Friday, March 1, 2019

Battle of the Bands 102: Classical Gas

Moving into March with a brand new Battle of the Bands. If you like guitar music you are in for a treat this month. My battle features one of my favorite guitarists against one of his guitar heroes.

The piece is  called "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams...




The rules are simple. You pick the version you like best and tell me in the comments. In a week or so I count up the votes and announce a winner.

Contender One: Tommy Emmanuel

 

Contender Two: Chet Atkins


Well I hope you enjoyed. Please vote in the comments! Every vote counts. I will be back soon with a new post and I will announce the winner later this month.



8 comments:

Arlee Bird said...

Chet was no doubt a truly great guitarist and his performance is flawless and I figured my vote would be going to his version. However, Tommy's version, in addition to excellent playing, has a flair and novelty going for it that is appealing to me. I vote for Tommy Emmanuel.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

Stephen T. McCarthy said...

MIKE ~

I don't recall hearing about Tommy Emmanuel before. And when I saw that name being put up against Chet Atkins, my first thought was: Hokey-Smoke! It looks like Mike is begging for a BOTB shutout!

But, dang! That guy is great! I can't believe I'm voting against the legendary Chet Atkins, but Tommy Emmanuel's playing on this tune was much more exciting. Of course, the fact that we got to "see" Tommy playing, and could only hear Chet, may have given him an edge. But the flair he added was probably going to sway me regardless.

~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

aisasami said...

We did a gas experiment in class two weeks ago as we explored Jupiter. The experiment left the classroom smelling like rotten eggs.

I remember "Classic Gas" really well. My mom, a child of the 60s, who always listen to oldies in the car. She also had a knack of finding oldie radio stations from different parts of the country (We could listen to a station from Iowa in Maryland) while we went camping or for her hobby: looking for and recording abandoned cemeteries.

I choose Chet Atkins' version because it at a slower pace and it is more soothing.

Mary B said...

After listening to Tommy, I thought I would be voting for him. He sure does have a lot of talent!

But i think that Chet does the song more justice, and it's just a little more pleasant to listen to.

My vote: Chet Atkins

~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Literary Gold

Cherdo said...

Tommy Emmanuel is a regular visit to my TN town and my friend BF never misses a concert...and Chet Atkins hailed from Luttrell, TN, a stone's throw away. Right off the back, there's a connection.

I mention that because the playing is so good, I'm thinking I need to pull in all factors.

So, Chet, I ask that you forgive me as I have to throw my vote over to TOMMY EMMANUEL. But a good, stiff breeze could have made it go the other way, truth be told.

Cathy Kennedy said...

Mike,

Tommy did a furtastic job on Classic Gas but it's East Tennessean native, Chet Adkins with his mellow strumming to steal my vote. Chet's cover is not only better but is so relaxingly beautiful to the ear. Thanks for featuring the late legend and local boy. Have a bandtastic week!

John Holton said...

Two great guitar players, almost master and student. Tommy Emmanuel's has a lot of fire that Chet's doesn't, so he gets my vote.

Birgit said...

I love Tommy Emmanuel's version very much. He gets my vote because it had a lot of spunk. Chet's was good but almost went by way of elevator music.