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

From: Life ; Year: 1968; Genre: Psychedelic Soul/Funk The year has just blown by, or at least as far as I can tell; just seemed like we were having summer and now it's the final Friday before October. Guess I will just end this week on a very high note with another wonderful song from the one and only Sly and the Family Stone. Into My Own Thing is just one of their tracks where each member of the band does wot they do best at their very best.   Hear Into My Own Thing on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Brenton Wood - Best Thing I Ever Had     My song pick 2 years ago today: Edgar Winter's White Trash - Keep Playin' That Rock 'n' Roll   My song pick 3 years ago today: Explorers Club - Impact 1 – Fate Speaks   My song pick 4 years ago today: Frank Zappa - No Not Now   My song pick 5 years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Our Wasted Days   My song pick 6 years ago today: Soundgarden - Room a Thousand Years Wide   My ...

From: Dance to the Music ; Year: 1968; Genre: Psychedelic Funk/Psychedelic Soul Been rather sad the last few days since the passing of Sly Stone , who was the main creative force behind this band that will undoubtedly be heard for centuries to come. Whilst his output was sporadic for the last few decades, everything he seemingly worked on either as a leader or sideman was always his best. He will always be known for those songs of positivity, uniting, and unabashed activism for a better society. I can say this about the legend of a man: the music he and his band played always gave me energy even in the darkest times to power through like there is a beautiful sunrise on the horizon.   Hear Dance to the Medley on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Asia - Bury Me In Willow     My song pick 2 years ago today: Cher - Half-Breed   My song pick 3 years ago today: Robert Knight - Everlasting Love   My song pick 4 years ago today: Parlia...

From: Ain't But the One Way ; Year: 1982; Genre: Funk/Soul/Psychedelia Every now and then I get in a mood for Sly and the Family Stone and bask in the musical splendour. Even to this day I don't believe the majority of the musical consumers fathom the role and impact this band, both as a gestalt and each and every member singularly, had and is still having on music into the future. It is kind of sad to think that this was the "swansong" of a group that was such an important piece of music at large; not their best effort by any measure, but still great to have the songs to listen to.   Hear High, Y'all on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Who - The Kids Are Alright   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Circle of Love   My song pick 3 years ago today: Tesla - Heaven's Trail (No Way Out )   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Madman   My song pick 5 years ago today: Lakeside - Shine On (Lift Your Spiri...

From: There's a Riot Going On ; Year: 1971; Genre: Funk/Rock/Soul Here's an infectious beat to end the workweek. The rhythm is definitely the main draw, but the nonsensical lyrics punctuated by yodeling adds quite a lot too.    Hear Spaced Cowboy on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Wings - Again and Again and Again   My song pick 2 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills   My song pick 3 years ago today: Paco De Lucía - De Madruga (Seguiriyas)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Reverend Horton Heat - Viva Las Vegas   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - WinterFunkyLand (AKA Winter Wonderland)   My song pick 6 years ago today: Four Tops - It's All In The Game My song pick 7 years ago today: Hammerfall - Wildfire My song pick 8 years ago today: Heart - Magic Man My song pick 9 years ago today: Allan Sherman - I See Bones My song pick 10 years ago today: Rush - Chemistry My song pick 11 years ago...

From: Life ; Year: 1968; Genre: Funk/Psychedelic Rock/Soul Nothing like the uplifting sound of Sly and the Family Stone to glide the workweek to a safe landing. Actually just recently started listening to this record and am really liking wot I am hearing. Not that this is a "forgotten album," but it is overshadowed by both its predecessor and its successor, which were an amazing classic and landmark recording respectively. Whilst they were without a doubt a success, after this point in their career the band took off into the stratosphere became musical legend. Anyway, this is a great one if you like some soulful psychedelic funk; just sit back and let that groove take you away.   Hear I'm An Animal on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Lenny Kravitz - A Long and Sad Goodbye   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Winery Dogs - Moonage Daydream   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bonnie Tyler - Straight From The Heart   My song pick 4 years ago...

From: I'm Back! Family & Friends ; Year: 2011; Genre: Funk/Soul Here's a quite nice, very uplifting and unique version of the classic hymn done with a blend of soul, funk, and R&B that really brings the emotion to a climax. Just seemed absolutely perfect for this Funky Friday; inspirational and thought provoking without a doubt.   Hear His Eye Is on the Sparrow on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Roy Eldridge and Benny Carter - Close Your Eyes   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jigsaw - One Way Street   My song pick 3 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Goodbye Angels   My song pick 4 years ago today: Triumph - Somebody's Out There   My song pick 5 years ago today: Primus - DMV My song pick 6 years ago today: Al Di Meola - Soaring Through a Dream My song pick 7 years ago today: Wishbone Ash - Baby the Angels Are Here My song pick 8 years ago today: Soundgarden - Rhinosaur My song pick 9 years ago today: Jigsaw ...

From: A Whole New Thing ; Year: 1967; Genre: Funk/Soul/Psychedelia This one's quite a hoot to listen to, but what from the pen of Sly Stone and company isn't? I absolutely love the intro and ending of the song where they use the melody from the children's rhyme Frère Jacques with the horn section, which really gives an interesting dynamic with the contrasting thumping and raucous main section of the piece.     Hear Underdog on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Morning Rain   My song pick 2 years ago today: Faith No More - Naked in Front of the Computer   My song pick 3 years ago today: The B-52's - Deadbeat Club   My song pick 4 years ago today: Pallas - Crown of Thorns   My song pick 5 years ago today: 10cc - I'm Not In Love My song pick 6 years ago today: David Essex - A Winter's Tale My song pick 7 years ago today: Howlin' Wolf - I Ain't Superstitious My song pick 8 years ago today: Hallo Venray ...

From: Life ; Year: 1968; Genre: Psychedelic Funk/Soul This is a pure fun track that'll put a smile on your face and get you up and boogieing for sure; so much to like about this one.    Hear Love City on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Billy Joel - Don't Ask Me Why   My song pick 2 years ago today: R.E.M. - Man on the Moon   My song pick 3 years ago today: Brook Benton - Rainy Night in Georgia My song pick 4 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Way Out of Here My song pick 5 years ago today: Cyndi Lauper - All Through The Night My song pick 6 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - 'Tis Your Kind of Music My song pick 7 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Obscured By Clouds My song pick 8 years ago today: Hammerfall - Ex Inferis My song pick 9 years ago today: Berlin - Like Flames My song pick 10 years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop My song pick 11 years ago today: Primus - Here Come the Bastards ...

From: Greatest Hits ; Year: 1970; Genre: Psychedelic Soul It's been a mondo-busy last few days and I've really had my free time quite at a premium, but the music is and has been one of the main things getting me through. One of the main ones helping the most is Larry Graham, especially his work with Sly and the Family Stone. This is one of the three "new" songs from an abandoned project to be released on the Greatest Hits album and all three became massive hits in their own right.  Anyway, I really like the overall soulful mellowness along with the shared lead vocals and of course the main positive and hopeful message throughout.   Hear Everybody is a Star on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Steely Dan - Bad Sneakers   My song pick 2 years ago today: Fates Warning - Seven Stars   My song pick 3 years ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - Sin's a Good Man's Brother   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jimi Hendrix Experience - Burning of th...

From: Dance to the Music ; Year: 1968; Genre: Psychedelic Soul/R&B Was enjoying a bunch of music from Sly & The Family Stone earlier; I've always absolutely loved their positivity, activism, and messages of their music, not to mention the great compositions of the music to boot. This track has a definite Motown feel to it; Smoky Robinson and the Miracles in particular with that amazing rhythm combined with the somber soul sounds throughout. It really helps having the one and only Larry Graham providing lead vocals on this one; I've always loved his smooth, deep voice.    Hear I'll Never Fall In Love Again on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Hawkwind - The Forge of Vulcan   My song pick 2 years ago today: Asia - Ride Easy   My song pick 3 years ago today: Three Dog Night - It's a Jungle Out There My song pick 4 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Last Train My song pick 5 years ago today: Boston - Don'...

From: Back On The Right Track ; Year: 1979; Genre: Funk/Soul Here's some real funk on a Tuesday instead of the normal Friday pick that I do. As with most of their funky material this one's very upbeat and fun to listen and dance to.   Hear Shine It On on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - We Hold On   My song pick 2 years ago today: Tee Set - Ma Belle Amie My song pick 3 years ago today: Curved Air - Phantasmagoria My song pick 4 years ago today: Roxy Music - Out of the Blue My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Heavy Metal: The Black and Silver My song pick 6 years ago today: Primus - Shake Hands With Beef My song pick 7 years ago today: Cher - Dark Lady My song pick 8 years ago today: Curved Air - U.H.F. My song pick 9 years ago today: Antonio Vivaldi - The Four Seasons My song pick 10 years ago today: The Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There) My song pick 11 years ago today: The Hep Stars - Cadillac My so...

From: Dance to the Music ; Year: 1968; Genre: Funk/Soul It's another Funky Friday here; thought I'd go with something from Sly & The Family Stone. This one is one of their biggest hits that probably most have heard at some point; I personally love the rhythm to this one, especially Larry Graham's bass.   Hear Dance to the Music on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Primus - Prelude to a Crawl/Hennepin Crawler   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Old Aces Die Hard My song pick 3 years ago today: Harlequin - Sweet Things in Life My song pick 4 years ago today: Three Dog Night - The Show Must Go On My song pick 5 years ago today: Kleeer - It's Magic My song pick 6 years ago today: Geddy Lee - Window to the World My song pick 7 years ago today: Joachim Witt - Immer Noch My song pick 8 years ago today: "Weird Al' Yankovic - Grapefruit Diet My song pick 9 years ago today: Soundgarden - I Awake My song pick 10 years ago ...

From: Stand! ; Year: 1969; Genre: Funk/Soul/Blues I've encountered another Funky Friday or so it seems; need to make a funky pick. Thought I'd visit Sly and the Family Stone today with this rather bluesy and funky instrumental track. Hear Sex Machine on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Crossword My song pick 2 years ago today: Blood, Sweat & Tears - You've Made Me So Very Happy My song pick 3 years ago today: Mike + The Mechanics - Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground) My song pick 4 years ago today: Santo & Johnny - Summertime My song pick 5 years ago today: Zager and Evans - In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) My song pick 6 years ago today: Homer & Jethro - The Battle of Camp Kookamonga My song pick 7 years ago today: Karussell - Entweder Oder My song pick 8 years ago today: Nightwish - Last of the Wilds (Erämaan viimeinen) My song pick 9 years ago today: Rush - Caravan My song pick 10 years ago today:...

From: There's a Riot Goin' On ; Year: 1971; Genre: Funk/Psychedelic Soul A new month and an end to the workweek. The sound from Sly & The Family Stone are always perfect for such. I love the laid-back feeling of this song and that horn sure adds a lot. Hear Runnin' Away on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Michael Penn - No Myth My song pick 2 years ago today: Steve Winwood - Higher Love My song pick 3 years ago today: Helloween - Lay All Your Love On Me My song pick 4 years ago today: The Drifters - There Goes My Baby My song pick 5 years ago today: Soundgarden - Spoonman My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses My song pick 7 years ago today: The Monkees - Daydream Believer My song pick 8 years ago today: Muse - Resistance My song pick 9 years ago today: Jethro Tull - From A Deadbeat To An Old Greaser My song pick 10 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Oh Well My song pick 11 years ago today: Aerosmith - Janie...

From: A Whole New Thing ; Year: 1967; Genre: Funk/Soul Was thinking about Sly and the Family Stone, especially their earlier material. It is so refreshing to hear their music at such a raw level from these older records. Hear If This Room Could Talk on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Rush - Grand Designs My song pick two years ago today: The Trammps - Rubber Band My song pick three years ago today: Johannes Tapissler - Credo My song pick four years ago today: The Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing My song pick five years ago today: Bass Extremes - Portrait of Tracy My song pick six years ago today: ZZ Top - La Grange My song pick seven years ago today: Rammstein - Seemann My song pick eight years ago today: Jon Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory My song pick nine years ago today: The Who - The Seeker My song pick ten years ago today: The Beatles - Mr. Moonlight

From: Stand! ; Year: 1969; Genre: Funk/Soul It's my 210th consecutive Funky Friday today; couldn't resist going for another track from one of my favourite albums.  Hear You Can Make it if You Try on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Deep Purple - Stormbringer My song pick two years ago today: Egg - Fugue in D-Minor My song pick three years ago today: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - The Last DJ My song pick four years ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Lemmings (Including Cog) My song pick five years ago today: Nightwish - Feel for You My song pick six years ago today: Genesis - Keep It Dark My song pick seven years ago today: Rush - Lessons My song pick eight years ago today: Badfinger - Come and Get It My song pick nine years ago today: Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends My song pick ten years ago today: Rush - Far Cry

From: There's a Riot Going On ; Year: 1971; Genre: Funk/Soul Getting my Funky Friday pick in and continuing my streak of consecutive picks. Every time I hear Sly and the Family Stone it brings a smile to my face. If this funky soul does not get you moving and get you in a great mood nothing will. Hear Luv n' Haight on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Outlaws - Green Grass & High Tides My song pick two years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Jungle Love My song pick three years ago today: Grateful Dead - China Cat Sunflower My song pick four years ago today: Nightwish - The Carpenter My song pick five years ago today: Return to Forever - Sofistifunk My song pick six years ago today: Savatage - 24 Hours Ago My song pick seven years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - The Rubberband Man My song pick eight years ago today: Boston - Something About You

From: Small Talk ; Year: 1974; Genre: Soul/Funk This is a busy Funky Friday, but I didn't have to think hard for my pick; I was really wanting to choose one from Sly and the Family Stone. It's more of a soul piece, although there's a lot of funk throughout the song. Hear Can't Strain My Brain on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Paris - 1 in 10 My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Look Into the Sun My song pick three years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Free Wheelin' My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Limbo My song pick five years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Superstition My song pick six years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Soul To Squeeze My song pick seven years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra - Fire On High My song pick eight years ago today: The Polyphonic Spree - It's The Sun

From: Fresh ; Year: 1973; Genre: Soul/Funk It's another Funky Friday, the last one in November and my 116th consecutive to boot; this track seemed a good fit for today. Hear Thankful N' Thoughtful on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Another Beer My song pick two years ago today: Hawkwind - Neon Skyline/Lost Chronicles My song pick three years ago today: Louis Armstrong - When the Saints Go Marching In My song pick four years ago today: John Denver - Farewell Andromeda (Welcome To My Morning) My song pick five years ago today: Del Shannon - Runaway My song pick six years ago today: Steely Dan - Black Friday My song pick seven years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - I Just Want You My song pick eight years ago today: Quiet Riot - Cum On Feel The Noize

From: There's a Riot Goin' On ; Year: 1971; Genre: Funk/Soul Getting my weekly dose of Funky Friday in today. I was just in the mood for something from Sly and the Family Stone, and this hit single seemed to fit pretty well; some soulful and smooth funk. Hear Family Affair on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Guess Who - Rain Dance My song pick two years ago today: Primus - The Devil Went Down to Georgia My song pick three years ago today: Soundgarden - Rusty Cage My song pick four years ago today: Lou Reed - I'm So Free My song pick five years ago today: Traffic - The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys My song pick six years ago today: Hawkwind - Silver Machine My song pick seven years ago today: Savatage - Complaint In The System