Well, this battle looked like it was headed for a total shutout but in the end the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies snatched a few votes, resulting in a 26% share of the votes. Everyone seemed to prefer BB King & Bonnie Raitt’s version. I liked their version just fine and I think Bonnie Raitt’s contribution in that duo was fantastic. But in my opinion, no one can do that song better than Dr. John. So I appreciated the different approach that the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies took, with their electrified funk version. Therefore I placed my vote with them.
The final tally:
BB King/Bonnie Raitt 16 votes
Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies 5 votes
I did learn something in this battle though. I never really thought of pitting the original against a cover. I’ve always pitted cover against cover. But our own Stephen McCarthy pointed out that it would’ve been a much better battle had I put Dr. John up against BB King/Bonnie Raitt’s version. I agree! In hindsight, I should’ve done that. Maybe I’ll save that for a battle down the road, because I’m very interested to see how that match-up would end up…
It’s time for another Battle of the Bands and today I’m featuring the Dr. John song Right Place, Wrong Time. Give a listen to the two contenders and vote which one you like best. I’ll post the results in 6 days!
Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack (born November 21, 1940), better known by the stage name Dr. John (also Dr. John Creaux, or Dr. John the Night Tripper), is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll. He’s mostly known by his New Orleans R&B roots.
His song Right Place, Wrong Time went to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart back in 1973. It was from his In the Right Place album. Crank this one up! (this is not part of the battle; for your information and enjoyment only):
The song was covered by BB King (with Bonnie Raitt):
Does BB King need any introduction? Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known by his stage name B.B. King, was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
Rolling Stone ranked King No. 6 on its 2011 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and is considered one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, earning the nickname “The King of the Blues.”
King was known for performing tirelessly throughout his musical career, appearing at more than 200 concerts per year on average into his 70s. In 1956, he reportedly appeared at 342 shows.
King died at the age of 89 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 14, 2015 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease along with congestive heart failure and diabetic complications. (Source: Wikipedia)
Here is his version of Right Place, Wrong Time, along with Bonnie Raitt:
The song was also covered by Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies
Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies are a band from Nashville, Tennessee, USA, which was formed in the early 1990s. The band embraced a southern boogie style which led to comparisons with groups such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Collective Soul and Cry of Love. The band played at a blues club near Vanderbilt University before being signed to Atlantic Records in 1993. The band drew its name from one of Gary Larson’s comics, The Far Side.
Their album Big Wheel, released in 1998, contained the cover Right Place, Wrong Time. Their version of “Right Place, Wrong Time” was used in the Malcolm in the Middle episode “Home Alone 4” and included in Songs from Malcolm in the Middle, the soundtrack to the television series which was released on November 21, 2000. (Source: Wikipedia)
Here is the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies version:
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:
