My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2025 the theme is a random assemblage of things that are on my mind--or that just pop into my mind. Whatever! Let's just say I'll be "Tossing It Out" for your entertainment or however it is you perceive these things.
You never can tell for sure what's going to happen before it does, but when whatever is going to happen happens the whole thing probably gets quickly forgotten as you move on to the next whatever is going to happen type situation...
Battle of the Bands Results
Since my recent Battle featured very contrasting artists with one of them being quite out of the musical norm I figured this would turn out to be a shut-out. Especially considering I was going to cast my vote for the artist I felt most likely to win--Judy Collins.
Incredible String Band remains one of my all time favorite bands as it has been since 1970. Their version of "First Girl I Loved" displays the band's usual virtuosity and eccentricity. Their performance is pretty "far out" (as they used to say back in the day).
However, the Collins version is so sublime and ethereal that it lures me into the musical reverie. My favorite part of "First Boy I Loved" as rendered by Collins is the dreamy guitar playing of Stephen Stills--a fact that I learned when putting this Battle together even though I'd heard the song many times over the years. I probably had seen the credit on the album cover, but at the time maybe the name didn't register with me.
Final Vote Tally Incredible String Band 4 votes Judy Collins 16 votes
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Next Battle on Wednesday February 15
Things have been stirring for April A to Z. If you're interested this year then be watching /www.a-to-zchallenge.com/ Announcements are forthcoming...
February represents a number of things to different people, but Valentine's Day is kind of the real stand-out day for most of us. This being the case, my Battle of the Bands entries for the month will be songs about love. So many songs to choose from on a topic that so many songs celebrate. What better place to start than a song about first love.
For this first "Love" round I've chosen a song called "First Girl (or Boy) I Loved". Typically I would avoid using a first version as done by the original artist, but in this case that artist is so obscure (as is the song) that this first version wouldn't have much advantage on the voting (other than a certain strangeness to the sound of it).
The first time I heard this song was in early 1969 after my mother got the Judy Collins album Who Knows Where the Time Goes from the record club to which she belonged. I immediately took an interest in this album since it included the song "Someday Soon" which had been receiving a lot of airplay at the time. There are some outstanding songs on this album, but initially I was perplexed by the Collins recording of "First Boy I Loved"--it had an oddly unique quality to it. But as I listened to it more, the song took hold of me and I began to like it a great deal.
It would be over forty years later that I would hear the original version by The Incredible String Band (ISB) and I understood why the song had such a unique sound. After all, ISB has been one of my favorite groups since I first happened upon them in 1970. I had been initially baffled by their style and the sound of their songs, but me being drawn to weirdness as I am, I soon took a great liking to their music and began accumulating any album by them that I could find. The early album that contained "First Girl I Loved" was one that I never ran across back then, therefore missed hearing until I finally bought the album for my CD collection sometime in this current century.
In my Battle I'm going to start out with the more alien sounding version by ISB and then will offer the version by Judy Collins. I think I can predict how this Battle will go--likely very lopsided--but then I never really know how these things will turn out. So now it will be up to you to decide on the winner...
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. Incredible String Band "First Girl I Loved" (1967)
Judy Collins "First Boy I Loved" (1968)
Time to Vote! I hope you loved--or at least kind of liked--the song I chose for this Battle. I like both versions, but I'm going to pick one as a favorite. I hope you'll play along with us. 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'm still in a sort of blogging limbo for an indefinite period of time, but I've got my Battle of the Bands posts mostly already set up so the next one scheduled for December 15 should appear without a hitch. Likewise I'm going to make a point to get the winner announcements on my blog. That's what I'm here for today.
My most recent BOTB contest put up versions of the Christmas song "White Christmas" with versions by Johnny Cash and Judy Collins. Some readers readily made the connection between the "JC" initials and the "reason for the season", which was somewhat impressive, but not necessarily surprising knowing about many of my readers. My next BOTB post will again be Christmas themed and will continue the "JC" theme.
The Winner Is...
If Bing Crosby had been in the running, his version would have been the clear winner. A couple voters insisted in voting for Bing thus negating their votes. Neither of the recordings I used in this Battle were overwhelmingly popular so I thank voters for at least picking one of them.
My vote nearly went to Judy Collins due to her vocal and lovely instrumental backing. However, Johnny Cash receives my vote. Collins's version seemed a bit cold to me--maybe appropriate for a song about snow, but not so pleasing to my ears. Judy Collins does have a beautiful voice and the addition of the cello for the instrumental interlude nearly won me over. In the end though Johnny got my vote for the fun sound of the arrangement and the singing and playing. It's the version that would hold up best for me with repeated listenings.
Bottom line though is that my vote didn't really matter. Judy trounced Johnny with nearly twice as many votes.
The Final Count:
Johnny Cash 9 votes
Judy Collins 17 votes
Hope you'll be here on Monday December 15th for another Christmas themed Battle of the Bands. This next one will be kind of unique and I think you might have fun with it. It may even stir up a memory or two for some of you.
Have you got the Christmas spirit yet? Are you expecting a white Christmas this year? Do you prefer your Christmas songs to sound bouncy happy or melancholy peaceful?
Yes, it's that time again! Christmas--can you believe another year is almost to its end? It's also time for Battle of the Bands, the blogging event first introduced by our friends at Far Away Series and StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands. This event happens twice each month on the 1st and 15th and conveniently these days fall on Mondays this December. 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 Since we are in the holiday season, I'm going to use a song with a holiday theme for this Battle. Johnny Cash "White Christmas" When I think of Christmas I think of someone with the initials J.C. Who could the singer be who has these initials? Johnny Cash? His name doesn't stand out for me as a Christmas icon, but his initials fit the bill. With a song of the season, from one of his Christmas albums, I offer Johnny Cash's rendition of "White Christmas".
Another J.C. could be Judy Collins. Again, she's not someone I would associate with Christmas, but she sings the songs of the season quite beautifully. Here she offers a version of "White Christmas" in a live performance at the amazing Biltmore Estates in Asheville, North Carolina.
Time to Vote!
Which do you prefer? Please vote on your favorite before heading outside to play in the snow. Let us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the one 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. ‘FARAWAYSERIES’ StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands ‘YOURDAILYDOSE’ ‘DISCCONNECTED’ ‘CREATIVEOUTLETOFSTRATPLAYER’
The results of my Battle will be announced on Monday December 8th. I'm still dealing with my travels back east to tend to the affairs related to the passing of my mother so posting at Tossing It Out may remain a bit iffy on my blog as internet time has not been as easy to find as it is when I'm at home just living my normal life.
Cash got too much twang for you? Is Collins too much of a bore? Are you dreaming of a white Christmas?
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