2016, NOV. 1st: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, BEATRICE KAY VS. THE EVERLY BROTHERS)

.
Deplorables Vs. Demons, 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')
.

.
Yes, it's time once again for 'Battle Of The Bands' ('BOTB').
.
Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
.

EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER

.
Depending upon the outcome of this upcoming presidential election, this may be the last time you ever find me in a good mood. I've had this fun BOTB idea in mind for awhile, and I figure I better do it NOW while I'm still relatively happy. Also while I'm still alive. Because if Illary Killary is elected, I'll wind up on her Kill List sooner than later.

This BOTB installment is a tribute to my buddy SHEBOYGANBOY SIX. SBB-6 is not a blogger but you've undoubtedly seen his comments on my blogs. He's been a loyal BOTB voter from the beginning and he may have even occasionally voted on some of your Battles as well.

I "met" SHEBOYGANBOY SIX the same place where I "met" Arlee Bird: an online music discussion thread in March of 2008. Damn! 8 years ago?! Time flies when you're having Rum.

Over the years I came to find that SBB-6 is a very clever, educated, intelligent, generous dude with a passion for music. He used to be a newspaperman -- as in the OWNER of the newspaper -- and he has paid me some of the best compliments my writing has ever received! (Thanks again, SBB-6!)

What's ironically funny (at least to me -- I don't think SBB-6 enjoys it quite as much) is the fact that although we met in a music discussion forum and he's a BOTB fan, other than Jazz and Tom Petty, SBB-6's musical tastes and mine are nearly polar opposites. Sometimes that really bothers my friend, and when it does, I remind him, "We'll always have Paris Petty."
.

GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS

.
Hang around me long enough and most likely you'll eventually acquire a nickname. So how did "Sheboyganboy Six" come about? It's a combination of two things, really, and me being me, I'll tell you the second one first:

Somehow, not too long after we first encountered each other, SBB-6 and I discovered that we both shared an interest in the old 1960s, British TV spy series 'THE PRISONER'. 

For a short time in 1994, I worked in a movie rental shop in Los Angeles, and I found most of the 17 'PRISONER' episodes on one of our store shelves. I'd never heard of it, but I took the pilot episode home one night and got sucked in faster'n you can say, "Dust bunny versus a Hoover vacuum cleaner." 

Patrick McGoohan played Prisoner #6, a British former secret agent who is abducted and held prisoner in a mysterious coastal village resort, where his captors try to find out why he abruptly resigned from his job. A major theme of the series is Individualism versus Collectivism. This pro-Individualism / anti-Collectivism viewpoint, SBB-6 and I share, and we are equally passionate about it. (No, Virginia, it DOESN'T take a village!) This theme is illustrated by the show's catchphrase, "I am NOT a number! I am a FREE MAN!" 

[Politically, SBB-6 and I are staunch Constitutionalists, meaning we're neither Dumb-O-Crat nor Repugnantcan. Just call us Thomas Jefferson and George Mason.]

I watched all the episodes of 'The Prisoner', eager to find out how they were going to wrap the series up. (Who was #1? Why did #6 quit? What astounding information had #6 been holding back all this time?) To me, the final episode was a massive letdown. There's not enough LSD and Peyote in the world to make me embrace it. SBB-6, however, was not put off by the ending like I was and he remains the show's bigger fan. But that's how he got the "Six", and why I occasionally remind him in comment sections that he is "Not a number, but a free man".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmgbiMf99NQ


Here's a pretty funny spoof of the opening for 'The Prisoner'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4eUSmUWsUY

.

GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG

.
Now for the Sheboyganboy part. Well, for one thing, I like to tack the word "boy" on to things. I got that from the show 'Frasier' ("Winnebago-Boy", "Shorts-In-The-Shower-Boy") and from the "Wallet-Boy" episode of 'Get A Life', starring Chris Elliott, the son of comedian Bob Elliott, which brings us to...

[SBB-6, how'd you like THAT segue?]

... It was SBB-6 who turned me on to the comedy duo of BOB & RAY (Bob Elliott & Ray Goulding). When my buddy acquired their comedy skits on compact disc, he sent me all of his old tape cassette versions. I'd never heard of BOB & RAY before, but I instantly fell in love with them (as did my brother, Nappy). They were flat-out comedic geniuses with imaginations off-the-charts!

When I was a little kid, my Pa and I used to record on audio tape these silly comedy skits that my Pa would direct. Like BOB & RAY, we'd even pretend to have these ridiculous corporate sponsors. Although I can't recall my Pa ever mentioning BOB & RAY, I gotta believe he got the idea for our skits from those comedic geniuses. I sent one of our tapes to SBB-6 once and he sent it back accompanied by a CD version which he'd burned for me, complete with a cool cover illustration of Pa and I posing on either side of a CBS microphone. My Pa would have graded that an "R" (one step above A+).

In that particular skit (about Little League Baseball) my name was Rupert Van Oslow. And that's why SBB-6 sometimes refers to me as "Rupert".

Some of SBB-6's favorite skits (and mine, too) are the Webley Webster book reviews, which somehow always morph into pirate stories:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-cxH__7Xeo


Here's BOB & RAY with Johnny Carson...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdXemaM5XwE


My introduction to BOB & RAY, courtesy of SBB-6, has really been a source of enjoyment in my life. I can't thank 6 enough. 

It just so happens that the theme song for the BOB & RAY radio show was a 1947 Vaudeville-like novelty tune titled 'MENTION MY NAME IN SHEBOYGAN'. And that's how the "Sheboyganboy" bit came about. Now, see if you can guess what today's Battle Of The Bands song is.

I believe the original recording of this song was by Beatrice Kay. Let the Battle begin...

Mention My Name In Sheboygan -- Beatrice Kay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vLj1-ZPR3M

.

RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN

.
And now comes a version by The Everly Brothers.
FUN FACT: Did you know that during the early 1970s, Warren Zevon toured regularly with the Everly Brothers as keyboard player and band leader / musical coordinator? Also, Phil Everly sang harmonies on the Zevon songs 'Hasten Down The Wind' and 'Frank And Jesse James'.

Mention My Name In Sheboygan -- The Everly Brothers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ24k5jh4Is

.
Question: "Will Sheboyganboy Six like this BOTB tribute to him?"
Magic 8 Ball sez:  "Outlook Not So Good"

Sheboyganboy Six, thanks for your friendship! 

"Be seeing you."

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...

@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 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.
@ '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.
@ 'JANIE JUNEBUG, RIGHTING & EDITING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'J.A. SCOTT' by clicking HERE.
@ 'DISCCONNECTED' by clicking HERE.

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
.

ONE (Or, THREE MINUS TWO)

.

meme by Stephen T. McCarthy

'ONE' by Three Dog Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiKcd7yPLdU

meme by Stephen T. McCarthy

blog bit by Stephen T. McCarthy

This has been a Stephen T. McCarthy production

Copyright 2016 by THREE DOG COPYR... NIGHT

2016, OCT. 15: BOTB RESULTS (Or, TAGS, MONTY, AND MASH)

.

.
Yes, I was supposed to have posted this 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' Results blog bit yesterday but I held off, desperately seeking one more vote. I was hoping maybe a late straggler might come in to change the final tally, but it didn't happen, so here is...

STMcC’s Vote On '2016, Oct. 15th: Battle Of The Bands'
(Or, 'River Kwai Vs. 'Andy Griffith' Vs. 'Monty Python')
And The Final Tally:

The Battle took place HERE, and I thought it was fun. I really enjoyed reading all of the comments you submitted with your votes. I thank you all. It was a good turnout and a good time.

Although I really dig all three of the tunes I used, anyone who knows me at all also knew without a doubt that my vote was going the 'The Fishin' Hole' -- The Andy Griffith Show (TAGS) theme. And that means we wound up with the following outcome:

'Bridge On The River Kwai March' = 5 votes

'The Fishin' Hole' = 10 votes

'Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life' = 10 votes.

My BOTB ties now go "UP TO ELEVEN".

FUN FACTS: 

From the time I was just a little kid about Opie's age, TAGS was my Pa's all-time favorite TV show, so our whole family were regular viewers of the show. It eventually became MY all-time favorite TV show, too.

BARNEY,  OPIE,  ANDY,  AND  'DOGS,  DOGS,  DOGS'

By the time my ill-fated Hollywood career was (kinda-sorta) underway, I had already seen every TAGS episode "In Glorious Black & White" countless times.

Whenever I was working on a production, I always tried to add a little something extra to flesh-out the character I was supposed to be, even when I had no dialogue. I considered myself a genuine actor (Ha!) so I always wanted to add a spark of life to even the most inconsequential "silent bit".

Below is the TAGS episode 'GUEST OF HONOR' (Season 2, Episode 21, 2/26/1962).

At the 22:00 mark, the thief, Thomas A. Moody (played by the wonderful character actor Jay Novello), is caught red-handed with the goods. He just stands there astonished and repeatedly blinking, like he can't *blinking*-believe" he got caught!
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvWE6yh9uvY


On April 6, 1981, I appeared in the episode of M*A*S*H titled 'Blood Brothers' (Season 9, Episode 18) which featured guest actor Patrick Swayze. Although I had no lines, I was one of "Rizzo's Crap-Shooting Grease Monkeys" -- as Father Mulcahy called us without any "jocularity" in his voice.

The first time we're seen playing Craps and Colonel Potter tells us to knock it off, my back is to the camera and I have my Army cap on backwards.

At about the 5:00-minute mark in the episode, we "crap-shooting grease monkeys" get caught doing exactly what Colonel Potter had told us not to. And aside from wearing my cap backwards, I wanted to do a "Li'l Sumpin'" extra. I wanted to add a little touch just for my own amusement.

I remembered that 'Guest Of Honor' episode from TAGS, and how, when caught red-handed, Thomas A. Moody had stood there in *blinking*-astonishment, so as a personal nod to Jay Novello, I decided to emulate his bit in 'The Andy Griffith Show'.

I don't know if the following links to the M*A*S*H episode are really going to work or not. But if they do, you can see Yours Truly doing his best Thomas A. Moody. When Klinger and Father Mulcahy come upon us shooting Craps in the dark, I'm the second guy from the right -- the one wearing his cap backwards and who can't *blinking*-believe" he got caught!

DEBBIE D. found this first link which seems to work best of the three:

http://streamin.to/3mb3alnd46zp

http://www.watchfree.to/tv-28ef-MASH-tv-show-online-free-putlocker.html/season-9-episode-18#close-modal

http://vidzi.tv/rm9qqch72nh7.html

Again, my sincerest Thanks to everyone who took time to listen and vote. I hope you will all return again for my November 1st BOTB installment. It's another one that's a bit different and which I believe will also be kind of fun. (No whistling next time, I promise!)

~ Stephen T. McCarthy

2016, OCT. 15: BATTLE OF THE WHISTLERS (Or, RIVER KWAI VS. ANDY GRIFFITH VS. MONTY PYTHON)

.
Deplorable Donald Vs. Crooked Clinton, 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') 'Battle Of The Whistlers' ('BOTW')

Yep! I've got something completely different for ya this time.

Do all y'all remember October 2015 when I did a BOTB installment where David & David went up against The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and I asked you to cast two votes, one for song and one for video? Well, in that comment section, in response to a poem I had written about Floyd the barber, the lovely GEM JULIE of the blog 'Empty Nest Insider' wrote the following:

Stephen, My vote for the song goes to Chili Peppers and David & David for the video. I agree with Robin that the long-haired, shirtless guy was too much. Maybe you and I can do a BOTW, Battle of the Whistlers. I still can't get the Andy Griffith song out of my head.

And I replied...

BOTW - Hokey-Smoke and Hoo-Wee! I love that idea, Julie! LOVE IT! Someday I may have to do a BOTW post, using different songs with good whistling in them. That's a GEM of an idea, JULIE. Thanks for mentioning it!

Well, guess what, Peoples! It took one year and two weeks (my world rotates very slowly) but... TODAY IS THE DAY! A-List, E-Ticket thanks and kudos to Gem Julie for the idea. I think this one's gonna be a hoot!

I immediately had 3 different tunes pop into my mind, but just in case there was something else out there that I might not have thought of and would want to use, I visited several website lists of songs with prominent whistling. However, in the end, I decided to stick with the 3 that occurred to me on my own. (Always go with your first impression.)

I'm NOT necessarily asking you to vote for the recording with the BEST whistling. I AM simply asking you to vote for the tune / song you like best, for whatever reason, whether you think it has the best whistling or not.  
.
Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
.

EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER

.
THE RIVER KWAI MARCH
(Theme From 'The Bridge On The River Kwai')
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83bmsluWHZc


.
Note: There is a slight pause in the tune between the opening and closing credits. Please let it play to the video's end...
THE FISHIN' HOLE 
('The Andy Griffith Show' Theme Song)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM6ecC1jf9E


.
ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE 
(From Monty Python's 'The Life Of Brian')
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE186w91YVU


.
It seemed to me that these tunes were distinctly different in terms of mood, and therefore how a person voted might indicate their personality type.

The River Kwai March: You are classically, stylishly sharp and dignified.

The Fishin' Hole: You are casually fun and free-spirited.

Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: You are edgy with a slightly warped sense of humor.

But always in matters of great importance I double-check my beliefs with the Magic 8 Ball...

Question: "Does a person's vote between these three tunes render a scientifically accurate assessment of their personality type?"

Magic 8 Ball sez: "You may rely on it."

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...

@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 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.
@ '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.
@ 'JANIE JUNEBUG, RIGHTING & EDITING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'J.A. SCOTT' by clicking HERE.
@ 'DISCCONNECTED' by clicking HERE.

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

10/1/2016 BOTB RESULTS, AND IMPORTANT BATTLE OF THE BANDS ANNOUNCEMENT!

.

 
STMcC’s Vote On '2016, Oct. 1st: Battle Of The Bands'
(Or, 'Kenny Loggins Vs. Ray Charles & Diana Krall')
And The Final Tally:

First of all, I'm a day late in posting this Battle's results. (Day Late, "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me".)

Secondly, when the Magic 8 Ball said "You may rely on it" regarding a Ray Charles and Diana Krall victory over Kenny Loggins, I replied, "We'll see, we'll see..." because I was pretty damn-well certain that the 8 Ball was not just wrong but terribly wrong. Turns out though that it was I who was WRONG! (Shoulda knowed better'n to argue with the Magic 8 Ball.)

To me, this Battle was really a no-brainer and the Kenny Loggins recording of 'YOU DON'T KNOW ME' is at least TWICE as good as the one by Charles and Krall. And once again, most of my voters disagree with my musical opinion.

I consider the KENNY LOGGINS recording THE DEFINITIVE take on this song, and by far! Originally, I was planning to put him up against Patti Page because I thought she did it really well and would at least give Kenny some competition.

But later, when I learned that our friend Jeffrey Scott was returning, I decided to celebrate that by using the Ray Charles duet with Jeffy's girl, Diana Krall, even though I thought they'd lose by a fairly large margin.

I think maybe the very slow tempo of the Kenny Loggins recording turned some people off, but I believe it's PERFECT for this song. Remember the sentiment being expressed is this long, secret aching love for someone, and a pang of jealousy seeing another person go off with them when it should be YOU! It's a beautiful but mournful song, and the ache comes across palpably in Kenny's really A-list voice. Man, did that guy have some amazing vocal control!

'YOU DON'T KNOW ME' is the final song on Kenny's 1977 album 'CELEBRATE ME HOME', which is one of my very most frequently played CDs. (I love it so much that I gave FAE and my Brother copies of it as gifts some years back.) There's not a bad song on the set and some of them I flat-out LOVE (like 'You Don't Know Me'; the title track; the whizz-bang electric opener, 'Lady Luck'; and my favorite, 'Daddy's Back'). This album made me realize that Kenny Loggins is one of the best Pop singers EVER, including all genres. Yes, I'd put him up against just about anyone including Crosby, Sinatra, Nat King Cole -- you name it.

Unfortunately, the 'CELEBRATE ME HOME' album did not sell well (even though the title song has gotten regular radio airplay during the Christmas season year after year) and Kenny went on to record a bunch of commercial crap that made him rich and famous. But THIS album is the one, in a perfect world, that he'd really be remembered for. His vocals and the arrangements were simply stellar, and it pains me to see him lose this Battle

I like half of the Ray Charles & Diana Krall version well enough. It starts out very nicely, but at the 2:18 mark, Diana starts to slip into her "Jazz lounge singer" act. And in his very next verse, Ray grabs that and runs with it, going full blast into his trademark "Soul Brother R&B" shtick. And from then on, the two of them are completely bullshitting the song, totally ignoring the emotionally-hurtin' meaning of the lyrics and turning the piece into "A REALLY BIG SHOE!" (as Ed Sullivan would say). Neither one of them is feeling the sentiment at all, as they Jazz-up this great song into a flashy, empty suit. But nevertheless...

Kenny Loggins = 8 Votes
Charles & Krall = 12 Votes

My genuine THANKS TO ALL WHO TOOK THE TIME TO LISTEN AND VOTE, even if you didn't agree with my assessment of the recordings in this Battle.

I hope y'all come back now, hear? On October 15th I will be presenting a TOTALLY UNIQUE Battle like no one has done before and I think it's going to be a load of fun, a real blast! So don't miss it.

Question: "Will my next Battle on this blog be the most fun of all time?"
Magic 8 Ball sez: "Reply hazy. Try again."

Question: "Will my next Battle on this blog be the most fun of all time?"
Magic 8 Ball sez: "It is certain."

Question: "Well, if the answer to the question is so certain, why did I have to try it again?"
Magic 8 Ball sez: "Be careful or you're going to piss me off!"

This one's for Little Brother Nappy...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLVdA6l3S38

 

NOTE: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO BOTBers...

Howdy, All BOTBers  ~

Anybody who really knows me also knows that I am the furthest thing from "a rules guy" that they could find. I'm much more of a freedom kinda guy. I believe that we should just leave people be so they can be individuals and follow their own heart's desire. Or as that bulldog for liberty, Henry David Thoreau, wrote at the very start of his great essay 'Civil Disobedience'...

I HEARTILY ACCEPT the motto, — "That government is best which governs least"

Unfortunately, however, occasionally a rule or two must be established. Up until now, over 3 years into 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS', the only real rule has been "Have fun with it." But now I find I must establish an actual policy to correct a problem that has developed.

In the comment sections of several blogs I have posted the following message. And I've decided to post it here generally, so that all participants in the 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' blogfest will be aware of it going forward:

Howdy, BOTBer (Your Name Here) ~

Naturally, I can't help wondering if you've decided to discontinue your involvement in 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'. Apparently you've had a pretty full plate lately and when that happens, something has to give. Unfortunately though, by keeping a link to your blog active on my blog, I've been sending BOTBers to your site when there's nothing there to vote on.

Currently there are, I believe, 5 links on my page to blogs that seem to be no longer participating in BOTB and I don't want to continue wasting people's time, sending them to places where no Battles exist. So, I'd appreciate it if you'd please get back to me and inform me whether or not you intend to continue with this blogfest.

In fact, beginning with the October 15th round of Battles I am planning to adopt the same policy that Alex Cavanaugh employs for his blogfest 'Insecure Writer's Support Group'. And that is that in the future, whenever a blog fails to provide a 'Battle Of The Bands' contest for two consecutive rounds (the 1st & 15th, or the 15th & the 1st), the links to that blog will be removed from my site, assuming that the blogger has decided to drop out of the blogfest. However, of course, if that blogger later decides to rejoin, all they need to do is inform me and I will immediately replace the link to their site in my sidebar and on my individual BOTB page for the next round of Battles.

I hope things are going well for you. And please let me know if you don't want the link to your blog removed from my next BOTB installment on October 15th.

Bless And Be Blessed.

~ Stephen T. McCarthy

2016, OCT. 1: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, KENNY LOGGINS VS. RAY CHARLES And DIANA KRALL)

Trump and his "Deplorables" Vs. Hellary and her medical staff, 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. Let's get ON this thing!...

EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER

Announcement: If you didn't check out my last BOTB Results post, you can do that HERE. I thought it was a pretty cool blog bit which included the mention of a surprise voter in my last Battle as well as a list of my 5 Favorite Guitarists of all time (or, Two Dannys, Two Garys, and a Pat). Check it out when you're done voting here or else you're just a big Poo-Poo Head!

GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS

Wackypedia sez:
"You Don't Know Me" is a song written by Cindy Walker based on a title and storyline given to her by Eddy Arnold in 1955. "You Don't Know Me" was first recorded by Arnold that year and released as a single on April 21, 1956 ... The first version of the song to make the Billboard charts was by Jerry Vale in 1956, peaking at #14 ... Arnold's version charted two months later ... [at] #10 on the Billboard country chart.

In his book 'Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound', author Michael Streissguth describes how the song came to be:

Cindy Walker, who had supplied Eddy with "Take Me in Your Arms and Hold Me" (a number one country record in 1949), recalled discussing the idea for "You Don't Know Me" with Eddy as she was leaving one of Nashville's annual disc-jockey conventions. "I went up to the Victor suite to tell Steve Sholes good-bye," she explained, "and just as I was leaving, Eddy came in the door."

Walker remembered him saying, "I got a song title for you... 'You Don't Know Me.'"

"But I know you," teased Walker.

"This is serious", replied Eddy, who proceeded to outline his idea.

The songwriter promised to let the idea stew in her head for a while. And soon, she remembered, the lyrics tumbled onto the page. "The song just started singing. It sort of wrote itself..."

The song has become a Pop Standard, having been recorded by a godzillion different singers in a godzillion different ways. I think it was destined to become a Standard because the aching, unrequited love scenario that the song describes seems to be so universal. Is there any man or woman who couldn't at one time or another in their life totally relate to the sentiment of this song?

Because the song was a collaborative effort between a man and woman and because it's something that most of us have felt and suffered through before, I wanted my Battle to pit a male vocalist vs. female vocalist. And my first choices were Kenny Loggins vs. Patti Page.

However, when I learned that our friend JEFFREY SCOTT was returning to rejoin us BOTBers in this round, I decided to celebrate that happy news by featuring his favorite artist, Diana Krall, who recorded the song as a duet with Ray Charles. This Battle is for you, Jeffy! Er... which is NOT to say that I have a secret crush on you. John Wayne!-John Wayne! I am not just a heterosexual, but I am a (link-->) "CONFIDENT heterosexual".

GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG

You Don't Know Me -- Kenny Loggins (1977)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSrhJae02Tk


[If that video doesn't play for my Canadian friends, you might try THIS one.]

RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN

You Don't Know Me -- Ray Charles & Diana Krall (2004)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHc-a7kiNTQ


[If that video doesn't play for my Canadian friends, you might try THIS one.]

Question: "Will Ray Charles and Diana Krall win this BOTB contest?"
Magic 8 Ball sez: "You may rely on it."

We'll see, we'll see...

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...

@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 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.
@ 'JANIE JUNEBUG, RIGHTING & EDITING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'J.A. SCOTT' by clicking HERE.
@ 'QUIET LAUGHTER' by clicking HERE. 
@ 'REINVINTAGED' by clicking HERE.
@ 'DISCCONNECTED' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE PEDESTRIAN WRITER' by clicking HERE.

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