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

From: Rhymes & Reasons ; Year: 1969; Genre: Folk Rock I guess this one is a song that you will not understand unless "you know." Originally penned by folk great Tom Paxton, John Denver does an amazing job with such in the best way he can.   Hear The Ballad of Richard Nixon on YouTube.        My song pick 1 year ago today: The Thermals - Returning to the Fold     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Doors - Twentieth Century Fox     My song pick 3 years ago today: 1984 - There's a Wrinkle In Our Time   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - Yesterday's Hero   My song pick 5 years ago today: Supertramp - Breakfast in America   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe   My song pick 7 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Eyes On Fire My song pick 8 years ago today: The Beach Boys - All Summer Long My song pick 9 years ago today: Bernard Wright - Who Do You Love My song pick 10 ye...

From: "He's Back" (The Man Behind The Mask) single; Year: 1986; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal Just noticed that today is Monday the 13th ; couldn't let it go without picking something apropos. Whilst by no means even close to Alice Cooper's finer offerings, there is just something about this era of his music that I like; probably the familiarity of growing up with it and the movies of the time. This was one of three song of Alice's that were used for the soundtrack to the sixth installment of the Friday the 13th franchise . I remember that film quite well, although I never actually saw it back then. It was mostly the genius advertisement campaign where people would slap up posters of or paint "Jason Lives" all over the place. It even showed up in television shows, including Saturday morning cartoons; the 1980s were definitely a different time, eh?   Watch the music video on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Louis Armstrong and His Hot Seven ...

From: Radio Free Albemuth ; Year: 1988; Genre: Classical/Jazz Fusion One of the odd things I have discovered concerning Stu Hamm is that only musicians seem to know who his is and wot he plays. I mean, he's played on a lot of albums from a lot of artists; mainly guitar shredders like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Most would likely know about Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten, or Steve Bailey before they'd remember Stu Hamm; not to take a single thing from those axe slingers, he is just every bit as good as them in my opinion. But, when you hear his solo works he really just blows you away with not just how great of a player he is, but how inventive and original his playing and style are. After hearing much of his records I was amazed how many odd and new sounds he could make with his bass guitar. Anyway, this one comes off of one of my favourite albums of his. Radio Free Albemuth's title was taken from the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name, as well as the lion's share of...

From: Back Stabbers ; Year: 1972; Genre: Soul Early this morning I was enjoying the songs from this album. I find the O'Jays' ability to take a negative subject matter and with their delivery and, of course, one of the best songwriting duos, Gamble & Huff make it feel uplifting and, dare I say, make it positive somehow. Although blending Philadelphia soul with a Bossa Nova beat, the chemistry will most always be awesome.    Hear 992 Arguments on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rare Earth - Stop/Where Did Our Love Go     My song pick 2 years ago today: Azteca - Peace Everybody     My song pick 3 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Too Much Sunshine   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Nothing Lasts   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Box in my Head   My song pick 6 years ago today: King Harvest - A Little Bit Like Magic   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Tempt...

From: Car Wash (soundtrack) ; Year: 1976; Genre: Funk/Soul Ultra busy couple of days, but definitely wanted to make a good pick for Friday. For wotever reason I just had Rose Royce on the brain, especially from their debut album and soundtrack for the classic Norman Whitfield film Car Wash . Lequeint "Duke" Jobe's bass playing really drives this one and just shows how much of an amazing player his is.   Hear Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Incredible Bongo Band - Let There Be Drums     My song pick 2 years ago today: Buster Poindexter - Hot Hot Hot     My song pick 3 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Awake, Awake   My song pick 4 years ago today: Zakk Wylde - Throwin' It All Away   My song pick 5 years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - I've Got To Make It On My Own   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - Bass-Rigged-System   My song pick 7 years ago today:...

From: Idlewild South ; Year: 1970; Genre: Southern Rock/Blues Rock Recently, I read an insightful interview with the only surviving member of this historic band: Jai Johanny Johanson, or Jaimoe . He was one of the two amazing drummers/percussionists, (the other being Butch Trucks ), for the band throughout their most prosperous times and has appeared on the majority of their albums. I have to say that I still to this day love watching those two masters in the live recordings; almost like drumming professors putting on a clinic. Amongst a few neat things and anecdotes I learned was that each member had a tattoo of a psychedelic mushroom as kind of brotherhood bond and that he was proud to have the last one on his leg. It is still difficult for me to acknowledge that so many have passed on; they themselves were and are like monuments to American music. Anyway, I thought that I would revisit one of my favourite records; like most of their artistry, Idlewild South is best played all at on...