Monday, February 1, 2016

"In the Mood" for BOTB, and the Lost & Found - Valentine's Edition

Welcome to Battle of the Bands! (aka BOTB) and...




















My battle features a song that reminds me of my first love, and partner in crime - my Grandfather! I have him to thank for my first introduction to music, and what a genre it was. I'm talking Big Band sound! Our favorite thing was dancing to all of the songs he played. Good stuff like, "Little Brown Jug," "Ja-da, Ja-da, Jing, Jing, Jing," and "Pennsylvania 6-5000." To the man who gave me music, and gave it abundantly - two versions of one of our favorite dance tunes... 'cause we were always, "In the Mood." 

Thank you to the "Lost & Found -Valentine's Edition Blogfest hosts: Arlee Bird, Guilie Castillo Oriard , Elizabeth Seckman, Yolanda Renee, Denise Covey, and Alex J Cavanaugh.  

NOW ~ let's do Battle of the Bands!!!  

Our hosts for Battle of the Bands:

Here's how we battle:

We feature two different recordings of the same song. Listen to both, and then vote for the song version you like the best.  Feel free to leave me a comment, along with your vote. 

Our battles take place twice a month ~ on the 1st and 15th. The results come six days later ~ on the 7th and 21st. That's when I return, add all of the votes, including mine, and announce the winner. Feel free to return and see if your choice won!

If you would like to listen, and vote in other battles, please see the participant list in the right hand margin. If you would like to join this bi-monthly blog-event, visit the blog host, Stephen T. McCarthy. Leave him a message, and your blog address. We would love to have you participate. 

Song Background:

Joseph Copeland "Joe" Garland was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger, best known for writing "In the Mood".  The original recording of Joe Garland's version was made by Edgar Hayes and his Orchestra in 1938, with Garland participating. In this recording there was a baritone sax duet rather than a tenor sax battle. Garland then brought "In the Mood" to Glenn Miller, who created a shorter arrangement, in order to fit on the one side of a 78 rpm record. (Any flat disc record, made between about 1898 and the late 1950s and playing at a speed around 78 revolutions per minute is called a "78" by collectors.) Thanks to Wiki for the information. Today I bring you two fun versions of the song, "In the Mood". Let me know, in the comments which version you like the best. Thank you!

Today's battle challengers:

1 - Jeff Tyzik - In The Mood - 1981

2 - Shirin -  piano cover

46 comments:

  1. You were fortunate to have had that relationship with your grandfather. I wish I could have gotten to know my grandparents better. Looking back, I don't recall any of my grandparents listening to music, but I probably wasn't around them enough to know.

    Two great versions of the song here. I'm going to have to vote in favor of the big band glitz and technical music showcasing of Jeff Tyzik and his orchestra. That was some swinging stuff.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Hi Lee.

      There were a lot of covers but they were so similar in band sound. I thought a nice piano cover would change things up.

      The first vote goes to Jeff Tyzik!

      Delete
  2. That is a sweet memory of your grandfather. My grandma loved to play the piano and we'd sing together. She liked a lot of 40s and 50s music. Good times!

    As for your battle, I think Lee got this one right with his comment about the big band version: that was some swinging stuff! I love me some piano, but it just doesn't stack up to that big band sound on this song. So, chalk a vote for Jeff Tyzik.

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    1. Thank you, Robin! I understand, and will log you for Jeff Tyzik.

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  3. I love that you used the memories of your grandpa for the Lost & Found — grandparents are so often our first loves :) I pictured the two of you dancing as I listened to your battle choices... And I have to go with Jeff Tyzik. As much as I enjoyed the piano cover, there's nothing like a big band to do Big Band :) Great, great post!
    Guilie @ Quiet Laughter

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    1. Yes, we danced quite a bit. I miss him. Thank you:)

      Got you for Jeff!

      Delete
  4. Hi, Dixie!

    Thank you for sharing the picture and blurb about your first love, your grandfather. My parents were half a generation older than most of my friends' parents. Born in 1913 and 1918, dad and mom listened to and loved the big band sounds and "In the Mood" was one of their favorites. I remember them dancing to it in our subterranean game room. They forced me to watch and listen, hoping to steer me away from rock 'n' roll and cultivate an appreciation of "good music." At the time I scoffed but found myself actually liking big band music by the time I reach my twenties.

    Contestant #1 in your battle, Jeff Tyzik, executes a brassy, jump jitterbug rendition of "In the Mood." I like it, but wish he would have slowed the tempo a bit. Contestant #2, the Shirin piano cover, is music to my ears because I love a good piano solo and the pace is pleasingly slower. Shirin tickled the ivories and tickled me with that performance. I vote for Shirin!

    Thanks, Dixie!

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    1. Wow! Shady, I know what you mean. My Dad pushed Country music for a long time, but it wasn't something I liked until my mid-twenties.

      Thank you for the happy analysis. So glad you liked Shirin. That's what I call a serious dance version!

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  5. What a great way to honor your grandfather! Perfect story for the Love Lost & Found Bloghop. How wonderful that he introduced you to music! You surely have a deep love and precious memories as a result. Beautiful!

    I absolutely adore this song! Although I love piano, I'm giving my vote to Jeff Tyzik. I wanted to get up and dance to his version.

    Great battle Dixie. And I loved reading about your relationship with your grandfather and how he influenced your love of music!

    Michele at Angels Bark

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  6. I love Big Band music. Especially when it's done with a full orchestra. I have to go with Jeff Tyzik version, because it has that full band sound. For once, I think my vote will be the majority, or I don't know music at all.

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    1. Jeffrey, you are definitely in the majority!

      Another vote for Jeff Tyzik.

      Delete
  7. I'm going to go with the first one. I appreciate horns more than piano.

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    1. Alex, that comment flips me out.
      Another vote for Jeff Tyzik.

      Delete
  8. Dixie, Isn't it neat how an old classic like this can still make you wanna dance? Fun, fun battle! Okay, this is easy peasy for me. I love, love the first contender absolutely the best! I, too love the brass horns more than the piano rendition. It's the horns that make me wanna boogie! :D

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  9. Sweet story and extra sweet picture of you and Grandpa.

    As for the song, the piano is nice, but gimme that richer Big Band Sound of the first one. Give my vote to Jeff Tyzik.

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  10. Both my grandfathers died before I was born But my step Grandfather's made an impression. I remember one taking us with him to run errands for Grandma, he always stopped at the local bar for a drink. He was funny and sweet. We were left in the car. Interesting, because now that'd be looked on as abuse. How times have changed! :) My other step grandfather was gruff and standoffish. He'd never had children - I think we were the oddity to him. I remember his huge calloused hands. He was a farmer. Tall, rugged, and mostly silent - but he loved grandma!
    Glenn Miller gets my vote!

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    1. Yoland, I'm a little confused. I didn't feature Glenn Miller as a challenger. Are you voting for the band or the piano?

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  11. Awww! I love the story with your Grandfather! That is so sweet!

    I liked the first video best. That's sounds exactly like the music that I know.

    Thanks for sharing with us!
    Heather

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    1. Heather, thank you for voting!! I log your vote for Jeff Tyzik. :)

      Delete
  12. DIXIE POLKA ~
    First, the photo... WOW! Weren't you just the cutest thing?!?! Absolutely adorable picture of you and your Grandpa!

    The Battle... Glenn Miller is my all-time favorite musician. 'IN THE MOOD' isn't my favorite Miller recording but it's a damned good one that I definitely love!

    I never heard of either of these performers before. When the Jeff Tyzik version started, my first thought was: Aww, WAY too fast! (I can't dance to begin with, but even if I could, I'd have a heart attack trying to dance to that.)

    But after about a minute, my brain kicked in and I realized that the ONLY REASON I thought it was too fast was because I was comparing it to the Miller classic which I own and have heard a godzillion times.

    But after I got used to the uptempo and accepted the track on its own merits, I enjoyed the heck out of it! That is a GREAT Big Band, totally top-notch musicianship that absolutely rocks that Jazz!

    The piano version was nice - nuttin' wrong with it at all, but compared to the high-octane, rockin' Big Band Jazz version, it's just... nice. (I listened to both recordings all the way through twice.)

    No question who wins this one. (Don't worry. My BOTB is looking like a blowout so far, also. One just never knows until the votes start piling up.)

    This is a case where I would have seriously considered putting the original classic up against the Jeff Tyzik cover (like I put Brubeck's 'Take Five' up against the Tito Puente cover and wound up with a close contest). I'm sure Miller would have beaten Tyzik, but I'll bet it would have been a reasonably close contest - less of a blowout than what you've got so far, anyway.

    Regardless, a quality Battle: two versions of a genuine classic - one great cover and one good one.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

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    1. ~ D-FensDpgG,

      I'll have you know - I'm still cute and adorable. Ha!

      >>..."Glenn Miller is my all-time favorite musician."

      Big score for you! He's my all-time favorite too. I loved the movie, "Glenn Miller Story."

      I really wanted to feature, "Ja-da", but the covers were all instrumental, except for one ans it was an insult to classic Big Band.

      Jeff Tyzik had it going on. I came very close to pitting him against Glenn Miller but I feared a blowout. Ha!

      I appreciate your comment, and hope you rest up before the morning hits.

      I'll log you for Jeff Tyzik!

      Delete
  13. Thanks for this Dixie! Grandfathers come in all shapes and sizes, so I'm pleased for you that you had a great relationship. Cool that he introduced you to music.

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    1. Hi Denise. Thanks for helping to host the L&F hop.

      I have so many memories of him that included music.

      Delete
  14. I'd have to go with Tyzik's version as I prefer the fuller sound of a whole band. My father played a lot of Big Band stuff when I was growing up. It was the music of his generation.

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    1. Jono - I bet that was so exciting. My Grandfather didn't play any instruments, unless you count, "spoons". I'm so glad you could participate today, (smile).

      I'll log your vote for Jeff Tyzik!

      Delete
  15. This is indeed a TOUGH one. Musically, no. Emotionally, yes.

    The Jeff Tyzik version really is excellent (modern) big band stuff. They are spot-on, and musically superb.

    But the second one reminds me very much of my dad. He was a bunch of things, including a decent amateur pianist. He played boogie woogie for his own enjoyment several nights a week at home, and the second version totally reminded me of him.

    SO... I am voting for number two, with my heart this time instead of my head. After all, there is a first time for everything.

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    1. Hello, Sheboyganboy VI, I completely get it. One of my aunts played boogie woogie a lot. That video reminds me of her, and her awesome wit!

      Voting with your heart makes me happy... what more could a BOTB-er want? Lovely comment and I appreciate your presence at this double blog event, (smile).

      Wow - a second vote for pianist, Shirin!

      Delete
  16. So glad you had this love together.

    While I'd love to vote for the piano, the sax just makes the feet want to move. Maybe if Jerry Lee Lewis was playing the piano I'd vote differently, lol.

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    1. Ha! I love sax too! Thanks, Donna for playing today's double blog event. (I'll keep an eye out for Jerry Lee Lewis.)

      Your vote for Jeff Tyzik is logged.

      Delete
  17. Jeff Tyzik rocks out that classic in a big band style. Love it and he gets my vote!

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    1. Straight to the vote - I thank you for that!

      Mike votes for Jeff Tyzik.

      Delete
  18. I'm torn. The piano version by Glenn Miller reminds me of my grandfather (he was in a swing band andy continued to play in his retirement years when I was a little girl), but I love the orchestra sound of Tyzik.

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    1. Hey Liz, I'm glad you voted. This double blog event has been fun.

      Logging you for Jeff Tyzik :)

      Delete
  19. ^ FYI: I think a few people are confused by the battle because the second Youtube video says: "Glenn Miller: In the Mood Piano ver..." (and the rest trails off). It implies the version is by Glenn Miller. Even I had to do a double take. Wait, that's no Glenn Miller!!

    So I love Glenn Miller. Love, love, love, and his arrangement is my absolute favorite, hands down. Jeff Tyzik gets a close second (dig the big band sound) and the piano version, while nice, just doesn't do it for either of us. We both vote for Jeff, while dreaming (heterosexually) of Glenn.

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    1. >>..."We both vote for Jeff, while dreaming (heterosexually) of Glenn."

      Geez, B&B, I couldn't have said it better myself.

      yes, I hate those you tube type flubs. I'll have to clear it beforehand, next battle.

      Two for Tyzik. Thank you, gentlemen!

      Delete
  20. I love your story and how much your grandfather inspired your love of music. At first I wasn't for the first version because I found it a bit "fast" but I am not at all fond of the piano version so my vote goes to Tyzik

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    1. Thank you, Birgit. It's my pleasure for you to come by and vote. glad you liked and voted for Tyzik.

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  21. What a wonderful way to pay tribute to your first love and grandfather! I think I prefer the piano sound (Shirin?) a bit more than the more contemporary jazz sound of the first. So my vote goes to the second!

    Has the hop gotten a linky now? I missed closing time, but the linky thing makes linking up and visiting sooooo much easier, IMO.

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    1. Hi Kim! thanks for the vote for Shirin...he really swung those keys, huh?!!

      I had a link for the L&F event but nothing like that for BOTB.

      Btw, I got your message, and it's fine for you contact me via email.

      Delete
  22. Voting for Shirin. I like me a good piano.

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    1. First, I have to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your blog today!

      Secondly, thank you for coming over, and voting in my battle. Seems you might be a piano fan?! Great.

      I'm headed back to your blog to read more. I'll log you for Shirin. Thank you.

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  23. What cherished memories you had with your grandpa! It's wonderful that he loved to dance with you, and shared his joy of music. It's such an adorable photo of you, Dixie!

    Julie

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    1. Thank you, Julie. I'm sad that my scanner went to 'Scanner Heaven"... no more loading in of old photos. So I really cherish this one. It had a tiny scalloped edge, which I blocked out - do you remember those?

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