BATTLE OF THE BANDS: JAN. 15, 2025 (Or, THE RAT PACK, BING & COLUMBO Versus HANK & HIS ROWDY FRIENDS)

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This'll be a "goot juan" or my name isn't 

Baby-Face Braunschweiger D-FensDogG!
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This installment of BOTB's Battle Of The Booze is "demon RUM" & "bootleg GIN" versus "BEER on ice"... 

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OR... 

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Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bing Crosby, Peter Falk, and King Tut Victor Buono versus Hank "Bocephus" Williams Jr., George Jones, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Little Jimmy Dickens, Paul Williams, Cheech y Chong, George Thorogood, Mel Tillis, Kris Kristofferson, Grandpa Jones and Porter Wagoner, etc. (Psst! I love Mel Tillis. But don't mention that to my Momma... she's tryin' to forget about it.)
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This is one of the rare occasions when I am allowing voters - should they wish to do so - to also take the videos into consideration while deciding how to vote. And you can click the video URL links if'n you want to see them more bigger.
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The first song is 'MISTER BOOZE' from the 1964 movie 'Robin And The Seven Hoods'.
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MR. BOOZE
by The Rat Pack & Friends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjFyX2sSTGs

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When you were younger, did you have any rowdy friends? I've always wondered what that would be like, as all of my friends were teetotalin', tie-wearin', church-goin' wallflowers. We never got invited to hang out with the "cool kids".
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ALL MY ROWDY FRIENDS ARE COMING OVER TONIGHT
by Hank Williams Jr. & Rowdy Friends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2GBQqSKl8w

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Please vote for the song and/or video you liked best, and then be kind enough to visit all of the other BOTBers (see links in right sidebar) and deposit your two cents in their Battles.
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I intend to return to the comment section here on January 22nd with my own vote and the final tally.
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~ STMcC
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: MARGARITA DAY 2025 (Or, THE CHAMPS Versus THE BUTTON-DOWN BRASS)

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 HAPPY  MARGARITA  DAY!  

"A Tradition Since 1986 

(...Except For 1994)"

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A couple of announcements before The Main Event:

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1) Remember that Mary, Mary, Quite Extraordinary (MMQE) is now bloggin' & BOTBin' at this site:

https://jinglejanglejungle.blogspot.com/

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2) For the foreseeable future, I am reverting to my original practice of posting my BOTB Results at the bottom of the comment section of the actual contest, rather than creating a separate BOTB Results page. 

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BOTB's 2025  Margarita  Day 

Battle Of The Booze

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My Pa experienced his first-ever Margarita on New Year's Day in 1986, thus beginning the 'Margarita Day' tradition. Pa went Home in 1996, but I carry on the tradition in his absence. And, as most everyone knows, the primary booze in a Margarita is tequila. 

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This blogfest, Battle Of The Bands (BOTB), began 11.5 years ago. There are no real "rules" in BOTB, except for this: There should be, at the very least, some tenuous theme that ties the two (or three?) combatants together. I mean, we don't want to see a Battle between 'How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?' by Patti Page & The Sex Pistols' 'God Save The Queen'. 

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Nevertheless, anyone who's been participating in BOTB for awhile knows that there are some unwritten forewarnings in the unwritten 'Book Of BOTB Forewarnings'; and the very first unwritten forewarning is this: #1: One should not put (or, "Thou shalt not pit", as it's worded in the unwritten Prince James Version) a cover version of a massive hit song against the original massive hit song... unless one seeks a massive blowout or even a complete shutout. 

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Therefore, I know perfectly well that what I'm about to do in my first BOTB installment of 2025 is playing  with fire. However, I enjoy the challenge of messing around with matches and a bottle of 190-proof Everclear. Call me crazy MISTER Crazy.

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'Tequila' -- The Champs' original recording was a #1 Billboard hit & has been heard by everyone many times. So, putting a relatively unknown cover version against it is simply BOTB insanity, no? Here ya go... 

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TEQUILA 

by The Champs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_JFLb1IItM

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TEQUILA 

by The Button-Down Brass 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCJTwBIrDhk

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Please vote in the comment section for the recording you like best, and then please visit all of the other BOTBers and "bote" in their Battles. 

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I'll return here on or about Jan. 8th with my own vote and the Final Tally.

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~ Stephen T. McCarthy 

BOTB RESULTS: 2024, DEC. 15 (Or, SIMON & GARFUNKEL Versus FRANK SINATRA)

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My sincere thanks to everyone who came by to listen and vote in my BOTB's Battle Of The Booze contest which took place HERE. It was between Simon & Garfunkel's 'Hazy Shade Of Winter' & Frank Sinatra's 'It Was A Very Good Year'. It was a very good Battle and I had fun foolin' around in the comment section.

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The contest went back & forth, and with 6 votes in it was tied up at 3 to 3. 

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As much as I dig Simon & Garfunkel in general, and 'Hazy Shade...' specifically, that Sinatra recording contains oodles & oodles of saudade (or what I refer to as goldenshadow - a term I invented for that feeling). So, my own "bote" went to Sinatra, leaving us with 2024's final Final Result looking like this:

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FINAL RESULT: 

Simon & Garfunkel = 7 votes 

Frank Sinatra = 5 votes 

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Therefore, S&G will advance to the eventual Battle Of The Booze playoff rounds. For Sinatra, it was a very good year but... it's essentially over now. 

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Mary (MMQE) of 'Jingle Jangle Jungle' will be rejoining us BOTBers on January 1st, 2025. And I will also be back with a boozy 'Margarita Day' battle on that same date. Please return here for that goot stuffs. Until then...

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I Wish You A Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year (to coin an expression). 

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~ D-FensDogG 

The Original Christmas Canine

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: 2024, DEC. 15 (Or, SINATRA Versus SIMON & GARFUNKEL)

Santa Badenov sez, "Brrr! Shrinkage!"

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Welcome to my last BOTB's Battle Of The Booze installment of 2024. I'm thinking about Winter and The End Of Another Year. 

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I've always been a big fan of Simon & Garfunkel's music in general. However, their song 'Hazy Shade Of Winter' will always be intertwined with my memories of the late > Linda Haley (a.k.a. Anniee). In 2011, I wrote this about her:

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I’m rather jaded ... so it really requires something quite out of the ordinary for me to sit up and take notice. And then just when you feel that no one can much impress you anymore, you meet someone who, by the force of their personality, almost demands that you get to know them better, that you make the necessary effort to develop and maintain a friendship with that person. In other words: One day you’re surfing your little strip of Blogosphere Beach when Anniee enters.

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And, lucky for us, 'Hazy Shade Of Winter' includes a reference to booze:

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Funny how my memory skips

Looking over manuscripts

Of unpublished rhyme

Drinking my vodka and lime

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My Pa liked Frank Sinatra's singing, but my Ma greatly loved it; while I was very slow in recognizing any distinctly notable talent in his vocals. For many years, he just sounded like most of the other crooners to me. 

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However, even before I came to appreciate Sinatra's singing, I always did really embrace his recordings of 'Winchester Cathedral' and 'It Was A Very Good Year'. 

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Luckily for us, that second song includes these lyrics:

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But now the days are short

I'm in the autumn of the year

And now I think of my life as vintage wine from fine old kegs

From the brim to the dregs

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So, it's "vodka and lime" versus "vintage wine". Please vote in the comment section for the song you prefer, and then please visit all of the other BOTBers and drop your two cents in their Battles. I'll return here on or about Dec. 22nd with my own vote and the final final tally. 

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HAZY SHADE OF WINTER 

by Simon & Garfunkel 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSd4QJBEMvk

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IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR 

by Frank Sinatra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBxCafXgPL8

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Bless & Be Blessed!!

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~ D-FensDogG 

The Christmas Canine

BOTB RESULTS: 2024, DEC. 1 (Or, CLIFF RICHARD Versus SCROOGE & A CHRISTMAS SPIRIT)

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BOTB's Battle Of The Booze contest took place HERE, and it was between the songs 'Mistletoe & Wine' and 'I Like Life' from the 1970 musical 'Scrooge'.
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I was determined to use 'I Like Life' because, secretly, I was thinking of this BOTB installment more as a promotional campaign for 'Scrooge' than an actual musical contest. However, I had a heck of a time trying to find a competing Christmas song that mentioned some form of booze. There were some silly novelty songs I came across that were essentially about getting laminated (a.k.a. intoxicated) during the Christmas season. I don't do that, and I didn't want to use a song like that.
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Finally I came across the Cliff Richard song which I genuinely liked. What I appreciated about it was how it lyrically combined sentiments about Christ, the King of kings, with some of the more secular aspects of the Christmas season. In that sense, it kind of reminded me of the song 'Here Comes Santa Claus' :
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Here comes Santa Claus
Right down Santa Claus Lane
He doesn't care if you're rich or poor
He loves you just the same
Santa knows that we're all God's children
And that makes everything right
So fill your hearts with Christmas cheer
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight
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Nevertheless, I'm sure everyone realized that my own vote would be going to the song from 'Scrooge', which is hands down my favorite filmed version of 'A Christmas Carol' (it is so much fun!) 
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And Scrooge made one of the all-time great BOTB comebacks. At one point in the Battle, 'I Like Life' was getting beaten 5-1 by 'Mistletoe And Wine'. But the contest ended up looking like this:

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FINAL TALLY
'Mistletoe And Wine' = 6 votes
'I Like Life' = 7 votes
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Hokey-Smoke & I'll be dogged! What I was thinking of as being mostly a movie recommendation turned into as good a BOTB installment as is possible!
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My most sincere "THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" to everybody who took the time to visit 'n' vote. Y'all made this a terrific Battle Of The Booze contest!
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Barring any unforeseen catastrophes, I intend to return here on December 15th with my final Battle of the year, and I hope YOU will return here, too. Until then...
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God bless us, every one!
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~ Stephen
The Christmas Canine

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: 2024, DEC. 1 (Or, MISTLETOE & WINE Versus "THE MILK OF HUMAN KINDNESS")

'Scrooge' quotes on the back of my bedroom door.

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WELCOME to my Christmas edition of Battle Of The Bands' Battle Of The Booze! From my very earliest memories up to this present day, I have always loved everything about CHRISTMAS! In fact, I consider Christmas to be Winter's only redeeming quality. I adored Christmas even before I knew "the Reason for the season" .

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Christmas -- I love the music, the lights, the candy & cards, the trees & decorations, the egg nog ekker nog, hot buttered rum, excited kids & harried adults. Believe it or not, I even love the "commercialism" and the stockings hung behind the bar with care. I'm crazy about the old school Xmas movies and the animated  children's TV specials. Helck, I even love fruitcake and the dogs barking 'Jingle Bells'.

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I have a soft spot in my heart for Santa Claus riding a No(r)elco razor through the fake snow; and this is still the greatest version of 'Carol Of The Bells' that I've ever seen:

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In 1987, I worked for U.C.L.A.'s Parking Service Department. One night in December, I walked into base and found two of my best friends, [link> Lonnie & Kathleen (later known as "The Countess"), loudly singing some song... 

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"Thank you very much! 

Thank you very much! 

That's the nicest thing that anyone's 

ever done for me!"

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The Fabulous Countess & The Famous Cartoonist (Lonnie)

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I waited until they were finished singing and then I asked, "What's that from?" Their mouths hung open a minute or two, while they looked at me as if I had lobsters crawling out of my ears. And then, simultaneously, they both shouted, "SCROOGE!!" I had seen versions of 'A Christmas Carol', but I had never seen 'Scrooge' (1970) starring Albert Finney. It was a musical and, at that time, I was unknowingly burdened by the astoundingly incorrect belief that I disliked musicals. 

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Well, Kathleen (The Countess) made certain that I saw 'Scrooge' that month and I was bowled over by how much I enjoyed it! (Some great acting; fantastic sets; terrific music; Holiday humor, and probably the most joyful ending of any film I've ever seen!)

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Every December I watch 'Scrooge' and 'It's A Wonderful Life' (the colorized version, "thank you very much!"). Both of them are amongst my all-time Top 10 Favorite Movies. Which one do I love the most? The one I happen to be watching when the question is asked is the one I love the most!

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It's now officially the Christmas season - a time that relates to Love & Miracles - so let's listen to a couple of songs that mention miracle water wine. 

Yeah, wine not? 

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MISTLETOE & WINE  

by Cliff Richard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrmeNIxpEPM

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My Italian "Major Award" Christmas sweater.

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I  LIKE  LIFE 

by Scrooge & The Ghost Of Christmas Present 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpTxBuo8zno

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Please vote for which song you preferred (regardless of the videos), and then please visit all of the other BOTBers and cast your two cents in their Battles. 

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I intend to return here with the Final Tally on or about  December 8th. (When I will also reveal my two Tiny Tim Christmas traditions!!)

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~ Stephen T. McCarthy

BOTB RESULTS: NOV. 15, 2024 (Or, JIM STAFFORD Versus TODD SNIDER X 2)

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My 11/15/2024 Battle Of The Bands contest took place HERE and it was between Jim Stafford's song 'Your Bulldog Drinks Champagne' and Todd Snider's 'Ballad Of The Devil's Backbone Tavern' (two versions - studio and live recording).
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It was a disappointingly poor turnout, but most of those folks who DID show up to vote (and I very sincerely thank those of you who did) said that they enjoyed all 3 recordings. Yip! Same here. If the BOTB contest had simply been Stafford's song versus Snider's studio recording, I'd have voted for the staggering bulldog. But I find the live version of Snider's song so laugh-out-loud funny that my vote went to it.
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FINAL TALLY:
Jim Stafford = 0 votes 
Todd Snider (studio version) = 4 votes 
Todd Snider (live version) = 5 votes 
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Well, I hope more voters will show up for my December 1st Battle. I don't normally announce in advance what my next planned BOTB installment will be, but this time I WILL reveal it beforehand: Dec. 1st will find Frank Sinatra in the ring with Simon & Garfunkel. Until then, may you all...
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Bless & Be Blessed!!
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~ STMcC

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: 2024, NOV. 15 (Or, FUNNY STUFFS BETWEEN JIM STAFFORD's CHAMPAGNE & TODD SNIDER's BEER)

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Friends & Neighbors, this installment of BOTB's Battle Of The Booze is going to be a horse of a different color (don't worry, ladies, I'm not gay 😏), so hang on & pay attention. I'm adding a new wrinkle to my BOTB format here.

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If you don't like spiders & snakes, and if you've ever smoked a wildwood weed, then Jim Stafford needs no introduction. Stafford is a highly underrated guitarist (you can see that HERE).

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However, Todd Snider probably DOES need an introduction. I consider Snider to be one of the all-time great lyricists; he'd very likely be on my Top 5 list. 

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NECESSARY BACKGROUND INFO:

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[link> 'Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)' was a MASSIVE (#1) Country music hit in 1977. The song was a duet featuring Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson. (Remember this, you'll need it later!)

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Waylon sang the chorus like this:

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Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas

With Waylon and Willie and the boys

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And when Willie took the lead vocal, he sang the chorus like this:

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Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas

Willie and Waylon and the boys

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(Ya gotta love their playful WayWil & WilWay senses of humor!)

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OK, now you know what you need to know in order to fully grasp the history behind Todd Snider's song 'Ballad Of The Devil's Backbone Tavern'. Two very different versions of that song will be battling against Jim Stafford's song 'Your Bulldog Drinks Champagne'. 

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Here's the deal: Because they are so radically different from each other, I am using Snider's studio recording of '...Devil's Backbone Tavern' AND his live version of the song against Stafford's champagne-drinking bulldog. 

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'Ballad Of The Devil's Backbone Tavern' studio version: It begins with Snider stating the song is "The story about a failed trip to Luckenbach". It's 3:11 long and has full instrumentation in a Dixieland-like style. 

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The live version, titled 'The Story Of The Ballad Of The Devil's Backbone Tavern', is 10:42 long and it is just Todd Snider and his acoustic guitar. A lot of it is Snider talking to his audience and explaining the details of how he came to write the song about that "failed trip to Luckenbach". I'll tell you this: If Todd Snider ever gives up music, he could make a living as a standup comedian. Yes, THAT'S how funny his monologue is. I think he's hilarious, and no matter how many times I listen to it, I still wind up literally laughing out loud! 

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So, the choice is yours: You can listen to Todd Snider's studio version of the song AND/OR his live version of the song (which does include a few f-bombs). If you have the time 'n' patience, I urge you to listen to BOTH and you'll get extra credit in the comment section. Either way, if you do vote for one of these Snider recordings over the Jim Stafford song, please let me know which version you are selecting, "studio" or "live". (And, remember, you can only vote one time for one recording only, no matter how long you've been dead in Chicago!)

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YOUR BULLDOG DRINKS CHAMPAGNE 

by Jim Stafford

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49czzPsFLow

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BALLAD OF THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE TAVERN

by Todd Snider

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9StmfRexJc

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(Live) THE STORY OF THE 

BALLAD OF THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE TAVERN

by Todd Snider 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpq_XHOcxKU

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After you've done your doo-ty here (*clean up after your bulldog!*), please visit the other BOTBers & do your duty there. I'll be back on or about Nov. 22nd to reveal my vote & announce the winner.

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~ STMcC 

(w/ a shout-out to L.C.) 

BOTB RESULTS: 2024, NOV. 1 (Or, STEELY DAN Versus STEELY DAN)

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My November 1st Battle Of The Bands' Battle Of The Booze went down HERE, and it was a contest between Steely Dan's pina colada (or 'Bad Sneakers') and Steely Dan's rum and Coke Coke and rum (or 'Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More'). I expected this to be a nip & tuck race all the way to the finish line, and it certainly did start out that way. With six votes in, it was tied up 3 to 3. But then 'Bad Sneakers' captured the next 6 votes ("including yours and mine, and one more chimp who isn't here"). 

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Despite the lopsided outcome, I agree with the several folks who said this was not an easy decision. I really like BOTH songs. Daddy's got that Double-F going for it (Funk Factor), but there's just something about 'Bad Sneakers' that really appeals to me. I think it's that slightly odd, extended cadence in lines like this: "Bad sneakers and a piña colada, my friend, stompin' on the avenue by Radio City with a transistor and a large sum of money to spend". It seems like a long, strange trip over many hills and through many valleys to a cozy campsite where the s'mores are waiting. (Helck, I dunno. I just make this stuffs up as I go along.)

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Anyway, my great gratitude to everyone who took the time to visit 'n' vote!

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FINAL TALLY: 

Steely Dan = 9 votes 

Steely Dan = 3 votes 

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So, 'Bad Sneakers' advances to the eventual post-season Playoff rounds, while 'Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More' goes back to New York City, where he came from. ("Get a rope!")

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Please be sure to visit me here on November 15th, because I've got a BOTB's BOTB installment planned that is going to be a ton o' fun and unlike any other Battle I've concocted over these last 11+ years. "See ya soon". 

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~ STMcC 

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POSTSCRIPT: If you were wondering where the "dog" was in this post, I decided not to include a dog. This is the first time ever that I posted a blog bit sans a dog.

BOTB'S BOTB: NOV. 1, 2024 (Or, STEELY DAN'S PINA COLADA Versus STEELY DAN'S COKE & RUM)

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I didn't really become aware of Steely Dan until their biggest hit, 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number', reached #4 on the Billboard charts in 1974. '74 was totally bitchin' and that song will always Waybac Machine me to the Summer of '74 within a matter of seconds. (Thank you, Mister Peabody, you brainy dog!)

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The music of Steely Dan was always slick, sophisticated and somewhat strange -- yes, a wee bit bizarre. But strange / bizarre in a goot way. To me, Donald Fagen & Walter Becker are like the Rocky & Bullwinkle of Rock music.

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Over the decades I owned a fair number of Steely Dan albums. I know that 'Aja' was their biggest non-compilation seller; however, my favorite was always 'Katy Lied' (1975). The cover was as weird as the songs, and that LP spent a LOT of time on my turntable. It was one of 2 or maybe 3 albums I would put on when I didn't really know what I was in the mood to hear. Somehow 'Katy Lied' always hit the spot and those tracks took me to some very different kind of place! 

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"The Dan" mentions booze, hooch, evidence in a goot number of their songs (all of which I like). But, for this installment of Battle Of The Bands' Battle Of The  Booze, I decided to run with two relatively obscure Dan tunes from the 'Katy Lied' album. Please vote for your favorite between them, and then please also visit the other BOTBers and drop your two cents in their comment sections. 

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I plan to return here on November 8th with my own vote and the final tally. 

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Bad sneakers and a Piña Colada, my friend

Stompin' on the avenue by Radio City with a transistor and a large sum of money to spend

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BAD SNEAKERS 

by Steely Dan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r5PsCkBrDg

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Daddy don't drive in that El Dorado no more

He don't travel on down to the neighborhood liquor store

Lucy still loves her Coke and Rum

But she sits alone 'cause her Daddy can't come

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DADDY DON'T LIVE IN THAT NEW YORK CITY NO MORE 

by Steely Dan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjf9QQKjRzc

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Be well & stay safe, all y'all!

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~ Stephen T McKatydid McCarthy