100% Purely Self-Indulgent Battle of the Bands


Today is all about Self-Indulgence! That’s Right. I’m being completely selfish today, and I am going to make you participate (okay… *make you* may be a bit of a stretch because I can’t afford Vinny’s prices to find you and do bodily harm if you don’t, so, how about I just say that I’d really, really, really like for you to join in the fun?)  It’s time for the next installment of Battle of The Bands, and I’m making it all about ME! (well, sort of.. Read on, you’ll see what I mean!)


The Song:  Mary, Mary

Wikipedia tells us: "Mary, Mary" is a song written by Michael Nesmith. It was first recorded by The Butterfield Blues Band for their 1966 album, East-West. The Monkees, featuring Nesmith, would later record the song themselves. The rap group, Run–D.M.C., revived the song in the late 1980s with a cover version that hit the R&B and pop charts in the United States.

Today, I’m putting all three of these artists up against each other.


Contender # 1 The Butterfield Blues Band

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was the first group to record and release the song commercially, featured as a track on their 1966 album East-West. In addition to Butterfield, musicians to play on the track include Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop. No songwriter credit is listed for "Mary, Mary" on East-West.





Contender #2 The Monkees

On July 25, 1966, Nesmith produced and recorded the song for The Monkees at Western Recorders in Hollywood, California. Micky Dolenz sang lead, and Mike used the crack group of session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew to beef up their sound, including; James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon, Michael Deasy and Larry Knechtel. Their version was released on the album More of the Monkees in 1967 and became a number five hit in Australia in 1968.

"Mary, Mary" was featured in five episodes of the television series, The Monkees, in 1966 and 1967.




Contender #3 Run DMC

Run D.M.C. covered "Mary, Mary" in a rap rock version, and it was released as a single from their fourth album, Tougher Than Leather, in 1988. It was released by Profile Records and produced by the group along with Rick Rubin. It was their most successful single from the album, being the only one to make it to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 75, and peaking at number 29 on the Hot Black Singles chart.

Run-D.M.C. changed the line "Mary, Mary, where ya' goin' to" to "Mary, Mary, why ya' buggin'". Although Run-D.M.C. replaced Michael Nesmith's original lyrics with a new set of lyrics of their own, Nesmith was the only writer credited on Run-D.M.C.'s single. Run-D.M.C.'s version samples Micky Dolenz singing the title from the Monkees' recording.




Please indulge me with a vote for your favorite version in the comments.  Voting will end on July 19, 2017 at 6pm EST with results being posts on July 20.

I’d like to encourage you to visit the other bloggers participating in the battle of the bands as well. You can find a current list HERE, or on Stephen’s blog (you can also request to join the battle of the bands blog hop on his blog). 






Comments

  1. Oh, hands down I prefer The Butterfield Blues Band version. Good stuff. Happy Blogging!

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    1. Thanks, Darla!

      Gotcha down for one vote for The Butterfield Blues Band.

      ~Mary

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  2. Much prefer Buttefield Blues Band's version. And I much prefer the Monkees version over Run DMC's.

    Thanks,
    Darren

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  3. For me I'm more into Blues, but this one not so sure. I'm so NOT into hip hop at least not this one, and I don't really like the Monkeys, so I'm kinda stuck between a rock & a hard place, but I'll vote for the Monkeys! Have a great day! BIG HUGS

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    1. Thanks, Marie!

      Sometimes it's a difficult choice, I know. But I appreciate you stopping by to cast your vote!

      ~Mary

      Delete
  4. I liked the Run DMC more than I expected to--it was compelling to me. Monkees were excellent, but there was a lot more complexity in the PBBBand so I liked that best.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Thanks, Lee!

      I have you down for the Buttersfield Blues Band. Thanks for stopping by to indulge me.

      ~Mary

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  5. Mary, Mary! I grew up lovin' The Monkees, so naturally I'm familiar with their cover. I went through all three versions. Run DMC got kicked out of the rink instantly. I did not care for their take at all. I went back for a second listen to The Butterfields Blues Band. I agree with Lee's assessment of the blues version but I'm not sure if I like more than The Monkees. Think. Think. Think. What am going to do? Honestly, I like both. They are so different and I think mood is a factor in deciding my pick but to be fair, I'm actually going to toss on coin to see which gets my vote. Heads - The BBB. Tails - The Monkees. The winner is....HEADS - The Butterfield Blues Band!!!

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    1. Ha ha! Sometimes that's how I place my votes as well some days. Poor Run DMC isn't fairing so well, but it's still a bit early. Thanks for dropping by!

      ~Mary

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  6. It's tough to choose one. All of them bring something different to such a great song. I've always liked hearing different versions of the same song by other artists. If I had to choose I'd probably choose The Monkees :)

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    1. Thanks, Jacqueline!

      I've got you down for The Monkees! Thanks for playing along.

      ~Mary

      Delete
  7. >>... "It’s time for the next installment of Battle of The Bands..."

    I dispute that. When did July 12th become July 15th? But ain't you the eager one, MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY? Ha! [;^)}

    OK, I'll play early... I've now listened to Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary, and here's my opinions, opinions, opinions:

    I really liked the drumming on the Run DMC version, and... that's all I can say for that one. 'Bye-'Bye.

    I loved the Monkees as a kid. Had their first album and never missed an episode. Davy was my favorite. Peter was my Brother's favorite. Everyone knows that Davy was the best. (My Brother's always been a bit slow in the head.)

    But in this Battle, it's really no contest for me. I vote for the PEANUT BUTTERFIELD AND JELLY BLUES BAND. I liked the richness of their sound and all the little musical touches they added. The only thing it was missing was a cold glass of milk.

    Cool Battle, MARY, MARY. I enjoyed the variety of approaches to the same song. Well played!

    Guess I better start putting my Battle together now.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    [Link:) STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'

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    1. Well, Mr Stephen....

      Technically, the post went live late in the evening on the 12th. I wanted to get to bed, and still give it a good push on my social media. Plus, I was super excited about this one.

      AND... given the fact that I only post on Mondays and Thursdays - the 15th falls on Saturday. I have no idea if I have to work on the 15th (still don't know yet) so I wouldn't be able to give the post the attention that it deserves.

      AND... we've discussed this before. For some reason my posts that happen on the weekend just don't get the traffic. And this post deserves traffic, dammit!

      oh, and I think you and your brother are both wrong. Micky was the one that we all tuned in to watch. At least that's how it was for me :p

      Thanks for sparing a moment to come play along this month! I've got your vote counted.

      Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for your battle.

      ~Mary

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    2. You're right about the lack of blog traffic on weekends, Mary, which is why I also posted early. Many bloggers take that time off. And yes, this is an excellent battle which deserves major attention!

      Delete
    3. Thanks for backing me up on this, Debbie!

      Delete
    4. MMQE ~
      I'm an easy dog to hunt with. And don't get me wrong! I fully appreciate rule-breakers. Hell, I am the BIGGEST rule-breaker I personally know... who isn't in prison.

      But that may change soon, as I'm thinking about driving to Mexico tonight for the Tequila Festival. If I don't post a BOTB installment tomorrow, you'll know why.

      ~ Stephen
      [Link:) STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'

      POSTSCRIPT: Micky was my second favorite. But everyone (other than you and my Brother) knows that Davy was #1. Just ask Cherdo -- who, by the way, is back in BOTB beginning tomorrow. Ask her who she was bananas for and see if she don't say, "Davy".

      POST-POSTSCRIPT: Why weren't Davy or Micky spelled with "e"s? (Davey / Mickey.) Is it because they donated their "e"s to the MonkEEs? Inquiring minds want to know!

      Delete
    5. Oh Stephen...

      You know the main purpose of having rules is to break them :) I do like to color outside of the lines every once in a while.

      If you make it to Mejico tonight, be sure to tell my buddy Jose' 'Hola from Maria' and tell him I want my clothes back! I swear every time I see him, I end up with fewer clothes than when I got there.

      LMAO at 'donating their e's to the MonkEEs'
      You can have Davy. I'm keeping Micky :)

      Looks like I'm working tomorrow, but if I have a quiet moment between customers, I may sneak over and check out your battle. Otherwise I'll catch you after working hours.

      ~M

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    6. Micky Dolenz was my guy. I also really dug Michael Nesmith's wool hat! Davy was okay... although I do have to say, I shed a tear when he passed. Do you remember when he came to Marcia's rescue on the Brady Bunch and performed at her school's dance?? :) He was such a good guy!

      Delete
    7. Cherdo shed some light on Micky, and now I'm not sure how I feel about him. Why can't people be as we pictured them to be in our heads? The world would be a better place in my opinion!

      Delete
  8. This was a revelation! I had no idea anyone other than The Monkees recorded this song. Run DMC can run away - not my taste at all. The PBB Band was excellent, but the nostalgia factor is pulling at me (huge Monkees fan as a pre-teen). Tough decision! Based solely on which one I would listen to more, my vote goes to The Monkees. Memories win out. ☺

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    1. I knew that Run DMC had done a version but I didn't know for sure who the original artists were. I was working on my post for this upcoming Monday, when I had this brilliant idea to use this song for the battle. I had a fun time writing it.

      Thanks for the vote for the Monkees!

      ~Mary

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  9. I think they all tried for a decent rendition ;) Thanks for sharing your thoughts though!

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    1. I think the Peanut Butterfield And Jelly Blues Band and Run DMC were trying for decent renditions. But The Monkees deliberately attempted to foul it up. Unfortunately for them, however, they accidentally wound up with a good rendition. That tended to happen when people hired The Wrecking Crew to play for them. Ironically, The Wrecking Crew had a difficult time wrecking recordings. They tried though. Gotta give 'em an "A" for effort.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      [Link:) STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'

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    2. Stephen...

      SMH... I had to read this a few times to see the irony of word play here. I must be getting old.

      ~M

      Delete
  10. Mary! I'm back, girl! Vote on my battle, sister. :-)

    Although I love all these versions for a variety of reasons, I'm a loyal Monkee follower from waaaay back. Paying no mind to musicianship, Cherdo buys into the fantasy of television fully and pretends the Monkees were fantastic, unappreciated musicians struggling to make their way in the industry while living in poverty in an awfully large California rental (in light of their lack o' funds).

    And YES, Davy rules. It's been a journey...started liking Peter...didn't like politics...liked Davy...appreciated Mike the businessman in the 70s and 80s (MTV owes him a lot)...back to Davy...met all of them at one time or another. Solid Davy. Mickey was a jerk, in my humble and still bitter opinion.

    Ciao!
    Cherdo

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    1. Welcome back, Cherdo!

      Looking forward to checking out your battle. (will be there soon, am working today, so when I have a quiet moment between customers, I'll come check you out)

      I do love The Monkees from their days of television, and I do appreciate your input regarding Micky. I always thought of him as the goofy one, and that's what attracted me to him. But, if you've met him in person and you say he's a jerk - I believe you and it does change the way I look at him. I had a similar experience when I was younger. I used to have a crush on Erik Estrada from CHiPS. When I was in my 20s, I worked as a housekeeper at a resort and Erik and his then wife stayed in one of the rooms assigned to me. They were like PIGS! Clothes and luggage and whatever scattered through the entire room. What made me the most mad was when they put their dirty ski boots on the brand new comforter! It also didn't help that he continually walked the halls on the 3rd floor of the hotel asking where the dining room was on the 2nd floor. Such arrogance. (Oh dear, look at me - I've ranted)

      I do appreciate you taking the time to stop by to weigh in with your vote! See you soon (on your battle post)

      ~Mary

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  11. Hey Mary.
    Well we both have songs named after us! I love it! Did people always sing Mary, Mary to you when you were younger, like they did to me with the Beatles' Michelle?
    I thought it was cool that Run DMC paid homage to Micky by using his vocals in the "Mary Mary" lyric lines. But the song overall did nothing for me.
    The Paul Butterfield Blues Band version was very good. I liked it. But it just didn't come close to the Monkees version, in my opinion. I may be biased: I"m a Monkees fan from way back. Listened to their album constantly, never missed an episode on TV. So my heart pulled me over to the Monkees version so they get my vote.

    Fun battle!

    Michele at Angels Bark

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    1. Thanks, Michele!

      No, not many people sang Mary, Mary at me. They mostly sang Mary Had a Little Lamb, which was almost laughable because it was my older sister that had the lamb the followed her to school one day. My dad was always making up new rhymes for MHALL - one was Mary had a little lamb, his fleece was black as soot. Everywhere that lamb would go, his sooty foot he put. I think that one was my favorite.

      Gotcha down for The Monkees. Thanks for the vote!

      ~Mary

      Delete
  12. I have to admit that I liked the rap group better than I thought I would but they are third on my list. I love the Monkees and their version is great. People forget how popular they were as a band not just the fun tv show. I give it all to the Butterfield Band. I love the bluesfeeling with the guitar so they get my pick for sure

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    1. Thanks, Birgit!

      This has been quite the interesting battle. I'll be posting the results tomorrow. Sure do appreciate you stopping by!

      ~Mary

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  13. Hands down the Butterfield Blues Band's version! I must say you are lucky to have three songs starting with your name to indulge in! Have fun listening and waiting to see which song wins the popular choice.

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