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Welcome back, my friends, to the "Battle" that never ends.
We're so glad you could attend. Come inside! Come inside!
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This is 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB') where you listen to different recordings and vote for the one you like best. A new Battle gets posted on the 1st of each month and on the 7th, I place my own vote, tally 'em all up and announce the winner.
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Friend? Foe? Stranger? No matter, ALL are welcome. So pull up a chair, pour yourself 24 oz. of DOG BITE High Gravity Lager (or the poison of your choice) and turn it up to Eleven!
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[NOTE: Links to the first year of 'BOTB' (#1 - #24) can be found at the very bottom of this page.]

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

THE SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE (Or, 1974: 'SUMMER' - BLOG BIT 5)

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I enjoyed a wonder-filled childhood, and in my early teenage years, I spent most Summer days at Santa Monica Beach, near lifeguard station #26.
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It was all about body-surfing, girl-watching, body-surfing and “Bain de Soleil for the St. Tropez tan”.
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For me, there was no such thing then as 
"the dog days of Summer"
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‘Summer’ by War
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1974: 
Ridin' 'round town with all the windows down
Eight-track playin' all your favorite sounds
The rhythm of the bongos fill the park
The street musicians tryin' to get a start

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'Cause it's Summer
Summer time is here
Yes it's summer
My time of year

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Stretched out on a blanket in the sand
Kids of all ages diggin' Disneyland
Rappin' on the C.B. radio in your van
We'll give a big "ten four" to the truckin' man

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'Cause it's summer
Summer time is here
Yes, it's summer
My time of year
 
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In Atlantic City or out in Malibu
Or any where between, I'm telling you
When you feel those balmy breezes on your face
Summer time is the best time any place
 
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'Cause it's summer
Summer time is here
Yes, it's summer
My time of year  

My previous blog bits pertaining to 'The Soundtrack Of My Life' (TSOML) can be found by clicking the links below:

TSOML #1 - Prelude To An Introduction
TSOML #2- Introduction
TSOML #3 - 1959
TSOML #4 - 1967

For more TSOML participants, visit the blog of GIRL WONDER ('Your Daily Dose') by clicking HERE.

~ Stephen T. McCarthy

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

2015, JULY 15: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, PETE SEEGER VS. JOANNA MOORE AND ANDY GRIFFITH)

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Republican Vs. Democrat, 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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THE 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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But first... I thought y'all might be interested to know that this is my 48th 'Battle Of The Bands' installment meaning, of course, that BOTB is now officially two years old! 

Some of you may wonder how this good-sized blogfest got started. Well, initially, it was not at all intended to be a blogfest (or bloghop, as some of yaz call 'em). On 7/10/2013, FarAwayEyes posted a blog bit titled 'House Guests & Battle Of The Bands'. It was sort of a throw-away, as she was just trying "to keep up with a Wednesday post".

I thought it was a great idea that should become a semi-regular event, and I tried to yak FAE into continuing it. Then I decided that I was going to post my own BOTBs in the future, whether she did or not. After a series of Emails to each other, we both decided to begin posting "Battles" and we worked out the dates 'n' details.

Before long, music-lovers who embraced FAE's original concept were asking if they could join BOTB and that's how we got where we are today.

So, if you dig BOTB, when voting on FAE's "Battle" this week, why not thank her for getting us all started on it? I don't think anyone could have really foreseen this thing going stronger than ever after two full years. 

To see "the original", click this URL link:  
http://farawayeyes1.blogspot.com/2013/07/house-guests-battle-of-bands.html
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EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER
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I have just started a new job, so it's going to take me much longer than usual to get my votes in on your BOTB blog bits, but I'll get there eventually.

Alright, let’s get on it...
...and remember, BOTB is about the music, not the videos. 
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GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS

Wackypedia sez:
Peter "Pete" Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer ... A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead Belly's "Goodnight, Irene", which topped the charts for 13 weeks in 1950. ... A prolific songwriter, his best-known songs include "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?", "If I Had a Hammer", and "Turn! Turn! Turn!" (lyrics adapted from Ecclesiastes), which have been recorded by many artists both in and outside the folk revival movement and are sung throughout the world.

'DOWN IN THE VALLEY' - PETE SEEGER (1957)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz9b7sVRD9g  
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GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG
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Wackypedia sez: 
Joanna Moore was an American film and television actress. Over the course of her career, she appeared in more than eighty television and film roles. ... She was married to actor Ryan O'Neal from 1963 to 1967, with whom she had two children: Griffin and Tatum O'Neal. Moore died of lung cancer in 1997.

'DOWN IN THE VALLEY' - JOANNA MOORE & ANDY GRIFFITH (1962)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMJGuaNbXJ4
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RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN
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Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whoever you are) 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 vice your voice ...vote your vice ...voice your vote.)
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Voice Your Vote @ ‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'BOOK LOVER' 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.
@ 'DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THIS BELLE ROCKS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME' by clicking HERE.
@ 'J.A. SCOTT' by clicking HERE.
@ 'NOVELBREWS' by clicking HERE
@ 'HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'QUIET LAUGHTER' 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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Thursday, July 9, 2015

FOR MY MA

My Ma went "Home" on this date in 2005 (7/9/2005).

My parents had somewhat different tastes in music, but both of them exposed me to stuffs far different from the usual Top 40 crapola. (Not that all Top 40 is crapola but... a lot of it was and is.)

My Pa gave me Roger Miller, Nat King Cole, and Louis Prima (amongst others).

My Ma gave me Bobby Darin, Count Basie, and Cannonball Adderley (amongst others).

My Ma owned the Cannonball Adderley album LIVE AT "THE CLUB" and she played the pajamas off of it! That was my first exposure to Jazz, even though I was such a young ProvDog then that I didn't know what Jazz was or what it meant. All I knew was that I kept hearing 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy' day after day after day until it seeped into my soul.

Loved it then. Love it still. This was the first classic Jazz track I ever identified with.

The night before last, my Ma appeared to me in a dream. It was so astoundingly vivid that I consider it the most significant communication from her since she went back to God.

In the dream, the entire time she and I were yakking, I was looking through the book 'BEAUTIFUL OUTLAW: Experiencing The Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality Of Jesus' by John Eldredge.


If you don't already know it, I consider this to be the best book about Jesus Christ other than The Holy Bible.

Ma, this tune's for you. Thanks for everything!!!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVt-Ay3-NFA

~ Stephen T. McCarthy (aka ProvDog)

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

2015, JULY 1: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, DAVE BRUBECK VERSUS TITO PUENTE)

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Republican Vs. Democrat, 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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THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS! (‘BOTB’)
.
.
Shoop-Shooby –
Shooby-duh-Dooby-Doop-Dooby-Dooby-Doo-Wah –
Buh-Doo-Wah!
.
Yes, it’s time once again for ‘Battle Of The Bands’ (‘BOTB’)
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But first, please be sure to visit Holli at 'HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS' and Guilie Castillo at 'QUIET LAUGHTER' and vote on their first ever BOTB installments. Thanks, y'all!

Alright, let’s get on it...
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EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER
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'TAKE FIVE' by The Dave Brubeck Quartet is considered a classic amongst classics. One person has said, "It's the 'Stairway To Heaven' of Jazz tunes". Joel Whitburn's 'THE BILLBOARD BOOK OF TOP 40 HITS' says that the Brubeck Quartet was one of America's all-time most popular jazz groups on college campuses. Rock 'N' Roll was all the rage by '61, so it was quite remarkable when this pure Jazz track broke into the Top 40!

Wackypedia:
'Take Five' is a jazz piece composed by Paul Desmond and performed by The Dave Brubeck Quartet on their 1959 album Time Out. Recorded ... on July 1, 1959, fully two years later it became an unlikely one-hit wonder and the biggest-selling jazz single ever. Included in numerous movie and television soundtracks, it still receives significant radio play.

Written in the key of E-flat minor, it is known for its distinctive two-chord piano vamp; catchy blues-scale saxophone melody; inventive, jolting drum solo; and use of the unusual quintuple (5/4) time, from which its name is derived.
OK, let's hear it... 
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GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS
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'TAKE  FIVE'  -  THE  DAVE  BRUBECK  QUARTET  (1959)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzpnWuk3RjU 

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GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG
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Well, if you're going to put a cover version of an all-time Jazz classic up against the original, you damn-sure better have found something special... and I have.

Wackypedia:
"Tito" Puente (April 20, 1923 – June 1, 2000) was an American Mambo musician and Latin jazz composer. The son of native Puerto Ricans, Ernest and Ercilia Puente, living in New York City's Spanish Harlem community, Puente is often credited as "The Musical Pope", "El Rey de los Timbales" (The King of the Timbales) and "The King of Latin Music". He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz compositions that endured over a 50-year career. 

Let's listen as Tito picks up the pace, puts some Latin fire under this tune and smokes it:

'TAKE  FIVE'  -  TITO  PUENTE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqHEWPgBRmE


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RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN
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Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whoever you are) 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. 
.
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 vice your voice ...vote your vice ...voice your vote.)
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Voice Your Vote @ ‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'BOOK LOVER' 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.
@ 'DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THIS BELLE ROCKS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME' by clicking HERE.
@ 'J.A. SCOTT' by clicking HERE.
@ 'NOVELBREWS' by clicking HERE
@ 'HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS' by clicking HERE
@ 'QUIET LAUGHTER' 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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