BOTB RESULTS FOR 11/15/2015 (Or, UNDERDOGS AND COMEBACKS)

Underdogs, Comebacks, and the First Game of the 1988 World Series

STMcC’s Vote On '2015, Nov. 15th: Battle Of The Bands'
(Or, 'Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 Versus Chris Botti')
And The Final Tally:

As I mentioned previously, the November Battle Of The Bands competitions for which FarAwayEyes and I collaborated, were conceived as a kind of major sporting event. 

The song was 'THE LOOK OF LOVE'. Each of us decided we would choose two competitors, and the winners of our November 1st Battles would battle it out for the World Series championship on November 15th.

I insisted that I get to use the Chris Botti version (I had been planning to use that since about the time the BOTB idea was first conceived) but FAE was free to use anyone else she wanted. I had Botti against a nice live version by Diana Krall. And on November 1st, FAE put the big hit version by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 against Nina Simone. 

FarAwayEyes and I had many discussions about this Playoff and World Series scenario leading up to the November Battles and we both predicted that Brasil '66 and Botti would win their respective Battles and meet for the championship on 11/15, and that's indeed what hoppened. We were also in agreement that Sergio & Company would probably beat Botti in the championship round.

Now, I'll confess that I was not overly pleased with FAE's decision to use the hit version by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 because I felt it would run away with the voting, resulting in shutouts or blowouts at the very least. And that proved true when Brasil '66 clobbered Nina Simone in the playoffs. 

But when the "World Series" began on November 15th between Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 and the underdog, Chris Botti, something totally unpredictable occurred: Botti's cover version - the sound of some seriously smoldering sexuality - immediately began mopping up the baseball diamond with Sergio & Company. HOKEY-SMOKE! I never would have foreseen that!

After the first 16 votes were recorded, Chris Botti had an 8-VOTE LEAD and this contest (which FAE and I both thought Sergio & Brasil '66 would win) was OVER, baby, OVER! Nobody comes back from 8 votes down in a BOTB contest!

"Life imitates art as a badly hobbled Kirk Gibson uses his lone at-bat of the 1988 World Series to become a hero for the ages against a heavily favored Oakland A's squad". Fictional version: 'The Natural' starring Robert Redford.

But... On October 15, 1988, my brother Nappy and I were at Dodger Stadium for the the first game of the '88 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics, and we witnessed with our own eyes the most amazing comeback in sports history.

This short video will give you a brief overview of what happened: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKrwK1CRzL0


To watch the entire bottom of the ninth inning, fast-forward to the 2:24:00 mark:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_0373UNDc

Or catch most of the 9th inning theatrics in the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0smIeeH55HA

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In watching the votes roll in at the end of this "World Series" BOTB contest, I began to feel like it was October 15th, 1988 at Dodger Stadium all over again! I couldn't believe what I was seeing, but suddenly vote after vote began piling up for SERGIO MENDES & BRASIL '66. 

Was this really happening? Could they really come back from 8 votes down to tie or win this championship over the song 'THE LOOK OF LOVE'? 

FarAwayEyes and I were watching the voting very intently for the last few days and holding our breaths. We're both crazy about both versions of this song - Sergio's and Botti's - but we both lean very slightly toward S.M. & Brasil '66. (I love it for the absolute joy of it, the great musicianship and the harmonizing of the group vocals. I adore group harmonizing - The Beach Boys, The 5th Dimension, Spanky & Our Gang, The Mamas & The Papas, Sergio and Brasil '66 - I love, Love, LOVE it!)

With a jaw-dropping, historic BOTB comeback, Sergio & Brasil '66 received 10 of the final 11 votes (including FAE's and mine) and here's how the scoreboard looked at the end of the World Series: 

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 = 14 Votes
Chris Botti = 13 Votes

Hoo-Wee! My own vote got to determine the winner. I LOVE it when that happens!

This BOTB installment was historic to me for two reasons: Aside from the amazing comeback that Sergio & Brasil '66 managed to pull off, this Battle received 27 votes - the most any of my BOTB contests have ever had. So... MAJOR LEAGUE THANKS TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WHO VOTED! Y'all made this perhaps the most enjoyable Battle Of The Bands installment I've ever put together!

I hope you all have a fantabulous Thanksgiving holiday, and I hope to see y'all back here again for my December 1st BOTB contest.

~ Stephen T. McCarthy   

POSTSCRIPT: IMO, the Chris Botti album 'A Thousand Kisses Deep' (which includes his cover of 'The Look Of Love') is probably the most romantically sexy collection of songs on one disc. It saddens me that the album didn't come out until 2003, so I never got a chance to make-out with some young lovely while it played. But maybe you can live my dream for me! You'll find the entire album by clicking the link below:

http://tinyurl.com/o8bbyao
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2015, NOV. 15: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, SERGIO & BRASIL '66 VS. CHRIS BOTTI)

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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...

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’)

Alright, let’s get on it...

But first, an update on the DIXIE (DCRelief) watch: I spoke on the phone with Dixie about a week ago and she sounded really good to me. I know she's still having some health issues, but her spirits and her energy sounded up. And I'm happy to announce that she's back BOTBing with us again on this November 15th. So, please make sure you visit her Battle and welcome her back HERE.

EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER

You'll recall that FarAwayEyes and I teamed up on November 1st to use the song 'THE LOOK OF LOVE'. We had four different performers Battling it out over that same great song.

FAE used the big hit version by SERGIO MENDES & BRASIL '66 against NINA SIMONE. Not surprisingly, S.M. & Brasil '66 walked away with a pretty lopsided victory, beating Nina 16 to 6.

My Battle featured a live version of the song by DIANA KRALL (which I thought was pretty good and way better'n her studio recording of it) against the CHRIS BOTTI recording of it from his great album 'A Thousand Kisses Deep'. This Battle was closer, but Chris Botti won convincingly, 13 to 8.  

GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS

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Well, it just so happens that from the beginning, I conceived of this Battle over the song 'THE LOOK OF LOVE' as a kind of sporting event, and the first round was like the playoffs - Brasil '66 and Nina Simone playing for the American League pennant, and Diana Krall and Chris Botti playing for the National League pennant.

Well, guess what happens now!
The two winning teams meet in the World Series for the Championship. That's what happens now. And YOU get to help decide the champion. Are you ready? Set? GO!...
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GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG

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'THE LOOK OF LOVE' - SERGIO MENDES & BRASIL '66
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAFYlBg_1u0

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RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN

'THE LOOK OF LOVE' - CHRIS BOTTI 
(Vocal: CHANTAL KREVIAZUK)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BALcbAiwhZY

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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.)

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.
@ '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.

~ Stephen T. McCarthy

THE SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE (Or, LATE 1978: M*A*S*H - BLOG BIT 7)

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This is Part 7 in the new and improved 'The Soundtrack Of My Life' (or, 'TSOML').

When I put together my original 'Soundtrack Of My Life' for my old 'STUFFS' blog in 2010, it never even occurred to me to use today's song. But then again, that "soundtrack" was tossed together quickly and all in one post. This time I've had the ability to contemplate which songs to include over a much longer period of time.

Today's song is really kind of a no-brainer (and no-brainer me finally figured that out).

As most of you probably know, the television show M*A*S*H played a pretty big part in my life from 1978 until its final episode in 1983 (Season 7 through Season 11). Although I do not think it so, I suppose many people would think it the most noteworthy part of my life. However, I didn't really appreciate the situation I was in until years after it had concluded. I had bigger dreams, and I was sure at the time that M*A*S*H would ultimately be nuttin' more than a footnote in my life. 

The best-laid plans o' dogGs and men..., eh?

At any rate, I worked on the show continuously during its last five seasons, and I could probably spot myself in almost every episode during those years. If you were a huge MASH fan, then I have been in your home. Ha!

In a few episodes I was impossible not to see (I would say something, and/or there was a big close-up of my face), in other episodes you'd miss me if you didn't know where to look (I'm just tossing a football in the background in front of "The Swamp").  

How could I have neglected to use this in my first 'Soundtrack' blog bit? In a way, this instrumental actually WAS my life for 5 years:

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


Did you know that the MASH theme music was derived from a song with lyrics written by Johnny Mandel? Listen to this and you may never think of the MASH theme music the same way again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-BtquTKw78
 

BONUS TRACKS:

I thought this was a cool video that the gentleman put together after visiting and filming at Malibu Creek State Park, where we shot most of the exterior scenes for MASH. This video will show you what the exterior set looks like today.

I never really liked it when we shot in Malibu. Why not? Because that was about a 40-minute drive from my house. When we shot interiors on Stage 9 at 20th Century Fox Studio, it was just a 10-12 minute drive from home for me.

Two vivid memories I have of being at the outdoor set in Malibu: 1) One morning I was getting into costume inside the Post-Op (Hospital tent) where the Wardrobe Dept. was also located, when I picked up a newspaper and saw that John Lennon had been shot and killed. 2) It was also in the Post-Op tent where I was drawing in my sketchbook between shots one day that Gary Burghoff noticed my art and he struck up a conversation with me. He was a very, very cool guy and I got to know him and like him better'n any of the other primary actors on the show.

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


This is an interesting video from "behind the curtain" when we were filming the very final MASH scene ever. When the director yelled "Cut!", it was the end of the popular TV show MASH. 

Look closely and quickly and you will see me. At 3:37, there are three women on the right side - a blonde woman at the forefront - the tallest person there in that line is a dude-guy, and that dude-guy is me. Also, at 7:06, when Father Mulcahy is yakking, you can see a sliver o' me in the background, between his back and the camera lens.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSDYNfmm-ew


A full blog bit 'bout my M*A*S*H  S*T*U*F*F*S 
can be found here:
http://stephentmccarthysstuffs.blogspot.com/2012/02/mash-stuffs-or-yes-we-play-requests.html 

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
TSOML #5 - 1974
TSOML #6 - 1978
 
For more TSOML participants, visit the blog of GIRL WONDER ('Your Daily Dose') by clicking HERE.

~ Stephen T. McCarthy

2015, NOV. 1: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, DIANA KRALL VS. CHRIS BOTTI)

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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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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...

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EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER

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But first off, I need to inform you that our friend Dixie ("Polka") of the blog DCRELIEF is feeling poorly and she told me that she won't be able to participate in 'BOTB' this round. Perhaps not on 11/15 either.

If you're a believer, please say a prayer for Dixie's quick and complete recovery. And let's all hope she's at least able to rejoin us BOTBers in time for the December celebrations and the festive BOTB installments that always occur. I thank you. 

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GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS

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Alright, now let's get on it, FOR REAL...

Wackypedia sez: 

"The Look of Love" is a popular song composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and sung by English pop singer Dusty Springfield, which appeared in the 1967 spoof James Bond film Casino Royale. In 2008, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It also received a Best Song nomination in the 1968 Academy Awards. [...]

Sérgio Mendes' hit rendition on the Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 album Look Around reached #4 on the pop charts after their performance in the Academy Awards telecast in March, 1968.
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GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG

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First up is Nina Simone. It was Nina who won the very first BOTB contest, which was posted by my friend FarAwayEyes (FAE) on July 10, 2013.

In that first BOTB, Nina Simone clobbered Matthew Bellamy and his band Muse (8-2). Let's see how Nina does against her second White boy. This time it's trumpeter Chris Botti.

NO, SCRATCH THAT!

I've changed my mind. It's a man's prerogative to change his mind. (That's right, womenfolk, we're all on even footing now, eh?) 

I've opted for Diana Krall, instead of Nina Simone. (Heck, they're almost the same person anyhow, amIright?.)

Normally, I don't like to match a live performance against a studio recording, but in this case, I thought this live performance by "Ms." Krall was 1,001 times better'n her studio recording of this song.

But remember, videos still don't count. It's ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC!
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'THE LOOK OF LOVE' by Diana Krall
album: 'The Look Of Love' - 2001
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDsq555PrUc 
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RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN

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'THE LOOK OF LOVE' - by Chris Botti  
vocalist: Chantal Kreviazuk 
album: 'A Thousand Kisses Deep' - 2003
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjebfGnCwyg 

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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.
@ '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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