[First things first... this ‘Battle Of The Bands’ blog bit is dedicated to The Countess (you know who you are). Why? Because it’s ‘ALL SAINTS DAY’ of course!]
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Republican
Vs. Democrat, Male Vs. Female, War Vs. Peace, Light Vs. Dark, Good Vs. Evil,
Man Vs. Machine, Love Vs. Hate, Dog Vs. Cat, Sun Vs. Moon, Brain Vs. Brawn,
Oscar Vs. Grammy, Angel Vs. Demon, Laurel Vs. Hardy, Beer Vs. Wine, TV Vs.
Radio, Pitcher Vs. Batter, Paper Vs. Plastic, Reality Vs. Fantasy, Yeshua Vs.
Beelzebub, Conservative Vs. Liberal, You Vs. Me, House Vs. Senate, Offense Vs.
Defense, Kramer Vs. Kramer, Spy Vs. Spy, Fischer Vs. Spassky, W.C. Fields Vs.
Sobriety, Harold Gimpy, Jr. Vs. Sheldon J. Pismire, Rock Vs. Paper Vs.
Scissors, Islam Vs. Everything, Singer Vs. Singer, Band Vs. Band...
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THE BATTLE OF THE
BANDS!
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Shoop-Shooby
–
Shooby-duh-Dooby-Doop-Dooby-Dooby-Doo-Wah
–
Buh-Doo-Wah!
Yes, it’s
time once again for ‘Battle Of The Bands’ ('BOTB').
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| EUGENE MARTONE VS. JACK BUTLER |
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Back in
1929, a Jazz piano player named FATS WALLER composed and recorded a song that
has since become one of the all-time most highly recognized ‘Standards’ of
American music. The song? AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’.
In 2001, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ was one of 365 Songs of the Century selected by the RIAA. It is one of the
most recorded songs ever, having been covered by an incredibly diverse number
of singers and musicians, as mentioned at Wikipedia:
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| GODZILLA VS. KING KONG |
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Fats
Waller later performed the song in the 1943 film ‘Stormy Weather’, and this
later version I find more interesting than the original recording, particularly
due to the wild Jazz improvisation right at the song’s conclusion. Although
this ‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS’ (‘BOTB’) contest is
primarily between a Black Jazzman (who isn’t named Fats Waller) and a White
Country-Western singer, I am inviting all of you to cast your vote for the Fats
Waller version of the song, if you’d like to. Listening to the Fats version is
totally optional, but if you prefer it to the two featured versions I’m posting
below, you can vote for it and your vote will be counted as valid in this
contest. Here’s a link to the Fats Waller version from the movie ‘Stormy
Weather’. Click on it if you’d like to hear the songwriter’s take on his own
famous tune:
.
Undoubtedly,
I first heard AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ when I was a kid and my Pa would
play his records. He owned a Fats Waller album that I’m sure must have included
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’. But Pa’s favorite female vocalist was Dinah Washington, and he owned and played ‘Dinah
Washington Sings Fats Waller’ periodically, and that’s likely how I first
became acquainted with the song. But I was too young and stoopid to appreciate
it then; all I cared about back then was loud, fast electric guitars turned “up to eleven”.
.
.
Over the
decades, my taste in music changed drastically, and today I absolutely LOVE
Waller’s AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ (like, way more than I love ‘Come Sail
Away’ by stinky Styx!)
Today’s ‘BOTB’
match-up is between LOUIS “SATCHMO”
ARMSTRONG, the Jazz genius, and HANK
“BOCEPHUS” WILLIAMS, JR., the Country music outlaw.
First thing
you need to understand is that no musician’s shadow looms larger over the
American Musical Landscape than Louis Armstrong’s shadow does. (His nickname,
“Satchmo” was actually a combination of the words Satchel Mouth – because of
his tremendous trumpet playing.)
SATCHMO
was the single most influential musician in American history, and that’s not just
my opinion but the consensus of American music scholars all across the country.
Regardless of whether or not you like Jazz, you can be sure that your favorite
musical genre and your favorite artists were influenced by Louis Armstrong,
even if they never heard of him or a single note he ever played.
For all
intents and purposes, JAZZ begins with LOUIS "SATCHMO" ARMSTRONG. It
is impossible to overestimate his importance in American music. It is he who is
responsible for transforming the musical genre into a virtuoso soloist's
improvisational medium. It was SATCHMO who invented the vocal
"scatting" technique ('HEEBIE JEEBIES') which has been employed at
one time or another (with varying degrees of success) by nearly every Jazz
vocalist since. It was SATCHMO who opened the door for the singers from every musical
genre whose voices may have necessarily substituted "uniqueness" for
classic purity and polished tones. And as far as I know, SATCHMO was the first
to conceive of a "battle" between two musical instruments ('CHINATOWN, MY CHINATOWN').
ARMSTRONG
was unquestionably a musical genius; years ahead of the Jazz curve, and an
ideal ambassador for this genuinely American form of music.
It is my
opinion that every single American ought to own at least one Louis Armstrong
album, even if that album is just ‘DISNEY SONGS THE SATCHMO WAY’ (which,
incidentally, I own and love!)
.
.
Alright,
let’s hear Armstrong’s version of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, eh?
Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong and the
All Stars 1955
Ain't Misbehavin'
When Hank
Williams Jr., son of the Country-Western music legend Hank Williams, was just a
little kid, his famous father nicknamed him “Bocephus”, which was the name of a
then-popular ventriloquist’s dummy. Pretty funny, huh? Anyway, the nickname
stuck.
BOCEPHUS made a name for himself as well in Country music because he was one of the
earlier pioneers (along with the likes of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson) of
what came to be called “Outlaw Country”. This was a style of Country music that
bucked the Nashville trend at the time and combined
Country music sensibilities with a more Rock ‘N’ Roll energy and attitude.
In 1985,
Hank Williams Jr. released his album ‘FIVE-O’, which included his take on the
famous Fats Waller tune, and he was nominated for ‘Best Male Country Vocal’ for
his version of Ain't Misbehavin'.
.
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Let’s
hear it:
Ain't Misbehavin' by Hank Williams
Jr
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| RIDDLER VS. BATMAN |
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Alright now, you know the gig... I welcome EVERYONE to
vote for their favorite of these songs in the comment section below. And feel
free to tell us WHY you chose one song over the other. (NOTE: Comment Moderation is activated. All submitted comments that do not
transgress "Ye Olde Comment Policy" will be posted as soon as possible.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.)
.
After
voting here, I suggest - actually I insist - you
pop over to FAE’s ‘Far Away Series’
and Arlee Bird’s ‘Tossing It Out’
blogs to see which songs they have chosen and vote there also. (If their
BOTB blog bits aren’t posted yet, pour yourself two shots of ‘Grand Marnier’
over ice – do it twice – and then return to ‘Far Away Series’ and ‘Tossing
It Out’ to vice your voice ...vote your vice ...voice your
vote.)
Voice Your Vote @ ‘FAR
AWAY SERIES’ by clicking HERE.
Voice Your Vote @ ‘TOSSING
IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
Find The True
Purpose For Voting On ‘Battle Of The
Bands’ Installments: Win Compact Discs!-Compact
Discs!-Compact Discs! Spectacular, Super-Colossal Blogosphere
‘Battle Of The Bands’ Voting Contest!
Here’s
The Deal: By
voting on the ‘Battle Of The Bands’ blog bits here and at the ‘FAR AWAY SERIES’
and ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ blogs, you can win the compact disc of your choice. Every
4 months, FarAwayEyes, Arlee Bird and I will add up how many times you voted on
our blogs, and the person who has participated most often (i.e., submitted the
most eligible votes) will get to select one compact disc that contains any one
of the songs that were included in any of our ‘Battle Of The Bands’
installments (“Super-Colossal” expensive boxed-sets, imports, and
‘out-of-print’ compact discs not included). In the event of a tie, the names
will be put in a Stetson and the name drawn from the cowboy hat will win the
CD.
Rules
For Voting: FAE,
Arlee Bird and I post new ‘Battle Of The Bands’ blog bits on the 1st and 15th
of each month. We also post our own personal votes for the respective blog bits
on the 7th and 21st of each month (i.e., six days later). For your vote to be
counted, it must be submitted in our comment sections BEFORE we post our
own votes (BEFORE we make our own votes known on the 7th and the 21st).
Every 4
months there will be a new compact disc winner. In other words, ‘Battle Of The
Bands’ #1 was posted on August 1, 2013, so at the end of November, one of you
lucky voters is going to win a CD that includes one of the songs we’ve featured
in our ‘Battle Of The Bands’ installments (you get to choose, and it doesn’t
matter if the song won or lost its battle – if you like it, it’s YOURS!)
Alright,
now... VOTE ON and ROCK ON! (while we
‘Count On...’)
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
POSTSCRIPT: If you are a blogger participating in the BOTB posts but are not
involved in the vote-counting for the compact disc prize, please be sure to
mention your BOTB blog bit in my Comment Section, so that others (including
li’l ol’ me) will know to visit your blog and cast a vote.
Links To Previous 'BOTB'
Installments:
.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
YE OLDE
COMMENT POLICY: All comments, pro and con, are welcome. However, ad hominem
attacks and disrespectful epithets will not be tolerated (read:
"posted"). After all, this isn’t Amazon.com,
so I don’t have to put up with that kind of bovine excrement.
I always liked Hank's version, because, well, he's Hank. But how do you vote against Satchmo. Both good songs, but Louie in a walk.
ReplyDeleteBROTHER MARTIN ~
DeleteIndeed, they are BOTH good versions. There's no bad vote in this particular installment of 'BOTB'.
Thanks for participating, my friend.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I tried to be impartial and listened to both versions. Satchmo first - it was very good! But as soon as the first note started playing on the Bocephus version, CONTEST OVER. Bocephus version wins for me...you KNOW why. I hadn't listened to his version in a long time, it makes me happy, but in a melancholy way. I'm sometimes blue for a day or two afterwards, so I don't listen very often. I actually have a smile on my face now - One From The Heart.
ReplyDelete>>... as soon as the first note started playing on the Bocephus version, CONTEST OVER. ...you KNOW why.
DeleteThat first note is just a little tap on a cymbal. THAT'S what you mean?
[:-)
Yes, yes... gotcha!
Thanks for voting.
Heh!-Heh! Ha!
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
There are some things to like in Hank Jr's version - the instrumentation's clean and classic. And both he and Louis Armstrong take liberties with their vocals. But Hank's is just a little too much corn. I'll take Sachmo's badiddlybop scattin' over Hank's countrified lounge singer schtick any day.
ReplyDeleteSo Sachmo for me.
CHRIS ~
DeleteCorn?
Well, you could have at least called it "creamed corn" (although I myself would be more apt to go with "corn likker").
SATCHMO is #1, a true genius. Thanks for your vote.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
StMcC~
ReplyDeleteLike you, I grew up listening to my dad's jazz records (only about five years earlier than you did.) He had Armstrong and Waller et al. I loved them both.
Ain't Misbehavin' is an excellent song, and all the versions are worth listening to. Williams Jr.'s version is not even particularly country, which is fine by me. I am not a fan of country... though he is one of my favorite country artists as far as that goes.
I have a couple of Armstrong records, and he is one of the giants. Satchmo is wonderful on everything and quite important in the history of jazz, however, I think you are giving him a bit more credit than is warranted.
But, so is Fats. I LOVE Fats Waller.
They are all good, but the original is best to my ears.
Part 1:
DeleteSHEBOYGANBROTHER J. McSIXGUN ~
I like the fact that you were the first to vote for the original Fats Waller version even though I didn’t even include the video, but just a link to it.
Since then, two other voters have gone with Fats, making this a very interesting ‘BOTB’ blog bit indeed. Three versions of the same song, and each performer has their fans. I couldn’t ask for more from a ‘BOTB’ installment than this one has given me. My favorite ‘BOTB’ now, and undoubtedly this will never be topped for me because I have so many memories (and a couple of friends) connected with this song.
>>... Satchmo is wonderful on everything and quite important in the history of jazz, however, I think you are giving him a bit more credit than is warranted.
Well, to begin with, I don’t really think it’s even possible for someone to give Satchmo more credit than is warranted; his influence on American music is almost inestimable.
Secondly, I mostly wasn’t really expressing my personal opinion, but re-stating things that other, more musically knowledgeable people than I am, have said about “Reverend Satchmo”. I have read a fair amount about him in books and magazines over the decades, and I have seen a couple of documentaries about him, so I’m largely repeating things I’ve learned, and which I believe to be accurate.
In preparation for replying to you here, I went to Satchmo’s page at Wikipedia. I sure as hell wouldn’t trust Wikipedia when it comes to something controversial (like politics), but I don’t think there’s anything really controversial about Satchmo’s legacy in American music. Below are a few excerpts I copied from the lengthy Wikipedia article:
Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an "inventive" trumpet and cornet player, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance.
...by the end of his career in the 1960s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general.
"West End Blues", the music of which set the standard and the agenda for jazz for many years to come. … Armstrong's trumpet introduction to "West End Blues" remain some of the most famous and influential improvisations in jazz history.
He often essentially re-composed pop-tunes he played, making them more interesting. Armstrong's playing is filled with joyous, inspired original melodies, creative leaps, and subtle relaxed or driving rhythms. The genius of these creative passages is matched by Armstrong's playing technique, honed by constant practice, which extended the range, tone and capabilities of the trumpet. In these records, Armstrong almost single-handedly created the role of the jazz soloist, taking what was essentially a collective folk music and turning it into an art form with tremendous possibilities for individual expression.
Continued Below...
Part 2:
DeleteHis influence upon Bing Crosby is particularly important with regard to the subsequent development of popular music: Crosby admired and copied Armstrong, as is evident on many of his early recordings, notably "Just One More Chance" (1931). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz describes Crosby's debt to Armstrong in precise detail, although it does not acknowledge Armstrong by name:
“Crosby... was important in introducing into the mainstream of popular singing an Afro-American concept of song as a lyrical extension of speech... His techniques—easing the weight of the breath on the vocal cords, passing into a head voice at a low register, using forward production to aid distinct enunciation, singing on consonants (a practice of black singers), and making discreet use of appoggiaturas, mordents, and slurs to emphasize the text—were emulated by nearly all later popular singers.”
Armstrong was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an early influence. … The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listed Armstrong's West End Blues on the list of 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll.
The influence of Armstrong on the development of jazz is virtually immeasurable. … As a virtuoso trumpet player, Armstrong had a unique tone and an extraordinary talent for melodic improvisation. … With his innovations, he raised the bar musically for all who came after him.
Duke Ellington said, "If anybody was a master, it was Louis Armstrong." In 1950, Bing Crosby, the most successful vocalist of the first half of the 20th century, said, "He is the beginning and the end of music in America."
And Sheboyganboy, Dizzy Gillespie once famously said of Satchmo: “No him, no me.”
One documentary I saw many years ago had Wynton Marsalis yakking about Satchmo like he was trying to explain the power and creative influence of some god-like being. It was pretty incredible to see how much Wynton held Satchmo in esteem all those years later. He spoke of the ‘West End Blues’ work and how it totally influenced EVERYTHING in American music that came after it.
And when you consider that idea in conjunction with the things said in the Wiki article about how Satchmo turned Jazz into a soloist’s improvisational art form, and then extend that concept to Rock ‘N’ Roll which came later, it’s easy to see that “No him, no Jimi Hendrix either.”
Anyway, when you have the time, consider reading that entire Wikipedia article. It’s definitely worth the time, Bro. According to that article, Satchmo didn’t actually invent “scatting”, but was considered the first real master of the technique. Other sources I’ve encountered say that he WAS the creator of “scatting”, even if he wasn’t the first to put it on a Jazz recording. So I guess it’s an arguable point, but regardless, Satchmo’s influence on it is not disputed by anyone.
~ D-FensDogg
‘Loyal American Underground’
Stephen-
ReplyDeleteI have the Armstrong CD pictured-not sure if HW Jr included his on the Bocephus Box, but I am familiar with Louis' version.
While HW does an interesting take, since I am familiar with the Armstrong version's jazzier pace, I like that better.
And Louis' voice....well if everyone sounded like that when they sang, what a wonderful world...
So I'm casting my vote for Satchmo!
LC ~
Delete>>... not sure if HW Jr included his on the Bocephus Box
AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' was a significant hit for Bocephus on the Country charts so, yes, it IS included on 'The Bocephus Box'. See "Disc Two", which also includes 'Lawyers, Guns And Money' and 'This Ain't Dallas', which all appeared for the first time on Hank's 'FIVE-O' album.
The song was also included on 'Greatest Hits, Vol. 3'. At one time or another, I have owned all three of those releases. (Still have 2 of them on CD.)
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I'm a big Armstrong fan and I have several of his albums. I grew up with his music and loved it since I was a kid. Never much cared for the song "Ain't Misbehavin'" and Satch's brash attack doesn't win me over.
ReplyDeleteWaller's version is much better in my opinion and the jazzy thing near the end is pretty cool. This one win's me over Satch.
I remember the first time I heard Hank Jr's version. It was on TV on some awards show. His performance blew me away and I hopped on the Bocephus bandwagon. The laid-back way he performs it is the way that I think makes the most sense. The cello part near the end cinches it for me.
Hank Williams Jr. is my pick in this battle.
Lee
Wrote By Rote
BOIDMAN ~
DeleteWow! You'd put Satch at #3 out of the 3? Gotta respect yer Against-The-Grain Honesty, my friend.
That's a cello at the end? I was thinking it was a violin. That proves your musical knowledge exceeds mine, Brother Bird!
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Well, in all honesty, neither is my style. Hate to go against the great Louis, but I'm choosing Williams.
ReplyDeleteYou picked the original on my site, but it's not one of the options - which of the remakes did you like?
ALEX ~
DeleteAlright... if you're going to force me to choose the lesser of two evils, I will do it.
Going to your blog NOW to listen to both versions all the way through (couldn't stand more than two minutes of either of them the first time) and cast a "legal" vote.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Thanks to all so far who have voted and commented. I will reply to all y'all in this comment section soon'z ah can. Hopefully that will be tomorrow morning... when I get home from work and before I go back to bed. "Graveyard" shifts are for the dead ONLY!
ReplyDelete~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Walking Dead'
First of all, let me say that I really like both of these versions of this song. I didn't even listen to the Waller version to confuse me further.
ReplyDeleteLouis Armstrong plays one heck of a trumpet and his voice is gravelly and wonderful for his take of this song. I toetapped all of the way through and was prepared to give him the win...
Until I heard the Hank Williams, Jr. version of this song. It was popular for him in 1985. I wasn't listening to country at that time. My dad listened, but I tried real hard to tune out that "twang," and was mostly successful. So, what a surprise!!! It doesn't even sound all that country. It is all of the things I like best. Guitar, piano, and a snare drum with a jazzy flavor. And Hank's voice takes this song to a completely different place. It is smooth like fine whiskey. And it makes me smile given all the Misbehavin' he actually did:) By the end, I was a little bit in love.
So, my vote goes with a Definitive Crack of Awesome to Hank Williams, Jr.
ROBIN ~
DeleteI really, Really, REALLY enjoyed your comment!
>>… the Hank Williams, Jr. version … It doesn't even sound all that country.
You’re right. I would describe it as being closer to Louisiana Bayou than to Texas Panhandle.
>>… Hank's voice … is smooth like fine whiskey.
Ha! Did you know Hank is a big fan of ‘Jim Beam’ bourbon? It’s no coincidence that ‘Beam’ gets poured in this Bocephus-Waylon video where they yak about Junior’s famous Pa:
THE CONVERSATION [That’s some serious masculinity sitting there in that saloon!]
Whatever you do, Robin, DON’T tell Bocephus that I’m drinking ‘George Dickel #12’ whisky as I type these words to you. He simply wouldn’t understand, and it would hurt him a little bit. But just between you and me, ‘Dickel #12’ is 90 proof, whereas ‘Beam’ is only 80. Besides that, ‘Dickel #12’ is what the old Bluesman, Willie Brown, drinks in the great movie ‘CROSSROADS’, and if it was good enough for Willie Brown, it’s damn sure good enough for me!
>>… By the end, I was a little bit in love.
Ha!-Ha! That was my favorite part of your comment. Robin… I… understand. And… me too, and I’m STRICTLY "JOHN WAYNE" HETEROSEXUAL!
~ D-FensDogg
‘Loyal American Underground’
Loved the video for The Conversation. And the song was AMAZING. I didn't know that they kicked Hank Williams out of the Opry. The things you learn...
DeleteMy dad was a huge Hank Williams fan. I bet that hurt just a bit for his fans, too.
ROBIN ~
DeleteI like a few Hank Williams songs but I think his son, Bocephus, is way better than The Old Man, the Country-Western legend. (Don't tell Junior - I think that would hurt him a little bit.)
Now I've got another Bocephus song for you to listen to (if you're not already familiar with it, and most people aren't).
But first, ya gotta know the song 'THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS' by Johnny Horton. If you already know that one, then proceed to the Bocephus version. But if you don't, you need to hear Johnny Horton's song first (it's at YouTube) because the Bocephus song is basically a kind of satire based on the same melody and storyline, but it yaks about Junior's Pa and it is really, Really, REALLY funny!
OK, so if you've heard 'THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS' by Johnny Horton, you can now go to YouTube (I'm sure it must be there) and look up... 'THE BALLAD OF HANK WILLIAMS' (Or, 'The Ballad Of Hank') by Hank Williams Junior (it comes from his album 'The Pressure Is On'). It's a total hoot, but you won't get the FULL enjoyment from it unless you know the Johnny Horton song Bocephus is "borrowing" from.
I would go to YouTube myself, copy the URL and post an active link to it here for you except that... you're a hot woman (as your recent Las Vegas photos testify) and if I do everything for ya, it'll start to make ya lazy... and laziness leads to excess weight, and excess weight leads to "non-hotness", and we wouldn't want THAT to happen to ya. Am I right?
Please let me know what you think of 'THE BALLAD OF HANK WILLIAMS'. I've been listening to it for a couple decades and it STILL makes me laugh out loud every time I hear it!
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
That was FREAKIN' HILARIOUS!!!!
DeleteBROTHER MARTIN ~
DeleteI know, I know! After making this recommendation to Robin last night, I decided to listen to it again for the godzillionth time, and just like every time before, it literally made me laugh out loud.
And to think that some people out there believe that all Country-Western artists have sawdust for brains and no sense of humor!
Waylon and Bocephus have both recorded some damned funny stuffs.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
TAKE TWO
ReplyDeleteI'm 'living on borrowed time' and this computer is not cooperating, so for the second time please bear with me (or should that be bare).
You know I love me so Bocephus, but not tonight baby. And Satchmo is superb on some things - think 'La Vie En Rose' BUT for this tune a vote for the Fats Waller performance in 'Stormy Weather' is a vote of sentimentality for me. Make mine the odd man out or unwelcome third party here 'Fats Waller'.
I put 'STORMY WEATHER' on my NetFlix list and bumped it up to the top based on your recommendation.
DeleteI think I probably saw it once before (I've watched most of the Jazz-related movies), but if so, it's been so long I can't even recall anything about it now. (However, I am a big fan of Billie Holiday's version of the song 'Stormy Weather', and I own it on CD. There was some truth in that 'Billy 'N' Billie' screenplay I wrote.)
I will have 'Stormy Weather' to watch next Wednesday night, Nitro.
Now... about that new computer keyboard...
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
These are all good. Satchmo's was great, and Hank Williams Jr's was much better than I was expecting it to be, but ultimately I have to go with the original. I'm sad to say I've never even heard of Fats Waller, so with fresh ears having heard all three versions for the first time, Waller is definitely the clear winner for me.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I'm going to go clutter up your old blog bit with beer. So, you know, they're not ALL full of my beer related ramblings.
Most, but not all.
~4B
BEER?! Did someone mention BEER?
DeleteThanks for your vote, 4-B, which was definitely "outside the box". Three of youz went beyond the two videos posted on this blog bit, and I appreciate that!
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I will go with the Bocephus version. It's good background music while I try (unsuccessfully) to produce an anagram with the letters in the word BOCEPHUS.
ReplyDeleteO go sit or SigToo
Yeah, "BOCEPHUS" wouldn't be the easiest word to construct an anagram for.
DeleteMy first thought was: I would never have pegged Sig for a hick.
But then I remembered that story you told me about learning to appreciate Country music on a tossin' an' turnin' boat.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
TO ALL ~
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd finally found time to respond to all the votes and comments here but then was "called away", after which I simply HAD to get some sleep for my next "graveyard" shift which begins in just a couple hours from now.
But I promise to complete my replies (probably late afternoon tomorrow).
Thanks to everyone, this is my favorite of my 'BOTB' installments. I LOVE the variety of votes (all three contestants are getting some) and the closeness of this competition. To me, this is what makes for an A-list interesting 'BOTB'.
I don't know who is ahead (haven't counted any of the votes) but it feels like SATCHMO and BOCEPHUS are neck-and-neck, and I wonder if my own vote on the 7th is going to be the deciding factor in this race. (That happened once before... and I sorta don't mind getting "the final say". Ha!)
Yak Later, Y'all...
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Good ole Bocephus!!!
ReplyDeleteLove Louie, but Bo makes the hairs on my arms salute!!!!
Sounds like you're a little bit in love with Bocephus too, LUMA13.
Delete~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground;
How about "pub chose?" That would work for Stephen and BFTS-boy, if not teetotalers such as myself. I still prefer the "waterfalls," version, but I can "stomach" the third version, too.
ReplyDeleteSHEBOYGAN SIXGUN ~
DeleteI do declare, it sounds to me like you're NOT a little bit in love with Bocephus.
HOMOPHOBE! MEAN-SPIRITED HATER! (Just as I suspected.) I'll bet you semi-can't-stand Barack Obama too, and just because he's half Black! (Which half of him do you approve of? Don't tell me, let me guess: "It ain't the Black LEFT half".) Yeah, I got you figgered out purdy good.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
If I color inside the box, I'd have to go for Satchmo. Not that I don't like the Hank Williams version, but Satchmo's da man.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if we go beyond the two choices to include Fats, that's my choice.
SUSAN ~
Delete>>... Satchmo's da man
That he is! And should anyone doubt it, Gene Krupa has an answer for them:
"No band musician, jazz, sweet or bebop, can get through thirty-two bars without musically admitting his debt to Armstrong. Lewis did it all, and he did it first."
- Gene Krupa
A pretty significant endorsement of Satchmo's artistry, especially for me, considering the fact that I think of Krupa as my all-time second favorite drummer.
So, you have added the 4th vote for the song's writer, Fats Waller.
Now I'm really kicking myself for not presenting the Fats Waller version in "video" form here, instead of just as a link to the YouTube source.
He deserved an equal chance of winning this competition, but I figured people were tired of the "ménage à trois" concept already and wouldn't want to listen to the same song three times in a row.
Sorry, Fats! You deserved better'n me!
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Part 1:
ReplyDelete‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #7’
STMcC’S VOTE AND THE FINAL TALLY:
First I wish to thank every one of you who voted in this, my favorite ‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS’ installment. It was so interesting to me to see how the votes fell to all three of the competitors.
Just like in my ‘BOTB #5’ which used the song ‘Route 66’, I think that all three versions of Ain’t Misbehavin’ were truly excellent and it was impossible for anyone to cast what I would think of as a bad vote. I wouldn’t dream of criticizing a vote here for Fats, Satch, or Bocephus. There simply were no dogs and no losers in this particular fight.
I also think that, like ‘Route 66’, Ain’t Misbehavin’ is such a good song that it’s probably difficult to really “puck it up”; if you can play a little, if you can sing a little, you can probably perform a reasonably good version of Ain’t Misbehavin.
Although I knew from the beginning which version I would be voting for, I just now went back and listened to all 3 of the takes again, so I could add a little personal commentary on each one:
What I liked best about the FATS WALLER version was the stylish tickling of the ivories that introduces the song, and then especially that wild, Jazzy instrumental explosion toward the end, which just kicked Ain’t Misbehavin’ into the top gear right before it came to its conclusion. That was some very interesting clashing of rhythms and instrumental interplay.
What knocked that version down a little bit for me, however, was the vocal approach which I feel was a little too goofy, too flippant.
I love the SATCHMO version from beginning to ending. For starters, it has Armstrong’s enthusiasm, his great gregarious personality going for it. The band behind him is top-notch, and at the forefront is that sharp, blazing, legendary trumpet sound that Satchmo used to change American music forever.
My favorite part of the song is when we hit that 3:25 mark and the band suddenly shifts into that infectious, toe-tapping rhythm while Satchmo blows, man, BLOWS! Jazz simply doesn’t get much better than that!
Continued Below...
Part 2:
ReplyDeleteThen we get to the big Country hit version by BOCEPHUS. It has the best vocals of the three versions, in my opinion. Hank approaches the song like he’s just sitting lazily in a rocking chair on his front porch, waiting for the woman he’s decided to settle down with to come home. His rowdy friends are out of his life now, and he’s just “waiting for those kisses”.
This version focuses primarily on the vocals, but the instrumentation is a PERFECT match for the vocal approach Hank has chosen. And clearly Hank is enjoying singing the song, the way he modulates his voice is very playful, and when he kind of drags out the words “Be...lieve me”, I really do!
Hank’s little laugh at the end, when the singing and playing has ended is clear testimony to how much fun Bocephus thought it was to perform Ain’t Misbehavin’. And I feel that’s the key word in describing this version of the song: FUN.
A Rock music critic once described the song ‘INTO THE MYSTIC’ from Van Morrison’s album ‘Moondance’ as an almost perfectly constructed Pop song. There is a handful of songs that I myself think of in that way; songs where I can’t find a single thing I believe could have been improved – where nothing needed to be changed or added. One of those songs is AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ by Hank Williams, Jr. [And another one of those songs will be featured in my BATTLE OF THE BANDS #8, so please return here for that on November 15TH.]
So, yes, you know what this means...
My vote in ‘BOTB #7’ goes to Bocephus. And that gives us the following results:
FATS WALLER = 4 Votes
LOUIS “SATCHMO” ARMSTRONG = 3 Votes
HANK “BOCEPHUS” WILLIAMS, JR = 7 Votes
A win for Bocephus!
My one great regret is that I didn’t put the Fats Waller video front and center like I did with Satchmo and Bocephus. I really didn’t think people would want to go the "ménage à trois" route again. But seeing that the semi-hidden Fats Waller version actually topped the Satchmo take on Ain’t Misbehavin’ proves once again that... Uhp! I’m an idiot!
Thanks again, All Y’all, for your votes and your commentary. I loved this ‘BOTB’ and I hope I’ll see you back here for #8, when I will again be including one of a few songs that I think are close to PERFECTLY constructed and performed.
Yak Later...
~ Stephen
Glad to hear and see that you had so much fun with this particular BOTB. I had no doubt how you would vote. Nor did I think for a minute that Bocephus would win. I must admit that I was surprised and a little bit glad to see Fats Waller beat out Satchmo. No offense intended to the 'Jazz Giant', but I do love 'Stormy Weather' and my vote for Fats is a salute to that.
DeleteThanks, FAE ~
DeleteI thought Bocephus MIGHT win this contest, but I thought it would be a lot more "competitive"... I kinda thought my final vote might be the deciding factor, but my vote was utterly irrelevant in this "surprising" BOTB match-up.
I think Bocephus was going to win even if I had given equal footing to the Fats Waller version, but I definitely short-changed the song's writer and I feel bad about that.
Well, live and learn, right? The next time I "feel" that I should do a three-way, I'll damn sure do a three-way, even if it means I get fewer votes because some people "can't be bothered to listen to the same song for 15 minutes".
NWB, I'm sorry, baby, but I ain't gonna get anything posted tonight on "The Marty Connection" (that takes more thought than this tired ol' brain is capable of tonight). But keep yer shirt on! I will get to it just ASAP, I promise.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'