WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF BOTB!
Hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands, this is where you listen to different recordings and choose the one you prefer. There are two “Battles” per month, on the 1st and 15th. Votes will be tallied and posted the following week. (Please note: Effective July 2017, I switched to once a month on the 15th only. This will allow me more time to share other types of material with you.) Click HERE to view a complete list of my BOTB entries. See below for a list of current participants. Care to join us? Contact our host, by clicking on the above link and leaving a comment on his blog. The more, the merrier!
Today, we have two female vocalists covering a little-known Bob Dylan tune.
HISTORY
[for reference only – not part of the vote]“This Wheel’s On Fire” is a song written by Bob Dylan and Rick Danko. It was originally recorded by Dylan and The Band during their 1967 sessions, portions of which (including this song) comprised the 1975 album, The Basement Tapes. The Band’s own version appeared on their 1968 album, Music from Big Pink. Live versions by the Band appear on their 1972 live double album Rock of Ages, as well as the more complete four-CD-DVD version of that concert, Live at the Academy of Music 1971, and the 2002 Box Set of The Last Waltz (the song did not make it into the movie or the original soundtrack album). – WIKIPEDIA
Background info only. Now, on to the actual contest…
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JULIE DRISCOLL F. BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY
Julie Driscoll Tippetts (born 8 June 1947) is an English singer and actress. She is known for her 1960s versions of Bob Dylan and Rick Danko’s “This Wheel’s on Fire”, and Donovan’s “Season of the Witch”, both with Brian Auger and the Trinity. She and Auger had previously worked in Steampacket, with Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart. “This Wheel’s on Fire” reached number five in the United Kingdom in June 1968 and Bubbled Under the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States at #106 that August. With distortion, the imagery of the title and the group’s dress and performance, this version came to represent the psychedelic era in British rock music. Driscoll recorded the song again in the early 1990s with Adrian Edmondson as the theme to the BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous.
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KYLIE MINOGUE
Kylie Ann Minogue, (born 28 May 1968) also known simply as Kylie, is an Australian-British singer and actress. She achieved recognition starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, where she played tomboy mechanic Charlene Robinson for two years . Since then, Minogue has been a recording artist, nicknamed the “Princess of Pop”, achieving commercial success and critical acclaim in the entertainment industry. She is recognised as the highest-selling Australian artist of all time by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Minogue released a cover track of “This Wheel’s On Fire” as the official theme song for 2016’s Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.
VOTE NOW!
Please state your preference in comments below and why you chose it.
Voting remains open until 11:59 pm, March 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 / Tossing it Out
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Next Battle on this site will be April 15th.
In the meantime, come on back for some other cool stuff:
EVERY WEDNESDAY:
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MARCH 31st
[Click image for details. New participants welcome!]
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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!
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29 thoughts on “THIS WHEEL’S ON FIRE #BOTB”
Debbie,
It’s cool that you mention Donovan since I used one of his songs in my showdown. 🙂
Your battle song is one new to me. Julie psychedelic cover made me feel like I was on drugs. lol It’s an interesting rendition but it wasn’t the sort of match up my ears wanted this morning. The second cover charged me, made me wanna boogie in my seat. The pop version definitely matched my ears and I’m giving my vote to KYLIE MINOGUE. Thanks for the introduction. Have poptastic week, my friend!
I’m glad you liked the song enough to boogie in your seat, Cathy! 🙂 That’s another vote for Kylie. Sorry about this late reply. The results have been posted. Thanks for playing!
Hi Debbie, Bob Dylan is a life changing artiste, so – tough choice. My vote goes to Julie by a sliver. The sound is better in Kylie’s, much clearer., but the percussion felt a little intrusive on the second cover.
Julie by a sliver! 🙂 Thanks for voting and sorry about the late reply. The votes are in, now. Cheers!
I liked both, as you might imagine, but I thought Kylie Minogue’s recording was better than Julie Driscoll’s, so I’ll goi with her. It’d be interesting to see how Julie’s would sound after remastering…
Good point about the remastering. That’s the drawback with using old songs. Thanks for voting! Kylie gets another one. This reply is so late, the results are in, now. Sorry about that!
As a Dylan fan with the Rock of Ages LP this is tough. As a Brit I grew up with the likes of Julie Driscoll, so I thought that would win through. Kylie felt too saccharine in the opening but then rocked. Kylie just sneaked it. And I watched every AbFab episode.
A sneaked vote for Kylie! 🙂 Thanks for playing, Roland. This reply is so late, the results are in, now. Sorry about that! We have a few things in common, I suspect. From 1965-69, I lived in Germany and Switzerland, listened to Radio Luxembourg, British Forces Radio and read Rave magazine. Cheers!
This is a tough choice for me. I really like both of them. Very different styles. Kylie’s is more modern-sounding and the lyrics are very easy to understand as she sings. It also has a snappy beat to it that I like. But! The first one is luxurious and alluring, a real work of art. The singer sings it as a personal message rather than as an anthem. My vote goes to #1. Great selections to choose from.
Welcome to The Den, Jade Li. 🙂 Firstly, apologies for this late reply. March is so busy for me, offline. Thanks for your assessment of the contenders and for your vote. Julie and Brian get another one! The results have been posted, now.
Julie gets my vote! Great song!
Thank you for the vote. Julie, it is! Sorry for the late response. Results are in, now.
You know, I love ole’ Kylie, but some times her pop sound just doesn’t suit a tune – like this one!
I gotta vote for JULIE DRISCOLL F. BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY!
Julie & Brian get Cherdo’s vote. Right on! Kylie’s “pop sound” sets my teeth on edge. 😛 Thanks for voting, This reply is so late, the results have been posted. Sorry about that!
I enjoyed the Kylie Minogue version very much. Thank you for sharing, Debbie.
Happy Ides of March…
A vote for Kylie. Thanks! This reply is so late, the results are in, now. Sorry about that! Busy month, offline.
When I first listened to Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger, I said to myself – ‘This one’s a winner!’..
And then I started listening to Kylie and said – ‘Yes, my first impression was correct’.
But then as Kylie got further into the song, I began to doubt myself as she was taking ownership of the song.
So after listening to both a second time, I have finally come to the conclusion that they are both good. It’s a tough decision, but I’ve decided to vote for Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger.
I’m glad you found it a tough decision, Mary. 🙂 That usually means a good battle. Thanks for voting! It’s Julie & Brian. This reply is so late, the results are in, now. Sorry about that! March is busy around here, offline.
DEBBIE D’DOGLADY ~
Wow! I really felt pretty sure that Auger & Driscoll’s version of this song had been used in BOTB in the past. So I looked it up at the official authoritative source for all things BOTB (Mary’s BOTB Master List) and found that I was… wrong! Not only had Auger’s version not been used, but NO VERSION had ever been used. This is this song’s first appearance in BOTB.
I knew I would be wrong someday, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon in my young life!
OK, the Battle…
I am a major Brian Auger fan; he is my all-time favorite Hammond B-3 player, and the Hammond B-3 is my all-time favorite musical instrument. So, what’s that say? (I used Auger’s rendition of ‘A Day In The Life’ in just my third BOTB contest in August of 2013). And although I’m not normally crazy about Julie Driscoll’s vocals – I could take her or leave her – I genuinely do like her singing in ‘THIS WHEEL’S ON FIRE’.
Auger & Driscoll’s version has Brian on the organ and a really spooky feeling that appeals to me a lot.
Kylie’s version immediately starts out with that synthesized drum beat (“Strike One!”, yells the umpire). Then it has Kylie’s very standard “pre-packaged Pop princess” vocals, which do nuttin’ for me (“Strike Two!”, yells the umpire). And then it has… well… that’s enough. Strike Two, and Kylie is “OUT!” (yells the umpire).
I’ll take BRIAN AUGER all day, every day!!
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
What’s this? The great Stephen T McCarthy was wrong about something? 😀 Well, I’m glad this song hadn’t been used before. I thought it was “obscure” enough. You and I pretty much have the same opinion about this one, as you saw in the results post. Sorry for the late reply! March is a difficult month for me, in terms of spending time online.
I Love Absolutely Fabulous and I saw the movie which was fun. I must hand it over to Julie and her band mates who made the song psychedelic and magical which suits it more. Kylie had that typical beat in the background and it was more pop sounding so I didn’t care for it as much.
Another Ab Fab, fan! 😀 I saw every episode and the movie, as well. Thanks for voting, Birgit. Sorry for the late reply. So late, in fact, that the results are in.
Kylie is my pick. Way better than the first one.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. ♥
Another vote for Kylie. 🙂 Sorry for the late reply. She put up a good fight.
Big Pink was such a monumental album in rock history. It blew me away when I first heard it shortly after it came out. “This Wheel’s on Fire” is one of my favorites from that album.
I’ve been a long time fan of Julie Driscoll et al since seeing them on the old Tom Jones TV show in 1969 when I was a senior in high school. I’d figure they’d cinch this contest for me. Surprise, surprise–I really did like Kylie’s version and it held up longer for me as I compared the two versions.
I’m voting for Kylie Minogue.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
A surprise vote for Kylie! 🙂 Sorry for the late reply. As you saw, results are in, now. Thanks!
Hmmm… I guess I will go with the first one. I loved Kylie on Doctor Who, but psychedelic is more my thing.
First vote goes to psychedelic Julie and Brian. Thanks for voting and sorry for the late reply. Results are in! 🙂