Where's Arlee? (#BOTB Results)

Asbury Park skyline 2015
By Lhcollins (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0
 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

      Where am I now?   I'm in New Jersey, my ultimate destination on this trip, and I will be here for a week or so before I head back home with another week in East Tennessee after which it will be a beeline back to Los Angeles.  All good things must come to an end, but for now I've got some good times in the weeks ahead.   Come to think of it, life is always pretty darn good for the most part so I guess wherever I am things are just fine.

        Our journey across Canada was amazing and everything went according to schedule.  We especially enjoyed the cool weather we experienced while we were there.  Looks like 90 degree temps in the upcoming week, but that goes with summer I guess.  

         Now on with my BOTB results...    


Battle of the Band Results!

       My most recent Battle of the Bands pairing was between two what I thought might be similar sounding versions of a song that possibly has only been recorded these two times.  Fortunately many voters caught the differences  "Can I Go" is a pleasant song in a genre that is typically labeled as psychedelic or sunshine pop/rock.   But the song could also be easily categorized in the same genres as the music of Burt Bacharach or Sergio Mendes.   It's the sound of that peace and flowers late sixties.

       I happen to enjoy this style of music, but perhaps it sounds a bit dated to younger listeners.  I've had this song in my "someday" line-up since almost the beginning of my participation in BOTB and now seemed like an appropriate time to use it.  Either version suits me.  This is one of those "my favorite is whichever one I happen to be listening to at the moment" types of songs.  But since this is a battle that calls for choosing a favorite, I need to come up with a preference.

     Being a fan of orchestral music with big arrangements, the Collage version is in a style that I enjoy.  However, the more urgent pacing of the guitar work throughout the Roger Nichols version along with some very cool orchestral arrangement makes me lean more toward that version.  My vote is for Roger Nichols and the Small Circle of Friends.  Most of the voters agreed with my choice.

     This race pulled out of the gate at an even pace, but Roger Nichols and his Small Circle of Friends quickly took the lead and never looked back after that.

Final Tally

Roger Nichols         15

The Collage              5

Next Battle Monday August 1st

      My next Battle of the Bands match will be similar to this previous one with an obscure song that to my knowledge has only two recorded versions--one by a band who by name might seem to by very well known and the other by a band that in its heyday was very popular, but not often heard now.  It's another sunshiny psychedelic genre song from an early "rock opera" concept album that predates The Who's Tommy.  

      Next Friday I'll have a Flashback Friday post that will be a lead-in to my BOTB.  In the meantime, I'll be doing my best to visit your blogs in whatever downtime I have.  Bear with me--my road computer situation is not always the best.

       Are you at home or on vacation?   Are you beating the heat?   With clues I provided, do you have any ideas about my next BOTB song choice?

Can I Go (#BOTB)

Princeton, NJ (a random photo by Arlee Bird)

Shared Vacations

         Have you ever had someone join your family on a vacation?   I've heard of families or relatives going on vacation together.  It seems to be most common when people will share a cabin rental at the beach, in the mountains, or some other vacation destination.  Expenses as well as experiences are usually shared by all participating parties which I'm sure can defray the cost for all.  In these cases I suppose tension and conflict has the potential of being on the increase, but hopefully the parties get along well enough to enjoy the company during said vacation.

        When I was single I used to take trips with friends.  There have been some times when my mother or other close family members have accompanied my family on a trip, but this was usually when I was touring with a roadshow.  I can't recall ever taking an actual vacation trip with others in tow.   During my years on the road with a stage production, my family almost always had a couple of cast members who traveled in our van with us.  That could often be fun.  I enjoy taking people to exciting places where I've been before, but are new to those who are with me. There's this thrill of the introduction to new places to people who have not previously been there.  

         This year another couple almost went with us on our vacation.   I was a bit apprehensive about this since the wife was a friend of my wife and I did not know the couple very well.  As it turned out they decided not to go since the husband was concerned about his business and possibly upsetting some of his customers while he was gone.   In all honesty, my wife and I were somewhat relieved as we like traveling on our own.   But it might have been fun.   So no one is going with us this time and that might be for the best.  Maybe some other time we will bring others with us on one of our great adventures.  Would you like to go with us?

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 twice each month on the 1st and 15th.   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.



My Circumstance

        It's summer vacation season and that's what I'm doing at this time.  I've scheduled this post ahead of time and if all is according to schedule on the day that this posts, I'm somewhere between Calgary, Alberta, Canada and New Jersey when you read this (which I hope you will do).   I might be a bit late getting my votes out, but barring any internet problems I should be able to get around to voting over the upcoming days.

"Can I Go" (1968)

         This song was composed by Roger Nichols who collaborated with such artists as Paul Williams, Randy Newman, and Van Dyke Parks.   His influence can be heard in the music of The Carpenters and Three Dog Night,

Roger Nichols and the Small Circle of Friends  "Can I Go" (1968)

         I featured another recording by this group from the same album with the Carol King song "Snow Queen" a couple years ago.  The group consists of the songwriter Roger Nichols and some fine vocalists.  Though I found no confirmation, there is speculation that this song might have been produced by Van Dyke Parks.  This is a carefree little  tune representative of so much of the music of the late 60's.



The Collage   "Can I Go"  (1968)

         Perhaps the only other recording of this song that one might find is by The Collage, a psychedelic pop/rock vocal group in a similar vein as the Mamas and Papas or the Fifth Dimension.  Their sole album is an obscurity that was released about the same time as the Roger Nichols album.  I discovered both albums in the vinyl cut-out bins back around 1970 and I still have my copies of each.  It's actually some good listening in a couple of well-produced efforts.




Time to Vote!

        This is a very nuanced pairing I realize.  Initially both versions might sound almost identical, but there are some distinct differences.  However I agree that this might be a tough choice.   Let us know what you think about these two recordings. Is there one that you prefer over the other?    If you're visiting a Battle of the Bands post for the first time then let me briefly explain.  Please give each song version a fair listen to decide which one you enjoy the most.  If you don't like either then at least tell us which recording was least innocuous to you. This comes down to your preference and it's as easy as that.

     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

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Cherdo on the Flipside  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Janie Junebug Righting & Editing.
  
J. A. Scott  

Quiet Laughter

Holli's Hoots and Hollers

Be ReInVintaged


Winner Announced on Friday July 22nd

       Things will be quiet on this blog until next Friday as I wend my way to the east coast.  I'll be responding to comments on this current post, but not much else though.   I'll be back on Friday July 22nd with the announcement of the winning version of "Can I Go".  Hope you're having a wonderful summer.

         If you've gone on shared vacations, how did it work out?  Do you enjoy traveling in your own vehicle or do you prefer guided group tours?   How do you feel about the sunshiny psychedelic pop/rock from the late 60's?