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.)
#BOTB Battle of the Bands: NO MILK TODAY - Who did it better? Come on over and vote. #dogladysden Share on X
♫♫ This song will also be featured in the upcoming chapter of Musical Memories.
Today’s battle is a celebration of diversity in musical stylings. ♫♫
NO MILK TODAY
HISTORY:
[reference only – please do not vote on this one]From Wikipedia: “No Milk Today” is a song that was written by Graham Gouldman and originally recorded by British pop band Herman’s Hermits. It was first released as a single in the UK in October 1966 and, with the B-side “My Reservation’s Been Confirmed”, enjoyed chart success, peaking at No. 7. Although not released as a single in the US (“Dandy” was released in its place with the same B-side), it was popular enough to become a moderate hit when it was released there as the B-side to “There’s a Kind of Hush”, reaching No. 35 in 1967 (the A-side reaching No. 4). It was also a major hit in many European countries. Later the song was recorded by Gouldman himself as the sole single from his 1968 debut album “The Graham Gouldman Thing” and, in 2006, it was included on the compilation album “Greatest Hits … And More”, released by Gouldman’s own band 10cc. You can listen to it HERE, but it’s not part of the contest.
The foregoing serves as background information only.
Now, on to the actual contest……
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ROYAL GIGOLOS
The Royal Gigolos, (aka Royal DJs) were a German “Pumptech” group, founded in 2003. “No Milk Today” was the second single from their debut album, “Musique Deluxe”. It reached the Top Five in various dance and sales charts worldwide.
VS
JOSHUA JAMES AND THE FOREST RANGERS
Joshua James is an American singer-songwriter. In 2010, he collaborated with The Forest Rangers, in-house band for the TV series Sons of Anarchy, to record a cover of “No Milk Today” for the season three debut episode.
VOTE NOW!
Please state your preference in comments below and why you chose it.
Voting remains open until noon, ET Sept. 7,
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!
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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!
52 thoughts on “NO MILK TODAY – BATTLE OF THE BANDS #BOTB”
I vote for Joshua James. Their sound works with the words. However, I appreciate the Royal Gigolos using me in their video.
Love,
Janie
Another vote for Joshua. Thanks for coming by, Janie. 🙂 You look good in the video. 😉
Thanks! I think so, too. I don’t even have on make-up, so you can imagine how great I look when I get my hair done and put on a little face powder.
Debbie, This Herman’s Hermits original is not one of my favorites. Both cover artists put an nice twist of their own to the oldie. Oddly, I liked the moodier track of Joshua James the best. Incidentally we have Sons of Anarchy setting in our Netflix que. We heard its a good series. Eventually, we’ll work our way to getting around to viewing it. Nice battle!
Hi Cathy; The original wasn’t that well known in the U.S., but I’m glad you enjoyed the covers. Joshua really knows how to convey moodiness in a song. 🙂 Thanks for your vote. SoA is a riveting show and I loved it, including the soundtrack. It’s intense and violent, just like the lives of real outlaw biker gangs. One becomes completely absorbed in that world and the characters who inhabit it. Hope you like it too.
Royal Gigolos in a heartbeat… Everybody Jump!
It was difficult to navigate Joshua (in his pain) James, for the entire track. Man, that was awful, a veritable train wreck.
The Herman’s Hermits version is in my All Time Top 300 Pop/Rock Tracks of all time. Love that record…
Hi Myke; The Gigolos are a lively bunch, for sure. 🙂 Your vote is duly noted, but, it’s not looking too good for them, thus far. Nice to know you’re a fan of the original as well. Thanks for coming by.
Joshua James by a country mile and then some!
You and Stephen both! 🙂 Joshua James it is. 🙂 Seems to be the overwhelming favourite. Thanks for voting.
My vote goes to Joshua James by a country mile. I couldn’t even make it all the way through that first one. I was ready to pull my hair out.
~ D-FensDogG
‘Loyal American Underground’
[Laughing at the mental image of Stephen tearing his hair out] 😀
Your vote will help Joshua James win this battle by a country mile. Not a shutout, but it’s shaping up to be a decisive victory.
Nice battle! My vote goes for JOSHUA JAMES AND THE FOREST RANGERS. They had more emotion to the song.
I’m glad you enjoyed this battle, Mike. Including your vote, Joshua James is running away with it. 🙂
I have got to go with the version by the Royal Gigolos! Loving that dance vibe and happy beat. The other version is a bit to reminiscent of dying cows for my tastes. 🙂
Thanks for coming by, Kathy. Your vote for Royal Gigolos is duly noted. Love the “dying cows” comment! 😀
I love this song! I got the single with “There’s A Kind of Hush” as the A side for my 11th birthday. Both sides were great, “No Milk Today” was a little bit greater. It was a real departure for Peter Noone and the band; most of their stuff was happy and up, and this wasn’t.
But it wasn’t quite as slow and melancholy as Joshua James. That was just a little too dark and sad. The Royal Gigolos version was all kinds of fun, and I like the setting of the video (I know, it shouldn’t count, and I actually listened to it with the video off the screen first). I spent a Friday afternoon walking from Santa Monica Pier to Muscle Beach (and back) back when I could walk like that. It was warm, real sunny, and it was just the greatest experience I’ve had alone.
Anyway, cast my vote for the Royal Gigolos (I voted above).
Nice to find someone who knows the song as well as I do! I still love it too, after all these years. 🙂 Looks like you’re in the minority here, choosing Royal Gigolos, but maybe there will be some last minute voting. Walking in the California sunshine sounds lovely.
In really enjoyed JOSHUA JAMES version even more than the original. Lovely!
Thanks for voting, Yolanda. Yet another one for Joshua. 🙂
Hey, I’ve met Peter Noone – do I get brownie points? I actually got excited when I saw that you had Herman’s Hermits’ hit at the top of the page. Love that tune!
In fact, all three versions are lovely – but Joshua James? WHOOO-AH! He gets my vote, big time! The SOA series really pulled in some top notch tunes and covers. This was no exception.
A VOTE FOR JOSH!
Meeting Peter Noone certainly ups your cool factor, Cherdo. 🙂 I’m glad you were familiar with the song too. Yes, the SoA soundtrack has some real gems. Another vote for Joshua. He’s running away with this one!
Can’t say as I’ve heard any version of that song before so I listened to all three. Seems the song (lyrics) itself demands a more contemplative style and Joshua James and his gang pulled it off quite nicely. Joshua for me, please:-)
Yes, it’s a sad song, for sure. Another vote for Joshua. Thanks, Diedre.:)
Hello Debbie! Interesting battle. I don’t know the song but I did like the Joshua James’ version a lot!! My vote goes to him, please. (I also have a battle up today.)
Thanks for coming by, Dixie. That’s another vote for Joshua. I enjoyed your battle as well. 🙂
You had me at SoA – Joshua James, hands down.
Another SoA fan! 😀 Thanks for playing, Mimi. Joshua is running away with this battle.
I like Joshua James version best. I knew I would as soon as I read that he had SOA ties. 🙂 But really, I did like his version better. The other just sounded like a TV commercial to me. Good battle! Great info.
Michele at Angels Bark
I thought you might enjoy this, Michele, since you’re a fellow SoA fan. 🙂 Your vote for Joshua puts him way out in front now.
Two very different versions of this song. I didn’t like the technopop one at all. I think I just don’t care much for technopop, so it wasn’t personal. However, the Joshua James version was outstanding IMO. Loved it.
Hi Robin; Technopop is definitely an acquired taste. 🙂 Thanks for voting. Joshua it is! He has a healthy lead at the moment.
I really like the Joshua James version. It’s mellow and even though I’ve watched all of SoA (loved it, except that awful ending) I don’t recognize it from the show… so that’s not an influencing factor 🙂
Thanks, Madilyn. 🙂 Another vote for Joshua. This was from the first episode of the third season.
No problem! I saw that above, just still not recalling it. I’ll have to go watch it again (which is no issue, really). 🙂
I didn’t recognize the title of the Herman’s Hermits song, but it vaguely came back to mind as I listened to it. I’d heard it a few times, but as you said, it wasn’t that well-known here in the States.
Neither of the contenders thrilled me and I had almost decided to not vote, but then I decided to vote for the Joshua James version. Why? He at least kept “in tune” with the lyrics. It was a sad song and the German group was just too upbeat for the song’s message. Had it been a different song, it would probably have worked better. I can handle Techno pretty well, unless I have to handle it for hours on end in the middle of the night.
As a side note, I loved Herman’s Hermits, and this reminds me of a time when my poor mother had to listen to her eldest 5 children , stranded in the middle of the desert, with no hope of escape, go for hours on end singing ♫ I am ‘Enery the Eighth I am, ‘Enery the Eighth I am, I am♫ Well, gee, we had to do SOMETHING! heeheehee. Our car had broken down and my stepfather, a helicopter pilot in the Marines, was walking to the nearest town to get a replacement for the piece that had broken.
I’d love to hear more about that story of you being stranded in the desert, Mary. I remember “Enery the Eighth” very well and yes, we would chant it all the time. Drove the adults nuts! 😀 Good point about this being a sad song! Your vote for Joshua is added to the rest. He’s the frontrunner at the moment. Thanks for playing.
I found both versions quite different. Not always a bad thing. It’s nice to have differences in style. My past few battles show just that sort of thing. As for this battle, I think I’m going to go with the Royal Gigolos. I think both versions have their pluses and minuses, but when compared together I’ll vote for the song which was more fun.
Hi Jeffrey. I was trying for completely different styles this time, just to make it more interesting. 🙂 Your vote for Royal Gigolos is duly noted. Thanks!
Hahaha! Touché, my friend. 😀 I agree that Mr. Noone does not have a macho voice. Techno dance music is definitely an acquired taste. I like your description of Joshua’s performance and your vote for him is duly noted. Glad you enjoyed the battle, Shady!
There is something about German rock that makes me laugh. Well, this is not really rock at all but i love the fun and the pick me up to this song by the Royal Gigolos so they get my vote. Joshua James sounds just too depressing just like the show
I love real German rock, like Scorpions, but as you said this isn’t rock. “Technopop” seems like an appropriate description. 🙂 They do have fun with it. Thanks for your vote, Birgit. Another one for Royal Gigolos.
Hands down Joshua James! His voice is so smooth and haunting and I can hear emotion. I also have his song on my ipod Crash this train. That was played on an episode of SOA. The Gigolos are fun and its a nice version but I really love Joshua. Great great battle!
Looks like Joshua is leading the pack, so far. Thanks for your vote, Holli. 🙂
Joshua James…love this version…better than all the others. The lyrics seems to have more meaning because of the way he’s bringing it across.
Thank you, Angelika. That’s another vote for Joshua. He does convey a lot of emotion with this song.
Herman’s Hermits still get my vote. But since that’s not the question I’m going with Joshua – much more emotion there!
Hi Corinne; That’s another vote for Joshua. 🙂 Thanks for participating in the battle. Originals would usually win if they were entered into the competition.
My vote goes to the Royal Gigolos. They seemed to have a lot of fun with their version. I nearly fell asleep listening to Joshua James.. so there you have it!
Hi Mary; These are two completely different styles and it will be interesting to see who wins this battle. 🙂 Thanks for your vote. Royal Gigolos it is!
I’ve never heard this song before. I used to enjoy Herman’s Hermits quite a lot, but I don’t recall their version of this. Nice.
The peppy version by Royal Gigolos is kind of fun, but I’ve got to cast my vote for Joshua James. His version has a somber achy sound that seems more appropriate to the lyrics. I like what James and his gang did with this song better than the original by Herman and his hermits.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Herman’s Hermits never released it as a single in the U.S, probably why you’re not familiar with it, Lee. It was a big hit in Europe at the time. These are such completely different styles and it will be interesting to see how this battle shapes up. 🙂 Your vote for Joshua James is duly noted. Thanks for coming by.