Saturday, March 15, 2014

BOTB: OOH BABY BABY

The bloggers below are co-sponsoring a "Battle of the Bands" blog event on the first and fifteenth of each month. 










Robin (Your Daily Dose) 
I crashed their party featuring Todd Rundgren songs covered by other artists, and since that keg has been tapped, I am continuing with songs by other artists that Todd has covered.


A Wizard A True Star was Todd's progressive/psychedelic mash up released in 1973, with songs that segued into each other with humorous, often hallucinatory lyrics, but also featuring some covers of such fare as "Never Never Land" as well as a medley of R&B hits.


The medley included Smokey Robinson's "Ooh Baby Baby," but there was also a rarity floating around of that song all by its lonesome.

And today, I am playing it here for your consideration.


SMOKEY ROBINSON OOH BABY BABY








TODD RUNDGREN OOH BABY BABY





So what's it gonna be?



29 comments:

  1. It's gonna be Todd for me. I prefer his vocal and everything else about the production value.

    Funny--because of songs like this I used to associate the Miracles with being a female group. Smokey Robinson is legendary with his music.

    Todd beats out the original for my taste.

    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm a little surprised Lee-I'd have thought that since we're of the same vintage, Motown would be in our blood, and that you'd go with the original for sure.

      I was sort of raised on it, so the votes for Smokey are no shock to me.

      I kind of expected a shut out here.

      Delete
  2. That is a very young Smokey Robinson...
    Have to give it to Todd this time. His version has a little more purpose to it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex-

      I do like Todd's cover but I get the votes for the original...especially for people who cut their teeth on the original.

      Delete
  3. LC ~
    I don't know what to say...

    I suppose I should give Todd the benefit of the doubt and assume that his "note-for-note" covers of classic hits (like 'Good Vibrations' and 'Ooh, Baby, Baby') were meant to honor the original artists, and not that Todd assumed he could best them at their own game. But...

    Well... whether they were homage or egotism... Todd was bringing nuttin' to his covers that hadn't already been covered by the original artists (except in the case of 'Two Little Hitlers').

    Again... whatever he was thinking at the time, totally escapes me. What was the point of this re-recording?

    Obviously, I am voting for the original, just like I did with 'Good Vibrations'.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not a shocker (your vote)...keep in mind he was pretty young (maybe twenty-two) for this one, so maybe there was no agenda. I wonder if his ego (and he has one) had surfaced at this point.

      Maybe the label pushed him.

      Maybe he just liked the song.

      Maybe he knew that forty-two years later, he'd tick you off!

      For a few seconds there, I was basking in the historical significance of you know knowing what to say...but then you went and ruined the moment with the rest of the comment ...

      ;-)

      LC

      Delete
  4. I first read this post earlier on my phone, when I was trying to wake up. For some reason the songs never come up for your post on my phone, so I couldn't listen, BUT I did think ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Todd covering Smokey; I DON'T THINK SO!

    Now that I've heard them both, I have to admit Todd does a fair job on this number, but I still think he's better off sticking to his own stuff.

    Give my vote to Smokey - Ooooh Baby!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe you should be at least a little bit surprised, since I'm the only vote for Smokey so far.

      I want you to know, you have given me the best laugh so far today. I literally had tears leaking out of the corners of my eyes when you told STMc that 'maybe forty-two years later Todd knew he would tick him off'. Then you followed it up with that 'historical significance' thing. Funny stuff! Sorry STMc, I'm laughing with ya, not at ya.

      Enjoy your blog break. I hear what you're saying about blogger. Maybe they hate you too.

      Delete
    2. For the record, you were actually second to vote Smokey (Stephen T was first), and I used all my good material on him!

      Since most people have favored the originals over the Todd covers in this series, I've sort of come to expect it.

      I'm sure Blogger is unaware of my existence, but boy does it get frustrating when there's no way to get help.

      On my sport-themed blog, I have tried for a year to allow reader comments, and nothing seems to work.

      It's a free service, and they make nothing off of me, so I guess I cannot complain. But when you spend all day in front of a PC, sometimes the last thing you want to see when you get home is another computer screen.

      Delete
    3. Well there ya go, just another example of how easy it is to distract a dumb blonde. Tell a few jokes, get me to giggling and I forget all the rest.

      Maybe Blogger is unaware of your existence, but rest assured SOMEBODY is watching, listening, reading, or at least logging all of your thoughts away to use against you as some latter date, should the need arise.

      AGAIN, enjoy your break!

      Delete
    4. I don't have the blonde excuse....I'm just dumb!

      Surely you are not implying that our government is watching us? Next you'll tell me they're listening to our phone calls...

      Delete
  5. I've got a couple of posts (including one more BOTB post for April 1) in the can, and then I plan to take a hiatus from blogging for at least the month of April.

    I still plan to visit blogs and comment, but will not post new material here or on my other two blogs.

    Besides Blogger glitches that drive me to frustration (every comment on your blogs today had to be rewritten two or three times because my original comments just disappeared), I've felt a little stale, especially with this blog, for a while now.

    I am hoping the time off will give me some creative ideas for the blog.

    LC

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe A to Z will recharge you?
      Or does this mean you're going to focus on the Back in the USSR blog?

      Lee
      An A to Z Co-Host
      Tossing It Out

      Delete
    2. No blogging at all, Lee. I'm going cold turkey!

      Delete
    3. Well that's just plain sick. Are you turning Amish on us or feeling a rebellious nature toward technology. You are being subversive. Be careful, Obama's watching you.

      Lee
      An A to Z Co-Host
      Tossing It Out

      Delete
    4. I live in Arizona, so it would probably be turning Mormon (but I'm not).

      If I were subversive, I'd be staging an attack on the Blogger mainframe.

      Nope, just taking some time to bask in the success of the Obama economic policies...

      Delete
    5. I went through a period when Blogger seemed to be "eating my comments." Turns out that they went to Spam. Have you checked your Spam folder. It is annoying as crap when you comment on your own blog and it goes to Spam... but at least it isn't GONE.

      Delete
    6. Actually, the one yesterday was my first cut at a comment on your blog, Robin-and I liked that draft a lot (had some humor that I'd forgotten by the time I stopped cursing the internet).

      But the main reason is really to step away from spending so much time in front of a computer.

      Delete
  6. I like this (listening to Todd). I mean, really. I might even edge it past Linda Ronstadt. TR in a landslide for me. So take that, all y'all that think I only take originals!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe I should have included the Ronstadt version on this post....there's a future post idea for someone (Smokey versus Linda)

      Delete
  7. Smokey and the Miracles get my vote. Smooth as silk. (even in that old film version)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Smokey's version certainly does not stink! You can't go wrong!

      Delete
  8. Even though Todd didn't change up this cover significantly, I still think he did a nice job with the song. That said, I am still voting with the original. Smokey Robinson had an amazing tenor voice. I don't think I can sing that high. And it so smooth...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I loved the Motown sound...and this song is a perfect example of it.

      Delete
  9. Oh, both are excellent. A good song, good singers, great musical score.

    I'm going with Smokey Robinson though because I can listen to his voice all day. The harmony with The Miracles is awesome too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. While you may have guessed I am a huge Todd fan, Donna, it is hard to argue with your choice!

      Larry

      Delete
  10. Both songs were great. But for whatever reason, I just liked Todd's a little better... "note-for-note" as it may be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The enlightened know that Todd's versions are always superior ;-)

      Delete

HOBBY OR ADDICTION?

HOBBY OR ADDICTION?