Market Results ( #BOTB Results)

 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.

In a Persian Market (#BOTB)

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 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.

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.





Wilbur de Paris  "In a Persian Market"  (1959)






Acker Bilk  "In a Persian Market"  (1959)

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'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Landmark Sounds (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Trivial Music Silliness

Next Battle on December 1

  

       And results of this current Battle will be Friday November 22nd.  Did I get that right?  What ever...

Time for Dreams ( #BOTB Results )

       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.  

Final Vote Tally

Autosalvage      7 votes

Wichita Fall       3 votes

Another Battle on November 15th

      Probably

I Must Confess ( #IWSG )

      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!

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 November 6 posting of the IWSG are Diedre Knight, Lisa Buie Collard , Kim Lajevardi, and JQ Rose.

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?

 

     

      

Psychedelic Songs from Lee's Basement ( #BOTB )

        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 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.

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.    

Autosalvage   "Land of Their Dreams"  (1968)

       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.

Wichita Fall  "Playground"  (1968) 

      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'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Landmark Sounds (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Trivial Music Silliness

Next Battle on November 15

    

       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.

Down to Earth Results ( #BOTB Results )

        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...

Scare Time!!!! ( #BOTB )

        It's a-coming!  That time of scary stuff and silly stuff and lots of candy.  That is if you can afford it. I have been a non-participant in Halloween ever since I stopped working.  I eat the candy, but I don't answer the door and keep the lights off.  Bah Humbug!  Now how about some Halloween music fun...

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 of 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.

  Songs from my Youth

     When I was a kid I was totally into Halloween.  It was one of my favorite times of the year.  As I grew more interested in music, I became more interested in scary music that was good for Halloween.  Here are two songs that I got a kick out of when I was a kid.  Have you heard of either of these before?  Which do you like best?

Frankie Stein and his Ghouls  "The Creep"  (1965)

        This group had a series of albums with the horror theme and I had most of them.  I loved the artwork on the covers and since I was into Beach Music at that time, this music was right up my lane. One funny thing about the series is that the same songs were sometimes repeated with new titles.  Probably most people didn't notice since the music was all pretty similar.  This was one of my favorite tunes from the band...

Jeff Barry   "The Face from Outer Space"   (1960)

       I can remember seeing this song performed on a TV show in about 1960 and it impacted me.  I thought it was just the scary kind of fun that I was into.  Though I cannot recall hearing the song on the radio, the song stuck with me for years.  I found a copy of the song on a 45 disc in around 1965 and had it for a number of years until I gave my 45's to my friend Marvin to use as target practice.  I wish I hadn't have done that, but the song is preserved on YouTube.  Here it is for you to listen to...

 

Time to Vote!

         Don't be a creep.  Vote!  This is all just for fun.  Listen to the songs then tell us which song version you like best?   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

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Landmark Sounds (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Trivial Music Silliness

Mike's Ramblings

Results on Monday October 21st

          Hope you have a great week.  See you soon.

What Time Is It? ( #BOTB Results )

     I feel like I have so many projects that I'd like to tackle that it gets difficult to focus on just one at a time.  Guess that's why I seem to get so little done.  And then there's all the daily chores that take up a lot of my time.  By the way, dinner will be around 4:30 PM.  Tonight, we're having pinto beans with Cajun sausage...

Battle of the Bands Results

Night and Day

     My most recent Battle saw the venerable Rod Stewart go up against the oft-despised Bono and his group U2. Stewart played it safe with his traditional take on the Cole Porter standard. I can't help but like the backing band and the arrangement of Stewart's version and I'm even okay with his gravelly vocals.  That's the Rod Stewart I "grew up" with.

     On the other hand, Bono takes a rather daring approach that appeals to me. I can hear the pretentiousness that some of you hear, but I just think that's part of the U2 style. I still remember. watching the TV concert at Red Rocks special they did in the eighties and I've liked them ever since. That's who I'm voting for.

      I figured this would be a tight Battle since I know so many of my readers have a distaste for U2 and would go for the more traditional sound of Rod Stewart.  Me?  I like them both, but in this case I just like that U2 sound better.

Final Vote Tally

Rod Stewart      5 votes

U2                    10 votes 

       Well, what about that?  I expected a closer race and wasn't sure about the outcome.  

        I plan to be back for an October 15th Battle and who knows what else.  See you when...

 

Night and Day ( #BOTB & #IWSG )

       October is the time when nights grow longer and the days shorter.  Either way is fine with me just so the days keep coming.  And the nights... Night and day. Sounds like a song to me...

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 of 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.

Night and Day

  

     This Cole Porter classic is a song I've heard so many times by so many artists ever since my earliest childhood.  It truly is a great song that's hard to botch by any passable artist.  Here's two artists performing this song.  What do you think?

Rod Stewart  "Night and Day"  (2004)

      Another venture by Stewart into the realms of great American standards.  My mother used to like these albums as did many other older women.  Well, I confess that I enjoy listening to them as well.




U2  "Night and Day"  (1990)

      This cover comes from the Red Hot + Blue project to raise money for the fight against AIDS.   When the TV special was on I watched and then went out and got the album. Great music!

.

Time to Vote!

         Don't be scared. This is all just for fun.  Listen to the songs then tell us which song version you like best?   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

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Landmark Sounds (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Trivial Music Silliness

Mike's Ramblings

Results on Monday October 7th

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 October 2 posting of the IWSG are Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre.

.

October 2 question - Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What's your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.

       It's been ages since I've read a horror story and I am not compelled to read this genre anymore.  I might, but I don't think of it much.  Real life can provide enough horror.  Honestly, I can't recollect any specific story.

       Ghosts and ghost stories?  I guess I probably have some in my own past and that's enough for me.

Cruel Is a Matter of Perspective ( #BOTB Results )

     Life can be such a weird mix of happy and sad, exciting and ordinary, and all the other elements of life that make the journey so interesting and fun as well as difficult.  Of all the good and bad things of my life, I don't know that I'd want to give any of them up because they brought me to where I am now. It's the story of life isn't it?

      It seems like every summer has been my best summer, but this past summer really was one of the best.  One of them--it's hard to decide, but this summer of 2024 was a good one for me.  There was so much during our June vacation that made this summer so good, but I won't go into that in this post.  Just one story if I may.

    Due to some unplanned changes in our schedule, we ended up leaving New Jersey after over two weeks at the beginning of June spent with my daughters and their families.  The unexpected schedule change caused us to decide to go to Chicago where I would drop my wife off to spend a week with her daughter's family while I drove back to California on my own. I was fine with that.

       Since I would be so close, I decided to visit a dear old friend from my show biz life who lived in Wisconsin not far from Chicago.  I hadn't seen him and his wife for about 40 years though I'd often spoken to him on the found during that time.  They were both very welcoming to me and I spent two days with them.  We reconnected with no problem. It was like we'd just left off from our last visit. 

       In short, we had a great time.  So many stories to tell!  The two day visit was jam-packed and I had a great time.   However, I had to get back to California so I'd be there when my wife arrived.  The trip home was wonderful.  I thought of my visit with my friends most of the way home and called while I was driving just to let them know how I was doing and thank them for their hospitality.  I let my friend know that I'd call him August 1st after he had returned from a trip to Quebec where he was going to visit his wife's family.

      The cruel part of the story is that a couple of days before I was planning to call my friend, his son called me to let me know that his dad had passed away in his sleep the previous night. Such irony that I had managed to visit at that time in order to see him again.  I hate losing friends.

      

Battle of the Bands Results

Cruel Summer Battle

      Two songs, same name.  My most recent Battle was between two different songs by Taylor Swift and Bananarama, both songs having the same name with similar concepts being conveyed.

       My vote is for Bananarama.  I'm not familiar with the music of Taylor Swift so this song was new to me.  I can't say that I hated it, but to me the song is what I would imagine an AI song to sound like.  Or maybe a song formulated by some sort of songwriting committee. It's kind of fun, but the older song is more fun and more authentic.

Final Vote Tally

Taylor Swift         0 votes

Bananarama      10 votes

 Guess we can see where all these voters are coming from generationally speaking.  But I don't know.  All I know is that Taylor didn't do so good here.

Next Battle Tuesday October 1

        What next?  Halloween themes?  Fall?  What?  I don't know, but I guess I'll start thinking about this.

Cruel Summer ( #BOTB )

        Another summer is now behind us as we look to fall, then winter, then another new year. We had some hot days this summer, but in no way would I think of my summer 2024 as cruel.  There were some really great things as well as a few not so great.  It's been a pretty good year for me, but that's the way my life usually has been in retrospect...

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 of 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.

Cruel Summer

       Recently I received one of those YouTube recommendations for a Taylor Swift recording of a song called "Cruel Summer."  Since Swift is so much in the news, I thought this would be a good Battle of the Bands selection since I thought she was covering the old song I already knew. But, no, this was her own song of the same title and not the one from the eighties that I remembered.  Oh well, I guess it can still be part of a Battle of the Bands

       Soon I plan to tell more about my interesting--and somewhat cruel to a degree--summer past.  But for now, let me focus on this Battle of the Bands...

         

      

Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer (2019)

       Definitely not the "Cruel Summer" song that I remember.  This is kind of catchy in a way.  But how does it stand up to the Bananarama song that I knew?  What do you think?

       

Bananarama - Cruel Summer (1983)

      This is the one my generation remembers.  You do remember this one right?

   

Time to Vote!

         Don't be cruel!  Just listen to the songs then tell us which song you like best?   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

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Landmark Sounds (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Trivial Music Silliness

Mike's Ramblings

Results on Monday September 23

  

        Maybe I'll tell you about my summer or something.  But I'll mainly try to give some results of this Battle.  Please vote!