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

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: ...

From: Clambake ; Year: 1968; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/Country/Rockabilly Had this one come on the other day, which was apparently a late edition to this record that had a troubled studio time. Elvis had heard Jerry Reed's original over the radio and very much wanted to record his own version, however, none of the studio guitarists were capable of putting down the part due to Mr. Reed's strange tuning and the fact that he had a unique "claw" picking style. As the story goes they were trying to cut the track, but the guitar part was just not coming, so they sent someone to find Jerry Reed to ask him for pointers. He was actually out fishing, so it must've been quite an interesting time finding him, but after explaining to him what they were doing he essentially said that the traditional flatpickers at the studio would not be able to replicate it, so he packed up and headed to the studio. Kind of funny how Jerry Reed got to cover his own song about a year after he him...

From: Jerry Reed Explores Guitar Country; Year: 1969; Genre: Folk/Blues/Jazz I just love Mr. Jerry Reed's version of this longtime traditional favourite folk gospel hymn that so many have recorded. There is so much truth in this one as well as an exploration of what is good of the human condition and down-trodden spirit of some soul trudging on with a glorious destination. I really like what he did with this one; the emotion he imbues with every note both through his fingers and voice are just astounding. Also, the way he progresses the song from a heavy bluesy folk to a Bossa Nova piece is a work of art exemplified.   Hear Wayfaring Stranger on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Marillion - Torch Song   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rick James - Mr. Policeman   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pendragon - Ghosts   My song pick 4 years ago today: Buffalo Springfield - Rock and Roll Woman   My song pick 5 years ago today: Hall &...

From: When You're Hot, You're Hot ; Year: 1971; Genre: Folk/Country Funk How could you go wrong with a song written by writer/performer extraordinaire Bob Dylan covered by one of the greatest musicians of the last century? You can't, and that's a fact.   Hear Don't Think Twice, It's Alright on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Fleet Foxes - Innocent Son   My song pick 2 years ago today: Aphrodite's Child - The Four Horsemen   My song pick 3 years ago today: Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me   My song pick 4 years ago today: Barenaked Ladies - Shoe Box   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jigsaw - Mystic Harmony My song pick 6 years ago today: Chet Atkins - The Girl Friend of the Whirling Dervish My song pick 7 years ago today: Alice in Chains - What The Hell Have I My song pick 8 years ago today: Iain Matthews - Shake It My song pick 9 years ago today: The Kinks - Moving Pictures My song pick 10 years ago today: Stahlhamme...

From: Smell The Flowers ; Year: 1972; Genre: Country/Blues I haven't ever had the foggiest as to why exactly I am drawn to artists that straddle multiple contrasting and complimenting genres such as Mr. Jerry Reed, I guess it's that I love hearing things that are truly different and rife with variety. It seems as if virtuoso pickers like him can play just about anything to most anyone and it is met with enjoyment; it has to have something to do with the fun and positiveness he exuded throughout his art and life. Anyway, this is a schmaltzy existential tale, which may be autobiographical, about a traveling musician scraping by whilst playing and singing his song.   Hear My Guitar and My Song on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Hall & Oates - Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid   My song pick 2 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Shoulda Coulda Woulda   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - She'...

From: When You're Hot , You're Hot; Year: 1971; Genre: Country/Rock/Funk When I decided on choosing another one of the late-great Jerry Reed's songs the issue is always just picking one... there is so much of his music that I simply love. As with the vast majority of the tracks he wrote and/or performed, the second you hear that funky guitar pickin' and the rest of the band kicking in with Jerry letting out a big "yeah"until the fade-out you just cannot help but be glued with the amusing tale he regales us with and his excellent delivery.   Hear When You're Hot, You're Hot on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Billy Joel - Turn Around   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Bertha Butt Encounters Vadar   My song pick 3 years ago today: Waylander - A Path Well Trodden   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Born Crosseyed My song pick 5 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Purgatory My song pick 6 years ago to...

From: Hot A' Mighty! ; Year: 1973; Genre: Rock/Funk/Country Been on a Jerry Reed kick lately; listening to a lot of his music, especially his non-traditional arrangements of the classics. Sixteen Tons , of course, has been covered and recorded more times than I dare to count with Tennessee Ernie Ford's version being the most famous. Originally written by Merle Travis, it was apparently inspired by writings by his brother and other sayings among coal miners. What I like most about Jerry Reed's rendition is how he blends so many styles to move the classic song forward into something quite different but still has the soul of the older arrangements.   Hear Sixteen Tons on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Alestorm - Magellan's Expedition   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Ventures - Twilight Zone   My song pick 3 years ago today: Victor Wooten - Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior   My song pick 4 years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Satisfied Man ...

From: Georgia Sunshine ; Year: 1970; Genre: Folk/Bluegrass/Country I don't know exactly why, but I had this song come to mind earlier in the day and I thought that I would make it today's pick. Originally written by the legendary musician Grandpa Jones back in the mid 1940s, when I heard Jerry Reed's version I knew I had to go with it. The overall deceptive complexity of this song is only made all that more deceptive to the listener by Jerry Reed's effortless virtuosity both on the guitar and vocally. I remember back in the day when my own Grandfather would play his own rendition of Eight More Miles To Louisville it was one of the songs that would especially get other musicians' attention, mainly due to the rapid-fire and constant chord changes throughout the piece.    Hear Eight More Miles To Louisville on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Demon's Kiss   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bee Gees - I Gotta Get a Message to ...

From: Cookin' ; Year: 1970; Genre: Country/Pop This song in particular is kind of odd for me in that I really did not like it on first impression, but as it goes on it becomes more and more interesting. By the bridge or "middle eight" it had finally caught my attention and had been building to by the modest 2:30 end of the song I had come to like it, so here it is: today's pick.   Hear How Many Tomorrows on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Charley Pride - When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - Jingle Bells   My song pick 3 years ago today: Hawkwind - Brainstorm My song pick 4 years ago today: America - The Border My song pick 5 years ago today: Yes - Machine Messiah My song pick 6 years ago today: The Offspring - The Meaning of Life My song pick 7 years ago today: Savatage - Degrees of Sanity My song pick 8 years ago today: Extreme - Get the Funk Out My song p...

From: Both Barrels ; Year: 1976; Genre: Country Man, do I love Jerry Reed's brand of funked up country music; it's just so entertaining and fun to listen to. This is another one that tells a story that ties into a movie of the same name.   Hear Gator on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Pallas - The Executioner (Bernie Goetz a Gun)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Band of Horses - Dull Times/The Moon My song pick 3 years ago today: Los Bravos - Black is Black My song pick 4 years ago today: Led Zeppelin - Thank You My song pick 5 years ago today: Helmet - Unsung My song pick 6 years ago today: The Who - Doctor Jekyll & Mr. Hyde My song pick 7 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along the Watchtower My song pick 8 years ago today: Billie Holiday - Summertime My song pick 9 years ago today: David Bowie - Young Americans My song pick 10 years ago today: Eric Robertson - "Spooked" on Classics My song pick 11 years...

From: Sneakin' Around ; Year: 1992; Genre: Jazz/Blues/Country Here's some more beautiful music from the masters of the guitar: Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed. It's an interesting take on the classic song and is just amazing how they pull it off. Hear their rendition of Summertime on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Still Burnin' My song pick 2 years ago today: Brave Belt - Scarecrow My song pick 3 years ago today: Roman Holliday - Don't Try to Stop It My song pick 4 years ago today: Grateful Dead - Dark Star My song pick 5 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Rock it My song pick 6 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - In the Stone My song pick 7 years ago today: America - You Can Do Magic My song pick 8 years ago today: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - K. 1a - Andante in C My song pick 9 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Help is on the Way/Slipknot! My song pick 10 years ago today: Louis Armstrong - Nobody Kn...

From: Both Barrels ; Year: 1976; Genre: Country I really love Jerry Reed's songs that tell a story, which includes a great deal of his tracks. This one's not as good as others in my opinion, but it has all that fun you normally get with his songs. Hear Miller's Cave on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Yum Yum Tree My song pick 2 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - You Can Make it if You Try My song pick 3 years ago today: Deep Purple - Stormbringer My song pick 4 years ago today: Egg - Fugue in D-Minor My song pick 5 years ago today: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - The Last DJ My song pick 6 years ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Lemmings (Including Cog) My song pick 7 years ago today: Nightwish - Feel for You My song pick 8 years ago today: Genesis - Keep It Dark My song pick 9 years ago today: Rush - Lessons My song pick 10 years ago today: Badfinger - Come and Get It My song pick 11 years ago today:...

From: Smokey and the Bandit (soundtrack) ; Year: 1977; Genre: Country As many probably already know, Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds passed away a couple days ago. He was a big part of my childhood growing up watching his films. Anyway, I couldn't think of a better song to pick than this one from Smokey and the Bandit ; my favourite movie with him in it. Hear The Bandit on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Disco Dream and the Androids - Dream Machine My song pick 2 years ago today: Neil Young - Mr. Soul My song pick 3 years ago today: Lobo - A Simple Man My song pick 4 years ago today: Yes - Fly From Here (Suite) My song pick 5 years ago today: Pat Benatar - Invincible My song pick 6 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Anesthetize My song pick 7 years ago today: Freddy Taylor and His Swing Men from Harlem - Blue Drag My song pick 8 years ago today: Hans Zimmer - Fighting 17th My song pick 9 years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - I Put ...

From: Smell The Flowers ; Year: 1972; Genre: Country/Pop I really wanted to pick a song from Jerry Reed and serendipitously discovered something I've searching for a while. In the comedy piece Convention '72 they sampled snippets of music to put together a fake and rather hilarious news cast. I had discovered all the songs sampled, but one: this one. I knew it was Jerry Reed, but couldn't find the song; one of the reasons for this is that it wasn't a main his, but a b-side. Whatever the case it feels great to have some completion to this rather trivial endeavour. Hear Take It Easy (In Your Mind) on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Sammy Hagar - Heavy Metal My song pick two years ago today: Return to Forever - Flight of the Newborn My song pick three years ago today: Hawkwind - Choose Your Masques My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Force Ten My song pick five years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Someday Never Comes ...

From: Dixie Dreams ; Year: 1981; Genre: Country/Pop/Rock I absolutely love this cover of the fan favourite by the Guitar Man himself. Of course the guitar takes centre stage in this one instead of the fiddle in both the lead instrument and the story in this version of the song. If there's any doubt to the virtuosity of Jerry Reed's playing it's definitely not found here; he's just amazing throughout. Hear The Devil Went Down to Georgia on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Johnny Winter - Funky Music My song pick two years ago today: Marillion - Sugar Mice My song pick three years ago today: Pink Floyd - Money My song pick four years ago today: American Breed - Bend Me, Shape Me My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - Cat's Squirrel My song pick six years ago today: Amon Amarth - A Beast Am I My song pick seven years ago today: Steve Vai - Little Green Men My song pick eight years ago today: Fairport Convention - Maddy Groves...

From: Both Barrels ; Year: 1976; Genre: Country/Funk For those not acquainted with him, Jerry Reed plays a lot of proper funk for his very unique and complex sound. Rooster Jones is another one of his songs in the vein of his widely loved hit Amos Moses ; this one in my opinion has just as much of a funky beat and vibe. Anyway, so I'm choosing this ballad about a mean bootlegger today's Funky Friday pick. Hear Rooster Jones on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Journey From Eden My song pick two years ago today: Kansas - Dust in the Wind My song pick three years ago today: King Crimson - Red My song pick four years ago today: Sky - March to the Scaffold My song pick five years ago today: Rhapsody of Fire - Holy Thunderforce My song pick six years ago today: Guided by Voices - Everybody Thinks I’m a Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking) My song pick seven years ago today: Gorō Yamaguchi - Tsuru No Sugomori (Crane's Ne...

From: Smokey and the Bandit (Soundtrack) ; Year: 1977; Genre: Country I had this song earworming me most of the morning and I knew I had today's song pick. This is essentially the title track to the classic film Smokey and the Bandit; it is the song that the movie opens with, although East Bound and Down is probably the song that is more identified with it. In my opinion though this was a great track for the beginning of the film, which tells the "legend" of title character; it set the tone and such, and of course Jerry Reed is amazing as ever. Hear The Legend on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Curved Air - Heaven (Never Seemed So Far Away) My song pick two years ago today: Alestorm - Rum My song pick three years ago today: Bachman & Turner - Slave to the Rhythm My song pick four years ago today: Pink Floyd - San Tropez My song pick five years ago today: Janis Joplin - Mercedes Benz My song pick six years ago today: Pink Floyd - Pigs On...

1132 Jerry Reed - The Telephone Finally getting around to making my pick today; oh well, better late than never. I have been meaning to pick this comedy song from the incomparable Jerry Reed for some time now. He is entertaining as ever in this rant about some modern communications. Hear The Telephone on YouTube. Watch a television performance of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Beatles - Penny Lane + My song pick two years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Green River + My song pick three years ago today: Rush - A Passage To Bangkok +

942 ( Jerry Reed - Amos Moses ) Just went through over 10 years worth of accumulated sheet music, old setlists, instruction booklets, and plethora of other music related documents. One I ran across was a piece of sheet music I made a couple of years ago; I learned both the guitar and bass lines from Jerry Reed's " Amos Moses " and made a hybrid line out of both that I played on the bass. Anyway, after I found it the song started running through my mind, I checked if I had chosen it yet and amazingly I have not. This is one of among many Jerry Reed tracks that I grew up listening to a lot; it is a fun and entertaining song. While some might find it weird that someone who is classified as "Country" would write something so funky, there are actually many other "Country Funk" songs in existence. I noticed a lot of the great pickers would play a lot of cross-genre music, the late-great Chet Atkins being one of them. Plus with both Funk and Bluegrass...

914 ( Jerry Reed - Wabash Cannonball ) I have been meaning to add this one to my list for quite a while now. This one is another train song that has been recorded many times by many musicians. It was written sometime in the mid-late 1800s and is credited to a J.A. Wolf. Oddly enough from what I have read, no train called The Wabash Cannonball existed outside of folklore when this song was written. However, after the song gained popularity The Wabash Railroad named one of their express trains The Wabash Cannonball . Anyway, this is one of my favourite versions of the song; Jerry Reed's guitar picking and authoritative vocals are fantastic. Here is a studio version on YouTube. Here is a television performance on YouTube. Here is an awesome medley containing Wabash Cannonball on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Ray Stevens - Gitarzan My song pick two years ago today: REO Speedwagon - Back on the Road Again +