These five bloggers are co-sponsoring a blog event on the first and fifteenth of each month, and I am shamelessly leeching off of their idea because I am a bad person!
Robin (Your Daily Dose)
My entry is (surprise) once again a Todd Rundgren song, this time his first solo single, "We Gotta Get You A Woman," which went all the way up to twenty on the Billboard Hot 100.
Betcha didn't know that!
And didja know there was a remake of this tune by the Four Tops?
These are the two songs I am featuring today...
First, the Todd Rundgren version from the Runt album:
And next, the Four Tops version.... I could only find a clip of this in a medley, so WGGYAW starts at about the two minute point...
So what do you think? There is only one winner (to quote another Todd song) so which is it going to be?
For the heckuvit, here is the song performed by Todd for the first time ever in 2011 with the Metropole Orchestra (I just saw him perform it for the fifth time ever with the Akron Symphony Orchestra).
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A most interesting match up. It took me awhile to decide, only because I had to listen to the second video (The Four Tops) twice, because the first time through I was so distracted by the dancing, clothes and 'holy smoke' all of that hair.
ReplyDeleteDistractions aside my vote goes to Todd.
I grew up in the seventies, so am used to the hair...and apparently used a lifetime's worth on my own head back then because I have none now!
DeleteThe Soul Train clip was a hoot (what planet was that on?), but the Tops don't make the grade with this when matched up with Todd. I don't think that song could ever be remade better than the original. The Runt is the winner.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
I do give the Tops credit for not doing a note-for-note remake...they certainly put their own spin on it!
DeleteIt's a tie for me, but I'm not sure. I was so distracted by the dancing I'm not sure what to think!
ReplyDeleteSometimes you just have to flip a coin!
DeleteGood grief, I had to keep checking the title on the 4 Tops job because it sounded for most of it more like they (or somebody) were covering Santana rather than Todd. And then, when it got to the point you could actually tell it was the right song, it (IMHO)blew chunks. I'll stick with Todd.
ReplyDeleteI believe "blew chunks" is an accepted industry term, CW!
DeleteThat dancing on Soul Train was something to see! It is a WONDERFUL thing that big hair went OUT. Yikes! That was a bit painful to watch.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, the Four Tops just didn't even come close to Todd's version. Vote: Todd.
I don't know, Robin...I kind of miss the 70's a little...but it may only be because I had hair back then!
DeleteToo close to call. Record my vote as a "tie".
ReplyDeleteOh, c'mon, man, you know I jest. The Four Tops are tops!
Back when it was a Top 40 hit, 'We Gotta Get You A Woman' was actually my favorite song for a little while.
I really enjoyed the Soul Train clip, and... I swear, I went to junior high school and high school with every single one of those dancing dudes and dudettes! Knew 'em all on a first-name basis at one time.
Back in the day, I did watch Soul Train occasionally, and listened sometimes to the local "Black/Chicano" radio station. (Give me time to remember the call letters and I'll tell ya tomorrow on the way to Booker T.)
Well, you know, despite my so-white-they're-transparent legs, I ain't entirely White, ya know? In fact, I was born a poor Black child on the wrong side of Beverly Hills.
Anyway, Todd wins this, of course (and the Four Tops only did it because the name "Leroy" seems so Black).
However... LC, I know you're as heterosexual as I am, and I will vouch for you any day, any time, but you might want to give Todd a rest before some of these people who don't know you as well as I do get the wrong idea...
How about Cheryl Crow vs. Flo? (Didn't I see her singing in one commercial?)
:-)
Watch for an Email later today regarding tomorrow.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Half-Black Heterosexual'
Stephen-
DeleteI plan to only participate in BOTB as long as I have Todd covers, but that may take me into next year.
So I'm gonna keep crashing your party!
I have not come back and posted my choice, but anyone who reads semi-regularly probably can guess where my vote would be cast...
You did see Flo singing...I forget the song...
I think I've mined the "disco" covers of Todd, so I think readers will not doubt my hetero standing...
...until they find out I live alone, have two cats and drive a Miata...
...not that there's ANYTHING wrong with that!
LC
I liked a lot of the Four Tops music, and expected to prefer their version over the first. But I didn't. Todd gets my vote, too.
ReplyDeleteI think they went with a little too much funk on the Tops arrangement..
DeleteI'm exhausted just watching those people dance. Even so, with all of the "boogie"... their version is no bueno. I'll give it to Todd.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I just love watching those old Soul Train videos. Probably my favorite dance of all time is the guy who takes his jacket off and throws it over his shoulder to the music. See 3:36 of this clip...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBXv37PFcAQ
I'm not even joking, if I could learn how to do that I'd wear a jacket EVERYWHERE.
I'm with you Bryan...it's a slick move but I'd mess it up.
DeleteYou'd also need a boom-box caddy, so that music would be available anytime you want to take your jacket off....
LC
The sound on my computer isn't working, for some reason. I'll have to wait till I'm at home to have a listen :)
ReplyDelete