A Father’s Day Tribute #BoTB showdown

Hello Kittens & Dawgs, thank you for joining me for today’s Battle of the Bands showdown. I’m taking a different approach. Instead of two cover songs, I’m using two different song covers by daughters of their famous dads in honor of Father’s Day.

Song folk writer and artist Harry Chapin wrote and recorded, “Cat’s In The Cradle” in 1974 that topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart the same year. Now, fast forward 2007, 33 years after Harry penned this song his daughter Jen records her dad’s #1 hit.

Artist #1 Chapin’s daughter

From the album A SONG FOR MY FATHER, Brian Wilson co-wrote “Warmth of the Sun” and first recorded by the California surfin’ sensation of the band he co-founded, The Beach Boys (I think Love is the lead vocalist) in 1964. Many years Wilson recorded I WASN’T MADE FOR THESE TIMES with this classic song on the album.

Artist #2: Brian Wilson’s daughters

Typically I do not offer three songs but I found one worthy if nothing else for the opening tribute to a great country lengend and father of Rosanne Cash.

Artist #3 Johnny’s daughter, Rosanne, singing his 1961 #11 peak song Tennessee Flat Top Box. 

Voting is open to everyone visiting. There is NO wrong vote, except if you DON’T vote. You can start by telling me in comments which artist you like best and why (optional).

Which daughter gets your vote – Chapin, Wilson, or Cash?

 

 

The fun continues with more epic battles underway and I invite you to visit the official manager of BoTB, Stephen for the update list of players.  I’ll share a quick post next week with the outcome and I hope you’ll check back.  

What songs come to mind when you think of your dad? Join me on the dance floor for Monday’s Music Moves Me. This is Curious as a Cathy signing off with this Father’s Day playlist.

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27 comments

  1. At first, I thought this was going to be easy. I didn’t care for the Chapin cover. The Wilson Sisters are always amazing. However, I forgot how much I liked Roseanne Cash’s version of Tennessee Flat Top Box. But… there can be only one… so, I am going with the Wilson Sisters. They have such great harmonies.

    1. Robin, thank you for taking time to stop by to vote. I know life is hectic for you caring for your mother. Enjoy your summer and I’ll see ya soon!

  3. What an awesome battle concept Cathy! I love it!
    I’m a huge fan of Harry Chapin’s Cat’s in the Cradle and no one can do it like he did it. Although I love the song and the message behind it, I didn’t like Jen singing it.
    Was wowed by the harmonies of the Wilson sisters so Warmth of the Sun is definitely is a strong contender for my vote.
    Roseanne Cash gave an outstanding and very moving tribute to her father and that really pulled me in. I definitely enjoyed her version of his fabulous song and I do like a good country song every now and then. So she’s in this contest for sure.
    Now who to choose: The Wilson sisters or Roseanne Cash?
    Here’s another battle that I find myself wanting to split my vote and give it to both (I wanted to do that in Stephen’s battle too).
    After much deliberation I’m going to go with the Wilson sisters…but only by a hair. My vote could’ve just as easily gone to Roseanne.
    Excellent battle!!

    Michele at Angels Bark

    1. Michele,

      Poor Jen is everyone’s least favorite. 🙁 Her voice didn’t capture me completely either it drew me in enough for consideration in this battle. I’m with you, I have a better appreciation for country mewsic today than I did years ago. I’m glad the decision was a narrow one for you. It’s easy to see who the winner will be in this battle, though. 🙂

  4. I have to say the first 2 were snore fests in my book so I give it to Roseanne Cash f her heartwarming tribute to her father. She really sang it well and it kept my attention. My dad?? There is this fun logging song done by the National Film Board of Canada that always makes me think of him. I also the North To Alaska and the song from the King and I when then governess meets all his kids for the first time

  5. I do not know my father, so nothing much comes to mind when I think of him and music. And I’ll go with the Wilson sisters
    Here’s to Fathers who father.

    1. Colette,

      Very well said, “Here’s to Fathers who are fathers”! It’s not an easy road to walk and for those who take the journey, I believe kids make their lives better.

  6. Anything by Elvis comes to my mind when i think of my dad. He was a huge Elvis fan.

    Since the videos won’t play for me for some reason, i will not vote.

  7. “Cat’s In The Cradle” was a great song when Harry Chapin sang it. His daughter’s version is a good one, but is missing some of the anger (for want of a better word) with which her father sang it. Harry had an edge to his voice that’s missing in Jen’s, and the song needs that edge.

    Roseanne Cash is a fine singer, and when she finally got into singing “Tennessee Flat Top Box” (three minutes into the video) she did an all right job with it. I’m sure Johnny and June were looking down from Heaven and smiling.

    But the Wilson sisters took my breath away with their version of “Warmth of the Sun.” I wasn’t sure I knew the song until they started; when I heard it, I couldn’t get over their harmonies. Remarkable. The Wilsons get my vote.

    1. John,

      I agree Jen lacks her father’s edge. She isn’t the strongest vocally but I thought her cover might add something to the battle anyhow. Thanks for voting. I”ll see you soon.

  8. Ar first I thought this was going to be a tough one for me. I like Cats in the Cradle and Cash’s Tennessee Flat Top Box. But the covers… not so much. I really enjoyed the harmonies and purity of sound the Wilson sisters gave to The Warmth of The Sun. My vote is for the Wilson sisters.

    ~Mary

    1. Mary,

      Yes, the Wilson sisters do have fab harmony and I think this is why they are running away with the show this round. Thanks for voting. I’m heading your way now. 🙂

  9. Kudos, CATHY, on a very clever, creative concept!

    I truly did not believe there was anyone who did not like the song ‘Cats In The Cradle’ until I read Janet’s comment above. Ha! She proved me wrong.

    I love the heartbreaking ‘CITC’ by Harry Chapin. By his daughter? Not so much. She has a very thin, wispy voice that doesn’t appeal to me.

    ‘The Warmth Of The Sun’ is not only my favorite Beach Boys song (whom I adore!) but it’s also probably one of my Top Ten favorite songs by anyone of all time. The Wilson kids do a nice job with it.

    Johnny Cash I have never liked. He always sounded flat to me and rather monotone. I actually like daughter Rosanne’s version of that song MUCH better’n her old man’s recording.

    But this is a slam-dunk vote for me: ‘THE WARMTH OF THE SUN’ by the Wilsons.

    Great idea for this Battle, my friend!

    ~ D-FensDogG
    [Link:) Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews…

    1. Stepehn,

      Each daughter contendor does a nice job on their dad’s songs but the Wilson girls are blowing this battle out of the park. Thanks for stopping by, my friend!

  10. Hey Cathy~ Love Cats in Cradle and I LOVE Reba! I used to listen to country music all the time but when that station did a regroup and the cast I listened to in the morning changed I started listing to the Hippie Station here in Nashville. That was fun but they got where they played the same thing over and over again so now I have with a classical station that covers 60,70 and 80s music. Being I was a teen through the 70s I really think that is the most AWESOME music around. I love it. Since I don’t work anymore I normally only listen to music during my trips to and from in the car. When I worked I turned on the radio as soon as I walked in the door and it played all day till I left. Just having that noise in the background helped me to work. HAHA….gotta clean the house, maybe I should turn on music!!!

  11. Not a fan of Cats in the Cradle. Toss up between Warmth of the Sun and Tennessee Flat Top Box but I have to take the tribute by Roseanne out of the equation and so I am voting for the Wilson sisters. Great battle!

    1. Janet,

      Great to have you swing over to weigh in today’s battle. I normally don’t throw three contenders onto center stage to face off because it’s a bit too much. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes down, though. Thanks for voting for the Wilson girls!

    1. Patrick, I’m delighted you voted in today’s BoTB. I haven’t heard of Ugly Kid Joe, I don’t think. I will check his version out on YouTube if possible. Thanks for voting for the Wilson sisters. 🙂

  13. Hi, Cathy!

    After three weeks of mourning Margaret’s death I am finally ready to return to blogging. I’m glad I didn’t miss your three-way band battle because it is loaded with great sounds. All of these famous daughters covering their famous dads are great artists in their own right and did a fine job with the material, making the vote a very touch decision, at least for me. “Warmth of the Sun” is one of my favorite Beach Boys ballads and the Wilson girls performed an ear pleasing rendition. “Cat’s in the Cradle” was played so often on radio back in 1974 that I got tired of hearing it, yet Jen Chapin’s cover delighted me with its beauty and simplicity. I was all set to vote for Jen before I realized there was a third contestant. Perhaps it was Rosanne Cash’s articulate and very moving speech leading into father Johnny Cash’s “Tennessee Flat Top Box.” Maybe it was her performance of the song accompanied by those guitar pickers playin’ clean as country water, but Rosanne won me over and collected my vote. Sometimes I surprise myself when I realize how much I enjoy a good country tune and this is one of those times. Rosanne is the real deal, all of these female artists are, but I am voting for Rosanne Cash as the best of the bunch.

    Thank you, dear friend Cathy!

    1. Tom,

      Thank you for stopping by this morning. I’m happy that you’ve returned to Blogosphere. Your blog hiatus was much needed because of the very sad circumstances with the beloved Shady Dell Mom’s passing. I admit Rosanne’s opening dialogue to honor her dad adds a specialness and it’s gonna be hard for me to pick my favorite between these three because of it. Dads’ are pretty darn special who usually get the short end of the draw with kids. I’m guilty as the next who felt indifferent and angry at my daddy but now that’s all mud in the water and those things don’t mean nothing anymore. I’m happy that my daddy is alive and I can talk to him about anything. I have your vote recorded for Roseanne Cash! Now, I’m off to visit you!

  14. I like Rosanne Cash a lot, but this is not among my favorites so no vote on this cover.

    “Cat’s in the Cradle” is such a great and meaningful song. Jen does it nicely, but I’m not giving her the vote either.

    The Wilson girls are spot on the mark with their cover. And I like this style best too. Beautiful! The Wilson’s get the vote!

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    1. Lee,

      I think all three contenders do a fabulous remake of their fathers’ songs. Thanks for casting the first vote for Brian Wilson’s girls – Carnie and Wendy. 🙂

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