today would, I'm sure, literally kill me. Hell, it almost killed me even in my youth of '86.

Friday night, I went back to the Gold Hill Hotel Saloon for a couple more of those "Yellow Jacket" Margaritas. Upon entering, the first thing I said to the bartender was, "OK, I was a bit wobbly at the end of Round One. But I survived the round. Now, let's get it on! I'm here answering the bell for Round Two!"

The place was packed and Squeek Steele was there playing for the Hotel's New Ownership Party. Squeek is the "Guinness World Record Holder for most songs performed by memory on piano".

While at the bar, some woman was clearly showing extra interest in me. Then later I went into The Great Room where Squeek was playing, and I was there for only a few minutes when another woman walked past, tapped me on the arm and said to a group of women at a nearby table, "Now that he's here, our photos will be much better!" I laughed. But, seriously, can someone e'splain this to me? When I was young and lean, females rarely seemed to notice me at all. But now, at the age of Heinz-57 -- old, grey and softer -- the women around me are like flies on shit! ...Wait! That doesn't sound quite right.

Squeek Steele is the composer of the hauntingly beautiful 'Virginia City Waltz'. Something about that melody really stirs my soul:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-X1ZLb2T0Q


Just as I was about to walk up and request a song, Squeek got up from the piano and took an appetizer plate to a long table where a lot of her friends were sitting. So I walked up and slipping a $5. bill next to her plate, I said, "Excuse me, Ma'am. I have to leave now, but... later, would you play Ain't Misbehavin'? 

Squeek said: "I'll play it RIGHT NOW!" And she started to get up from the table.

But I waved her back down and replied: "No, no! Take your time. I don't need to hear it. Just so long as I know you played it." A number of people Ooh'd and Ahh'd as the mysterious cowboy (me) walked out of the Gold Hill Hotel and into the rainy, windy night.

(And speaking of wind and rain -- I'm sure glad I thought to bring my all-time favorite shirt with me. It came in handy, and Virginia City is probably the ONLY PLACE I would ever wear it in public these days. Somehow, it still seems right for Virginia City...)
.

.

.
["Can You Wear Me Now?"]

The thing is, the first time I ever stayed in the supposedly haunted Gold Hill Hotel, I was with "The Countess", and AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' was "our song". Especially THIS version of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I3P8uqCG_c


Another thing I did was take the Old Washoe Club haunted tour.
.

THEY  SAY  SOMETIMES  THE  CREEPY  DOLL  ROCKS  HER CHAIR  BY  HERSELF.

.
I was undoubtedly the only person on the tour who wasn't interested in the spooky stuffs. I was simply interested in hearing the history of the building and getting to see the previously off-limits 2nd and 3rd floor rooms of "The Millionaire's Club".

But if YOU are into all the supernatural haunting stories, you will find YouTube is filled with videos about the Old Washoe Club. Things like these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAeRxu5bz9U


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCEjsQMPeDE


Anyway, I had a terrific trip! "Chuck The Truck" ran great and I got to do and see every single thing I wanted! Definitely spent too much money but I stuck to my guns and, for once, I didn't let the co$t of anything interfere with what I wanted to do or buy.

In closing, as a veteran of a great many road trips, let me pass along to you a few tips that have always paid off well for me:

1: When packing for a trip, ALWAYS include a pair of good earplugs (preferably the highest Noise Reduction Rating of 33dB). Noisy neighbors in the hotel / motel won't be an issue if you can block out their partying / overly loud TV set, etc. Because I always travel with good earplugs, I have slept like a babe at times when my traveling companion(s) suffered from noisy neighbors or hallway activity late at night.

2: Bring along 3 or 4 safety pins. In a lot of hotels / motels, the curtains don't close sunlight tight. If you think you might want to sleep in and not be awakened by sunbeams sneaking in and/or reflecting off a mirror and into your face, safety pins will close up any curtain gaps.

3: Pack a plastic kitchen garbage can liner (or larger plastic trash bag for longer trips). You can put your dirty laundry into the bag, tie it closed, and even store it in your suitcase without any odor anywhere.

4: Always pack one extra shirt, pair of socks, and boxers (or "unmentionables" if you're a lady). You just never know when something might happen or plans change. If you've got "one more of those things" than you thought you'd really need, it could save ya.

A perfect example was this trip of mine. I only expected to need one change of clothing, but I brought along an extra shirt and boxers anyway, and I was sure glad to have 'em when I decided to stay an extra night and checked into the Sugarloaf Motel.

However, I accidentally neglected to include that one extra pair of socks. I thought I had put them in my suitcase. So, on Day 3, when I hiked up to that "fake boulder" on the side of the mountain, I was wearing my Hula Girl socks for the second day in a row. Damn stinky!
.

.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
.

BOTB RESULTS FOR JUNE 1, 2017 (Or, THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN')

.

.
STMcC’s Vote On
'2017, June 1st: Battle Of The Bands'
(Or, 'Cab Calloway Versus Tiny Tim') And The Final Tally:
.
First of all, it should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I have tossed my tiny BOTB vote Tiny Tim's way. I preferred his higher energy and more exciting instrumental approach to the song FRISCO FLO -- which happens to be one of my Top 3 favorite Tiny Tim recordings. By comparison, I thought Cab Calloway's recording was somewhat lackluster. I'd probably like it more than I do if there wasn't the Tiny Tim recording to compare it to.
.
As always, my sincere thanks to everyone who took time out from their other endeavors to listen and cast a vote in my Battle.
.
Tiny Tim jumped out to a quick lead which Cab Calloway was never able to make up any ground on. The results look like this:
.
Cab Calloway = 5 votes
Tiny Tim = 10 votes
.
This may come as a surprise to many, but Tiny Tim has now been used in 4 Battle Of The Bands installments and he has won 3 of them. Who-da thunk it?
. 
And the Magic 8-Ball's predilection for bad predictions continues unabated.
.
Now, onto the results of the voting regarding future BOTB scheduling...
.
Voters overwhelmingly favored the idea of making BOTB a once-a-month blogfest occurring on the 15th.
.
Three persons voted to leave BOTB as it currently is: Two Battles every month, on the 1st and 15th. Eight voters preferred to make BOTB a once-a-month event, with one of those voters selecting the 1st of the month, and seven selecting the 15th of each month for the posting date. And one voter chose option #3, which was one Battle a month, with half of the BOTBers posting theirs on the 1st and the other half posting on the 15th. This doesn't leave much question about what the overall preference is for BATTLE OF THE BANDS.
.
I have never desired to be a leader in anything, let alone a dictator. So, far be it from me to make any sort of "official" decision on behalf of the BOTB community. I do not feel I have that authority, nor do I want it.
.
So, I am speaking solely for myself when I say that beginning on June 15th, THIS blog will be going to a one-Battle-per-month schedule, with the Battles posting on the 15th of each month and the results being announced on the 21st.
.
I want it known, however, that I will support with my votes any BOTBers who might decide to continue with the traditional two-per-month schedule. ANY Battle I'm aware of, I will vote on, regardless of the date and whether or not I myself have a Battle currently running. I think that's fair to all.
.
Initially, I announced I'd be leaving BOTB because I do not have the time to maintain 3 blogs at once. And being an All-Or-Nuttin' kind of guy, it had never even occurred to me to simply cut back my own Battles to one a month. But when that option was suggested (first by Debbie, if I recall correctly), I realized it would work for me -- allowing me to keep my hand in BOTB. So, this decision pleases me, and I'll be dogged if I won't commemorate it by using Bob Dylan's song THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN' in my next BOTB installment on June 15th. I've already got my competitors chosen an' ever'thin'.
.

.
If any of y'all are planning to maintain the bi-monthly BOTB schedule, please let me know in the comment section so I'll be sure not to miss your Battles on the 1st of each month.
.
Thanks again to all you supporters of the BATTLE OF THE BANDS blogfest, and I hope to see ya here again on Thursday the 15th for my next installment!

.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
.

2017, JUNE 1: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, CAB CALLOWAY VS. TINY TIM)

.
'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB')
.

.
Yes, it's time once again for 'Battle Of The Bands' ('BOTB').
.
Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
.
NOTE: At the conclusion of this BOTB installment there will be a BOTBer's / Voter's Poll, so please stick around for that.
.

EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER

.
Today's song is about a deceased, opium-smoking prostitute. Sounds like a "downer", right? Not so fast! Not so fast! The song is actually presented as a tribute to a woman who... uh... "treated" all of her customers -- the rich & poor, handsome & ugly, strong & weak -- with the same attention. The song is a celebration of a woman who comforted so many lonely men that it is automatically assumed she went to Heaven. Ha!
.
I could find very little info on the song, but the "best guess" is that it was written by Benny Davis in 1936, and it may have been recorded only two times -- first by the legendary Cab Calloway, and secondly by the walking human encyclopedia of music and One-Hit Wonder, Mr. Tiny Tim.
.
Alright, you ready for this ancient novelty Jazz song?
.
Question: Will Cab Calloway win this Battle?
Magic 8-Ball sez:  "Outlook Good"
.

GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS

.
FRISCO FLO -- Cab Calloway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJE5w44TGuE

.

GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG

.
FRISCO FLO -- Tiny Tim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxHqttDjNwk

.
My CANADIAN VOTERS, if that Tiny Tim video would not play for you, then please use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYHVBwy_KaE That's Tiny Tim's live version, which I don't think matches the quality of the studio version but it will have to do.
.

RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN

.
BOTB VOTER'S POLL:
This poll is for everyone -- whether you create your own BOTB contests or simply vote on the Battles that others put together. (I'm not sure that I personally have a dog in this fight, and I'm not sure how I will construct the algorithm to calculate the voting results, but I'll bet you didn't think I knew the word "algorithm", didja?)
.
In the comment section of my last Battle, it was suggested by Debbie of 'The Doglady's Den', and seconded by two or three other folks, that perhaps BOTB should become a once-a-month Blogfest, occurring on the 15th of each month, rather than a bi-monthly Blogfest occurring on the 1st & 15th of every month.
.
So, just to get a general idea of how both BOTBers and BOTB Voters feel about this, I promised to conduct this little poll. No one is necessarily saying the results of the poll will change things, but let's just get an overall view of this, whaddayasay?
.
So, when you cast your vote for Cab Calloway or Tiny Tim, I'm asking you to also cast a vote for either...
.
1) Leave BOTB the way it is. Battles on the 1st and on the 15th. (Which still allows a BOTBer to post on one or both dates, as they see fit.)
.
2) Make BOTB officially a once-a-month blogfest, occurring on the 15th (or the 1st of the month -- state your preference).
.
3) My Brother, Judge Al Bondigas, suggested a third option which I think is pretty interesting, if not outright brilliant: BOTBers will post Battles once-a-month, but about half of them will sign up to post on the 1st, and approximately another half promise to post on the 15th. This way, every two weeks there are Battles to vote on, BUT individual BOTBers are only obligated to post their own Battles once a month -- although they will all vote on all Battles, whether they occur on the 1st or the 15th. (And to think that some folks falsely believe Nappy is all brawn and no brain!)
.
So, which of the three options would be YOUR OWN preference if you could be the benevolent BOTB DICTATOR? 1, 2, or 3?
.
Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whether I know "you" or not) 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 vice your voice ...vote your vice ...voice your vote.)

Voice Your Vote...

@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 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
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' 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
.