Thursday, January 15, 2015

January Battle # 2 ~ Deep River Woman

Hello! and welcome to the "Battle of the Bands."  BOTB is a music blogging event, first introduced by our friends, and Battle Hosts at:


Far Away Series

StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands


There are "two battles" per month, on the 1st and 15th.  Six days later - on the 7th and the 21st - I'll return, total all the votes, add my own vote, and announce the winner! Be sure to return and see who won.

 Here's what you do: 1) Listen to the songs I've posted below...  2) In the comment box, VOTE for the one you like the best... 3) Tell me why you liked it, or whatever else you'd like to say about the songs.

 Here's the "background noise" on today's choice. The same song in two different versions, with one thing in common ~ the songwriter, Lionel Richie, sings in both versions.

 "Deep River Woman" is a single written by American artist Lionel Richie and recorded by Richie with American country music group Alabama. It was released in 1987 as the fourth single from Richie's album Dancing on the Ceiling. Richie hails from Tuskegee, Alabama.

 Alabama is an American country, southern rock and bluegrass band formed in Fort Payne, Alabama in 1969. The band includes Randy Owen, cousins Teddy Gentry, Jeff Cook, and Mark Herndon.

















 Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its inception: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet, with all four members alternating as lead singers. All of them hail from Hometown, Alabama.
Let the challenge begin...









THE ORIGINAL ~ LIONEL with ALABAMA ~
Lionel Richie ft Alabama - Deep River Woman (The Millennium Collection)


THE CHALLENGERS ~ LIONEL with LITTLE BIG TOWN
Lionel Richie ft Little Big Town- Deep River Woman (Tuskegee Album)



Listen as many times as you need to, to decide which one you like the best, then vote...

To see more "battle action," visit the blog list in the right side margin. Vote for your favorite on every blog. If you would to like to JOIN this music blog hop, please visit: "Stephen T. McCarthy Presents Battle of the Bands," and leave him a comment, and your blog address. As he says, "the more the merrier." Thank you!
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28 comments:

  1. Kim @ This Belle RocksJanuary 15, 2015 at 2:38 AM

    Oh, my word I love this song! I'm voting for the Lionel/Alabama original. I much preferred the deeper vocals and harmonizing on the original to the almost boy band-sounding Little Big Town version. I also felt like I could hear more country elements instrumentally in Alabama's version.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Arlee BirdJanuary 15, 2015 at 6:24 AM

    I think Richie's an excellent songwriter and singer. I've enjoyed his music since way back. I also like both of the groups presented here.

    This is a very nuanced contest since both versions are so close to the original. Alabama certainly holds its own, but for my taste I'm going with Little Big Town. I prefer the instrumental backing in their version and the harmonies are preferable to me. It's a slicker fuller sound I think.

    I vote Little Big Town.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alex J. CavanaughJanuary 15, 2015 at 6:48 AM

    Lionel versus Lionel - tough one. But as I am not country music fan, my vote goes to the version with Alabama. The other one was too twangy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. StratPlayerCJFJanuary 15, 2015 at 11:45 AM

    Wow -- tough choice. They're very close. Excellent vocals in both versions, and both are very good musically.

    But I think I like the Little Big Town version a little more -- it's got a slightly more soulful sound, even with the pedal steel. And Richie's vocals have a little more maturity and depth, I think.

    So Richie and Little Big Town for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dixie@dcreliefJanuary 15, 2015 at 12:10 PM

      Thank you, Chris. I understand - Little Big Town for you.

      Delete
  5. A Beer for the ShowerJanuary 15, 2015 at 12:46 PM

    I'm going to vote for Lionel, because he's ALWAYS who I'm looking for.

    Hello? Is it me you're looking for?

    Like Alex, I'm voting for the Alabama version, if only because I'm not a big fan of that twangy country sound. And frankly, who'd have thought a band named Alabama would be the least country of the two?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dixie@dcreliefJanuary 15, 2015 at 2:18 PM

      Thank you, Bryan & Brandon! Alabama for you.

      Loved the link, and you know eventually it will magically appear on my comic blog. (I'll give you credit - payable in 30 days)

      [When I first saw Alabama in Myrtle Beach, S.C., they were rock 'n roll. Actually I was too young to enter the bar, but what I heard was loud. I was Motown - end of story.]

      Delete
  6. Stephen T. McCarthyJanuary 15, 2015 at 4:51 PM

    DIXIE POLKA ~
    I tried listening to the first song but I can't do it right now. Someone said something to me and I am really pissed off at the moment so my heart's not in it.

    I PROMISE to return before the voting is done, give it a fair listen and cast a vote. I like Lionel Richie because he was pretty versatile. When I first learned he was responsible for the song 'EASY' ("I'm easy like Sunday morning") I was blown away because it shattered my preconception of what a "Lionel Richie song" was supposed to sound like.

    So, I am definitely interested and will be back when my mind isn't so red hot that I can actually hear through my ears. Right now there's steam coming out of them.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2015 at 6:10 PM

    The version with Alabama sounded a little too much like "I'm Easy" for my taste, and took a long time getting off the ground and didn't seem quite right. The version with Little Big Town, on the other hand, was pretty solid. They get my vote.

    ReplyDelete
  8. farawayeyesJanuary 15, 2015 at 7:50 PM

    Alabama for me.

    ReplyDelete
  9. dolorahJanuary 15, 2015 at 9:49 PM

    Three awesome artists! I was sure I would give it to Alabama (love love that country twang that bothers so many people today), but liked the variety of vocals with LBT.

    LBT gets my vote, barely :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dixie@dcreliefJanuary 16, 2015 at 12:02 AM

      Thank you, Dolorah. LBT it is then!


      Ooh - right now, at the end of day one - we're tied!

      L / A and L /LBT @ 4 votes each.

      Delete
  10. Stephen T. McCarthyJanuary 16, 2015 at 10:33 AM

    DIXIE POLKA ~
    I'm voting for LIONEL RICHIE AND ALABAMA.
    To me it just seems to sound richer in every way.

    Nice 'Battle' you put together.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dixie@dcreliefJanuary 16, 2015 at 3:02 PM

      Thank you, and glad you could return. Alabama for you!

      Delete
  11. Cathy KennedyJanuary 16, 2015 at 11:16 AM

    Well aboard, Dixie! I missed the first installment this month. Anywho, I was prepared to like Lionel's cut over his version paired with Little Big Town, but as it turns out I love the southern rock twist to this classic. My vote goes to the Lionel Richie & Little Big Town mix!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dixie@dcreliefJanuary 16, 2015 at 3:06 PM

      Thank you - Little Big Town, it is!

      P.S. > As many mistakes as I made I almost missed the first battle too (smile).

      Delete
  12. UnknownJanuary 16, 2015 at 9:35 PM

    They're both very similar. I'm going to have to go with the second one, I think the arrangement's a bit more full. I hope I know what that means.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dixie@dcreliefJanuary 16, 2015 at 11:41 PM

    Thank you, Michael - Little Big Town again!

    ReplyDelete
  14. BirgitJanuary 17, 2015 at 10:49 PM

    I enjoyed Lionel with Little Big Town more. It seemed to be more uplifting and lighter to me than the one with Alabama

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dixie@dcreliefJanuary 17, 2015 at 11:59 PM

      Thank you for voting, Birgit! Little Big Town it is!

      Delete
  15. RobinJanuary 19, 2015 at 1:22 PM

    I like Lionel and Little Big Town. I confess to really really really liking Little Big Town (not that I don't like Alabama because I do). Tough battle girl!

    ReplyDelete

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