Saturday, February 1, 2014

‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #13’ (Or, ‘ELLINGTON VS. VISCOUNTS VS. GATTON’)

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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...

THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  BANDS! (‘BOTB’)


Shoop-Shooby –
Shooby-duh-Dooby-Doop-Dooby-Dooby-Doo-Wah –
Buh-Doo-Wah!
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EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER
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Wikipedia sez:

"Harlem Nocturne" is a jazz standard written by Earle Hagen and Dick Rogers in 1939. The song was adopted by bandleader Randy Brooks the next year as his theme song.

First up to the plate is Duke Ellington, who surely needs no introduction. I will say, however, that if you and your “Significant Other” have never made love while hearing the album ‘Ellington Indigos’ you have missed out on something special.
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[There seems to be some discrepancy at YouTube whether this is Duke Ellington or Ted Heath. However, one commenter says that his great-grandfather was hired by Ellington to play the tenor sax on this version, and I did find another different version by Ted Heath. So I’m calling it: Duke Ellington. Plus, it sounds like an Ellington arrangement to my ears.]

Duke Ellington - ‘Harlem Nocturne’


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIkekMoEQY4
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GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG
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My original plan was to put Duke Ellington up against Danny Gatton. But then I read the following at Wikipedia:

The haunting version by The Viscounts has the distinction of being a tune released twice by the same band and rising high on the Billboard charts each time: first in 1959, when it peaked at #53, and again in 1966, peaking at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

I wasn’t familiar with The Viscounts' version, so I checked it out, and I thought it was so darned good that I simply HAD to include it also in this ‘BOTB’ blog bit, making this a 3-way Battle. But take heart, because the first two renditions are LESS THAN 3 minutes long, this won’t be a massive investment of your time.

The Viscounts – ‘Harlem Nocturne’


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORu_RevVfK8
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RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN
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And lastly, Danny Gatton. Who was Danny Gatton?

My friend, big Larry Rosen (aka “Fu#kin’ Lelly”), is a Blues guitarist whom you can see in action on stage wearing his classic black Western “smile-pocket” shirt (and eyeglasses) by clicking HERE.
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Circa 1993, Lelly gave me a cassette mix tape he’d put together for me. It was titled ‘Little Guitar Ditties: Lelly’s Favorites’. There were tracks by Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jeff Beck, Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler, and Danny Gatton. I’d never heard of Gatton before, but what I heard on that tape blew my mind!

I have since become very familiar with Gatton’s music. ‘Guitar Player’ magazine once featured Gatton on its cover with the title “The World’s Greatest Unknown Guitarist”. It is my opinion that guitar playing does not (and probably cannot) get better than Danny Gatton; he’s the virtuoso amongst virtuosos.

On October 4, 1994, Gatton committed suicide. But the year before, he (re-)recorded ‘Harlem Nocturne’ for his ‘Cruisin’ Deuces’ album. Let’s hear what Gatton does with this melody... 
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Danny Gatton – ‘Harlem Nocturne’ 
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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U01s2Rvvl4w 
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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’, Arlee Bird’s ‘Tossing It Out’, Robin’s ‘Your Daily Dose’, LC’s ‘DiscConnected’, and Chris' 'The Creative Outlet Of StratPlayer' 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 their blogs 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.
Voice Your Vote @ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ by clicking HERE.
Voice Your Vote @ ‘DISCCONNECTED’ by clicking HERE.
Voice Your Vote @ ‘CREATIVE OUTLET OF STRATPLAYER’ by clicking HERE.

As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 7th and 21st of each month to post my own votes and announce the winners in the comment sections.

Links To Previous 'BOTB' Installments:
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #1’ (Or, ‘BEBEL VS. BEBEL’)
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #2’ (Or, ‘FLEETWOOD MAC VS. THE ROCKETS’)
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #3’ (Or, ‘THE BEATLES VS. BRIAN AUGER AND TRINITY’)
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #4’ (Or, ‘BROADWAY HAIR VS. HOLLYWOOD HAIR’)
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #5’ (Or, ‘NAT VS. VAN VS. D'MODE’)
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #6’ (Or, ‘ZEVON VERSUS RONSTADT’)
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #7’ (Or, ‘FATS VS. SATCH VS. BOCEPHUS’)
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #8’ (Or, ‘SATCHMO VERSUS DARIN’)
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #9’ (Or, ‘SINATRA VERSUS CARPENTER’)
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #10’ (Or, ‘DURANTE VERSUS CONNIFF’)
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #11’ (Or, ‘JULIE ANDREWS VS. DIANA ROSS’)
‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS #12’ (Or, ‘THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS VS. THE BEACH BOYS’)

~ 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.

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Posted by Stephen T. McCarthy at 5:40 AM

29 comments:

  1. CWMartinFebruary 1, 2014 at 6:23 AM

    First, let me say that the Viscounts almost made it onto mu Time Machine bit about "most weeks on the chart", except I found out that part of its run was "across the border" timewise. And I kept saying, "listen to it", and kept forgetting so this was a welcome opportunity.

    Second, Laurie's listening in so you get two opinions. Mine is- tough choice! If a horse race, it'd be nose to nose to nose, but I think that the Vs, get it, with Duke second and Gatton fading a bit at the end.

    Laurie says: "The first two, it goes to the Vs. That and #3 are apples and oranges, though it's the same song... but I think I'll go with the Vs there, as well."

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    1. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 1, 2014 at 7:05 AM

      BROTHER MARTIN ~

      Thanks for checking in with TWO votes (both for The Viscounts).

      And... I completely get what Laurie is saying, that Duke and The Viscounts are closer to each other than Gatton is to either of them.

      Duke and Viscounts are primarily horn-based, whereas Gatton is all about the guitar.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  2. RobinFebruary 1, 2014 at 6:50 AM

    I have this (terrible?) habit of reading the entire blog and then going back to listen to the music.

    This time you stopped me in my tracks with this...
    --->>>>First up to the plate is Duke Ellington, who surely needs no introduction. I will say, however, that if you and your “Significant Other” have never made love while hearing the album ‘Ellington Indigos’ you have missed out on something special.

    I didn't watch the show The Nanny, but once stumbled onto it while flipping around. The main character, Fran, said this: "Give me a minute to get THAT out of my mind." Long pause. "Nope, I'm just gonna have to live with it."

    This is one of them cases when I paused to get that image out of my mind and then decided it was there to stay. So, all I could think about was You-Know-What while the Ellington version played. And that definitely gave him an advantage in this race!!! Besides, you were right. It was all sexy and crap.

    That made The Viscounts version not even be in the running. It was good enough. I just couldn't imagine any nooky while it played. You really ruined me on this one;)

    And the Danny Gatton version was mighty fine, but I got bored with it. Had it ended about 2-1/2 minutes in, it might have had a shot.

    You really should think about your build-up before these battles. Impressionable minds are reading here...

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    1. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 1, 2014 at 7:16 AM

      >>... You really should think about your build-up before these battles.

      "Build-up", eh?

      Well... there you go again.

      Sistah, you REALLY need to get yer mind outta the gutter... even if I did send it "DOWN" there in the second place. (We got us a running joke, don't we?)

      OK, one vote recorded for the Duke Ellington version which is "sexy and crap".

      ["Give me a minute to get THAT out of my mind." Long pause. "Nope, I'm just gonna have to live with it."]

      I will add, however, that you made me Laugh-Out-Loud by calling it "You-Know-What".

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  3. Arlee BirdFebruary 1, 2014 at 6:55 AM

    Ellington's version is classic almost in the sense of classical music. It's intellectual and complex. Maybe too highly arranged, but that's Ellington's style. This version is good.

    Gatton's version is also good. Some fiery pickin' that gets deep into the song. Nothing wrong with this version.

    The Viscounts nail this one for me. This is how I'm most accustomed to hearing this song. They give the song a sound that has a smoky late night bar room quality. The raunchy sax gives the arrangement so much authenticity that I feel like I could be sitting in a Harlem jazz club. Or maybe some strip club. Not that I've ever been in a strip club, but somewhere in my memory--maybe from movies or an old "Music to Strip By" album my parents used to have (yeah, they liked old bump and grind stripper music)--I hear this song envisioning a 50's style stripper doin' her thing.

    Love that down and dirty saxophone sound.

    I vote Viscounts in an excellent match-up.

    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 1, 2014 at 7:24 AM

      >>... They give the song a sound that has a smoky late night bar room quality. The raunchy sax gives the arrangement so much authenticity that I feel like I could be sitting in a Harlem jazz club.

      But then that guitar effect almost sends that bar / Jazz club to Redondo Beach, California. It's a very cool, interesting combination of sounds. It's like "Surf Guitar Meets Harlem Horn".

      >>... or an old "Music to Strip By" album my parents used to have

      Let me take a shot at this...

      How about an album called 'THE STRIPPER' by (I believe, if memory serves me...) David Rose(?) If so, my Ma had that LP also!

      >>... I vote Viscounts in an excellent match-up.

      I thank you, Sir!

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  4. D.G. HudsonFebruary 1, 2014 at 9:36 AM

    This was harder to decide, but my vote goes to the Viscounts, I liked the bluesy horn on that one.

    Ellington is one of my faves of retro jazz, he can do no wrong in my eyes. The last entry was very nice too, but guitar-centric. Good casting for this BOTB.

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    1. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 1, 2014 at 4:45 PM

      Thanks, D.G.!

      Yeah, all three versions were so worthy of being included that I couldn't bear the thought of leaving any of them out of the contest.

      And, yeah, that "Bluesy horn" - I simply loves me some tenor saxophone, especially when played kind of "dirty"-like.

      When I signed up to play in my elementary school's band (yeah, we had one back in those prehistoric times), I was just in 5th grade but said I wanted to learn and play the saxophone. Nope, not in THAT school band!

      So I got stuck with the stand-up acoustic bass, which was taller than I was. Did I ever accidentally drop it in the middle of a song during a performance for our families? ...You know I did.

      The acoustic bass makes quite an interesting sound when it bounces off the heads of a couple schoolchildren and then lands "ker-plunk" on one of the metal risers.

      I wasn't a "Bass man" for long.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  5. Arlee BirdFebruary 1, 2014 at 9:47 AM

    I am familiar with the David Rose album as my parents had that one too. They had a number of "stripper music" albums as part of their collection of show biz music.

    The album to which I refer was literally called "Music to Strip By". I remember the cover with a voluptuous barely clad stripper only have shown as she is leaving the face of the album cover with one arm extended back toward the center as she drops off another article of her costume.

    This was back in the day when strippers had some kind of element of class and weren't just nude or topless go-go dancers. They practiced an art of provocativeness.

    And that music heavy on the raunchy sax and thumping drumbeats. David Rose was big band in a Vegas way, but those strip joint bands had the real sound. I guess that's where bands like the Bill Black Combo evolved. It's a fun sound that I still enjoy.

    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
  6. Arlee BirdFebruary 1, 2014 at 9:52 AM

    Actually out of curiosity I went to Amazon to discover they offer the "Music to Strip By" album with the cover just as I remember it. Check it out at http://www.amazon.com/Music-Strip-Bald-Hagan-Trocaderons/dp/B000MH4GA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1391276944&sr=1-1&keywords=music+to+strip+by

    Don't know what songs are on the album but I'm sure I can find that somewhere as well.

    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 1, 2014 at 4:37 PM

      ARLEE BOID ~
      Oh, yeah, your memory was spot-on regarding that cover.

      And by the way, my Ma was also a very big fan of the Bill Black Combo; she had two of their albums that she played frequently, but one more than the other. She thought of the Bill Black Combo as her "house-cleaning music" because she'd put it on when about to dust and vacuum, etc., and she said that driving beat would make her work faster and get the job over with quicker. Ha! (So I grew up liking the Bill Black Combo, too.)

      While at BigBitch.com I decided to see if I could find the old David Rose album my Ma also had, and I did:

      'David Rose and His Orchestra Play The Stripper And Other Fun Songs For The Family'

      http://www.amazon.com/David-Orchestra-Stripper-Other-Family/dp/B008TXAAMI/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1391300384&sr=1-6&keywords=the+stripper+david+rose

      Hokey-Smoke! Families must have had some real "fun" back in those days, eh? Ha!

      Probably my all-time favorite example of that sort of music, although presented in a kind of 'Hollywood Novelty' way for the sake of the scene it was highlighting is 'Hub Caps And Tail Lights' by Henry Mancini from the movie 'Breakfast At Tiffany's'. Just the title alone makes me smile - how perfectly clever is that?

      I love every single track on that entire soundtrack, however. My favorite movie soundtrack ever.

      Great comments, Brother Boid!

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  7. farawayeyesFebruary 1, 2014 at 2:22 PM

    Three really good versions of the same song, all very sensuous. Something you could really ‘brush your teeth too’, eh? Speaking of which, I am now convinced that you, Mr. McCarthy most definitely have brown eyes…OK, I got distracted there for a minute. Let me see…where was I? Oh yeah, ‘Harlem Nocturne’ a very sensuous song.

    The Duke Ellington version is excellent in a ‘Big Band’ sort of way. A way that is very, very…well, very Duke Ellington. (Still distracted, I guess)

    The Viscounts version has a very ‘noir’ feel to it and I likes it a lot.

    Finally, the Danny Gatton versions reminds me of the style of Gary Moore (whom I happen to be listening to right this very minute, ‘Still got the Blues Over You’,) so, I also like Danny.

    So, now I’ve got to choose, right? Well, you have made this one really hard. OK, seriously I vote for the ‘noir’ version by the Viscounts. In a three way almost tie, I think it wins by a sneeze

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    1. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 1, 2014 at 5:08 PM

      FAE ~

      >>... Something you could really ‘brush your teeth to’, eh?

      Ha!-Ha! [:-)}
      I have no idea what you're referring to!

      >>... I am now convinced that you, Mr. McCarthy most definitely have brown eyes…

      Well, don't feel bad. Assumptions and Expectations about me OFTEN go unmet. (At least it wasn't a bet that cost you a lot of money.)

      I wish they were brown, because I have ALWAYS been more attracted to brown eyes than blue (or green, or red). But, alas, God "saw" my eyes differently when He was stitching me together from a bunch of spare parts he had lying around in His workshop one night.

      >>... The Viscounts version has a very ‘noir’ feel to it and I likes it a lot.

      You're absolutely right, it has 'Film Noir' all over it. Which, considering the title of the piece, makes perfect sense.

      >>... OK, seriously I vote for the ‘noir’ version by the Viscounts. In a three way almost tie, I think it wins by a sneeze

      Or maybe by "a single gunshot fired from under the lamppost at the foggy intersection of 'Rhythm' and 'Blues'?

      When I put this BOTB together, I had ZERO idea who was going to win. Unlike the intersection of 'Rhythm' and 'Blues', it's pretty clear now. However, we've yet to hear from Chris Fries, and unless he surprises me, I don't think Danny Gatton is going to get entirely shut out.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
    2. farawayeyesFebruary 1, 2014 at 10:14 PM

      'No idea,' ha, ha, ha. This from the man who says he 'brushes his teeth' in every room in the house.

      I wasn't betting that your eyes are brown, but no matter, I am as yet losing that other 'silly little bet', but there is still hope.

      Delete
    3. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 2, 2014 at 5:58 AM

      Well, not always "in the house". Sometimes while outside, taking the trash cans to the curb, or while pulling the garden hose up to water a tree or plants.

      Other "silly little bet"?
      I'm afraid you lost me there. Gimme a clue.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  8. Sheboyganboy SixFebruary 2, 2014 at 1:13 AM

    I agree with the comments of the previous voters, except for one thing: their votes.

    Ellington's version is indeed very classy. However (and I don't have 'Elegant Indigos' and so I don't know if they are more conducive,) THIS particular song by Duke does not strike me as a great one to make love to. Frankly, to my ears it is a little too fast and brash near the end, and a slower, quieter song would be better. I hope this observation does not come back to haunt me with you and others telling me: "WELL, you must not know what the hell you're doing in the sack then, if you don't agree that this song is perfect for it!"

    The Viscounts version: it oozes noir, and I like it better than the Duke's.

    BY FAR my favorite was Gatton's. I am really glad you included it here. He has little nuances throughout, like a little 007 riff at around the 2:45 mark. And he goes off into some really cool stuff at around 3:10 that reminds me of somebody... I just can't place it yet. Great stuff!

    I vote Gatton!

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    1. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 2, 2014 at 6:11 AM

      SEAHAWKGANBOY SIX ~

      I would never accuse anyone else of not knowing what they're doing in the sack. If I ever did know what I was doing, it has long since been forgotten.

      I was sure Gatton would get a little love here from SOMEBODY... I just didn't expect it would be you. I would have guessed that you'd have voted "Viscounts".

      You are right about your assessment of Gatton's take on this. The musical ideas he includes are numerous and his segueing is immaculate. It's an astounding piece of guitar playing, frankly, and I'm glad you liked it enough to keep Gatton from getting utterly ignored in the vote counting.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  9. DiscConnectedFebruary 2, 2014 at 11:19 AM

    All the shinola I got for posting more than two versions of songs, and look at what everyone is doing!

    Copy cats!

    This is another tough one. I almost voted Duke without listening, I was so sure he'd get my vote, but you really rustled up two good covers.

    I think I may have to go with Gatton's version-a little unfair, because what probably swayed me was the crisper sound, which is a product of when it was recorded more than anything else...but it's a version that rocks and still remains true to the original.

    Sorry, Duke.

    LC

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  10. DiscConnectedFebruary 2, 2014 at 11:31 AM

    PS-I did not vote Gatton because of your last comment, either...

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    1. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 2, 2014 at 5:38 PM

      LC ~
      I believe in the authenticity of your vote, and that there was no influence from me. (Besides, I am only making observations about the positive elements of the various renditions. My own vote may surprise some people.)

      >>... All the shinola I got for posting more than two versions of songs, and look at what everyone is doing!

      Well, maybe it's just me, but I think there's a pretty significant difference between a 3-way song Battle with a collective running time of 9:29 versus a 5-way song Battle with a collective running time of 18:10.

      Man, I could get drunk 3 times in eighteen minutes and ten seconds!

      Thanks for checking in with yer vote, Doctor DiscDude.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  11. A Beer for the ShowerFebruary 3, 2014 at 8:01 AM

    Maybe it's just because, like the classless swine that I am, I prefer guitars to horns. But I choose Gatton.

    Also, if you want music to strip to, I recommend Yakety Sax. Now THAT'S a horn piece that really gets the blood flowing.

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    1. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 3, 2014 at 9:30 AM

      BETTY ~

      I'm about to go to bed. Will undoubtedly wake up again in 4 to 5 hours. But you've done it again! An offhand comment o' yourn has inspired a whole new blog bit o' mine.

      Maybe later today, no later than tomorrow, I will reply to your comment with a new (and this time short, word-wise) F-FFF blog bit.

      I was just now putting the pieces together and had the best laugh I've experienced in, probably, twelve years. Seriously! Tears o' laughter were not rolling down my face, they were FLYING OFF my face!

      Stay tuned, 6-B, 'cause I got a short but sweet post comin' 'round, and this short but sweet comment o' yourn inspired it.

      Now... if I can just stop laughing long enough to fall asleep after my latest "graveyard" shi(f)t.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  12. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 7, 2014 at 7:09 AM

    ‘Battle Of The Bands #13’
    STMcC’s Vote And The Final Tally:

    I never thought I’d come up with a ‘Battle Of The Bands’ installment to rival my fifth contest over bragging rights for the song ‘Route 66’, but I think I may have liked THIS battle even more so!

    What made this one so memorable for me is the same thing that made my ‘Route 66’ offering memorable: I had 3 recordings and I felt strongly that all 3 were exceptional, yet arranged considerably different. No bad votes, just a subjective matter of style preference and great music all around.

    And that’s exactly how I felt about this ‘BOTB’ as well... except even a little bit more so.

    OK, my vote...

    Well, I’ve already said that I believe all 3 versions were truly excellent. But only one of the three leaves me not only satisfied but, quite literally, in a state of awe. And that’s Danny Gatton’s version.

    Gatton recorded this song twice, originally with his group Danny And The Fat Boys, and then again (with less horns and more guitar) on his 1993 album ‘Cruisin’ Deuces’. Along with ‘Sky King’ and ‘So Good’, this version of ‘Harlem Nocturne’ was on the cassette that my friend Fu#kin’ Lelly made for me in ’93.

    So, I have been hearing this track since 1993 and, honestly, the guitar work is so freakin’ astounding to me that I can STILL, in 2014, barely wrap my mind around it. Gatton was known for being as blazingly fast or faster on the fretboard as anyone who preceded him. Gatton’s speed would have impressed the hell out of me when I was 17 years old, but today, it’s not his speed I love but his tone and technique.

    The technique you can obviously hear all the way through this version of ‘Harlem Nocturne’; his tone and beautiful subtlety you can hear on ‘Canadian Sunset’ (live) and ‘Poinciana’ on the 2-disc compilation set ‘HOT ROD GUITAR’. Those last two mentioned are slow ballads and just absolutely gorgeous!

    If asked to name the best guitarist I’ve ever heard in my 54 years, there would be NO hesitation in my answer: Danny Gatton.

    And now the voting results:

    Duke Ellington = 1 Sexy Vote.
    The Viscounts = 5 votes.
    Danny Gatton = 4 votes.

    The Viscounts win by one but... where was Chris Fries?! Being a guitarist himself, I somewhat suspected that he would be casting a vote for Gatton, which would have left my ‘BOTB #13’ a tie between Gatton and The Viscounts.

    Chris Fries did not submit a vote, nor has he responded to comments left on his blog, which is highly unusual. I hope he’s alright.

    Chris! What up, Music Man? Is everything OK with you? [Does anyone know? Anyone have some inside info? I’m a bit concerned about our man with the guitar.]

    ~ D-FensDogg
    ‘Loyal American Underground’

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    1. Arlee BirdFebruary 7, 2014 at 12:36 PM

      Good question about Chris's whereabouts. He didn't comment on mine either. Maybe he listened to mine first and it blew out his sense of hearing.

      Lee
      An A to Z Co-Host
      Tossing It Out

      Delete
    2. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 7, 2014 at 1:40 PM

      Ha!-Ha!

      Well, I hate to say it but... I s'pose that's possible.

      Glad to see yer bein' a good sport about it, McBoidBuddy.

      I just know yer gonna bounce back on the 15th with a BOTB installment that will "Wow" us all.

      Maybe something that includes... Todd Rundg-- er... no, check that!

      Well... you'll think-a somethin'.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
    3. farawayeyesFebruary 7, 2014 at 2:14 PM

      Isn't it great when you can be so excited about a particular song and then you find several great versions. I too enjoyed my last BOTB, mainly because I really liked each version that I posted.

      As to the whereabouts of Chris Fries; I dunno. I was feeling a tad bit aggravated that he never responded to ANY comments and didn't vote at my BATTLE, until I realized that he didn't vote anywhere. You make a good point - I hope he's OK also.

      @ Arlee Bird - AHA! even you can admit that your last BATTLE might have the capacity to 'blow out someone's sense of hearing". Ha,ha,ha! I'm glad to see that we can agree on something.

      Delete
    4. Arlee BirdFebruary 8, 2014 at 10:20 AM

      I still concede that my chosen song and the two performances were excellent and geared to a certain audience that obviously didn't include those who visited my blog. I assure you that my next song choice will be a good one especially dedicated to you stodgy folks.

      Lee
      Wrote By Rote
      An A to Z Co-host blog

      Delete
    5. Stephen T. McCarthyFebruary 8, 2014 at 4:23 PM

      Well, whatever you do, don't use the song 'GOD SAVE THE QUEEN' - versions by The Sex Pistols and The Royal Academy's Straight White Teeth Marching Band, because I've got dibs on those versions for 'BOTB #14'.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
    6. farawayeyesFebruary 8, 2014 at 6:59 PM

      Hey Birdman, you calling me stodgy? I may have to dedicate one of my BOTB versions to you in Battle XIV. Ha,ha,ha!

      Delete

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