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

From: Swanee River/Blue Drag ; Year: 1935; Genre: Gypsy Jazz I had this song come on yesterday whilst driving, and as I could not immediately remember the last time I chose a song performed by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, I thought this take on the jazz standard Blue Drag would be an excellent pick. I believe that I have already chosen the version by Freddy Taylor and His Swing Men From Harlem quite a while ago, which shares some of the musical ideas with this version; it is not too far of a stretch since Freddy Taylor and his bunch worked with Django and company during the same time.  Anyway, this Gypsy Jazz rendition of the jazz classic has something very welcoming about the overall sound and feel throughout; so much soul and beauty played by the master musicians.   Hear Blue Drag on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Warren Zevon - Nighttime in the Switching Yard   My song pick 2 years ago today: April Wine - Silver Dollar ...

From: Django Reinhardt Complete Solo Guitar and Duet Recordings ; Year: 2010 (1939); Genre: Gypsy Jazz/Classical/Flamenco This is a song that really shows how far the skill of the master of the guitar, Django Reinhardt, could go in different genre directions. It has a great blend of flamenco, classical, and his distinctive gypsy jazz styles.   Hear Echoes of Spain on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - Chemical World   My song pick 2 years ago today: Don Henley - Heart of the Matter My song pick 3 years ago today: Bruce Hornsby and the Range - On The Western Sky My song pick 4 years ago today: Parliament - Children of Production My song pick 5 years ago today: Huey Lewis and the News - Power of Love My song pick 6 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Paranoid My song pick 7 years ago today: The Cult - Painted on My Heart My song pick 8 years ago today: Scott Joplin - The Entertainer My song pick 9 years ago toda...

From: Nuages - Tears ; Year: 2006 (1947); Genre: Gypsy Jazz For no reason whatsoever I had Django Reinhardt and company on my mind; you know wot that means.... Tears has to be one of my favourites from the famous Quintette; it's just so beautiful and haunting, this song. Hear Tears on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Dave Edmunds - Slipping Away My song pick two years ago today: Mountain - Mississippi Queen My song pick three years ago today: Rod Stewart - You Wear it Well My song pick four years ago today: Steeleye Span - The Twelve Witches My song pick five years ago today: Georg Philipp Telemann - TWV 55:C3 - Wassermusik - Hamburger Ebbe und Flut My song pick six years ago today: Steve Winwood - The Finer Things My song pick seven years ago today: Tarja Turunen - I Walk Alone My song pick eight years ago today: Link Wray - Rumble My song pick nine years ago today: The Carter Family - Wildwood Flower

From: The Atkins-Travis Traveling Show ; Year: 1974; Genre: Jazz This is a rather pretty and intricate waltz with amazing guitar picking; I just wish it was at least twice as long.... Hear Dance of the Golden Rod on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Gary Numan - Cars My song pick two years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - 7 Screaming Diz-Busters My song pick three years ago today: John Denver - Wooden Indian My song pick four years ago today: Barenaked Ladies - One Week My song pick five years ago today: Paul Abraham Dukas - The Sorcerer's Apprentice My song pick six years ago today: Jigsaw - Jesu, the Joy of Man's Desiring My song pick seven years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Second Hand My song pick eight years ago today: Glenn Miller - Moonlight Serenade

From: After the Riot at Newport ; Year: 1960; Genre: Jazz Even though it's not exactly in the "funk" genre, this very jazzy piece has "funk" in the title, so I'm making it my Funky Friday pick this week anyway. As the album's title states, this music featuring some of the greatest Nashville artists of the time, it was performed and recorded at an impromptu concert held after the cancellation of their performance at the Newport Jazz Festival due to a "major disturbance" occurring that year's events. This concert was held actually on the back porch of a rented manor house at the last minute. What resulted was an amazing classic and historic jazz album featuring the likes of Floyd Cramer, Chet Atkins, Boots Randolph, and Hank Garland among others. Hear Opus de Funk on YouTube. It starts at the 14:30 mark. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Freeze (Part IV of 'Fear') My song pick two years ago today: Chris Isaak - Wic...

From: Jazz Guitar Virtuoso ; Year: 1990 (1932) ; Genre: Jazz I had some other songs in mind for today's pick, but most of the morning I've been having early Jazz guitar music running through my mind and thought I'd pick one of that ilk instead. It still amazes me to think that Eddie Lang was playing guitar this way all the way back 80 to 90 years ago, years before guitar greats like even the Gypsy Jazz guitar master Django Reinhardt. I guess he earned the title "father of the modern guitar" that some have bestowed on him. Anyway, this is definitely a virtuoso piece that goes all over the place from jazz to pop hit parade to even classical. I would loved to have heard him during the time of overdriven amplifiers playing with the likes of today's guitar greats. Hear Pickin' My Way on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Sergei Rachmaninoff - Op. 27 - Symphony No. 2 My song pick two years ago today: AC/DC - Big Balls My song pick three...

From: Minor Swing (single) ; Year: 1937; Genre: Gypsy Jazz Yesterday I watched a French documentary film about Django Reinhardt, and this original composition from Reinhardt and Grappelli was one that was heavily featured. It's quite a pretty piece of mid 1930s jazz driven by both the guitar and violin. Hear Minor Swing on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers My song pick two years ago today: Asia - Only Time Will Tell My song pick three years ago today: British Whale (Justin Hawkins) - This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both of Us My song pick four years ago today: Donald MacLeod - Field of Gold My song pick five years ago today: John Lennon (The Plastic Ono Band) - Hold On My song pick six years ago today: John Denver - Looking for Space

From: The Atkins - Travis Traveling Show ; Year: 1974; Genre: Gypsy Jazz/Country I had another song in mind to pick today, but this rather beautiful song kept my mind occupied, so (as I normally do), I am taking it as a sign I should pick it. Wow, this song certainly does stir up the memories and emotions; my grandfather used to play this song a lot, I mean A LOT over the years. He was so good at playing this one and much of Chet Atkins' catalogue most couldn't tell if it was him playing or the record. Anyway, this is a great cover of the often-recorded jazz standard originally written in the mid-1920s by Isham Jones and Gus Khan. Hear I'll See You In My Dreams on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - O.D.'d on Life Itself My song pick two years ago today: Hawkwind - We Took the Wrong Step Years Ago My song pick three years ago today: Oomph! - Das Weiße Licht My song pick four years ago today: Trio of Doom - Dark Prince ...

From: Paul Simon ; Year: 1972; Genre: Jazz/Folk Last night I was up until the wee hours of the morning playing along with Paul Simon's music. This morning I thought it would be nice to also pick one of his songs as well. This rather short tune is apparently the only song on the album to not be solely written by Paul Simon; it was co-written by legendary violinist extraordinaire Stéphane Grappelli, who also plays on it. It's very reminiscent to the Gypsy Jazz music Stéphane Grappelli played with Django Reinhardt, only Paul Simon makes no attempt to play guitar as Mr. Reinhardt did. Being that I am an avid fan of both of these musicians, I absolutely love this track, but my only wish is that was lengthier. Hear Hobo's Blues on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Megadeth - Sweating Bullets My song pick two years ago today: Kristoph Klover - Fire in the Sky My song pick three years ago today: David Bowie - The Supermen My song pick four years ago to...

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 +

1677 Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) - Chasing Shadows From: Django Reinhardt & the 'Hot Club', Year: 2009, (1935) Genre: Gypsy Jazz Last night we rented the film Hugo , which is a period piece based on the novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret and takes place in interwar Paris circa 1931. I have to say the movie was excellent on all levels and definitely worth watching again. One of the interesting parts of the film, and also why I'm picking a song from Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli, and company, is that they actually put Django Reinhardt in the film; he was played by Emil Lager. In a few places in the film there was a Jazz Quintet playing; I immediately recognized the guitarist as at least a representation of the guitar great and his period music, but after seeing the credits roll I was surprised that in fact Django Reinhardt was actually a character in the film. Anyway, even though I had a few other songs in mind for ...

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 +

1423 Chet Atkins - Tears From: Chet Atkins Picks the Best , Year: 1967 Genre: Gypsy Jazz Actually getting my Sunday pick in at a decent hour for a change this evening. I can remember my grandfather playing this tune a lot throughout my life, so much that it is probably permanently embedded in my brain; he could play this one note-for-note. Anyway, this one is Chet Atkins' cover of the old Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli tune; he does an excellent job with it. Hear the studio version on YouTube. Here is a newer recording of the song featuring both Chet and Mark Knopfler on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Tusk My song pick two years ago today: Fairport Convention - Tam Lin My song pick three years ago today: Cream - Tales of Brave Ulysses +

1309 Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys - The Ghost and Honest Joe From: Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys, Year: 1953 The other day I stumbled upon the title to this old song and was able to find a version of it on YouTube. I remember back when I was quite young my grandfather played this song to me, my siblings, and cousins; it was quite a lot of fun. This track, which was written by Redd Stewart, who was the brother of the band's vocalist, tells the tale of an encounter with a ghost a man named Honest Joe has; it is mostly Bluegrass with some Gypsy Jazz thrown in. I really liked Grandpa's rendition when he changed the final line in the song to: "My head told me to stand back there , but my feet told me to run." Hear The Ghost and Honest Joe on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jerry Reed - Amos Moses My song pick two years ago today: Santana - All The Love In The Universe My song pick three years ago today: The Who - My Gen...

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...

926 ( Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli ( Quintette du Hot Club de France) - La Mer (Beyond The Sea) ) Yesterday whilst waiting with my guitar I started playing around with this song and had it completely covered by the time I was done waiting. Most people today would probably be best acquainted with the Bobby Darin version of the song, which can be found here on YouTube . This is easily my favourite rendition of this song; the infusion of the Gypsy Jazz sound brings it to a new level of beauty in my opinion; I especially love Stephane Grappelli's violin playing. Here is a recording of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens - Top Gun Anthem My song pick two years ago today: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Flight of the Bumblebee +

904 ( Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) - Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away) ) Yesterday I picked up a copy of the game Bioshock 2 and was pleasantly surprised that it was loaded with a lot of excellent music that I normally listen to. One artist featured on a few of the tracks was Django Reinhardt and company. I immediately recognized his guitar and Stephane Grappelli's distinct violin playing style without even seeing that he was on the soundtrack. After going through the game last night and listening to his music off and on, I figured that I should choose one of his songs. Here is a recording of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Little Wing My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Said She Was A Dancer +

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 +

838 ( Django Reinhardt - I'll See You In My Dreams ) For well over last few years I have been researching a lot of the music and recordings prior to World War II; particularly the various forms of Jazz and Folk music. Anyway, this is one of the Jazz guitarists that I found out about who started the genre known as Gypsy Jazz, which is a fusion of American Swing Jazz, French Musette, and Eastern European folk music. One interesting fact about Django Reinhardt is that he had partial use of two of his fingers on his left hand and was forced to play his guitar mostly with just those two fingers due to an accident. This song was originally written by Isham Jones with lyrics by Gus Kahn in the mid '20s and has gone on to be a standard in many genres, covered a countless amount of times. My first introduction to this song was actually from my Grandfather, who did an excellent rendition of the song in the Chet Atkins style. Here is a recording of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year...