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!
Monday seems like a good day to publish a blog post. Then again summer days probably aren't great for posting anything. But I'm doing it...
Battle of the Bands Results
My previous post amounted mostly to a reflection about preference. My Battle consisted of two versions of the same song as performed by the same group--Petra-- with different lead vocalists. The first came out in 1984 and was the version I was familiar with having listened to it many times. That's the version I preferred because it was the one I'm used to hearing. Most voters went with the never version since they were not familiar with either version.
The heat has come to Los Angeles. I'd been seeing the hot weather reports from the rest of the country and now it's our turn. Trying to minimize A/C use I'll be doing whatever I can to mostly stay home and beat the heat. Maybe I can beat the heat, but I don't think I can beat the system. However we can enjoy the beat of the music with another....
Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bandsisthe blogging event started byFar Away Seriesand now hosted byStMcC 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.
Beat the System
Recently I was housecleaning on a Saturday morning and playing a CD of "greatest hits" by the rock group Petra. It had been many years since I'd listened to this music and I was enjoying those old songs I used to listen to so much back in the eighties. After pausing the music to do some outside chores, I came back to resume listening to the next song which was "Beat the System"--one of my favorite cuts from the album of the same name released in 1984.
But wait! Something didn't sound right about the song and I was confused. Checking the CD sleeve credits I realized that this was a collection of remakes of songs originally sung by Petra's earlier singer Greg X Volz as updated with new singer John Schlitt. They had recorded an album of cover versions of their own songs.
After my surprise about the difference in the sounds of the songs, I jumped on the idea of a Battle of the Band redoing their own song. You can probably think of a lot of other great examples, but for now I hope you'll give this one a chance...
Time to Vote! Face the heat and vote for your favorite. Just listen and see what you think. Which song version do you prefer? 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. I don't know if anyone else will be doing a Battle this time around, but you can still check out these sites. Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts: StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands 'MIKE'SRAMBLINGS' 'Curious as a Cathy' Sound of One Hand Typing Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Somewhere along the line I'll have results for this contest as long there is enough participation. Maybe I'll have a thing to say about something else. Maybe about the heat. Or maybe about beating the system. Stay cool..,
I'm here again. Another lovely day in L.A. & me a mile and a million minutes behind. But I'm here...
Battle of the Bands Results
My most recent Battle came off better than the previous two, but it was still not a song that knocked anyone's socks off. But maybe you were barefoot. After all, it's summer.
The song was the Bob Dylan/Richard Manuel composition "Tears of Rage" which most famously appeared on The Band's debut album Music from Big Pink.It's a song that captivated me from the first time I listened to that album and I still think it's one of the best cuts on the album.
There was a nice mix of support for both artists that I used: Gene Clark and Ian & Sylvia. I didn't care much for Ian's vocal style on this song, but I loved their harmony. The ideal pairing in my opinion would have been Sylvia and Gene Clark because I like Clark's voice better. Between the two recordings I'm going to vote for Gene Clark.
Final Vote Tally
Gene Clark 7 votes
Ian & Sylvia 7 votes
Well how about that?
Next thing that happens here?
Is when it happens. Maybe a Battle on the 15th of July, but certainly one on August 1. Either way, I'll be here when it happens.
Hope you had a great 4th of July. It's hot in Los Angeles, but it might be even more uncomfortable where you are from what I hear on the weather reports. By the way, I have a Battle of the Bands post currently up so if you're into music I hope you'll join us and vote on your favorite recording.
July 5 question - 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?
Dreams have always been a major part of my storytelling mind. When I was a child I would often imagine continuations of my dreams or conjure stories inspired by my dreams. Starting in my high school years I began keeping a dream journal where I would record remembered details of what I had dreamed upon awakening and often embellish my memory with more descriptive details of what I imagined that I had seen and experienced. I faithfully recorded my dreams well into my college years and since then I have now and then written down my dreams as potential story ideas.
Other story inspirations have come from news stories that intrigued me, anecdotes heard from other people, or my own personal experiences. However dreams have been a tremendous influence on my imagination life. In fact, my fascination with dreams led me to publish a blog about dreams atA Faraway View. The posts are still available if you're interested in reading my thoughts about dreams though it's been several years since I published anything on that site. Still the information might have relevance to those who are interested.
Have you ever kept a dream journal? Do you find that real life stories are more interesting to write about than dreams or fantasies? Do you have any currently dormant blogs waiting for readers to discover?
Testing 1, 2, 3...can you hear me? Or that is, can you see me? I kept getting messages about changing something on my blog and I didn't do it. At least I don't know what I did. Does Google really think I can figure these things out even with all of their tutorials etc? Maybe I'm here or maybe I'm not. Either way I'm still doing this Battle of the Bands segment.
Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bandsisthe blogging event started byFar Away Seriesand now hosted byStMcC 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.
Tears of Rage
The song was written by Bob Dylan and Richard Manuel (of The Band) and first recorded by Dylan in a so-so version (you can listen to it here, but I'm not impressed by it). The absolute best version was the one released by The Band on their debut album in 1968. I received that album for Christmas in 1968 and from the first cut on the album (the song of this Battle) I was blown away. For me and many others this album remains one of the best albums of all time. It was unlike anything I had heard up until then If you are interested in hearing this version you can find it here. The focus of this Battle is a couple of other decent covers. Listen to see which you like best.
Though he put out several solo albums and collaborations with other artists, Gene Clark is best known as one of the founding members of The Byrds. His version of "Tears of Rage" comes from his 1971 solo album.
Sounding like they're at a Hootenanny comes this Canadian duo who were popular on the Folk scene in the sixties. Nice male/female harmonizing, but is it as good as Gene Clark's version? You listen and then decide...
Time to Vote! I won't be crying tears of rage if you don't vote, but I'd appreciate it if you would participate. Just listen and see what you think. Which song version do you prefer? 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. I don't know if anyone else will be doing a Battle this time around, but you can still check out these sites. Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts: StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands 'MIKE'SRAMBLINGS' 'Curious as a Cathy' Sound of One Hand Typing Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Maybe some of you noticed that I didn't post my previous results. I didn't forget. I just didn't feel very motivated to post a results post. Thank you Six Gun for checking up on me with your thoughtful email. I'm fine. It's just a blogging ennui that comes partly from summer I guess.
So how did my previous Battle turn out (for those few who voted)? That Battle was two versions of the 13th Floor Elevators' song "Dust" which I think is an outstanding song but voters did not seem to agree. I will say that this song was long one of my least favorites from their Easter Everywhere album but recent repeated listenings and reading about the song gave me a greater appreciation for it. Now it is one of my favorite songs of any artist.
I like both covers a great deal so it was not a slam dunk for me, I like the clarity of presentation and faithfulness to the spirit of the Elevators that the Tommy Hall Schedule showed. And as an Elevator tribute band they get special acclamation from me. However I love the production of the Misty Lane version. They provide an ethereal psychedelic experience with their version that puts me in mind of other groups that I enjoy such as Mercury Rev and My Morning Jacket. Very trippy fun. My vote goes to Misty Lane.
Actually the outcome of this contest was not too bad..
Final Vote Tally
Tommy Hall Schedule 5 votes
Misty Lane 4 votes
Next BOTB Results Post Coming
I'll likely post the results around Monday July 10 or something like that. I'll see how I feel about it.
