BOTB RESULTS: 2017, OCT. 15 (Or, TAJ MAHAL VS. VAN MORRISON)

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Before anything else, I want to thank every one of you who took some time out of your life to visit my BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB) installment, to listen and then cast a vote. I sincerely appreciate ya! May you all bless and be blessed.

Well, the song was the Blues classic 'Good Morning, Little School Girl', and I knew going into this contest that Taj Mahal -- despite having won Arlee Bird's Battle last month -- was going to be a big underdog against Van Morrison (click HERE). I had previously said that I believed Van's version of this song would clobber in a BOTB contest any other rendition of the song I'd ever heard. Therefore I was actually a little concerned about a shutout. Never had one, never want one!

But with the first vote being cast for Taj, my worry about a shutout was dismissed. I could then relax and just watch the chips fall.

To my astonishment, the first four chips (aka votes) fell for Taj Mahal, and I was thinking: Hokey-Smoke! I has a Battle here!!

Alas, not so. Van Morrison then proceeded to reel off twelve straight unanswered votes (including mine), and the affair ended with the predicted clobbering...

Taj Mahal = 4 votes

Van Morrison = 12 votes

I hope y'all will join me here again on November 15th when I will present a new (and hopefully closer) BOTB installment.

But, speaking of Van Morrison, and me feeling a little sad today, let me ask you a Q. (This Q is for everyone, whether you're a regular at this blog, a non-regular, or even a first-timer.)

Is there any song that, for whatever reason, can make you misty-eyed or even bring you to actual tears in just the first 15 to 20 seconds every time you hear it? If so, please do tell! Which song is it? Performed by whom? And, if you feel inclined to share some personal information, please tell us WHY that song has that effect on you.

I'll go first.

For me, the first song that comes to my mind is this one...
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Pagan Streams by Van Morrison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpJqVr3F87U

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I could go on and on and on about what all of the lyrics signify for me, but... I'd probably bore the hell out-ya. So, I'll spare ya. Lemme just say, though, that when Van says "And I want to climb that hillside again, with you, one more time...", the hillside I always see in my mind's eye is this one...
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Alright, that does it for me; I'm over and out. Thanks again, all y'all. And please return on 11/15, eh?
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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2017, OCT. 15: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, TAJ MAHAL VS. VAN MORRISON)

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'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB')
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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. Let's get ON this thing!...
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EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER

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Yes, yes, yes! I know perfectly well that this BOTB blog bit is going to be a really bad blowout. And I'm alright with that, because it's what I expect. I only hope this doesn't actually become my first ever BOTB shutout -- which, I fear, is a possibility.
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GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS

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In Arlee Bird's September 15th BOTB installment, he used the classic Blues song 'GOOD MORNING, LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL', pitting Johnny Winter against Taj Mahal, with the latter winning 12-8.

The song was written by the legendary Sonny Boy Williamson, but the first rendition I ever heard was by the equally legendary Muddy H2Os. I love Muddy so much that I even named my best friend (a stuffed dog) after him!

In the introduction to his Battle, Lee wrote the following:

This song is among the earliest that I placed on my BOTB someday queue.

And I replied:

Same here, LEE. This was probably one of the first 12 songs I listed when I started writing down potential BOTB material. The only problem was that I couldn't find what I felt was the right match-up.

One version that I was determined to use is so good I felt it would clobber every other recording I could find -- including Muddy Waters' version!

So, in almost 3 years of BOTB, I still haven't used this song. But perhaps I'll put my choice against whoever wins this Battle of yours and have them fight for the title. That way if it's a shutout, all of the blame won't fully rest on me. Ha!

When the Countess and I started going together, she was a UCLA student and I was a UCLA employee. I got in the habit of saying to her, "Good Morning, Little School Girl", the first thing after she'd wake up. 

The first time I went to the L.A. Blues Festival, next to the Watts Towers, TAJ MAHAL was the headlining act. And he gets my vote here.
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"GOOD  MORNING,  LITTLE  SCHOOL  GIRL"

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Lee responded:

STMcC, I'd have figured somebody would have used this song by now. ... There are so many excellent -- and interesting -- versions that coming up with matches shouldn't be too much of a problem. Hope you'll do the rematch as I'd like to see which version would have been your choice.

And so, here it comes... Lee's winner, Taj Mahal, versus the cover that I think would clobber every other recording of this song in a BOTB match-up. We'll see whether or not I may be right.

Question: Am I right?
The Magic 8-Ball sez:  "Most Likely"
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GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG

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Taj Mahal -- Good Morning, Little School Girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=129-wRooR8o

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RIDDLER  VS  BATMAN

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Van Morrison -- Good Morning, Little School Girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xndDvXANtFg

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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.
@ '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.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'RIGHTING & EDITING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'YOUR DAILY DOSE' by clicking HERE.

As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 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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