Did the Best Man Win? ( #BOTB Results )

I'm not much for saying whether something is "the best" because that's an opinion. I might be able to say what's best according to my taste and even then that can change from one moment to the next...

Anybody playing games during these China Virus days?  

Battle of the Bands Results



        My most recent Battle included recordings of three different songs by three different groups.  All songs were statements regarding being a man.  Two are pretty much rock classics while the other is by a group with which most of you were unfamiliar.  The two more familiar songs both carried the title "I'm a Man" and were performed by The Yardbirds and Spencer Davis Group.  The third by a mostly unknown group called The Illusion was a song that I had always mistakenly thought was called "I'm a Man" though the actual title is just "Man".  Since I've owned their album on vinyl since 1970 I probably should have realized my mistake, but I guess I just never paid attention to what is on the album cover.

         My inspiration for this Battle was because I wanted to introduce readers to this latter group which I think is quite good.  I only base my opinion on this one album since I've never heard their two earlier albums.  The Illusion album If It's So is just that good in my opinion and opinions are what these BOTB installments are all about. 

          Considering my inspiration for the Battle I think it's probably pretty easy for you to discern that my choice in this Battle was the song by The Illusion.  I like all three songs a great deal, but I just think The Illusion's "Man" is a bit of a rock and roll tour de force. Stephen suggest that  their song was "self-indulgent...overly long and jammy" but that's part of why I like it.  As always, and as it's meant to be, BOTB is an exercise in musical preferences and opinions.  That's what makes it tick!

         If The Illusion hadn't been in the mix then I'd have chosen The Yardbirds with it's psychedelic rave sound.  Still, the Spencer Davis Group song is a good one in my book.  Aside from a low showing of support for The Yardbirds, this contest was a tight race.  That's the kind of Battle I like to see.

Final Vote Tally

The Yardbirds                    2 votes

Spencer Davis Group        6 votes

The Illusion                       8 votes



Next Battle on Saturday August 15th

         Hope you stop by to vote for that one.   Weather has cooled down a bit recently here in Los Angeles which is good for my A/C bill.  And since about all we do is stay home, it's nice to be comfortable and not sweltering.   Now if I could only go places and not have to wear a ridiculous mask.   I'll just leave it at that, but you are welcome to leave your thoughts if you want to.  Hey, a lot of us don't have much else to do these days but sit around and think...

I'm a Man ( #BOTB )

These days I seem to have a lot going against me according to certain opinions--I'm white, I'm older, I'm American, and I'm a man.  So if anyone has a problem with that then that's their problem and not mine.  I am who I am and I'm okay with that.  Why shouldn't I be?  

Ten years ago I was 30 pounds heavier than I am today, I still had a mustache and had recently become a grandpa--Now I have 7 grandkids!  Hard to believe!

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.



The Yardbirds  "I'm a Man"  (1966)

       This song was originally written and recorded by Bo Diddley, but many of you might be more familiar with the sped up version as performed by The Yardbirds.  Through its history this band helped to catapult the careers of some of rock's most famous guitarists--Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck. The Yardbirds are one of the most influential groups in rock and roll.  Enjoy this blast from the past...






Spencer Davis Group   "I'm a Man"   (1967)

         Stevie Winwood was the singer and co-writer of this song with the title "I'm a Man" which hit the Billboard charts in the U.S. at #10.  Later the band Chicago would cover the song on their first album and charted with their version as well.  I will say that over the years I've grown to like this song better than when it first came out.  That might have been partly due to the Chicago cover.  See what you think of this song in comparison with the others in this Battle...





The Illusion   "Man"  (1970)

        The Illusion was a critically acclaimed band  from Long Island NY.  Unfortunately, even though they managed to release three albums, they never gained much commercial success.  They first caught my attention when I heard their If It's So album played in its entirety on an FM station that I think was broadcasting from Lenoir City TN in 1970. That's when FM stations were pretty cool and did some pretty random stuff.  I was immediately enraptured by the album and bought a copy soon after which I still have in my LP collection.  Apparently the song "Man" was a mondegreen for me as I had always thought the song was saying "I'm a man" in the chorus.  I guess the song listing on the cover didn't register with me.  No matter though as this album is among my favorites in my collection.  See what you think about the song...





Time to Vote!
         You don't have to be a man to vote for your favorite of these three songs because all are welcome to play.  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.


Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘Storms and Stardust’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Cherdo on the Flipside 

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday August 10th
  
           This coming Wednesday I'll be presenting my post for Insecure Writer's Support Group so I'll hope you'll stop by for that.  I'm going to post my results for this Battle on a Monday because I never seem to get much response from a Friday post.  For that matter the results posts don't seem to get much attention either.   But I post them anyway because it just seems like the right thing to do.