Welcome to my 3rd installment of Battle Of The Bands' Battle Of The Booze (BOTB's BOTB). This time we have two of the most famous bands in Rock music history battling it out for a future Playoff spot. It's GIN (The Beatles) versus WINE & PINK CHAMPAGNE on ice (The Eagles).
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Brief reminder: Every song I use in BOTB's BOTB must mention a type of booze and/or a brand name of booze or a cocktail made with booze.
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As most o' youz peoples know by now, in my very early twenties I was a member of [link> 'The League Of Soul Crusaders', perhaps the funniest, most unusual and outrageous drinking gang of all time. Below are a few excerpts from "the book", if you're interested in reading them.
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As most o' youz peoples know by now, in my very early twenties I was a member of [link> 'The League Of Soul Crusaders', perhaps the funniest, most unusual and outrageous drinking gang of all time. Below are a few excerpts from "the book", if you're interested in reading them.
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'ROCKY RACCOON' is the fifth track on the second side of The Beatles' "White Album", and it was also the center and highlight of "The Hangover Waltz". It includes these lyrics:
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Now, the doctor came in, stinking of GIN
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said, "Rocky, you've met your match"
And Rocky said, "Doc, it's only a scratch
And I'll be better, I'll be better, Doc, as soon as I am able"
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In 1977, The Eagles had a massive #1 Billboard hit titled 'HOTEL CALIFORNIA':
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So I called up the Captain
"Please bring me my wine"
He said, "We haven't had that spirit here
Since 1969"
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Mirrors on the ceiling
The pink champagne on ice
And she said, "We are all just prisoners here
Of our own device"
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Remember: This is really about the songs and not the booze. So, in ye olde comment section, please vote for which song you liked better betwixt these two, and then please visit the other wonderful BOTBers and also drop your two cents in their comment sections.
* See the BOTBer links over there --->
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I'll return here on or about February 8th with my own vote and the final tally.
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Alright, let's get on it.
Let's get ON this thing!
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ROCKY RACCOON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDcDCZGcZj8
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HOTEL CALIFORNIA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BciS5krYL80
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~ Stephen
"Please bring me my wine"
He said, "We haven't had that spirit here
Since 1969"
.
Mirrors on the ceiling
The pink champagne on ice
And she said, "We are all just prisoners here
Of our own device"
.
Remember: This is really about the songs and not the booze. So, in ye olde comment section, please vote for which song you liked better betwixt these two, and then please visit the other wonderful BOTBers and also drop your two cents in their comment sections.
* See the BOTBer links over there --->
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I'll return here on or about February 8th with my own vote and the final tally.
.
Alright, let's get on it.
Let's get ON this thing!
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ROCKY RACCOON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDcDCZGcZj8
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HOTEL CALIFORNIA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BciS5krYL80
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~ Stephen
I've never been drunk, so I can't relate to all that fun (if you can call it that) you boys had back in the day. lol Anyway, I know the Beatles song by name only but I don't think I listened to it before now. It really doesn't do much for me. Probably because I have no emotional connection to it. I'm going to give my vote to the song, "Hotel California" because I just love the Eagles and this is one of their most popular songs from the 70s. I'm pretty confident that most people will side with me on this one. Great battle, my friend! You'll find my BOTB up running today, so drop by when you can. ;)
ReplyDeleteCAThy ~
DeleteIn the book I wrote, just before the Prologue (I guess we could call it the Pre-Prologue) I wrote this:
AN ATTACK ON THE READER
(A.K.A. "The Author's Note")
I dare say that if nothing in these pages appeals to your sense of humor, then most likely you have none. Conversely, if you laugh throughout, then you have overlooked the pathos and perhaps lack a certain sensitivity. And... if upon completion of this writing, you can honestly say that you found absolutely no likeability in any of the characters and find their every action vulgar and offensive... then for you, I have this simple explanation: I GUESS YOU HAD TO BE THERE..... I GUESS YOU HAD TO BE DRUNK.
That pretty well summed it up. A lot of it I still find quite funny; some of it is a bit scary (when I remember back); but ALL of it was extremely unique. Although I eventually grew up ("NEVER! I'M PETER PAN & TOM SAWYER FOREVER!"), I still consider those 4 or so years to be some of the greatest fun I ever had. Every day was an adventure, and we were too stoopid (and/or drunk) to be fearful. We believed in seizing the day and leading the league!
Thanks for bringing your two cents for the BOTB kitty, my friend!
~ D-FensDogG
It just always puzzles me when people dealing with hangovers have blinding headaches, can't remember what they did the night before, etc that I fail to see the fun in it. But, what do I know. lol I'm not oppose to alcohol consumption when done reasonably but I have no desire to start drinking. That's a good thing. As I've said many times, if I'm going to take in large quantities of high calories, I'd rather do it in a slice of cake or ice cream. :D Have a good weekend, my good buddy!
DeleteCAThy ~
DeleteAll of my--- the majority of my--- heavy drinking was done when I was young, and stupid, and blind... drunk. (A dumb dogG!)
When I became a Christian (April 6, 1994), I began to curtail my indulgence. And then after I read The Holy Bible for the first time (the 1st of 30 times), and realized that "drunkenness" was a sin in the Eyes of The Lord, that really changed my drinking habits. There is nothing wrong in consuming alcohol. After all, Jesus drank wine Himself, and the very first miracle He ever performed was turning water into wine (about 757 to 908 bottles' worth of wine). And dark red wine has been proven to have health benefits.
Although I enjoy publicly playing the part of 'Dean Martin', in truth, I am careful not to drink too much. I enjoy a variety of "Evidence", in moderation, but it's been a lo-ooo-ng time since I've been intoxicated. (Too-ooo-ng lo-ooo-ng, if you axe me!)
Fun Fact: Although Dean Martin was known as a major drinker, in reality, he would slowly sip and nurse the same martini all night long. But because he was ALWAYS seen with a martini glass in his hand (unbeknownst to most people, the same martini glass all night long), he acquired a reputation as a booze hound. And so he decided to play that reputation up for all it was worth.
Speaking of martinis... I haven't had one in at least 15 to 20 minutes!
'Scuse me Cathy, but I gotta run now. I hear the doctor from 'Rocky Raccoon' calling me.
(And "I love the smell of Tanqueray in the evening!")
~ Dr. Al K. Holuk
I love your memoirs, Stephen, and you are a talented writer! Rocky Raccoon is a fun song, but it doesn't do much for me, musically. On the other hand, Hotel California is a huge favourite, so my vote goes to The Eagles. Cheers! 🍹
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you so much for the kind words, DEBBIE! I truly appreciate them!!
DeleteThat book was a Christmas gift for my friends (my fellow League members) and I had to type it as fast as I could (and needed help from my Ma) because Christmas was just around the corner. I wanted to put the story on paper before I forgot some of the things I could still remember. ;^D
It turned out to be about 200 single-spaced pages, and I didn't have time to go back and correct typos and grammatical errors. (All done on a couple of old typewriters.)
I'm a bit surprised my Ma didn't have a heart attack when she found out what her kids had been up to for years. One day she started to tell my Pa about some of the stories in "the book" but he stopped her and said, "I don't want to know!" (And *he* had been in the Navy during the Korean War. Ha!)
Thank you so much for coming by to spike the punch bowl with a vote and lovely compliments.
~ D-FensDogG
Your Ma was obviously an open-minded woman! ☺ I bet your friends loved their Christmas present. Hey, are you going to come by and vote on my BOTB?? We are missing you pithy insights!
DeleteSoitenly! I'll be by to vote. You know I would never pass up an opportunity to shoot off my big mouth for all to see. I've just been waitin' a small spell in hopes of corralling Judge Al so he can also add a rulin' (which invariably seems to cancel out my vote).
Delete~ D-FensDogG
"Rocky Racoon" is dear to my heart and I gave that White Album many listens back in the day. However, in my view, "Hotel California" is a far superior song and I must give my vote to the Eagles in this round.
ReplyDeleteLee
There's no HITH!
DeleteThere's no HITH!
How am I supposed to respond to comments when...
There's no Hooch In The House?!
~ Dr. Stephen
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation
I'm still stinned that Cathy was never drunk...even my mom got drunk once( and never again). I would never waltz...too many spins and I'd be spinning already. I would have a bloody Caesar in the morning...vodka, clamato juice, tobacco, black pepper and a celery stick. It seemed to work. Now I would just be placed on a stretcher and sent to the morgue. I l9ve both songs but, as much as it pains me, I am voting against the Beatles( ughh sacrilege) a d voting for Hotel California even though I was never one for that drink.
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT ~
DeleteMy Ma got drunk only three times in her life.
(She told that to me, my brother and my sister countless times! ;-)
I've never had a Bloody Caesar, but our Bloody Mary-drinking kept Jolly Jack's bar in business. (Jolly Jack's got mentioned numerous times in my book manuscript. It was a bar for losers, and conveniently located just two blocks from our house. Or as we used to call it, "Within stumbling distance." Coincidence?...)
I thanks ya for coming by with some vodka for the punch!
~ D-FensDogG
Like Cathy, I have never been drunk either... though I tried once. A girl I was dating thought it would be interesting to see me lose my composure and be out of control... since I was always in control. Over three hours I ingested 3 seven and seven's, 4 kamizazes, and 2 tall London iced teas. Nada. Zip. Zero. "Is something supposed to happen?" So I gave up. Friends have told me that I must have a high capacity for booze, but what do I know?
ReplyDeleteAs for this battle: I like BOTH bands. The Eagles are one of the best ever. The Beatles are perhaps the best ever... although I know El Jefe McCarthy strongly disagrees!
Howsumever: THIS Beatles song is maybe my least favorite of any song hey wrote. Cannot stand it. I turn it off every time I heard it, and in fact only made it through about half the song this time. Hotel California is a superior song, as Lee said. The big problem with it was being overplayed more than any song except that awful Minnie Ripperton song from the 70s! (BUT... sung proper;y, "Lovin' You" can be the best!)
The Eagles win this battle easily, in my book!
Sixgun McItchyfinger
SIXGUN McTEETOTALER ~
Delete>>... Over three hours I ingested 3 seven and seven's, 4 kamizazes, and 2 tall London iced teas. Nada. Zip. Zero.
Where the helck were you when The League needed a 'Designated Driver'?!
[Fun Fact: Everyone thought they could drink with The League... until they tried drinking with The League. That's when "wallets dropped".]
Lemme know when you wanna conduct that experiment again. I know a certain saloon in a certain town that makes a certain version of 'Gorilla Milk'. (Not to be confused with 'Raccoon Milk'.) It looks like a milkshake and tastes like a milkshake. And after you've had two or three of them... I will be your 'Designated Driver'.
I'd like the Beatles better if (by law) they'd been required to pay a portion of every dollar they made to Brian Wilson & Bob Dylan, beginning on the date of May 26, 1967.
>>... Howsumever: THIS Beatles song is maybe my least favorite of any song they wrote. Cannot stand it.
McBrother, it will likely come as no surprise to you that this is probably my very favorite Beatles song that they ever wrote. Gotta love that Great Musical Divide, eh? (The Grand Canyon? Ha! Just a cute li'l dimple!)
>>... The big problem with it was being overplayed more than any song except that awful Minnie Ripperton song from the 70s!
GOL! I see (and like) what you did there.
It probably depended upon what radio stations in which states a person most listened to but... in Southern California, where I was, 'HOTEL CALIFORNIA' truly was one of the most overplayed Rock songs ever. I think I'd put at #2, just barely behind 'BLACK WATER' by The Doobie Brothers. (So, at least we get to end on a *note* of agreement.)
~ D-FensDogG
I'm going with Rocky Raccoom and The Beatles here. I've always liked the song.
ReplyDeleteBROTHER JOHN ~
DeleteThat's a pretty poor excuse for upsetting a perfectly good shutout, but... all goot things must come to an end.
~ D-FensDogG
Hotel California! But you can keep the wine and champagne; folks tend to ferment in the intense Arizona sunshine ;-) Looks like good flying weather for the Eagles...
ReplyDeletedEAR dIEDRE ~
DeleteI wish I had a dollar for every cold beer I drank during my 20 years in Arizona! (Of course, I'd still be poor, but... I could buy more beer now.)
The Eagles are definitely flying toward the playoffs in 'BOTB's Battle Of The Booze'. The competition is going to be stiff (just like the cocktails) but 'Hotel *hick!* California' will have a chance to advance to the Stupor Bowl.
~ D-FensDogG
Hey Stephen T. I need to write myself a note to remember to email you! Becoming "older" is really effecting my not-so-good in the first place memo!😁
ReplyDeleteHey, Yo, BECKY-O! ~
DeleteSend yourself an Email that says "Email Stephen". (I actually do stuff like that. Age mid-60s ain't for sissies!)
I can still be reached at the same Bat-Time, same Bat-Channel. (Er... I mean, same Bat-Email Address, here at "stately McCarthy Manor".)
~ Bat-DogG
POSTSCRIPT: No vote for The Bugs, or The California Vultures?
Stupid auto correct! I didn't type "memo". I typed "memory" !!!
ReplyDeleteBECKY ~
DeleteI knew that. (I got the memo. ;^)
~ "Bad!" Bat-DogG
I always love reading and learning more about the League. Three things I can say I've never done... gotten drunk, or done the Hangover Waltz, or danced to The Beatles. Not very danceable music. Nor have I heard Rocky Raccoon until this week.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I'm not the biggest fan of either song. With The Eagles, I think it's just because they still practically play that song hourly on the local classic rock station that I'm beyond sick of it. I've also never been much for The Beatles. With that said, I do like that little spot in the middle where they open up and start hammering on that tack piano. THAT part I can dance to, and that part I enjoy, so give my bote to The Beatles... and then tell Google to let me sign in here (it won't, no matter how much I refresh the page).
~Chief Julio (who prefers his Rockys as squirrels)
6-B ~
Delete>>... I can say I've never... gotten drunk
Hokey-Smoke! Chit 'n' Begorrah! You write that like you're proud of it! (Contrary to popular belief, a 151-proof rum *IS* still on the market. There's no reason you should have to go through life being denied your rightful experiences!)
>>... With that said, I do like that little spot in the middle where they open up and start hammering on that tack piano.
That's the part where the pacing circle went into Mach-5 speed and the jigging began. In other words, it was the highlight of The Hangover Waltz. (Also known as... the start of the next morning's hangover.)
Mucho thanks-o for coming by with a "bote" for The Fab Four. Surprisingly, they need all the help they can get in this match-up. The Beatles are getting smashed like bugs in a bug-smashing contest!
~ D-FensDogG
And Stehehephen,
ReplyDeleteGood battle agin! Having both been a victim of the Hangover (and having benefited from the) Waltz this is a tough one. Both songs are definitely embedded in the soundtrack of my life. Historically, I see the songs in two different eras in my short-lived drinking career with Hotel California (HC)coming earlier in my drinking career than Rocky Racoon (RR). So it comes down to drinking and drugs (HC) and more straight forward (better said: not so straight if its done right) drinking (RR).
So now it comes down to which song would fit in better at Bay Street. And I think you can see it coming like you could see the carpet worn threadbare due to the numerous ovals being made each day, sometimes, by the both miserable and happy participants of the Hangover Waltz. Rocky Racoon gets the vote, hands down.
Hotel California falls more in the Facade Rock genre. Now it has its merits and is a good song and the Eagles had some good songs but had one too many farewell tours.
JW,
Poooohooohooohooo!
...AND, POOH, THAT'S NOT ALL!...
Delete'The Hangover Waltz'... it ain't that pretty at all, but... but... hmmm... I got nuttin'.
It was probably only fittin' that the Bay Street house was torn down after we were finished with it. It wasn't much good for anything after that. (Who knew that a demolition crew could do to that house in three days what we'd been trying, and failing, to do over the course of five years?)
My dear ol' drinkin' buddy, let me express my 101-Proof Thanks for coming by again and contributing a pint of SoCo to my punch bowl remedy! (Between the two of us, I think we can remember a good 28% of everything that happened in the early 1980s.)
~ Dr. DogG
*POSTSCRIPT: ...AND, POOH....
DeleteLet the world never forgeteth that I was the last person who ever drank an alcoholic beverage with you! I want *FULL HUMAN(-ish) CREDIT* for that momentous, monumental event in '86!
You drank your very last 'Mickey's Big Mouth' with me. Which also happened to be your very last alcoholic beverage EVER! (...Not counting the last five cans of Budweiser. GOL! ;^)
~ D-FensDogG (w/ a 'Fine Memory')
And I can think of no other person I would rather have had my last Mickey's with my friend. What with straightening out my life and all. As much as we tried with Bay Street the only truly thing we probably demolished was our livers and reputations.
Delete>>... the only truly thing we probably demolished was our livers and reputations.
DeleteBoth are overrated, anyway.
Plus, it's felly hard-uh to demolish a reputation what ain't no goot to start with.
(I call it a Win-Win situation, muh Bruhthuh!)
~ D'DogG
Hey there Stephen!
ReplyDeleteGuess who finally is making an attempt to visit and give out votes? If you guessed me - you would be correct!
Apologies for the tardiness of my vote. Towards the end of January I caught a nasty bug. The docs think I may have had covid, but I took my sweet time getting seen by a professional and it was too late to verify. To add insult to injury I started radiation. They are knocking down 2 spots near my esophagus this time, so I get to be seen 5 days a week through the 20th. It's been both good and tough. In addition, my counselor has been encouraging me to share my story with others. She thinks I should do some videos. So once I kick this cruddy cough I will be working on that. Overall I feel good, just tired.
I enjoyed the snippet of your book. You should do it on audible. Would be great fun to hear the stories as being told (also we can't see your typos in audible)
I have heard of both of these tunes, but only one resonates with me - The Eagles.
So that's one more vote for those birds.
-MMQE
MMQE ~
DeleteThis has been a Battle "for the birds" (as dIEDRE would say).
You are not tardy as long as the voting window is still open... and it IS, by golly-gosh & gee-whiz!
And the hits just keep on comin', eh? (Too bad you're not a professional singer!)
I've got your all-around improved health in my daily prayers. That's the Spiritual prescription.
The physical prescription is:
Ryebon 101 (Two doubles every evening.)
Ryebon 101? It's a remedy of my own invention: half Wild Turkey 101 Rye & half Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon. Add 7-Up for its stomach-settling qualities.
Two doubles of Ryebon 101 should make you feel much better... or put you to sleep. Either one is a positive outcome in my book.
Seriously, git you better, MMQE!
~ Doctor DogG
Al Bondigas here. Just thinking of the song Rocky Raccoon gives me a bit of a hangover. The feelings that go with that song are indelibly inscribed in my head. I need three extra strength excedrins just thinking about it. Ok, on to my rulin'; I like 'Hotel California', but, it's far from one of my favorite Eagles songs, however, I'm makin a rulin' for them. I don't like the Beatles one bit, in fact they aren't even allowed on my radio, but, Rocky Raccoon is one of the few songs by them that I do like, just not enough to win the battle. I guess that's a long worded way of sayin' rulin' fer 'Hotel California'. That's it, that's muh rulin!!
ReplyDeleteJUDGE AL ~
DeleteI dersn't dislike The Beatles to the extent that you do, but I definitely and radically changed my opinion about them over the years. Funny to remember that, when I was 15 years old, The Beatles were my #1 all-time favorite band. Today, I like maybe - maybe - just a half-dozen of their songs.
Yip! 'Rocky Raccoon' (which I will always like) isn't the easiest song for me to listen to. I enjoy doing so, but boy, oh boy, do those feelings of pain & nausea come flooding back into my memory. Not sure I would have survived some of those mornings had it not been for that hair of the dog! (And, no, I ain't referring to Mickey.)
Yer brother,
~ Stephen-Boy