#BattleOfTheBands: Battle of the Blue Skies



Today I’m departing a little bit from my ‘norm’.  Instead of two covers battling it out today, I’ve got two songs with similar names.  Both songs are favorites of mine, so please don’t make me break a tie in the votes. I’m not sure I’d be able to do it.



Here is how a battle works:

Step One - Listen to each of the contenders. TRY not to be persuaded by the videos

Step Two - Pick  the contender that you prefer the most (not just the one with the name you are familiar with)

Step Three - Comment  with your selection. The comment section has been set up so that anyone can leave a comment. I do ask that you please include your name, should you use the anonymous feature.

Step Four - Visit Stephen’s blog to check out his battle and for a list of other bloggers that have battles going on. We each have different battles, so please be sure to visit everyone. I'll provide a link below the videos to Stephen's blog for your convenience.


Now that we’ve got the formalities out of the way, let’s get to it!


Contender #1 -  Blue Sky by Allman Brothers
"Blue Sky" is a song by the American rock band the Allman Brothers Band from their third studio album, Eat a Peach (1972), released on Capricorn Records. The song was written and sung by guitarist Dickey Betts, who penned it about his girlfriend (and later wife), Sandy "Bluesky" Wabegijig. The track is also notable as one of guitarist Duane Allman's final recorded performances with the group. The band's two guitarists, Duane Allman and Betts, alternate playing the song's lead: Allman's solo beginning 1:07 in, Betts joining in a shared melody line at 2:28, followed by Betts's solo at 2:37. The song is notably more country-inspired than many songs in the band's catalogue.





Contender #2 - Mr Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra
"Mr. Blue Sky" is a song by British rock group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), featured on the band's seventh studio album Out of the Blue (1977). Written and produced by frontman Jeff Lynne, the song forms the fourth and final track of the "Concerto for a Rainy Day" suite, on side three of the original double album. "Mr. Blue Sky" was the second single to be taken from Out of the Blue, peaking at number 6 in the UK Singles Chart and number 35 in the US Billboard Charts.





Now, to repeat myself again:

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH AN ARTIST OR A SONG TO KNOW WHICH ONE YOU PREFER. You only need to listen to the videos and choose which one sounds better to you.  There are no right or wrong votes, unless you vote for someone not listed as a contender or don’t vote at all.


Interested in joining in the fun? - The battles take place twice a month. Once on the 1st, and again on the 15th. Some participants have chosen to participate only once a month - and that’s okay - we’re just happy to have you join us! Your battle can consist of covers of the same song, different songs with the same title, or even a themed type battle. We just want you to join in the fun!  Catch the link to Stephen’s blog to join in - all you need to do is drop him a comment on his blog stating you’d like to participate and he’ll add you to the roster of participants.

I’d like to encourage you to visit the other bloggers participating in the battle of the bands blog hop as well.  We’ve all 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 of participants on Stephen’s blog (don't forget you can also request to join the battle of the bands blog hop by simply commenting on his blog that you'd like to join us). 


Alright now… Cast your votes for Allman Brothers or ELO!
Voting will end on Wednesday, August 7 with results being posted on Thursday, August 8. 

What are you doing in October?  Now is the time to start thinking about joining in #RocktoberMusicFest hosted by yours truly!  Watch this page for more information coming soon!
 







Comments

  1. The ELO song is new to me--or at least I don't remember it. Not up to some of their other stuff in my opinion, but maybe I need to listen to it more. The Allman Bros tune on the other hand is a big part of my musical and life history. I've listened to that album so many times that it's like a soundtrack for the period of my life in the 70's when that album came out. Great stuff that I still like.

    Hands down it's the Allmans for me.

    Lee

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  2. Mary,


    Unfortunately, the weatherman isn't calling for blue skies for us. In fact it looks like we have a high percentage for thunderstorms today and tomorrow. *smack forehead* But that's what happens this time of year.

    The Allman Brother's 'Blue Sky' is an introduction or maybe I don't remember it. When I think of blue skies, the first song to register my memory bank is 'Mr. Blue Sky'. It's easy to go with what you know but honestly it is ELO's cheery tune that plays automatically inside my head on a pretty day and always fills me with happiness when I hear the song play, so give my vote to ELO 'Mr Blue Sky' in this battle showdown.

    I began yesterday with my Rocktober Mewsic Festival songs, so you can count me in Sista for the party!! Have a good day and I'll see ya on the dance floor Sunday/Monday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Cathy!

      Looking forward to you rockin out with me in October. I still need to put together the announcement post for this year, but wanted people to start planning for it.

      Delete
  3. I love ELO and I love that song so that is my pick for sure. The Allman Bros song is a bit too country for me.

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  4. MMQE ~

    It's phunny that when you told me in your recent Email that you would be "taking a sidestep from 'my' typical battle" in this round, I automatically imagined something far more radical than *this*. But, that doesn't matter. It is what it is (as all the greatest philosophers say in this modern age).

    Lee's comment really surprised me! I don't know where Lee was living in 1977, but I can say that in Los Angeles, that song by ELO was played absolutely to death! I got so sick of hearing it on the radio.

    I'm shocked to learn from your background info that 'MR. BLUE SKY' only reached as high as #35 in Billboard, because judging by how often I heard it, I would have bet a pretty penny that it was a Top 10 hit, if not even Top 5. It didn't quite reach the level of "overplay" as The Doobie Brothers' 'Black Water' or The Eagles' 'Hotel California', but it wasn't too far behind them.

    I'm not sure why, but when it comes to music that kind of combines Country & Rock, I prefer the more authentically Country-leaning artists, such as Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. I'm not nearly as drawn to the more "Rock-Country" style of groups like The Allman Brothers, The Outlaws, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc. I guess The Eagles are the only Rock-Country exception I can think of. I do like a good amount of their stuffs (although I don't want to hear 'Hotel California' ever again!)

    The Allman Brothers song was very competently played, but (despite the airwaves saturation of it in the late '70s) I guess I'll vote for those Beatles impersonators, ELO.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

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    Replies
    1. >>... I guess I'll vote for those Beatles impersonators, ELO.

      Funny you should say that! After I had put together this post, I was working on my post for Monday when I stumbled across a tribute to those Beatles - a song performed by Jeff Lynne and Dave Grohl.

      I didn't get the overplay at my house, because my mother insisted that we listen to her station only - and only for about an hour and a half for a talk radio show. My mother did not like music that was current or popular at the time and she did not want our precious ears to be exposed to such nonsense. (I still listened, just not when she was around to hear) Despite all of this, I still love my Mother.

      ~MMQE

      Delete
    2. >>... Despite all of this, I still love my Mother.

      If you wish, I can hate her for you. You know, like a kind of "surrogate hater"? Heck, it's no skin off my nose to add her to my already lengthy list of 'Hated Peoples'!
      ;^)

      ~ D-FensDogG
      STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

      Delete
    3. >>...If you wish, I can hate her for you. You know, like a kind of "surrogate hater"?

      Naw, I'm good bro. There's too much hate in this world. What's that motto/slogan for the 60s and 70s? Make love, not war :)

      Delete
  5. Voting for ELO's Mr. Blue Sky. We just saw them a few months ago and they were terrific. Did this song too!

    Janet’s Smiles

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeff Lynne is very talented! I would have loved to have seen that show.

      Thanks for stopping in with your vote!

      Delete
  6. As I'm writing this, it's thundering and getting ready to rain, so we could use some blue skies here.

    "Blue Skies" is a great tune, and thanks for explaining who's playing what solo. Great song, yes, but not what I needed today. ELO is what I needed: the song is crazy enough to make me happy. I give ELO my vote!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey John!

      Hope you're getting your blue skies soon. It's been so dang hot here, even with the afternoon/evening thunderstorms, it's just muggy. Blehhh!

      Delete
  7. Mary:

    Cathy and I live in the same town, so let me roll my eyes at our latest weather alert. It's sure to wake us up tonight, just when we are in the perfect snooze mode.

    AllmaNs vs. ELO? I'm definitely an ELO girl. Give 'em my precious vote.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Cherdo!

      I didn't know you guys lived in the same town. That's pretty darn cool. Speaking of cool...I'd love some cooling rain about now.

      ~Mary

      Delete
  8. The ELO song is one I've heard a lot but never put it together as an ELO song, the Allman Brothers song is in my wheelhouse and gets my vote.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mike!

      You've kept the Allman Brothers from a shut out.

      Delete

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