It's Over ( #BOTB )

    The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is now over!  Now back to the business of regular blogging.  More on my experience with this year's Challenge in an upcoming post, but today it's..,

 

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.

 It's Over

      In keeping with the end of the blogging event of the season, I'll be presenting a Battle between two different songs with the same title by two groups that essentially emerged from the Beatles era of music.  Both these groups I enjoy a great deal and since there are so many different songs that have the title "It's Over" I decided to go with these two songs of a similar lineage.  Listen and enjoy and then tell us which one you like the best.

Badfinger   "It's Over" (1971)

     This song easily fits in the "Songs from Lee's Basement" category since Badfinger was high on my playlist when my friends would come and hang out with me in the early 70s.  When the group first came out I actually thought that they might be the Beatles in disguise.  Badfinger remains one of my favorite groups from that era.  Do you remember this song?

Electric Light Orchestra "It's Over"  (1977)

      Jeff Lynne of ELO makes no secret that he was strongly influenced by the Beatles and it's pretty obvious to anyone who has listened to both groups.  ELO's greatest popularity began after the heyday of Lee's Basement parties so their music doesn't fit into that category for me, but they certainly could have.  I think they are a pretty great group.  What do you think?

Time to Vote!

        It ain't over until it's over and that means you need to do your part. It's time for a Battle of the Bands!  You're supposed to vote on one of these songs.  Which one 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 

Landmark Sounds (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Trivial Music Silliness

Results on Wednesday May 7th

      

       On that day I guess I'll have my few thoughts about the 2025 edition of A to Z.  Check back then if you will.  Thanks!

Themes, Themes, Themes! ( #BOTB & #AtoZChallenge Theme )

    April almost here and right now a lot of bloggers are talking about their themes for the 2025 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  Themes, themes, themes--so I guess I'll make this post about my theme as well as other themes for my mid-month Battle of the Bands...

My 2025 A to Z Theme?

        Essentially I don't really have a theme for this go around.   Haven't thought about it much and now I'm thinking of theme as more of an afterthought.  I'm going to wing it I guess.  But these days I do a lot of that.  I might try to keep some kind of gimmick going which involves three word titles where all three words begin with the letter of the day. Maybe I'll keep that up or maybe I'll just throw up my hands and abandon that idea.  Who knows?  I'm going to just go as I go and hopefully have a good time with it all.  Hope you do too!

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.

Themes

      Since I'm on the topic of themes I'm going to Battle two songs that are "themes" or have the word "theme" in their titles. The first is one of my "biggies" from my Lee's Basement series.  The second is a biggie from the hit charts that you all probably know well.    Which do you prefer?

Wichita Fall  "Schubert's Theme"  (1969)

       This song was one of my favorites from the Wichita Fall album that I used to enjoy after my friends had gone home after a night of partying and I was alone in my basement still coming down from a psychedelic trip.  I was listening to a lot of music by classical composer Schubert back then so this song stood out even though it doesn't sound much like anything by the classical master.  But I think it's a fun song...

 

 Love Unlimited Orchestra "Love's Theme" (1973)

       Who hasn't heard this song?  Really?  I mean it was everywhere back in the seventies.  Early disco that sounds pretty good to my ears these days.  I was never a disco hater and this song makes me even enjoy grooving to the beat. How about you?

 

Time to Vote!

          Okay, back off the dance floor and into your seats!  It's time for a Battle of the Bands!  You're supposed to vote on one of these songs.  Which one 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 

Landmark Sounds (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Trivial Music Silliness

Results on Friday March 21

   

       I plan to be here then and hope you do too!

As Autumn Draws to a Close ( #BOTB & #IWSG )

     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 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.

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?

The National Gallery  "Diana in the Autumn Wind"  (1968)

Gap Mangione  "Diana in the Autumn Wind"  (1971)

 

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'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 15th

      

       I'll have my results for the current Battle on Monday December 9th.  Hope you'll stop back to see which song version came out on top.

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 December 4 posting of the IWSG are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine.

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?

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