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7/2/ & 7/9/10 – The 4th Of July Cat Fight (Only In America)

Posted: July 2nd, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: R&B, Rock n' Roll | 13 Comments »

Friday Night Cat Fight

“Only In America”

This week, the Friday Night Cat Fight takes on a song about the “American Dream” that was a hit for Jay & The Americans in August of 1963.  The tune was originally presented to and recorded by The Drifters.  However, Atlantic didn’t feel that they could release a tune that spoke of opportunity for all by a black group at that time.  Now, it’s your turn to judge who had the better song.  Listen to the Cat Fight and vote for your favorite version of “Only In America” below.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Which One Do You DIG The MOST? - "Only In America"

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13 Comments on “7/2/ & 7/9/10 – The 4th Of July Cat Fight (Only In America)”

  1. 1 Dave Moyer said at 12:11 pm on July 2nd, 2010:

    Just love how you find out so much about the production of these songs.

  2. 2 Virginia said at 2:22 pm on July 2nd, 2010:

    Since I can’t vote for Ray, I’ll vote for The Drifters. I loved their version. thank you again Matt

  3. 3 Stickball Eddie said at 5:17 pm on July 2nd, 2010:

    In my opinion Jay and the Americans “own” this song. I love prowling the back alleys with you Matt now I’m going to go to the ‘juke’ in the back. Hopefully there’s no secret password to get in.

  4. 4 dave said at 8:05 pm on July 2nd, 2010:

    as much as i love the drifters i got to say jay black nailed it so my vote goes to jay and the americans

  5. 5 Bruce said at 11:31 pm on July 2nd, 2010:

    Can’t get too excited about the song in general, but if one must be picked it has too be Jay and the Americans. The powers to be that felt the song needed to be spead up were right, it did need to be spead up. Deb thought it made the song sound happier. Happy 4th to all!

  6. 6 timevac3 said at 1:03 am on July 3rd, 2010:

    J &A got my vote. I agree with Bruce, the song did benefit from being sped up. Odd, now that I know about it, I can hear it.
    Still, I think it’s a good tune.
    Happy 4th gang!

  7. 7 Yum Yum said at 2:01 am on July 3rd, 2010:

    Only In America you get a talent like Matt The Cat and his Night Prowl Show and then Only In America you get the powers that be take him off the air and could care less about his devoted Prowlers !! And now i like the Jay &The Americans version just a smudge better !! Happy 4th and bring it in with a Bang !! Yum Yum

  8. 8 twilight7377 said at 2:53 am on July 3rd, 2010:

    Yep!! What Yum Yum said! I love the Drifters, but I have always liked Jay and the Americans version of this song. I just wish that the “powers that be” would have asked the group to speed up their tempo, rather than to speed up the recording. Jay had a fine voice, and speeding up the recording affects the sound his voice. Cannot blame the group for being unhappy about that.
    Happy Independance Day to all of you! Be safe and have fun.

  9. 9 David said at 4:35 pm on July 5th, 2010:

    Hey, I’m surprised, before voting, I thought the totals would show the Drifters in an easy win. I don’t disagree that the faster tempo Jay used is catchier, I just prefer the Drifters’ mad vocal skillz over Jay’s.

  10. 10 Sierra said at 6:32 pm on July 6th, 2010:

    Hi, Matt and CCK! Hope the 4th was a great day for you, and did I smell the smoke from the grill, or was that from your show? Either way, it was cookin’! Juke is okay too; checked it out for the first time this weekend. J&A got my vote, though I too have always liked the Drifters. I think their best songs were with Ben E. King though. Thanks for keeping up the FNCF, although shorter nowadays.

  11. 11 Pinball Wizard said at 12:33 pm on July 8th, 2010:

    I voted for The Drifters. As Twilight7377 said, I liked the faster tempo but the pitch shift spoiled it for me…..get rid of the splicing tape around the capstan!

  12. 12 Vic Scena said at 4:54 pm on July 16th, 2010:

    I vote for Jay the song flowed a lot betta but, i love the Drifters.

    Note to Matt your accent is giving you away. You sad chaaaacoal instead of charcoal. Bobby W fom Ma. will agree

    Best
    Vic

  13. 13 Matt The Cat said at 4:56 pm on July 16th, 2010:

    Ha ha! Yea, that was on purpose, Vic. I used to say Chaaaaahcoal on the old show for all the New Englanders out there. GO SAWX!

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