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

From: Movements Vol.11 ; Year: 2022; Genre: Bossa Nova Jazz/Soul/Funk As with a great deal of the artists featured on this compilation series, there is not a lot I know of this band other than I love that funky flavoured Latin Bossa Nova jazz. Certainly a bouncy tune with an infectious groove.   Hear Sidewinder on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Be Ever Wonderful     My song pick 2 years ago today: Cyndi Lauper - Money Changes Everything     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jimmy Buffett - Come Monday   My song pick 4 years ago today: Cab Calloway and His Orchestra - Minnie the Moocher   My song pick 5 years ago today: G.C. Cameron - It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop My song pick 7 years ago today: The Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost in You My song pick 8 years ago today: Bon Jovi - If I Was Your Mother My song p...

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: Movements Vol. 12 ; Year: 2024 (1975); Genre: Cool Jazz/Funk I believe that I have stated it before, but I am always looking for recordings of this Gershwin standard from his popular opera Porgy & Bess . Lo and behold I found another amongst the many deep cuts on Tobias Kirmayer's Movements series.  This funky cool jazz instrumental version was originally performed live in 1975 and features primarily the Bossa Nova aspects of the west coast "cool" jazz styling.   Hear Summertime on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bob Welch - Sentimental Lady     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rare Earth - What'd I Say   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - In Brief Visitation   My song pick 4 years ago today: Geddy Lee - Slipping   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Sweet - Hell Raiser   My song pick 6 years ago today: ZZ Top - I Thank You My song pick 7 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - You Made Me Believe in...

From: Movements ; Year: 2005 (1972); Genre: Latin Jazz/Funk/Soul Again, as with almost all the artists on this excellent compilation, I know nothing about the Lou Garno Trio other than this single and its b-side and that it was originally released in 1972. A great track to have on when working, walking/running, or just lounging around for that matter.   Hear Muy Sabroso (Very Tasty) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ray Charles - Unchain My Heart   My song pick 2 years ago today: Elvis Presley - I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Mamas & the Papas - Monday Monday   My song pick 4 years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Warrior's Return   My song pick 5 years ago today: Dio - Hungry For Heaven   My song pick 6 years ago today: Argent - Pure Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Boz Scaggs - Breakdown Dead Ahead My song pick 8 years ago today: Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction M...

From: The Seeds of Love ; Year: 1989; Genre: Rock/Jazz Rock Trying to stick with something lighter today; although with much of Tears for Fears music there is a lot of seriousness both lyrically and musically, so I'm just going to be superficial with this pick. With so much of this one their normal pop-oriented sound falls by the wayside for a very well done Bossa nova groove that is so relaxed in a great way that in my personal opinion does not only show the breadth of their musical ability, but just how multidimensional their creativity is.      Hear Advise for the Young at Heart on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Surfaris - Surfer Joe   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - She's a Devil   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Lively Ones - Crying Guitar (Surfer's Lament)   My song pick 4 years ago today: George Clinton - One Fun At a Time   My song pick 5 years ago today: Band of Horses ...

From: Jerry Reed Explores Guitar Country; Year: 1969; Genre: Folk/Blues/Jazz I just love Mr. Jerry Reed's version of this longtime traditional favourite folk gospel hymn that so many have recorded. There is so much truth in this one as well as an exploration of what is good of the human condition and down-trodden spirit of some soul trudging on with a glorious destination. I really like what he did with this one; the emotion he imbues with every note both through his fingers and voice are just astounding. Also, the way he progresses the song from a heavy bluesy folk to a Bossa Nova piece is a work of art exemplified.   Hear Wayfaring Stranger on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Marillion - Torch Song   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rick James - Mr. Policeman   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pendragon - Ghosts   My song pick 4 years ago today: Buffalo Springfield - Rock and Roll Woman   My song pick 5 years ago today: Hall &...

From: Ray Charles Greatest Hits ; Year: 1962; Genre: R&B/Jazz Watched a film yesterday evening that featured one of his songs and it got me in the mood to hear more; I thought I would pick another one for my blog today as well. Truly a classic piece of music, this song. I love that Latin Jazz beat and feel that he melded with his signature Rhythm and Blues sound; a real masterpiece.   Hear Unchain My Heart on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Elvis Presley - I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Mamas & the Papas - Monday Monday   My song pick 3 years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Warrior's Return   My song pick 4 years ago today: Dio - Hungry For Heaven   My song pick 5 years ago today: Argent - Pure Love My song pick 6 years ago today: Boz Scaggs - Breakdown Dead Ahead My song pick 7 years ago today: Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction My song pick 8 years ago today: Santo & ...

From: Let Me Be Good to You ; Year: 1979; Genre: Soul/Latin Jazz For me Lou Rawls never fails to lift my mood when feeling under the weather; he was such a treasure.   Hear What's the Matter With the World? on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Melvins - Up The Dumper   My song pick 2 years ago today: Lobo - Where Were You When I Was Falling In Love   My song pick 3 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Back on the Right Track   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ultravox - Serenade   My song pick 5 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Over My Head My song pick 6 years ago today: Devo - Whip It My song pick 7 years ago today: Black Sabbath - After Forever My song pick 8 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Sing a Song My song pick 9 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Ancient Eyes My song pick 10 years ago today: Banchee - Childern of the Universe My song pick 11 years ago today: Muse - Unnatural Selection My song pick 12 years ...

From: Oh Good Grief! ; Year: 1968; Genre: Bossa Nova Jazz/West Coast "Cool" Jazz Been listening to a lot of Vince Guaraldi's work lately; in popular culture, for the most part, his music and his style are synonymous with Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts cartoons. Because of this he is most likely one of the most recognizable authors and performers of West Coast or "Cool" Jazz; generations of children since the 1960s have had him and the Peanuts cartoons as part of their childhood.  Anyway, this one that is, I believe, the theme played for the Red Barron sub-story of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and is actually quite a complex and interesting piece that'll without-a-doubt bring some good memories to the forefront.   Hear Red Baron on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dire Straits - The Bug   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Stone Roses - Sally Cinnamon   My song pick 3 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Star   My song...

From: Innervisions ; Year: 1973; Genre: Bossa Nova Jazz/Cool Jazz I'm having Stevie Wonder's music on my brain today for some reason and this Latin/Cool Jazz was one that I decided to go with for my pick. That infectious beat combined with the great musicianship really makes this an excellent song.   Hear Don't You Worry About a Thing on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Cream - Take it Back   My song pick 2 years ago today: Sweet - Ballroom Blitz My song pick 3 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Don't Let the Blues Get You Down My song pick 4 years ago today: Commodores - Easy My song pick 5 years ago today: Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) My song pick 6 years ago today: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Eat That Question My song pick 7 years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Ring of Steel My song pick 8 years ago today: The Moody Blues - The Sunset/Twilight Time My song pick 9 years ago today: Hawk...

From: Jazz to the World ; Year: 1995; Genre: Cool Jazz/Christmas Music Getting another Christmas tune picked today with this rather fun and interesting jazz tune, which is perfect for the time of year.   Hear The Christmas Waltz on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: John McLaughlin - O Come O Come Emanuel   My song pick 2 years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - What Child is This? My song pick 3 years ago today: Dropkick Murphys - The Season's Upon Us My song pick 4 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Nutrocker My song pick 5 years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night My song pick 6 years ago today: Bob Rivers - Holidaze My song pick 7 years ago today: Bob Rivers - Aquaclaus My song pick 8 years ago today: The Honeycombs - Have I the Right? My song pick 9 years ago today: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Christmas All Over Again My song pick 10 years ago today: Rush - Tears My s...

From: Fool On The Hill ; Year: 1968; Genre: Bossa Nova Jazz I happened upon yesterday and immediately liked it. It is, of course, a cover of the traditional song that was made famous by Simon & Garfunkel in their arrangement. Sérgio Mendes and company really make this song their own in a unique funky Bossa Nova jazz style.   Hear Scarborough Fair on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Bohemian Polka   My song pick 2 years ago today: Dick Dale - Speardance My song pick 3 years ago today: Savatage - Dead Winter Dead My song pick 4 years ago today: Dee Clark - Raindrops My song pick 5 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Thankful N' Thoughtful My song pick 6 years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Another Beer My song pick 7 years ago today: Hawkwind - Neon Skyline/Lost Chronicles My song pick 8 years ago today: Louis Armstrong - When the Saints Go Marching In My song pick 9 years ago today: John Denver - Farewell...

From: Tell Me the Truth ; Year: 1975; Genre: Jazz Fusion Last night I learned that jazz legend Jon Hendricks passed away at the young age of 96; a write-up can be found here . I've been a fan of his since I first heard his music; most of it is the technicality combined with the upbeat nature of his songs and delivery thereof. I'm just glad I have his music to still listen to. Hear The '68 single version on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Bootsy's New Rubber Band - Funk Express Card My song pick two years ago today: Marmalade - Rainbow My song pick three years ago today: Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend My song pick four years ago today: Rammstein - Rosenrot My song pick five years ago today: Count Basie - One O'Clock Jump My song pick six years ago today: Nightwish - Storytime My song pick seven years ago today: Kay Kyser and His Orchestra - Praise The Lord and Pass the Ammunition My song pick eight years ago today: Nightwish feat. Tapi...

1228 Dizzy Gillespie - One Note Samba Felt like listening to some Dizzy Gillespie this morning and this often-covered piece of Bossa Nova Jazz, originally written by Antonio Carlos Jobim, interpreted by the great Jazz maestro seemed appropriate for my mood. Pure musical bliss. Hear One Note Samba by Dizzy Gillespie on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Steely Dan - Josie My song pick two years ago today: Joni Mitchell - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat My song pick three years ago today: Big Country - In A Big Country +

771 ( Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd - Samba Triste ) The last little bit I have been listening to a lot of Bossa Nova Jazz, of course this included quite a bit of Stan Getz's work; Bossa Nova Jazz attracted many West Coast (Cool Jazz) players like Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. I noticed that I had not added any of this master musician's work to my list yet, so today I will. I normally like to listen to Be-Bop and/or Hard Bop Jazz, which are two of my favourite forms, but it is nice every now and then to immerse yourself in other Jazz forms as well. For those not know about it, Bossa Nova Jazz is a smoother, mellower type of Jazz, which contrasted with Hard Bop Jazz during the time of its greatest popularity: the late 50s through the 60s. It is also know as Brazilian Jazz, because of its origin. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: #399 The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary My song pick two years ago today: #31 April Wine - Roller +