2/4/2011 – The Day The Music Died Cat Fight-2011!
Posted: February 4th, 2011 | Author: Matt The Cat | Filed under: R&B, Rock n' Roll, rockabilly | Tags: Friday Night Cat Fight, Matt The Cat, Podcast | 12 Comments »Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast
“The Day The Music Died” Cat Fight – 2011
The Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast honors the 52 anniversary of “The Day The Music Died,” that terrible plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson).
There will be 2 separate Cat Fights this week.
The first is over a tune that was written by J.P. Richardson and originally recorded by him. His buddy George Jones covered it in 1959 and made it his first of MANY #1 Country singles.
The second Cat Fight is between Robert & Johnny and Ritchie Valens over the tune, “We Belong Together.” Robert & Johnny co-wrote the song and took it to #12 on the R&B charts, but Ritchie puts a heartfelt touch to the tune and makes it all his own.
Plus, the podcast also contains a little tribute to Buddy Holly, whose loss is still very much felt today.
So listen, vote and dig this week’s Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast with Matt The Cat.
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Wow, great show, Matt, thanks, and two tough Cat Fights for me. I listened twice through and it’s still almost a coin toss for me, as I very much enjoyed both versions of both songs as well as Buddy’s tender ‘Moondreams.’ Buddy was so influential during and after his brief career that I’ve often wondered if and how 60s music might have been different if he hadn’t boarded that plane. Few 50s rockers survived the British invasion, but I have to think Buddy would have had a chance.
Anyway, taking nothing away from the Bopper’s or RV’s versions, I went with George Jones and Robert & Johnny–George for all the fun he sold even after all those takes, and R&J for writing it and finding that deep doo wop sound in it.
Though JP wrote White Lightning, this song belongs to the honky tonk man Mr. Jones. I love the music of Buddy Holly but Robert & Johnny have it on this song.
Had to go with George Jones on White Lightning…he really took the song to a different level than the Bopper, while I went with Richie Valens on We Belong Together because I was really digging the more subdued version. I really like Robert & Johnny’s take too, but Richie’s version is better for me.
George Jones is the King of Honky Tonk. I never liked the Bopper’s version too much.
Ritchie made his version a classic love song–Haunting!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just listened to the 2006 version during my walk yesterday and I will again vote for Richie even though neither Yum Yum nor any of the other night prowlers were on today’s show. And George Jones on White Lightning for sure. Once again thank you Matt for sharing with us.
Robert and Johnny got my vote. Their song is one of my favorites from that time. I agree with David on the Doo Wop sound. I didn’t really care for either versions of White Lightning, just not my kind of music, though I do like a lot of old C&W. I gave my vote to the Big Bopper as it was his song.
Great FNCF! George Jones has my vote, hands down, or bottoms up if you will, over JP. His version and his twang make the lyrics come to life. JP’S version reminds me much of Chantilly Lace. In the second fight Robert and Johnny belong together. Ritchie’s was a good slow song to dance to but it didn’t have it for me. It was great to hear Buddy (True Love Ways) Holly at the end of the fight as well. Really enjoyed this one on a snowy night in Arkansas.
Ditto what David said — I couldn’t agree more!
Thanks for a great FNCF! Matt you are so appreciated!
I’m a week late, but I went with the Big Bopper as I thought it was a little more soulful. Both versions were great as were the two for “We Belong Together”. There I voted for Robert and Johnny as it was originally done, but my favorite version of all is the one by the Belmonts recorded in 1960 shortly after the break-up with Dion. They recorded “We Belong Together” backed with “Such A Long Way” and you really got double your money’s worth with that 45. Thanks again, Matt.
In the day, I would have voted for the Bopper in a heat beat. But with a few more years on me, I really appreciate the George Jones version.
Robert and Johnny have it all over Holly though, with “We Belong Together”. In my mind, that one’s not eve close.
Moondreams though, is a great Holly number.
Had to go with the Big Bopper on the first one for the cool “Thunder and Lightning” sound effect that’s noticeably absent on George’s version. Robert and Johnny get the vote on the second fight for the lushness of the production and the vocal interplay – great stuff. The Buddy Holly track was intersting- talk about a smaltzy pop number. Hopefully had he lived he wouldn’t have continued in that direction.
Love the George Jones, but have to show “DJ Solidarity”. It’s all about The Bopper, Baby!