Cool Yule BoTB Showdown
Welcome to round 17 of BoTB 2021! This is the first mid-month battle I’ve done in a long time and it’s also the last battle for the year. Earlier in the month in my S.a.D Christmas Challenge I shared Bette Midler cover of this old song. Louis Armstrong released the original in 1953 well before my time.
In today’s battle I’m using two North American swing, jump and blues bands. It’s the American, Brian Setzer Orchestra up against against the Canadian, Colin James & the Little Big Band. I’ll leave it up to you to decide which bands earns your vote.
VS
Alrighty the $10,000 question is, who gets your vote? Will it be Brian Setzer or Colin James & the Little Big Band?
Polls close noon (EST) on Dec. 21st!
Next week, same time slot I’ll be back to announce the winner in this round, so be sure to mark your calendar to see if your favorite artist wins in this showdown. I’d like to encourage you to visit other BOTBers below where you will find more showdowns underway. I’ll be here tomorrow with more music in my Song-a-Day (S.a.D) Christmas Challenge series and I hope you’ll stop by! X💋X💋, Cathy
I invite you to visit BoTBers with showdowns going on today.
- CAAC (me)
- The Doglady’s Den (Debbie) retired member, active voter
- Jingle Jangle Jungle (Mary) 1st only
- Mike’s Ramblings
- STMcC Presents BoTB (Stephen, BoTB Manager)
- The Sound of One Hand Typing (John)
- Tossing It Out (Lee)
*Unless noted participants are doing both battles on the 1st and 15th.
13 Comments
csuhpat1
Brian Setzer kicks butt.
Michael Todd
The Setzer track was okay, for a listen, but the James recording was a treat… Good stuff!
Colin James gets my vote.
Stephen T. McCarthy
CAThy! It’s That YOU!
Well, this was a really close call. I liked BOTH renditions quite well and listened to each one TWICE, just to make sure of my BOTB bote.
I could have happily voted for either one – and I AM a Setzer fan – but I think I’ll follow the crowd on this one and also go with COLIN JAMES. Primarily because the slightly slower tempo allowed me to hear the lyrics a bit better.
Have a Merry CHRISTmas & a Cool Yule, Cathy!
~ D-FensDogG
LEARN THE HOLY BIBLE IN 15 MINUTES!
Birgit
Is Setzer from Stray Cats? he sounds like it. I am going for my fellow Canuck, Colin James because I really like the jazz style especially with the horns blaring. He gets my vote.
messymimi's meanderings
That Little Band has a big sound, i’m going with Colin James.
Brian
As a guitarist since 1968 I’ve always liked Brian Setzer, but Colin James are really, really good.
Arlee Bird
I agree with John. I had to listen to each a couple of times to make sure they weren’t the same recording I also prefer the guitar soloist in the Colin James version and over all it all sounds a tad bit better than the Setzer version.
Give my vote to Colin James.
Lee
John Holton
They’re really close, but I’m going with Colin James here. His guitar solo seems fuller and I like the slightly slower tempo.
Debbie D.
Hi Cathy, both versions were good, but I have to go with my “homeboy”, Colin James. :)🍁 His smooth jazz version appealed a little bit more.
Sandee
They are both good, but I like Colin James the best.
Have a fabulous day, Cathy. Love and hugs. ♥
Eugi
Hi Cathy! Count me in for Colin James for this one! ❤️
DrillerAA
I’m going to fall in the the Brian Setzer camp on this one. Colin James sounds a little like Pat Boone rock ‘n roll.
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
Happy Wild and Almost Wordless Wednesday + mid-month BOTB Day, dear friend!
Yessum, I remember you posting Bette Midler’s crimson-haired version of “Cool Yule,” a fun secular song for the holidays written by Steve Allen, a cool, sharp and very funny guy I watched on TV throughout boyhood.
My decision in your band battle was easier than usual. Truth be told, I got tired of the retro-styled Stray Cats sound soon after they burst onto the mewsic scene some 40 years ago. While I like Brian Setzer, many of his recordings in the decades since seem derivative, including this rendition of “Cool Yule.” The backing orchestra is fine, but to me, the Setzer sound is a little stale. I found the version by Canadian blues rocker Colin James much more to my liking. His voice is more appealing, his style cool and hip, and the band really swings The brassy arrangement reminds me of the swaggering stuff Bobby Darin used to do so well, and I can also imagine Tony Bennett having fun with the song. Please enter my vote for Colin James.
I hope you had a wonderful birthday. I suspect DH had a second helping of the delicious cake you baked. Enjoy your Wednesday and I hope to see you again soon, dear friend Cathy!