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

From: Feels So Good ; Year: 1977; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Latin Jazz As of late a lot of music legends have passed, especially this year thus far. Found out that jazz maestro Chuck Mangione is the latest, he passed away a few days ago. He was mostly known in jazz circles and the flügelhorn is the instrument he is most associated with, although he played many others. This instrumental is probably his most famous composition, which has made its way not only on radio, but television, film and other media; chances are you've heard at least part of this one.   Hear Feels So Good on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Green Day - F.O.D.     My song pick 2 years ago today: Van Halen - Dreams   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - The Great Sun Jester   My song pick 4 years ago today: King Crimson - Lady of the Dancing Water   My song pick 5 years ago today: Klaatu - Dog Star   My song pick 6 years ago today: Steely ...

From: Platinum Jazz ; Year: 1977; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Soul Whilst doing some outdoors work over the weekend I had a lot of War's songs playing in my mind. This was one of the singles off of their one-off Blue Note release that had a much Jazzier sound, but definitely not outside their wheelhouse so to speak. This is an excellent slow/mid-tempo, very danceable Latin/tango beat that is not only a treat to the ears, but a treat for the body to move along with.   Hear Slowly We Walk Together on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Normaal - Val Kapot     My song pick 2 years ago today: Brass Construction - Screwed (Conditions)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Procol Harum - Song for a Dreamer   My song pick 4 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Watching Over You   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down To Georgia   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (B...

From: Movements ; Year: 2005 (1972); Genre: Latin Jazz/Funk/Soul Again, as with almost all the artists on this excellent compilation, I know nothing about the Lou Garno Trio other than this single and its b-side and that it was originally released in 1972. A great track to have on when working, walking/running, or just lounging around for that matter.   Hear Muy Sabroso (Very Tasty) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ray Charles - Unchain My Heart   My song pick 2 years ago today: Elvis Presley - I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Mamas & the Papas - Monday Monday   My song pick 4 years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Warrior's Return   My song pick 5 years ago today: Dio - Hungry For Heaven   My song pick 6 years ago today: Argent - Pure Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Boz Scaggs - Breakdown Dead Ahead My song pick 8 years ago today: Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction M...

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: Rise ; Year: 1979; Genre: Latin/Jazz Fusion/Classical/Disco Here is one I ran into the other day whilst researching the seemingly endless songs that the late-great Tommy Tedesco lent his musical talents to. It is thought that he actually has over 7000 session recordings to his name, which, of course, this is among them. Evidentially he played the Balalaika and Lute on this one instead of the guitar, which he was a master of to say the very least. Anyway, this is Herb Alpert's disco/Latin/jazz rendition of part of the famous Concerto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo .   Hear Aranjuez (Mon Amour) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Pointer Sisters - Going Down Slowly   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steeleye Span - The Lark in the Morning   My song pick 4 years ago today: Black 47 - Red Hugh   My song pick 5 years ago today: Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut ...

From: Why Can't We Be Friends? ; Year: 1975; Genre: Funk/Jazz Fusion/Latin Rock Closing out a very, very busy week with this four piece medley: Leroy's Latin Lament , which consists of the sub-songs: 1. Lonnie Dreams , 2. The Way We Feel , 3. La Fiesta , and 4. Lament . Interesting though, with it being a multi sectioned track, it is only just over six minutes in length and the third longest on the record, but make no mistake, there is a lot of music going on in this one in a few varying styles that fuse together to make a stunning piece.   Hear Leroy's Latin Lament on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Porcupine Tree - Strip the Soul   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road   My song pick 3 years ago today: Return to Forever - Majestic Dance   My song pick 4 years ago today: Manfred Mann's Earth Band - As Above So Below   My song pick 5 years ago today: Parliament - P Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) My song...

From: Azteca ; Year: 1972; Genre: Latin Rock/Jazz Fusion Here is a great tune from the brothers Escovedo and their post-Santana band of amazing musical talent, Azteca, which does not get the attention it rightly deserves.    Hear Peace Everybody on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Midnight Oil - Too Much Sunshine   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Nothing Lasts   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Box in my Head   My song pick 4 years ago today: King Harvest - A Little Bit Like Magic   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Temptations - My Girl My song pick 6 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Mysticum Arabicola My song pick 7 years ago today: Billy Idol - White Wedding My song pick 8 years ago today: Bruce Hornsby and the Range - The Valley Road My song pick 9 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Get Off of My Cloud My song pick 10 years ago today: Rick James - She Blew My Min...

From: Ray Charles Greatest Hits ; Year: 1962; Genre: R&B/Jazz Watched a film yesterday evening that featured one of his songs and it got me in the mood to hear more; I thought I would pick another one for my blog today as well. Truly a classic piece of music, this song. I love that Latin Jazz beat and feel that he melded with his signature Rhythm and Blues sound; a real masterpiece.   Hear Unchain My Heart on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Elvis Presley - I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Mamas & the Papas - Monday Monday   My song pick 3 years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Warrior's Return   My song pick 4 years ago today: Dio - Hungry For Heaven   My song pick 5 years ago today: Argent - Pure Love My song pick 6 years ago today: Boz Scaggs - Breakdown Dead Ahead My song pick 7 years ago today: Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction My song pick 8 years ago today: Santo & ...

From: Enter the Heart ; Year: 1998; Genre: Flamenco/Flamenco Rock Yesterday whilst entering the freeway this track came on; it was the perfect song at the exact perfect time.... I don't know wot it is about flamenco and all of its subgenres, but it immediately gets me in one of those great moods and if I happen to be behind the wheel of a car, my right foot gets real heavy; like it feels as if it is made out of dark matter.    Hear Flamenco Wind on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Reunion - A Brighter Day   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Guess Who? - Guess I'll Find a Place   My song pick 3 years ago today: Klaatu - Maybe I'll Move to Mars   My song pick 4 years ago today: Journey - Just the Same Way   My song pick 5 years ago today: Graham Central Station - Mirror My song pick 6 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Little Wing My song pick 7 years ago today: The Cosmic Sound Orchestra - Movin' Groovin' My ...

From: Let Me Be Good to You ; Year: 1979; Genre: Soul/Latin Jazz For me Lou Rawls never fails to lift my mood when feeling under the weather; he was such a treasure.   Hear What's the Matter With the World? on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Melvins - Up The Dumper   My song pick 2 years ago today: Lobo - Where Were You When I Was Falling In Love   My song pick 3 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Back on the Right Track   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ultravox - Serenade   My song pick 5 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Over My Head My song pick 6 years ago today: Devo - Whip It My song pick 7 years ago today: Black Sabbath - After Forever My song pick 8 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Sing a Song My song pick 9 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Ancient Eyes My song pick 10 years ago today: Banchee - Childern of the Universe My song pick 11 years ago today: Muse - Unnatural Selection My song pick 12 years ...

From: Soaring Through a Dream ; Year: 1985; Genre: Latin Jazz/Jazz Fusion Some call it "pretentious" or "musical wanking," but to me this is one of my favourite records from jazz legend Al Di Meola and the equally great musicians that have backed him. This one in particular exemplifies the jazz fusion genre in how then blended jazz sensibilities, middle-eastern music with Latin and Brazilian rhythms/forms. Wot you get is some great music to both listen intently to, to have on whilst you work or just feel like dancing.   Hear Capoeira on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - Chain Lightning   My song pick 2 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Yertle The Turtle   My song pick 3 years ago today: Ian Anderson - In Maternal Grace   My song pick 4 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - I Am a Rock   My song pick 5 years ago today: .38 Special - Stone Cold Believer My song pick 6 years ago today: The Cure - Winter My so...

From: Practice Makes Perfect ; Year: 1977; Genre: Country/Folk/Latin It has been a while since I picked one from Johnny Rodriguez. This is his cover of the 1973 Eurovision second-place song from the band Mocedades , which he recorded in his signature Tex-Mex country style and sung in the original Spanish. Erez tú has been recorded an immense amount of times over the years, so there is a pretty good chance that you have heard a version of it at some point. I personally love Johnny Rodriguez's version with his style that sounds familiar and exotic at the same time.   Hear Eres tú on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Stanley Clarke - More Hot Fun   My song pick 2 years ago today: Cheap Trick - Ain't That a Shame   My song pick 3 years ago today: Marcus Miller - Superspy   My song pick 4 years ago today: Seals & Crofts - Diamond Girl My song pick 5 years ago today: Rick James - Call Me Up My song pick 6 years ago today: Chris Squire ...

From: Wild Safari ; Year: 1971; Genre: Latin Rock/Funk Felt like going somewhere I've not gone before for my pick this Friday; this Spanish band. It's exactly wot I needed; that unique funky Latin rhythm just fit.   Hear Wild Safari on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The First Class - Beach Baby   My song pick 2 years ago today: Weather Report - Five Short Stories   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Death Valley Nights   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ray Stevens - The Streak My song pick 5 years ago today: Faith No More - Sunny Side Up My song pick 6 years ago today: Parliament - Do That Stuff My song pick 7 years ago today: Primus - Eyes of the Squirrel My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - A Gift or Roses My song pick 9 years ago today: Paris - Starcage My song pick 10 years ago today: Soundgarden - Big Dumb Sex My song pick 11 years ago today: King Crimson - Cirkus, Including: Entry of the C...

From: Caravanserai ; Year: 1972; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Latin Rock Caravanserai is still one of my favourites from Santana. This song is a little bit more in the wheelhouse of the regular Santana sound compared to the other tracks on the album. I really like the use of the Hammond Organ as the second lead instrument; it makes the song sound quite excellent.   Hear Song of the Wind on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Elton John - Jamaica Jerk-Off   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jimmy Castor - Amazon My song pick 3 years ago today: April Wine - Enough is Enough My song pick 4 years ago today: Faith No More - Falling to Pieces My song pick 5 years ago today: The Presidents of the United States of America - Peaches My song pick 6 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Midnight Rambler My song pick 7 years ago today: The Five Stairsteps - O-o-o Child My song pick 8 years ago today: The Delgados - Mr. Blue Sky My song pick 9 years ago tod...

From: Azteca ; Year: 1972; Genre: Latin Rock/Progressive Rock/Jazz Fusion I had Azteca on my mind since yesterday; thought I'd make a Funky Friday pick with one of their songs. Whilst not totally a funk track, this one has a lot in it along with varying sections and all that great Latin Jazz and rock. Hear Non Pacem on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: The Zombies - Beechwood Park My song pick 2 years ago today: Three Dog Night - The Loner My song pick 3 years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Babies My song pick 4 years ago today: Live - Lightning Crashes My song pick 5 years ago today: Duran Duran - The Reflex My song pick 6 years ago today: Savatage - The Storm My song pick 7 years ago today: John Dowland - In Darkness We Dwell My song pick 8 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - I Love the Night My song pick 9 years ago today: The Byrds - Eight Miles High My song pick 10 years ago today: Wings - Band on the Run My song pick 11 years ago toda...

From: Jungle Fever ; Year: 1970; Genre: Latin Jazz All this morning I've had their music stuck in my head, as normal I thought I'd go on and pick another one of their songs. Love the rhythm and beat in this one. Hear Yo Soy Cubano on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: George Gershwin - An American in Paris My song pick two years ago today: War - Summer My song pick three years ago today: The Mamas & the Papas - Go Where You Wanna Go My song pick four years ago today: Journey - Wheel in the Sky My song pick five years ago today: Santana - La Fuente del Ritmo My song pick six years ago today: King Crimson - The Court of the Crimson King My song pick seven years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Yours Truly, 2095 My song pick eight years ago today: Stahlhammer - Herz Aus Stahl My song pick nine years ago today: America - Sister Golden Hair My song pick ten years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies

From: Santana ; Year: 1969; Genre: Latin Rock/Jazz Fusion The other day I happened upon a Santana concert on the television; got the band back into my mind. This is, I believe, their biggest hit from their debut album and immediately noticeable to anyone who's listened to the radio in the last 45+ years. I absolutely love the incredible playing from all the band members throughout this one. Hear Evil Ways on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Gerry Rafferty - The Tourist My song pick two years ago today: Loudness - Let It Go My song pick three years ago today: Carmen - She Flew Across the Room My song pick four years ago today: California Guitar Trio - Ghost Riders on the Storm My song pick five years ago today: Al Di Meola and Steve Vai - Race with the Devil on Turkish Highway My song pick six years ago today: Nightwish - Beauty of the Beast My song pick seven years ago today: L'Arc~en~Ciel - Spirit Dreams Inside My song pick eight years ago to...

From: Los Lonely Boys ; Year: 2004; Genre: Latin Rock I had this one pop on my playlist yesterday; it was the perfect song to put me into a better mood. It's difficult to believe that this song is over a decade old; it doesn't seem that long. Hear Heaven on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders - Louise My song pick two years ago today: .38 Special - Hold On Loosely My song pick three years ago today: Deep Purple - Anthem My song pick four years ago today: Billy Joel - You May Be Right My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - Songs From the Wood My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crew Nights My song pick seven years ago today: The Guess Who - These Eyes My song pick eight years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Fanfare for the Common Man My song pick nine years ago today: The Kinks - Do It Again My song pick ten years ago today: The Guess Who - Hang On To Your Life

From: Heavy Weather ; Year: 1977; Jazz Fusion/Funk Might not be a true "funk" track on this Funky Friday, but the basis of most of Palladíum is funk mixed with Latin beats, so I should be fine. Anyway, this is another one that features excellent leads by both Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter; of course Jaco is excellent as always on bass and the drums and percussions by Alex Acuña and Manolo Badrena are the glue that holds the entire thing together and make it so danceable. Hear Palladíum on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman My song pick two years ago today: Peter Gabriel - Steam My song pick three years ago today: Phil Collins - Something Happened on the Way to Heaven My song pick four years ago today: Pallas - Rise and Fall, Part 2 My song pick five years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Black Blade My song pick six years ago today: Rammstein - Waidmanns Heil My song pick seven years ago today: Jethro Tul...

From: Cesar ; Year: 1975; Genre: Latin Jazz/Funk Last night I went to check up on my old bass teacher's discography and discovered this one-off Latin jazz/funk album put together by noted night club owner Cesar Ascarrunz using prominent SanFrancisco Bay Area musicians. This is one of the first tracks to catch my attention; I love the funky Latin rhythm underneath some light jazz on top. It really makes for an interesting mix to say the least, but it works very well. Hear Bridges on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - So Damn Cool My song pick two years ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Renegades of Funk My song pick three years ago today: Triumph - Fight the Good Fight My song pick four years ago today: Rammstein - Dalai Lama My song pick five years ago today: Savatage - Day After Day My song pick six years ago today: ? and the Mysterians - 96 Tears My song pick seven years ago today: Pink Floyd - Goodbye Blue Sky My song pick ei...