8/13 – 9/3/10 – The Elvis Triple Threat Cat Fight!

 

 FNCF - The Elvis Triple Threat! [27:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast

THE
ELVIS
TRIPLE
THREAT

The dog days and cat nights of August are ON FIRE with this week’s Friday Night Cat Fight Battle Royale, THE ELVIS TRIPLE THREAT!  Matt The Cat commemorates the 33rd anniversary of Elvis’ death with not one, not two BUT THREE Cat Fight’s rolled into one.  In round one, the “King” returns from his stint in the Army only to battle Lowell Fulson over “Reconsider Baby.”  Then, round two heats up with Elvis’ top 10 rendition of Ray Peterson’s classic “The Wonder Of You.”  Finally, the crowd can’t sit still as the Big “E” takes it to the streets to battle the gang from Washington, DC better known as The Clovers way “Down In The Alley!”

Vote three times in this week’s historic Cat Fight.  Can Elvis win 2 out of 3 and take the title OR will he be defeated and sent back to the minors.  The answer is in your hands.

Listen to the Cat Fight Podcast and then vote THREE TIMES below!

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8/6/10 – The “Do You Want To Dance” Cat Fight

 

 FNCF - "Do You Want To Dance" [24:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast

“Do You Want To Dance”

Put on your dancin’ shoes for this week’s Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast over the classic rock n’ roll tune, “Do You Want To Dance.”  This week, all six of the versions in competition made the pop charts.  Of course, some did much better than others, but they all cracked the Hot 100.  So I really think we have an even playing ground.  Bobby Freeman wrote the tune and scored its biggest hit to date with his 1958 original.  The Beach Boys came close to Freeman chart-wise as did Bette Midler (the song that really launched her career).  Del Shannon, The Mamas & The Papas and The Ramones all did their own unique versions of the tune, even if they didn’t chart as high.

So listen to the podcast, dig the tunes and VOTE for the one you DIG THE MOST!

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7/30/10 – The “Hang On Sloopy” Cat Fight!

 

 "Hang On Sloopy" Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast [30:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast

“Hang On Sloopy”

“Hang On Sloopy,” which has become the official State Rock Song of Ohio is this week’s feature on the Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast.  We’ll start with the original version (“My Girl Sloopy”) by The Vibrations and follow that with 6 other mostly hit versions of the tune, including the McCoy’s #1 version from 1965.  So listen to the show, hear the varied versions and decide for yourself which one you DIG the most!  Then vote below.

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7/16/10 – The “Sloop John B” Cat Fight

 

 FNCF - "Sloop John B" [26:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast

“Sloop John B”

This week’s Friday Night Cat Fight takes on a classic folk tune and shanty, “The Sloop John B.”  It began as a Bahaman folk tune and was first recorded by archivist Alan Lomax in 1935.  From there, groups like The Weavers, Kingston Trio and The Beach Boys made it a part of popular culture.  Listen to all five versions of the “Sloop John B” that are in competition this week and vote for the one you dig the most.

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6/25/10 – The “Java” Cat Fight!

 

 Friday Night Cat Fight - "Java" [53:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Friday Night Cat Fight Show

“Java”

The Cat Fight puts 3 versions of the instrumental “Java,” by 3 different cats from Louisiana up against each other this week.  All 3 versions appeared on RCA Victor.  Allen Toussaint, who originally recorded for RCA under the name “Tousan,” wrote the tune and recorded the first version.  Then, piano master Floyd Cramer took it to the charts in 1963.  But “Java” didn’t really heat up until Al Hirt hit #4 with it back in 1964.  Listen to all 3 and vote for the one that moves you the most!

Plus, I’ll feature a terrible cover of the Buchanan & Goodman classic, “The Flying Saucer” as well as a groovy tune that got a lot of inspiration from Santo & Johnny.  All this and more on this week’s Friday Night Cat Fight Show!

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6/18/10 – The “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” Cat Fight Show

 

 FNCF - "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" [61:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Friday Night Cat Fight Radio Show

“(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons”

This week’s Cat Fight tackles one of the sweetest love songs of all-time, William “Pat” Best’s “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons.”  He wrote it as a poem to a girl when he was just a kid and then it became an enormous hit for Nat King Cole in 1946.  This week, I feature 15 different versions of this classic tune, but only 9 of them are in competition for the Cat Fight.  Listen to the show and then vote for the version you truly dig the most. 

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5/14/10 – The “Fever” 7-Way Cat Fight Radio Show

 

 FNCF - "Fever" 7-Way Cat Fight [60:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Friday Night Cat Fight Radio Show

“Fever”

Little Willie John first recorded “Fever”, a song written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell (as John Davenport) in 1956 for King.  It was a #1 smash on the R&B charts and it even crossed over to #24 on the elusive pop charts.  The tune was so popular that it led to many immediate covers.  In 1957, both Ray Peterson and Earl Grant took a crack at it.  Then in 1958, Peggy Lee put her unique, seductive stamp on it and it rose to #8 on the pop charts and an incredible #5 on the R&B lists.  In 1960, Elvis featured “Fever” on “Elvis Is Back,” his first LP after being discharged from the Army.  Alvin Robinson bubbled under the Hot 100 in 1964 with a great retelling of the song and the McCoys followed up their “Sloopy” success with a top ten version of “Fever” in 1965.  Now, listen to them all and decide which one you truly DIG THE MOST! 

Also on this week’s program, we feature some birthday tributes to Bobby Darin, Troy Shondell and Charlie Gracie.

So listen, VOTE and DIG!

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**Subscribe to my weekly email newsletter CLICK HERE to hear a vintage Friday Night Cat Fight over “Fever” from March of 2006.**

5/7/10 – The History of “See See Rider” Cat Fight!

 

 FNCF - History of "See See Rider" [60:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Friday Night Cat Fight Radio Show

History Of

“See See Rider Blues”

This week, I trace the history of another blues and rock n’ roll standard, “See See Rider.”  It’s one of those songs that just feels like it’s been around forever, but like every great tune, there’s a story to tell.  Ma Rainey first dropped this on shellac in 1924 with the help of Louis Armstrong’s band.  It became a sensation in 1925 and that lead to many different covers of the tune.  I’m presenting a brilliant version by Bea Booze (1943), a doo wop version by The Orioles (1952), the first rock n’ roll version by Chuck Willis (1957), LaVern Bakers retelling of the tale (1962) and the Animals’ “take no prisoners” take from 1966.  Listen to all six versions in their entirety before making your decision and voting for your favorite.  I will also have a collage that features versions by Leadbelly, Mississippi John Hurt and Elvis Presley. 

Also on this week’s show, we bet on the horse races, hear a killer record from The Calvanes AND pay special birthday tributes to Johnny Maestro and Ricky Nelson. 

So listen, vote AND DIG!

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4/30/10 – “Gonna Get Along Without You Now” 4-Way Cat Fight Radio Show

 

 Cat Fight - "Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now" [60:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Friday Night Cat Fight Radio Show

“Gonna Get Along Without You Now”

A 1950s classic tune has been reborn and the Friday Night Cat Fight Radio Show is here to present 4 different versions of “Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now.”  You are probably most familiar with young Patience (14) and Prudence (11) and their rendition of the tune.  But up for your consideration is the original hit by Teresa Brewer (1952) and Skeeter Davis’ retelling of it in 1964 as well as a brand NEW version of the song done by She & Him (Zooey Dechanel & M. Ward).  So which one is it gonna be?  Listen to all four in their entirety and then decide for yourself and VOTE! 

This week’s show also includes a mess of killer instrumentals that have been forgotten to time, Johnny Horton live on the “Louisiana Hayride” radio program from 1956 and Louis Jordan’s musical plea for racial harmony and equality.

So listen, VOTE and DIG!

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4/23/10 – The “Sweets For My Sweet” Cat Fight Show!

 

 FNCF - "Sweets For My Sweet" [59:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Friday Night Cat Fight Radio Show

“Sweets For My Sweet”

The Friday Night Cat Fight is the only show the puts 2 versions of the same song by 2 different groups up against each other and then asks for YOUR VOTE!  A common theme on this show is the Americans vs. The Brits.  This occurs so frequently, because in most cases the British covers of American tunes are so damn good, that they deserve mention.  Also, sometimes the British group scored the bigger hit, while the original American cover is left behind, forgotten.  That is not the case this week, as The Drifters scored a major top 20 hit on both the American pop and R&B charts.  The Searchers 1963 cover hit #1 in the UK, but failed to chart Stateside when it was released here in 1964.  So please listen to this week’s Cat Fight Show and then make your choice and VOTE for the one you truly DIG THE MOST!

Also on this week’s program, we find out what Mel Torme and a guitar virtuoso have in common, we make some R&B phone calls with Big Walter and Floyd Dixon AND we talk to former Oriole Diz Russell about Sonny Til, the man.

So listen, vote and DIG!

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