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

From: Goodnite, It's Time To Go ; Year: 1957; Genre: Doo-Wop/Rock 'n Roll Seems like as of late I have been picking songs that were just playing in my brain's "player" instead of going with something in particular. I guess that is among wot is good about keeping a blog as such; the different songs surfacing for the Aether. Anyway, most have probably heard this one at some time over the last 70 or so years. I, personally remember hearing the Sha Na Na version first, but the original wasn't far behind with it being featured on the classic film American Graffiti and thus had re-gained a lot of popularity. It is without a doubt a stone-cold classic track and more than perfect for that final slow dance of the evening.   Hear Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Roy Orbison - Blue Angel     My song pick 2 years ago today: Praxis - After Shock (The Chaos Never Died)     My song pick 3 years ago today: ...

From: LaVern Baker ; Year: 1957; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/R&B I cannot begin to count the sheer amount of times I've heard versions of this song on the radio, television, movies, video games and more over the years. However, this, the original doesn't really get played as much as it should. LaVern Baker has one of those blues/rock 'n roll voices that I just adore; powerful and gritty with sweetness throughout. Just amazing to think that they used to make music this good constantly; made the overall brevity of the song tolerable knowing you'd get another great one to follow it up.     Hear Jim Dandy on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: War - H2Overture     My song pick 2 years ago today: Def Leppard - Rocket     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jigsaw - Just Another Clown   My song pick 4 years ago today: Living Colour - Sunshine Of Your Love   My song pick 5 years ago today: Kansas - All The World   My s...

From: Theme From "A Summer Place" ; Year: 1959; Genre: 20th Century classical Re-watching the new series based on Stephen King's novel It ;  It: Welcome to Derry . I'm really enjoying seeing wot I have missed the first time through; there is a great deal going on throughout. Anyway, I have heard this song in a few of the Stephen King miniseries/films and it almost always is the prelude to a disturbing scene. Kind of a "bait and switch" where this light and pretty piece puts the viewer at ease just to "pull the rug out" and leave you reeling. Its to the point that when I happen to hear this one outside of a King film I expect something bad to happen; I guess I watch too much of those. Anyway, this may be the most popular version of it, but is not the original and, funny enough, was never the actual theme to the 1959 movie , but rather a tune played in the background sporadically throughout the picture. I guess this is a case of the song staying fam...

From: Cosmopolite ; Year: 1956; Genre: Bossa Nova Jazz/Swing Jazz Over the years Benny Carter has become one of my many favourite jazz composers/arrangers/overall musicians. I do not believe that there is a single song he has recorded that I don't absolutely love. Anyway, this is a cover of the popular standard originally written by Cole Porter for his Broadway Musical Anything Goes , which has been recorded by many artists since.   Hear I Get a Kick Outta You on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Molly Hatchet - Jukin' City     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Bangles - Manic Monday   My song pick 3 years ago today: Wolfmother - Colossal   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Moody Blues - The Spirit   My song pick 5 years ago today: Fatback Band - (Do The) Spanish Hustle   My song pick 6 years ago today: Fairport Convention - Reynardine   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Kinks - Introduction to a Solution ...

From: Mister Sandman/Set A Spell (single); Year: 1954; Genre: Pop/Rock 'n Roll Heard Chet Atkins' rendition of this modern classic on the television the other day and have had its mind-burrowing melody in my mind ever since. From wot I understand this was Chet's first charting song on Billboard and was, and still is played a lot.   Watch a live performance on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Michael Jackson - Thriller     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Moody Blues - The Morning: Another Morning   My song pick 3 years ago today: Marillion - Blind Curve   My song pick 4 years ago today: Franz Ferdinand - Always Ascending   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jon Oliva's Pain - Time to Die   My song pick 6 years ago today: Guns N' Roses - November Rain   My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - War Child My song pick 8 years ago today: Geddy Lee - Runaway Train My song pick 9 years ago today: Yes - Step ...

From: Shake, Rattle and Roll ; Year: 1955; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/Rockabilly It's Monday the 13th once more... and in October to boot; just had to take advantage of it for another pick on that theme. Anyway, I quite like this cover of the song originally written and recorded by Dickie Thompson  and really fit wot I needed. Quite risqué for the time, this one is about a man having a dream about a hydrogen bomb going off and only he and thirteen women survive in the town. Of course it doesn't go into vivid detail, but you can probably get the picture of the day to day and hi-jinks that ensue. From wot I understand, they threw the part about the H-Bomb in to make it more palatable to the radio audience. While the song did not have immediate success, after Bill Haley hit it big with Rock Around the Clock it caught on and became pretty popular.    Hear Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rezső Ser...

From: You Send Me/Summertime (Single); Year: 1957 ; Genre: Jazz/R&B/Blues Whilst getting ready to log in to pick today's song I just happened to have Sam Cooke on the brain. One of these days I will have to see just how many recordings of this beloved Gershwin classic I have already chosen. This is another of my top favourite recordings of the piece. Though Sam Cooke could probably sing anything and it'd be incredible, he really makes this one his own with that one-of-a-kind voice. A couple of years later in '59 he recorded it again, but this time in his more recognizable Rock 'n Roll/Soul style under the title Summertime (Part 2) . I have to say, I love both of them a lot, but in different ways.   Hear Summertime on YouTube.   Hear Summertime (Part 2) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Cab Calloway & His Orchestra - Geechy Joe     My song pick 2 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Maybe Your Baby   My song pick 3 y...

From: A Teardrop on a Rose/Alone and Forsaken ; Year: 1955; Genre: Folk Kind of interesting how it seems that for almost any mood you are in Hank Williams wrote a song for it. I love going back to when country essentially was blues combined with folk and where the manliest of men cried their hearts out with all of the force their spirits could muster; no posturing or making a facade, just pure, true and honest emotion.    Hear Alone and Forsaken on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Eddie Hazel - Relic 'Delic (Purple Hazel)   My song pick 2 years ago today: George Thorogood and the Destroyers - I Drink Alone   My song pick 3 years ago today: Toronto - All I Need   My song pick 4 years ago today: Queen - It's Late   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - Don't Let It Show   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Commons Brawl My song pick 7 years ago today: Maddy Prior - Catseyes My song pick ...

From: Ritchie Valens ; Year: 1959; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/Chicano Rock I had some other songs in mind for today, but thought I should pick something apropos for Cinco de Mayo . Although, I am feeling more than a bit sheepish with this obvious pick. Don't get me wrong, I love Ritchie Valens and his music a lot, just wish I could think of something deeper so to speak; oh well. Anyway, this is one of the most famous non-English songs to grace the U.S. charts and is still played and sung around the world since. Originally it was a traditional Mexican folk tune with many 1000s of verses written and ad-libed over the centuries since its conception, which makes it an amazing party tune. And since Ritchie Valens made it so popular, no matter wot language you speak it is fun for all.   Hear La Bamba on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Coasters - The Deodorant Song   My song pick 2 years ago today: Barrabás - Wild Safari   My song pick 3 years ago t...

From: Triple Threat ; Year: 1957; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz I think I have said it before, but Hard Bop is by far my favourite Jazz form out there, and Roland Kirk was a true master on the cutting edge. I've had people ask me what exactly is Hard Bop and the easy definition is that it's an evolution of Bebop that emphasizes the melody over all else rather than improvisation you see with many other forms in the "Bop" family. By no means is this at the expense of virtuosity and exhibition of amazing players; it is just very polished and more like, as Rahsaan Roland Kirk stated: "Black Classical Music," which is very apt description. It is technical jazz music that most would sit through and enjoy, hanging on every note played.   Hear Slow Groove on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Sly Stone - His Eye Is on the Sparrow   My song pick 2 years ago today: Roy Eldridge and Benny Carter - Close Your Eyes   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jigsaw - One Wa...

From: Hot Rod Race ; Year: 2003 (1950); Genre: Rockabilly/Country Anybody who has heard the classic rockabilly track Hot Rod Lincoln would immediately hear its similarities with this track. Hot Rod Race was, in fact, the song that Hot Rod Lincoln was an answer song to. This was arguably the first song to tap into the postwar hot rod craze in which teenagers would purchase old and essentially discarded prewar cars and modify them to go a lot faster with things such as bigger motors and newer technology. In fact, music of this type that glorifies cool fast cars and such lives on to this day throughout many genres of music. Some also argue that Hot Rod Race was also among the first songs to stylistically bend to what would become rock 'n roll, even though it was a western swing.   Hear Hot Rod Race on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: 'Til Tuesday - Voices Carry   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Kinks - Susannah's Still Alive   My song ...

From: Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters ; Year: 1956 (1954); Genre: Doo-Wop/R&B/Rock 'n Roll It is kind of saddening when you look back through the history of The Drifters and how many insanely talented people came and went through the years. Whilst most would remember the monster hits when Ben E. King later sang the lead for a totally different group for a manager that owned the name, this was the original lineup. Clyde McPhatter put together The Drifters as his backing band, which lasted about a year with a few singles and a single LP album. It is amazing to see the tapestry of these greats that came and went over the years and the legends they later would work with and/or have a solo career. You could probably write a volume of books on this band in its many incarnations. Anyway, this is an early rhythm and blues track with some noted jazz and blues influence. Shortly later Elvis would record the song, which I do believe became the "de-facto" version, but this one...

From: Porgy & Bess ; Year: 1959; Genre: Swing Jazz/Opera Summertime has and will probably always be one of my favourite standards; so far every rendition I have heard I love. This one though, it is without a single doubt the best in my personal opinion; I mean, how could you not with all of the legendary talent of these two? Hearing them duet and Satchmo's horn is the same as wrapping yourself up in your favourite warm blanket on a chilly day.   Hear Summertime on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Herman's Hermits - There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Eight More Miles To Louisville   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Demon's Kiss   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bee Gees - I Gotta Get a Message to You   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ultravox - Mr. X   My song pick 6 years ago today: Charley Pride - Daydreams About Night Things My song pick 7 years...

From: Louis Wishes You A Cool Yule ; Year: 2022 (1957); Genre: Swing Jazz/Christmas Music Had to choose something from Pops this holiday season and Ella joins him on this one, or rather he joins her.   Hear  I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Smash Mouth - Father Christmas   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Greensleeved   My song pick 3 years ago today: Chick Corea - What Child is This?   My song pick 4 years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Prince of Peace   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bob Rivers - Flu Ride   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Pretenders - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas My song pick 7 years ago today: Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Didn't I Get This Last Year? My song pick 8 years ago today: Electric Jungle - Funky Funky Christmas My song pick 9 years ago today: Louis Armstrong - Winter Wonderland My song pick 10 years ago today...

From: That Christmas Feeling ; Year: 1958; Genre: Christmas Music Just a Christmas tune that popped into my mind today; probably heard it recently. You hear a lot of Bing Crosby year around in the current town in which I reside, being that it is where the man grew up; they're very quick to remind everyone of him. Anyway, this is a more contemporary song that originated as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the mid 19th century during the Civil War and has a central theme about faith and positive thought overcoming the darkness and despair of the time. Although it had been set to music prior, the version most would be familiar with would most likely be that of Johnny Marks from 1956, which Bing's version is derived. However, other versions might be more prevalent in different parts of the globe.   Hear I Head the Bells on Christmas Day on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: John Denver - Christmas for Cowboys   My song pick 2 years ago today: ...

From: Running Bear (single) ; Year: 1959; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/Rockabilly 1959 in particular seemed like a sullen year musically with a bunch of songs about death going to the top of the charts as well the infamous plane crash that took three rock 'n roll legends. Actually Running Bear was coincidentally written by J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson who was amongst the victims in the crash. Sadly, he would obviously not live to hear this composition become a #1 hit later that same year. Anyway, as said prior, this is one of the "tragedy" songs that features two lovers separated by their warring tribes and a mighty river. They long to be together and meet in the middle of the river and as they kiss the river pulls them under and the two lovers perish in each other's arms. Strangely enough, the song that this one replace at #1 on the charts was another was El Paso by Marty Robbins, which is another one with a tragic tale of death, and the song that became...

From: Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots ; Year: 1955; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/Pop This is one of the earlier "teenage tragedy" songs that would permeate the late '50 through the mid '60s in American popular culture. Whilst it tells the tale of death and grieving, by the music you wouldn't really guess it. It has almost a comically circus quality of it; kind of like it was making a parody of itself and not until the last verse do you really feel the gravity of the tale and even then it's almost like: "He got killed by a train, ha! ha! ha!" sort of feel.   Hear Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jim Ed Brown - Sunday Morning We'll Be Singing   My song pick 2 years ago today: Frank Mills - Music Box Dancer   My song pick 3 years ago today: Kool & The Gang - Let the Music Take Your Mind   My song pick 4 years ago today: Eric Clapton - Pilgrim   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue...

From: What'd I Say ; Year: 1959; Genre: Soul/R&B Here is one of Ray Charles' most legendary hits that not only took him to the stratosphere, but also is one of first tracks to establish the genre that would become soul.  From wot I understand it came out of an improvisational jam to fill out the time left over on a gig and it went over amazingly with both the audience and the band, so they hurried into the studio to cut the track.   Hear What'd I Say on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Romantics - Rock You Up   My song pick 2 years ago today: Yes - Believe Again   My song pick 3 years ago today: Stanley Clarke - If This Bass Could Only Talk   My song pick 4 years ago today: Winery Dogs - Solid Ground   My song pick 5 years ago today: Alestorm - Alestorm   My song pick 6 years ago today: Osiris - War On The Bullshit My song pick 7 years ago today: Triumph - Hard Road My song pick 8 years ago today: AC/DC - Big ...