Hey! June is here already! What the heck happened? I thought it was still January and I had dreamed that April had gone by. Before we know it December will be here again...
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| Jersey in January |
It seems like an oft lamented fact that time seems to pass so much more quickly as we get older. You've likely said it yourself. As for me, maybe it's partly because most of my days are the same throughout most of the year. Time recedes in a blur...
Battle of the Bands
Hey June
Upon the arrival of June I thought a song about the month might be in order for this first of the month Battle of the Bands match up. Oh, except it's "Hey Jude" and not "June". Well, I guess this will work just fine.
I'm sure everyone is familiar with this Beatles song that has the ending that seems like it's going to go on forever. What more can I say but "nah, nah, nah nah, nah, nah, Hey June!"--er, I mean, "Jude".
Smile Orchestra "Hey Jude" (2015)
The Smile Orchestra is an acoustic cover band from Ukraine. They are available for parties, receptions, and restaurant background music. That's as much as I know and I don't know that we need to know much more than that. We'll let them start off the Battle with their truncated version of the epic Beatles tune...
Don Ellis Orchestra "Hey Jude" (1970)
Now to a lengthy version that I think I've started at the 3:10 mark where the actual music starts. This recording comes from the album Don Ellis at Fillmore. You can move the needle back if you want to hear the weird psychedelic intro--over all it's a long cut in the best tradition of Don Ellis.
My introduction to Don Ellis was back around 1970 when I heard the amazing "Variations for Trumpet" from his Autumn album--one that I still own on vinyl. Also still in my small collection of vinyl that I've hung onto is the double live Fillmore album that my mother gave me for Christmas of 1970.
I'm guessing that it was early 1971 when Ellis was touring with his orchestra and played Knoxville at the University of Tennessee's Stokely Arena. None of my friends at the time were interested in going to see this concert, but I thought it was worth going it alone. I was not disappointed. One of the best concerts I've seen.
So let's get into a jazz mode as we crossover into the psychedelic seventies...
Time to Vote!
We have a couple of contrasting styled videos here. I like both of them, but I'm going to pick one as a favorite. What about you? Have some fun with us. What's your favorite between these two choices? 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
'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
Angel's Bark
Debbie Doglady's Den
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Cherdo on the Flipside
A I Love Music
Winner of this Battle Announced Friday June 7
There will be something for Insecure Writer's Support Group next Wednesday with a results post two days later. Be sure to come back to see which band's version received the most votes.
What is your favorite theory as to why time seems to pass so much more quickly as we grow older? Have you seen any big bands or jazz orchestras in concert? What is your favorite album recorded at one of the Fillmore Auditoriums?
Oh dear, Lee … I simply couldn't get past Don Ellis' 3-minute mark before crying 'uncle.'
ReplyDeleteHey Jude -- set against a giant yellow bean bag and copious glasses of screwdrivers -- is one of a precious few songs pivotal to my life's story. It's easier to remember those days while listening to the Smile Orchestra.
Myra, maybe Don Ellis is a sort of "you had to be there" type of thing to appreciate it
DeleteSounds like an interesting story related to "Hey Jude".
A vote for Smile Orchestra.
Lee
LEE ~
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that you were guessing that I'd be voting for Don Ellis.
Nope.
That is one type of Jazz I've never been into. It's better than Rap, or that "Metallica" kind of Metal Shredding, but that's all I can say for it.
Make mine 'SMILE', please.
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
STMcC, I don't know if you've listened to any other Don Ellis recordings, but I think you might appreciate them more if you got a wider perspective of the music. He came out of old school tradition and entered into a new era of electronic psychedelia to carve out a respected place in modern music history before leaving this world far too young.
DeleteHis orchestral work was pretty amazing.
A vote for Smile Orchestra.
Lee
It's definitely the Smile Orchestra for me. Don Ellis sounded too much like an elementary school music concert to my ears.
ReplyDelete~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Mary, you might not have listened to enough of the cut if you came to the conclusion that they sounded like an elementary school band. Although I think you caught part of the musical joke that Ellis was making--he was fond of musical humor.
DeleteSmile Orchestra.
Lee
This is my least favorite Beatles tune: it's three minutes of song and five minutes of "na na na nananana, nananana, Hey Jude." As such, I liked the Smile Orchestra's because it was short. They get my vote.
ReplyDeleteJohn H, I'm in agreement about "Hey Jude" (as you might have noted in the commentary of my post). I liked it initially, but it got kind of old for me rather quickly.
DeleteSmile Orchestra.
Lee
Apologies, Lee. I like some psychedelic and some jazz but not Don Ellis - beyond a few riffs. It's a firm vote for Smile Orchestra - and I love their instruments.
ReplyDeleteRoland, Different strokes as the saying goes.
DeleteSmile Orchestra.
Lee
Smile Orchestra for me
ReplyDeleteMike, simply...
DeleteSmile Orchestra.
Lee
Who wouldn't want Russians playing a 51 year old song on an accordion and uke to liven up ANY party? I know I would, even if it led to charges of collusion. Oh, I forgot: collusion isn't a crime. Anyway Ellis was unlistenable, so it is "улыбка" for me.
ReplyDelete6-Gun, Yes! It's a Russian pinko plot for sure! Mangle our brains with the worst Beatles songs.
DeleteSmile Orchestra.
Lee
I have to be honest, neither one of these appealed to me, but at least The Smile Orchestra didn't make me grimace, so I'll vote for them. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteTime is passing MUCH too quickly! How can it possibly be June already?! I guess you're looking forward to your road trip next month?
Debbie D, "Hey Jude" is kind of a tough song anyway.
DeleteRoad trip coming soon and I'm looking forward with great anticipation.
A vote for Smile Orchestra.
Lee
This going to be a cheapy vote, as HJ is my least favorite Beatles song of all time. But I vote for the Ukranians.
ReplyDeleteCW, no love for "Hey Jude" in this round.
DeleteA vote for Smile Orchestra.
Lee
Maybe time is going by faster. How could we test that?
ReplyDeletePTM, I guess clocks test the rate adequately for us. Life is illusory.
DeleteLee
Oh gosh, give me the |Smile Orchestra over that noise maker any day. I did listen to the whole thing of that second version but it really was hurting my ears:). Time does seem to be moving faster as I can't believe we are 6 months away before |Christmas! I am so far behind in card making it isn't funny. Why that happens? I don't know but it could be that, when we are kids, we are not as patient and can't wait for something to come, like Christmas, or something to end, Like School so the time seems to drag.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, when we are still children it seems like we have all the time in the world left to us. Now I see most of my years behind me with far fewer and unknowable years ahead. Too much to do and think about these days at my age.
DeleteAnother vote for Smile Orchestra.
Lee
From Facebook, a vote from my Cousin Tom for...
ReplyDeleteSmile Orchestra.
Lee
I liked Smile Orchestra better. Don Ellis's version wasn't my personal cup of tea, though maybe I'd think differently if I'd heard it in the context of the entire show and already been warmed up to that style of music.
ReplyDeleteCarrie-Anne, good point about context which I heartily agree with.
DeleteA vote for Smile Orchestra.
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you're gonna have a shut out for this battle and I hate to say but Smile Orchestra easly steals my vote. Don Ellis' arrangement sounds a bit like those dreams you used to write about. Can you see the big question mark on my forehead? Seriously, it played disjointedly in my head. Not to advocate drug use but I think you'd have to be strung out pretty heavily to get into this kind of groove...just sayin'. lol Interesting battle! :) BTW, thank you for the sweet book review, my friend!
Cathy, Don Ellis played some challenging music with odd time signature changes, unique instrumentation, and electronic effects. Not all of his music is as psychedelic as this piece.
DeleteLee
Don Ellis, don't wait so long, get with it...ha ha. He just didn't do it for me. It's the wrong Jude genre (I just made up a musical fusion).
ReplyDeleteI gotta give it up for SMILE!
Cherdo, the Beatles song "Hey Jude" seems to last forever so Don Ellis gave it an appropriate treatment I think.
DeleteSmile Orchestra
Lee
Well, I know this is late, but I'm a definite "yes" vote for DON ELLIS. Live at Fillmore is probably my favourite album of his, and I fully appreciate all the boundaries he pushed with his bands. My first exposure to him was as an undergrad in 1990 in Jazz Ensemble ("Rock Odyssey" and "Go Back Home").
ReplyDeleteYes, this version of "Hey Jude" is mucho, mucho unconventional. That's kind of the whole point. Not one for the purists, for sure!
Anon, you might be a year and a half late, but still I'm glad you stopped by to register your thoughts on this Battle. Now I'm wondering who you are and how you found this post!
DeleteThe Live at Fillmore album is a fine one and provides a good perspective of his abilities in a live setting. I saw Don Ellis in concert around 1972 I think at the Stokely Athletic Center at University of Tennessee in Knoxville. A fantastic and memorable concert!
I still have my vinyl copy of the live album as well as his Autumn album which is my favorite. I'd heard "Variations for Trumpet" on the UT radio station late one night and knew that I had to have that album and purchased a copy soon after. Still a wonderful album!
Thanks for stopping by.
Lee