WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR OF BOTB!
BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB), hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands is where you listen to different recordings (usually of cover songs) and vote for the one you like best. There are two “Battles” per month, on the 1st and 15th. (Some of us choose one date OR the other. Mine are scheduled for the 15th only.) Votes will be tallied and posted the following week. Click HERE to view all my BOTB entries.
♫ This showdown features an iconic Blues song, covered by two incredible artists.
It was suggested by our host, Stephen. Thanks for the idea! ♫
HISTORY
“I Believe To My Soul” is a song written by American musician/composer Ray Charles (1930-2004). It is the eigth track from his album “The Genius Sings The Blues”, released in 1961 and reissued in 2003.
[Reference only. NOT eligible for voting!]
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ERIC BURDON (AND THE ANIMALS)
Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer-songwriter and actor. He was previously the vocalist of rock band The Animals and funk band War. He is regarded as one of the British Invasion’s most distinctive singers with his deep, powerful blues-rock voice. He is also known for his aggressive stage performances.
“I Believe To My Soul” is the fifth track from The Animals’ second U.S. studio album, “The Animals On Tour”, released in 1965. The song also appears on several compilation albums.
VS
VAN MORRISON (AND THE CALEDONIA SOUL ORCHESTRA)
Sir George Ivan “Van” Morrison OBE (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer- songwriter, instrumentalist and record producer. His professional career began as a teenager in the late 1950s.
“I Believe To My Soul” is the fifth track from his live double album, “It’s Too Late To Stop Now”, released in 1974. It features performances from 1973 concerts in California and London, England, during Morrison’s three-month tour with his eleven-piece band, the Caledonia Soul Orchestra.
VOTE NOW!
Please state your preference in comments below and why you chose it.
Voting remains open until 11:59 pm, 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]ai love music / 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 / Storms and Stardust / Tossing it Out
As always, “Sharing is Caring”. Spread this musical joy all over your social networks.
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I BELIEVE TO MY SOUL | BATTLE OF THE BANDS #BOTB Who did it better? #dogladysen #blues Share on X
Next Battle on this site will be Feb. 15th.
Coming up:
Monday, January 20th:
ROCK ON!
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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!
40 thoughts on “I BELIEVE TO MY SOUL #BOTB”
Jan 22 … Oops, looks like I missed “the train” … anyway, I would have picked the Van Man:) Love, cat.
I have to go with Van Morrison that just put more passion into the song. I had to go to YouTube to play it. The circle just kept …circling:)
Van gets another one! This is turning into a close battle, after all. 🙂 Thanks, Birgit. Sorry you had trouble with the video. I just tried it and it works. Temporary glitch, I guess.
What a battle! Similar artists. I am going to go away from Van the Man and vote for The Animals
Similar, yet not the same. 🙂 Thanks for your vote. Eric and his Animals get another one!
Excellent battle! I wasn’t familiar with the tune, but I do know both Eric Burdon and Van Morrison. I listened twice before making my decision. I’m voting for Van Morrison here
Thanks for coming by to vote, Mary. 🙂 That’s another one for Van Morrison. Wishing you all the best in regards to your own battle. ?
Oh goodness, way to make it hard on me! I love both The Animals AND Van Morrison, and I feel both did Ray Charles’ original justice. But in my opinion, Van’s version blows The Animals’ version right out of the water. Van’s seemed to have more energy, and energy that really resonated with me. Great battle!
Hard choices make for good battles. 🙂 Thanks for coming by to vote. This one goes to Van Morrison. He really does get into the performance.
I’m going with The Animals on this one. I like Eric Burdon’s voice better than Van Morrison’s.
Another vote for Eric and the Animals. Thanks, John. 🙂
Hands down Eric Burdon and The Animals. Honestly tho, who can top Ray Charles?
Thanks for that decisive vote. Eric & Co, are cleaning up, here. 🙂 Ray Charles was one of a kind.
Both of these are very nice. I have settled on The Animals, for the sake of choosing.
The Animals
Yes, they are pretty evenly matched. Thanks for voting. Eric & Co. get another one! 🙂
I vote for The Animals. I like Eric Burdon’s bluesy voice and the little touches of piano.
Love,
Janie
Hi Janie; Thanks for voting. Eric & Co. are on a roll! 🙂
I thought when I heard the horns on Van’s version it would win me, but the up and down pacing wasn’t for me. Animals for me!
Thanks for voting. Eric and The Animals get another one! 🙂
I enjoyed both versions, but I prefer Eric Burdon & The Animal’s cover by a few phrases.
Another vote for Eric Burdon & The Animals. Thank you, Roland. 🙂
DEBBIE ~
I like both Eric and Van. And I like both renditions of this song. BUT(!)… I definitely prefer the VAN MORRISON version. (I’m sure you saw that coming.)
Van has stated that he felt the band he had touring with him at the time this version of ‘I Believe To My Soul’ was recorded was very special and it may have been the high-water mark of his musical career. I don’t know that I agree with that, but I can certainly understand why Van felt that way. That band IS fabulous, and by comparison, it makes Eric Burdon’s backing sound almost minimalist. And there is a lot to be said for the idea that “less is more”, but in this case, I think “more is more”, and the richness of Van’s rendition and his band’s musical interplay really makes it soulfully stand out.
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Hi Stephen! I would have been shocked had you not voted for Van. 🙂 We talked about this album and your love of the band, before. It was a foregone conclusion. Thanks for adding your two cents.
As a fan of both contenders, I have to believe it’s just the (another) done-me-wrong song I don’t care for 😉 At any rate, Eric and his Animals had a smoother sound, a tighter grip on a shifty situation.
Sorry you didn’t like the song, diedre. Thanks for casting a vote, anyway. Another one for Eric and his Animals.
I’m going with Van Morrison on this one. He’s got more soul than the Animals.
Have a fabulous day, Debbie. ♥
Another “soulful” vote for Van Morrison. Thank you, Sandee! 🙂
Wowza! Tough choice, Debbie! I like both of these and I going with Eric Burdon and The Animals. I like Eric Burdon’s voice.
Tough choices make for good battles. 🙂 Another vote for Eric Burdon. Thanks, Eugenia!
Debbie,
This is a hard battle. Both artists bring something different to their covers resonating well with my ears. I agree with Lee, the Animals have a clean edge vocally while giving it an extra bluesy punch that’s needed for character. Van Morrison’s sounds more raw giving his rendition a lot of texture and makes me feel his soul better. I’m casting my ballot for Morrison!
A soulful vote for Van Morrison. Thank you, Cathy. 🙂
Wow, that’s a tough one. I love them both.
They are good, aren’t they? 🙂 This is a contest, though, so please come back and choose one. Thanks!
Since Georgia’s alwasy on my mind, I”ll have to go with Ray Charles.
Sorry, he’s not eligible for voting! It’s between Eric Burdon and Van Morrison. I think you’re toying with me, Paul. 😀
Just keeping you on your tose! Eric Burdon for sure. But it really is a close call for me. I love the music of that era.
That was a great era, for sure. Thank you for a vote, at long last! 🙂 That’s one for Eric Burdon.
Oddly enough, though I know all of these artists, I don’t recall ever having heard this song. Certainly not enough to remember it.
Both of the competing versions are quite good, but my overall preference leans toward Eric Burden and the Animals. Nice and clean while being real down and dirty at the same time.
Nice pairing.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I’m surprised you don’t know this song, Lee. It was a pretty big hit for Ray Charles, I believe. First vote goes to Eric Burdon. I love your description! 😀