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As a prelude to Battle of the Bands, let me tell you a little bit about this past week.
I took a little surprise trip to the coast. This would explain my absence from
the blogosphere. Sorry if I missed commenting on some of your posts and even
leaving a reply to those last few comments on mine.
First we went here for a special dinner.
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Then we drove down the coast and woke up here.
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Took a stroll down here (which inspired my BATTLE today)
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And ended up down here.
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This is one of the most magnificent wildlife experiences I’ve ever
had. We saw about 10 – 15 Humpback whales. A lot of breaches and tail slaps.
They were spectacular. No, I don’t have pictures. Who had time to take pictures?
I didn’t want to miss any of the action.
Anyway…this is what inspired my BATTLE today.
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That’s the Boardwalk being repaired in Santa Cruz, CA. By the
way, that earlier picture was sunrise over the Santa Cruz pier. That’s where
the Boardwalk is too!
So…back to BATTLE OF THE BANDS. I bet you guessed by now my song
is ‘Under the Boardwalk’. The original was recorded by The Drifters. You can
easily find it on YouTube if you’re so inclined, BUT I ain’t using it in this
BATTLE, cause you would all probably vote for it. I was gonna go for a boys
against the girls contest (there is a fun version by Bruce Willis, backed up by
The Temptations), but I decided on two versions by ladies. Let’s get on with
it, shall we?
First up. ‘The Divine Miss M’ - Bette Midler.
Next up another one of the girls; Ricky Lee Jones
Whew! It was kind of a long trip to get down to the BATTLE, but
I hope you didn’t mind and enjoyed some of my pics.
Now after you vote and leave me a comment here, head on over to
the home of TSMOTP, Mr. Stephen T. McCarthy, find him by clicking HERE. Since,
it’s late in the morning, I’ve already seen his BATTLE and it’s a really good
one. ALSO, he’ll have all the links for the other participants. Please try to
visit everyone. If you decide to post a BATTLE, let me know in the comment
section so we can all visit you too.
I’ll be back on the 7th with the final tally and my
vote. See you then.
What a nice getaway you had with an excellent destination choice. Good for you! My wife and I had been talking about doing something like this, but now next week she's going to Houston to spend a week with her daughter. I guess that will be like a vacation alone at home for me. Not terrible.
ReplyDeleteI definitely prefer the Jones version and I can well imagine that she will take this contest by a landslide. Better production, arrangement, and nice interaction among the vocalists. This is one of the better recordings of this song I've heard--better than the original in my opinion.
Bette sings hers nicely but it's a rather lackluster presentation. Oddly it sounds like the back up is all synthesized even though in the video it shows her with a band. Maybe I wasn't listening closely enough but that's what I thought.
In any case, cast my vote for Rickie Lee Jones.
Lee
Tossing It Out
It was a nice getaway and the destination was excellent.
DeleteI don't know that I would call Bette's version lackluster, but RLJ does add her usual flare to this number.
Not sure if the bak up is synthesized or not. It's the intro credits to the movie and I did have another choice - which I should have used, because I think it was a tad longer. Oh well, some of the BATTLES included three songs this time and a few were 7-9 minutes long, so I guess I made up for some of that time with a shorter version here. Ha!
Bette Midler and group gets my vote, sounded closer to the original to my ears. I didn't like Rickie Lee Jones flights of fantasy with her voice. Too much of her in that version.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful song and brings back memories of Florida boardwalks to me. And yes I did enjoy the photos!
So far it's neck n neck. One vote for RLJ and one for the Devine Miss M. Of course it's way too early to think this will be a runaway or close call. We;ll just have to wait and see.
DeleteGot you down for Bette with no 'flights of fantasy' (I like that expression and think it describes RLJ perfectly).
Glad to evoke some good memories for you.
Interestingly enough, there is a John Cougar Mellencamp cover from around the Scarecrow era (I believe it was a b-side to "Small Town") that would get my vote after the Drifters.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, the Bruce Willis version is excellent. But the Drifters' version is the definitive one, and while I agree with your reasoning for not including that version, I really wish I could vote for any of those three versions.
But today, I am voting for Rickie Lee.
Bette's voice is wonderful, but the version is too slick-hard to believe that anyone who produces a version that refined has ever actually made out under a boardwalk on a blanket.
I spent a large portion of my teenage summer years under the South Jersey boardwalks, a few times actually with a girl, mostly drinking with my buddies and lying about girls being there later.
Rickie's version captures a little of that spirit.
LC
OK, I searched YouTube for the JCM version of this song to no avail. If you can give me a link I would love to take a listen. The Bruce Willis version is fun and IMO really good, but again with The Temptations backing him up, it was so much like the oirginal, I was pretty sure that would be a shut out. Thus I went with the girls.
DeleteI agree that the RLJ version probably does capture some of the spirit of at least, your youth. Mine was spent in Chicago - lots of beaches, but no boardwalks. There was always the bleachers at the football stadiums and just about every HS had a football stadium.
Bette sings it cleaner, but I like the personality in Rickie Lee's version better.
ReplyDeleteGood way to describe the RLJ version and her tunes in general, they do have their own personality.
DeleteFor sheer musical talent, you can almost not pit Bette against anybody. Such a beautiful voice.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I like what Rickie did with her version, so I'm voting for Rickie.
I really enjoyed your trip FAE. Makes me want to take a drive to the coast. I don't remember you moving back to the States, certainly not close to my back yard. We should make a date sometime.
I totally agree with you about both Bette and Rickie.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed the trip as much as I did. I moved back to the
States about 17 months ago. I'm in NV on the shore of Lake Tahoe. I thought you were in So. CA. Drop me an email (find address in my profile - I think) and let me know where you are. I would love to meet up some time.
I have to go with #2, much better version. Looks like a fun trip was had indeed.
ReplyDeleteFun trip indeed. Got you down as another vote for RLJ and her flights of fantasy.
DeleteI find this to be a tough decision. I'm not sure that Bette can sing a song badly, and this was no exception. I am not a big fan of vocal acrobatics (and there were plenty in RLJ version), but I think the instrumentation was better. Plus, I liked the harmonies, when they occurred. There wasn't anything I disliked about Bette's version, so I guess I will give it to her. However, this was really close for me.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear this was a tough decision and a really close call. I do think those are the best BATTLES.
DeleteI have to agree with STMC about RLJ and her 'vocal acrobatics'; I don't think that's a form of showing off, or any sort of acrobatics for her. I think it's just her own style. I guess you have to be a fan, which I happen to be - big time.
Glad to hear that even with everything under consideration this was a close one for you.
SHEESH! FAE... This was damned tough!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I hadn't heard it in ages, I already knew the Rickie Lee Jones version because I purchased the 1983 EP it was included on ('Girl At Her Volcano') when it was first released. I've always liked Rickie Lee Jones a lot. Today I still have on CD her first two albums (GREAT, both of them!) and 'Balm In Gilead'. Kinda wish I still had '...Volcano' too.
I have never been a Bette Midler fan at all and never heard her version of 'Under The Boardwalk'. After reading all the comments above mine BEFORE playing either version, I figured this was going to be a slam-dunk for Rickie, but oh, no, no!
Both versions included a Spanish guitar sound which I suppose must have been on The Drifters' hit version also, however, I don't recall it and, by the way, don't really care for it.
Never saw the Bette Midler movie 'BEACHES' but obviously it opens with her doing a soundcheck at The Hollywood Bowl, as seen in your video clip. And I really like it - both Bette Midler's singing AND the instrumental backing with that funky little rhythm guitar bit - but I wish it were longer than 1:48.
It's funny that Robin referred to Rickie's "vocal acrobatics" because although I suppose she's kinda right, I hear that and don't think "vocal acrobatics" at all, but rather: That's just Rickie Lee Jones being Rickie Lee Jones.
OK, this surprises the carp outta me, but I'm actually going to vote for Bette Midler. BUT!... I will return here in another day or two and re-listen to both versions and may possibly change my mind. I've already heard Bette's version three times and Rickie's twice. That's how tough this BOTB contest is for me.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
POSTSCRIPT:
I'm glad you had such a nice, little trip out Pacific Ocean way. The shots of the Hollywood Bowl in the Bette Midler video made me feel a little homesick.
Alright, I've returned to re-listen as I said I would. My vote remains unchanged.
DeleteI became curious about how many hits The Drifters had and where they came in on the Billboard Top 40, so I looked 'em up. They had 16 Top 40 hits, and of course everyone has heard 'UP ON THE ROOF' and 'UNDER THE BOARDWALK'. Methinks they missed out on another big hit by failing to record something titled 'BESIDE THE SHED'.
In looking up The Drifters in my 'Billboard Book Of Top 40 Hits' I discovered the funniest name ever for a band. Previously I was partial to the name of a Punk Rock group I'd once heard about named 'THE SNIVELING SHITS'. But in 1958 a band scored two Top 40 hits with the name 'DICKY DOO AND THE DON'TS'. Seriously! Their hit songs were 'Click-Clack' and 'Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu'. (Apparently they took their name from the nickname of Dick Clark's son which was Dicky Doo.)
The really weird thing though is that just a night or two ago, for no apparent reason, I began thinking about an old Johnny Carson joke from 'The Tonight Show'. You remember he used to play the part of 'Carnac the Magnificent' and would give the audience the answer BEFORE opening up the envelope and reading the question?
Well, one of the funniest was when the answer was "Dippity-Do", and the question was, "What collects on your dippity in the morning?"
http://www.mustsharejokes.com/page/Johnny+Carson+Carnac+the+Magnificent+Jokes?t=anon
So, I began repeating that joke in my mind for no reason that I can think of and then less than 24 hours later I discover a band that had been called 'Dicky Doo And The Don'ts'. Odd, eh?
The way the light reflects off the piano from 1:01 to 1:10 in the Bette Midler video really gives me that "GOLDENSHADOW" feeling. Looks like that was filmed late in the day, just before the sun set.
Listened to Rickie Lee Jones all night on Spotify. Her album 'THE MAGAZINE' was actually better than 'GIRL AT HER VOLCANO'. I listened to 'The Magazine' many times back in the day, but she never recorded anything that was in the same great league with her first two albums, 'Rickie Lee Jones' and 'Pirates'.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
First, my mistake in using this short clip, that is obviously the intro credits to the movie. Go here for the full 3:51 min. version. Of course you if I had used this video, you would have missed all that nostalgia at the Hollywood Bowl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1HXEzsCle0&list=RDb1HXEzsCle0
DeleteI thought the same thing about the 'vocal acrobatics' remark and said so in my reply to Robin. I guess with RLJ you're either a fan and enjoy all that stuff or your not. D.G. Hudson also called it her 'flights of fantasy'. Although D.G. didn't have as hard a time deciding who to vote for.
I have got to admit I was pretty sure you vote would be a 'slam-dunk' for RLJ, but Bette does a really nice job and her slower more straight forward version is apt to evok some of that nostalgia and that 'GOLDENSHADOW' feeling. I DO get that.
Agree with you completely about 'Pirates' - did I ever tell you I LOVE THAT CD, and listen to it often.
~SECOND COMMENT~
I read this second comment first thing when woke up and literally 'laughed out loud'!
Maybe The Drifters should have done 'Out Behind the Wood Shed' Ha,ha,ha!
'DICKY DOO AND THE DON'TS' where on earth do you find this stuffs. Got a link for either of their hits. I can't wait to take a listen.
Best to never leave your 'dippity' hanging out to collect any dew., eh?
Glad you enjoyed this BOTB and had a hard time making a decision. I admit that your BATTLE includes three great versions, but I knew right from the first listen which one 'did it' for me. I'll be by shortly to let you and everybody else know which one that is.
I love Bette Midler because it is nice, clean and elegant but then I heard Jones and, even though some of the arrangement sounded a little wonky to me, I give it to Jones. I like the mix of the music. It went with where you went to-nice to get away
ReplyDeleteI didn't think about which version went with my trip and the destination at the time I posted this - I was simply going for the connection to the 'boardwalk', but I do think you're right.
DeleteThanks for coming by and the vote, Birgit.
Oh, do I miss the west coast. This reminds me how much I miss being out there. I prefer to eat the sea-life over watching it, but we all have our hobbies. :)
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, I'm not a fan of Bette Midler. She has a beautiful voice... I just don't care for the music. For that alone, RLJ wins in my book.
Ha, I like to eat my share of sea-life also, and I did this trip, but not whales and dolphin; unless it's that dolphin- dolphin also know as mahi-mahi.
DeleteSo are you saying your vote for RLJ is more by default that really enjoyment?
HI FAE -- Sorry I missed this over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteNice battle. I like Bette Midler in a lot of ways, but it's more for her fun, zany comedic acting than her music. She does have a decent voice, and there are some songs where she does a really good job, but this one doesn't really grab me. Her vocals are spot-on in terms of pitch and everything, and some of the musical playing is technically excellent, but overall the finished production is a little PeePee ("Plastic 'n' Polyester", to quote STMc). It strikes me as fake-feeling as the staged "sound-check" scene itself.
Rickie Lee Jones has a distinct voice and approach to a song. Her version here is much more organic-feeling. It feels much more real and non-PeePee.
I have to go with Rickie Lee.
I sincerely hope PeePee is not going to become a common description on these BOTBs. You did realize that the staged sound check is in reality the opening credits for the movie 'Beaches', didn't you?
DeleteAll that said I do have to agree that the RLJ version is definitely more organic feeling, and I've chalked up another vote for Ms. Jones and her non PeePee version.
FAE ~
ReplyDeleteI suspected that my vote was somewhat influenced by the video (and I think it was) but after listening to the full-length Bette Midler version WITHOUT images, I'll still stick by my original vote. (Aside from the funky rhythm guitar in the background, I also like the steel drum sounds - even if it's really a synthesizer.)
'BEHIND THE WOODSHED'
(To the tune of 'Under The Boardwalk')
Behind the woodshed
Out of earshot
Behind the woodshed
I'm afraid I got caught
Behind the woodshed
I was gettin' the belt
Behind the woodshed
I think you know how it felt
Behind the woodshed
Woodshed!
OK, here are URLs to the two Top 40 hits by DICKY DOO AND THE DON'TS :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvyfHVai0Qs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX8DsBpZJU4
You like 'PIRATES' better than Rickie Lee's SELF-TITLED DEBUT album?
Here I am yakking all about Rickie Lee Jones when I was one of the few who voted for Bette Midler in this BOTB, but...
I spent all last night and early this morning listening to her 'THE MAGAZINE' album on Spotify. (Do you have a Spotify account? You can listen on your computer while doing other things and it's free. Just sign up, and you have to listen to a 30-second advertisement every 4 or 5 songs, but... it's FREE! And they have a LOT of artists, music, and albums you can hear repeatedly... for FREE!)
Anyway, I had forgotten how damned good 'THE MAGAZINE' was. Not as good as the first two, but still it really grows on you. And it takes time to "get it" because some of the songs are musically structured like gauze: light, fragile, nearly see-through, with lots of tempo and mood shifts within each track. But still, with repeated listenings you will eventually catch the hooks and get a feel for the delicate structures of the songs.
My biggest problem with Rickie's music after 'PIRATES' was that the lyrics became so personalized for her that they became kind of opaque and there wasn't much room or space to fit my own experiences into the lyrics and relate to them. But it was still really good music and some of the words do resonate with me, and a lot of other listeners apparently (see the reviews at Amazon.scum).
'THE MAGAZINE' came out in 1984 and it was perhaps my most listened to album that year. I was living with The League Of Soul Crusaders at the Bay Street house and I remember my Ma and Sister came over to visit one day. My Ma asked, "What is that weird music you have playing?" And my Sister said, "Oh, he's listening to that same weird album every time I come over here!" It was 'THE MAGAZINE', of course.
One of the last tracks is mostly a spoken-word piece, and I remember how much I loved the way she said "Cakes are prizes at carnivals" in that "little girl" voice.
I liked 'THE MAGAZINE' a lot in '84 and wondered why I didn't buy another one of her albums again (until earlier this year when I bought 'BALM IN GILEAD'). Looking through her official website I found the answer: After 'THE MAGAZINE' she didn't release another album for five full years, and by then I was listening almost exclusively to Jazz, Blues, and some Country.
Right now I'm listening to her 2003 album 'THE EVENING OF MY BEST DAY' and - dang! - this one is appealing to me right off the bat.
FAE, check 'em out at Spotify when you can and let me know what YOU think. Especially 'THE MAGAZINE', 'cause it's not unlike 'Pirates' (less funky, but equally atmospheric) and I think you might like it given enough time.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Your version of 'Behind the Woodshed' would most definitely make TOP 40. Ha! I love it.
DeleteWhen I finish up with the replies here I'm going to head on over to Spotify and see if I can set up an account and listen to the RLJ albums you're yakking about here. At this moment I'm listening to Carl Wilson's 'Long Promised Road'. I cant believe you sent this to me before and I didn't 'get it'. Who knows what planet I was on at the time, but I hear and feel the 'Rocky' reference that you spoke of. This is one I could listen to over and over again. I also gave some time to "Let's Go Away for Awhile' and only wish it was longer. That was fantastic. I see that YouTube has the whole album, so I'm gonna click over to that and listen while I finish up the rest of my computer time this morning. From here on I think I'm going to refer to you as 'My Music Man'. THANKS. Between the Wilson brothers and Ms. RLJ I have my day pretty well outlined for me.
I'll let you know.
Honestly, I just didn't care for either version. I might be tempted to lean a little towards RLJ, but not enough to truly cast a vote.
ReplyDeleteOK, if that's the way you want it, I'll let you slide this time. Thanks for checking in and letting me know you stopped by.
DeleteMiddler. Her voice is kind of soothing in that one.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael. Apparently Bette is making a come back.
DeleteI'll vote with Middler, close I like the harmonies on RLJ's version. Sounds like an awesome trip!
ReplyDeleteGot you down as another vote for the Davine Miss M, glad tohear it was close.
DeleteYes, this trip was awesome.
Please make that 'Divine' - hello, earth to FAE.
DeleteBette Midler gets my vote! I like the soft, quiet sound of her cover best. It totally relaxed me. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Cathy. glad to hear that the Midler version left you totally relaxed. Music should do that.
DeleteGetting around to everyone a little late...
ReplyDeleteThis was a little hard. Bette Midler has a gorgeous voice, but Ricki Lee Jones' version featured some nice harmony (not sure with whom). In the end, Bette wins this round.
Hey John, late is better than never, and Bette chalks up another one.
DeleteI'm going to try to sneak my vote in before deadline. We'll see if I made it!
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, I am not a fan of Midler at all, and I mostly like Jones. However, both of them have a vocal characteristic that I am not thrilled with: the dreaded "slow vibrato." Since I usually like Jones, I figured I'd be voting that way.
But after hearing them both, I like Midler's clean, straight sing-thru of the melody as written to the vocal acrobats and duet version presented by Jones. If I made it in time, count this as a surprised vote for Bette.
Oh yes, you made it my french speaking friend. Apparently, you're not the only who surprised yourself with a vote for Bette. I'm sure she appreciates it, and so do I. I think your last minute vote and that of John Holton above makes this a little bit closer race.
DeleteTo any of you who have come around looking for my results post,; I'll be back later on today. I just got a call from my bank that my checking account is overdrawn, YIKES! I must run out the door with some cash to keep the O/D charges from mounting up while I figure out what happened there.
ReplyDeleteI'll be back a little later today with my vote and the final tally on this BOTB.