In 1958 Eddie Cochran was having his own problems with Summer, which is when he released his song, 'Summertime Blues'. It seems a lot of people could relate to the song because it became a big hit and many artists have performed covers of the song. In this instalment of Battle of the Bands, we will listen to two artists who have covered the song. Can you relate to these Summertime Blues? Which song do you prefer?
Over 15 years after Eddie's song was released, Olivia Newton-John covered the song. It was 1975, and the song appeared on her 'Clearly Love' album. Do you like her version?
It would be almost another 20 years before Alan Jackson performed his version. The song appears on his 1994 album, 'Who I Am'. It's also the first song on the album.
So those are the two contenders. Ignoring the actual videos, who do you think performs the song best? I found the two bands to battle it out, now it's your job. Time to vote on your favourite. Please vote for your preferred song choice and let me know in the comments. Also, please let me know why you feel the way you do. Voting ends on the 14th when I'll cast my own vote and announce the winner in a separate posting.
Did you enjoy the Battle of the Bands feature? Come back on the 15th of August when I'll have a new battle. Also, be sure to check out my friends below who have banded together to offer up their own musical battles.
FAR AWAY SERIES
STMcC PRESENTS 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
TOSSING IT OUT
JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE
WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME
YOUR DAILY DOSE
BOOK LOVER
MIKE'S RAMBLINGS
CURIOUS AS A CATHY
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING
DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE
ANGELS BARK
NOVEL BREWS
QUIET LAUGHTER
HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS
Are you currently in the BOTB and don't see your name in the list above? Let me know in comments and I'll include it.
Alan Jackson gets my vote I like his version better. I had never heard Olivia Newton John's version before so thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHope you didn't mind the battle, one day early.
DeleteTo be perfectly honest, my favourite version of this song is by The Who (and we were just speaking of them LOL). Between these two, my choice is Alan Jackson. Olivia's voice is too "girly". These were new to me. Thanks for the education. Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I was planning on using the Who, but the only version I could find were live versions. I'd rather pit recorded songs against recorded songs and live songs against live songs. Thanks for your vote.
DeletePretty rare, but I found one:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iugP3_C8kRc
Good find. I looked for a minute or two, then ADD set in and I picked someone else that popped up.
DeleteAlan Jackson all the way. He's always been a favorite of mine.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the vote. Seems to be everyone's favourite.
DeleteAlan Jackson! I think his version is a stronger version.
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for Alan Jackson. There seems to be strength in numbers.
DeleteSorry, Olivia is just too cute. And I do like her version better.
ReplyDeleteYou can take me off the list. I am participating in Battle of the Banned on Monday though.
Thanks for not making this a blow out. Vote recorded.
DeleteI like Olivia's voice in most of her songs, but not this one.
ReplyDeleteAlan Jackson gets my vote!
Thanks for stopping by to vote.
DeleteHi, Jeffrey! I am just returning to blogging following a one week absence made necessary by a house full of in-laws visiting from out of state. Talk about summertime blues!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the third of your BOTB contests in which I have participated thus far, and this time, unlike the others, the choice was easy for me. I never heard either of these before, only the better known versions by Eddie Cochran and Blue Cheer. I was very pleasantly surprised to hear Olivia Newton-John's recording. It has a clever rock 'n' roll arrangement and Olivia comes across as Young & Restless, Bold & Beautiful and Brash & Sassy rather than girly. I have voted for country artists in other band battles but this time I'm going to bail on Alan Jackson's rendition because to me it is run of the mill. Olivia delivers her version with pizzazz and gusto and that's the treatment this particular rock anthem deserves. I vote for Libby N-J!
Thanks for your comment on my 7 year 4400 post, Jeffrey. Your friendship and support mean a lot to me. See you soon!
It's always nice to have you stop by for a visit. You'll notice I opted out, once again, of using the most well known version. If I end up having a blow-out, I'd rather it's not because I utilized a song everyone knows and is comfortable with. But you have helped to make this vote, not a complete run-away with Alan Jackson. Plus I think it's always nice to hear two new versions of a song we are all familiar with. Helps us to appreciate the original more, I think.
DeleteI love Olivia, but not so much on this song. It's just not her.
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to Alan Jackson--name, twang, and fiddle too.
Lee
Tossing It Out
You just love your twang. Don't you? LOL
DeleteAww, JEFFREY, you stole a song from my 'Future BOTB Songs' list. But that's OK, because I was planning on using two different performers, and so I may do that still, somewhere down the road.
ReplyDeleteIn this contest, Olivia pretty much copied Eddie's original presentation (that pronounced beat and the deep voice of "authority" crushing the singer's hopes), and I don't feel it fit her. For one thing, she had that "good, innocent girl" persona, and furthermore I didn't care for those high-pitched, squeaky-clean vocals. Her singing got on my nerves just a wee bit.
The song sounds better coming from a male voice, in my opinion, and by adding that "Country" styling to it, ALAN JACKSON kind of takes it out of Eddie Cochran's Rockabilly wheelhouse and makes it his own, somewhat. So, chalk up another one for JACKSON.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
I was telling someone else not to long ago that picking a song already covered is inevitable. But the good news is many songs have been redone by more than just two artists. I'll be interested when you have your Summertime Blues version.
DeleteI was a huge ONJ fan as a kid and I'd never heard her version of that song before. Her voice has always been so amazing!
ReplyDeleteShould I consider this a vote for ONJ?
DeleteI've loved the AJ version since it came out. To be fair, I've loved ONJ since Grease. BUT, I didn't really care for her take on this song. I think maybe the song is just better suited for a male voice. Or maybe an alto voice in a female. So, I gotta give this one to Alan Jackson:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for casting a vote despite being torn between love of video and love of ONJ.
DeleteOlivia is just too perky for this song. I give it to Alan Jackson even though I am not a country gal, this song can go country and seems to have the sense of the song more. Olivia could never hate anything
ReplyDeleteWell, maybe Oliva would hate how many votes she's not getting?
DeleteSo....
ReplyDeleteFirst vote- goes to the song on the commercial before Jackson's version! (In the jungle wins every time!)
Second vote- the orchestration in ONJ's version is the best. Which brings up the third vote- Jackson's vocals win.
So, I guess I have to make my own mix!
so is there one in particular you like more than than the other?
DeleteOtherwise, I guess I'll consider it a draw. :)
I vote for Alan Jackson! His upbeat take is infectious.
ReplyDeleteThis infection seems to have spread to most of the voters so far.
DeleteAlan Jackson has my vote. I like his voice, how his version is upbeat, and the nice country twang with the instruments.
ReplyDeleteThere are not many country artists I'm fond of, but I do like Alan Jackson. But I'm also an ONJ fan too. At the end of the day, It's starting to look like my end vote won't make much of a difference.
DeleteI vote for Olivia Newton John. I've loved her for so long. I saw her perform the week that I Honestly Love You because #1. Alan Jackson is too twangy. I'm not a big country music fan. Olivia has a great voice.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Despite what anyone above has said, I also love her voice and not that big into country. But Alan's song is "fun". But that's only the video swaying me, and I ought not let it do that.
DeleteI love this feature! I do hope you'll feature some unknown artists with amazing covers on YouTube. :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Olivia's version quite a bit, having never heard it, but Alan gets my vote. He's just so much more peppy any fun. Olivia slowed it down a little and it lost something for me.
Thanks for the vote, and I do plan on featuring some lesser known artists down the road, as well as a few of my favourite artists. Feel free to offer suggestions if you'd like. :)
DeleteAlan Jackson is such incredible singer. His songs are some of the essential country songs of the last two decades. The singer-songwriter is widely acknowledged as one of the best songwriter in modern country music. We love all his great songs.
ReplyDeleteU are handsome and nice voice.
Doe Do
Is this a vote for Olivia Newton John?
DeleteJust kidding.
Vote for Alan Jackson recorded.
Wow, pre-Grease Olivia Newton John!
ReplyDeleteShe did a nice job but Mr. Jackson gets my vote.
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the vote.
DeleteI think I"ll be keeping tabs on your blog. Good stuff.
I appreciate your visit, too. Take care.
DeleteOh I definitely like Alan Jackson's version better! Not that I don't like Olivia's but Alan Jackson's is just so much more lively. Love the violin to. And it has a better beat. Great battle!
ReplyDeleteMichele at Angels Bark
I do love the violin as well.
DeleteI've chosen Olivia Newton John. She injects a lively round of brio into her Summer Time blues. - There ain't no cure for the summer times blue, which is so true.
ReplyDeleteYou may be in the minority here. But it's nice to see both artists getting votes.
DeleteJeffrey, as much as I adore ONJ, I think the country sound tone of Alan Jackson captures the flavor of the song and my vote better. Fun battle. Now, get out there and chase away some of those summertime blues!
ReplyDeleteOddly, my chasing away the blues involves my computer and writing. LOL
Deletethanks for the vote.
Love this song! But NOT ONJ's version. 'Samatter of fact, I pretty much cannot stand the sickly sweetness of her voice, no matter what the song is. (Sorry, Olivia fans... no offense, ok?) So voting would've gone to Alan anyway, even if I didn't particularly enjoy his voice and arrangement -- which, believe you me, I *do* :D Viva la summer!
ReplyDeleteGuilie @ Quiet Laughter
Thanks for your vote.
DeleteAnd it's okay. We all have our own individual tastes.
My vote is for Alan Jackson. Just not particularly fond of Olivia's chipmunk sound. Alan is a long time favorite for me and his version takes me right back to driving dirt roads in my truck when i was in highschool
ReplyDeleteChipmunk. Ha! Totally.
DeleteUmmm...I had no idea Olivia did this song. That being said, I don't think I missed much. (Sorry girl!) I think I am so used to hearing the country version that hers sounds so wrong to me. Too bubbly, too forced and two 80's exercise work out tape. My vote goes to Mr. Jackson.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the vote. Sneaky vote. I already wrote my next article declaring Jackson the winner and sleeping at this point. LOL But your vote just insured it more.
DeleteAs for ONJ, i like her singing. Sorry.
But I agree, the song was better with Alan Jackson singing.