Light Vs. Dark, Good Vs. Evil, Love Vs. Hate, Angel Vs. Demon, Yeshua Vs. Beelzebub, Neil Young Vs. America, The Beatles Vs. Electric Light Orchestra, America Vs. ELO, Singer Vs. Singer, Band Vs. Band...
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BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB)
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I've been doing BOTB so long that, with the exception of Christmas, I don't really do "Holiday themes" anymore. However, even though I'm not and never have been Catholic, [link> TODAY is kind of special (right, Countess? If you're a Countess, click HERE.). So there will be a Spiritual subtext to this Battle, but you needn't concern yerselves with it.
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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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A few times on this blog I have mentioned a 90-minute cassette tape titled 'Me, Lynth And The Beach Report', which I created in September of 1985 by randomly recording songs, advertisements, disc jockey banter, traffic reports, and a beach report from Los Angeles area radio stations. My buddy, Julio Seis-Abeja (you know him as Bryan), burned the tapes' two sides onto two compact discs for me.
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What I didn't tell you is that while listening to the Side B compact disc on July 27th this year, I had a profound and intense Spiritual experience. It wasn't the first time I had a Spiritual experience while listening to 'Me, Lynth And The Beach Report', nor was it the last!...
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Why, just today (Sun. Oct. 28th), at about 12:00 Noon, while listening to one of the two songs I'm using in today's Battle (a song which also happens to be on Side B of 'Me, Lynth And The Beach Report') I had yet another powerful encounter with Jesus which brought me to tears. (John Wayne-like tears, NOT Millennial soy boy tears, ya un'erstan'?) You can laugh - go ahead. I don't mind at all. When a person knows The Truth they are impervious to the razzing of others.
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Anyway, on to the show, Pinocchio!...
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Last March, BOTB's own Michele published a music post HERE, in which she mentioned that Bob Dylan had been annoyed by how much 'Heart Of Gold', by Bob-Dylan-fan Neil Young, sounded like something Dylan would have composed and sung:
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"The only time it bothered me that someone sounded like me was when I was living in Phoenix, Arizona, in about ’72 and the big song at the time was “Heart of Gold”. ... I always liked Neil Young, but it bothered me every time I listened to “Heart of Gold.” I think it was up at number one for a long time, and I’d say, "Shit, that’s me. If it sounds like me, it should as well be me."
~ Bob Dylan in 1985
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Karma's a funny thing: Neil Young's 'Heart Of Gold' was a Billboard #1 hit in 1972, but it got bumped from the #1 spot by a song that became an even bigger hit than 'Heart Of Gold'. America's 'A Horse With No Name' replaced Young's 'Heart Of Gold' at #1, and it remained there for 3 consecutive weeks. The funny thing is that 'A Horse With No Name' sounds more like Neil Young than 'Heart Of Gold' sounds like Bob Dylan!
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Wackypedia sez:
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The song's resemblance to some of Neil Young's work aroused some controversy. "I know that virtually everyone, on first hearing, assumed it was Neil", (America songwriter) Dewey Bunnell says. "I never fully shied away from the fact that I was inspired by him. I think it's in the structure of the song as much as in the tone of his voice. It did hurt a little, because we got some pretty bad backlash. I've always attributed it more to people protecting their own heroes more than attacking me."
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| STMcC's refrigerator door. |
But WAIT! There's more!...
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Decades ago, I heard or read where someone said that Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) sounded just like Paul McCartney & The Beatles. I thought: WHAT?! What's this guy yakking about?! ELO doesn't sound like The Beatles!
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The very next time I heard an ELO song (which wasn't more than a few weeks later) I thought: Hokey-Smoke! They DO sound just like Paul McCartney & The Beatles!! How could I have not noticed that before?!
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Wackypedia sez:
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Critics often compared Electric Light Orchestra to The Beatles, and they were often criticized for "ripping off" the band. Jeff Lynne (of ELO) admitted that he "was very influenced by the Beatles' sound of '68 and '69. That has obviously been a big influence on the way [he] looked at songwriting" and said that being compared with The Beatles was the "ultimate compliment".
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And John Lennon said:
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"We're gonna play Electric Light Orchestra from last year - "Showdown" - which I thought was a great record and I was expecting it to be number one, but I don't think UA got their fingers out and pushed it. And it's a nice group. I call them 'Son of Beatles' - although they're doing things that we never did, obviously. But I remember the statement they made when they first formed was to carry on from where 'The Beatles' left off with "Walrus" - and they certainly did."
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Your Mission:
*Primary Question [#1]: First and foremost, please tell me which song you simply like better, 'A Horse With No Name' by America, or 'Telephone Line' by ELO?
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Optional Question: Do you think 'A Horse With No Name' sounds more like Neil Young than 'Telephone Line' sounds like Paul McCartney & The Beatles, or vice versa?
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A Side Note On Your Way Down To The Battle:
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Most Jesus Freaks, like me, have Jesus... AND a sense of humor, too!...
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A HORSE WITH NO NAME -- America
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2naehMUQpQY
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Just say "No"... to needles and scalpels... but not to Jesus. I was looking for a sign when I saw this one:
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TELEPHONE LINE -- Electric Light Orchestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVd-n3e7QLo
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The Battle Within The Battle
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VERSUS
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Question: "Will ELO lose to America?"
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The Magic 8-Ball (9-5) sez: "Very Doubtful"
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The Amazing Sixwell (10-4) sez: "It Is Certain"
.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
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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.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' 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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Two good songs from one of my favorite years. I'm still not sure why 1972 is a year that I like so well. I turned 21 that year, but I think I was often kind of depressed back then. I can't say for sure though. That seems so long ago and so much water has passed along with a lot of drugs etc. Looking back though 1972 wasn't so bad. Nixon got elected and I had no problem with that.
ReplyDeleteI've always noticed the influence of the Beatles on ELO though "Telephone Line" never grabbed me at the outset as a sort of continuation of the Beatles. To me I would have thought of it as "Beatlesque".
However when I first heard "Horse with No Name" I immediately thought it was a new song by Neil Young and I liked it. I became more of a America fan than one of ELO, but I'm an American boy after all. To me America sounded more real whereas ELO had a sort of canned, prepackaged, overly orchestrated sound. Strange since I like orchestras and classical music so much. But the songs by America just had a greater authenticity to me.
My preference between these by far is for "Horse" and the group America which to me sounds far more like Neil than ELO sounds like the Beatles. ELO sounds more like a Jeff Lynne inspired by the Beatles. I still like both groups, but in your contest America wins hands down.
"U.S.A! U.S.A.!"
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
LEE ~
DeleteThis is KAOS. We don't
"U.S.A! U.S.A.!" here.
Ha! I'm channeling my inner Siegfried.
I remember 1974 as being a good year for me. I often think of 'The Summer Of '74' as being my favorite of them all. (I was too young to know it was "The Summer Of Love" the Summer that it was.)
When I think of ELO, I see a cello and violins in my mind. I always thought of ELO as being a kind of mini-orchestra, which is NOT how I ever thought of The Beatles.
And that's why when I first ran across the statement tying The Beatles and ELO together, sound-wise, I rejected it. But then hearing ELO again, AFTER that association had been planted in my head, I suddenly thought the similarity was unmistakably pronounced and felt foolish not to have made the connection on my own.
In 'Telephone Line', Jeff Lynne sounds a lot like McCartney to me, but ESPECIALLY where he sings "Yeah, yeah, yeah!" Man, if I didn't know better, I would bet a large chunk of money that was Paul singing those "Yeah, yeah, yeahs!"
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
~ D-FensDogG
Wow! The vasectomy sign's context is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI'll go with Horse With No Name even though they coulda named the damned nag!
EPT ~
DeleteThanks for stopping by with two cents for the kitty!
Ha! I agree with you. Was it really asking so much to give the horse a name? I think "Whiskey" would have been a good name. If it was good enough for Kirk Douglas' horse, it was good enough for America's nag.
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
~ D-FensDogG
haha. Believe it or not, I have a dog staying here with me now named Whiskey. Whiskey River to be exact...
DeleteMICHELE, I just now noticed this comment. How'd you sneak that in on me?
Delete'Whiskey River' - that's the name of a Country song, I believe. Willie Nelson, was it?
Now I have to Google it. See what you started?
The Kirk Douglas movie was called... hmmm.... well, it was called something... and his horse, Whiskey, had a lot of personality... for a horse.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Hi Stephen; Interesting back stories and battle, as always! My vote for best song AND best sound-alike goes to America and "Horse With No Name". Big Neil Young vibe there! I hear the McCartney-Beatles/ELO similarities too, but they're not as pronounced, in my opinion. P.S. I'm sticking with a once-a-month BOTB schedule on the 15th only, but thanks for the link anyway.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the bote, DEBBIE! And no worries about BOTBing exclusively on the 15th. I know how it can be, as I did the "15th ONLY" schedule for awhile there myself, when I had burned out a bit.
DeleteI give Sheboyganboy Six full credit for reviving my enthusiasm about BOTB. I needed that!
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
~ D-FensDogG
It's not so much a matter of burnout, but 4 posts a month make it too difficult to fit in other subjects, like travelogues, etc. I like to mix things up. ☺
DeleteAhh... Gotcha! And I'm glad it's not a case of BOTB burnout.
DeleteStephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
~ D-FensDogG
I thought I had seen that picture of LA in a YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4JnrJOKC8w) but I was mistaken. Anyway...
ReplyDeleteAs for the Battle, no contest: ELO beats America, hands down, especially when the America song is "Horse With No Name." If I were a disc jockey ack in the '70's when it came out, I'd've run a contest to name the horse.
It's no surprise that so much of ELO's music sounds like The Beatles: Jeff was a huge fan, and the feeling was mutual. When Yoko found the tape John had made of "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" and turned it over to the others, they asked Jeff to produce for them, knowing they needed someone who was outside the band but knew their sound. I believe that what resulted was as good as anything The Fabs produced with George Martin, who arguably knew their sound better than anyone.
JOHN ~
DeleteThe area of L.A. seen in the photo here is known as Westwood Village - barely more than a stone's throw from the UCLA campus where I was born and worked for about 8 years. Westwood Village wasn't too terribly affected by the 1992 Rodney King riots.
When I was 15-17, on Friday and Saturday nights, we'd "cruise" those same Westwood Village streets seen in the photo, bumper-to-bumper, just like a scene out of 'American Graffiti'. Man, *THOSE* times ain't comin' back for anybody!
>>...If I were a disc jockey back in the '70's when it came out, I'd've run a contest to name the horse.
Ha!-Ha! I like that idea. I would have called in to your radio station and suggested the names "Johnny Fever" or "Venus Flytrap". (Even if I had to psychically come up with those names six years before anyone else did.)
I knew ABOUT Jeff Lynne having produced those songs for The Beatles, but I'm not sure if I've ever actually heard the songs.
Pretty neat that Lynne eventually got to belong to a Rock band that included George Harrison. That had to have seemed like a dream come true to him.
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
~ D-FensDogG
I am very interested in the revelations/divine inspiration that hit you TWICE, as described in your narrative above. I hope you tell us about it in the voting summary.
ReplyDeleteHad I somehow known about this battle beforehand, there is NO WAY I’d have figured out why on earth you were pitting these two bands and songs against each other. It is clever, fun, and fascinating… but obtuse enough that the connection would never have occurred to me!
I always thought that ELO had a Beatle-esque sound, but I also always liked ELO better than the Beatles in almost every respect. I think Jeff Lynne is a total genius, one of the brightest stars left in the rock universe. MANY famous musicians think so too, as his status as a producer is well-known.
I also liked America, but this particular song is my least favorite of their well-known songs. It was overplayed (at least in my area) as much as any song I can think of, even "Hotel California." I came to loathe "A Horse With No Name" and still turn the station when it comes on.
VOTES:
Vote #1: ELO is the winner.
Vote #2: In my opinion, America's HWNN sounds MORE like Neil Young and ELO's TL sounds like the Beatles.
Vote #3: “Heart of Gold” does NOT sound like Dylan… whatever Bob Dylan has to say about it.
Vote #4: Jeff Lynne is currently ON TOUR, so I vote that you go to hear Telephone Line live.
Vote: #5: The GOP MUST hold the House, or the forces of evil will finally have won. Popeye Doyle will frog-march Trump outta the White House for “picking his feet in Poughkeepie,” or some other law they make up.
SHEBOYGANBOY McSIX(gun) ~
Delete>>... I am very interested in the revelations/divine inspiration that hit you TWICE, as described in your narrative above. I hope you tell us about it in the voting summary.
Hmmm.... I hadn't planned on that but... Hmmm....
Thanks! Glad you liked the idea behind putting these two songs against each other. Had I not had a Spiritual experience involving one of these two songs, I'd likely never have thought to use them against each other like this. Sometimes the "twisted" BOTB themes seem to almost present themselves from outta nowhere.
>>... I always thought that ELO had a Beatle-esque sound, but I also always liked ELO better than the Beatles in almost every respect.
Wow! I wouldn't have guessed that!
Someone once asked me who I liked better, "The Beatles or The Rolling Stones". I said, "The Beach Boys!"
>>... It was overplayed (at least in my area) as much as any song I can think of, even "Hotel California." I came to loathe "A Horse With No Name" and still turn the station when it comes on.
Hey, now there's a BOTB idea: Pit the most overplayed songs against each other. (Except, of course, everybody would hate me for it.)
I was too young in '72 to notice how overplayed 'Horse' was. I didn't start actively listening to music on the radio until probably about 1974.
But, to my own knowledge, most overplayed songs?...
Yeah, 'HOTEL CALIFORNIA' is a good call. I would also add 'BLACK WATER' by The Doobie Brothers and 'ALL I WANNA DO' by that Crow.
>>... Popeye Doyle will frog-march Trump outta the White House for “picking his feet in Poughkeepie,” or some other law they make up.
His failure to mention their names in Sheboygan?
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
~ D-FensDogG
Hey there Stephen!
ReplyDeleteInteresting battle today. I've never really thought of Horse with No Name sounding like Neil Young, but now that you've pointed it out I'll probably be stuck thinking about it every time I hear the song.
And by the same token, I had never thought of ELO sounding like the Beatles. But as George and Jeff Lynne were good friends, it does make sense. Side note: Jeff Lynne co-wrote the song I'm using in my battle today.
As for picking which song I prefer - that's a tough decision as I've always liked both. I guess if it became a matter of life v death - I would choose ELO over America. I like them both well enough, but perhaps I like ELO just a little bit more.
~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
MMQE ~
Delete>>... I've never really thought of Horse with No Name sounding like Neil Young, but now that you've pointed it out I'll probably be stuck thinking about it every time
And that's exactly what happened to me when I came across that first reference to ELO sounding like McCartney and The Beatles. Never occurred to me, until it was pointed out, and then it was permanently lodged in my mind.
I didn't know Jeff Lynne co-wrote 'Learning To Fly' with Tom Petty. BOTB is so full of new information for so many of us.
I'll get my bote in at yer Battle before long. (It's hard to bote during my 3 consecutive 12-hour shifts, but all that is coming to an end after two more weeks.)
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
~ D-FensDogG
In my usual fashion, I'm not looking at the other responses before I add mine (okay, occasionally I've slipped, but usually I won't).
ReplyDeleteFirst comment, Dylan was misguided. He did, does, and forever will sound like a nasally senior citizen with a marble or two in his pie hole. That doesn't mean he's not a great songwriter and I've even found Dylan songs that I like with actual singing by Dylan...but NO, Bob, you don't sound like that.
As for the battle, not even close in my mind: ELO takes it, hands down. Maybe it's the similarity to the Beatles (though I didn't notice that so much in the past...but now that you mention it...). You know I'm a big Beatles fan.
Musically: they're tight! I love ELO. Most things Jeff Lynne put his hands on are pretty good, too. Loved The Traveling Willburys so much!
There ya go. Opinionated females...whaddaya gonna do?
Thanks, Brudder!
Cherdo
Howdy, DOC MacSIS ~
DeleteAs everyone should know by now, my blogs welcome strong opinions. I set the tone with my own, and it would be hypodermical of me to try squelching the espresso opinions of others.
{*I'm pretty sure he meant "hypocritical".}
Personally, I don't feel that Neil Young sounds that much like Dylan on 'Heart Of Gold', but I do think he sounds like Dylan on some other songs. And I think BOTH of 'em sound like they sent their voices to the cleaners and they came back shrunk.
Without Louis Armstrong, there'd have been no Bob Dylan. And without Bob Dylan, there'd have been no... anyone else.
Doc, what I'm already finding fascinating about this Battle is how people are saying they like both bands and both songs, but when it comes to voting for one song over the other, folks are saying things like "by far", "hands down", "not even close".
This Battle is off to a good start.
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
~ D-FensDogG
Hi Stephen,
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely an interesting battle. Thanks for the shout-out and link to one of my Color Series posts, the Gold one. That seems like forever ago!
I'm sure I noted this in that post because it also had an America song (Sister Golden Hair): I played America's Greatest Hits album sooo much during the few years that I worked at Waldenbooks during my early college years. Most of the music played in the bookstore was classical but my cool boss let me play the America album and during my shifts, that album got a workout. I have always liked the band and of course I like "A Horse with No Name" but when put up against ELO's "Telephone Line", I have to go with ELO, probably because I overplayed that America album. I love ELO's orchestral sound too; their string section is fantastic. So ELO gets my vote on this one.
As for your Optional Question: Even though Jeff Lynne was heavily influenced by the Beatles and their influence is detected in many of ELO's songs, I definitely think that 'A Horse With No Name' sounds more like Neil Young than 'Telephone Line' sounds like Paul McCartney & The Beatles.
This was fun and really kicked in some serious listening discernment.
Happy November! Have a good week.
Michele at Angels Bark
MICHELE ~
Delete'Sister Golden Hair' is my favorite America song. (Shout-out to Inga!)
I certainly bought more than my fair share of books from Waldenbooks. And we're definitely dating ourselves with *that* reference, eh?
What did you think of The Captain & Tennille's cover of 'Muskrat Love'? (Now there's a BOTB idea!... that I'm never gonna use.)
FUN FACT: Back when I was working in Hollyweird, I used to work pretty regularly with the guy who appears on the cover of the 1979 ELO album 'Discovery', which gave us the big hit 'Don't Bring Me Down'. Incidentally, he didn't really go around wearing a red turban. (...Sometimes it was pink.)
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
~ D-FensDogG
Yo McBrzo,
ReplyDeleteThis homie says "sounds like Neil Young" isn't exactly a selling point. Blexit march/hanging out in D.C., witnesses say there was no trash on the streets, clean as a whistle. Unlike recent marches on Washington... and Woodstock - never done acid yet had a flashback to two seconds ago when I thought of Woodstock. I'm not saying they were all slobs, but the Native American from the 70's commercial with a tear in his eye about littering, had a nervous breakdown over Woodstock then built himself back up to tell, in the 70's, those Woodstock people to stop littering. I've always identified with Blexit. Case in point: Listening to Wild Cherry, Elvis, Vanilla Ice, The Blues Brothers, Rolling Stones, Manhattan Transfer.... ELO. Is America as good as Neil Young. I don't know. And I don't want to do research to find out. I do know some ELO songs are as good as The Beatles.. and can turn it up a notch to funky. I'm not putting down Neil Young's America, a book where I've I'll never even bend the spine ("He hasn't read a page!") ELO is killer. And this, there tones down Telephone Line is classic. My vote for ELO's Telephone Line.
Optional question. America - the music group not the country sounds like Neil Young more. If I wanted to impress Neil Young's ilk, I would have a book open on my desk of America - the music group! If you stopped by two weeks later, the book would still be opened to the same page. Since I don't want to impress Neil Young's ilk, I won't even pretend to read it/won't even put a book on the desk.
McDOGG ~
Delete>>... This homie says "sounds like Neil Young" isn't exactly a selling point.
How about "Tastes like chic-- er... Neil Young"? Is *that* a selling point?
>>... never done acid yet had a flashback to two seconds ago when I thought of Woodstock.
I've never done Acid, either, but I also just now had a flashback to two seconds ago when I wrote "How about 'Tastes like chic-- er... Neil Young'? Is *that* a selling point?"
>>... I'm not saying they were all slobs, but the Native American from the 70's commercial with a tear in his eye about littering, had a nervous breakdown over Woodstock then built himself back up to tell, in the 70's, those Woodstock people to stop littering.
The "Indian" (this is KAOS and we don't say "Native American" here) was named Iron Eyes Cody. And you know what? He had ANOTHER nervous breakdown in 1990, just minutes after lecturing David Cassidy about his deplorable (yes, this is KAOS and we proudly use the word "deplorable" here) housekeeping at [Link> 1:02:03.
And, BTW, the brown-haired guy in the green T-shirt won an Academy Award for 'Best Performance By An Extra' for his portrayal of a student in Science class, beginning at [Link> 1:03:54.
>>... Since I don't want to impress Neil Young's ilk
I used to go hunting for Neil Young Elk when I was a big game hunter in Canada.
~ Stephen
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Cool links. Chief. I didn't know David Cassidy was a litterbug - that's a lot of pressure to put the whole culture on David Cassidy.
Delete1:03:54, I thought the green t-shirt guy would be you, I have no idea who he is.
I kid you not. I would have voted for ELO anyway but the association didn't hurt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68sRqrZZ6wQ
The same guys who predicted Trump would win are saying Republicans will hold the House. I'll be drinking as much as The Democrats in the next 24 hours. I have to believe the GOP will keep the House, I just want to be drunk anyway to hopefully celebrate, it's a good reason.
Cheers Buddy.
G McDOGG ~
Delete>>... 1:03:54, I thought the green t-shirt guy would be you, I have no idea who he is.
I have no idea who he is either, but he did a great job. (I think he may be James Dean reincarnated.)
>>... I kid you not. I would have voted for ELO anyway but the association didn't hurt
Hmmm.... I've never seen that movie, but that probably doesn't surprise you.
Unfortunately, the Rs lost the House, but whether celebrating or drowning one's sorrows, there's always a good reason to get drunk! (And then again... who needs a reason, anyway? Right?)
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
My vote, hands down, is for ELO which I loved when I was a kid. To me, I heard the influence of the Beatles but I don't think they sound like them but whadda I know:) I actually thought Neil Young did do that Horse with no name who does have a name...Gus. Bob Dylan just wants to feel that he actually sounds that good as America or Neal Young.
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT ~
DeleteThanks for inputting your input here.
The horse was named Gus? I thought it was Mister Ed.
In fact, I thought it was Mister Ed who sang 'Heart Of Gold'.
Truthfully, I think Neil Young sings as badly as Bob Dylan does. They both graduated summa cum laude from 'The Willie Nelson University Of Nasal Song Stylists'.
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
~ D-FensDogG
("Thumbs Up Emoji" here.)
DeleteYes, both sing to bring the dogs and cats home.
DeleteWell,
ReplyDeleteIf we go by which song I like better it’s the ELO song. But far and away the America song sounds more like Neil Young than ELO sounds like the Beatles (though ELO does sound very Beatles). But the guys in America could have been the most successful Neil Young tribute band on the planet. Heck, they wrote one of his best songs and put the name America on it. Like they were trying to hide that this is imported music, probably from that country called California.
BR'ER MARC ~
Delete>>... Heck, they wrote one of his best songs and put the name America on it.
Ha!-Ha! I totally agree with that. In fact, as far as my tastes are concerned, I think the only song Neil Young wrote that was better than this song by his tribute band, was 'SUGAR MOUNTAIN'. Otherwise, I'll take the Americans doing the Canadian.
Thanks for stopping by with a contribution, Brother!
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
I'm here, riding high on MMWJ but still exhausted, ready to mess up my bote entirely. The bias is strong today (and simultaneously not strong at all).
ReplyDeleteSo fun fact: when I was learning to play the guitar (a failed experiment), I was taught to try that America song, because the chord progression is so idiotically simple that even a dummy like me can do it. As Trump would say: WROOONG! But I tried, and I tried, and I tried. And I wore that damn song out until I can't stand hearing it anymore. Just hearing that first strum pattern makes me want to grab the nearest guitar and smash it over someone's head (up to 11).
I can't stand the song, and I can't play the song, either. I'm a triple black belt in failure.
So... I'm not a fan anymore. Give my vote to ELO by default, who I have to admit, really sounds like The Beatles. I hadn't thought about that before, but it's spot on. Meanwhile, I've never listened to Neil Young. I don't even have a frame of reference in my head. So I guess give that vote to ELO also.
A vote by bias, and a vote by omission. It still counts, right?
HULIO! ~
DeleteSo, I'm sitting here with a satisfied look on my mug, listening to my Cousin knock this Rock shit outta the park, and having just formed a brand new organization: 'The Corn Chips And Bourbon Ice Cream Club'. Mind your Ps and Qs and I might even initiate you into the club and teach you the secret handshake.
>>... As Trump would say: WROOONG!
I'm pretty sure Waylon Jennings was the first person to say [link> "WRONG!" Trump stole the word from Waylon, in the same way he stole the presidency from Hillary. (Whoop! Whoop!) He's a bad guy, that Trump. Literally a damned Nazi!
I can still play the opening notes to 'Streets Of Laredo' from my own failed attempt to master the guitar. (That's the ONLY thing I can play on the guitar. But then again... the guitar... phfft! Playing the guitar is like having a tattoo.)
I've got your two botes counted, Bruhthuh!
~ D-FensDogG
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
POSTSCRIPT:
DeleteYour mission, should you decide to accept it, is...
The Art Of Tea: Michael Franks
Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson
Stardust: Willie Nelson
~ Stephen
'Master of MMWJ &
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation'
And Stephen,
ReplyDeleteAnother good battle and one of the tougher choices. I like both songs and both evoke strong memories as well as emotions. Different emotions though...Horse...a bit on the downer side and Telephone has that catchier lick that brings a bit more happiness. Having been through the desert and facing demons there I am going to side with ELO for the happier emotions it brings out.
That is all for now folks!
Now do somtethin'!
JW,
Pooh
Somtethin? Ignant!!!
DeleteI spelled somethin' wrong please correct if you are able. Now you really have somethin' to do.
ReplyDeleteJW,
Pooh
...AND, POOH, THAT'S NOT ALL!...
DeleteDid you just call me a "punk"? I didn't see the word "punk" in your comment, and yet somehow I got the distinct impression you were calling me one. Care to e'splain yerself?
Correcting the misspellings of others is somtethin' I'm not able to do. Guess it's somtethin' you'll just have to learn to live with.
Thanks for coming by with your insight into this Battle, General Poohregard!
To me, in a way, 'Telephone Line' seems even more "on the downer side" than does 'Horse...' But that shows how each individual processes music in their own unique way.
I've actually been through the desert on a horse with no name. I didn't think it was anything to write home about, let alone to write a song about.
[;o)
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Lots of interesting stuff in this battle, Reno!
ReplyDeleteI’d forgotten all about the ELO beginning – where ET is phoning home – but it’s what (thankfully) sets them apart from the Beatles for me. It chaps me to admit it, but yes, that particular nameless horse song does sound a lot like the guy with no voice. Still, it’s all America for me, though I’d take Ventura Highway for the heartbeat ;-)
dIEDRE ~
DeleteHowdy, my friend! Thanks for taking time to come by, listen, and boat-- er... bote-- uhm... vote!
>>... the ELO beginning – where ET is phoning home
Or is that ELO phoning ET?
>>... "Neil Young... the guy with no voice"
Ha!-Ha! I love it! And at least America had a horse. Even if it had no name, it could still neigh.
Thanks for the much-needed vote for America. If this were a battle of nations, England would be kicking our (horse's) ass!
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
My vote is for America!
ReplyDeleteAmerica thanks you, MIKE!
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Al Bondigas here. You remember the story I told you about us filming once at U.C.L.A., and a bunch of us were goofing around singing songs and some female student hung her head out of a second story window and asked us to sing a Neil Young song. One dummy extra started singing Horse With No Name. For the next 20 years I thought that was done by Neil Young. I really don’t care much for Neil Young with the exception of a few songs. Now America I really do like, my favorite being ‘Lonely People’. Normally I would rule fer America over E.L.O. any day, but in this case I’m slightly rulin’ fer the E.L.O. song. I really don’t care for either one, but a judge has a duty to make a rulin’. That’s it!! That’s muh rulin’!! Oh, by the way, I heard ‘Evil Woman’ the other day. Man, does that ever sound like the Beatles!! I hate the Beatles.
ReplyDeleteJUDGE AL ~
DeleteI do remember that story, but I didn't recall that it took place at UCLA.
I like 'Lonely People', too. America had a number of really good songs. Like, how about 'Ventura Highway'? That one is recorded on 'Me, Lynth & The Beach Report'. But my favorite song by them is 'Sister Golden Hair', followed by 'Tin Man'. Man, both of those bring on the memories!!
Soon's I get these comment replies up to date, I'm-a go listen to 'Evil Woman' with that "Beatles" mindset. A lot of ELO's songs really show that Beatles influence.
I don't "hate" The Beatles, but I think they are incredibly overrated, considering that they basically ripped off Brian Wilson for their music and Bob Dylan for their lyrics (and weren't as good as either one of them, respectively).
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
POSTSCRIPT:
DeleteOh, yeah, 'EVIL WOMAN' - definitely The Beatles. And now go listen to 'MR. BLUE SKY'. Damn! The Beatles should have sued Jeff Lynne for that one!!
In the YT comment section for 'Evil Woman', one gal wrote this:
"I thought it was medieval woman. smh"
I responded with: "I always thought it was 'sweet evil woman'."
Which is true. I thought the words were "sweet evil woman" right up until... 5 minutes ago!
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteYou're not playing fairly on this battle. Two entirely different song both excellent choices and on any given day I can go with the other but I reckon I have to go with America because their mewsic brings back such fond memories. Sorry to cut this so close. I've had lots going on. Have a great evening!
No worries, CATHY. The last vote cast in the 11th hour counts every bit as much as the first vote cast in the first minute.
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...