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

From: Rock On ; Year: 1973; Genre: Glam Rock This jazzy pop number was the second single off of his debut album; it reminds me a lot of Dr. John , which is not surprising since David Essex was a fan of his. I have always found his music interesting in that he was a "pop idol," but has always been very experimental and progressive while still being consumable to the mainstream.    Hear Lamplight on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Midnight Oil - We Are Not Afraid     My song pick 2 years ago today: Marillion - Care   My song pick 3 years ago today: Eric Burdon and War - The Vision of Rassan   My song pick 4 years ago today: Brave Belt - Long Way 'Round   My song pick 5 years ago today: Meat Loaf - Paradise By the Dashboard Light   My song pick 6 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Light Years of Love   My song pick 7 years ago today: Tool - Vicarious My song pick 8 years ago today: Nena - Ich häng' an dir...

From: The Best of Blue Mink ; Year: 1974; Genre: Funk I just love finding bands that are new to me. I learned of Blue Mink through the works of bass great Herbie Flowers, who is among my favourite masters of the musical instrument. I wanted to pick this funky number, which was a single from just prior to the band calling it quits. Kind of neat how, even with them being a successful band, they continued with their side work of being session musicians during Blue Mink's run. Thus, they have appeared on a multitude of recordings before, during, and since the band's existence.   Hear Get Up on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Band of Horses - In Need of Repair     My song pick 2 years ago today: Classics IV - Traces   My song pick 3 years ago today: Dr. John - Snake Eyes   My song pick 4 years ago today: Harry Nilsson - Jump Into the Fire   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bob Dylan - It Ain't Me Babe   My song pick 6 ...

From: A Little Potty ; Year: 1980; Genre: New Wave/Rockabilly/Pop Yesterday I learned that a few months ago master bassist/tubaist/and overall musician Herbie Flowers passed away. He is another one of those musicians that you have heard more times than you could count playing on basically many British artists' albums as a studio musician. He is probably most famous for the twin bass lines on both Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side and David Essex's Rock On , which are landmarks on the bass. Some of the artists whose recording he appeared on where: Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Cat Stevens, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Al Kooper, Allan Clarke, Roger Daltrey David Essex, Elton John, Harry Nilsson, Sally Oldfield, Olivia Newton-John, and Cliff Richard amongst others. That is only a partial list and does not include his work with the avant-garde classical/rock group Sky and his solo material. Suffice it to say, you have heard him many, many times. I thought about choos...