Lost in a Fog--hat ( #BOTB Results )

 Lost in a fog, I couldn't see beyond my hat.  My blood ran cold when I saw the outcome of the Battle at hand.  I didn't see it coming, but it all stands to reason in the final analysis I suppose...

Battle of the Bands Results

           The results of my most recent Battle were not quite what I expected, but that is often the case in these Battle of the Bands episodes.  The showdown was between two contemporaries of the late sixties and early seventies--Cold Blood and Foghat.  I was so  taken in by the epic jazz/blues/rock big band sound of Cold Blood that I was certain they would garner more votes than they did.  However it was that outright rocking sound of Foghat that won the voters over.   They also had the bigger hit with the song and therefore the more recognition so it probably stands to reason that they would have won this Battle.

         As I signaled in my initial Battle post, I had been greatly impacted by the Cold Blood recording when I first heard it so that this was the version I chose for my vote.  I was joined only by John Holton who recognized the powerful vocal work of Linda Pense.  Everyone else jumped on the Foghat train.  Not really a bad way to vote though.  I liked Foghat's version too.  I just preferred what Cold Blood did with the song.

        But that's the way things go in Battle of the Bands...

Final Vote Tally

Cold Blood            2 votes

Foghat                   8 votes

Next Battle of the Bands on Tuesday March 1st

       I'll be combining that Battle post with my post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group.  The day will be here before you know it.  Unless you're paying attention to such things which you probably do.  Why wouldn't you?

I Just Want to Make Love to You ( #BOTB )

         Did you love your Valentine's Day?  Basically another day for me, but I haven't been big on Valentine's Day since I was a kid when we'd exchange those little cards professing love for other kids that maybe we didn't like so much or they didn't care about us.  Hallmark:  Bringing people together with paper..

         Now that we're done with Super Bowl and Valentine's Day we can move on to other exciting things like war.  The Russians are coming!  Then the Chinese!   Let's get ready to rumble on a worldwide scale.

        But back to love.  Most of us love music--or at least tolerate it.  If we're going to have a Battle then let's have a...

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.

I Just Want to Make Love to You

        Here's a song that has been recorded many times by many artists since it first debuted in 1954 in a classic recording by Muddy Waters.  The song was written by blues legend Willie Dixon.  Etta James included her version on her debut album At Last! which was released in 1960 and later had a hit when it was re-released in 1996.   Over the years the song has become a blues standard performed by many rock and blues artists.

        The first time I can recall hearing a version of the song was somewhere around 1970 when I heard it coming from a small FM station in Lenoir City Tennessee.  That version by Cold Blood immediately captured my attention with the Blood Sweat & Tears big band horn sound and the powerful vocals of Linda Pense.  Oddly, as much as I liked the sound of Cold Blood, I never acquired a copy of their debut album or any others.  However, that sound of "I Just Want to Make Love to You" has stuck with me through the years.  Kind of odd since that was the only time I think I heard the song until YouTube came along so I could hear it again.  It still holds up for me.

        A few later Foghat rocked us with their driving up tempo version of the song.  Though once again this was not an album that I ever bought at the time, it was a song and an album that I heard often because just about everyone I knew seemed to have this album.  So I know this version well.  It rocks!

        This Battle has been brewing in my line-up for years now.  It's among the earliest Battles that I came up with and now, just in time for a Valentine's face off, here are the versions by Cold Blood and Foghat.   Take a listen.  Hope you enjoy...

Cold Blood "I Just Want to Make Love to You"  (1969)






Foghat "I Just Want to Make Love to You"  (1972)







Time to Vote!
        
        Hope you liked this Battle--or even loved it.  Now it's time to show your love.   Which artist do you enjoy the most?   Of the two song versions, which do you like better?  I hope you'll at least give the versions a listen to discern your favorite.    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

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 



Winner of this Battle Announced on Tuesday February 22nd

         I'm getting ready for another Blogging from A to Z April Challenge and hoping I can get my posts prepared ahead of time so I'm working on those.  Still, I'll take time to report the outcome of this bluesy rock Battle.  Hope you'll stop back then!

My Stars! The King Is Conquered! ( #BOTB Results)

   I told someone that I need to review a book again, but first I need to read one.  When I do finish the next book I read I will put up a review at the appropriate sites and maybe even on my blog.  It would be a case of my reviewing a novel to be a novel event.    In the light of things...

         For a number of years I've been lax about reading books.  Short things I'll read now and then, but I've had to really push myself into reading a book.  So now I'm reading a somewhat big book--nearly six hundred pages--not the biggest maybe, but bigger than most books I typically would read. The book in question is one I'd bought from the Doubleday Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club in 1969 or so and I'd been putting off reading it for so long that I figured I should read it rather than let it sit around for another fifty years. 

       Something had struck me recently that made me think of this book that I still had in my office bookshelf.  The book, Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner, is a "futuristic" look at the year 2010.  Brunner's vision was perceptive and I enjoy seeing how closely writers of the past depicted the future that I have lived through.  The book has been a bear that I've been wrestling with since December when I started it.  Obviously I've been getting through only a few pages a day.  

        No wonder I haven't read many books lately.  For me reading seems to be such a battle.  And speaking of battles, it's time for...

Battle of the Bands Results

           Conventional BOTB wisdom might suggest that one never use an artist like Nat King Cole up against another artist.  Stephen T McCarthy agreed in his comment to my post that using a legend like Cole might result in the opponent getting slammed big time. Still, I took a chance in my most recent Battle as I put Mr. "American Pie" Don McLean up against the pop royalty of King Cole.

         Alas, the King has fallen to the soft toned balladeer Don McLean.  Kind of a surprise to me, but then not so much.  I much prefer "Vincent" to "Mona Lisa" and feel the same way about the original works of art that inspired the songs.   And I wasn't the only one as one can see in the results...

Final Vote Tally

Nat King Cole                    5 votes

Don McLean                     14 votes

Next Battle on Tuesday February 15th

         Are you doing anything for Valentine's Day?  

A Tribute to Art and Artists ( #IWSG & #BOTB )

 

        Many of you have probably heard about the passing of Jeremy Hawkins--blogger, author, renaissance man, and graphic artist extraordinaire.  If you don't know who I'm talking about then just look at most of the art on my blog page as well as those of many other bloggers you likely follow.  Jeremy designed most of the artwork used by Blogging from A to Z April Challenge where he has been an integral team member almost from the beginning.

        Today has been designated as a special day of tribute to this wonderful man who left us far sooner than we ever expected.  Jeremy--you will be missed!   

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog. 

The co-hosts for the  February 2 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Jacqui Murray, Sandra Cox, and Lee Lowery!

February 2 question - Is there someone who supported or influenced you that perhaps isn't around anymore? Anyone you miss?

        So many great people come to my mind with this question--from my parents, my former boss, and a long list of friends too many to list in a blog post.  But this day is in honor of Jeremy Hawkins.  As with many others, you were there when I needed advice and know-how about keeping my blog looking somewhat decent.  Thank you for all that you did for me and Blogging from A to Z.  Life goes on, but it just won't be the same without you.

         I dedicate the following to you and all of those who make this world a more interesting place to look at...

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.

 

Famous Art and Artists

       

         There have been many songs that have been influenced or inspired by artists and their works of art.   This Battle installment features two of the more famous songs of this nature.  They were written and released over two decades apart and both have become pop song classics.   I'm sure you are familiar with both of these or have at least heard them sometime in your lives.  Take a listen to see which you would name as your favorite...

Nat King Cole  "Mona Lisa"   (1950)

Don McLean  "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)"   (1972)

Time to Vote!
        
        No artsy snobbery involved here.  Just your opinion.   Which artist do you enjoy the most?   Of the two songs, which do you like better?  I hope you'll at least give the versions a listen to discern your favorite.    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

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 



Winner of this Battle Announced on Tuesday February 8th

           Do you have a favorite creator of visual arts?  A favorite painting or other work of visual art?   Do you have any of Jeremy Hawkins' graphic art on your blog site?  

Miss You, Jeremy!