BOTB RESULTS: 2018, MAY 15 (Or, LOU REED VERSUS MINK DeVILLE)

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STMcC’s Vote On . . .
'2018, May 15th: Battle Of The Bands' (Or, 'Lou Reed Versus Mink DeVille') And The Final Tally:
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This BOTB installment turned out fantabulous, especially considering it was something I just kind of tossed together based on an "artists" suggestion from my ol' friend Lelly.
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The Battle took place [link> HERE, and it was a back-and-forth affair with both artists holding the lead at different times. In fact, this contest was tied 8 to 8 until just two hours ago, when three final votes gave Mink DeVille's 'Cadillac Walk' the win over Lou Reed's much more famous 'Walk On The Wild Side'.
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As I said on the Battle page, back in the LP era, I owned both of the albums that contained these two songs. I purchased the Lou Reed LP specifically because of the song 'Walk On The Wild Side', and I bought the Mink DeVille album 'Cabretta' after seeing them live in concert, opening for Styx in 1977.
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But my musical tastes changed drastically over time, and just 11 years later, I was listening almost exclusively to Jazz. Today, if I heard 'Cadillac Walk' on the radio, I would turn it "up to eleven". If 'Walk On The Wild Side' started playing through my radio, I'd probably see what was on at 87.9 -- my Christian radio station. So, I s'pose that tells ya where my own vote landed.
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Lou Reed = 8 votes
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Mink DeVille = 11 votes
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This was an excellent turnout and I THANK EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WHO VOTED! You make BOTB what it is!! (And it was nice to see a couple of BOTB old-timers -- Michele & Debbie -- return to the flock in this round.)
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I mentioned that my old pal Lelly (aka LarryR) suggested that I use Lou Reed against Mink DeVille in a BOTB contest, and that got me thinking about this "Walking" theme that I used. But, FUN FACT:
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From the time their debut album 'Cabretta' was being recorded through 1979, LarryR (Lelly) managed Mink DeVille's stage shows. That's him in the checkered cowboy shirt below (lower left corner) during the recording of the 'Cabretta' album:
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On the back cover of Mink DeVille's second album, 'Return To Magenta', Lelly was credited as [link> "Larry (Lord Logar) Rosen". (But some of his UCLA friends still call him "Lelly".)
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In 'The Battle Within The Battle', both of our competitors accurately predicted the winner of this contest, with both of them coincidentally using the exact same phraseology in making their prediction. That brings their records to...
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The Magic 8-Ball (4-0) 

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The Amazing Sixwell (2-2) 

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I find it doggone amusing that The Magic 8-Ball has not missed a prediction ever since we hired The Amazing Sixwell to provide it with some competition. I don't think the 8-Ball EVER got 4 in a row right before! Hmmm.... So, competition equals improved quality of output? This doesn't look good for the theology of Communism, does it?

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Until my next Battle Of The Bands contest on June 1st, I'll leave you with my #1 favorite Mink DeVille song. (I would rank 'Cadillac Walk' at #2.)
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SHE'S SO TOUGH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6cZZtYL3H4

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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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POSTSCRIPT:
You may recall that Lelly (aka LarryR, aka Larry "Lord Logar" Rosen) is a guitarist and songwriter who has also won a Battle Of The Bands contest against Van Morrison. Click HERE.
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2018, MAY 15: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, LOU REED VERSUS MINK DeVILLE)

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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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'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB')
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Yes, it's time once again for 'Battle Of The Bands' ('BOTB').
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Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
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EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER

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Recently, I was having an Email conversation with my old friend and co-worker, Lelly, or LarryR. (More about him and his connection to this Battle in my BOTB Results post.) Lelly wrote: "Might I suggest a Willy DeVille versus Lou Reed battle as Willy was often compared to Lou Reed."
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My first thought was that it might not be easy finding a clean recording of a song that both of them had covered. But my next thought was about Lou Reed's most famous song, 'Walk On The Wild Side'. And my third thought was: 'Cadillac Walk' by Mink DeVille. ...A BOTB "Walking" theme!! Would you rather do the "Cadillac Walk" or "Walk On The Wild Side"?
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And that's how this Battle was born.
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GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS

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I'm sure most of you voters know that Lou Reed was the primary force behind 'The Velvet Underground'. Wackypedia sez: The band's integration of rock and the avant-garde achieved little commercial success during their existence, but they are now recognized as one of the most influential bands in rock, underground, experimental, and alternative music. The provocative subject matter, musical experimentation, and often nihilistic attitudes explored in the band's work would prove influential in the development of punk rock and new wave music.
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Reed has sometimes been referred to as "The Godfather of Punk".
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GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG

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I have a distinct memory of listening to The Velvet Underground's live album while driving through the Arizona desert in 1980 with my buddy Eric, on our way to see "the Sun rise over the Grand Canyon". I suppose the main reason that memory lodged in my mind so concretely is because listening to urban, New York-inspired Rock music while driving through the Arizona desert is significantly "incongrutiating". (If you don't know the meaning of that word, ask G DogG -- he can 'splain it to ya.)
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As a solo artist, Lou Reed scored a #16 Billboard hit in 1973 with his song 'Walk On The Wild Side'. 
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I also have a connection to lead singer Willy DeVille's band Mink DeVille: In 1976, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, I attended my first Rock concert. Styx opened for Journey. The following year, at the same venue, I attended my second Rock concert: Mink DeVille opened for Styx.
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I'd never heard of Mink DeVille at that point, but very soon after that concert, I went out and purchased their debut LP titled 'Cabretta'. One of the songs on that album that I particularly liked was 'Cadillac Walk'.
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Wackypedia sez: From 1975 to 1977, Mink DeVille was one of the original house bands at CBGB, the New York City nightclub where punk rock music was born in the mid 1970s. "We auditioned along with hundreds of others, but they liked us and took us on. We played for three years..." In 1975, CBGB was the epicenter of punk rock and what would later be called new wave... 
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So, today, I present you with 'Walk On The Wild Side' versus 'Cadillac Walk'. Which Walk do you like best?
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Remember, unless you're asked to do otherwise, you're meant to evaluate the songs musically ONLY -- not taking into account the video images or stage performances. And, no, I'm NOT asking you to do otherwise.
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WALK ON THE WILD SIDE -- Lou Reed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0coSOXa2n38

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RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN

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CADILLAC WALK -- Mink DeVille

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyNpdbWNV98

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The Battle Within The Battle:

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VERSUS

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Question: "Will Mink DeVille Lose To Lou Reed?"

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The Magic 8-Ball (3-0) sez:  "My Sources Say No"

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The Amazing Sixwell (1-2) sez:  "My Sources Say No"

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Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whether I know "you" or not) to vote for your favorite of these songs in the comment section below. And feel free to tell us WHY you chose one song over the other.
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After voting here, I suggest - actually I insist - you pop over to the blogs of the other 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' participants 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.)
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Voice Your Vote...
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
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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.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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BOTB RESULTS: 2018, MAY 1 (Or, PERCY FAITH VERSUS CHET ATKINS)

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MY FRIENDS, MY FRIENDS ~
I am dog-tired! I don't think I got a minute of sleep last night, so this is going to be short and right to the point.
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First, I thank EVERYONE who showed up to vote in my most recent Battle Of The Bands (BOTB) installment [link> HERE.
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The song was 'Theme From A SUMMER PLACE' and the contestants were Percy Faith & His Orchestra versus Chet Atkins (with Floyd Cramer on the piano).
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It was a really nice turnout and I appreciate that. Also, I had a lot of fun with y'all in the comment section. Quite often it's the comment section interaction that I like best of all about BOTB! And this was one of those times. I dig the banter.
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Without a doubt, Percy Faith was the favorite going in, and not surprisingly, he prevailed. There are reasons that Percy's recording of the song holds the all-time Billboard Chart record for most number of weeks at #1 for an Instrumental. It can elicit an indescribable feeling, which many of us tried to describe in the comment section. Also, if one intently focuses on every instrument in the recording, from beginning to end, it's a bit of a revelation how much is actually occurring in Percy's recording. This is definitely not just "a lot of sawing away on violins". My own vote went to Percy Faith & His Orchestra.
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Of course, the Chet Atkins version was also terrific because... Chet Atkins! How could it not be terrific? And I was pleased to see it garner a number of votes. There was no way to "mis-vote" unless one missed voting altogether.
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The Final Tally:
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Percy Faith = 13 votes
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Chet Atkins = 7 votes
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And as for "The Battle Within The Battle", The Magic 8-Ball (3-0) and The Amazing Sixwell (1-2) BOTH predicted this Battle's outcome accurately.
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Thanks again for being here, all y'all. I will be back with a brand new Battle on Tuesday, May 15th. I hope you will return for that one. ...And I also hope the comment section action is as fun as it was this time.
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Bless And Be Blessed!
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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2018, MAY 1: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, PERCY FAITH VERSUS CHET ATKINS)

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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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'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB')
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Shoop-Shooby -
Shooby-Duh-Dooby-Doop-Dooby-Dooby-Doo-Wah -
Buh-Doo-Wah!
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Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
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EUGENE  MARTONE  VS.  JACK  BUTLER

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My last BOTB installment had a Down 'N' Out Urban theme, featuring songs about teenage runaways, street corner prostitution, and a heroin addict in Los Angeles. A real fun affair. (Actually, it wasn't nearly as depressing as it sounds and it inspired some good dialogue in the comment section.)
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This time, I decided to do a 180-degree turnaround and feature something light and beautiful. (Let it not be said that I'm just a One-Trick Pony.)
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GOODNIKS  VS.  NO-GOODNIKS

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Wackypedia sez:
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"Theme from A Summer Place" is a song with lyrics by Mack Discant and music by Max Steiner, written for the 1959 film A Summer Place, which starred Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue.
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The melody has acquired a reputation as being one of those familiar pieces of music that nearly everyone has heard but few people can accurately name.
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GODZILLA  VS.  KING  KONG

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The theme from 'A Summer Place' was first recorded by Hugo Winterhalter (of 'Canadian Sunset' fame) and has been covered a godzillion times since then. However, its most well-known incarnation by Percy Faith & His Orchestra spent 9 consecutive weeks at Billboard's #1 spot in 1960. That set a Billboard record for instrumentals that still stands today.
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Theme From A SUMMER PLACE -- Percy Faith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSsiS-v6_6M

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RIDDLER  VS.  BATMAN

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Chet Atkins recorded his version of 'A Summer Place' in 1961.
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Wackypedia sez:
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Atkins, known as "Mr. Guitar" and "The Country Gentleman", was an American musician ... and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson, among others, created the country music style that came to be known as the Nashville sound.
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Rolling Stone ... ranked him number 21 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time." Among many other honors, Atkins received 14 Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Theme From A SUMMER PLACE -- Chet Atkins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTDK_lI79FI

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The Battle Within The Battle:

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VERSUS

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Question: "Will Chet Atkins Lose To Percy Faith?"

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The Magic 8-Ball (2-0) sez:  "Without A Doubt"

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The Amazing Sixwell (0-2) sez:  "Signs Point To Yes"

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Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whether I know "you" or not) to vote for your favorite of these songs in the comment section below. And feel free to tell us WHY you chose one song over the other.
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After voting here, I suggest - actually I insist - you pop over to the blogs of the other 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' participants 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.)
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Voice Your Vote...
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
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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.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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