Reno Vs. Carson City, 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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Shoop-Shooby -
Shooby-Duh-Dooby-Doop-Dooby-Dooby-Doo-Wah -
Buh-Doo-Wah!
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Yes, it's time once again for 'Battle Of The Bands' ('BOTB').
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NOTICE #1: Before we even get started, I want to announce that I have purchased a home in a new (old) city and I will be making the big move
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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 |
The song - a Carlos Santana original - is 'EUROPA: Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile'. And my competitors are Santana versus the Jazz saxophonist Gato Barbieri.
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Now, if you're having that "deja vu" feeling, it's because our BOTB buddy, John Holton, presented this same Battle back on September 15th of last year.
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However, there's a bit of a twist: I'm using the same Gato Barbieri recording that John did, but instead of using Carlos Santana's original studio recording of the song from 1976, I'm using his live recording from the 1977 'Moonflower' album.
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In my BOTB Results post (which will hopefully appear here on January 21st), I'll 'splain why I'm presenting this Battle which is so similar, yet not quite identical, to John's 9-15-2018 BOTB contest.
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NOTICE #2: If you are here first thing in the morning (like, 6:00 to 8:00 AM), I'm going to ask you to please vote on someone else's BOTB contest for now, and then return here later in the day, when you find time. This is NOT a first-thing-in-the-morning listening experience, and both artists should have an even Battleground to fight upon. I thank you!!
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| Goodniks Vs. No-Goodniks |
EUROPA (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile) - Carlos Santana (live)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmoUTItjxOc
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| Godzilla Vs. King Kong |
EUROPA (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile) - Gato Barbieri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRIbuIeTew4
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| Riddler Vs. Batman |
The Battle Within The Battle
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VERSUS
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Question: "Will Gato Barbieri beat Carlos Santana?"
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The Magic 8-Ball (13-6) sez: "It Is Certain"
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The Amazing Sixwell (13-6) sez: "Don't Count On It"
.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.
@ 'AI LOVE MUSIC' 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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Stephen,
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how another recording by the same artist can make a difference it the way it makes you feel. I enjoyed Santana's live performance but not as much as the studio recording. I think this morning and it could be the hour at which I'm listening to these songs but Gato Barbieri gets my vote in this round. Nice job! Happy moving and thanks for stopping by to cast your vote in my BoTB.
CATHY ~
DeleteThank you! I've got 29 days to get packed and moved, but I can't do anything until I'm approved by the community manager of where I'm hoping to live. In the meantime, I'll start packing like I mean it and, God willing, the "Thumbs Up" phone call will come to me soon.
It's very early right now, but so far, your one vote is my shutout salvation.
~ D-FensDogG
'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'
Stephen,
DeleteI'm sorry for not making it back to check for a response. I'm a bit absent-minded these days. I hope you've gotten that call already and the best of luck to ya!
Sounds like things are mighty busy in your world and I can totally understand why. I kind of wish I were making a move too, but it's still something that could happen in the future.
ReplyDelete"Europa" is such a mellow dreamy song that I always enjoy hearing. Barbieri's sax playing is excellent and I think it works well with this song. However, the Santana guitar sound rules on this song as far as I'm concerned.
My vote goes to Carlos Santana which is probably the same way I voted when John did this Battle.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
LEE ~
DeleteI'm busy, and yet there's still one strand of uncertainty outstanding. I hope all the pieces continue to fall together like they have up until now.
I checked and, indeed, your votes on John's Battle and mine are consistent.
~ D-FensDogG
'Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends'
Steven, you have absolutely made my day! ☺ And I beg to differ with your comments about listening early in the morning. Had I heard the music then, it would have made me extremely happy. In case you haven't guessed, I absolutely LOVE "Europa". ☺ And good sax, too. However, it's Santana's guitar that enraptures and electrifies. A resounding vote for Carlos, here.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finding your dream house. May your big move go smoothly!
HiYa, DEBBIE!
DeleteI sincerely thank you for the good wishes!
I love BOTH of these recordings of 'Europa', but to my ears, it's just a shade too... uhm... intense(?) for "Morning Music With Joe". As much as I dig these, speaking just for me, I don't think they would gel for me in the early A.M. I am decidedly NOT a morning person, and I need to ease into it gently.
So, I was "projecting" a bit when I suggested folks not vote on this one too early in the A.M. But I'm pleased as spiked punch that you love it so! Rock on!!!
~ D-FensDogG
'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'
You are very busy and a move, even a good one, can be quite stressful so stay cool. Listening to both, I just love Santana's and his incredible playing. I am not much for easy listening jazz especially with a sax.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, BIRGIT. I don't dig the act of moving. (I guess few folks do.) It's A LOT of work, even if it's an upgrade. I'm hopeful that THIS will be the last move of my life. I'm going to a neat town, and I wouldn't mind if I were later buried there. Think: 'A Stop At Willoughby' (The Twilight Zone episode).
DeleteThanks for coming by and contributing your $0.02 to the BOTB kitty, Birgit!
~ D-FensDogG
'Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends'
I have to go with Santana. Both well done, but it comes down to guitar versus Santana.
ReplyDeleteI meant Guitar versus Sax! It doesn't same like he has those does, me playing guitar on the other hand is me versus the guitar.
ReplyDeleteHa!-Ha! And, MIKE, when it's you versus the guitar, does the guitar usually win?
Delete;-D
Thanks for your vote, buddy!
~ D-FensDogG
'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'
I'm with Mike on this: it's guitar versus sax! Both versions are awesome, but I have to go with Santana...his version is SOOOO Santana, ha ha. It's everything his guitar work is known for, basically. That rock-jazz fusion screams his name and it's sooo smooth.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with Gato and on another day, in another mood, he might get my vote (maybe he did last time, ha ha!).
Good luck with the move and I'll lay down a layer of prayer to travel on, okay? It ain't far...but you never know...
DOC MacSIS ~
DeleteI appreciate your vote AND your "layer of prayer". I haven't yet gotten the final "OK" to move into the community where I'm (hopefully!) buying the house. So... this isn't quite a done deal yet. But who wouldn't want ME living in their community?!?! ;o)
God willing, I'll get the good news very soon. (Tomorrow would be perfect!)
Thanks for checking in with your music-minded input, my friend!
~ D-FensDogG
'Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends'
… I just now posted but don't know if it went through. Big kudos on your (soon to be) move to the right place. As a night song, while Carlos "Chops" Santana is good, I gots to vote for Gato "Chill" Barbieri.
ReplyDeleteCheers and big congrats.
BRUHTHUH G DOGG ~
DeleteI'm afraid it DOES look like your first attempt at a comment has been eaten by the Blogspot Bug. I even checked my Spam file to see if it may have been misdirected there, but unless your missing comment contained an awful lot of praise for Viagra, then it has indeed gone AWOL. (But... "It's still REAL to me, damn-it!") What made you suspicious that it may not have gone through? Whadja see that clued you in?
Thanks for the kudos! I'm still waiting to hear that this move is "officially" happening, and I don't want to count too many chicks before they burst free from their shells, but... I'm very hopeful, faithful, and proceeding as if this, indeed, is going to happen. Yesterday, I gave my written 30-days notice of intent to move from the place I'm currently in, and today I will begin organizing my stuffs and start packing up some of it.
Thanks for your bote, McBuddy. I totally agree that Gato is "chill", and that sax sounds like big city nightlife with one neon letter light blinking off and on.
~ D-FensDogG
'Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends'
Hey BroMan,
DeleteThe box folks type in, when I hit "publish," looked like a shrunken webpage that may even had read "error" which would mean "Don't know if it went through" to "Most likely it didn't go through."
Sounds like exciting times you looking forward to the move. Sixwell and 8-Ball say, "Yes it will happen."
McG DOGG ~
DeleteYep! Well, at least you saw a problem and were prepared for it.
PRO TIP: I've been burned so many times over the years in the same way (i.e., submitting an extensive comment which required some real time to compose, only to see the Blogspot Bug immediately eat it up when I hit "Publish").
So, for a long time now, what I've been doing is, after composing a long comment (or even just a medium length one), just before I click "Publish", I copy the comment - as if I were planning to 'copy & paste' it elsewhere. That way, if the comment gets eaten, all I have to do is 'paste' the exact same comment into a new comment box window and try again. That extra 3 or 4 seconds it takes me to 'copy' the comment before hitting 'Publish' has saved me from an untold number of aggravating, frustrating, "#$%&!"-shouting events.
Man, if Sixwell AND the 8-Ball are both predicting the same thing, then this house sale and big move MUST be a done deal, because they are rarely ever BOTH wrong at the same time! Thanks for that positive reinforcement, Bruhthuh Dogg!
~ McStephen
'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'
I grew up listening to Santana. My parents never listened to much music, if at all (which maybe explains why I'm such an audiophile... music was so scarce in my house), but one of the few things they did play was Santana. So I have a nostalgic fondness for him. Err, his music, not him.
ReplyDeleteSo I thought he'd probably run away with this one. But, as a Mexican teenage girl might say, oh my Gato. I'm a big fan of the jazzy sax-a-ma-phone. It was made for this song. So give my bote to Mr. Gato please, before I cheapen my brand by resorting to puns about what a cool cat he is.
JULIO ~
DeleteDang! I can't imagine growing up not hearing much music in the house. I didn't realize it at the time, but in retrospect, I came to recognize what a nice variety of music my parents turned me onto with their LPs that they played in the house during my formative years.
I was introduced to stuffs like Cannonball Adderley, B.B. King, The Bill Black Combo (thanks, Ma!!), Louis Prima, Roger Miller, and Willie Nelson (thanks, Pa!!).
I'm sure my parents didn't appreciate so much the music that I introduced them to: Styx, Judas Priest, The Sex Pistols, and Radio Birdman, etc. I grew up on a steady diet of rice, chopped hamburger bits & tomato soup mixed together, as well as the command to "Turn that down!!" (I was also fed a lot of "You need a haircut!")
Looking back years later (older & a bit wiser), I finally realized how much better Cannonball Adderley, B.B. King, Louis Prima, and Roger Miller were than Styx, Judas Priest, The Sex Pistols and Radio Birdman.
>>... as a Mexican teenage girl might say, oh my Gato.
Ha!-Ha! Do you suppose that, in her youth, even "Carmelita" at radio station XTRA Gold would have said such a thing? (That reminds me, I'm due for another listen to 'Me, Lynth & The Beach Report'. Gonna put it on as soon as this morning's MMWJ playoff game comes to an end.)
Thanks fer yer bote. Your preference for Gato's sax-a-ma-phone is duly noted.
~ D-FensDogG
'Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends'
And Stephen,
ReplyDeleteOh boy, oh boy, this is a tough one. I been had liked em both. Had to listen to em twice each individually. One song compelling two different moods, not to be confused with multiple personalities, mind you. But sometimes you have to call a spade a spades. I know what you're thinking...why doesn't this guy get to the point already, what with the moving and all. Alrighty then my vote goes to Santana but it was very close. Am I hearing some, a recent battle, Nocturn in this song?
JW for now,
Pooh
...AND, POOH, THAT'S NOT ALL!....
DeleteThanks, League Brother, for coming by and taking plenty of time to really listen, making sure you felt you were getting your vote right.
Yeah, this is a pretty fine Battle. I love BOTH recordings quite a bit, and it seems like most voters enjoyed both versions as well.
I'd actually thought of doing this very BOTB match-up some years back, but kind of shied away from it, thinking that the "Familiarity Factor" would make Carlos a shoe-in to win, and that I'd possibly even be inviting a BOTB shutout (which I've never had and never wanna have). BOTB is a predominantly Rock-centric crowd, so putting a lesser known Jazz talent against Carlos worried me a bit. But Gato is holding his own fairly well, and I see that any concern on my part about a shutout was ill-founded.
Thanks again, General Poohregard!
~ D-FensDogG
'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'
BRUHTHUH LELLY! ~
ReplyDeleteHey, thank you so much for taking time out to come visit me here and to contribute to my Battle! I genuinely appreciate that.
So... "strings"... yer one of them hardcore, anti-strings Rock 'N' Rollers, eh? Does that mean yer also one of those folks who slammed Wes Montgomery when he released his 'Tequila' album? (If so, please don't say it! I don't EVER want to have to think less of you. [;-)})
Funny that you prefer Santana's studio version of 'Europa', because (as I'll reveal in this BOTB's Results post), the entire reason for *this* specific match-up is based upon the differences between Santana's studio recording and this particular live recording.
Thank you, my friend, for the kind words and advice. I'm not looking forward to the move, but at least this time it's only a 31-miles move, versus the 738-miles move I made going from Phoenix, Arizona, to Reno, Nevada. Plus, I can do it in 2 or 3 smaller-load installments, rather than everything-at-once. Shouldn't be too bad, but even so, just the *idea* of moving is pretty stressful.
~ D-FensDogG
'Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends'
In light of your moving revelation, I’d say Europa is a spectacular fit for times that are a-changing. In my opinion, no one says it better than Carlos as he soothes you right in for the rock.
ReplyDeleteThe Cat with the Sax is fantastic, just not in the bag this time.
Keep packing, my friend. You know you’re going somewhere.
Happy Trails!
dIEDRE ~
DeleteAs always, I greatly appreciate your support of my BOTB competitions! And indeed, my times they are a-changin'. (Too bad I've already used that song in BOTB. [;-D ).
I'm pleased that you enjoyed listening to both artists.
Actually, as of about 1:00 pm yesterday, I learned for certain that I am Carson City-bound. And within the next hour, a rather significant chunk of my $ is going to leave my bank account and find a new home in someone else's bank account. (That's the ONLY part of this adventure that doesn't have me leaping for joy. Ha!)
And, incidentally, it's so spot-on that you closed your comment with "Happy Trails". Since childhood, I have been a Roy Rogers fan. (I once even got the chance to meet him and have my picture taken with him.) As I'm sure you know, "Happy Trails!" was his traditional sign-off slogan.
I have a 20-movie box set of Roy Rogers movies, and doggone if one of them isn't titled 'Carson City Kid' (1940). Although it's not really one of my favorite R.R. movies, I'm thinking it should be the first movie I watch in my new-old Carson City home.
Thanks again, dIEDRE!
~ Stephen
Hey! Look who finally stopped in with a comment! It's just been one of those weeks, ya know.
ReplyDeleteI hope by now you have heard the positive news about your moving. If not, is there someone I need to call/visit to make it happen? I can be quite persuasive when I need to be.
Interesting battle here. I had to listen to them both three times and I'm still wavering a bit in my decision. That, my friend, is a good indication of a good battle (not a sign that I am an indecisive female!)
Now you know that I have a lot of love in my heart for Santana, but I also have a lot of love for the saxophone. And this is making a tough choice for me.
In the end, I am voting for Gato, but honestly, this is one of those battles that I could go either direction and be quite happy.
Best of luck to you with your move. Am sending up lots of prayers and well wishes for you to have a smooth move (minus the exlax!)
~Mary
ps.. now to go see how my battle has done so far. It's 2 days in and I haven't even looked (gasp)
MMQE ~
Delete>>... It's just been one of those weeks, ya know.
Yeah, tell me about it! Things have really been hopping for me, too. Just my morning alone was busier than some full weeks are!
>>... I hope by now you have heard the positive news about your moving. If not, is there someone I need to call/visit to make it happen?
Ha!-Ha! Well, the good news is that you can fold your switchblade nails back up again, because I did indeed get the "Thumbs Up" phone call I'd been waiting for and starting to wonder about. All systems are now "GO!"
I'm pleased you put so much thought into getting your vote right. (Some of us - myself included - approach our BOTB votes with the utmost seriousness. It's either that or... we'd need to "get a life".)
In John's original Carlos vs. Gato BOTB installment, you voted for Gato, so I had a pretty strong feeling your vote would go the same way this time. Kudos to your consistency, Mary!
Thanks for the good wishes. After this coming Tuesday, there'll be nuttin' left to do but pack and U-Haul my ass to the new digs. Which is good because... I just wasn't welcome in any of the bars in THIS town anymore, anyway! I was definitely in need of new watering-holes.
~ D-FensDogG
'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'
Both are very good, Santana’s version is a bit better. Vote: Caliente Carlos over El Frio Gato.
ReplyDeleteBut, “Carson City Kid:” your BIG NEWS FLASH obliterates the battle this month! Sincere congratulations on becoming a vested owner in the City of Hope South of the Biggest Little Disappointment in the World! May you have nothing but blessings from the experience!
Maybe next year I’ll get another chance at swinging along Hwy 395 and maybe meeting up. Last year my timing was WAY off.
sixgun
BRUHTHUH 6-GUN ~
DeleteI could have easily imagined you voting either way on this Battle.
Thanks for the wonderful wishes, my friend! I am very eager to "get outta town" and down Carson City-way, where I'm sure I belong. I strongly feel that God has orchestrated this whole thing: From the 'Saul on the road to Damascus' experience in which my eyes were first opened to the idea of living in C.C. (Oct. 6 & 7) through the process of finding a good place (which was literally the very first place I looked at), everything happened so-ooo quickly and so-ooo smoothly that I know this wasn't just me working on it. You know me - everything for me in "this world" is a knockdown, drag-out, bare-knuckle brawl. It's always a fight, always a struggle. But this time it was like God said: Step aside, boy. I got this one! Not by might, nor by power, but by MY Spirit, sayeth... Me."
FUN FACT: Way back about... oh... in May of 2000, I purchased [Link> THIS [Link> COIN.
That "CC" indicates that it came from the Carson City mint (which is now the state museum), and is most likely made of silver that came from one of the Virginia City mines (V.C. is only a 25-30 minute drive from C.C.).
So, I've been saying that the Carson City silver dollar is finally returning home, and I'm just following it there.
Yeah, we still have a hike in the mountains around Virginia City to do. But be forewarned: If you can't keep up with me, I'll leave ya there in the mountains. I can't have some old guy slowin' me down on one of my Virginia City hikes. Ha! [;-D}
I've got it in my mind now to hike to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. It's the only landmark near Virginia City that I haven't yet conquered.
~ D-FensDogG
'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'
POSTSCRIPT:
DeleteHere's one of the photos I've taken of [Link> SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN. That's next on my list... [Note To Self: Bring plenty o' beer on this hike.]
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
I love those Saul of Tarsus experiences... ultimately. Sometimes the blindness et al is uncomfortable until I discover what I need to!
DeleteIt truly does seem that you have been led out of the wilderness into the promised land. That analogy may sound a bit much, but I think it is true.
I have a couple of those CC Morgan dollars that the gov't sold by lottery back in the '70s. I always liked Carson City. I love that whole stretch from Bridgeport to Carson! CC always felt like California... only better because it is in Nevada!
I ought to be able to keep up with you. I'm in decent shape, though with your bike riding you probably are in better. Plus, you are a young whippersnapper. Sugarloaf looks more like a SugarLOAD. That hike seems like it involves scrambling over rocks and is at times darned near vertical. I might skip that one.
Sixgun
SIXGUN ~
DeleteI guess I really am a "young whippersnapper", because I didn't / don't know anything about Uncle Scam selling C.C. silver dollars by lottery back in the '70s. But, clearly, your smarts go back a long way.
("Do you want to keep your Federal Reserve notes or change them into silver dollars?"
"Hmmm.... You mean I can't buy one hundred silver dollars with one hundred dollars? I'd be LOSING money? Well, I ain't stupid! I'll keep my hundred dollars.")
Yeah, there are some great hikes around Virginia City that are incredibly scenic and yet don't require a whole lot of effort. (And I was just joking, you know. I'm not any kind of super-hiker. I'm just an old goat who likes to get above it all.)
That Sugarloaf hike does indeed look like some of it - the uppermost part - could be a wee bit hairy. I could see myself getting up without much problem, but that coming down might bother me a little.
~ D-FensDogG
'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'
I still like Gato's better.
ReplyDeleteA man of few words. Short, sweet, & to the point.
Delete~ D-FensDogG
'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'
Al Bondigas here. Well, I had to listen to them both two times to make sure I was being honest in muh rulin'. I really wanted to like Gato's version better, because I dislike Carlos Santana personally. I just don't care for weak minded people. When I gave it a listen I remembered how much I liked that song. Got to admit the commie has talent. Then I heard Gato's and thought, hmm, I may actually like it better. I wanted to be 100% truthful, (like there's any other percentage of truthful) so I gave them both another listen. Man, They are both so good, but I just ever so slightly lean toward Gato's. Anyway tough call, but today, with the mood I was in when I heard them, I have to make a rulin' fer Gato. That's it!! That's muh rulin'.
ReplyDeleteJUDGE AL ~
DeleteYou had me goin' there. I really couldn't tell which way you were going to ultimately lean.
Yeah, it's sad but, as much as I love so much of Santana's music (he's definitely on my very, very short list of favorite guitarists), the man is a mess. Such a mess, in fact, that many years ago I decided I didn't want to have his music under my roof anymore, and I got rid of my Santana CDs.
It was bad enough when I thought he was just a well-meaning but very naive (low-IQ) Communist. But then when I learned about his dabbling in New Age nonsense and his interactions with a (dark) spiritual entity, that was the final straw for me.
You got the best of both worlds in your voting this time around.
>>... I wanted to be 100% truthful, (like there's any other percentage of truthful)
Ha! Yeah, truthfulness and pregnancy are similar. You either are or you're not.
~ D-FensDogG
'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'
Stephen,congrats on buying a new house!
ReplyDeleteAnd, oooooh, you picked a REALLY good fight. When I first looked at the lineup, I thought I would pick Carlos first because who can't beat Carlos' impressive musical skills. But, then you pit him against a sax player. You know my heart well. I have a thing for sax players. (Yes, I like Kenny G, and I know people don't like his musicality. But shhhh...)
I always wanted to play the sax. Well, I first learned how to play the flute because that was what I was paired with in 5th grade. But, in middle school, I always wanted to play the sax. I still look at the sax in awe any time I go to the instrument store or find one on resale. Maybe that will be my goal later in life: the play the sax.
So, to cut the story short, I am going to pick Gato. Not just because he is a sax player but he plays "Europa" in a suave matter that makes me swoon.
Thanks, AMY! And terrific comment.
DeleteI liked your story, as I have a similar one: In 5th grade I too wanted to play the saxophone. But the school band did not include sax, so I wound up playing (or trying to play, anyway) the acoustic bass, and that damned thing was taller'n I was! In fact, once I even accidentally dropped my bass on the stage in the middle of a performance. I guess I was playing it too passionately for a little guy. A+ for Passion; F for Hand Strength.
Years later, I went on to take some guitar lessons from an old man who may have played the instrument well, but he was not cut out for teaching. I came to dread those lessons, and eventually my Ma let me quit. And that was the end of my music-playing life.
Fun Fact: The guitar lessons took place [Link> HERE - 2nd door to the right of the Barber Shop. And that barber shop has been there ever since I was in 5th grade. We kids in the neighborhood used to call the barber "Injun Joe" because he'd "scalp" ya! Ha!-Ha! Oh, how I wish I could go back and live out the rest of my days in that place and time!!
~ D-FensDogG
'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'
ATTENTION PEOPLES!
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested in seeing the final vote tally for this 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' installment and my closing thoughts on it, you can put the following URL into your browser:
https://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/2019/01/botb-results-from-2019-jan-15-or-carlos.html
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'