BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB)
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| Front cover of my 1977 High School Yearbook |
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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Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
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As I sit here about to compose my next BOTB installment, I am experiencing an Xtremely Bittersweet feeling. I know for a fact that as long as I live on Earth in this D-FensDogG body, "the good times are over" ...as perfectly xpressed in the song [link> 'The Good Times Are Coming' by Mama Cass.
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On June 17, 1977 - 43 years ago this month - I graduated from Santa Monica High School. And that same night, my graduating class - along with many other graduating classes from the Southern California area - celebrated 'Grad Nite' at Disneyland.
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That night, the 3 headlining bands at "The Happiest Place On Earth" (or, "The House The Mouse Built") were Starbuck, Vicki Sue Robinson, and The Tavares Brothers. When this BOTB idea first occurred to me several months ago, my initial thought was to put each artist's highest charting song against each other in a 3-Way BOTB and see who triumphed.
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But pretty quickly it dawned on me that Starbuck's biggest hit - [link> 'Moonlight Feels Right' (#3 in 1976) - was so hugely popular that it would probably blow out, if not shut out, the competition. (Is there anybody who dislikes that song?!!) So, in an effort to try to keep this Battle a bit more competitive, I selected a different song to represent Starbuck.
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I was actually standing in line for the Matterhorn ride when I heard 'Moonlight Feels Right' wafting through the air. I turned to my friend and said, "Wow! That sounds exactly like the real version from the radio! I wonder if it's the real band."
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After we got off the Matterhorn ride, my friend and I went straight to the bandstand where we luckily happened to catch Starbuck's finale for the night - 'Rock 'N' Roll Rocket' - which was not only the title track of their second and latest album, but it was also the first time I ever saw two drummers drumming on full drum kits on a stage at the same time.
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Since 'Rock 'N' Roll Rocket / 'Little Bird (Reprise)' were not radio hits, I'm using them in this Battle in the hope it will make this more of a... well... a "battle".
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ROCK 'N' ROLL ROCKET' / LITTLE BIRD (Reprise) - Starbuck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UQvRmOeyNk
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| My Senior Portrait in the '77 Yearbook |
I was a big "Disco Sucks!" guy in the 1970s. There were only a scant few Disco songs that I actually liked (like). But I will tell you upfront and without the slightest bit of shame that my #1 all-time favorite Disco song - which I love so much that I even own it on a compact disc today - is 'Turn The Beat Around' by Vicki Sue Robinson (#10 in 1976). Man! That song makes me get on down with my bad self and move my groove thang! (I have no idea what a "groove thang" is, but if it's attached to my body, it's MOVIN' when I hear this song!!) I love everything about 'Turn The Beat Around'. Everything! And I always did. Crank it up to 11 - show no shame!!
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TURN THE BEAT AROUND - Vicki Sue Robinson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eybDOisOOLg
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And for the Soulful folks in the crowd, we have The Tavares Brothers' hit 'It Only Takes A Minute' (#10 in 1975). You gotta admit, the 1970s radio programming was "diversified", and that was without any government edict to enforce it! Bring back KHJ, KMET and WKRP in Cincinnati!!! (*We love you, Mary Ann in Cincinnati!*)
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IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE - Tavares Brothers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxtPbCYk-38
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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.
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Voice Your Vote...
@ TOSSING IT OUT by clicking HERE
@ MIKE'S RAMBLINGS 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
@ CURIOUS AS A CATHY by clicking HERE
@ AI LOVE MUSIC by clicking HERE
@ STORMS & STARDUST 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 of each month to post my own votes and announce the winner.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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I was a non-participant in our graduation events. And we didn't have anyplace like Disneyland to go to where I lived. To my knowledge we didn't even have a "Grad Nite"--at least no formal event.
ReplyDeleteThe songs were all enjoyable to hear. I was well familiar with the two latter hits, but like you said the, the Starbuck song was a new one to me.
I liked the Starbuck song--it was interesting to hear and musically entertaining. But still I prefer the other two and of those my preference would be "Turn the Beat Around". It brings back memories. I can't remember exactly what memories, but memories unremembered of an interesting time in my life.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
LEE ~
DeleteI'm late in responding to comments. And as I type these woids, I'm listening to the album [Link> 'ON THE BLUE SIDE' by Crawford & McGriff. I only mention that because it's about 180-degrees away from any of the 3 songs I used in this Battle.
Just as yours is, my taste in music is ALL OVER THE MAP!
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteYou graduated the same year as DH. It's hard to believe more than 4 decades have slipped by already. Thinking about our high schools, let me ask that you keep in prayer one of his classmates who is on her last journey in this life. She's got the hereafter in a bag, so no worries there but you know it's gonna be a bitter pill for family and friends to see her cross over. We're human and we love to hold onto those we love just a little while longer. Anywho, I love your battle songs. I'm going with TURN THE BEAT AROUND which is not only a great dance song but it makes me happy to hear again after so many years. Have a bandtastic day & God bless, my friend!
HiYa, CAThy ~
DeleteSorry that I'm this late in getting back to yer comment. Life is hard (and about to get much harder, believe you me!)
I'm glad you enjoyed this Battle and that Vicki's song made you happy.
I have prayed for Annette and will do so again.
I know this'll sound weird but... I just lost my cousin, Mary Ann, to Heaven. And I actually feel a slight bit of envy toward anyone who is getting out of here NOW, Passing "Go", Collecting $200. and moving straight on to Heaven. I'd trade places with any of them. But I can't because... God knows what He's doing. I don't (precisely) know what He's doing, but I know that He knows.
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
Stephen,
DeleteDon't worry about responding on time, just look at me with my tardiness. Thanks for praying for Annette. God called her home more than week ago this past Sunday. I understand what you mean about wanting to trade places with those who cross over now. This ole world sure is wicked but like you said, God knows what He's doing and for now this is our home. Be happy, be well, my friend!
CATHY ~
DeleteI'm sorry to hear about Annette's passing... even though everyone knew it was coming sooner than later.
The folks who get called Home now are fortunate that they won't have to endure the 7-year Tribulation which, I feel quite confident based on 26 years of Bible research, is going to begin in late 2022 or early '23.
The End is near...
nearer than most people can even imagine!
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
I liked all of your selections this round - I was already familiar with Turn the Beat Around, and loved the vocals of the Tavares Band. But the song I liked the best was Rock'n'Roll Rocket, so give my vote to STARBUCK!
ReplyDeleteYou must be my aunt's age - she graduated in 1976, but a year early. I am not far behind at 32 years out of high school this year. Where did all that time go?
Kim
Hey, thanks, KIM!
DeleteStarbuck really needed yer BOTB bote!
>>... I liked all of your selections this round
The 1970s had some terrific music! Music-wise, the '70s *may* have actually been the best, most varied decade that this country ever experienced!
>>... Where did all that time go?
Time flies when you're having... Rum!
~ Stephen
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation
"Time flies when you're having... Rum!"
DeleteThis is true.
Kim
You photo shows a man with intensity in anything you do with very strong opinions...no kidding...hahahaa. Your passion probably got you in some hot water at times. Anyhoo, I vote for Vicki and Turn the Beat Around which I danced to as well. I like the last song but the first one is not for me, I found it irritating. Hey, I actually went to my high school graduation with 2 gals as we were all solo. I found out a few years later that one became a nun and went to do missionary work and the other burned her family's house down. I can claim I went to my prom with a future nun and arsonist!
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT ~
Delete>>... Your photo shows a man with intensity in anything you do with very strong opinions...no kidding...hahahaa.
Ha! Your remark made me chuckle.
Fun Fact: In my "wild years" (1980-1985), my dear pal, Pooh (see his comment below), actually gave me the nickname "Mr. Intense". And to this day, when he mails something to me, sometimes it's still addressed to: "Mr. I."
Truth be told, though... I do think I always "felt" things pretty strongly, but I did NOT actually develop "very strong opinions" (I would call them "very strong facts") until I became a voracious reader of nonfiction books. That began in my mid-twenties.
>>... Your passion probably got you in some hot water at times.
Well... my passion (and very strong facts) *DID* actually get me kicked off of Amazon.com. And in April of 1983, my passion (and very strong Margaritas) *DID* get me enrolled in Ensenada U. (Ensenada, Mexico - and U B in jail!)
>>... I can claim I went to my prom with a future nun and arsonist!
That was a GREAT story!
The only way it could have possibly been better is if the nun and the arsonist were the same woman.
That arsonist... might she have spent a night in a Mexican jai-- er... no, never mind. I remember now. (He wasn't an arsonist. He was an AWOL sailor.)
~ Stephen
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation
>>,,,On June 17, 1977 - 43 years ago this month - I graduated from Santa Monica High School.
ReplyDeleteDamn Yer OLD. Don't worry. I'm getting old, too. Just last week as the 37th anniversary of my high school reunion. We had senior skip day which we had to petition the school board for. See a few years earlier things got a little out of hand on senior skip day and there were rocks and boulders involved that somehow managed to knock down railroad signals and backed up trains across the entire western United States. Ooops.
We were allowed to travel out of state to the ever popular Lagoon Amusement Park just north of Salt Lake City (can you feel my enthusiasm here?) And then on graduation night, there was a big keggar at an undisclosed location, uh.. I mean a school-sponsored/hosted overnight party that was pretty much like Hotel California (once admitted entrance, you can't leave). The following weekend, it snowed. It's an Idaho thing as we had snow this Memorial Weekend as well.
Now for your song selections. Very interesting. I can't say that any of them really lit my fire. But I have to agree with you, of the three, Turn The Beat Around is probably the best. So they'll get my vote this time around.
~Mary
MMQE ~
Delete>>... Damn Yer OLD.
Damn, you've got a BIG mouth!
Well, smarty-pants, I may be nearly 61, but my 58-year-old-boss said I look 22. (No, she wasn't wearing her glasses at the time. And why do you ask?)
And some 30-something gal in Virginia City, Nevada, gave me 5-times as much ice cream as I actually ordered and paid for. And the reason? To quote her: "Because you're you."
For the record, I tried to be [Link> Bob Dylan once, but it didn't work out very well. (Incidentally, that's a pretty clever joke, but ain't nunya gonna get it.)
>>... We had senior skip day which we had to petition the school board for.
Uhm... You mean y'all asked the school board for "permission" to "skip classes"? Obviously, y'all failed 'Rebellion 101'. (How'd ya do in 'Wild Turkey 101'? Failed that too, I suppose.)
>>... See a few years earlier things got a little out of hand on senior skip day and there were rocks and boulders involved that somehow managed to knock down railroad signals and backed up trains across the entire western United States.
Ahh! So it was YOUR CLASSMATES who were to blame for that time when Amtrak came to my hobo friends and me and told us that the train we had gotten permission to illegally hop was going to be very late! Damn it all to Ensenada and back!
>>... We were allowed to travel out of state to the ever popular Lagoon Amusement Park just north of Salt Lake City (can you feel my enthusiasm here?)
Fer sure! I believe Lagoon Amusement Park's famous slogan is: "The Second Happiest Place On Earth".
>>... It's an Idaho thing as we had snow this Memorial Weekend as well.
I hope that's not going to adversely affect the "Famous Potatoes" I'm looking forward to baking this coming 4th of July!!
[;^D
~ Stephen
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation
Howdy, Stephen T!
ReplyDeleteYou actually have your yearbook? I’m impressed. Nice graduation pic as well. I would have chosen Starbuck’s “Moonlight” song for sure. What a thrill to watch two drummers! I am surprised you like “Turn the Beat Around”, considering your normal tastes. I’m also surprised that Gloria Estefan wasn’t the original artist! Still, a great song! They all are. In fact, I’m voting for Tavares because it really does only take a minute. For instance, I met my future first husband in the last five minutes of the last day of 8th grade. He’d been in my homeroom class all year and I had no idea who he was till he wrote something sweet in my autograph book!
I liked everything about this battle!
Howdy, dIEDRE ~
Delete>>... You actually have your yearbook? I’m impressed.
Yeah, I take after my Ma, who was a notorious pack rat. (In fact, my Ma passed away in 2005 and I *STILL* haven't even gotten rid of her yet. She's in the corner of one of my closets, behind my broken guitar and 24 cases of empty Mickey's Big Mouth bottles. I'll get 'roun' to that mess... someday.)
>>... Nice graduation pic as well.
Aww, shucks! You disappoint me. All y'all done disappointed me. The reason I posted that picture was because that "wet look" hair style with the (inadvertent) 'spit curl' is hilarious! At least, to me it is! I guess my readers are just too damned polite to make fun of it. I was looking forward to all the comment section exchanges regarding that 'HORRIBLE HAIR', but ya'll dun disappointed me, gosh, gee-whiz.
>>... I’m voting for Tavares because it really does only take a minute. For instance, I met my future first husband in the last five minutes of the last day of 8th grade. He’d been in my homeroom class all year and I had no idea who he was till he wrote something sweet in my autograph book!
Aww, shucks. All I ever wrote in anyone's yearbook or autograph book was, "Have a bitchin' Summer! [Link> See you in September."
(Hokey-Smoke! I thought The Beach Boys did that song!! No wonder it's not on their 'ENDLESS SUMMER' album... which I was just now inspired to pop into my compact disc player.)
>>... I liked everything about this battle!
Dang! If you had written *THAT* in my yearbook, that's the ONE MINUTE that it would have taken for me. Well... it's not "Paris", but "We'll always have BOTB".
;^)
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
And Stephen,
ReplyDeleteGood battle it was a photo finish for me between Tavares and Vicki Sue. I suppose I gots to go with Vicki Sue as it was slightly better and more deeply imbedded in my memory. I too went to Grad Night on June 17, 1977... We drank some SoCo on the bus to Disneyland and even got pulled out of line and were told to behave or we wouldn't get in to the Happiest Place on Earth. Good times I tell ya. Oh, to be young again... I recall it being a very fun night...so you know that must have been early in my drinking career as I recall....Also recall standing in the school yard the morning after being a "little bit" hungover in the daylight and realizing High School was over which left a big lump in my stomach and made me feel all melancholy like. I really didn't have any idea what I was going to do next. But hey, look where I am now...I guess it worked out okay. But that was a good year as next up was a cross-country trip in the popcorn machine before it was a popcorn machine with Torch, Kranium, and Rob which opened up some new horizons.
JW,
Pooh
...AND POOH, THAT'S NOT ALL!...
Delete>>... Good battle
Yer damn right!
(Actually, it's not. Maybe I should have used 'Moonlight Feels Right' and just let Starbuck kick everyone else's patoot. Even if it meant my first shutout.)
>>... I suppose I gots to go with Vicki Sue as it was slightly better and more deeply imbedded in my memory.
Oh, gimme a break! As if I haven't known you since 1979 ('The Frisco Kid'). It's all about the "bumpy bits"! You know I know how yer sick, twisted mind works! (Well... not really, I don't. But if my mind were as tick and swisted as yourn is, I *would*.)
>>... I too went to Grad Night on June 17, 1977...
Well, I'll be hornswoggled! I'll bet you're that drunken punk who chased me around some parking meters in front of the Disneyland Hotel for twenty minutes that night! (Just so you know, if I hadn't had my spit curl looking just perfect that night, I would have told my sister, Bonehead, to kick yer ass!)
>>... We drank some SoCo on the bus to Disneyland
Oh, yeah, I remember that age in my, and everyone's, "maturity timeline". You were past 'Boone's Farm' but hadn't yet reached 'Mickey's Big Mouth'. That was a pretty good time, though.
>>... and even got pulled out of line and were told to behave or we wouldn't get in to the Happiest Place on Earth.
They weren't sayin' it was you and your people but... they'd "appreciate it".
>>... being a "little bit" hungover
Right, right!!
>>... realizing High School was over which left a big lump in my stomach and made me feel all melancholy like.
"JOHN WAYNE! JOHN WAYNE!!"
(;^d)
Truly, the very, Very, VERY best part of my BOTBs are the comments!
>>... next up was a cross-country trip in the popcorn machine before it was a popcorn machine with Torch, Kranium, and Rob which opened up some new horizons.
"Look, Ma-aaaah-n!"
This is strictly a [Link> "CONFIDENT HETEROSEXUAL" blog!!
~ Stephen
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation
How could I forget that, that trip also introduced me to Jeffy...Ma-aaaan-n cuz I'm baaaahd! Seems like you remember my life better than I do. Thanks for several laughs in your response my friend. And yup....it must have been the bumpy bits.
DeleteJW,
Pooh
>>... Seems like you remember my life better than I do.
DeleteWell, after the night I fixed your life, I figured it only made sense to also remember it.
(Plus, let's face it, some of your "memory" brain cells probably drowned to death in 'The Great Flood Of 1975 Through 1986'.)
~ Stephen
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation
Turn the beat Around gets my vote.
ReplyDelete~ EKIM
Delete.neht ythgirlA
[I turned the beat around for ya, Brother.]
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
You look a lot better in your senior portrait than I do in mine. I look like I should be sitting on Paul Winchell's lap.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, The only song I hadn't heard was Starbuck's. Loved the second part, which I guess is the reprise of "Little Bird." Didn't much like the first back, though.
Of the two remaining songs, I like Tavares's song better than Gloria Gaynor's, but still liked both. I'll give my vote to Tavares.
JOHN ~
DeleteWell, that "wet look" and accidental "spit curl" in my photo (not to mention the "Eagle Wing" shirt collars) makes it pretty hilarious. But I actually DO remember when you posted your senior portrait on your blog and...
...well, your description pretty well - Ha!-Ha! - nails it. (Sorry, Brother, but when yer right, yer right. And I'm not laughing AT you; I'm laughing WITH you.)
Didn't I see you as a very dangerous character in a [Link> Twilight Zone episode?
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
In my senior photo, I was sitting in a bathtub shirtless, wearing a monocle, while holding an oversized cocktail with a plastic straw. Why? Because I was a jackass, and I thought it was funny. That is my actual yearbook photo. I also took my ID badge photo with a giant afro wig on, because the picture taker never actually stopped to ask if it was my real hair.
ReplyDeleteGood times.
With that said, your yearbook photo probably aged a lot better than mine did.
I can't stand Starbucks, but I like Starbuck. That song was actually my least favorite, though. I grew up listening to disco, care of my parents, so I have a deep fondness for Turn the Beat Around. However, I'd never heard of the Tavares Brothers before, nor had I heard that song.
It Only Took a Minute... to pick that song as my bote. Fantastic song. Give my bote to the Brothers Tavares.
JULIO SEIS-ABEJA ~
Delete>>... In my senior photo, I was sitting in a bathtub shirtless, wearing a monocle, while holding an oversized cocktail with a plastic straw.
I would really like to see your 'ALCOHOLIC BEEFCAKE MR. PEANUT' photo! Not because I'm gay - like our friend Pooh (*above*) is ("John Wayne! John Wayne!!" - ;^D) - but just because, although I am a [Link> "Good Guy", I still dig funny stuffs!
>>... I also took my ID badge photo with a giant afro wig on, because the picture taker never actually stopped to ask if it was my real hair.
I still remember seeing that photo on yer ol' blog. Funny stuffs, mang! At seventeen, I didn't have the courage to be *that* outrageous. And now that I'm 60 years old and do, everyone just thinks... No. I take that back. "Thinking" is so-oooo "Twentieth Century"!
>>... I grew up listening to disco, care of my parents
You know, in Texas, that's still considered legal grounds for "Justifiable Homicide". Just sayin'...
>>... However, I'd never heard of the Tavares Brothers before, nor had I heard that song.
SMH! Never heard of The Tavares Brothers?! How about Abraham Lincoln? Have you ever heard of *him*?! Because it was "Honest Abe" Lincoln who set The Tavares Brothers free to sing!
>>... It Only Took a Minute... to pick that song as my bote. Fantastic song. Give my bote to the Brothers Tavares.
Consider it done, "Muh Bruhthuh!" (As our ginormous Italian amigo, Robert Barone, would say.)
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
Well, this was fun! It brought back lots of memories and had me looking up stuffs to refresh my memory.
ReplyDeleteI went to Disneyland Grad Night in 1970. NO, I am not that old, but close. I went when I was 15... the youngest student at my school to get to go. We had a small school but they had more tickets than we had seniors, and we had more space on the bus than seniors... so juniors and sophomores and one freshman were allowed to go. It was my first date, and I asked a few girls who turned me down (they were washing their hair as I recall) and eventually someone said yes. TERRIBLE date. Awful. I was not a huge extrovert, but she was as shy as could be and didn't speak ten words all night.
But your botb here got me doing research: I couldn't remember who our bands were. Turns out they were Paul Revere and the Raiders, Friends of Distinction (Grazing in the Grass,) Billy Joe Royal (Down in the Boondocks,) and Jackie Deshannon (What The World Needs Now.) I remember hearing some o' that music that night. I can't remember exactly what I heard, but I know I caught most of the P.R. and the R. set.
As for the battle here: I don't like starbuck OR starbucks. I thought The Tamale Bros (or was it the Flying Burrito Bros?) were OK. I agree wid youse about Turn the Beat around! That's my vote.
SIXGUN McBRUHTHUH-MAN ~
Delete>>... I went to Disneyland Grad Night in 1970. NO, I am not that old, but close.
Hokey-Smoke! I had no idea that Disneyland's "Grad Nite" went back *that* far. They probably started it the year Jesus was crucified - as a way to celebrate that.
>>... It was my first date, and I asked a few girls who turned me down (they were washing their hair as I recall)
Well, at least they were doing something important! I always got the flimsy "I'm sorting my sock drawer that night" response.
>>... TERRIBLE date. Awful. I was not a huge extrovert, but she was as shy as could be and didn't speak ten words all night.
And not 1 of the 9 words was "Yes", eh?
I HATE it when that happens. And it happens *ALL* the time!
>>... our bands were... Paul Revere and the Raiders, Friends of Distinction (Grazing in the Grass,) Billy Joe Royal (Down in the Boondocks,) and Jackie Deshannon (What The World Needs Now.)
WOW! As much as I distrust modern technology - and as much as I *KNOW* that this modern technology is very, very soon going to be the weapon used by the Biblical anti-Christ to create his New World Order ("Hell-On-Earth") - I gotta admit that sometimes this new technology is pretty dern convenient! How could you have obtained that 1st Century information without it?
And it was actually Al Gore's Internet which made it possible for me to determine that 'ME, LYNTH AND THE BEACH REPORT', the beloved cassette tape I made by recording radio stations (and which I listen to so often in these Biblical End-Time days), was created on Saturday, September 21, 1985.
My hat's off to Al Gore! I couldn't have dated that tape without 'im. ...In fact, I'm-a put that tape on and listen to it right this moment! (That tape is NOW a compact disc, thanks to mi amigo, Julio Seis-Abeja... who is not at all gay, like my ex-friend Pooh Lynth is. ;^D)
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
Obviously you are just doing a will he read this test...Whoooooo you callin' a confident non-heterosexual?
DeleteJW,
Pooh
"BUT NO, BUT NO, BUT NO!"
DeleteThinkin' maybe I wasn't lyin' through my teeth?
OK, "Man Card" restored.
(Good thing you protested, punk. Had you hadn't, you'd-a made me nervous. ;-)
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
Well, well, well...what a handsome Senior picture. Did ya drive all the girlie girls crazy, STMcC? Tell the truth.
ReplyDeleteMy Senior picture was a boring homage to muted brown tones and the trend for guitarists to put guitars in their photos. Fortunately, not ALL photos. 'Cause I'm weird.
Listening to all these tunes, I quickly push Starbuck back...nice tune, but not as iconic in my brain as the other two -- which are pretty much a tie. I kept going back and forth on my vote; partially because I also love Gloria Estefan's version of "Turn the Beat Around."
Vickie Sue Robinson gets ONE AND ONLY VOTE. Unless a stiff breeze come by and I change my mind. Where is the edit button on this thing? Technology...pffft.
DOC MacSIS ~
Delete>>... Well, well, well...what a handsome Senior picture. Did ya drive all the girlie girls crazy, STMcC? Tell the truth.
The "truth"? The actual real article, genuine, double-rectified bust head, aged in the keg, true fact truth is that my 1977 graduating class was massive - MASSIVE! - and I was the second shyest person in my class. The very shyest person in my graduating class was Eric - my best friend. Eric may have even been the shyest person in the entire school!
Did I drive all the girlie girls crazy? With *THAT* hair! The "Spit Curl Wet Look"? I was probably HORRIFIED when I first saw that senior portrait. But then, my hair always did have a mind of its own. I probably had as little control over my hair as I did over my hormones. (Guys have "hormones", right? ...I hope I didn't just say something really sissy.)
The sad fact is that a guy doesn't find out until 30-something years later that there were a couple girls who had a crush on him in high school. Of course, in my case, it wouldn't have mattered anyway. [Link> AT 17, I wouldn't have known what to do with a girlfriend, anyhow. I thought that the [Link> MYSTERY DANCE had something to do with breaking into a person's house while [Link> dancing 'THE HOKEY POKEY' (fast-forward to 30:14, and you'll see what I mean).
>>... My Senior picture was a boring homage to muted brown tones and the trend for guitarists to put guitars in their photos...
...with plastered-down, wet hair and a spit curl in the middle of their foreheads? Cuz that's cool, baby. *THAT'S* cool!
>>... pffft.
Cherdo, I'd appreciate it if you didn't use that kind of language in my blog's comment sections. This is a G-rated, Family Friendly blog, ya un'erstan'?
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
Yo, STMC the Dancin' Machine,
ReplyDeleteStarbuck's Rocket didn't work, on so many levels. So bad it's highly entertaining and I smiled a lot listening to it - very enjoyable. The song may have been ahead of its time (?) with robotic voices and predicting Pong-like synth sounds. Starbuck's Rocket gets instant cult status and gets my vote. Little Bird is just plain good and paints in stark relief the uniqueness of Rocket! The Plan 9 From Outer Space of Songs!
With Tavares, I was quite plussed with the great hooks. And, no, I'm not engaging in the bigotry of low expectations by promoting them from nonplussing to plussing simply based on the color of their skin. Amazing song, beautiful chorus. But Rocket/Little Bird is cult classic: I'm smiling just thinking about the songs.
Turn The Beat Around must be one of the fastest paced disco songs. Vocal from 1:25 to 1:53 is awesome. But nobody could keep up that pace for a whole song. Maybe, maybe Bjorn Borg who in the late 70's was so fit he had a standing heartrate of 45 BPM thus great stamina. I don't know why Borg didn't sing Turn The Beat Around. My research on that has yielded nothing.
As a disco connoisseur, I think "Le Freak" may have been the zeitgeist for more than a few shining moments. Chic can't fake the funk on the flipside, and never come wack on an old skool track. Also, they never ever front the stuff until they get enough.
Cool high school stories and good picture. I think you should have grown a 70's porn mustache and wore the white hat like the Starbuck guy on the cover/youtube thumbnail... Regardless, you definitely look way too serious to be a disco fan. Or you were thinking of "Turn The Beat Around" at that moment -- taking disco much more seriously than it was meant to be. (Having graduated in '84, I should have worn a silver sequin jacket and skinny tie - either that or a torn sweatshirt that says "MaNIaC!" - and the Miami Vice two-day beard stubble).
Cheers and I hope Saint Peter is more generous than the rope men at Studio 54. I heard Saint Peter also can't be bribed with coke, airplane bottles of whiskey, or Puerto Rican girls that are just dyin' to meet him.
G Dogg
"Rock and roll, Rock and roll. Rocket! sound effect. Rock and roll, Rock and roll. Rocket! sound effect" makes my day.
McG-DogG ~
DeleteHa!-Ha!
I confess, I never entertained that idea before, but... 'Rock 'N' Roll Rocket' as Rock music's version of 'Plan 9 From Outer Space' ...*that* is pretty funny! Especially since I am a huge Ed Wood / Plan 9 fan, and once upon a time I listed 'Plan 9' as one of my all-time Top 25 favorite movies! (It's *still* high on my list... for all the delicious, hysterically WRONG reasons!)
>>... I don't know why Borg didn't sing Turn The Beat Around. My research on that has yielded nothing.
Of course, I feel certain that your research is still only in its infancy, and I trust you will report back to us with any "future results you may find in the future" (as Criswell would say).
>>... I think you should have grown a 70's porn mustache and wore the white hat like the Starbuck guy on the cover/youtube thumbnail... Regardless, you definitely look way too serious to be a disco fan.
In 1977, I could have only grown the "99-pound weakling on the beach, sand kicked in his face" version of a "'70s Porn Mustache". [Fun Fact: In the comment section of some YouTube Miami Dolphins-related video, some guy wrote: Larry Csonka's mustache was tougher than I am! And that little tidbit comes to you courtesy of 'Great Moments In Internet Comments'. Join us again next week when we will feature comments found underneath 'Animal House' video clips! Same Bat-Time, Same Bat-Channel!]
>>... Puerto Rican girls that are just dyin' to meet him.
Mang! As I read that line, I could actually HEAR it in my mind exactly as Mick said (sang?) it, but it took my brain 2-4 minutes to figure out where I knew that line from - even though my mind was actually able to recite it with the exact same inflection / syllable emphasis that Mick did. ...It's a bitch to get old, G-DogGMang! Don't let it happen to you, Brother!!
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
Al Bondigas here. You were wise to not use "Moonlight feels right" as they fer sure protly would have run away with this thang. I logged it in as one of my favorites on Spotify, Pandora, Iheart radio etc. Rock 'N' Roll Rocket really aint my style though. You see that Dean wannabe in the upper right of the album cover? Anyway, I liked "It only takes a minute" by Tavares, and it really brings back memories, but I guess ahm gonna have to make a rulin fer "Turn The Beat Around", but it sho was close. Very tough decision to rule on. Our grad night was in 1979 and Rose Royce was one of the bands at Disneyland. They had some big hits in the 70's like "Car wash" and "I wanna get next to you". Me and Walsh had a few beers before hand and I remember us acting stupid on the bus to Disneyland, thinking we were all funny n shit. What else is new, right? Anyway, rulin fer Vicki Sue Robinson. That's it, thats muh rulin!!
ReplyDeleteJUDGE MEATBALL ~
DeleteOnce again, your BOTB bote has taken me by surprise!
I figured that for sure you would have heard the sounds of 'Rock 'N' Roll Rocket' coming from my bedroom in the late '70s so many times that you'd be boting for it, if for no other reason than the 'Familiarity Factor'.
A "Dean wannabe" in the upper right corner?! Who you talkin' 'bout, Willis? I don't see any Dean wannabe on that entire album cover. ...You off the meds again?
And not only did I figure you'd bote for Starbuck (whenever you got "'round to it"), I also figured that 'Turn The Beat Around' would have been your number 3 choice of the 3 choices! I had you figgered like this:
#1: Starbuck
#2 Tavares
#3 Vicki Sue Robinson.
The older we get, the LESS I know about your musical tastes! (OK, who are you really, and what have you done with my Brother?)
You just gave me a future BOTB idear: 'Car Wash' by Rose Royce versus 'Workin' At The Car Wash Blues' by Jim Croce. That contest may be coming eventually to a planet near YOU!!
~ Stephen
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation
Stephen, you could be my dad! He graduated from high school in 1978. I have seen his prom pictures with his fro and bell-bottom jeans. My sister, who was born in 1998, always chuckles at my dad's fashion choices in the 70s.
ReplyDeleteMy choice goes to "IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE"/ I like this song. I also like the 90s Japanese dance cover of this song. Performed by Golbies (whose name is from the nickname of the Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev), it was released in the early 90s. Golbies was part of the 90s girl group Tokyo Performance Doll. Ryoko Shinohara was part of Golbies and she would later score two hits that sold over a million copies. This a concert video of the Japanese version: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x614tlk
Check out my newest battle!
Thanks for checking in with a BOTB bote, AMY!
DeleteYou got it in just barely under the wire and so it got counted in my Results tally.
Kinda funny to hear this song being sung in Japanese. Amazingly, though, how well the foreign words still worked within the distinctive melody.
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
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/2020/06/botb-results-2020-june-1-or-high-school.html
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'