Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Exodus - stage right

WELCOME TO BATTLE OF THE BANDS!! aka, "BOTB".

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!

I think Summer officially starts on June 21st. Already, in my neck of the woods, people are making a big Exodus to vacation spots all over. A bit of relaxing, and beautiful scenery does it for me. So with that thought I bring a featured oldie... the Main Theme song from the movie EXODUS.


Exodus came out in 1960. It had a wonderful soundtrack. Composer Ernest Gold won the Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 1960 Oscars. You can hear his original score HERE

Today's versions are both instrumentals:

1- Mantovani - Wikipedia states: Annunzio Paolo Mantovani (Italian pronunciation: [anˈnuntsjo ˈpaːolo mantoˈvaːni]) (15 November 1905 – 29 March 1980),[1] known as Mantovani, was an Anglo-Italian conductor, composer and light orchestra-styled entertainer with a cascading strings musical signature. The book British Hit Singles & Albums states that he was "Britain's most successful album act before the Beatles...the first act to sell over one million stereo albums and [have] six albums simultaneously in the US Top 30 in 1959".[2]


Mantovani recorded for Decca until the mid-1950s, and then for London Records. He recorded in excess of 50 albums on that label, many of which were Top 40 hits. His single tracks included "The Song from Moulin Rouge", which reached Number One in the UK Singles Chart in 1953;[2] "Cara Mia" (with him and his orchestra backing David Whitfield) in 1954; "Around the World" in 1957; and "Main Theme from Exodus (Ari's Theme) in 1960. In the United States, between 1955 and 1972, he released more than 40 albums with 27 reaching the "Top 40", and 11 in the "Top Ten". His biggest success came with the album Film Encores, which attained Number One in 1957.[4]

2- Ferrante & Teicher - Their cover of Exodus hit US pop chart at number 2 and at number 1 worldwide!Ferrante & Teicher were a duo of American piano players, known for their light arrangements of familiar classical pieces, movie soundtracks, and show tunes. Arthur Ferrante (September 7, 1921, New York City – September 19, 2009), and Louis Teicher (August 24, 1924, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania – August 3, 2008) met while studying at the Juilliard School of Music in New York.[1][2] Musical prodigies, they began performing as a piano duo while still in school. After graduating, they both joined the Juilliard faculty.


In 1947, they launched a full-time concert career, at first playing nightclubs, then quickly moving up to playing classical music with orchestral backing. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith relates the story that in the 1950s the two students practiced in the home of his grandmother Constance Neidhart Tallarico.[3] Between 1950 and 1980, they were a major American easy listening act, and scored four big U.S. hits: "Theme From The Apartment" (Pop #10), "Theme From Exodus" (Pop #2), "Tonight" (Pop #8), and "Midnight Cowboy" (Pop #10).[4] They performed and recorded regularly with pops orchestras popular standards by George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers and others. In 1973, they did the Hollywood Radio Theater theme for the Rod Serling radio drama series, The Zero Hour.[5][6]


Here we go....have fun.... I'll return midnight on the 21st to count votes and post the results.  

26 comments:

  1. I loved this song when it first came out. I used to hear it everywhere it seemed. I don't think I ever have seen the film, but the song still is a great one.

    The Mantovani version comes across like a work of classical music as so much of his music does. It makes for great mood music, but at the present I guess I'm not in the mood. I've always liked the twin pianos of Ferrante and Teicher. I think my mother may have had an album with this version on it--I know she had some of their albums. I vote for their rendition, which by the way also comes across as a piece of classical music. I guess it's the nature of the song.

    I vote for Ferrante and Teicher

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lee, I too, love this song. I have memories of a family night at a local drive-in where the movie played. Three and a half hours! Unfortunately I was too young to comprehend, much less remember the movie. It's the home-made hot dogs with chilli, and Mom's special iced tea that comes to mind,(sigh).

      It was so hard to choose which versions to feature; there are many! I saw Ferrante & Teicher in concert... way back in the dark ages. Up until that time I was 'Motown' and 'Big Band,' specifically Glenn Miller. I fell in love with their version of "Rhapsody in Blue."

      Thank you for the comment and vote. I hope you are better!

      Vote: Ferrante & Teicher.

      Delete
  2. Like Arlee, I've loved this song from the moment it came out. Mantovani's version gives me chills! The piano guys were good too, butnot as stirring, emotionally. Please give my vote to Mantovani.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Debbie! I know what you mean... I get chills hearing various versions, Mantovani included. I hope you got a chance to clink on the link to the original by Ernest Gold (top of my post). He's the original chill-factor.

      Thank you for playing today. I hope you doing okay.

      Vote: Mantovani.

      Delete
  3. The first version definitely has a soundtrack vibe to it. Sorry, like the full sound better. Mantovani gets my vote.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex, you know the name of the BOTB game is to vote for the one you like best... no apology needed! I get it: the full sound is epic!

      I'm happy you could stop by and play, (smile).

      Vote for Mantovani.

      Delete
  4. This is another really hard one, Dixie. You've been picking really tough battles of late. I tend to be a sucker for piano playing, so I really liked the second one. However, the first one is just gorgeous. Just gorgeous. Epic. Sweeping. It kind of rolls over you. Sucks you in and carries you away. I see that Alex mentions it could be used in a soundtrack and I'm inclined to agree. It has that feeling of pulling you into something bigger than yourself. So, I must give it to Mantovani.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Robin!

      The original soundtrack was done by Ernest Gold. To here his version, check the link in the 4th paragraph! However, Mantovani's version was never used as a soundtrack. 'Sweeping' is a great description!

      I do understand the 'toughness'. It took me three months to choose the final two contenders!!

      Thank you for playing in my battle. I hope to hop by your battle today, (smile).

      Vote: Mantovani.

      Delete
  5. A battle of Beautiful Music artists! Well done!

    The version I always associate this song with is that of Ferrante & Teicher, so Mantovani really had to knock my socks off to win, and sadly, he didn't, although his version was superb. Still, he couldn't beat F&T's dual pianos here. Give this one to Ferrante & Teicher!

    ReplyDelete
  6. When it comes to piano vs a more complete symphony. I think I'd almost always go for the fuller sound. Please give my vote to Mantovani.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Dixie -

    I guess many of us of a certain age will have childhood memories of this number... either from the movie or from the very popular piano version on the airwaves. I cannot put my finger on my exact emotion, but the sound of the Mantovani version transports me back in time. Perhaps of me as a young kid in the back seat of our four door Chevy listening to my parents talk with the music on the radio.

    I don't know! But I love the music and the feeling.

    I vote for Mantovani.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sheboyganboy VI... I'm glad you could play and vote here.

      Sounds like you're feeling Nostalgic. I get it! I'm glad you enjoyed this battle.


      Vote for Mantovani.

      Delete
  8. Okay, this is a tough one for me because I LOVE piano. And the 'twins" do this song to perfection. But the amazing rich sounds of Mantovani is stunning. I guess if I were to choose an instrumental to have with my Sunday coffee, I would choose Mantovani's version so please give him my vote. His version is very powerful indeed!

    Nicely done Dixie. Great battle!

    Michele at Angels Bark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Michele! My vote is still undecided. Glad you liked both.

      Vote for Mantovani.

      Delete
  9. I have always loved the F & T version, but if I'm being honest, Mantovani carried me away into a picturesque scene with his symphony version.

    Please give my vote to Mantovani.

    Mary
    Jingle Jangle Jungle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carried you away, Mary? That's great. I'm happy you liked both.

      Vote for Mantovani.

      Delete
  10. I don't think it's any surprise that we both vote Ferrante & Teicher. We're big fans of fake twin duos. Sure, Ferrante & Teicher doesn't quite roll off the tongue the same way Brandon & Bryan does, but they sure do have a great sound. We vote for them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. >>..."Ferrante & Teicher doesn't quite roll off the tongue the same way Brandon & Bryan does,..."

      Nope, and I bet it gets tougher saying the names, after a beer or two in the shower. Ha!

      I'm happy you guys could play today.

      Two votes for Ferrante & Teicher!!

      Delete
  11. PIGTAIL POLKA ~
    That ain't a picture of Myrtle Beach in your header! Who you tryin' to fool? I've been through Myrtle Beach, so... where's the miniature golf courses? No photo claiming to be Myrtle Beach that doesn't show at least one of the 1,001 miniature golf courses can possibly be authentic!

    This is a great piece of music. And in fact, I've had 'EXODUS' on my "TO BOTB" List for a long time. But I've got it listed with different performers, so perhaps I'll still use it someday.

    Good Battle! But my vote was easy to cast. I gotta go with that lush, sweeping, epic sound of MANTOVANI. Simply gorgeous (and better'n the versions I was planning to use).

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

    POSTSCRIPT: I think Sheboyganboy Six was having a "GoldenShadow" moment. And so am I, to some extent.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ~D-FebsDogG,

      The photo was taken at North Myrtle, from a place called, "The Rocking Chair." It's a peaceful spot about 3 miles from the mini-golf venue. I do have lots of photos of the golf games, and some from inside the games, whenever I got the chance to play. One day I'd like to do a painting from them.

      "GoldenShadow"? I remember reading about that at your place. That's it!!! Great description.

      I still have various versions of this song. It was so hard to choose. By all means keep it on your list for a future battle.

      Vote for Mantovani.

      Delete
  12. I love this piece and often here it played on the classical station. My vote goes totally to Mantovani because I love the romantic strings and I also like them when I was a kid. I know these piano guys well and they do a good job but they always have to put those trailing keys in there and that is in every piece they ever did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Birgit. I'm happy you could play my battle. F&T definitely have a distinct sound. I fell for their covers of big band songs.

      "Romantic strings of Mantovani..." I get that too!

      Vote for Mantovani.

      Delete
  13. I'll go with the first one with the fuller arrangement

    ReplyDelete