William's Song a Day Blog - est. September 2007

From: Higher and Higher ; Year: 1967; Genre: Soul This rather positive and "uplifting" song just kept playing in my brain since yesterday evening; actually surprised I have not picked it yet. Higher and Higher is one of those big hit standards from the last century you just immediately recognize and will at least have you tapping your foot; putting you in a good mood to boot. If the music sounds familiar, that is because some of the Funk Brothers from Motown Records were moonlighting on the weekends as session musicians in Chicago to make extra money. Both Richard "Pistol" Allen's drumming and James Jamerson's bass are really the driving force to lay such a perfect groove for the rest of the band and Jackie Wilson to have an amazing platform for such a memorable song.   Hear (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Glass Hammer - Roll For Initiative     My song pick 2 years ago today: Creedenc...

BWV 444 ; Year:~1735; Genre Baroque Period classical It's amazing to think that I made it another full year of writing this "vintage" mid-2000s song-a-day blog: 19 years today. As is my personal tradition, I am choosing one of Johann Sebastian Bach's works. This is one of the song or aria section from chapter 6 of the historic Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis ( Bach-Works-Catalogue ) , BWV number 444. I can say without a doubt that I am overjoyed that music works compendiums exist, especially Bach's even with its flaws it makes finding certain pieces of music simple to find and listen to.   Hear Brich entzwei, mein armes Herze , BWV 444 on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 1028 - Sonata No.2 in D-Major     My song pick 2 years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 542 - Great Fantasia and Fugue in G-Minor     My song pick 3 years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 566 - Prelude and Fugue in E-Major My son...

From: Bad to the Bone ; Year: 1982; Genre: Blues Rock Had a few other songs in mind as a possible pick today, but just kept having George Thorogood and the Destroyers' music on my mind; again, took it as a sign I should choose something from them. It used to be hard for me to seek out and listen to this band, mostly due to the sheer overplay they used to, and probably still, receive on radio airplay. Bad to the Bone had to be one of that frankly got played into the ground. Lately though, since I kind of quit listening to the radio, enough time has passed that I can enjoy it when I do hear them it's actually quite enjoyable.   Watch the music video on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: John Denver - The Game Is Over     My song pick 2 years ago today: Uriah Heep - Rainbow Demon     My song pick 3 years ago today: Counting Crows - August And Everything After   My song pick 4 years ago today: 3rd Secret - Last Day of August ...

From: Motel California ; Year: 1996; Genre: Alternative Metal/Rap Rock I do not know why, just wanted to go with something from Ugly Kid Joe today. Also decided on going with one off of this album, which I have not picked one off of yet. Motel California was released just prior to the band breaking up and going their separate ways with other bands and such until reuniting back in 2010. You can really feel that they were getting burned out by this time and probably calling it quits was the best course of action. A great deal of the music on this one was essentially doing the same music and ideas the other popular metal bands were creating. Good thing though is that after getting back together that "spark" and originality they were known for has been ever-present.   Watch the music video on YouTube.          My song pick 1 year ago today: Loverboy - Working for the Weekend     My song pick 2 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - I'm An Animal...

From: It's a Shame About Ray ; Year: 1992; Genre: Alternative Rock/Punk I just had this one on the 'ol brain last night and felt like picking it today. I remember this song, and the rest of the album for that matter; my sister had it and listened to it a lot back then. It's a Shame About Ray is one of those records with a bunch of short tracks with a lot of energy, which was wot I remember the most of the Lemonheads.   Hear Bit Part on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Eric Burdon and War - Magic Mountain     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rare Earth - I Couldn't Believe What Happened Last Night     My song pick 3 years ago today: Diana Ross - Touch Me in the Morning   My song pick 4 years ago today: Nazareth - Love Hurts   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Nice - Hang on to a Dream   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Grass Roots - The River Is Wide   My song pick 7 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult -...

From: So Happy ; Year: 1989; Genre: Funk/New Jack Swing Thankfully I am not picking a song from someone who passed away today. Although yesterday Peter Cullin, who voiced many characters like Transformers ' Optimus Prime and Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh amongst many other credits, did sadly pass away. Back in the 1980s it seemed though that many famous movie and television stars recorded some music on the side; of course Eddie Murphy is one of them. Whilst this record didn't fare so well, it is one that I like the most; just the super deep list of huge talent he worked along side alone makes it very good.   Hear Let's Get With It on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Stan Bush - The Touch     My song pick 2 years ago today: Kansas - Icarus - Born On Wings of Steel     My song pick 3 years ago today: Pendragon - The Last Man on Earth   My song pick 4 years ago today: Eddie Hazel - Until It Rains   My song pick 5 years ...