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

From: Gravity ; Year: 1986; Genre: Funk/Soul Since it is a Funky Friday and Independence Day as well, I needed to pick something to fill both occasions. This was the first song to come to mind and is absolutely perfect in both cases. For me two things in particular come to mind when I hear Living in America start playing: 1. The image of the late great Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed entering the ring against Soviet fighter Ivan Drago, who was played by Dolph Lundgren towards the beginning of the film Rocky IV . And 2. Weird Al Yankovic's funny parody Living With a Hernia . Not to take anything away from the Godfather of Soul's amazing songwriting and unparalleled performance, it's just my personal goofiness.    Watch the music video on YouTube.   Hear the full album version on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Pearls Before Swine - Ballad to an Amber Lady     My song pick 2 years ago today: Hawkwind - The Last Messiah   M...

From Texas Flood ; Year: 1983; Genre: Blues Rock/Blues The other day I happened to watch a documentary on the late, legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan; it is weird to think that he passed away over 30 years ago, but time sure flies.... Anyway, this was one of the five cover songs from his and Double Trouble's debut album, Texas Flood . It's kind of funny that this is more or less a cunning way for him to cover Jimi Hendrix without actually "covering" him. It was actually an Isley Brothers' track that Hendrix provided guitars for prior to him becoming a world famous legend on the guitar. On his cover of it, Stevie Ray Vaughan turns it into a blazing blues-rock instrumental.   Hear Testify on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Nightwish - Harvest   My song pick 2 years ago today: Kool and the Gang - Funky Granny   My song pick 3 years ago today: Soundgarden - Blood on the Valley Floor   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bachman Turner Ove...

From: The Sky is Crying ; Year: 1991 (1985); Genre: Blues No song in mind for today's pick, but it just so happened that some tracks off this posthumous album from the late-great Stevie Ray Vaughan popped into my mind as I started to make today's post. This is a downright amazing cover of the Howlin' Wolf penned classic that shows off the bluesman's skill quite well.   Hear May I Have a Talk With You on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: ZZ Top - Legs   My song pick 2 years ago today: Primus - Eclectic Electric   My song pick 3 years ago today: Parliament - Trombipulation My song pick 4 years ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - Silence and I My song pick 5 years ago today: Wall of Voodoo - Ring of Fire My song pick 6 years ago today: John Dowland - Time Stands Still My song pick 7 years ago today: Tarot - Magic and Technology My song pick 8 years ago today: Hawkwind - PXR5 My song pick 9 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Summerday S...

From: Family Style ; Year: 1990; Genre: Blues Rock Every time I hear Stevie Ray Vaughan and his brother Jimmy I'm still blown away by their playing abilities as musicians. This one is a heavy blues rock track that rounds out the only album the brothers Vaughan made together.    Hear Brothers on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dobie Gray - The 'In' Crowd   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Dissolution (The Clouds Disperse)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bob Dylan - Main Title Theme (Billy) My song pick 4 years ago today: Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life My song pick 5 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Back on the Road My song pick 6 years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Cinnamon Girl My song pick 7 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Another Heart Breaks My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Critique Oblique My song pick 9 years ago today: Hawkwind - Adjust Me ...

From: In Step ; Year: 1989; Genre: Blues Rock In the mood for some Stevie Ray Vaughan and this one has his style and sound in spades; I just love this track.   Hear Tightrope on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Thermals - Here's Your Future   My song pick 2 years ago today: Soul Asylum - Black Gold My song pick 3 years ago today: .38 Special - Long Time Gone My song pick 4 years ago today: Woody Guthrie - Tom Joad (Parts 1+2) My song pick 5 years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Big Bang Baby My song pick 6 years ago today: Maktub - Motherfucker My song pick 7 years ago today: Saga - It's Time (Chapter Three) My song pick 8 years ago today: Rush - Red Sector A My song pick 9 years ago today: Muse - Exogenesis: Symphony Parts 1,2, and 3 My song pick 10 years ago today: Hawkwind - Spirit of the Age My song pick 11 years ago today: Stuart Hamm - Flow My Tears My song pick 12 years ago today: Nightwish - I Wish I Had An Angel ...

From: Texas Flood ; Year: 1983; Genre: Blues Rock Was in the mood for some bluesier sounds today; Stevie Ray never lets me down. I randomly picked this beautiful tune; it's just one of those songs you can listen to for hours on repeat. Hear Lenny on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - (The System of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether My song pick 2 years ago today: Golden Earring - Twilight Zone My song pick 3 years ago today: Benny Carter and Dizzy Gillespie - Broadway My song pick 4 years ago today: Muse - Invincible My song pick 5 years ago today: America - Ventura Highway My song pick 6 years ago today: Nick Gilder - Hot Child in the City My song pick 7 years ago today: Boston - Foreplay/Long Time My song pick 8 years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Home and Dry My song pick 9 years ago today: Johnny Cash - One Piece at a Time My song pick 10 years ago today: Traffic - John Barleycorn My song pick 11 years ago today: The ...

From: The Sky is Crying ; Year: 1991; Genre: Blues Rock Even though I'm still having internet issues I'm making today's pick. I had a bunch of music from this album running through my mind today, so I'm picking this one, which also happens to be the title track and a great cover of the Elmore James classic blues track. Hear The Sky is Crying on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Maddy Prior - Gutter Geese My song pick two years ago today: Pink Floyd - Hey You My song pick three years ago today: Return to Forever - Dayride My song pick four years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Hot Rails to Hell My song pick five years ago today: Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show - Cover of the Rolling Stone My song pick six years ago today: Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze My song pick seven years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crazed Institution

From: In Step ; Year: 1989; Genre: Blues Rock Over the last little bit I've been listening to a lot of Stevie Ray Vaughan and thought that I would pick another one of his songs. This upbeat blues track is one of my long-time favourites from him and his two man band; I'm very surprised that I haven't picked it yet. Hear The House is a Rockin' on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Melvins - Honey Bucket My song pick two years ago today: Bing Crosby - Beautiful Dreamer My song pick three years ago today: Black 47 - Bankers and Gangsters My song pick four years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - House of the Rising Sun My song pick five years ago today: The Moody Blues - The Story in Your Eyes My song pick six years ago today: Cheech & Chong feat. Alice Bowie - Earache My Eye My song pick seven years ago today: Weather Report - Birdland

1608 Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Superstition From: Live Alive , Year: 1986 Genre: Blues/Rock Ugh! I'm getting another late pick in; I guess it's better late than never. Anyway, for the last couple of days I've had the urge to listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan; I thought it would be nice to add another one of his songs to my list. This one is, of course, a cover, and an excellent one at that, of the masterpiece originally written by the incomparable Stevie Wonder, who was a big influence on his music. Stevie Wonder not only gave his blessing for him to do the cover, but also appeared in the music video as well. Here is a vinyl recording on YouTube. Here is the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Journey - To Play Some Music My song pick two years ago today: Apocalyptica featuring Till Lindemann - Helden My song pick three years ago today: James Gang - Funk 49 My song pick four years ago today: Midnight Oil - Blue Sky Mine +

1118 Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Life by the Drop This beautiful acoustic track came on the radio yesterday whilst out and about. I thought it a perfect pick for an otherwise lazy Saturday. Cheers! Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Down on the Corner My song pick two years ago today: Iron Maiden - 2 Minutes To Midnight My song pick three years ago today: Savatage - Believe +

827 ( Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Crossfire ) Been meaning to choose this song for quite a while now and I feel like adding it today. This is one of those rare songs that is liked across many genres and can be played in mixed company without problems. I love this song in almost every aspect, it is wonderfully arranged and performed. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: 4 Non Blondes - What's Up? My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - ...And The Mouse Police Never Sleeps +

I actually had another Stevie Ray Vaughan song in mind for today, however this Jimi Hendrix cover stuck in my mind and plus it fits my mood today very well. Here is the studio version on YouTube. +

This song was running through my mind this morning, so I have decided to pick it. It's an excellent blues with incredible musicianship from everyone involved. I have always liked Double Trouble and have seen them play with a lot of other artists as well. The late-great Stevie Ray Vaughn shows just how much of a talent he was; it was a shame that talent was lost when he passed away. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance on YouTube. +