Now that I've got another birthday out of the way, it's time to just sit back and relax and dream away. Guess it sounds like any other day. Life is good...
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.
Relax and Dream Songs
When Neil Young's Harvest album came out in 1972, the highlight for me was the 7 minute song "Words (Between the Lines of Age). I would listen to that song and wish it would last the entire side of the record. A few months later the Young album Journey Through the Past came out with an extended 16 minute version of the song that covered a whole album side. My wish for a longer version was granted and I was thrilled.
I've long been a fan of long songs and especially long meandering pieces that elevate me to another plane of thought experience. Those musical pieces, much like many classical works, give the music a chance to expand in my mind and stimulate my thinking--or just lull me into an ultra-relaxed state of peace and calm. When something is good enough I sometimes don't want it to end. At least not for a while.
Here are two of my favorite long laid back tour de force pieces from two different decades. I still love them both. Take a listen and see how you respond to them and let us know which you like best...
Wally "What To Do" (1974)
When I first heard the group Wally on the radio with their song "The Martyr," I knew I had to have their album. After all, the instrumentation prominently featured a violin which is a favorite instrument of mine. As soon as I could I made a trip over to Knoxville to get a copy of the album which was as good or even better than I had expected. The song "What To Do" became a favorite. I would listen to it repeatedly as I drifted and dreamed away. At the time, I was 24 years old and wondering exactly what the song said in regard to my own life. What was I going to do with my life? Not long after that I got a pretty good idea where my life was going. Kind of. Here's the song...
Before you totally drift away into Dreamland, how about casting a vote? Hey, take time to relax a bit and enjoy music. 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
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Interesting battle, Lee! These songs were new to me and I liked them both. I'm voting for Wally though, because it has a "trippier" feeling. Love the violin too!
ReplyDeleteDebbie D, I guess they are from pretty obscure groups that many may have not heard before.
DeleteVoting starts out for Wally.
Lee
I'll go with the Flaming Lips. I like the dreamy quality of the song. Wally really did nothing for me.
ReplyDeleteJohn H, both are pretty dreamy, but I get it.
DeleteA vote for Flaming Lips.
Lee
I am voting for Wally. Both songs were interesting and I can see that you would find them relaxing. Wally sounds like the time... though I never heard it before.
ReplyDeleteDavid Crosby's album "If I Could Only Remember My Name" has this same dreamy, long-ish quality. It is an unbelievably great album for one so little known.
Sixgun McItchyfinger
6-Gun, yes, that Crosby album is an excellent one for the dreamy genre. I still have a copy on some format.
DeleteA vote for Wally.
Lee
R. LEE BOID ~
ReplyDeleteSince about 1984, I haven't been able to read or hear the name Wally without immediately thinking of Wally George. My friends and I had a blast watching his 'Hot Seat' show. Probably the greatest TV show to drink beer to that has ever been imagined. I should write a poem titled something like 'Me, My Friends, Mickey's Big Mouth & Wally's Big Mouth'.
I did like the music in Wally's song 'What To Do', but I didn't care for the vocals so much. (Pink Floyd was probably the real master of this type of drawn-out dream-like music.)
I liked the Flaming Lips song better. I believe I voted for them also the last time you featured them in BOTB (not too much time agone).
Suddenly, I find that I'm aurally craving 'Shine On, You Crazy Diamond'.
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC, I remember Wally George and I recall you mentioning his name in a past post. I don't remember that show you brought up, but I can recall seeing him on TV shows.
DeletePink Floyd was a definite purveyor of this type of music. Their music was running through my head as I was putting this post together.
A vote for Flaming Lips
Lee
Wally, by some distance.
ReplyDeleteCW, a distance!
DeleteA vote for Wally.
Lee
Neither is my style but The Flaming Lips song has a familiar vibe to it.
ReplyDeleteAlex, yes, the style thing.
DeleteI guess that is a vote for Flaming Lips
Lee
Good to see you, Lee! I'll go with the Flaming lips ;-) I get what you mean by "reassuring".
ReplyDeletediedre, there is a maturity shown in the Lips song whereas the Wally song is more of a youthful longing and questioning.
DeleteFlaming Lips
Lee
Both songs are new to me. I preferred Wally a lot more The Flaming Lips. It felt more dreamy and then the violin really sealed it for me. Cool battle, Lee!
ReplyDeleteCathy, that violin in the Wally song has such a great sound to me.
DeleteAnother vote for Wally
Lee
I vote for Wally. I lovfvthe beginning of the song and I like his vocals a bit more than Flaming Lips but they are really quite good. Wally for me.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, I like the opening of the Wally song too.
DeleteA vote for Wally.
Lee
VOTE = FLAMING LIPS
ReplyDeleteTough choice... this style in general is not particularly in my 'usual' wheelhouse, but I enjoyed listening to both songs. Thank you for sharing something 'different.' ~Ed.
Ed, I could listen to this kind of music for hours. Oh wait, I do.
Deletea vote for Flaming Lips.
Lee
The second one is trippy. I like it.
ReplyDeleteL.Diane, yay for trippy! I like that feel too.
DeleteA vote for Flaming Lips.
Lee
Results are now here!
ReplyDeletehttps://tossingitout.blogspot.com/2025/02/somedays-sunday-is-monday-botb-results.html