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BATTLE OF THE BANDS XXV and I’m still ‘Crazy’.
Let’s get right to it, shall we?
Continuing on with my theme of ‘Crazy’
let’s talk about a little tune that was number 2 on the Country Charts in 1962.
Wait a minute let’s take it back a year to 1961, when the then journeyman
singer-songwriter Willie Nelson (with the help of a friend named Oliver English)
wrote the song ‘Crazy’ for country singer Billy Walker. Walker turned it down
as being ‘too girly’.
Wacky-watchee describes the song as a ‘jazz-pop
ballad with country overtones and a complex melody. The lyrics describe the
singer’s state of bemusement at the singer’s own helpless love for the object of
his/her affection.’ OK then.
‘Crazy’ went on to be the number 2 song
the Country Charts in 1962 performed by none other than the darling of the
Country Circuit Patsy Cline. Nelson later recorded several version of the song
himself, including a trio version with Elvis Costello and Diana Krall.
Now I bet you’re figuring I’m gonna pit
Mr. Nelson against Miss Cline, but not so. I want you to think/listen a little
harder than that, BUT I will give you a snippet of each in the video which
includes a brief interview between Willie and Charlie Dick (Patsy’s husband).
Now the BATTLE for today. Let’s put Miss
LeAnn Rimes, who recorded this song in the style of Patsy Cline. At the time of
the original recording LeAnn was only seventeen years old (too bad she grew
up).
Next, in keeping with another theme going
on in the current BOTB (over at Tossing It Out – Arlee Bird is running a ‘Girls
against Boys’ BATTLE) – here is Neil Young covering the same song. Neil, like
Willie, weren’t afraid of no ‘girly’ songs.
While this video might not be the best quality (it's that recording box thing) it's Neil's version I want you to hear.
OK, now you know what to do and how to do
it. Leave me your vote in the comment box with your reason WHY. Then head on
over to the brand spanking new blog space of the ‘sexiest man on the planet’
Mr. Stephen T. McCarthy and see what he has cooked up for ya his is BOTB. You can
find Mr. McCarthy HERE. STMcC has a lot more computer cents than me, so he
will give you a link to the other participants in BATTLE OF THE BANDS. It appears
that this time out we have added another new participant bringing the total up
to 9, count ‘em 9 participants. Whoever woulda thunk there would be that many
people that ‘Crazy’.
I’ll be back on the 21st with
my vote and the final tally. See ya then.
Ah, the chutzpah of the young...
ReplyDeleteNot many singers would have the brass take this all-time classic song and try to outdo Patsy in her own style, but when you're seventeen you don't have a lot of historical perspective to give weight to your decisions. Maybe LeAnn thought it was "just some old song," or maybe she was talked into it by her producer or agent or something. But still, she actually did very well. The right country inflections, a sweet melodious voice, and clean production makes it a decent rendition. It certainly doesn't dethrone Patsy but at least the kid didn't totally embarrass herself.
I'm a huge Neil Young fan -- always have been since first hearing "Down by the River" when I was first starting to learn guitar. I've always leaned towards the edgy Neil, usually with Crazy Horse. That raging, screaming, loud-guitar-driven, long-jam guy who can take three chords and turn them into an epic piece ("Cortez the killer","Southern Man," "Down by the River," "Cowgirl in the Sand," etc). But he's also grabbed me with the depth of emotion in his simple, solo-guitar pieces, too ("Needle and the Damage Done," "My, My, Hey, Hey," "Old Man," etc). But he's not what anyone would call a "good singer" and while the Live recording box thing with Jack White is fun and interesting, I'm really not that impressed with his version of "Crazy."
Maybe Neil needs to add a "Horse" if he wants to grab me with "Crazy"". Actually, that could be really great -- a live version of "Crazy" by Neil and Crazy Horse with long, screamin' guitar solos in-between the verses. Yeah -- I'd vote for that. ;)
But between these two? Here, I have to vote for the young one instead of the Young one. Call me crazy and give my vote to LeAnn.
I hear what you're saying here. I figure with the poor quality of that NY recording this will probably be another shut out, but I really don't care. When I originally planned this BATTLE I had found a better recording of the Neil Young version, that I really liked (I think it's the simplicity of it), but alas YouTube fouled me up yet again and that video is no longer available. I decided to go with this poorer quality one anyway. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
DeleteAs far as Leann goes, I think it was probably her manager at the time (her father) who encouraged her to record this song after she was compared to Cline with her debut 'Blue'. I agree it's a fine showing, but she's no Patsy Cline by any means.
Thanks for your vote and I'm glad you're becoming a regular on BOTB.
I'll go with Rimes. It's just the iconic sound of that song.
ReplyDeleteSecond vote for rimes it what will probably be a real run away AGAIN!
DeleteThis is really no contest for me-Patsy Cline owns this tune.
ReplyDeleteNeil Young's voice is such an acquired taste, one that you acquire because of his songwriting. To listen to him doing covers is kind of pointless.
And Leeann Rimes is just one of a lot of cutesy teens that they give record deals to because they'll look good on the album cover. Nothing special for me there.
A vote for Patsy!
A rebel vote for one of them 'not real contestants'. I like it.. I also like your point about Leann Rimes and most of the 'new country'. You has posted something about the top ten or some other number of country songs awhile back and someone kind of went a little nuts about there not being any contemporary country listed. I was gonna comment there but decided not to. But most of the contemporary country is not really country but just pretty faces and 'sexy cowboys' who look good on the album covers. I've lived an worked with real cowboys, even did a year on the professional rodeo circuit (not totally surprised are you?) and trust me they have their own kind of sexy, but it's a far cry from what Garth Brooks packages and sold to the music buying public. I hold him pretty much responsible from changing the face and sound of country music.
DeleteNow before you or anybody else get's their torch and pitchfork out, I like some of the newer country (not necessarily the newest stuff out today), some Garth, Alan, and Kenny and of course there's George Strait -but even though he isn't an outlaw, I don't necessarily consider him new., BUT he is a real cowboy like one of my all time favorites Chris LeDoux.
Anyway...my little rant is over and I thank you for your vote and do accept one vote for Patsy, although in a BATTLE considering all of the voices played here, I think the songwriter's interpretation is the best. I won't officially cast my vote for Willie, but in my opinion nobody does it better than that old outlaw coot.
I missed when I voted that Patsy was not a choice...I'd have gone with Neil Young had I known...
DeleteSometimes I speed read and miss key words...
LC
While I was listening to the absolutely classic version by Rimes, I was trying to imagine what Young was going to do to this song. It was criminal. He should be arrested by the music police and locked in that box until he promises to do what he does best. "Crazy" is not it. I'm a huge Neil Young fan but this version of "Crazy" highlights everything that is bad about his voice and does nothing to showcase his fabulous guitar playing. And forget the whistling. I've said this before--I'm no big fan of whistling in songs. And Neil doesn't even whistle well on this one.
ReplyDeleteI can't really see Neil doing a particularly good version of this song--not one that I'd want to listen to regularly. Maybe Rimes plays it safe with her version, but it sounds like it should and I don't mind listening to it.
A vote for Leann Rimes for me. She does the song justice even if she doesn't take it to any new crazy places.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Whoa! Don't hold nothing back there on ole Neil. I actually thought you were a fan of his. 'Arrested by the music police', YIKES! That
Deletes pretty severe don't cha think?
Rimes version sounds like it should - does that mean you don't even care for the version by Willie? Just wonderin.
Anyway, got you down as another fan of the pretty face, and no help whatsoever as breaking up this shut out.
Sure the version by Willie is another classic, but I was thinking that this was only between Rimes and my old friend Young. Still though I'd go with Rimes.
DeleteLee
Tossing It Out
Ok, I'll call off the music police. I was starting to think I needed to send them over to your house. Ha!
DeleteAnd you're right the official BATTLE here was between Rimes and Young, but we're no longer about following rules around here, so vote as you please.
Based on the title, I almost thought this was going to be a Paul Simon BOTB (Still Crazy After All These Years).
ReplyDeleteI've never really liked Leann Rimes, but I was captivated by her version. Very, very classic sounding. I loved it.
Meanwhile, I couldn't even make it all the way through Neil Young's version. Ugh. No thanks. Pretty easy vote for Rimes on this one.
~6B (Still crazy after all these beers)
Shhh. I've got a very more crazies to go.
DeleteSo, 'still crazy after all these beers, got you down for another dumb blonde. Did I say that out loud?
I'm back to being "the sexiest man on the planet" again? (Hell, I haven't even mailed you the check yet!)
ReplyDeleteWell, let's face it, we all know that in truth Neil Young is the sexiest man on the planet.
Hey, in the comment section of your August 1st 'BOTB' I DID guess the RIGHT song for this 'BOTB' installment. My only mistake was in thinking you'd be using the Patsy Cline original.
Well, I'm voting for Willie Nelson.
I'm voting for Willie over LeAnn Rimes. (She had some sexy eyes though.)
I'm voting for Willie over Neil Young.
Believe it or not, I'm even voting for Willie over...
PATSY CLINE!
What the hell is it about that guy's voice? My Pa was a big Willie Nelson fan, so I heard some of his stuffs when the only music I cared about was Rock 'N' Roll. (Although I always did dig Willie's 'On The Road Again', because I loved road trips.)
Then in 1978, my Pa brought home Willie Nelson's 'STARDUST' album and played it for my Ma. She just shrugged. Me, I just shrugged (it wasn't Rock 'N' Roll).
Fast-forward to about 1989 or 1990, I'm now a regular customer of The Crest House lounge, along with then-girlfriend "The Countess". Two of the songs from Willie's 'STARDUST' album are on the jukebox and I begin playing them (along with Glenn Miller's 'Moonlight Serenade') every time we go to the lounge for cocktails.
Next thing I know, I LOVE Willie Nelson's weird voice and the way he's able to convey feeling in a song - ANY song! The next thing I know after that, I have purchased Willie Nelson's 'STARDUST' compact disc and to this day it remains one of my 25 most frequently played CDs. (The only song I don't love is 'Someone To Watch Over Me'. I just DO NOT like that song, period. Not by Frank Sinatra, not by Linda Ronstadt, not even by... Willie Nelson. It's just too damned wimpy and needy!)
Alright, alright, OK, OK, my real vote here?
I know my only two valid choices are LeAnn or Neil.
I'll take LeAnn Rimes.
Even though Willie Nelson kicks her ass...
and Patsy Cline's ass, too!
[;o)}
~ D-FensDogg
[Sexiest man on the planet...
after Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and...
Joan Jett]
Thanks for the 'valid' vote, but I did accept Larry's vote for Patsy so you can certainly vote for Willie if you wanna.
DeleteI have to agree with you about him being one of the sexiest men on the planet. There is something about that old coot and what he does with music that definitely has some sex appeal. I only saw him live in concert once, and it was with Waylon and Jessie Colter, but was that ever a concert. Both Willie and Waylon's stage presence was even better than their recordings.
So right now your vote is counted for LeAnn Rimes and her sexy eyes, but you have the right to change it, up until the 21st anyway.
No, no, I stick to the rules (because I expect 'BOTB' voters to stick to MY rules, too). So my vote remains with LeAnn over Neil. (Even if DiscConnected can't follow instructions.)
DeleteAnd, you're right! I have seen far more concerts than I could possibly ever remember, but no one - and I mean NO ONE! - had the stage presence of Waylon Jennings! That guy could have simply read his lyrics off paper and I still would have said he had more charisma than ANYONE else I've ever seen on a stage.
Never saw Willie on stage, but Willie and Waylon together would have been memorable, no doubt.
(I'd have probably been trying to seduce Jessi Colter behind the stage while Waylon and Willie were singing on it. She was a real cutie!)
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Going with #2 at my zoo, the third version was just meh, liked the first one too though
ReplyDeleteOK, Pat, Another vote for LeAnn.
DeleteNiel young. I just like the striped down quality of his.
ReplyDeleteWell, thank you very much for stopping by and being a loyal supporter of my BOTB Samuel, AND an even bigger thank you for keeping this from being a shut-out. Finally, a vote for Neil.
DeleteNo music police here.
LeAnn. Willie a close #2.
ReplyDeleteLeAnn over Neil I get, BUT LeAnn over Willie. I may need to send the music police to your house.
DeleteDon't worry... I'm on my way to his house as I type these words!
Delete~ D-FensDogg
You go get him tiger!
DeleteI'll vote for Neil, although it's difficult to hear. Don't like the version by Rimes, even with her strong voice. K.D. Lang does the best version of Patsy Cline by far. Another Canadian, too, like Neil.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by D.G. How are things going for you. I sincerely hope your husband is recovering nicely. I appreciate your continued support, even though I know it must be kind of tough for you right now.
DeleteSecond vote for Neil, and here I though this might end up a shut-out.
Hubs' recovery is slow, but steady, thanks for asking FAE. Don't like to miss the Battle of the Bands. . . Neil is a favorite,
DeleteI'm really glad to hear that. Slow and steady is a good way to go.
DeleteLeAnn. Her voice sounds more like Patsy's original.
ReplyDeleteLeAnn certainly is doing her best to sound as much like Patsy as possible. Got you down as another vote for herself.
DeleteI think LeAnn did a really nice job with such an amazing song. However, I also like Willie's original interpretation very much... it would have been a more difficult vote pitting Willie against Patsy. As is, Neil Young is just horrible. So LeAnn gets my vote easily.
ReplyDeleteTo tell the truth I really don't want to see a BATTLE between Willie and Patsy. If you read the other comments and replies, I had a better version of the Neil Young when I started out with this contest, but YouTube must have pulled it, because it's nowhere to be found. I was in too deep to change my mind and I wanted to use Neil, so along with all the hate Neil is getting here, the video is a real poor quality.
DeleteOh Well, that's how it goes sometimes.
I'm not a Willie Nelson fan. His voice is definitely distinctive and you most certainly know it's him when you hear one of his songs. I think I like his style more from the early days better than today. That being said, you may have figured out Willie will not get my vote. Not that he did a bad a job or anything because he certainly did not and in a strange way I like his version. As for Neil Young...I don't believe I've heard of him before now. He does Crazy very similar to Nelson, doesn't he? It's good, but doesn't quite do it for me. LeAnne Rimes and Tanya Tucker did the song justice. I think I may like Tucker over Rimes a bit more, but it's hard to steal the show with Patsy Cline doing this number. Oh, my heavens I think she had a fabulous voice and every time I think of Crazy, I always think of Patsy Cline. So...I'm voting for Patsy! BTW, I almost picked this song and decided against it. lol
ReplyDeleteHey Cathy, glad you made it by to vote. As the participants in BOTB increases I expect we'll see some overlap in songs chosen (and keep in mind that several of us have been at it for over a year, so, you might pick one that was used say 6 or 8 months ago, but no worries, it's all good)
DeleteI have to admit, you can't think of 'Crazy' without thinking of Patsy.
Got you down as another vote for Patsy Cline.
Glad you decided to join up in BOTB. I hope you make it around to visit all of the participants. there are some really fun BATTLES going on out there.
Great song! I gotta go with Leann's version. I'm really not a fan of Neil Young...sorry to all the Neil Young fans!
ReplyDelete~Katie
Hey Katie, thanks for stopping by and casting a vote. No need to apologize for your vote (just between you and me and as you can see - there ain't too many Neil Young fans here abouts).
DeleteGot you down as another vote for the lovely Miss rimes.
I'm going with Neil because LeAnn sounds too much like Patsy. I like that Neil isn't afraid, even as a old man, to try do different thingss. I saw him on TV when he went into the recording box. Takes some guts/humility to do something like that live. Just him, his guitar and his creeky old voice. Love it!
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for Neil. I really like your reasoning here too.
Delete