Fox on the Run #BoTB showdown

Hello, Kittens & Dawgs!  Normally, I pitch two cover artists performing the same song but that’s not the case today.   Instead, I’m using the same song title but it’s actually two different songs by the original artists.

I had no clue until recently that Manfred Mann (#5 in the UK) was the first to release this tune in 1968 that I grew up hearing as country bluegrass melody. Tom T. Hall took it to #9 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles.

 

Manfred Mann FOTR
She walked through the corn leading down to the river
Her hair shone like gold in the hot morning sun
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her 
And left me to die like the fox on the run

Like the fox (like the fox, like the fox) on the run

Everybody knows the reason for the fall 
When woman tempted man down in paradise's hall
This woman tempted me all right, then took me for a ride 
But like the lonely fox I need a place to hide

Like the fox (like the fox, like the fox) on the run

Come take a glass of wine and fortify your soul
We'll talk about the world and friends we used to know
I'll illustrate, a girl put me on the floor
The game is nearly up, the hounds are at my door

Like the fox (like the fox, like the fox) on the run

* FOTR borrowed from lyrics.com

I couldn’t place the next contender or their song until I heard it and I certainly didn’t connect it years ago with the country bluegrass version I knew even though it’s altogether different.  Listen to Sweet (#1 in Australia, Denmark, & Germany. Hit #5 on US Billboard Hot 100 chart) 1974  recording.

 

 Sweet FOTR
I don't wanna know your name
'Cause you don't look the same
The way you did before
Okay, you think you got a pretty face
But the rest of you is out of place
You looked alright before

Fox on the run
You scream and everybody comes a running
Take a run and hide yourself away
Foxy on the run
F-foxy
Fox on the run
And hide away

You, you talk about just every band
But the names you drop are second hand (second hand)
I've heard it all before
I don't wanna know your name
'Cause you don't look the same
The way you did before

Fox on the run
You scream and everybody comes a running
Take a run and hide yourself away
Foxy on the run
F-foxy
Fox on the run
And hide away

F-foxy
Fox on the run
You scream and everybody comes a running
Take a run and hide yourself away
Foxy is on the run
F-foxy
Fox on the run
And hide away
(Fox on the run)
(Fox on the run)
(Fox on the run)
(Fox on the run)

* FOTR borrowed from lyrics.com

Sweets’ record has been used in a number of movies and after being featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, it pushed this song to # 1 on iTunes Rock Charts in 2016.

Did you connect the song titles before or is this a new discovery?  Which band song do you like the best, Manfred Mann or Sweet?

How do I play BoTB? It’s really super simple!

  1. You VOTE. Leave your FAVORITE pick in comments.  Everyone is welcome to vote. There is no wrong vote, except if you DON’T vote.
  2. Be interactive. Tell me why you like your favorite pick. (optional)
  3. Make me happy. Tell a friend, share the below tweet. (optional)

You’ll find more awesome battles underway at some of these blog listed below (not everyone is doing the bi-monthly showdowns now) and if you’d like to be included in the fun, then contact Stephen requesting to be added to the list.

Angels Bark (Michele),  Cherdo on the Flipside,  The Doglady’s Den (Debbie),  Jingle Jangle Jungle (Mary), Mike’s Ramblings,   STMcC Presents BoTB (Stephen, BoTB Manager),   The Sound of One Hand Typing (John), &  Tossing It Out (Lee).

DID YOU VOTE? No! Okay, but if you leave WITHOUT voting, I won’t be held responsible for what happens to your computer. Just saying is all. 😂

 

 

Normally I’d tell you to be back next week this time to discover which way I voted and to see if your favorite was declared the winner but with the Thanksgiving holiday in the picture, I am going to take a blog break starting Tuesday.  Mark your calendar for November 26th to learn the results of today’s battle. Meanwhile, have a bandtastic day! X💋X💋, Cathy

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32 comments

  2. I used to love Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, especially his version of “Blinded by the Light”… That’s saying something because it was a Springsteen song, and I usually like the artist so much more.

    I didn’t even know they did FOTR, but COOL! Having patted MM on the back for past glory, I gotta say I love SWEET’S VERSION and I gotta give them the vote for today.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Cathy! Fantasy of Trees this weekend?

    Hugs,
    Cherdo

    1. Cherdo,

      I like MM’s “Blinded by the Light” version better than Springsteen which incidentally I couldn’t remember Bruce doing so I had to listen to it at YT. There’s a reason I don’t recall it because I never heard it before today. Yay, I know what rock did I craw from underneath? 🙂 Thanks for squeezing in to vote for Sweet. I’ll share the results on Monday following Thanksgiving. Nope, I have no plans to attend the Fantasy of Trees event. I haven’t been to that in years! There are just too many people to deal with at one time to suit me. 🙂 If you go, have fun!

  3. Hi Cathy,
    I was so excited when I saw your BOTB title. I SOOOO love Sweet’s “Fox on the Run” and when I read the title, the song immediately started playing in my head. It was only recently that I even knew that Manfred Man did a song with the same title. I knew they were different songs but until I discovered that within the last year I had never heard the Manfred Man song.
    Funny how you were familiar with their and not Sweet’s…

    Needless to say, my vote goes to Sweet…
    Speaking of sweets, I’m looking forward to having some sweet indulgences over the holiday weekend. Already have a turtle pie and a pecan pie and an apple pie on the grocery list… 🙂 Now I just have to figure out which one to pick. Which one would you go with??

    Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    Michele at Angels Bark

    1. Michele,

      Sweet’s FOTR song title didn’t sound familiar to me but when I heard the song it sorta did but I did not know that MM did the FOTR that I knew as a kid first, though. That was a big surprise.

      What’s this, you’re asking me to choose which pie to get? They all sound so yummy. Do you have to pick only pie for Thanksgiving? I guess of these three I’d have to go with pecan pie. That’s certainly more traditional I think or at least it’s a part of ours. I usually make home-made pecan pie every year and this one is no exception. 🙂 The turtle pie sounds tempting, though. I’d have to get all three because DH is a huge pie eater. He LOVES baked goods period. You’d think the boy is the size of a whale but he’s not. He’s average size 5’10” and about 155 pounds. I’d love to have his metabolism! 😀

      Thanks for stopping by, dearie. I hope you have a good Thanksgiving, too!

  4. For me, Sweet is the one to beat! I love the edge to it and the singing. I like Manfred Mann but it was a miss for me

  5. This one was hard for me. I like Manfred Mann and don’t know Sweet but I like Sweet’s take on this song. My vote goes to Sweet.

    1. Brian,

      Manfred Mann is one of the groups I got acquainted with after years of either not knowing who they were or just forgot. I knew some of their mewsic but that was about it. That’s the way it is in many cases. I just wasn’t the best with knowing who’s who in the industry. These little memes help with that a lot. 🙂

  7. Sweet’s version of the song is the one I’m familiar with, although I didn’t remember it until listening to it. I like the energy they give it. Give my vote to Sweet.

    1. John,

      I was exactly the same way because I had the old Tom T. Hall’s song title stuck in my head and in reality Sweet’s song lyrics completely different. 🙂

  8. HiYa, CATHY! It’s that me, STMcC.

    I had never heard the Manfred Mann song before. At least not that I now recall. And I like Manfred Mann, but I lean strongly toward their later incarnation as “Manfred Mann’s Earth Band” – one of the very few “Progressive” Rock groups I enjoy listening to.

    This Battle is an easy one for me. I grew up hearing SWEET’s ‘Fox On The Run’. I liked it then, I like it now. Give my two cents to Sweet, please.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents ‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS’

    1. Stephen,

      I’m not sure why Sweet’s song didn’t register until after I heard it after all these years but I wonder if it’s largely because I heard it in Guardians of the Galaxy and not so much a part of childhood? Heading your way to see what you’re presenting this go around!

    1. Myke,

      Don’t mention cake around here or else you’ll get me wanting it, especially if it’s chocolate. Please don’t say that it’s chocolate!

  13. Nice choices for a battle, Cathy! I remember both of these songs, but haven’t heard Manfred Mann’s in years. Thanks for the memories. 🙂 That said, I prefer the higher energy of Sweet’s “Fox”. Please give my vote to them.

    1. Debbie,

      I didn’t remember Sweet’s song and I didn’t even know that MM did the original FOTR. All of these years I thought it was just a country song but the rock version is actually good. Thanks for playing along. I’ll be by to see you soon! 😉

    1. Mary,

      While I always have trouble placing an artist, it’s the song that makes bells and whistles go off in my head generally. I had to look up Sweet’s discography because I was sure I’d heard more by them that I had forgotten and you’re right ‘Ballroom Blitz’ is one of the titles that escaped my memory.

  15. Interesting background info that I didn’t know either. Both songs I know, but not quite like this. This is a very tough choice.

    Between these two recordings I’m leaning more toward the one by Sweet. More my style–tonight at least.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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