Battle of the Bands Update: Merry Clayton

When I chose Merry Clayton as a participant on my October 1, 2015 Battle of the Bands that she recently had both of her legs amputated due to a near fatal car accident in 2014. I did vnot know she was going to be honored this month by the American Jazz Foundation with the first ever "Clark and Gwen Terry Courage Award."

I knew her because she provided the original female vocals on the chosen song for my Rocktober Battle of the Band song "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones. I thought her own version of the song would be cool to feature.



She lost the Battle to Grand Funk Railroad and Grand Funk Railroad had their day as victors wish you can revisit here.

However with all that Merry Clayton is going through and still have the attitude of "I Still have the voice" I think she deserves a post as well!

Here she talks about doing that song, Mick Jagger offers his thoughts, and a bit of just her..

Interesting trivia early in her career she worked with Ray Charles as one of The Raelettes. Her backup vocals ended up helping singers such as Pearl Bailey, Tom Jones, Joe Cocker, Carol King, Neil Young and more. If backing up The Rolling Stones on "Gimme Shelter" wasn't big enough her vocals also are featured on Lynyrd Skynyrds "Sweet Home Alabama."

In the 80s there was a movie called "Dirty Dancing" which was kind of big. Merry Clayton
is featured on the soundtrack with a song called "Yes"..

Here is a funky song called "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow"

I didn't realize she also was featured on the Tori Amos song "Cornflake Girl" and was married to jazz musician Curtis Amy. Curtis brother is Sam Clayton who was a percussionist with Little Feat.

Merry Clayton plans to continue to sing and her voice will be featured on the  next Coldplay album.

I will be back with a new post soon.

BOTB Results: No Contest They are an American Band

I rarely vote on my own battles. Maybe to break a tie. Grand Funk Rail Road won this competition easily 9 to 5 over Merry Clayton. Even if I did vote it would not have mattered. That being said I would have voted for Merry who was the original female vocalist on the Rolling Stones version of "Gimme Shelter."



To the victors go the spoils...

"We're an American Band"...

"Bad Time"...

Maybe next time I will use this song..

Thanks for voting and being part of my Rocktober! I'll be back on October 15th with a brand new Battle of the Band. What song will I pick? Who will I pit against each other? Who will you vote for?
Find out on the next Battle of the Band...

Battle of the Bands: Rocktober, Rock and Roll and Shelter

It's October but I like to call it "Rocktober." I heard some radio station call October that many years ago and I like it. It certainly fits well for a theme of my monthly Battle of the Bands. I've thought a bit of some future battles in November and December and thought well they are going to be different twists than plain ole Rock and Roll. Of course I also have given this post some thought and already nixed one battle.



The rules are simple I pick a song and present a couple of bands battling it out with the song. You pick the one you like best by casting your vote in the comments. The why's and other comments are always welcomed.

Please check out the other battles:

The list of Battle of the Bands participants..

 I snagged it from STMcC Presents 'Battle of the Bands': 

@ ‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'BOOK LOVER' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THIS BELLE ROCKS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE. 
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME' by clicking HERE.
@ 'J.A. SCOTT' by clicking HERE.
@ 'NOVELBREWS' by clicking HERE. 
@ 'HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS' by clicking HERE. 
@ 'QUIET LAUGHTER' by clicking HERE. 

It's a win win really. They get another visit and they treat you with some more battles featuring cool songs, musicians and bands!

If you are looking to get back to good ole Rock and Roll well the Rolling Stones sounds like a great place to start. 

The Original Song: "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones

Challenger One: Merry Clayton

Challenger Two: Grandfunk Railroad

A jewel from the Rolling Stones catalog, an original vocalist on The Stones version with her version, against another Rock band Grand Funk Railroad, All we need now is votes and I will be back on the 7th with results.

Sara Evans at the Fair

Sara Evans was quite a contrast from Grand Funk Railroad as far as entertainment choices. Grand Funk Railroad is a classic rock band while Sara Evans is contemporary country star. Still the stage was set up or an intimate fair experience.

Sara Evans in concert...



Sara Evan played an hour long set or so packed full of hits like :Grow Abit Stronger"..

"Suds in the Bucket"

And " I Could Not Ask For More"

During her set she also played a cover of the song "My Heart Can't Tell You No" which ROd Stewart brought to the limelight in 1988..

However, that cover could not prepare one for her encore which was a series of covers of popular songs performed by Sara backed by her six piece band.

Here she is live covering Bruno Mars hit "When I Was Your Man"

She also covered Pink's monster hit "Just Give Me A Reason" during her encore..

Sara Evans gave a fun show. Her country hits do make her a star and her choice of covers displayed her love of other music and showed off her vocal talents. She also appealed to a larger group of ans with her choice of covers. They may have been unexpected choices however she did perform the songs well.

Grand Funk Railroad at the Fair

Grand Funk Railroad is indeed an American Band and they came to Pensacola to help us party it down at the fair.



I think i shouldn't have sat in the second row behind the speakers. My ears did ring a bit. But they mixed in some mellow tunes as well..

Here is a picture of the band..



There was the original drummer who put on a show,,,

It was a show running about 70 minutes packed with many of the groups hits, a great version of the National Anthem and a powerful drum solo.Hits like the locomotion, some kind of wonderful. I'm Your Captain, and We're an American Band were mixed in a nice set that included several other songs like The Devil's Daughter. It was a fun show and the fair was a fun venue. Food, rides and exhibits kept the party going.