BOTB RESULTS: 2018, JUNE 15 (Or, CALIFORNIA VS. HOLLYWOOD TOWN)

.
STMcC’s Vote On '2018, June 15th: Battle Of The Bands' (Or, 'Manfred Mann's Earth Band Versus Manfred Mann's Earth Band') And The Final Tally:
.

.
My most recent BOTB installment was part of my 'Battle For Los Angeles' series and it featured two MMEB songs against each other: 'California' versus 'Hollywood Town'. The full contest, with all the votes and comments, can be found HERE.
.
The turnout wasn't doggone deplorable, but it wasn't sensationally stupendous either. So, I really do appreciate everyone who took the time to play along and submitted votes. As I've said before, there'd be no Battle Of The Bands without y'all. It would just be me playing with by myself.
.
The Battle was so close and it even exceeded my expectations. Any worry about a shutout was ended after the first two votes came in. (That's as quick as it is mathematically possible to end a shutout.) It was tied 5 to 5 after 10 votes were recorded. Now, instead of a shutout, I had to start worrying about another BOTB Tie.
.
'California' had a one-vote lead over 'Hollywood Town' when I submitted my own vote - the final one in the contest. And my vote gave 'California' a two-vote victory:
.
'California' by MMEB = 9 votes
.
'Hollywood Town' by MMEB = 7 votes
.
I can echo what Sheboyganboy VI said when submitting his vote: "Both of these are enjoyable, but I like California a significant amount more." 
.
In fact, 'California' was the first song released as a single from Manfred Mann's 1978 'Watch' album and it pretty much tanked. I have been scratching my head over that for decades. To me, 'California' was a PERFECT song for '78 and had everything I would have thought necessary for a radio hit back then. There's a strong, rather haunting melody; a neat little twist in the lyrics; and a rather searing, stylistically cool electric guitar solo which securely nails the whole thing down. Truthfully, it's one of my all-time favorite examples of a "Power Ballad", and a song that I have never gotten tired of hearing. It brings back many marvelous memories for me.
.
MMEB's 1978 'Watch' album did not sell very well when it was first released. But, ironically, over the years, it continued to ring up steady sales and eventually became the band's biggest selling album ever. Yes, it has even sold more units than their album 'The Roaring Silence', which included the MASSIVE #1 hit 'Blinded By The Light'. (You had to be dead or deaf not to have heard that song in 1976/'77, because the radio stations wore it out.)
.

.
On one hand, that strikes me as almost unbelievable. But then on second thought, it occurs to me that, today, I own 'Watch' on compact disc, but I do not own 'The Roaring Silence', even though I really enjoyed listening to it on LP back in the day and I still dig their huge hit cover of 'Blinded By The Light'.
.

.
Our BOTB prognosticators both kicked butt in this Battle. When asked if 'Hollywood Town' would lose to 'California', The Magic 8-Ball (5-1) said "It Is Certain", and The Amazing Sixwell (4-2) said "Without A Doubt". Bingo!! Well, it was very close, but they were both very right.
.
A few people have inquired of the whereabouts of our BOTB friend Doc Cherdo of the blog [link> Cherdo On The Flipside. She wanted me to reassure you all that she is indeed alive and she and I have NOT had a falling out. Right now, she simply has her hands really full with a number of very important matters that have required her undivided attention. However, she said to me, "I'll be back", and I believe her. I'm going to remove the links to her blogs for now, but as soon as I get the word from her, I'll be reinstalling those links.
.
I'll be back, too, on July 1st with a new Battle Of The Bands contest. I hope that YOU will return also. I'm not sure yet what my next BOTB installment will be, but you can bet, God willing, there'll be one. ...Did I hear someone yell out, "Bring back Tiny Tim!"? Was that you, in the vest, is it?
.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
.