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

From: Winter In America ; Year: 1974; Genre: Funk/Soul/Jazz Fusion When I think of funk and its related styles I usually have a happy connotation with it mentally, but in reality the artistic form only being more or less uplifting is quite far from the truth. The reality is that it is a music that really brings people together as one and thus is also used to deliver a message, like this track. If this was an instrumental everyone would just be boogieing to that amazing Latin beat, thumping bass and great flute playing, but the lyrics and their delivery tell a dire social narrative of people losing hope and turning to substance abuse to self medicate and ease the pain of life. It is an incredibly well written and produced in only the way the late Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson could deliver.   Hear The Bottle on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Journey - Anytime   My song pick 2 years ago today: Zones - Do It All Again   My song pick 3 yea...

From: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised ; Year: 1973; Genre: Funk/Jazz Fusion/Rap Wanted to pick something unique and from an artist that I had not picked a song from on this Friday; and, boy did I find one! This is a rather poignant track from the late-great poet Gil Scott-Heron. It was originally released in 1971 as recited spoken word poetry accompanied by percussion, but a couple of years later was recorded with a full band.   Hear The Revolution Will Not Be Televised on YouTube. Hear The Original version on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Les Paul & Mary Ford - Bye Bye Blues   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Stylistics - Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Soundgarden - Somewhere   My song pick 4 years ago today: Joni Mitchell - God Must Be a Boogie Man   My song pick 5 years ago today: Funkadelic - Uncle Jam My song pick 6 years ago today: Hawkwind - Looking in the Future M...