This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Holding Back the Years (Still) (#BOTB)


Happy New Year!  And that's about all I have to say about that.  Besides, these years never seem to want to stay around as long as they used to.  Where does time go?...

      Tick, tick, tick, tick...



Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.



Holding Back the Years

       I used this song to introduce my New Years Day Battle in 2017.  It's a good song with a lot of pretty good covers, so why not use it again.  Maybe I'll even use it again next year. But in the meantime here are a couple of nice covers of this great song.


The Isley Brothers   "Holding Back the Years"  (1996)







Jimmy Scott  "Holding Back the Years"  (1998)









Time to Vote!

         Which version of this song do you like best.?  Personally I think both versions are dynamite.  Can you get in the groove with the music?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.



Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 


Cherdo on the Flipside 

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Wednesday January 8th

      Since that's also the day of my Insecure Writer's Support Group post I'll slip the winner announcement into that post.  See you then.  Now to start into 2020!







36 comments:

  1. Hi Lee - have a very happy 2020 - all the best Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hilary, thank you for the greeting and all the best to you as well.

      Lee

      Delete
  2. Happy Margarita Day (or, Happy Egg Nog & Brandy Day), LEE.

    This was an easy decision for me to make. I have always enjoyed a lot of Soul music, having grown up in Los Angeles and hearing so much of it on L.A. radio stations. So, I definitely liked the treatment that THE ISLEY BROTHERS gave to the song.

    I don't think I'd ever heard (or even heard OF) Jimmy Scott before, and within 35 to 40 seconds of his rendition, I knew that I neither liked his voice nor his style of singing. (If I didn't know better, and heard this song on the radio, I'd probably think Scott was actually a Black female vocalist.)

    This was a slam-dunk BOTB bote for The Isleys, as far as I'm concerned. I'll be extremely surprised if they don't run away with this contest in blowout fashion. But time will tell and we shall see. One can never be too certain about anything when it comes to BOTB.

    ~ Stephen
    DogGtor of Alcohology &
    King of Inebriation Nation

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. STMcC, I don't know if you made it to the jazzy instrumental interlude in Jimmy Scott's version, but I thought you might appreciate that much. His voice is indeed different--a result of some rare genetic disorder. I think he modulates pretty well with his vocal limitations. But I get where you're coming from.

      First vote goes to Isley Bros..

      Lee

      Delete
  3. I know this song well and, like you, like both versions but I am goi g with Jimmy Scott because he gave it his own unique flair which I liked. Is it a guy singing? To be honest it sounds like a sultry gal like Ella or Nina Simone. A new year has now begun and let’s hope nothing truly devastating happens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Birgit, thank you for helping to avoid a shut out. Yes, this is a man singing. Little Jimmy Scott had a genetic disorder that stunted his growth and didn't allow for his voice to change. I think he used this affliction to his advantage though it does sound a bit strange.

      A vote for Jimmy Scott.

      Lee

      Delete
  4. I enjoyed visiting your blog. Just trying to get mine of the ground. Happy New Year,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan, I'll try to stop by to visit as soon as I can. All the best to you.

      Lee

      Delete
  5. Sorry... cannot concur that both are dynamite.

    I'm with McCarthy. If this isn't a runaway for the Isley's, I'll eat his hat. And that's a ten gallon Stetson. Isley's Isley's Isley's.

    Jimmy Scott's voice sounds simply awful to my ears.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 6-Gun, different tastes I guess. Jimmy's vocals sound kind of unique, but the band is dynamite in my opinion. I do think this will turn into a runaway for the Isleys.

      A vote for Isley Bros..

      Lee

      Delete
  6. Happy New Year, Arlee. Count me in for the Isley Brothers. Much smoother in my opinion.

    Janet’s Smiles

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janet, and may you have a wonderful year in 2020!

      A vote for Isley Bros.

      Lee

      Delete
  7. Happy New Year to you Lee also to your family,
    You're right, years pass so quickly these days.
    Good choice of song. I vote for the Isley Bros.
    Take care.
    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yvonne, I wish you all the best in the coming year and beyond.

      A vote for Isley Bros..

      Lee

      Delete
  8. I've always liked this song. Jimmy Scott reminds me of Brendan O'Carroll of Mrs Brown's Boys (a fantasticly inappropriate show out of Ireland)

    But overall, the Isleys have won me over.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary B, I don't know about your Irish reference, but Jimmy's voice does take some getting accustomed to.

      Another vote for Isley Bros.

      Lee

      Delete
  9. Lee,

    I remember this song but I couldn't recall the artist so I checked with Google. It's Simply Red I know best. What's interesting is for the longest time I thought the lead singer was a woman. Imagine my surprise to see in the YT video just now that she is a he. lol Oh well...it's hard to tell with the ears along sometimes. Anywho, in this battle I'm going to have to give my vote to THE ISLEY BROTHERS. I really love their R&B vibe! Here's to all good things waiting for you in 2020 to find you each day healthy, happy, and without, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cathy, I think this is a wonderful song and Simply Red has done some excellent music in his career.

      Another vote for Isley Bros..

      Lee

      Delete
  10. I'm passing on this one, but wishing you all the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roland, hate to see you pass this by, but it's nice to receive your well wishes.

      Lee

      Delete
  11. I know this song by Simply Red! That's my favorite version but between these two here, I like the Isley Bros. best, only because I'm not a great jazz fan. Happy New Year Arlee!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa, jazz is often an acquired taste. It probably would take several listens to acclimate to the sound of Jimmy Scott.

      Happy New Year to you too!

      A vote for Isley Bros..

      Lee

      Delete
  12. Yeah, Jimmy's voice sunk a cool arrangement. Happy New Year and Isleys here...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CW, Jimmy's voice took me aback as well, but I kept going back and realized how well he actually sings despite his unique vocal quality.

      A vote for Isley Bros..

      Lee

      Delete
  13. Happy New Year! May 2020 be a great year! As much I love Jimmy's jazz rendition of the song, my vote goes to the The Isley Brothers version as I enjoy the cool R&B vibe!

    -aisasami
    https://ailovemusic.net/celebrate-a-new-year-with-this-interesting-battle-of-the-songs-2/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amy, join the crowd!

      Another vote for Isley Bros.

      Lee

      Delete
  14. Happy New Year, Arlee! Good battle on a great song.

    You're right: they're both good. For me, it comes down to Ernie Isley, who is a tremendous guitar player. I think I'm the only person who owned his solo album, High Wire. Here, he's comping for his brothers, and he really knows what he's doing; his guitar bits add to the music, rather than subtracting from it. The Isleys get my vote here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John, I thought both versions were excellent, but I can understand some listeners being taken aback by the Jimmy Scott version.

      A vote for Isley Bros..

      Lee

      Delete
  15. Can I go with the Simply Red Version ans my vote??!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike, well, if you have to you have to...

      A write-in for Simply Red.

      Lee

      Delete
  16. Happy New Year, Lee! You're right; time flies by at a frightening clip. Here's hoping 2020 will be a good year, all around!

    As for the battle, I really like the jazzy vibe and instrumental bits of the Jimmy Scott version.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie D, I need some slowing down of time...

      A needed vote for Jimmy Scott.

      Lee

      Delete

Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.
I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.

For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.

If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.

Lee