Sunday Afternoon
To top off the weekend, we have a lovely medley of songs, ranging from Motown to classic jam bands. Have a great week and enjoy! Votes are due by 8 pm EST on Tuesday, July 19. The songs are here.
The first of a series of Gaye/Terrell duets, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was recorded by each artist in a separate session. The two versions were remixed and edited by Motown, and the product became an early 1967 hit.
#1 Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Gaye & Terrell continued to record and perform together until Tammi Terrell collapsed onstage in October, 1967. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which eventually led to her tragic death, just before her 25th birthday. “China Cat Sunflower” was first recorded for the Grateful Dead’s third album, and was first recorded live in 1972. The song makes allusions to Alice in Wonderland and was played over 500 times in concert.
“What Is and What Should Never Be,” recorded for 1969’s Led Zeppelin II album, was one of the first songs for which Robert Plant received writing credit. It was the first time Jimmy Page used a Gibson Les Paul guitar. And it is also the first recorded use of John Bonham’s Chinese gong. This is a song I grew up listening to with my Dad and I’m psyched to see it. It faces off with “Papa was a Rodeo” by indie noise pop group, The Magnetic Fields.
“Bad Reputation” earned Joan Jett the 29th place on VH1’s Best Hard Rock Song of All Time, the top spot held by a woman. Joan is facing “Time” by Hootie & the Blowfish, which was a chart topper in the early 1990s.
#2 Bad Reputation, Joan Jett
And the final match up tonight pairs Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day” with everyone’s least favorite song on Saturday nights: Semisonic’s “Closing Time.” “Lovely Day” was first released in 1977, and has been a hit ever since. It has been re-released a few times and has been on the charts with each release. The song is also notable because towards the end, Withers holds a note for 18 seconds, which is believed to be the second-longest note in UK chart history, and I would guess that is likely also true for the American charts as well. “Closing Time,” which is a nice way to end the PCT for the evening, hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Modern Rock tracks chart in 1999.
The handy, dandy pasteables:
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead)
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields)
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish)
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic)
Living the Dream 
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead): 9.5/5.5
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields): 7.7/4.5
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) 5.5/5.5
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic): 3/3.1
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) – 10
# 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) – 4
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) -3.9
# 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) – 1
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) – 6
# 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) – 5
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 8
# 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) – 7
Earls Family Voting Party. Lindsay/Lori/Dad/Casey
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) 10/9/3/5
vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 3/2/3/3
I wish you guys could see my mom dancing. I give her dancing a 10+. And I wish you could see my dad’s face when the Grateful Dead started. “That’s a BAD acid trip right there.”
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 10/9/10/8
vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 6/2/1/2
Mom reminded me that we grew up listening to WIAWSHB on Dad’s 8track player. True story. Dad spent some time discussing how cutting edge the stereo guitar was for the time. I love listening to Led Zeppelin with my family. My Dad is skeptical of our re-seeding system.
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 5.5/4/6/6
vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) 3.5/8.75/9/7
Mom deducts points for any yelling.
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 8/6/3/3
vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 6.5/6/4/6
I’M BACK!
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) – 8.5
# 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) – 7
It’s pretty hard to top Marvin Gaye, so Grateful Dead should not feel bad. In fact, I enjoyed the Grateful Dead song more than I expected, but the repetitive chorus got to me in the end.
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) – 7
# 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) – 6.5
Not one of my favorite Led Zep songs, but I really dug the guitar riffs at the end. Love the deep voice in the Rodeo song, enjoyed it more than I thought I would!
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) – 8
# 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) – 4
Songs don’t have to be complex and filled with Dennis Miller-esque obscure references. Much like the Ramones, this is just simple but great Joan Jett song. Three chords, simple message, loud and fast. What’s not to like? I just can’t handle Hootie and the Blowfish for more than a minute; so after the first minute of the song, it was all downhill. I just find the vocals …. too whiny?!
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 7
# 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) – 5
The original version of Lovely Day is a little dated, but I still found myself enjoying it and humming along to an oddly familiar tune (I’ve heard many variants of this song, but never the Bill Withers’ original). As for Semisonic, see note above about Hootie and the whiny sound. It does get a bump for having piano. The world would be a better place if more songs (in particular rock songs) had piano, damnit.
welcome back!
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) 6 vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 6
Jerry Garcia looked creepy before he had a beard.
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 7 vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 10
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 9 vs. Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) 3
I shared a galley table with Joan Jett in the mess hall of an aircraft carrier a few years ago and she seemed nice, so she gets an extra point.
Also, Freaks and Geeks has endeared this song to me for life.
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 6 vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 3
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) – 8.5
# 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) – 5
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) – 5.5
# 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) – 8
PWAR is totally a song that I like more every time I hear it.
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) – 7.5
# 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) – 5
I admit that I remember Bad Reputation from the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack, which might have been one of my favorite CDs in high school.
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 7
# 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) – 5
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) – 6
# 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) – 4
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) – 6.5
# 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) – 4
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) – 7
# 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) – 7.5
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 6
# 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) – 9
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) [8.2]
# 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) [4]
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) [6]
# 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) [7.5]
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) [8.5]
# 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) [6.75]
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) [6.8]
# 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) [8]
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 5.5:4.5
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 4:5.5
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish)
6:7.5
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic)
5:7
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) 8.8 Ahhh. Gorgeous music.
# 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 5.1 Meh. Less gorgeous music.
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 6.3 Not my favorite Zeppelin track.
# 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 6 I go back and forth on this song. Not far enough back up the yo-yo track at the end.
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 7.1 Just fun.
# 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) 2.5 Hootie makes me angry.
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 7.5 Really good, but not quite as awesome as last time.
# 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 8.5 I know it’s not as “good” as Lovely Day… but it’s an automatic smile when I hear it. Let’s keep the magical ride going – I think we can take them from the play-in to the Round of 32. Let’s get it done.
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 10.0 to 4.0
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 3.0 to 7.0
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) 4.0 to 8.0
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 8.0 to 9.0
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 8.0 to 4.0 Great song vs Dud!!
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 4.5 to 8.0 Liked LZ better the first time around; this time, not so much. Papa – Still think this guy sounds like Steven Wright except SW can’t change his voice that much like this guy does at the end of the number. Papa gets an extra 2.0 for making laugh when I hear it.
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) – 3.0 to 7.5 And I don’t even like Hootie that much but JJ is just plain awful.
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 7.0 to 9.0 Lovely Day may be a “lovely” song but Closing Time really hit the spot for me.
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) – 5.8
vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) – 4.4
I was feeling underwhelmed by both of these today.
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) – 3.9
vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) – 8.4
I find Stephin Merrit’s monotone voice captivating. Not my absolute favorite Magnetic Fields song, but wanted them to get some bonus points from me since it looks like they are the underdogs here.
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) – 8.5
vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) – 6.1
Still love Bad Reputation. It also reminds me I need to return my Netflix Freaks & Geeks disc. Hootie reminds me of Friends but I am not sure if that’s misplaced. Was this song or another one on the soundtrack (that I had on cassette tape and listened to on my walkman, btw)?
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 7.5
vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) – 6.85
Closing Time, I wasn’t feeling and I had given it a 4… then suddenly, everything changed because I know who I want to take me home, I know who I want to take me home. I know who I want to take me home, take me home…
[Also, I’ve never paid much attention to the lyrics (aside from participating in 2am sing-alongs, drunkenly when bars closed) but did I really just hear “time for you to go back to the places you will be from” — is that the most complicated way to say “time for you to go home” or what?]
RE: Hootie – Yes, Time is on Cracked Rearview Mirror.
I had it on tape, too. My family used to go on long road trips to a destination in Canada – 14 hours. One particular year I remember, we had Hootie and the Ace of Base album which were played back to back to back to back….o the memories 😉
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) – 4.2
China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) – 4.1
Surprisingly close. Not too jazzed by either though. I thought I liked Marvin more than that, but wasn’t feeling Tammi.
What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) – 10
Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) – 3.9
WIAWSNB is awesome. Papa Was A Rodeo sounded alot like comedian Stephen Wright, which isn’t a good thing for a band.
Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) – 8.2
Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) – 7.5
I liked both these songs more than I’m comfortable with.
Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 9
Closing Time (Semisonic) – 7.5
Lovely Day was as advertised. Closing Time is a guilty pleasure for anyone who was in High School in the late 90s, but not quite as solid as Mr. Withers.
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) 7.5
China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 5
What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 5
Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 4
Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 7.5
Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) 8
I really like both of these songs, but the mood of the evening goes more for Hootie. I’ll be ok if Bad Reputation goes on though
Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 6
Closing Time (Semisonic) 8.5
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) – 7
# 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) – 4
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) – 4
# 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) – 7
I forgot how much I liked Papa Was A Rodeo.
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) – 2
# 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) – 5.5
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 6
# 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) – 9
I really love Closing Time. My deep nostalgic tie sees it crushing big Billy W in my book.
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell): 9.5
doesn’t get much better than this for me
# 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead): 5
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin): 6
# 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields): 5
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett): 8
# 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish): 8.5
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers): 6
# 6 Closing Time (Semisonic): 7
Me and Cristina votin’
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead)
6.8 7.7
7 5
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields)
6 5.5
7.1 4.5
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish)
7.6 8
3.8 5.3
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic)
2 4.7
5.5 5.85
I am feeling rather unforgiving tonight. My voting is particularly polarized and acrid tonight. Apologies. Kind of.
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 6/5.7
That brain tumor story made me sad. But I am just getting tired of songs that end with a whimper rather than a bang. I think that was a “thing” in the 60s.
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 4.5/10
My dad loves Zeppelin so, so very much. I don’t know. Some of it is pretty good, but I feel like I’m missing something. Maybe some time I’ll ask him to explain it to me. On the other hand, my love for the Magnetic Fields involves being 18 and in love and I’m not explaining anything. Except rhyming “mirrorball” with “here at all” is sheer fucking brilliance and a “1” for this song is totally incomprehensible to me. Don’t you have two ears and heart? Jeez.
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) 9/1.2
Joan Jett kicks ass and I am real displeased I had to listen to Hootie and the Blowfish again. I am hoping I don’t need to repeat that.
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 2/8.5
I like to say, “You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here” to my high school students when the school day is over. They don’t get it, and maybe that’s inappropriate, but I find it funny. Also I really don’t want to hear Lovely Day again so higher scores than usual to Semisonic for nostalgia.
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) – 6
# 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) – 8
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) – 9
# 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) – 7
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) – 6
# 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) – 6.5
Hootie is an extremely nice guy…wish I could like this song more.
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 7
# 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) – 4
No nostalgia whatsoever for this song…I must be the oldest one here or something.
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 4 / 2
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 6 / 5
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) 3 / 8
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 6 / 8
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 7.5 / 4
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 4 / 5.5
Papa was a Rodeo is growing on me.
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) 5 / 7
Hootie always reminds me of the guy who lived next door freshmen year of college who’s musical tastes leaned more towards screaming rock. However, he had a great voice and a soft spot for hootie. Extra point for nostalgia.
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 5/ 8
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) vs. # 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 8:1
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) vs. # 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 8:8
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. # 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) 9:3
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. # 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 9:7
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) : 7
China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead): 5.5
What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin): 5
Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields): 4
Bad Reputation (Joan Jett): 6.5
Time (Hootie and the Blowfish): 5
Lovely Day (Bill Withers): 6
Closing Time (Semisonic): 6.5
# 1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) 6
# 8 China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead) 6
Little known fact (maybe)— the Grateful Dead went 0-6 in the first tournament. Their win in the first round here was huge for Jerry and the rest of the Deadheads. That said, I feel indiscriminate between the two options.
# 4 What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 5.8
# 5 Papa Was A Rodeo (Magnetic Fields) 10
Something about this song is more powerful than everything else, it is literally like the melody puts me in the setting like magic. Magic magnets. Also, it’s kind of amazing yes? Before you kiss me you should know? Papa was a rodeo? Best heartbreaker excuse ever. The 10’s are flying for me these days, but it’s ok. Zepp is just an average Zepp song, Magnetic Fields is the real deal.
# 2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 5
# 7 Time (Hootie and the Blowfish) 5
Joan Jett lost some steam for me. Hootie gained some.
# 3 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 5
# 6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 2
I don’t know why anyone would want to listen to the entirety of LD. I despise Closing Time. Like, despise it. Which is weird because this OTHER Semisonic song off the same album was one of my absolute favoritest songs when I was 15. Too bad nobody will see this because I’m one of the last comments, but hell, let’s see if this GrooveShark widget option is about to revolutionize LivingTheDream or not.
http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf
Hmmm that didn’t work. I had this vision while I was walking my dog this morning though. I want to work on a way to get the playlists actually on the site via the GS widget, the same way they work on Facebook. We’ll get to the laboratory and see what we can do. In the meantime, this is the song I was trying to get to y’all.
Using a GS widget is a really great idea. I’m pretty dumb about technology but even I was able to paste one into my blog once so I am sure you talented people can figure it out.