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

From: Cab Calloway ; Year: 1956 (1942); Genre: Swing Jazz/Big Band Jazz/Blues Have had this marvelous legend and his band on my mind over the last little bit. Kind of surprised that I have not chosen this one yet being on of his signature pieces. I'm always just wowed every time I put one of his recordings on; I really wish I could've seen him live, but at least I have the recordings and the videos and films he was in.   Hear Geechy Joe on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Stevie Wonder - Maybe Your Baby   My song pick 2 years ago today: David Bowie and the Pat Metheny Group - This Is Not America   My song pick 3 years ago today: Corey Hart - Sunglasses At Night   My song pick 4 years ago today: Chicago - Feelin' Stronger Every Day   My song pick 5 years ago today: Lobo - Pee-Ro Juan Valdez Sam Quixote My song pick 6 years ago today: AC/DC - Are You Ready My song pick 7 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Jam Fan (Hot) My ...

From: Pickin' the Cabbage/Paradiddle ; Year: 1940; Genre: Big Band Jazz Thought I would get a two-for-one pick in today so to speak; Pickin' the Cabbage is one of Dizzy Gillespie's compositions, which was recorded at the time when Diz' was part of Cab Calloway's Orchestra, so getting to listen to two legendary jazz heavyweights in one song: what a treat! Sadly, Diz' did not last long after some defugalties, which came to a head during an altercation that resulted in him getting dismissed by Cab Calloway. I guess it ended up being for the best; Cab Calloway continued making great songs and many appearances throughout popular culture and Dizzy Gillespie went on to become the legend he is through countless recordings and was key in the creation of the Bebop Jazz style; it's just fun to hear him with that great orchestra. As you would probably guess, Pickin' the Cabbage is quite an avant-garde sounding piece of big band/swing jazz with a definite flavour o...

From: Minnie the Moocher ; Year: 1931; Genre: Swing Jazz Cab Calloway's music was on my mind since last night whilst we had a power outage; I thought I would choose another one of his songs today. This is without a doubt his greatest hit and the song he is most known for. Even without seeing his stage presence while listening to it, he projects so well with his vocals with the playful scatting and call-and-response with the band listening to the record is the next best thing to seeing a live video.   Hear Minnie the Moocher on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: G.C. Cameron - It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday   My song pick 2 years ago today: Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop My song pick 3 years ago today: The Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost in You My song pick 4 years ago today: Bon Jovi - If I Was Your Mother My song pick 5 years ago today: Steely Dan - Aja My song pick 6 years ago today: The Coasters - Three Cool Cats My song pick 7 y...

From: Blues Make Me Happy ; Year: 1962; Genre: Swing Jazz/Blues Still, to this day, I personally have to say that Cab Calloway was one of the coolest and most awesome entertainers that ever lived, period. I really wish I had a time machine I could go back in time to and see the man and his orchestra perform live; it must've been amazing. Anyway, I absolutely adore his delivery and vocal performance throughout this song, and most of his others as well; he truly was a class act that needs much more recognition than he gets today.   Hear The Birth of the Blues on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Tightrope   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Thermals - Here's Your Future   My song pick 3 years ago today: Soul Asylum - Black Gold My song pick 4 years ago today: .38 Special - Long Time Gone My song pick 5 years ago today: Woody Guthrie - Tom Joad (Parts 1+2) My song pick 6 years ago today: Stone Temple...

From: Cab Calloway ; Year: 1956 (1939); Genre: Swing Jazz It's been a while since I've chosen a song from Cab Calloway, who is one of my favourite big band leaders, boy, was he a showman and had an amazing voice. I really wish I could go back and see the legend perform in his prime, but at least we have the videos from back then. Hear The Ghost of Smokey Joe on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Spiral Starecase - More Today Than Yesterday My song pick 2 years ago today: Big Brother & the Holding Company - Oh, Sweet Mary My song pick 3 years ago today: Ebony Rhythm Band - Soul Heart Transplant My song pick 4 years ago today: Pallas - Cut and Run My song pick 5 years ago today: Sky - Dies Irae My song pick 6 years ago today: Buddy Holly - Crying, Waiting, Hoping My song pick 7 years ago today: Waylander - Erdath My song pick 8 years ago today: Jim Croce - Workin' at the Car Wash Blues My song pick 9 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Fla...

From: Unchained Melody/Learnin' The Blues ; Year: 1955; Genre: Jazz/Blues This rather popular standard was on my mind this morning, and as I've stated before, I'm a huge fan of Cab Calloway and when I remembered he did a recording of this song I thought I would pick his rendition today. Hear a recording of Cab Calloway's version of Learnin' the Blues on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Steve Vai - Bad Horsie My song pick two years ago today: Fats Domino - Ain't That a Shame My song pick three years ago today: ABBA - I Let the Music Speak My song pick four years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - The Big Empty My song pick five years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Mr. Blue Sky

1080 Cab Calloway - The Jumpin' Jive (Hep-Hep!) I felt like listening to some Cab Calloway this morning, especially this up-beat Swing tune. I am always amazed whenever I see and hear his performances, this man and his music are timeless in my opinion. I don't believe he could ever be truly out of fashion in any decade; the man oozes style. Anyway, this one was co-written by Cab Calloway, Frank Froeba, and Jack Palmer around the late 1930s. This tune is probably most famous for being the vehicle behind The Nicolas Brothers' remarkable dance number in the musical film Stormy Weather . Here is a 78 Rpm vinyl recording of the song on YouTube. Here is the performance of the song from the musical Stormy Weather featuring The Nicolas Brothers' dance number on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Police - Synchronicity II My song pick two years ago today: Eddie Money - Take Me Home Tonight +

879 ( Cab Calloway & The Harlemaniacs - The Reefer Man ) I needed some big band music from Cab Calloway this morning. He was such an amazing bandleader, singer, musician, dancer, entertainer, etc.... I guess I will file this number about a man high on marijuana under the category of "nothing new under the sun." I often wonder how many of these older entertainers kept a straight face when the younger generations were trying to be "edgy." This is just one example out of a plethora of songs over 70 years old with what some today would call extreme subject matter; nothing put out in the years since has really tackled that much that is new. Here is a recording of the song on YouTube. Here is a performance from the film International House on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Diana Ross and the Supremes - Reflections My song pick two years ago today: Quarterflash - Harden my Heart +