Battle of the Bands – 2120 Michigan Avenue

It’s September 1^st and time for another Battle of the Bands! I wish I could say I came up with this battle because it’s a good one, but this is all compliments of Stephen McCarthy. I’ve been quite overwhelmed with personal stuff lately and he generously offered to share with me a few battle ideas he had so I wouldn’t have to sit this one out. Today is one of those battles. Thank you Stephen! XOXO

“2120 South Michigan Avenue” is an original instrumental by the Rolling Stones recorded for their second EP Five by Five. It was also released on their second US album 12 X 5 in 1964. Composer credit goes to Nanker Phelge, a title giving credit equally to all members of the band. In the book Rolling with the Stones, Bill Wyman recalls that the composition process started with him playing a bass riff and that the others followed on jamming.

The title refers to the address of the offices and recording studios of Chess Records and Checker Records in Chicago where the five songs for the EP were recorded in June 1964.

George Thorogood did a cover of the Stones song on their album titled 2120 South Michigan Ave.:

2120 South Michigan Ave. is a studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on June 14, 2011 on the Capitol Records label. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. The title refers to the address of the offices and recording studios of Chess Records in Chicago. The album contains ten covers of songs recorded on Chess Records by artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, and Muddy Waters; plus a cover of The Rolling Stones’ instrumental “2120 South Michigan Avenue” and two original songs about Chess Records artists. Capitol Records approached Thorogood with the idea for the album and selected most of the songs. Buddy Guy and Charlie Musselwhite perform on the album, although their work was added after primary recording was complete. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

Today’s battle is pitting the Rolling Stones classic against George Thorogood’s cover. I’m especially excited about this battle because I saw both of these bands in the same concert back in 1980. It was a great lineup: George Thorogood opened, then Loverboy, followed by Journey and then the Rolling Stones. What a show! It rained the entire time —and I mean it POURED — during the first three acts. Typical Buffalo NY weather. Like magic, the rain stopped and the sun burst out just as Mick Jagger ran on stage. What a trip that was. And it wasn’t the acid either, I promise! J

Here are the battle contenders:

Contender #1: The Rolling Stones

 

Contender #2:  George Thorogood

TIME TO VOTE! Which version do you like better and why? And when you’re done voting, please visit these other BOTB participants and check out their cool battles:

• Stephen T. McCarthy’s Battle of the Bands Blog
• Tossing it Out
• Mike’s Ramblings
• Curious as a Cathy 
• The Sound of One Hand Typing
• dcrelief ~ Battle of the Bands 
• Shady Dell Music & Memories
• Cherdo on the Flipside 
• THE DOGLADY’S DEN 
• Jingle Jangle Jungle 
• Janie Junebug Righting and Editing
• Jeffrey A. Scott
• Quiet Laughter
• Your Daily Dose
• The Pedestrian Writer