WELCOME TO ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF #BOTB!
I'm doing this last-minute and without much aforethought. (Absent-minded! 🫨)
Apologies for being late!
HISTORY
"Living in the Past" is a song by British progressive rock group Jethro Tull. It is one of the band's best-known songs, and it is notable for being written in the unusual 5-4 time signature.
After reaching number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, it was released in several other countries, but only promotionally in the United States in July 1969. It was not until October 1972 that it was commercially released in the US, as the lead single and title track of Living in the Past, a double compilation LP of the band's UK-only releases and outtakes recorded from 1968 to 1971. It became the band's first Top 20 hit in the US, peaking at #11.
[Reference only. NOT eligible for voting!]
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THE CONNELLS
The Connells are an American band from Raleigh, North Carolina, formed in 1984. They play a guitar-oriented, melodic, jangle-pop style of rock music with introspective lyrics that often reflect the history or culture of the American South.Though the band has released little content since 2001, they never officially broke up and continue to perform occasionally.
"Living In The Past" is the 4th track from there EP "New Boy", released in 1994.
VS
CUD
Cud are an English indie rock band formed in Leeds in 1987. The original line-up included vocalist Carl Puttnam, guitarist/keyboardist Mike Dunphy, bassist William Potter and drummer Steve Goodwin.
"Living in the Past" was recorded for a BBC radio show in 1988.
VOTE NOW!
Please state your preference in comments below and why you chose it.
Voting remains open until 11:59 pm, Nov. 7th, after which I will count the votes, add mine and publish the results.
These are the other BOTB regulars and semi-regulars. Please cruise on by their sites and, if they have a post up, vote on their selections as well: [Check back – there’s no set posting time]
As always,
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Next Battle on this site will be Dec. 1st.
ROCK ON!
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Wow! There are some outstanding visuals here today; including your header picture! My vote goes to the Carolina band, the Connells!
ReplyDeleteThanks, diedre! ☺ First vote goes to the Connells.
DeleteTull is one of my all time favorite rock groups. Both groups cover the song pretty good, but for me the Connells were far more listenable. Give my vote to them please.
ReplyDeleteLee
Mine too, Lee! Another vote for the Connells.
DeleteI definitely enjoyed Cud much better. I'll go with them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, John! A vote for CUD.
DeleteDEBBIE D. ~
ReplyDeleteI was never a fan of Jethro Tull, but this new-to-me song isn't bad. And I confess that I do live in the past quite a bit now. Why? Well, my past was pretty cool and semi-epic, while my future (in this world) has nut'n to get excited about. It's going to get a whole lot worse before it becomes Heavenly.
Between the two covers, I most definitely preferred The Connells. I'll be honest and admit that I found the Cud version to be somewhat annoying. Yeah, it was louder & harder rocking, which to my mind are often just synonyms for "annoying".
~ D-FensDogG
Congratulations, Stevie-Mac. You have for darn sure managed to surprise me no end. I am truly flabbergasted! No kidding, like, HOW could Living in the Past be a new song to you??? I get that you were 'never a fan of Jethro Tull,' but... I don't know, I cannot imagine any follower of pop/rock music being unaware of Living in the Past. Uh... maybe you are younger than I thought? ~Ed.
DeleteED ~
DeleteI was about to respond to your question by typing this: The only songs I know by Jethro Tull are those that got played on the radio, such as Aqualung, Locomotive Breath, Thick As A Brick, and Bungle In The Jungle -- all of which I hated, except for that last one.
But then I thought this: Maybe I should listen to the Jethro Tull original *before* I type anything in response. So, I played it. And - *GULP!* - yes, of course I know that song. It was a radio hit, but I haven't heard it in decades because I don't listen to the radio anymore.
The truth of the matter is that, initially, I only listened to the competitors, and The Connells version was so much more melodic than the Tull original that I didn't even recognize it. I was thinking: Wow! This is pretty melodic for a Jethro Tull song! (Yep! I like The Connells cover better than Tull's original.)
When BOTBers post an original, prior to posting the two cover versions in the Battle, I NEVER listen to the original. Because, I figure it's irrelevant to the competition. The Battle question is: Which of these two recordings do you prefer? Not, Which of these two covers do you think sounds the most like the original? So I've never thought there was any real purpose in listening to an original. Also, the originals often confuse overly hasty voters and wind up getting votes that don't count in the Battle. Those are the two reasons I do not post original recordings UNLESS they are part of the contest. If I did want to point voters to an ineligible recording for some reason, I would post it as a link to YouTube, rather than embedding the video on my page. That's just the way I've always done it.
~ D-FensDogG (age: 65)
Ah. That is pretty normal - to not 'recognize' a song by title/artist when one has not heard it but a few times decades ago. I get your reasoning about posting the original. I guess my take has been that, for me, as a 'inveterate researcher', I find it interesting to see/hear the original, not for comparison but just basic reference. Anyway, you are right, I have had folks vote for the 'reference' a few times. So, I understand the potential confusion factor, EXCEPT that I do my best to make it VERY CLEAR that the reference is just that - reference. And folks don't have to listen to it. How could I possibly control whether they listen or not? So, now I's got to decide: Do I continue to post the original for reference or just mention it in passing (perhaps with a link)? I mean, anyone who is interested enough can go search for it on YouTube, anyhoo. Thank you, Debbie, for hosting this erudite conversation. ~Ed.
DeleteOh, by the way, I am not too impressed by covers that sound exactly or too much like the original. What's the point of covering it if you are just going to sound like the original? Now, 'tribute bands' - their whole point is to sound meticulously like the original.
DeleteI concur 100% about covers too closely "emulating" the original. What's the point of covering the song if the musical artist isn't going to try to "make it their own" in some way by bringing some new & different quality to it? BOTB has been a thing for over 11 years now, and there have been MANY times when I have deducted a point or two from an artist for straight out "copying" an original hit song. Also, there have been times when, to my great surprise, I've found that I liked a cover version even better than the original big hit song, after the artist has "made it their own". In fact, this very Battle is an example of that, since I like The Connells' version better than the Jethro Tull hit.
Delete~ D' Grey DogG
Interesting exchange here, Stephen and Ed! ☺ I also post the original for reference purposes and make it VERY clear that it's not part of the contest. It rarely happens that somebody votes for it and if they do, I politely ask them to change their vote. So, bottom line, Stephen votes for the Connells. Thanks! I have heard covers I like better than the originals too (but not this one. Unlike you, I love Jethro Tull).
DeleteVOTE = THE CONNELLS
ReplyDeleteCud is a bit too heavy - on this track, for my taste; especially compared to The Connells. Also, Cud's tempo was a shade too fast. The Connells instrumentation is excellent, and the lead vocal was spot on. ~Ed.
Thank you for that detailed explanation, Ed and for your vote! The Connells are way ahead now.
DeleteI never thought I'd say this on your blog but I didn't like either of these. They were like bands you find in a basic bat. I had to listen to the original to restore my hearing...I know..ouch. all that said the lesser of the 2 evils is Cud even though they sound like they just took some speed. Lol..
ReplyDeleteThat is a first, Birgit! ☺ Oh well, hopefully the next one will be better. I threw this one together last-minute. A lesser-of-two-evils vote for CUD.
DeleteThe Connells has a pleasant, easy on the ears sound and the Cud's seemed noisy and a bit unpleasant. I'm casting my vote for THE CONNELLS. Have a bandtastic week, Debbie!
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for the Connells. Thank you, Cathy! ☺
Delete