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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.]

Thursday, September 21, 2017

BOTB RESULTS - 2017, SEPT. 15: HOWLIN' WOLF VS. LUCKY PETERSON

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Once again, my Battle Of The Bands installment had a lower voter turnout than it used to have. A couple of my regular DogG and DogGettes did not show up. But beyond that, it just seems the BOTB flame is flickerin'. Oh, well. What can ya do? (Me? I'll just pour some Cruzan Black Strap Rum and make it all better. RRRrrrrr! )

I very sincerely thank each and every one of you who took time out from your life to listen, think, and vote here. You are appreciated.

This was actually a really good Battle (click HERE to see it) and just what I was hoping for. Both versions of WHO'S BEEN TALKIN' were really excellent in my opinion, and several voters expressed the same opinion. And that's why I was surprised when Lucky Peterson came roaring out of the chute and so quickly established a lead over the legendary Howlin' Wolf. It looked like a blowout in the making.

With 6 votes in, Lucky had 5 of 'em! But he was tangling with a howlin' Wolf who came back ferociously. After those first 6 votes came in, Lucky got only 1 more for the duration of the Battle. Even though I too love Lucky's recording, my vote also went to the great, gritty Howlin' Wolf. The outcome looked like this:

Howlin' Wolf = 9 votes

Lucky Peterson = 6 votes

Close Battle, as I thought it should be and fully expected it would be.

Wolf's version of the song was a re-recording that came from an album titled 'The London Sessions', which featured a number of famous British Rock 'N' Rollers such as Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood. If you're interested in reading my full (and kinda funny) review of that album, click here: 

I thank you all again for your votes and invite you to return here on October 15th when I will present another BOTB installment featuring thrills, chills, and spills. Uh... well, featuring music, if nuttin' else. But of course there's always a chance I'll spill my Rum and "drop my wallet".

If this low vote count continues, I may have to start incorporating some pornographic photos into my BOTB installments. Nuttin' too dirty, ya un'erstan'? Just tastefully sexy with lots of class. You know, like photos of convertible Cadillacs with their tops down. Who doesn't get turned on by a topless Caddy?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-NAHH1yAfY


~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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Friday, September 15, 2017

2017, SEPT. 15: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, HOWLIN' WOLF VERSUS LUCKY PETERSON)

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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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'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB')
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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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Today's song is WHO'S BEEN TALKIN'? which was written and first recorded in 1957 by Chester Burnett. You know who that was, right? Huh? You DON'T? Well, Hokey-Smoke! Lemme edgeuhkate you.
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Wackypedia sez: Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976), known as Howlin' Wolf, was a Chicago blues singer, guitarist, and harmonica player, originally from Mississippi. With a booming voice and looming physical presence, he is one of the best-known Chicago blues artists.
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Suffice to say that if there were a Mount Rushmore national monument to Blues musicians, Howlin' Wolf's image would be one of the four carved into it. Nuff sed.
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* Remember, unless you're asked to do otherwise, you're meant to evaluate the songs musically ONLY -- not taking into account the video images or stage performances. And, no, I'm NOT asking you to do otherwise. These are both pretty cool videos, so please close your eyes if you think they might influence your vote.
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WHO'S BEEN TALKIN'? -- Howlin' Wolf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDBP1GNDriI

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Our next competitor is not as famous, although in my opinion he ought to be a household name. Lucky Peterson recorded his first album when he was five (5!) years old! I didn't discover him until 1989, when I bought his fourth album 'Lucky Strikes', which he released when he was an old man of twenty-five. 
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Y'all know that I firmly believe in [link:] reincarnation, right? I used to ask people to 'splain to me how this kid could have come right out of the womb with so much musical talent if his soul hadn't occupied a previous body in which it studied music. Lucky's 5th album in 1990 was called 'Triple Play' because aside from the lead vocals, he was also playing all the lead guitar and keyboards.
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Alright, let's listen to Lucky's soulful rendition of Howlin' Wolf's classic...
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WHO'S BEEN TALKIN'? -- Lucky Peterson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXq__HZAcSE

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Question: Will Lucky Peterson beat Howlin' Wolf?
MAGIC 8-BALL sez:   They will Tie.
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Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whether I know "you" or notto 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. 


Voice Your Vote...

@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'RIGHTING & EDITING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'YOUR DAILY DOSE' by clicking HERE.

As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 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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