NEW YEAR/NEW BATLES

It’s 1:30 PM MST (I’m still out of town) and I’m sitting here looking out the window at a frozen wasteland. It was -11 degrees when I woke up this morning and the weather report said it felt like -24 degrees. (It kinda felt like hell to me-I hate to be cold.) Currently, the temperature is a whopping 5 degrees. I almost feel like breaking in a chorus of “We’re having a heat wave’; almost, but not quite.

Besides contemplating ‘what was I thinking; coming to this frozen place at this frozen time of year, I have also been contemplating the year that was 2015. My first impression was to make a list of the good and bad that came about in my life during this year that is almost over, but I have decided against that. We all have good and bad happening to us all of the time. The choice is ours, which we make more of. I’m choosing to make more of the good, and hoping to be a tad bit more optimistic in 2016. It’s in my nature to be positive and look for the good in everything, but I’ve found that this past year, I’ve let myself slip into a more negative attitude, and I don’t like it.

Here’s my wish and prayer for any of you who stop by my place on this first day of 2016. May you look for the good in yourself and in others. May you silence the negative voices in your own head (since many of you are writers, I know you have and listen to those voices – ‘way to often’). May you experience good health or a return to good health whichever may apply. May you enjoy prosperity of Spirit. May you have a true desire to be in some type of service to others; be it simple or complex. May you find joy in all that you do; from the simple mundane things, to the most spectacular. May you find and feel genuine love in your life.

Now that I have those words out of my head, let’s get on with BATTLE OF THE BANDS, shall we?

A few months ago I learned that Allen Toussaint had passed away. I immediately thought of his song ‘Woman Get Out of My Life’, not sure why, but maybe it was one of my less ‘positive days’. Anyway, when I checked YouTube I found that this one had been covered by just about EVERYBODY. So, I decided this would make for a great BATTLE, but then…a chicken crossed my path, and I immediately became distracted. I’m like that sometime.

Next we came up to Christmas and I wanted to use traditional Christmas songs (after all, it’s only two BATTLES a year when that seems appropriate to me). Well, it’s the first day of 2016 and time to finally honor Allen and his contribution to music.

I went with two versions that I like. Both have a very distinctive sound to their band. Also, both are live versions and not necessarily a superior quality video, but I think they are on equal footing in that respect.

First, let’s hear from Mr. Leon Russell;

Next, Mr. Jim Morrison and the Doors:

OK, you guys know the routine. Leave me a comment with your vote and the reason for your choice. When you’ve finished up here, head on over to the site of Mr. BOTB himself and see what he has posted for you. Stephen will also provide an up to date link for all of the participants. You can find him HERE. Please try to vote at every site.

I’ll be back on the 7^th with my vote and the final tally. I DO intend to get around to all of the posted BATTLES, but probably won’t really get to start until after January 3^rd, as I’ll be on the road traveling home. Please be patient with me.

So, until the 7^th or I make a comment for you…Happy Trails!