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!
Betty and I had a nice anniversary celebration and now we're ready for a quiet Christmas. It's probably going to be quiet. Nothing on the schedule at least. And now for Battle results...
Battle of the Bands Results
Anniversary Songs
Most recently I had a showdown between Al Jolson's "Anniversary Song" and Little River Band's "Happy Anniversary". As one might expect, the more modern LRB tune got more votes, but old Al didn't do too badly.
Betty went for Al Jolson's song as did I. It's kind of like one of "our songs" as might be said. I've been a big Jolson fan since I was about 9 or so when I saw the film The Jolson Story. I still rank it as one of my favorite films.
When I was on the road in the eighties LRB's greatest hits cassette was one of the albums I had highest on my playlist. Spent many a night drive listening to that music. There's not a bad song on that album in my opinion.
Still, I'm going with Al Jolson.
Final Vote Tally
Al Jolson 6 votes
Little River Band 10 votes
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I plan to be back on January 1 with a new Battle of the Bands. Everyone have a fun and safe holiday time.
Recently (12/13) my wife and I celebrated our 27th anniversary of marriage. It's also been 27 years since we've lived in our current house. So that's going to be the theme of my new...
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.
Happy Anniversary Songs
Since anniversaries are pretty important events for most of us, there are undoubtedly many songs for that sort of occasion. Two immediately came into my mind. December is a pretty celebratory month as it is, but why not one more reason to celebrate?
I've always been a big Al Jolson fan and I've liked his "Anniversary Song" since I was a kid and heard it in the biopic The Jolson Story. After my wife and I got married I introduced her to the song to her and she loved it. After all the melody comes from a famous waltz called "Waves of the Danube" so she was already familiar with that.
I've enjoyed the music of the Little River Band for over forty years now and their "Happy Anniversary" song is another favorite of mine. I know John Holton is also a big fan of LRB so we'll see how he votes on this one. When I think of anniversary songs the Little River Band song is the second one that comes to my mind.
Take a listen to two very different style songs and tell which you like best...
Time to Vote! C'mon and celebrate with us by voting on this Battle. Which of these songs do you prefer? Battles are no fun without you the reader participating. 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
And I guess I'll be throwing in a results post for this current Battle before year's end. Don't seem to get many comments on those results posts so I don't know how many people really look to see what happened. I could call it writing practice I guess. Hope your holiday season is going well...
Remember back years ago when you'd go to the mall at Christmas and drive around a while before you found a parking space? Now trucks drive around my neighborhood throughout the day dropping off packages. Does anyone go to the mall these days? How can malls continue to survive? Just thinking...
Battle of the Bands Results
Diana in the Autumn Wind
This Battle was essentially Chuck Mangione against Chuck Mangione. Chuck was the mastermind behind the National Gallery project as well as his brother Gap's reinterpretations of some of the arty works from the Gallery album. Both projects used a number of very capable musicians coming up with two very different sounding albums.
Personally I like both of them a great deal, but my preference goes to the version closest to my heart: The National Gallery. I've listened to this album so many times back in the seventies and it really grew on me. Gap's album was a new discovery for me which was led me to doing this Battle. I hope you enjoyed it. Here is a copy of the Klee painting that lent inspiration to the song.
"Diana in the Autumn Wind" (1934) by Paul Klee
And here are the Battle results:
Final Vote Tally
National Gallery 6 votes
Gap Mangione 9 votes
Next Battle Sunday December 15th
If all goes as planned it will be happening. That's the plan at least. If it doesn't happen then plans must have changed. Enjoy your holiday season!
Another autumn is rapidly coming to an end. Just a few more weeks and winter will be here. Are you feeling it yet where you are? I'm in Los Angeles so autumn-schmautumn. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was small with only three in attendance this year, but the food was fantastic! And I cooked it all. I also cooked up the following autumn musical Battle...
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.
Diana in the Autumn Wind
Once again I delve into the psychedelic past of Lee's Basement to dig up another treasure from the cut-out bins. It was early 1970's when I was regularly foraging cut-out record bins wherever I found them. I can't recall where or when I acquired the vinyl album of The National Gallery performing musical interpretations of the paintings of Paul Klee, but I was onboard as soon as I laid eyes on it. Since I was becoming more aware of art at that time the concept of the album intrigued me. The psychedelic artwork of the cover certainly drew me in as well.
The National Gallery was not so much of an actual group as it was a classical/jazz/rock project by jazz artist Chuck Mangione and Cleveland record producer Roger Karshner. They co-wrote the songs and brought in various artists to record the album. This was a favorite album for me back in those days and received frequent spins on my turntable. I still have the vinyl in my collection and listening to it in recent days it still sounds great. I took good care of my vinyls.
Here are two versions of the song "Diana in the Autumn Wind" which appears on the National Gallery album and then later on an instrumental jazz album by Chuck's brother Gap Mangione. Which do you enjoy most?
Time to Vote! Don't let winter come before you vote. Battles are no fun without you the reader participating. 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
December 4 question - Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?
I do sometimes like ambiguous endings and have written such when that seemed to be the most appropriate way to deal with a story. An absolute cliff-hanger ending that demands resolution in a sequel of some sort is fine so long as there will be some upcoming book or part of the story and readers are on board with that. Personally I don't like investing too much of my time and energy into a series that goes on too long. I know some people seem to like this sort of thing, but not me so much. I like to move on to new stories and have variety.
If the book or story is a stand alone then I think the reading audience deserves a more absolute resolution to the story being told. Really though, I guess it depends. Depends on what? Hmm--let me think on that. I'll tell you next month,
Do you prefer to just wrap things up and move on when you read something? When a story leaves you hanging, do you like to make up your own ending?
I've been mulling over whether or not to do Thanksgiving dinner this year. Maybe I should check with the bank to see if I could take out a loan to finance the groceries. I mean, really! Prices are getting ridiculous...
Battle of the Bands Results
What Happened with the Persian Market?
My recent Battle was a showdown between two jazzed up versions of Ketelby's "In a Persian Market". The contestants were American jazzman Wilbur de Paris and British popster Acker Bilk with a couple of Dixieland flavored interpretations of the light classical piece.
I'm very partial to the classical tinged piece as it was the one I used to hear during the levitation act of the Ken Griffin Magic show which I worked on for a few years. I enjoy hearing the jazzy versions and after repeated hearings I can go either way depending on my mood. Why not Acker Bilk? He really needs the vote more anyway.
Pretty low turn out for this Battle>>>
Final Vote Count
Wilbur de Paris 6 votes
Acker Bilk 4 votes
Next Battle on December 1st
That's the plan and I plan to stick to that plan. Better than sticking to a pan I guess.
Life is a magic show. And since I toured on a number of magic shows over the years I think I know a thing or two about magic shows. I tell you--life is definitely a damn magic show...
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.
In a Persian Market
The tone poem by Albert Ketelby is a musical piece that you've undoubtedly heard many times over the years. It often will be used as background for magic or circus shows or scenes of mystery. During the years of 1975 to 1980 when I toured off and on with them, I frequently heard it during the levitation sequence of the Ken Griffin Magic Show. In this part of the show, Ken Griffin the magician would put his lovely wife and assistant Roberta into a trance and then raise her into the air from a prone position. The levitation was one of the highlights of the show. I won't say where I was or what I was doing during this sequence of the show, but I will say that I had little else to do but listen to Ketelby's "In a Persian Market" which wasn't all that bad since I did enjoy that piece of music.
The recording we used was in a more classical vein like originally intended. For this Battle I'm using a couple of updated jazzy versions that I find quite entertaining. I hope that you will too.
Time to Vote! Now that you're all jazzed up how's about voting for one or the other. Either way you might or might not like them. 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
The voting has decided! Read on to get my perspectives on why I voted as I did and what the final results amounted to. Did you vote? Whether or not you did vote, you can still read about what I'm talking about...
Battle of the Bands Results
Fun and Folly in Lee's Basement
Back in the first years of the seventies, I was in college as well as working summers. During this time my friends and I began discovering psychedelics and other mind-altering substances. Add to that a frequent abundance of alcohol and it was party time whenever or wherever we gathered.
Music was such a huge part of any event as well as in our times of solitude. My range of musical interest was very eclectic as it is today so any visitor to my basement might be exposed to some very different music than they normally listened to. When one's mind is "expanded" that can be a good thing.
My recent Battle matched a group of those times, Autosalvage, against a more sunshiny pop song by the group Wichita Fall. This was a tough choice for me since I love the sounds of both groups and both albums. I listened to both often back in those days and still enjoy hearing the albums. So what to pick in this Battle?
When my basement was my escape, my domain, and place to entertain friends, I would be more apt to put on the Autosalvage album. It rocked more and probably would have been better received by a bunch of partying guys. This was an interesting album to be in party mode with.
After everyone had gone home and I was still coming down from wherever I had gone, that was the time that I'd usually put on my Wichita Fall album. It was a calming aural experience for me. I also enjoyed listening to this album on quiet afternoons when I was alone. Wichita Fall's Life Is But A Dream is a delightful extravaganza of pretty decent songs with dazzling orchestration and harmonies reminiscent of groups like The Association, another of my favorite groups.
That being said, for this Battle my vote goes to Autosalvage and their song "Land of Their Dreams". Love the crazy sound of that group and love that song.
But just for the pleasure of listening to music these days I'd still likely gravitate more to the Wichita Fall album.
Ever since I retired, sometimes it seems like I work more than I ever did when it comes to stuff around the house. What I want to know is who did all this stuff back when I was actually working a paying job. Idle time can be a lot of work!
November 6 question - What creative activity do you engage in when you're not writing?
This is a fun question that I could go in so many ways with. But I might as well go with the truth. I haven't been writing other than on my blog or just jotting down ideas now and then. Lately--and I mean the last few years I guess--I just haven't been feeling the motivation to write. I've got plenty of ideas with no writing after they appear.
Bottom line is that I watch way more television than I used to. Hey, I guess I'm entitled to wind down in my later years. Watching television might not sound so creative but when I'm doing this I often come up with some of my most creative ideas. I always keep a pen and notebook nearby so that I can jot down whatever pops into my mind. Someday--you know.
Otherwise, I could think of creative things I might be doing, but I'm not doing any of them so what's the point of suggesting that I've been doing creative things.
I'll be writing soon. I think. At least I've been planning to. I've come up with some pretty nifty ideas.
How about you? Are you as lazy as I've been lately?
As we head into another winter season, my thoughts go back to younger days of high school and college. Not that cold weather drove me to the retreat of the basement of my parents' house, but it was a great anytime place to go when I wanted to listen to my records. Sometimes I'd listen alone and sometimes I was joined by friends. For a while, Lee's Basement was the place to be. We had some great times and listened to some interesting music. Today I present a couple of my favorites...
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.
Psychedelic Sounds from the Basement
During the late sixties and early seventies, when I was still living in my parents' home and going to high school and university, my favorite retreat when I was home was our basement. During this time it was mostly my domain. I had a decent portable stereo down there along with my ever-growing record collection which was becoming heavily influenced by psychedelic music as well as classical and an array of music that was not on the normal listening lists of most of my friends. But they listened anyway if they were in Lee's Basement.
It's not like I was aurally torturing them, but I was just giving a different musical diet beyond the Allman Brothers or whatever the favorite of the week was. They could get the popular stuff anywhere. And I'll admit that sometimes we were a bit mind-altered if you know what I'm saying and that weird stuff that I would play just seemed to be pretty durn appropriate.
So, digging back into the memories, let me dust off a couple of cuts from two among my favorites of that era. I don't know if having your mind-altered a bit helps, but these songs still sound pretty good to me. Maybe you had to have been there. Or maybe just have weird eclectic tastes like I have. Hope you can find something interesting or fun about these. Open your mind. Feel the groove. Listen and sit in judgement and then tell us which you like best and why.
When I first read about this group in Lillian Roxon's Rock Encyclopedia I started my search for the album. I actually don't remember the when or where, but I did find it without too much trouble in some cut-out bin somewhere. I got most of my music from the cheap record section. Times were spare. I was a student. I was living in the land of my dreams so this song connected with me.
I haven't found much about this album or group other than they started out as a band in the style of Buffalo Springfield, went into the studio with members of the L.A. Philharmonic and ended up with a record that is more like the Moody Blues or The Association. The album is reviled by some, loved by others, and unknown by most. I especially used to enjoy this one after everyone had left my basement and I was unwinding in the wee hours. The album is one that has been described as "popedelia" but I still think of it as kind of psychedelic. Take a listen and let us know what you think...
Time to Vote! Hallucinogens are not needed to enjoy these songs. It's music for any occasion. Either way you might or might not like them. 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
There will also be another posting for the Insecure Writer's Support Group coming next Wednesday. And don't forget to come back for the results of the above Battle. Those will show up on Friday November 8.
I was on Creativity Highway when I pulled over to a rest stop to take a break. I went into the bathroom building for a moment and when I returned my car was gone and I was stranded at the rest stop. Fortunately they have a nice comfortable waiting area with sofas and such so I can relax until my new mode of transportation comes. I mean this all metaphorically of course--not literally. Or do I?
Battle of the Bands Results
The Spooky Halloween Battle
My most recent Battle was a Halloween special that featured the beach music stylings of Frankie Stein and his Orchestra against the far out sounds of spacey Jeff Barry. These were both songs that entertained me when I was a kid and embedded themselves in my musical memory.
In my brief research effort I could not find any actual information about Frankie and his Ghoul Crew. It's likely the albums were compiled using various studio musicians. Several albums have been released under the band name and it's all pretty listenable sixties instrumental music if you can deal with the "scary" sound effects that are interwoven throughout the music. That's what I loved when I was a kid.
On the other hand, Jeff Barry was a credible songwriter who wrote many hits most of you know well. With his partner, they cranked out songs like "Be My Baby," "Hanky Panky," "Leader of the Pack," and "Do Wah Diddy," and so many others. He also with his wife and on his own wrote numerous television show themes and song used in film. "Face from Outer Space" is among his earliest efforts done when silly novelty songs were all the rage. That's when his song caught my attention. I've never heard it played elsewhere since then other than finding it on YouTube. The song really has stuck with me over the years.
Between the two songs, if I were to choose background music played on a loop then I'd probably go with Frankie Stein. However as far as the better--or at least my favorite--I'd have to cast my vote for Jeff Barry. Not what the majority opted for.
Final Vote Tally
Frankie Stein 7 votes
Jeff Barry 4 votes
Next Battle November 1
I won't say anything about how we're getting close to the end of another year. Or maybe I just did...
