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

From: His Band and the Street Choir ; Year: 1970; Genre: R&B/Jazz Rock Had this track on my mind today, which is one I like; really like his music. I should have chosen more of Van Morrison's songs by now, but have been turned off by way he has treat people who cover his material and the heavy-handedness therein. Anyway, the jazzy lines played in unison by most of the instruments has always been the major draw for me personally; that and the overall horn section that is. From wot I understand though, it was written as a tribute to Fats Domino , who was one of his big influences.   Hear Domino on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Johnny Rivers - (I Washed My Hands In) Muddy Water     My song pick 2 years ago today: Billy Joel - Sleeping With the Television On     My song pick 3 years ago today: Supertramp - Don't Leave Me Now   My song pick 4 years ago today: 3rd Secret - Somewhere in Time   My song pick 5 years a...

From: Radio Free Albemuth ; Year: 1988; Genre: Classical/Jazz Fusion One of the odd things I have discovered concerning Stu Hamm is that only musicians seem to know who his is and wot he plays. I mean, he's played on a lot of albums from a lot of artists; mainly guitar shredders like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Most would likely know about Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten, or Steve Bailey before they'd remember Stu Hamm; not to take a single thing from those axe slingers, he is just every bit as good as them in my opinion. But, when you hear his solo works he really just blows you away with not just how great of a player he is, but how inventive and original his playing and style are. After hearing much of his records I was amazed how many odd and new sounds he could make with his bass guitar. Anyway, this one comes off of one of my favourite albums of his. Radio Free Albemuth's title was taken from the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name, as well as the lion's share of...

From: Undead ; Year: 1968; Genre: Blues Rock/Jazz Rock Found another cover of this favourite of mine; this one comes from the first live album from Ten Years After. It's a very interesting take on the Gershwin classic, which is used as an introduction/overture for drummer Ric Lee's  Shantung Cabbage  drum solo.    Hear Summertime/Shantung Cabbage on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: War - Slowly We Walk Together     My song pick 2 years ago today: Normaal - Val Kapot     My song pick 3 years ago today: Brass Construction - Screwed (Conditions)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Procol Harum - Song for a Dreamer   My song pick 5 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Watching Over You   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down To Georgia   My song pick 7 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Givin' It All Away My song pick 8 years ago t...

From: Mr. Gone ; Year: 1978; Genre: Jazz Fusion Don't know why I have not been listening to as much Weather Report as I used to. At that, the last time I chose one of their songs was over three years ago, and it was one off of this record to boot. For the last couple of decades I consumed a lot of the Weather Report material as well as associated acts and artists; Wayne Shorter and, of course Jaco in particular. I'm thinking that it might have to do with delving into other Fusion bands and players that've taken up my attention. Like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, Herbie Hancock and his Head Hunters, as well as all of their related bands and solo artists, which is extensive if you think about it. It is a real treat every time one of Joe Zawinul and Weather Report's music pops on my playlist; still enjoy it a lot. Anyway, this is one of Jaco Pastorius' songs, and whilst being a tour d'force in bass guitar virtuosity, all of the other band members get to ...

From: School Days ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz-Funk/Jazz Fusion Had a few in mind for today, but went with this beautiful piece of music from his album of renown: School Days .     Hear Quiet Afternoon on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - The Colour of Right     My song pick 2 years ago today: Paul Revere & The Raiders - Steppin' Out     My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Tainted Blood   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bob Welch - Church   My song pick 5 years ago today: Hawkwind - Starshine   My song pick 6 years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Milky Way   My song pick 7 years ago today: Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - Tracks Of My Tears My song pick 8 years ago today: Blancmange - Living on the Ceiling My song pick 9 years ago today: Dick Dale and his Del Tones - The Wedge My song pick 10 years ago today: Gin Blossoms - Found Out About You My song pic...

From: Terrapin Station ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock ¡Doh! I cannot believe that I missed my Memorial Day Grateful Dead pick; I guess better late than never. For some reason unbeknownst to me I just felt like putting on Terrapin Station again; immediately was welcomed by this rather strangely made track. I love the overall reggae feel, but that's kind of an illusion I suppose with Bill Kreutzmann's drumming in the modified 7/4 meter, (technically he's doing something like a 14/8), gives it a swinging reggae feel.  Anyway, it is definitely a great weird one, which I absolutely adore, that fits an overall tardy pick such as this.   Hear Estimated Prophet on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Blancmange - What's Your Problem?     My song pick 2 years ago today: Geddy Lee - I Am...You Are     My song pick 3 years ago today: Tina Turner - Private Dancer   My song pick 4 years ago today: Yes - Onward   My song...

From: Here's to the People ; Year: 1991; Genre: Cool Jazz/Jazz Fusion Most into jazz and associated genres are most likely aware of the passing of jazz giant Sonny Rollins a couple of days ago. It is just so mind-blowing to think of all the music, musicians, and history he experienced in his 95 years on this Earth, let alone all of the decades he was active. To think, that he took a large part in and saw all the new forms of jazz and the people he played with. It is a rarity to see an active musician touring for so many years, especially in jazz live so long. He definitely will be missed and then some. Anyway, I had a lot of music from many eras to choose from for this song pick. My thoughts went to the '60s or '70s, but then I have noticed that jazz, overall, at least here in the U.S. was kind of in the background by the 1990s, so I checked out one of his albums from the early part of the decade. I have to say, I am overjoyed that I did so. This one in particular I found a...

From: Fat Albert Rotunda ; Year: 1969; Genre: Jazz Fusion I haven't the foggiest as to why, but whenever I get the urge to listen to something by Herbie Hancock I immediately gravitate to his Fat Albert Rotunda record. I mean, I love other albums of his just as much or more, but this one just seems to always just "go with mood, vibe, etc." It was just one of those collections of music that seemingly encompassed most sensibilities. I mean, it is extremely technical and if you like complex music, then it'll work for you, or if you like jazz that is more "accessible" or something to just enjoy in the background, it is equally as good in those aspects. You know, I cannot remember hearing anyone say they do not like Herbie Hancock's music.... Anyway, this is obviously the title-track and fits the above description. From wot I understand this record and song were used for the primetime cartoon special:  Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert , which, in turn, led...

From: Why? (The King of Love is Dead) ; Year: 1968; Genre: Jazz/Soul/Gospel It is Martin Luther King Jr. Day once more; thought I would choose something fitting for my song today. This one, which was written by Nina Simone's bass player Gene Taylor apparently just days after Dr. King was assassinated in response to his tragic death. There was really no one better to perform this piece than the great Nina Simone; her powerful, emotional delivery brings chills and tears every time I hear it.    Watch a live performance on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: U.K. - Thirty Years     My song pick 2 years ago today: James Brown - Lowdown Popcorn   My song pick 3 years ago today: Joan Baez - Rejoice in the Sun   My song pick 4 years ago today: Uriah Heep - Hold Your Head Up   My song pick 5 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Rain When I Die   My song pick 6 years ago today: Return to Forever - Spain   My song pick 7 years...

From: School Daze (Soundtrack) ; Year: 1988; Genre: Cool Jazz Lately I have been going back to this soundtrack album. This amazing piano and horn piece from the film is and always will be among my favourites on the disc. One Little Acorn actually has two tracks with a shorter reprise version that feature only the piano as well as the full song.   Hear One Little Acorn on YouTube.   Hear the piano solo version on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Apollo 100 - Joy (Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring)     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rick James - Glow   My song pick 3 years ago today: Sweet - Love Is Like Oxygen   My song pick 4 years ago today: Red Rider - Laughing Man   My song pick 5 years ago today: Heart - Straight On   My song pick 6 years ago today: Zones - Mourning Star   My song pick 7 years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Lenny My song pick 8 years ago today: The Alan Parsons Projec...

From: Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas ; Year: 1960; Genre: Swing Jazz/Christmas Music Merry Christmas once again, for the 18th year now since starting my song blog. I happened to have this song, originally performed by Judy Garland in the musical Meet Me in St. Louis , which has been covered countless times since, most notably by Frank Sinatra and, of course the "First Lady of Song:" Ella Fitzgerald. As you can probably surmise, Ella's version is my favourite; her at amazing voice that cannot be replicated just steals the show and enraptures your senses.   Hear Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Survivor - Christmas is Here     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Royal Guardsmen - Snoopy's Christmas   My song pick 3 years ago today: John Denver & The Muppets - We Wish You A Merry Christmas   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bobby (Boris) Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers - Monsters'...

From: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones ; Year: 1990; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Bluegrass Apparently I have not chosen one of their songs in quite some time; in around six years to be exact. Strange, with them being a favourite of mine, I guess I should rectify that today. It's kinda odd how Béla Fleck & the Flecktones have not released a new album, as far as I am aware, for almost 15 years. At least they are still together and performing, again, as far as I am aware. Anyway, here's one from their debut album, which came out in 1990. Doesn't seem that long ago to me, but that was actually 35 years ago... wow.    Hear Frontiers on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Spaced Cowboy     My song pick 2 years ago today: Wings - Again and Again and Again   My song pick 3 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills   My song pick 4 years ago today: Paco De Lucía - De Madruga (Seguiriyas)   My song pic...

From: Shot of Love ; Year: 1978; Genre: Funk/Soul/Jazz As always, Lakeside puts a smile on my face, which is in actuality true of most funk bands. This is a fun, funky track that contains a lot of neat musical ideas and concepts from jazz to disco and everything in between. I especially love the arrangements, but that bass is just monstrous, those instrumental breaks in particular. I can hear a great deal of Stevie Wonder's influence in spades.   Hear One Minute After Midnight on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Re-Assuring Tune     My song pick 2 years ago today: Supertramp - Child of Vision   My song pick 3 years ago today: Aphrodite's Child - The System/Babylon   My song pick 4 years ago today: Arlo Guthrie - Coming Into Los Angeles   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Who - Success Story   My song pick 6 years ago today: Booker T. & The MG's - My Sweet Potato   My song pick 7 years ago to...

From: Death Wish: Original Soundtrack Recording ; Year: 1974; Genre: Jazz Fusion/classical Had Herbie Hancock's work on my mind most of last night and today. He has always been one whose music just mesmerizes me; a modern classical composer at the same level as the greats in my opinion. Anyway, it never clicked with me that he wrote the soundtrack to the original Charles Bronson epic Death Wish . Honestly, I have not watched the film for a long time, so it's not all that surprising I suppose. Really like the playful naming of the overall title with the play on words "sweet revenge," but with it being a suite of music the homo-phonetic sound of the two words was I guess too much to resist for Mr. Hancock. Suite Revenge is a collection of 5 shorter pieces of music (a): Striking Back , (b): Riverside Park , (c): The Alley , (d): Last Stop , and (e): 8th Avenue Station .   Hear Suite Revenge on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Expe...

From: Cosmopolite ; Year: 1956; Genre: Bossa Nova Jazz/Swing Jazz Over the years Benny Carter has become one of my many favourite jazz composers/arrangers/overall musicians. I do not believe that there is a single song he has recorded that I don't absolutely love. Anyway, this is a cover of the popular standard originally written by Cole Porter for his Broadway Musical Anything Goes , which has been recorded by many artists since.   Hear I Get a Kick Outta You on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Molly Hatchet - Jukin' City     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Bangles - Manic Monday   My song pick 3 years ago today: Wolfmother - Colossal   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Moody Blues - The Spirit   My song pick 5 years ago today: Fatback Band - (Do The) Spanish Hustle   My song pick 6 years ago today: Fairport Convention - Reynardine   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Kinks - Introduction to a Solution ...

From: Folk Songs of the Hills ; Year:1947; Genre: Folk/Blues I'm not sure how many times this song has been covered, but it's been more than I am willing to count. Sixteen Tons was first recorded by and has always been credited to Merle Travis even though others have claimed authorship apparently. Tennessee Ernie Ford's version is, without a doubt, the de-facto version most would recall, the Merle Travis original that was a blend of Appalachian Folk, Blues, and Jazz is still one of the best.   Hear Sixteen Tons on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lou Rawls - Season of the Witch     My song pick 2 years ago today: Ultravox - Someone Else's Clothes   My song pick 3 years ago today: Christopher Cross - Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Asia - True Colors   My song pick 5 years ago today: Elton John - Ego My song pick 6 years ago today: George Duke - Funny Funk   My song pick 7 ye...

From: Santana IV ; Year: 2016; Genre: Chicano Rock/Latin Rock Discovered this one-off record that featured almost all of the surviving members from the early period of Santana: Santana III and prior. This includes Carlos Santana (of course), Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Michael Shrieve, and Mike Carabello; the rest of the lineup was completed by current members of the band. I really like this classic sound all around, it really takes you back to those revered songs we all love from the band. The only niggling criticism that I personally have is that the sound is overproduced and too clean; it would've been better to reuse older studio equipment and recording techniques in my personal opinion.    Hear Leave Me Alone on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Back to the Family     My song pick 2 years ago today: Klaatu - Hope   My song pick 3 years ago today: Midnight Oil - We Resist   My song pick 4 years ago today: T...

From: Jerry Reed Rides Again ; Year: 1977; Genre: Blues/Jazz This track with the cute reference to the 1910 book by Gaston Leroux and its subsequent films and musicals, is a shout-out to many of the legends of music that made their way to Nashville's Grand Ole Opry . The Grand Ole Opry has been a live broadcast music/entertainment programme that has been going on for a century now come the 28th of November this year. Kind of interesting how Jerry Reed narrates the song as "the spirit country music" aka, The Nashville Phantom, but the song itself is a mostly a very bluesy jazz with a tinge of classical guitar in the solos, but you get the picture. That was something Jerry Reed excelled at; he could mix and switch between genres and styles and make it work for any song.   Hear The Phantom Of The Opry on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Luther Ingram - (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right     My song pick 2 years ago today: ...