2018, MAY 15: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, LOU REED VERSUS MINK DeVILLE)

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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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'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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Recently, I was having an Email conversation with my old friend and co-worker, Lelly, or LarryR. (More about him and his connection to this Battle in my BOTB Results post.) Lelly wrote: "Might I suggest a Willy DeVille versus Lou Reed battle as Willy was often compared to Lou Reed."
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My first thought was that it might not be easy finding a clean recording of a song that both of them had covered. But my next thought was about Lou Reed's most famous song, 'Walk On The Wild Side'. And my third thought was: 'Cadillac Walk' by Mink DeVille. ...A BOTB "Walking" theme!! Would you rather do the "Cadillac Walk" or "Walk On The Wild Side"?
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And that's how this Battle was born.
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GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS

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I'm sure most of you voters know that Lou Reed was the primary force behind 'The Velvet Underground'. Wackypedia sez: The band's integration of rock and the avant-garde achieved little commercial success during their existence, but they are now recognized as one of the most influential bands in rock, underground, experimental, and alternative music. The provocative subject matter, musical experimentation, and often nihilistic attitudes explored in the band's work would prove influential in the development of punk rock and new wave music.
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Reed has sometimes been referred to as "The Godfather of Punk".
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GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG

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I have a distinct memory of listening to The Velvet Underground's live album while driving through the Arizona desert in 1980 with my buddy Eric, on our way to see "the Sun rise over the Grand Canyon". I suppose the main reason that memory lodged in my mind so concretely is because listening to urban, New York-inspired Rock music while driving through the Arizona desert is significantly "incongrutiating". (If you don't know the meaning of that word, ask G DogG -- he can 'splain it to ya.)
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As a solo artist, Lou Reed scored a #16 Billboard hit in 1973 with his song 'Walk On The Wild Side'. 
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I also have a connection to lead singer Willy DeVille's band Mink DeVille: In 1976, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, I attended my first Rock concert. Styx opened for Journey. The following year, at the same venue, I attended my second Rock concert: Mink DeVille opened for Styx.
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I'd never heard of Mink DeVille at that point, but very soon after that concert, I went out and purchased their debut LP titled 'Cabretta'. One of the songs on that album that I particularly liked was 'Cadillac Walk'.
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Wackypedia sez: From 1975 to 1977, Mink DeVille was one of the original house bands at CBGB, the New York City nightclub where punk rock music was born in the mid 1970s. "We auditioned along with hundreds of others, but they liked us and took us on. We played for three years..." In 1975, CBGB was the epicenter of punk rock and what would later be called new wave... 
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So, today, I present you with 'Walk On The Wild Side' versus 'Cadillac Walk'. Which Walk do you like best?
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Remember, unless you're asked to do otherwise, you're meant to evaluate the songs musically ONLY -- not taking into account the video images or stage performances. And, no, I'm NOT asking you to do otherwise.
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WALK ON THE WILD SIDE -- Lou Reed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0coSOXa2n38

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RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN

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CADILLAC WALK -- Mink DeVille

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyNpdbWNV98

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The Battle Within The Battle:

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VERSUS

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Question: "Will Mink DeVille Lose To Lou Reed?"

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The Magic 8-Ball (3-0) sez:  "My Sources Say No"

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The Amazing Sixwell (1-2) sez:  "My Sources Say No"

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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.
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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 blogs to vice your voice ...vote your vice ...voice your vote.)
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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.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' 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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