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

Year: 1935; Genre: Big Band (Swing) Jazz I had some jazz on my mind today; this is one of the two biggest hits from Freddy Taylor and His Swing Men from Harlem. Those who don't understand jazz terminology might not catch the overt drug reference in the song's title. "Viper" was a slang term used for someone who smoked marijuana; this came from the sound a person makes when taking a toke, which was thought sounded like a snake's hiss. When you understand that you should more or less be able to figure out what a "Viper's Dream" is. Anyway, this is a great pieces of early swing featuring none other than guitar maestro Oscar Alemán. Hear Viper's Dream on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Mr. Big - Tempermental My song pick two years ago today: Heart - Crazy on You My song pick three years ago today: Billy Thorpe - East of Eden's Gate My song pick four years ago today: The Delegates - Convention '72 My song pick five...

From: The Quintet of the Hot Club of France ; Year: ~(1936); Genre: Gypsy Jazz I have been thinking about picking another song from Django Reinhardt and Company recently and it feels like a good day for one of their songs. This is another one of their recordings from the mid 1930s to feature the excellent vocal talent of Freddy Taylor. Of course both Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli and the rest are as good as always in this rather laid back piece of swing/gypsy jazz. Hear I Cant Give You Anything But Love on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rin' - Fuhen My song pick two years ago today: Cream - Badge My song pick three years ago today: Steeleye Span - Seven Hundred Elves My song pick four years ago today: Billy Joel - Prelude/Angry Young Man +

1557 Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) featuring Freddy Taylor - I'se a Muggin' From: The Quintet of the Hot Club of France , Year: 1936 Genre: Swing Jazz/Gypsy Jazz What an excellent track for a laid back Saturday like this one; nothing to do but watch the snow pile up and listen some awesome tunes. I love Freddy Taylor's mellow, upbeat vocals and scatting throughout the song. He added something special to the already great sound of Reinhardt/Grappelli and co. Hear I'se a Muggin' on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Styx - Light Up My song pick two years ago today: Pink Floyd - Waiting for the Worms My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Roll the Bones My song pick four years ago today: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - A Moment So Close +

1483 Freddy Taylor and His Swing Men from Harlem - Blue Drag From: Ultraphone -AP-1489, Year: 1935 Genre: Swing Jazz I was thinking about this number from Freddy Taylor, who is one of my favourite Jazz musicians. This is another song that hails from that incredible 1930s Paris Jazz scene. While the entire band is truly amazing, I absolutely love the smooth vocals and horn playing of Freddy Taylor in this song. Another member of the band on this song that many should recognize among others is renowned virtuoso guitarist Oscar Alemán. Hear a recording on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Hans Zimmer - Fighting 17th My song pick two years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - I Put a Spell on You My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein - Hallelujah My song pick four years ago today: Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Spirits in the Night +

1133 Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) featuring Freddy Taylor - After You've Gone This rather nice Gypsy Jazz track seemed like an excellent pick for this Sunday afternoon; it perfectly fits my mood. There is something about hearing Stephane Grappelli's violin and Django Reinhardt's guitar that always brings a smile. This is one of their tracks to feature the vocal talents of Freddy Taylor, I love how he employs a bit of scatting to give the recording a little something extra. Hear a recording of the song circa '36 on YouTube. Hear a recording of the song circa '49 on YouTube, of course without Freddy Taylor. My song pick a year ago today: The Beatles - Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) + My song pick two years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Commotion + My song pick three years ago today: Don Henley - Boys of Summer +

995 Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) feat. Freddy Taylor - Shine One of my main focuses musically on over the last two or so years has been trying to find some of the earlier recordings of music from when the concept of music was a purely as a live medium. I have come to enjoy the music from the interwar period in particular quite a bit. I actually found this version of the song while I was researching the songs which Freddy Taylor performed on during his musical career. He lent his vocal talent on some of the songs recorded by Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli and the Quintette du Hot Club de France; this is one of those songs. Anyway, this is the Quintette du Hot Club de France's version of the song That's Why They Call Me Shine , also known by the abbreviated title: Shine, which was originally written a hundred years ago in 1910 by Lew Brown, Ford Dabney & R.C. McPherson; from what I understand this song was actu...

919 ( Freddie Taylor and His Swing Men from Harlem - Viper's Dream ) I have been meaning to add something from Freddie Taylor for quite a long time now. For a time he and his big band have been one of my main focuses in Jazz music ever since I heard him as part of the accompaniment on other artists' songs. Apparently he made his way to the Paris Jazz scene as part of the Lucky Millinder Orchestra; he stayed and formed his own band. From what I have read the band consisted of: himself, Oscar Alemán, William Diemer, Charlie Johnson, Eugène d’Hellemmes, and Arthur Lanier. This is one of the major recordings that the group had; I love how the song was constructed and how they utilized the brass especially. Here is a recording on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Pow My song pick two years ago today: Ricky Nelson - Garden Party +

877 ( Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) feat. Freddy Taylor - Nagasaki ) I have been meaning to pick this rendition of this often covered early Jazz standard composed by Harry Warren and Mort Dixon for quite a while now. Probably most have heard a rendition of this song at one point in media over the last 80 years. The song is an extremely fun and danceable tune; it has a bit of "The Charleston" feel to it. Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli and company are amazing throughout as always. However, what especially caught my attention in this version of the song was guest vocalist Freddy Taylor's syncopated and rapid-fire vocals. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Miles Davis - Flamenco Sketches My song pick two years ago today: The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset +