Mid-March Battle of the Bands #BOTB


Time for the Mid-Month Battle of the Bands!

As promised, I’m taking us back to my favorite time period for music - the 70s.  I swear I could listen to music from that era all day long and never grow tired of it.


For today’s lineup - I’ve got two really good artists. One of which, co-wrote the song. Yes, I’m taking a big leap of faith by including the original artist as one of the contestants.  I beg of you, PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS MINOR DETAIL SWAY YOUR VOTE!

The song for this battle is “The Show Must Go On”

The song uses a circus theme as a metaphor for dealing with the difficulties and wrong choices of life. I had actually considered using this song for the April Fool’s Battle, but I have something else in mind for that battle (I really hope you consider returning and voting in that battle as well as it’s gonna be a good one!)

The song was co-written by Leo Sayer and David Courtney. David Courtney is known for his work as a songwriter and producer. He has worked with many well known artists such as Roger Daltrey, Gene Pitney, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Jimmy Page. Courtney was responsible for introducing the first Walk of Fame cultural attraction in the UK.

Contender #1 - Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer released this song in 1973. It was Sayer's first hit record (reaching its chart peak of #2 in early 1974 in the UK). The song reached #3 on the Irish Singles Chart in January 1974, and was included on Sayer's debut album Silverbird.



Contender #2 - Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night released their cover of this song in 1974. It became a hit in the US, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The record reached #1 on the Cashbox pop chart, #2 on the Canadian RPM Magazine charts, and became their seventh and final Gold Record.  Three Dog Night changed the last line in the chorus from "I won't let the show go on" to "I must let the show go on". Reportedly, Leo Sayer was not happy about this change.



Now I’m asking you to do me a HUGE Favor. Please listen to both contenders and then vote for either Leo Sayer or Three Dog Night in the comments below.  I’ll keep the voting open until Sunday, March 25 with results posted on Monday, March 26. 

There are no right or wrong votes, only those who do not cast a vote are the wrong votes.  You do not need to be familiar with the artist or the song to have an opinion on which version you prefer. 


I’d like to encourage you to visit the other bloggers participating in the battle of the bands as well. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into putting together these battles and they are a lot of fun. Each blogger has a different battle taking place. You can find a current list on Stephen’s blog (you can also request to join the battle of the bands blog hop on his blog).







Comments

  1. This is a song that I haven't heard in a long time. I can't recall ever having heard the Leo Sayer version, but there was a lot I really liked about it as well as things that annoyed me. It was very good though. But in the end I still have to stay with the 3 Dog Night version since it's the one I've known and it's slicker sounding with more continuity in the arrangement.

    A vote for Three Dog Night.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Thanks, Lee!

      First vote of the battle. You are ON it!

      ~Mary

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  2. Hi MARY. interesting songs. Thank you for posting them. I don't really like music that much so I couldn't say which one is better but it was nice to listening them.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'

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    1. Is that right?!?

      Listen up, you talentless hack! I don't know what you've done with the REAL guy who poses as Stephen T McCarthy, but you had better untie him and let him cast his vote - Or I'll be setting this place a-fire real quick-like!

      Don't you dare be calling yourself a blogger and not be able to form a simple opinion!

      ~M

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    2. MMQE ~
      Opinions-R-Us!

      I'm glad to find you weren't fooled by that doppelganger with the bad grammar pretending to be me! I managed to get untied and get away. So, this is the REAL fake me now!

      I know this will sound peculiar coming from someone who genuinely likes Tiny Tim, but I've always found Leo Sayer's music to be kind of weird. The guy has GOT TO BE a strange duck in real life.

      I don't know much about Sayer other than his 3 big hits from the '70s. I've always thought 'When I Need You' was a bland ballad. 'You Make Me Feel Like Dancing' was too Discofied for my tastes. And then there's [Link> 'Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)', which is so bizarre that I literally have never been able to figure out if I hate it or like it. I think it's a bit of both. That song is almost like the proverbial "Car Wreck On The Highway", that you can't look away from even though there's a part of you that really doesn't want to see it. (Only in this case it's "...a part of you that really doesn't want to HEAR it".)

      All 3 of those big '70s hits seem so completely different that I think Leo Sayer may have a Multiple Personality Disorder. [;o)

      Like Lee, I don't remember ever hearing Sayer's original of this song. And considering that 3 DOG NIGHT's cover actually went all the way to #4 in '74, I find it surprising that it only sounds vaguely familiar to me. #4 in '74 is something I'd expect to be totally familiar with. Odd.

      Well, in this Battle, I'm giving my vote to 3 DOG NIGHT. I have always liked them (I even have a recording of theirs on my 'To BOTB Someday' list), and I didn't care much for Sayer's voice.

      That's it. That's my rulin'.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'

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    3. Whew! You have renewed my faith in the power of prayer. I prayed to the blogging gods that you would be released without too much torture involved. (Save the waterboarding for me!)

      Ahhh, Tiny Tim. I seriously considered using him in my upcoming April 1 battle. You'll have to be patient to see if he actually gets used. Speaking of odd ducks - what was up with that video you posted for Long Tall Glasses? It was as if his left foot was nailed to the floor!

      I think part of the charm of the early 70s is that everyone was trying so hard to be unique and different, that some came across as a bunch of weirdos. Perhaps that is why I relate to them so well.

      'Nuther vote for the Dogs - I may need to hit up some groups to help save ol' Leo from a shutout :)

      ~MMQE

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  3. Mary,

    Your and Stephens' dialogue made me smile. Y'all really have a marvey chemistry. :) I hate to sound like a broken record but I don't remember Leo Sayer doing this song and the dude co-wrote it. I haven't heard anything by Sayer in forever, so this was definitely fun and like my mewsical co-horts in crime I liked his version in but not well enough to give my vote to. That means another tally for 3 DOG NIGHT. Great battle. WAIT! You and Stephen mentioned Tiny Tim. Did he cover this song?

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    1. >>...You and Stephen mentioned Tiny Tim. Did he cover this song?

      Hi Cathy!

      In all of my searches for this song and Tiny Tim, I came up empty handed - but for all I know he may have covered the song, but no footage was ever recorded of it.

      Glad that Stephen and I could make your day brighter. Comments should always bring smiles to faces. I know I usually get a kick out of the comments on his page.

      ~Mary

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  4. I couldn't even finish listening to the Leo Sayer version. My vote goes to the awesome Three Dog Night!

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    1. LOL Thanks!

      Appreciate you stopping by to cast your vote :)

      ~Mary

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  5. While Three Dog Night's cover of the song is excellent and I typically prefer them over just about anyone, I have to admit that Leo's original sounds better to me here. Maybe I just remember him singing it while dressed as Pierrot, which I thought added the appropriate dose of patheticness to it, or maybe I'm rebelling against my better judgment , but I'm going with Leo Sayer here.

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    1. Thanks, John!

      You just saved poor ol' Leo from a shutout :) All is well again in the blogging world.

      ~Mary

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  6. I was just a little child when this song hit the charts, so I had to familiarize myself and listened to both versions. I would vote for Three Dog Night. People always say that nothing beats the original, but I would say, maybe I would agree, but not with this song.

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    1. Every once in a while there is a good contender to go up against an original artist. Usually not, but that's why I chose these two to compete.

      ~Mary

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  7. I love when you do these because I rarely listen to music so I always learn about new bands! I honestly enjoyed them both very much but I would say Leo Sayer was just a little bit more appealing to me. Can't wait to find out the winner!!

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    1. Thanks! I enjoy the battles as well. It's so interesting to see/listen to the covers and the various artists take on the original song.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      ~Mary

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  8. Oh I love these! I do love Leo Sayer, he's an absolute classic isn't he? I'm all about a bit of Leo!

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    1. It's true, Leo is a classic - but then, so is Three Dog Night. I'm so glad that you enjoy the battles. I'll post results on the 26th.

      ~Mary

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  9. Going have to go Leo Sayer! he's a classic!

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  10. Hmmmm this one is a difficult one and they sound the same to me. I cannot seem to but I think I like the second better!

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  11. Both seem a little too...busy is the only word that comes to mind, but in general I like Three Dog Night better so I'll go with them

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    1. Ha Ha! 'Not my circus, Not my Monkeys' comes to mind, doesn't it?

      Thanks for the vote!

      ~Mary

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  12. Leo Sayer was a favorite of mine, back in the day. In fact, my grumpy old Dad heard me and a friend do a duet of "When I Need You" and comically made us do it over and over...and over...and over... When Dad passed away and we were deciding on music, I said "we could always play 'When I Need You' in the background, Dad loved that one" and my mother burst into tears and said that Dad would sit straight up at the first few notes.

    So, now I don't feel bad at saying I never liked THIS Leo Sayer song. :-)

    But Three Dog Night's version - love it. A VOTE FOR THREE DOG NIGHT!

    Love this battle!

    Hugs,
    Cherdo

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    1. Thanks, Cherdo!

      It's funny the songs that come to mind when our parents pass. When my mom passed, my brothers and I joked about all of the inappropriate funeral songs we could use. We laughed at the thought of Adele's "Hello (from the other side)" playing.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      ~Mary

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  13. How freaking cool is this post?!!! Loved it! Enjoyed it so much. I would have to vote for Leo Sayer, basically because I have heard of him but also 1973 was the year I was born but it is a good song too. X

    Style & Life by Susana

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    1. Hi Susana!

      Thank you so much for the vote! If you really enjoyed this, then I encourage you to come back on the the 1st and 15th of each month, as there will be new battles then. Be sure to check out the other participants as well :)

      ~Mary

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  14. I remember this song vaguely-not a big fan of it then or now! But having listened to both of them I have to say I definitely prefer Three Dog Night's version.

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    1. Thanks, Miki!

      appreciate you stopping by to cast your vote

      ~Mary

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  15. Both are great musicians and it's very difficult to choose a winner. Since I am also Leo, I just have to support another Leo. Leo Sayer is my winner.

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    1. A vote from Leo for Leo... sounds good to me!

      Thanks for stopping by!

      ~Mary

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  16. Hi Mary,
    I haven't heard that song in ages! I would so like it if it didn't have that circus music at the beginning and the end. I don't know why but circus music always creeps me out. I guess it's clown association or something. But I like the body of the song so I just cringe until the circus music ends...
    I never heard Leo Sayer's version. I haven't heard a Leo Sayer song in ages either! I've long been a Three Dog Night fan and it holds true here: my vote goes to those 3 Dogs...

    Have a good week. I'll be over sometime in the next few days to catch your 4M post...

    Michele at Angels Bark

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    1. Hey Michele

      Guess you're trying to say this is not your circus, not your monkeys? (Although the Monkees didn't do this song... wouldn't that have been hilarious!) Don't mind me, running on fumes as I just can't seem to sleep at night lately. I woulda slept in this morning, but my brother from New York stopped in to take me to lunch today. Perhaps I should raid cute man's stash of soda to kick start my brain. Now if only I had some Jack to add to it...

      Hope your week is good! I'll be around eventually. Just too tired to think straight at the moment.

      ~Mary

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  17. It's a difficult choice. My uncle was a big fan of Leo Sayer and I remember growing up listening to the songs alongside him. I do like Three Dogs Night better!

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