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
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!
Hi Lee - have a very happy 2020 - all the best Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary, thank you for the greeting and all the best to you as well.
DeleteLee
Happy Margarita Day (or, Happy Egg Nog & Brandy Day), LEE.
ReplyDeleteThis 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
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.
DeleteFirst vote goes to Isley Bros..
Lee
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.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, 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.
DeleteA vote for Jimmy Scott.
Lee
I hope you have a great year
ReplyDeleteJo-Anne, and back atcha!
DeleteLee
I enjoyed visiting your blog. Just trying to get mine of the ground. Happy New Year,
ReplyDeleteSusan, I'll try to stop by to visit as soon as I can. All the best to you.
DeleteLee
Sorry... cannot concur that both are dynamite.
ReplyDeleteI'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.
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.
DeleteA vote for Isley Bros..
Lee
Happy New Year, Arlee. Count me in for the Isley Brothers. Much smoother in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteJanet’s Smiles
Janet, and may you have a wonderful year in 2020!
DeleteA vote for Isley Bros.
Lee
Happy New Year to you Lee also to your family,
ReplyDeleteYou're right, years pass so quickly these days.
Good choice of song. I vote for the Isley Bros.
Take care.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, I wish you all the best in the coming year and beyond.
DeleteA vote for Isley Bros..
Lee
Isley Bros get my vote
ReplyDeleteMike, again it's...
DeleteIsley Bros.
Lee
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)
ReplyDeleteBut overall, the Isleys have won me over.
Mary B, I don't know about your Irish reference, but Jimmy's voice does take some getting accustomed to.
DeleteAnother vote for Isley Bros.
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI 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!
Cathy, I think this is a wonderful song and Simply Red has done some excellent music in his career.
DeleteAnother vote for Isley Bros..
Lee
I'm passing on this one, but wishing you all the best.
ReplyDeleteRoland, hate to see you pass this by, but it's nice to receive your well wishes.
DeleteLee
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!!
ReplyDeleteLisa, jazz is often an acquired taste. It probably would take several listens to acclimate to the sound of Jimmy Scott.
DeleteHappy New Year to you too!
A vote for Isley Bros..
Lee
Yeah, Jimmy's voice sunk a cool arrangement. Happy New Year and Isleys here...
ReplyDeleteCW, 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.
DeleteA vote for Isley Bros..
Lee
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!
ReplyDelete-aisasami
https://ailovemusic.net/celebrate-a-new-year-with-this-interesting-battle-of-the-songs-2/
Amy, join the crowd!
DeleteAnother vote for Isley Bros.
Lee
Happy New Year, Arlee! Good battle on a great song.
ReplyDeleteYou'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.
John, I thought both versions were excellent, but I can understand some listeners being taken aback by the Jimmy Scott version.
DeleteA vote for Isley Bros..
Lee
Can I go with the Simply Red Version ans my vote??!!
ReplyDeleteMike, well, if you have to you have to...
DeleteA write-in for Simply Red.
Lee
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!
ReplyDeleteAs for the battle, I really like the jazzy vibe and instrumental bits of the Jimmy Scott version.
Debbie D, I need some slowing down of time...
DeleteA needed vote for Jimmy Scott.
Lee