Welcome to another edition of
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB), hosted by Far Away Series and 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.)
♫♫ Today’s battle features two exceptional musicians with Canadian ties. ♫♫
HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN
HISTORY:
[reference only – please do not vote on this one.]“Hoochie Coochie Man“ (originally titled “I’m Your Hoochie Cooche Man”) is a blues standard, written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954.
The song references hoodoo folk magic elements and makes novel use of a stop-time musical arrangement. It became one of Waters’ most popular and identifiable songs and helped secure Dixon’s role as Chess Records‘ chief songwriter.
The single entered Billboard magazine’s Rhythm & Blues Records charts on March 13, 1954, reaching number three on the Juke Box chart and number eight on the Best Seller chart. It remained on the charts for 13 weeks, making it Waters’ most successful record up to that time.
The original appears on the 1958 The Best of Muddy Waters album and many compilations. Numerous musicians have recorded “Hoochie Coochie Man” in a variety of styles, making it one of the most interpreted Waters and Dixon songs. See the list of covers HERE.
The Blues Foundation and the Grammy Hall of Fame recognize the song for its influence in popular music and the US Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry selected it for preservation in 2004. – WIKIPEDIA
The foregoing serves as background information only.
Now, on to the actual contest……
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JOHN KAY & STEPPENWOLF
John Kay (born Joachim Fritz Krauledat, in East Prussia, Germany, now Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) is a German-Canadian-American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf. [Read more HERE.]
Hoochie Coochie Man is the 4th track of the band’s self-titled debut album, (#1 in Canada, #6 in the U.S.), released in January, 1968.
VS
THE JEFF HEALEY BAND
Norman Jeffrey “Jeff” Healey (March 25, 1966 – March 2, 2008) was a blind, Toronto-born jazz and blues-rock vocalist and guitarist who attained musical and personal popularity, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, including a major role in the 1989 Patrick Swayze movie, “Road House”).
He and his band performed Hoochie Coochie Man in the film and it is part of the soundtrack album.
VOTE NOW!
Please state your preference in comments below and why you chose it.
Voting remains open until 10 am EDT, Sept. 21,
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 / Book Lover / Cherdo On The Flipside / Curious as a Cathy / DC Relief BOTB / Far Away Series / Holli’s Hoots & Hollers / J.A. Scott /Jingle Jangle Jungle / Mike’s Ramblings / Novel Brews / Quiet Laughter / Sound of One Hand Typing / StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands / Tossing It Out / Women: We Shall Overcome / Your Daily Dose
HOSTS
As always, “Sharing is Caring”. Spread this musical joy all over your social networks.
Hashtag is #BOTB
Until next time.
ROCK ON!
♫♪♫♪♫ Rockchick Rapture!
COMING UP THIS MONTH:
DATE T.B.A.:
THE YEAR WAS 1967 – #MUSICAL MEMORIESPart 3 of the continuing “Soundtrack of my Life” series. See previous entries HERE.
SEPT. 27:
RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD ROCK CHICKFeatured guest post at Jingle Jangle Jungle. Thanks, Mary!
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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!
48 thoughts on “HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN – BATTLE OF THE BANDS #BOTB”
Really tough one today Deb. All three are awesome (I have that Steppenwolf CD, one of my favorites to play). Jeff does a superior version – loved it in Road House – so he get my vote. I could listen to both all day though and still have a tough time deciding which is better.
I know – it’s really hard! 🙂 After the blowouts I’ve been getting, it’s about time for a close battle. Your vote for Jeff puts him in the lead again, but for how long? Thanks for coming by.
I love your battle. A legendary song done by two incredible talents. In another tough battle I will vote for Steppenwolf, they had a dirtier, muddy sound and that gets my vote. Jeff’s version was smoother and featured some great guitar solos.
Ooh – I love those “dirty, muddy” sounds, too. 🙂 Thanks for voting, Mike. Another one for Steppenwolf.
I might be prejudiced because I just saw Road House, but I voted for the The Jeff Healey Band. Better sound all the way around! Although I’ve always liked Steppenwolf!
You’ve put Jeff back in the lead, Yolanda. Thanks for voting. 🙂 I really want to watch Road House again, soon. Love it!
Great song. This is gonna be a tight race to the finish. My vote goes to the bluesy sound of The Jeff Healey Band, Debbie!
😀 I love how this battle is turning out! Thanks for your vote, Cathy. Jeff Healey it is and we are tied again.
My vote goes to Steppenwolf..No brownie points for guessing that han…
Great Post.. Thanks for Sharing !
Ananya Fashions and More
Thanks for coming by to vote. Another one for Steppenwolf! 🙂
Seems like my vote for Steppenwolf made it even stevens for both. 😉 It’s Steppenwolf for me. Could it be that they’re a more familiar sound?
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted…The Dislike Button is Coming
We have a tie! Thanks, Corinne 😀 That’s the first time this happened here. Another vote for Steppenwolf.
I voted for Steppenwolf. I had a hard time choosing, mostly because both versions sounded very similar to me, but I just ended up liking the first one better because the voice is a little more to my liking and the guitar was just more bluesy sounding than Jeff Healey’s version.
Thanks, Madilyn. This is a close battle and we’ll see if your vote for Steppenwolf is a deciding factor. 🙂 Another mention of the voice; I love that voice!
I like the sound of Steppenwolf on this song. Feels more bluesy to me.
Which is what the song should be.
After a rash of Jeff Healey votes, another one for Steppenwolf comes through. Thanks, Jeffrey. 🙂
John Kay & Steppenwolf is a great live act and Hoochie Coochie Man a highlight of every concert. 🙂 Road House is a fun action film that has attained cult status over the years. Jeff Healey had some stellar performances in the film, including this song. Thanks for your vote. Jeff Healey must be smiling, somewhere.
The original Muddy Waters version is so good, every other version pales in comparison. In this case, I’m going with the version that sounds the most like his, and that’s Jeff Healey’s. Steppenwolf sounds like they’re playing the backing from “Mannish Boy,” and it’s just wrong.
I had to check out that reference to “Mannish Boy” and found this: Enjoy! 😀
Thanks for your vote, John. That’s another one for Jeff. He has a healthy lead at the moment.
I vote for Steppenwolf. I love their style and the raunchy voice. This was a tough one because I also love Jeff Healey but I must go with the first one. I had no idea that the lead singer is German and from East Prussia. He had a tough early life if he was part of the huge march (another death march). My mom’s best friend was in that area as well and was part of that march to leave Germany.
Ah yes, the raunchy voice gets me every time, Birgit! 😀 John Kay did have a difficult early childhood. His father was killed in the war and he and his mother fled to the west, landing in Hannover. She eventually got remarried and the family came to Toronto when John was 15. This is where he got his musical start, frequenting the old Yorkville hippie scene. Thanks for your vote. That’s another one for Steppenwolf.
Interesting choices but as a Blues fan I go with Kay for his voice best suits the genre in my not so humble opinion. 🙂 Purrr…
Another vote for Steppenwolf and John’s great vocals. Thanks, Chi Chi! 🙂
Hey Debbie.
Steppenwolf had a couple of songs I liked… but I was never a fan. I recall Jeff Healey doing ‘Road House’. What a movie! (A “kick ass & take names” to a musical experience.) I like his version here better, so log me for Jeff. Thank you!
Dixie
Oh yeah; Road House is such a fun movie! 😀 Jeff’s music sure added a lot to the soundtrack. Thanks for your vote; Jeff does it again.
Another vote for the Healey boys here… I do like Steppenwolf, but Jeff does it better. Okay, he sounds better 🙂 Not sure why… There was some grungy feel to Steppenwolf that worked for maybe the first minute, then began to make me wince. Whereas Jeff’s version I can’t get enough of, haha. Great picks for a battle, Debbie!
Hi Guilie; Personally, I love the grungy rock vibe but Jeff’s version is also outstanding. Glad you enjoyed the battle. Adding your vote for Jeff to the tally. He is in the lead, at present. 🙂
This was a really good battle. Both versions are good and I see the voting is going back and forth.
Cast my vote for The Jeff Healey Band. Listening to this makes me want to watch Road House!
Road House is an action movie turned cult classic. Never a dull moment! 🙂 I want to watch it again, now.
Thanks for your vote, Robin. That’s another one for Mr, Healey.
At first glance of this BATTLE, I thought Steppenwolf for sure (I believe I own that album – don’t ask), but after listening, I give my vote to Jeff Healey and that great bluesy sound. Great BATTLE that took me by surprise.
I’m glad you enjoyed the battle, FAE. This one will definitely be closer than the last one! Another vote for Jeff. Thank you.
Steppenwolf holds my sway, in this skirmish… I have not heard this track since I misplaced my first Steppenwolf 8-Track cartridge… I still think Julia Hefferman “borrowed” that tape when I was looking the other way.
Hi Myke. Thanks for your vote; another one for Steppenwolf. They do a killer version of this, live. 🙂
Wow! This one might be a real close call! But I do prefer and always have been a fan of Jeff Healy 🙂
It certainly will be closer than the last one! 🙂 Thanks for voting. Another one for Jeff. He’s currently in the lead.
I remember the Muddy Waters version and the Steppenwolf version. All three versions are good, but I’m going to cast my vote for the Jeff Healey version. It just sounded right. I never saw the movie, though.
Hi Mary; Road House is an action film that has attained cult status over the years. It was one of Jeff Healey’s career highlights and he later opened a nightclub in Toronto called, what else? “Jeff Healey’s Roadhouse”. 🙂 Your vote for Jeff is duly noted. Thanks for participating in the battle.
Wow, both versions are good. I don’t remember seeing Jeff Healy perform in Roadhouse. Love that movie!
My vote is going for Steppenwolf (no surprise there!) 🙂 I liked their version better as it just seemed richer.
(The Muddy Waters version wouldn’t load: said the video is unavailable). I LOVE Muddy Waters and will never forget seeing him perform in Niagara Falls shortly before his death.
Really good battle Debbie!
HI Michele;
Sorry about the Muddy Waters video. I found a different one that should work and edited the post. How cool that you saw him live!
Thanks for your vote. Steppenwolf it is! I’ve seen them live twice and this number brought the house down, each time. 😀
Oh yes, now I remember! Thanks for posting that video Debbie. That is such a great movie. <3
Now I want to watch it again! 🙂
Steppenwolf got my vote! Groovin’ over here! Glad you’re back…hope your vacation was all it was supposed to be.
Steppenwolf is definitely groovin’. 😀 Thanks for your vote, Angelika. We had a good holiday overall, despite a few minor glitches with accommodations.
I’m a huge MUDDY H2Os fan. (I have a Muddy song on my ‘Future BOTBs’ list, but I’ll probably never use it because I doubt I could find a cover that could give Muddy even a slight fight.)
In this case, I resoundingly vote for JEFF HEALEY.
The Steppenwolf version has that sloppy psychedelic sound that I got sick of by the early 1980s. Healey’s version is pretty loose, too, but it seems tighter and more Bluesy than does the Hard Rock cover by Steppenfetchit. Er… I mean, “Steppenwolf”.
~ D-FensDogG
‘Loyal American Underground’
Well, you could always do duelling covers, like I have, here. 🙂
Your resounding vote for Jeff Healey is duly noted. Personally, I never get sick of the psychedelic sound, but also love the blues. Jeff Healey’s live performance of this song in the Road House movie is even better than the recorded version. If he wins the battle, I’ll post it.
Well durn! You pulled a funky move here. Not a favorite song of mine, but you managed to put up two versions that are very very good.
I have at least one or two Jeff Healey albums in my collection. I like his style. He gives this song a more authentically traditional sounding take.
I’ve followed Steppenwolf since they first entered the scene in the late 1960’s. I like the organ in their songs and this recording is no exception. Also the piano is a fun touch.
Both great choices, but I cast my vote for Steppenwolf.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
I’m glad you enjoyed the song choices, Lee. Nice to see a fellow Steppenwolf fan, as well. 🙂 Jeff Healey was a fantastic jazz/blues musician and I know this one is a tough choice. Thanks for your vote. That’s one for Steppenwolf.