Saturday, March 14, 2015

Battle of the Bands for 3.15.15

Hello, good folks! Did we all survive last Sunday's Daylight Savings Time? I have to say it's been a great week full of lots of work, lots of thrifting (which means lots of vintage treasures, yay!), warmer temps, and binge-watching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which you should totally be watching if you're a Netflix subscriber! It's also time for another Battle of the Bands, and I am pretty excited about this one!

So, first things first: on the 1st and 15th of every month, a group of bloggers (including myself) present different versions of the same song for our readers to listen to, and then vote for their favorite (or least disliked, because there *have* been some of those!). On the 7th and 21st, I will come back, place my own vote, add 'em up, and announce the winner. Would you like to participate? Just head over to the link, listen and vote on Stephen T. McC's current battle, and let him know in the comments you'd like to participate. Easy-peasy!

Last week, I presented two wildly different versions of "House of the Rising Sun" (Leadbelly won over Muse). For this battle, I am using two versions of the same song, very similar in many ways (structure, composition, length, and both were recorded live), but, to my ears at least, they each have a very different sound distinct to the artists showcased. Another note about this battle: the songs are both LONG. I do not expect anyone to listen to them both all the way through (though I do highly recommend it, as they are both great and worthy of a listen), but if you will listen to the first two verses or so, you should get a pretty good feel for each version! That song is "Iko Iko". Recorded by many, made famous by a few, and according to the verdicts of several legal battles, belongs to The Dixie Cups (with James Crawford,this time according to Wikipedia, being credited 25% for public performances). The Dixie Cups version with the drumsticks is perhaps one of the most unique songs I've ever heard, and it stuck with me.

First up is the iconic, ultimate jam band Grateful Dead with a steady-rollin' rendition done as only they can! If you listen to at least the 3:45 mark, you'll hear a pretty awesome keyboard solo from Brent Mydland, which, in my opinion, takes the song to a whole other level. Can you imagine this coming through their Wall of Sound? I do recommend being careful while you watch, though, because it is impossible to un-see a 1980s-era Bob Weir clad in short, short, shorty-shorts:

Or perhaps a genuine N'Awlins-flavored jazzy, funky, upbeat version by the one and only Dr. John (featuring some amazing backing musicians) will be more to your liking? Again, about 3-3.5 minutes will be a good amount to listen to for the purposes of this post. This is a largely instrumental version after the 4:00 mark, but if you keep listening you get a sax solo starting at about the 4:00 mark, followed at around the 5:00 mark by brief baritone sax, trumpet, and guitar solos. This version also features Dr. John's impressive piano talents, of course.

Well, what do you think? Who did it better? Honestly, I'm not sure who I'll be voting for, or if I'll even vote. I love them both so much. The Dead's version makes me want to close my eyes and sway, but Dr. John's version makes me want to get up and shake my booty!

20 comments:

  1. It's up-in-here today, Kim! I listened to both songs completely. In '94 I saw Garcia and the Grateful Dead, but I don't remember hearing this song from them. It's possible - it was a long night. I liked this version okay, but wanted more of the jamming thing. (It was more laid back than I thought it would be.)

    Not to fear, my-dear... Dr. Hook swept me over... you know me and horns (?!) How much percussion, and how many horns can you have? Well... I'm happy! And, I've always liked the way he tears up that piano too. I've never seen him in concert - but have listened to him lots of times, via younger brother 'room mate' era. I really, really enjoyed your battle. Thank you :)

    My vote goes to Dr. Hook!

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    1. Hahahhaha - I wrote 'Dr. Hook' a hundred times!!! I meant Dr. John! So funny. Too early evidently, for me.

      LOL

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    2. No worries about "Dr. Hook." I got your vote, and I'm glad you enjoyed the battle!

      As for Grateful Dead, I imagine they have so, so, so many song choices to select and perform - I'm not surprised you didn't hear it (unless, of course, it's something they usually play live. I haven't seen them, so I wouldn't know!)).

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    3. Oh my - Fae saw them at Red Rocks Amphitheater, in Morrison, CO.!! I'd loved to see a concert there! I can't imagine. The Dead were at our coliseum that holds 17-22,000; small place really. Too bad they never played in the Stadium. I'm not sure it was even built before Garcia passed away the next year... (nevermind - yes it was.)

      Anyway, I wanted to say that I got caught up watching all the stoned "Twirlers." That's what they called all of these people that dance, spinning 'round and 'round. Lots of colorful lights -spinning behind them on stage. Maybe I was hypnotized, Kim. Ha!

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    4. Hahaha! I bet you were....the lights and the haze and the music and the twirlers....how could you not be? LOL. When I was a little kid, I used to love twirling around all the time. Maybe I should have grown up to be a bona fide Deadhead.

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  2. DST? Bah! I'm still sleepy and unadjusted to the time change.

    The Dead version sounded like...well, the Grateful Dead. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm just saying.

    The Dr Hook--er, I mean Dr. John--version is cleaner, slicker, more musically well produced. The group really does take the song to a higher level even though the Dead's audience might have been higher.

    I cast a exuberant vote for Dr. John and his top notch band.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out


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    1. Got it, Arlee. LOL, I have no doubts that the Dead's audience was higher. But you never know!

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  3. I listened to both and whole thing! I give it to Dr. Hook. I love the horns and it kept my attention more. The Grateful Dead was good but it fell a bit into the background for me

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  4. I listened to both pieces 'all the way through' for the sheer pleasure of it.

    I like the distinctive sound of 'the Dead', and their mellow take on Iko Iko. I've seen them in person at Red Rocks Amphitheater, in Morrison, CO. One of the top five concerts I've ever attended (for numerous reasons). They always seem to 'laid back' (for various reasons, Ha!). I was not familiar with their version of this song, but (those short shorts notwithstanding) I liked it lots.

    I expected to really enjoy Dr. John's 'Nawlins Jazz Version'. His back up band and the overall instrumentation was excellent (Did I say I love me some sax & that trumpet whoo weee!), but overall they departed so much from the original melody, I kept straining to get back to Iko Iko, and that presented a major distraction for me.

    So, I'm gonna save you from a shut out. I vote that the Dr. John piece was very enjoyable, but it just didn't seem like Iko Iko to me, so give my vote to the Dead.

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    1. I also meant to say that I did think this was an exceptional BATTLE, Kim. Made me stretch and gave me pause to think!

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    2. Yay, no shut-out, and our first vote for the Dead! Like Dixie, you are so lucky to have been able to see them live - I can imagine it was quite an experience. I actually love how laid back they are. Enjoyable music without being overpowering. I obviously love Dr. John's version, too, but am still having such a hard time deciding on a vote for myself. But hey, at least I have a few more days to choose!

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  5. Good battle, Kim! This was a no-brainer contest for me. I love Dr.John's jazzy sound pianos and horns really smoking hot fun! It got me to my feet, I tell you. Have a tunetastic week! ;)

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    1. Thank you for your vote! Got it accounted for :) It will get you to your feet, won't it?

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  6. Hey now this is a tough battle. I have seen the Grateful Dead a few times. of course tbeir version is looser than Dr. John. New Orleans flavored music is also one of my favorite. I liked both. I vote for a tie and say throw in a few more versions of the song and make it a party.

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    1. Okay....one for both Dr. John AND the Dead for you :)

      LOL. Last time I threw in more than two versions of a song, it was not a party - it was unpleasant.

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  7. Good battle, Kim.

    I admit to reading the comments while both songs played. I went ahead and listened all the way through. I thought Dr. John held pretty well to the thread of Iko Iko until it became instrumental at the 4 minute mark. So, I totally get what FAE was saying about having difficulty finding Iko Iko in it. It was still very enjoyable to listen to (and I think that jazz fans are used to the solos going off on a tangent because the player just starts rocking out -- or jazzing out -- and it takes on a life of its own).

    As for me, I enjoyed the laidback style of The Grateful Dead more. I did spend some time wondering about Bob Weir and his shorts. Did the other members of the band think he was playing the "dandy" or were they really cool with anything? I mean, he does have pretty nice legs for a fella. If mine were that nice I might wear shorty short shorts, too:) And that piano blast was pretty darn awesome. So, I'll try to help the Dead gain some ground, though I suspect the cause is already lost...

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    1. Oooh, he does have nice legs for a fella! I have a feeling the Dead really were down with pretty much anything (at least fashion-wise). Still, those shorts were just TOO short. Gurrrrll....I just can't with the short-shorts.

      I like how you described the Dr. John version....I was wondering how I would really describe it and couldn't find the right words. Thank you for your vote, and I will add another for the Dead!

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  8. KIM ~
    I still has no Internet service and I can't really play the songs because I'm in a public library and they'd kick me out. But thanks to my immense musical knowledge (and a little help from a good friend) I'm able to cast a vote anyway...

    Give my vote to: DOCTOR JOHN.

    If I manage to get Internet service prior to the 21st, I will return and correct my vote (should I determine I got it wrong the first time... which is highly unlikely).

    Excuse the "copy & paste" job but at least I ain't totally AWOL in this installment of BOTB. I should be back at 100% before too long.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

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  9. Good to see you, D-Fens! I'll draw another line in the column for Dr. John :) Hope you get your internet soon and that the move went well!

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