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The results for Day 13 are below, and notes on the next set of matches are due Friday, October 25th at 2 PM PST/5 PM EST.
Rock and roll got its true start in 1955, and at that time was defined by the beginnings of “cross-over” trends across Pop and R&B tracks. Got some big ones here to start us off. From there, a strange foray into the phenomenon of TV Rock.* We’ll slide into home with some 70s mainstream slow rock, and finish out with early 90s indie rock artists.
*Note: I cannot find one place on the internet with a version of “Sha-La, Love You” by Lancelot Link & The Evolution Revolution. I did find an Eastern European cover however from 1970, which is only a year removed. So I guess imagine what that cover would sound like if it were sung…you know, by these chimpanzees.
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Day 13 Results
Mob Hits, 1920-1938
“One O’Clock Jump” by Count Basie- 67
“I’ve Got A Pocketful Of Dreams” by Bing Crosby- 62
“In The Mood” by The Andrews Sisters- 62
“Whispering” by Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra- 57
Mob noir takes this one, probably boosted by its speakeasedness and innovative bass/piano blues sound.
Soul All Around, 1967-1968
“When A Man Loves A Woman” by Percy Sledge- 81
“Try A Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding- 70
“A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum- 70
“Groovin'” by The Rascals- 64
Percy Sledge certainly felt like a contender with this showing- with an 8.1 average, he slides right into our top seeds list.
Continental Singer-Songwriters, 1974-1975
“Cats In The Cradle” by Harry Chapin- 74
“Tangled Up In Blue” by Bob Dylan- 72
“Still Crazy After All These Years” by Paul Simon- 63
“Help Me” by Joni Mitchell- 49
I’d call this a legitimate upset- “Tangled Up In Blue” has a historically strong showing in these tournaments. Then again, maybe we never gave Chapin the chance. Well done.
I want that shirt.
MTV Pop, 1985-1986
“The Power Of Love” by Huey Lewis & The News- 69
“Raspberry Beret” by Prince & The Revolution- 68
“Papa Don’t Preach” by Madonna- 59
“Sussudio” by Phil Collins- 48
Another arguable upset here, as Huey Lewis ekes out Prince by a point for the win.
Living the Dream 
And there goes my first 10! I mentioned somewhere before that I’m not going to give tens in this round, but the first group was just out of this world! I couldn’t bring myself to give Little Richard and Bill Haley less than a 9, but also had to separate Johnny B. Good in some way (it is just completely different thing) so 10 it is for mister Chuck Berry. Pat Boone, for me at least, couldn’t stand a chance with these guys, on the other hand if it was Speedy Gonzales it would be a different drum.
TV Rock has one strong contender – Sonny & Cher (at least with this song) don’t seem to belong with the other guys here. On the downscale from there it goes – The Monkees (again, they are a real group, more or less), Sugar Sugar is cute enough, while Sir Lancelot is on the tail (they’re chimpanzees for pits sake!).
Again a strong contender in 70’s rock – Dust in the Wind is one of my all time favorites, and the only reason it didn’t also get a 10 is that it didn’t have such a strong competition. But nevertheless, amazing song, hopefully it will go all the way through the finals. Beast of Burden and Billy Joel share a grade, both songs are good enough, but don’t do anything special for me (that doesn’t mean I would say ‘no’ to listening to them at any time). Again, one song is well behind, in this case it’s Journey, although if it was Don’t Stop Believin’ or Wheel in the Sky grading would probably be completely different.
In the end, the weakest group this week (of course, there were much worse groups so far, by far), where not one song managed to separate itself in my ear. Two 7s, two 6s – and it was a momentary decision, so I’m not sure right now which is which; but let’s just say all songs are decent enough and I wouldn’t mind listening to them, it’s just, they don’t have that X factor (not the Cowell one, mind you) that makes me say ‘wow’.