Welcome to my first Battle of the Bands for 2017. Most of you were on the ball and started Jan. 1, but I was goofing off with hubby and the dogs. Here’s to another great year of music!
BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB), hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands. is where you listen to different recordings of the same song and vote for the one you like best. Two “Battles” per month, on the 1st and 15th. Votes will be tallied and posted the following week. (See below for further details.)
♫ Waxing nostalgic for this one! ♫
HOLDING ON TO YESTERDAY
Inspired by Arlee Bird’s BOTB from Jan. 1/17
(See? I wasn’t totally out of it.)“When time seems to pass slowly, later we often wonder how quick it was after that time has passed. No matter how hard we might try, we cannot cling to the moments other than in memory, which often is unreliable. Did things really happen the way we remember? If indeed we remember at all…” So true, Arlee!
Here we go……
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Note: There was no video available for Rick Springfield, so I’m using audio files this time.
If they don’t work, please try a different browser. Some people had problems with the second one.
AMBROSIA
Ambrosia is an American rock band. Formed in southern California in 1970, they had five Top 40 hit singles on Warner Bros. Records between 1975 and 1980. Most of the original band members have been active with the group continuously for the past 25 years. “Holding on to Yesterday”, written by band members David Pack and Joe Puerta, was the third track from their debut album, “Ambrosia”, released in February 1975. It was a Top 20 hit for 14 weeks.
VS
RICK SPRINGFIELD
Rick Springfield (born Richard Lewis Springthorpe; 23 August 1949) is an Australian musician, singer, songwriter, actor and author. “Holding on to Yesterday” is the 6th track from his 14th studio album, “The Day After Yesterday”, released in July 2005, which was mostly a compilation of cover songs.
VOTE NOW!
Please state your preference in comments below and why you chose it.
Voting remains open until 11:59 pm ET Jan. 21st,
after which I will count the votes, add mine and publish the results.
These are the other BOTB regulars and semi-regulars.
Please cruise on by their sites and, if they have a post up, vote on their selections as well:
[Check back – there’s no set posting time]Angels Bark / Cherdo On The Flipside / Curious as a Cathy / Jingle Jangle Jungle / Mike’s Ramblings / Sound of One Hand Typing / HOST: StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands / Tossing It Out / Your Daily Dose
As always, “Sharing is Caring”. Spread this musical joy all over your social networks.
Hashtag is #BOTB
HOLDING ON TO YESTERDAY | BATTLE OF THE BANDS #BOTB Who did it better? Cast your vote! #dogladysden Share on X
Until next time.
ROCK ON!
♫♪♫♪♫ Rockchick Rapture!
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Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
41 thoughts on “HOLDING ON TO YESTERDAY | BATTLE OF THE BANDS #BOTB”
Ambrosia gets my vote! Sorry so brief this go-round! Busy worky work week. Thanks for a great set o’ tunes!
No problem. At least you made it. 🙂 I think Ambrosia has this one locked up. Thanks for voting, Cherdo. Have a good weekend.
For some reason I had it in my mind I’d already voted here, but NO. So I’m arriving unfashionably late, but I’m here! I liked the softer sound of Ambrosia. It came off as sweeter and more sentimental to these ears.
As the saying goes: “Better Late Than Never”. 🙂 Thanks for your vote. Ambrosia gets another one!
Hi Deb,
Happy New Year!
I like both of these versions. The original version is rhythmically similar to Santana. The cover version starts out with an intro with the hammond organ, if I am not mistaken, and it picks up the beat and gives the song an optimistic lift in comparison to the original which seems to drag it.
So my vote is for the cover version with Rick Springfield.
Have a great day.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat
Happy New Year, Pat! That’s two in a row for Rick. 🙂 His version does seem more upbeat. Thanks for voting,
Such a great song! I’ve always been a fan of Ambrosia, and though I feel like a traitor, I’m voting for Rick Springfield – always liked him too. 😉 I think his version is more of acceptance, rather than resignation.
I’m so glad to see a vote for Rick Springfield! Thanks, diedre. 🙂 His version does seem more upbeat, but Ambrosia has a strong lead at this point.
I’m surprised by Rick Springfield who did a good job with this song but I have to give it to Ambrosia who makes this song sound Dream like to me. I like their musical styling more. Hope you had a great time with your hubby
Hi, Birgit; People are liking Rick’s version, but not more than Ambrosia’s. 🙂 Thanks for your vote. Ambrosia gets another one!
Debbie, I’m not sure if I remember this song or not but it doesn’t matter. I really like it and both artists did a fab job. However, I prefer the mellow sound of Ambrosia better making the song, “Hold Onto to Yesterday” feel more relevant to the mood. So, I’m giving my vote to Ambrosia but I won’t be sorry if Springfield gets it. Good battle, my friend!
Hi, Cathy; “More relevant to the mood” is a great description! Thanks for your vote. Looks like Ambrosia is going to win this one by a mile. I thought it would be closer, but, one never knows. I’m glad you enjoyed the battle. Cheers!
I saw Rick Springfield perform at a county fair, a dozen or so years ago. Great show. He sang well, and told many anecdotal stories. It provided a great set of memories to hold onto. I will cast a vote his way, if I might.
Yay! FINALLY a vote for poor Rick. I’m sorry to say, he’s lagging way behind. He does have a great voice, doesn’t he? I enjoyed his performance in Meryl Streep’s movie “Ricki and the Flash”. Thanks, Myke. 🙂
Good to see you back!
What a lovely surprise to see you, Omid! Thanks for dropping in. 🙂 Best wishes for a great year.
You know, I can’t remember ever hearing this. Strange if it spent that much time in the Top 20, but I really can’t remember having heard this before today.
Anyway, it’s a good song regardless of who does it, but I’ll give my vote here to Ambrosia, who recorded it originally. I just liked the Seventies sound they gave it.
Hi, John; I’m glad you enjoyed the song. Another vote for Ambrosia. Thanks and Happy New Year!
Howdy, DEBBIE! ~
I have always adored this song. This is one of those that can even make me a little misty-eyed if it catches me at the wrong (or right?) moment.
A great many years ago I purchased a compilation CD titled ’70s Greatest Rock Hits, Volume 5: Kickin’ Back’. I still have it and still play it. It includes only 9 tracks, but 3 of them are songs that I simply HAD to own — no ifs, ands, or buts. ‘Reminiscing’ by the Little River Band, ‘Walking In Rhythm’ by the Blackbyrds, and ‘Holdin’ On To Yesterday’ by Ambrosia.
I own the song; didn’t need to play your audio file. But I played it anyway because I’m not one to pass up an opportunity to hear that song, ever!
Unfortunately, the Rick Springfield file would not play for me at all. But I assure you, Debbie, it makes no difference. (I checked YouTube and Spotify for it but neither had it.) It doesn’t matter, because I would have listened to Springfield only to be fair. Even if I liked his version, there was zero, zilch, nada, NO possible chance he could have stolen my vote from Ambrosia. I can say that with 101% certaintly and 0% equivocation.
Here is a pretty reasonable comparison:
Me voting for Springfield (or any other artist) over AMBROSIA on this one particular song, would be like if you used the song ‘Good Vibrations’ by the Beach Boys and matched up ANY OTHER ARTIST’S COVER against them. There’s a “Less Than Zero” chance I would vote for “Any Other Artist” over the Beach Boys on ‘Good Vibrations’. That’s about how I feel when it comes to ‘Holdin’ On To Yesterday’ and Ambrosia.
So will you please give my vote to Ambrosia, even though Springfield never got a chance to prove to me that he couldn’t possibly get my vote? Thanks, Debbie!
~ D-FensDogG
Check out my new blog @
(Link:] Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews…
The bloody file wouldn’t play?! GRR! Now I remember why I hate iTunes. 🙁 (Somebody else said it was cutting out.) Apparently, it was some other kind of file (m4v?) and not mp3. I’ve converted it to mp3 in the meantime, so please try it again, if you have the time, Stephen. You know, just to confirm there’s no way you could consider any version other than Ambrosia’s 🙂 and to see if it will work now. (I couldn’t find a Rick Springfield video or audio anywhere, except for purchase.) That’s one emphatic vote for Ambrosia. This is shaping up to be yet another blowout. Looks like I’m losing my touch!. I’ll remember not to use “Good Vibrations” in any future BOTBs. 🙂
Well, I think ‘Good Vibrations’ by The Beach Boys would be a good song to use (…if you’re in the BOTB market for a shutout:-)
The Rick Springfield file still would not play for me, although the Ambrosia one worked just fine. But then I got an idea, and just as an experiment, I switched from my usual browser, Mozilla Firefox, and into Google Chrome, and I tried it again. And guess what! The Rick Springfield audio file played for me. Yay! (Something to remember for the future.)
But guess what else!!
The song remains the sa— er… I mean, my VOTE remains the same. :o)
~ D-FensDogG
I’ve had too many blowouts to risk it. 😛 Plus, (don’t yell at me) I’m not much of a Beach Boys fan. So glad the file finally worked for you, Stephen! I tested it in Chrome, Firefox, IE and my cell phone and it worked in all of them. Not surprised by your answer. Thanks for coming back, though. 🙂
I liked the Ambrosia version much more. It wasn’t so synthesized and felt cleaner and more authentic. Also it felt nostalgic for me which is often a factor for me liking music though I’m not that familiar with this piece. It did have a real seventies sound to it.
Thanks for dropping in, Cathy. Your vote for Ambrosia is duly noted. Looks like they’re going to easily win this battle! 🙂 The nostalgia factor is huge for me, too; lots of memories attached. I still have the 45. Cheers!
Oh I so like Ambrosia’s rich version, but Rick Springfield’s version is super hot too. Really tough choice. I think I’m going with Ambrosia on this one. But only by a little. I could’ve easily voted for Rick. Both excellent versions!
Such a great song choice, Debbie. Thanks!
Michele at Angels Bark
HI, Michele; I thought this battle would be a lot closer, but, like you, most everyone is going with Ambrosia. Thanks for your vote. I’m glad you like Rick Springfield’s version too. He does have a sexy voice. 🙂
Looks like Ricks in real trouble, and that’s a shame. I always was a fan, and he does a great job I may have to look on Spotify for this one! HOWever. Ambrosia’s version is one of those songs that ripped my heart open from a young age, and I’m afraid I can do nothing to help Rick here. Ambrosia for me.
Rick doesn’t stand a chance, going by the votes, so far. Looks like another blowout in the making 😛 His recording of this song is nowhere online – I checked – unless you want to buy it, which I did. Only 89 cents. I’ll send you the file. 🙂 I know what you mean about the original – lots of memories there. Another vote for Ambrosia. Thanks!
I did just check Spotify, and they do indeed skip that lp, like you said. Bummer.
Yes, I looked everywhere, too. Have you checked your email? I sent you the mp3, using the email address you specified for your comment. Let me know if you didn’t get it and I’ll resend it.
Got it! Thanks.
You’re welcome. 🙂 Too bad Rick is so far behind, here.
Love the smooth, nostalgic sound of Ambrosia. Arlee’s quote rings true and you better understand that when you write about your story and then let it go. Not good to hold on! Thanks to both of you! I enjoy following your blogs. 🙂
Thanks for your support, Mary Lou. I enjoy your blog, as well. 🙂 Your vote gives Ambrosia a commanding lead. Could be another blowout! Holding on to grudges and/or regrets can detract from one’s quality of life. I prefer remembering the good times. Cheers!
This is exactly how my year is starting out. Trying to hold on yesterday. I realize that I may have held on to too much yesterday, and so I need to let some of that go in order to progress to tomorrow.
My vote goes to Ambrosia. I loved the flow of the song and it felt quite nostalgic.
Sounds like you’re at a crossroads of sorts, Mary. Good luck on your journey! 🙂 Trying to recapture the past never works. I think of this song more in the sense of holding on to the good memories. Thanks for your vote. That’s three in a row for Ambrosia. Have a good week!
Have to go with Ambrosia, since Rick’s track kept cutting out after 18 secs.
Sorry you had trouble with the audio file, cat. 🙁 There’s no video available, unfortunately. Thanks for your vote, nonetheless. Another one for Ambrosia.
Glad to provide the inspiration and for such a great song. This is a song that I like a lot–brings back such memories (what I can remember at least).
I like the idea of using the sound files since that just leaves the song to focus on. But videos are cool too.
This is a tough choice. I’m not familiar with the Rick Springfield version, but I got into it rather quickly. Nice version. Love the guitar work.
But he doesn’t outdo the wistful dreamy version of Ambrosia. That’s the one that carries me back (back to yesterday). It’s such a haunting song and Ambrosia gives the song the haunting sound it deserves.
Thanks for evoking the past with this wonderful tune.
My vote goes to Ambrosia. Besides it’s got that violin and that’s part of what grabbed me so much about their version when I first heard it.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
“Haunting” is a great word for this song! I thought of it as soon as I read your Jan. 1st BOTB title, so thanks for the inspiration. 🙂 There was no video for Rick Springfield’s version anywhere, so I just bought the mp3. It was cheap and a nice edition to the music library. Since Ambrosia’s version was already in there, I used that file as well, for consistency. First vote goes to Ambrosia.