Flyin' Home (#BOTB results)

The flying Car, pastell colour, 49x31 cm, 1964 (WV-Nr.3019), 
by Margret Hofheinz-Döring
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Homeward Bound

      Vacations can be such fun, but going home is something I do look forward to when I've been away for a while.   It's been nearly a month of being away with a visit to Seattle, a tour across Canada, a sweep through New England, several days in New Jersey, a stop in Virginia, and a relaxing visit to East Tennessee for a week.

     As always, vacations must end and ours is winding down in the next few days of heading back to Los Angeles.   We'll be flying home--not literally, but still in our van--with plans to be in our own house before the week end.  Then it's back to the old grind--and thankfully back to my faster computer which will facilitate internet activity for me.

      I love road trips, but as the old adage proclaims, "There's no place like home."  That's true to a certain degree.  It's also true that there's no place like anyplace else.  Once I'm home I'll be missing the travels and thinking about our next road trip wherever that may be.

Battle of the Bands Results

       My most recent battle was between versions of the 1967 song "Wings of Love" from the concept album The Story of Simon Simopath by an English group called Nirvana which preceded the same named grunge group by nearly 30 years.  This contest was between the original artist and the popular 60's English group Herman's Hermits.

        Herman's Hermits has its fans and I think that contributed to their win.  I too might have gone with the Hermits if not for the "Hey, hey" shtick in the chorus as was pointed out by Stephen T. McCarthy in his comment.  I particularly liked the choppy guitar in that version.  I think it is very reminiscent of some of the guitar sounds in The Who's Tommy which might indicate that the Who could have been influenced by this particular recording.    

        This time around my wife was listening as I was preparing this Battle (which is unusual) and she was taken in by the sounds of Nirvana, casting a vote which I have included in my count.  The Nirvana album holds fond musical memories for me and I tend to enjoy this style of popular music.  My vote also goes to Nirvana putting me on the losing side, but not by too many votes.


Final Tally

Nirvana                  10 votes

Herman's Hermits   14 votes

See ya soon!

        Since I'll be flying home over the next view days, my blog rounds and activities may be a bit sparse and sporadic, but I'll try to  be as blog diligent as I can.   Be back on the 15th with a hot August battle.

         Are you ready to head back out again after you've been home from a vacation for a while?   What do you dislike most about traveling?    Did you hear a similarity between the Herman's Hermits version of  "Wings of Love" and parts of The Who's Tommy?

Wings of Love (BOTB)

No Flying for Me

       If things are going according to schedule I'm now in Tennessee.  Though I may have been flying down the highways, my wheels (and my feet) have been planted firmly on the ground.  It's not that I don't like flying when I travel--actually I do enjoy the experience of flying.  It's the process that I don't like.

         Security and the entire hassle of getting to and through the airport before even getting on the plane is something I don't much enjoy.  I can deal with it all, but preferably I'd rather be behind the wheel of my van driving and enjoying the scenery and having the luxury of going where I want when I want and doing what I want to do when I want to do it.

           Planes can be so uncomfortable as well.   A long flight cramped into a small seating area is something I find unpleasant.  Now if I had a luxury jet to myself it would be grand.  I do enjoy looking down on the land as I pass over it.  Seeing the world from several thousand feet up can be rather spectacular.

           As long as I can make the trip across country driving in my own vehicle that's the way I'll do it.   Well, unless I get that private jet.   And someday if I have to fly commercially in order to see my loved ones then I'll deal with the inconvenience and discomfort of the experience.

          Or better yet, maybe one day I'll live closer to my children and grandchildren where I don't have to deal with airlines or marathon driving trips.   They can visit me easily and I them.   Just wheels of love in short doses.  Not wings of love.   Someday maybe that will happen.  Then I hope I can still make long driving trips, but for the love of the travel and not the necessity of travel for the love.


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.


Nirvana  "Wings of Love"  (1967)

         Don't be confused by the name--this is not the grunge band Nirvana from the 1990's.  Instead this Nirvana was a psychedelic band formed in London, England in 1965.  In 1967 they released a narrative concept album called The Story of Simon Simopath which predated the Who's Tommy by two years.  I first discovered this album in the cut-out bins in the early 1970's and still own my copy.  It's light orchestrated rock music--a style that I still enjoy hearing.  "Wings of Love" comes from this concept album.





Herman's Hermits "Wings of Love"  (1968)

        Another English band, Herman's Hermits was part of the English Invasion of the 1960's.  Initially fronted by pretty boy Peter Noone, the Hermits had a string of popular songs on the charts.  "Wings of Love" was not among them though it was featured on their Best of Herman's Hermits Volume 3 album released in 1968.





Time to Vote!

         Same song with very similar presentations--but they are slightly different.  Can you notice the differences?  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 Monday August 8th

          I'll try my best to make my voting rounds and tally up votes for my Battle before Monday August 8th.   There shouldn't be much problem doing this, but life (and vacations) can happen so bear with me if my intentions aren't carried out as I have expressed them.   Hope to be back next Monday.

           Do you like flying on commercial airlines?    What is your favorite airline?   Do you have to go very far to visit family or do you prefer not to visit them?


Question of the Month

The Question of the Month is hosted by Michael G D'Agostino from A Life Examined. The first Monday of each month I'll be answering a question posed by Michael prior to event day. Click on the link to his blog for more participants. 

This month's question:

“What’s your favorite beach?”
         
One thing that is fairly certain for me that is if I were to travel anywhere be it by air or otherwise, a beach would not be my primary destination. I've never been a big fan of going to the beach. I like to look at the ocean or even walk along the beach at sunset or on a cool day, but going into the salt water, languishing on the sand, or baking in the sun is not my idea of a good time. My favorite beach is probably the one I see in a picture or from a distance. During my visit to New Jersey we took a stroll on the boardwalk at Asbury Park. That beach looked okay, but I wouldn't say it was my favorite. I guess I really don't have a favorite beach.

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.




Speaking of Flying

        Here I am with another year over half gone and none of the writing goals I had set at the beginning have been accomplished. Not many at least. But it's been a good year otherwise and I've had some good times. I don't guess it's really insecurity that I'm talking about here. It's just that time flies and I keep missing planes.