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

From: Azteca ; Year: 1972; Genre: Latin Rock/Jazz Fusion Here is a great tune from the brothers Escovedo and their post-Santana band of amazing musical talent, Azteca, which does not get the attention it rightly deserves.    Hear Peace Everybody on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Midnight Oil - Too Much Sunshine   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Nothing Lasts   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Box in my Head   My song pick 4 years ago today: King Harvest - A Little Bit Like Magic   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Temptations - My Girl My song pick 6 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Mysticum Arabicola My song pick 7 years ago today: Billy Idol - White Wedding My song pick 8 years ago today: Bruce Hornsby and the Range - The Valley Road My song pick 9 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Get Off of My Cloud My song pick 10 years ago today: Rick James - She Blew My Min...

From: Azteca ; Year: 1972; Genre: Latin Rock/Progressive Rock/Jazz Fusion I had Azteca on my mind since yesterday; thought I'd make a Funky Friday pick with one of their songs. Whilst not totally a funk track, this one has a lot in it along with varying sections and all that great Latin Jazz and rock. Hear Non Pacem on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: The Zombies - Beechwood Park My song pick 2 years ago today: Three Dog Night - The Loner My song pick 3 years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Babies My song pick 4 years ago today: Live - Lightning Crashes My song pick 5 years ago today: Duran Duran - The Reflex My song pick 6 years ago today: Savatage - The Storm My song pick 7 years ago today: John Dowland - In Darkness We Dwell My song pick 8 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - I Love the Night My song pick 9 years ago today: The Byrds - Eight Miles High My song pick 10 years ago today: Wings - Band on the Run My song pick 11 years ago toda...

From: Pyramid of the Moon ; Year: 1973; Genre: Latin Rock/Funk/Jazz Fusion Another Funky Friday pick upon me today. I felt like picking some funk with some Latin flair; Azteca is always one that fits that bill for me and then some. The unique musicality of this band and song has always been a main draw; so many different sounds and shadings combining to make such a great, remarkable sound. Hear A New Day on the Rise on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Evil Woman My song pick two years ago today: The Main Ingredient - Everybody Plays the Fool My song pick three years ago today: Bee Gees - I Started a Joke My song pick four years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Fools Never Die My song pick five years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Can You Handle It? My song pick six years ago today: Led Zeppelin - Fool in the Rain My song pick seven years ago today: Styx - Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) M...

From: Pyramid of the Mood ; Year: 1973; Genre: Latin Rock/Jazz For the first time in a while I started out my day without having a song on my mind, so instead I decided on picking one from a favourite band of mine that I haven't apparently chosen one from in a few years: Azteca . This is one of the most upbeat tracks on the album with incredible horn and rhythm sections; of course Neal Schon's guitar playing is as good as always. Hear Red Onions on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Dream Theater - The Looking Glass My song pick two years ago today: Deep Purple - Hush My song pick three years ago today: Paris - Big Towne, 2061 My song pick four years ago today: Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You My song pick five years ago today: Alan Menken and Howard Ashman - Feed Me (Git It) (From: Little Shop of Horrors ) My song pick six years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Who'll Stop The Rain My song pick seven years ago today:...

1131 Azteca - A Night in Nazca I had this Latin Jazz/Funk/Rock song running through my mind yesterday and most of this morning. This is a nice grooving track with amazing musicianship all the way through it. To describe the sound/feel of this song to a layperson, think of some the mood music that might be playing in the background of a '70s cop movie. Hear A Night in Nazca on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band/With a Little Help from My Friends My song pick two years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Midnight Special My song pick three years ago today: Megadeth - Use The Man +

889 ( Azteca - Someday We'll Get By ) It has been a stressful last little bit and I am in need of some nice grooving tunes to listen to. This was one of many bands from the last few decades that did not get the respect or notoriety it was deserved. From what I understand the record company believed that they were too much of a threat to Santana, (who was on the same label), so they kept the band under the radar so to speak. Azteca , led by Coke and Pete Escovedo was actually made up mostly of former Santana alumni. From what I have heard even Carlos himself might made an appearance with them except the record company protested that as well. Just recently Azteca was reformed with a new CD/DVD and also did some live shows. What ever the case, if you like Santana, Latin Rock, or Fusion you probably would like Azteca as well. This is one of those songs that if you added something or took something away it would fall apart. You have the nice and easy groove with just a hint of funk, the...

845 ( Azteca - Love Is A Stranger ) I have been waiting a while for someone to post this excellent piece of Latin Funk/Rock on YouTube or another site online. I have in the past posted a couple of other great songs without a YouTube video available and I don't want to do that again if I can help it. Plus with this album apparently still being out of print, this amazing band and album needs to be heard. A thank you goes out to YouTube user musicminor25 for posting this one, I highly recommend the music on his channel. Anyway, this is one of the funkiest tracks on this album and contains a lot of Jazz inspired music with very soulful vocals. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Danzig - Mother My song pick two years ago today: Savatage - Gutter Ballet +

I have been listening to a bunch of Azteca's music the last couple of days and I believe that it is a good time to add one of their songs to my list. This one has a lot of the Santana sound and feel to it and is quite a treat to listen to. The band is incredible on this whole album; in this song especially Neal Schon's guitar work and solo is awesome. Here is the studio recording on YouTube. +

I have been listening to this band a lot lately, and this song has been a one of the standouts. This song is basically 70's Funk with a Latin Jazz-Rock flavouring. For those who do not know, the band came out of Santana with the brothers Coke and Pete Escovedo, (Pete Escovedo is actually the father of musician Sheila E), along with others from that band as well including Neal Schon. Some really upbeat music for this dreary day out there. Here is the studio version on YouTube. +

To best describe the sound of Azteca, it is a cross between Latin, Fusion Jazz, R&B, and Funk. From what I have found, this album, Pyramid of the Moon , is out of print and subsequently has never been released on CD. However, it may be re-release it since the band has gotten back together with some of the original members. I love how this song switches between ethereal jazz to funk and back again. There is so much to listen to within this song, every musician is playing an integral part to make this song amazing; a delight to the ears. Here is the studio version on YouTube. +