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

From: Cookin' on the Roof ; Year: 1983; Genre: Pop/Rock/Swing This often overlooked and underappreciated '80s swing/rock/new wave group happens to be on my mind since yesterday, so I'm picking another one of their songs. This one will make you feel like dancing without a doubt.   Hear Furs 'n High Heels on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Dio - Hide in the Rainbow     My song pick 2 years ago today: Waylon Jennings - Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way   My song pick 3 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Love City   My song pick 4 years ago today: Billy Joel - Don't Ask Me Why   My song pick 5 years ago today: R.E.M. - Man on the Moon   My song pick 6 years ago today: Brook Benton - Rainy Night in Georgia My song pick 7 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Way Out of Here My song pick 8 years ago today: Cyndi Lauper - All Through The Night My song pick 9 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central...

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: 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: A Man Called Adam (soundtrack) ; Year: 1966; Genre: Swing Jazz Have never actually seen this film, but I seriously, I mean truly adore the music and soundtrack; one of these days I'll have to find it and give it a watch. This is one of the songs from the movie where Legend and Rat-Pack Extraordinaire Sammy Davis Jr. sings as well as in the motion picture played the main character "Adam."   Hear Whisper to One on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Queen - Flash to the Rescue   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ace - Rock & Roll Runaway   My song pick 3 years ago today: Imagination - Just an Illusion   My song pick 4 years ago today: Alestorm - Fannybaws   My song pick 5 years ago today: Marillion - Seasons End   My song pick 6 years ago today: Dick Dale - Esperanza My song pick 7 years ago today: Kansas - Questions of my Childhood My song pick 8 years ago today: Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe - Quartet My song pick...

From: Porgy & Bess ; Year: 1959; Genre: Swing Jazz/Opera Summertime has and will probably always be one of my favourite standards; so far every rendition I have heard I love. This one though, it is without a single doubt the best in my personal opinion; I mean, how could you not with all of the legendary talent of these two? Hearing them duet and Satchmo's horn is the same as wrapping yourself up in your favourite warm blanket on a chilly day.   Hear Summertime on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Herman's Hermits - There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Eight More Miles To Louisville   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Demon's Kiss   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bee Gees - I Gotta Get a Message to You   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ultravox - Mr. X   My song pick 6 years ago today: Charley Pride - Daydreams About Night Things My song pick 7 years...

From: Louis Wishes You A Cool Yule ; Year: 2022 (1957); Genre: Swing Jazz/Christmas Music Had to choose something from Pops this holiday season and Ella joins him on this one, or rather he joins her.   Hear  I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Smash Mouth - Father Christmas   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Greensleeved   My song pick 3 years ago today: Chick Corea - What Child is This?   My song pick 4 years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Prince of Peace   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bob Rivers - Flu Ride   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Pretenders - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas My song pick 7 years ago today: Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Didn't I Get This Last Year? My song pick 8 years ago today: Electric Jungle - Funky Funky Christmas My song pick 9 years ago today: Louis Armstrong - Winter Wonderland My song pick 10 years ago today...

From: Cab Calloway ; Year: 1956 (1942); Genre: Swing Jazz/Big Band Jazz/Blues Have had this marvelous legend and his band on my mind over the last little bit. Kind of surprised that I have not chosen this one yet being on of his signature pieces. I'm always just wowed every time I put one of his recordings on; I really wish I could've seen him live, but at least I have the recordings and the videos and films he was in.   Hear Geechy Joe on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Stevie Wonder - Maybe Your Baby   My song pick 2 years ago today: David Bowie and the Pat Metheny Group - This Is Not America   My song pick 3 years ago today: Corey Hart - Sunglasses At Night   My song pick 4 years ago today: Chicago - Feelin' Stronger Every Day   My song pick 5 years ago today: Lobo - Pee-Ro Juan Valdez Sam Quixote My song pick 6 years ago today: AC/DC - Are You Ready My song pick 7 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Jam Fan (Hot) My ...

From: Vocalion 5021 ; Year: 1947 (1939); Genre: Swing Jazz/Big Band Jazz This classic from the one and only Billie Holiday has been on my mind off and on for the last few days, so I am picking it. Apparently both Louis "Pops" Armstrong and Bing Crosby both recorded their versions prior, whilst I admire and deeply love their work, for this song in particular it is Billie Holiday's recording that takes the cake so to speak.   Hear Them There Eyes on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Chevrolet   My song pick 2 years ago today: Eddie Rabbitt - 747   My song pick 3 years ago today: B.J. Thomas - Hooked on a Feeling   My song pick 4 years ago today: Tears for Fears - Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Al Di Meola - Passion, Grace & Fire My song pick 6 years ago today: Weezer - Africa My song pick 7 years ago today: Red Rider - Human Race My song pick 8 years ago today: ...

From: In a Sentimental Mood ; Year: 1989; Genre: Swing/Big Band Jazz Had this song on my mind since yesterday; quite a catchy and upbeat track to say the least. This one is a standard from during the height of The War, originally written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. From wot I understand the title and main idea of the song was borrowed from a sermon by a popular preacher at the time, Father Divine , which translated very well into an upbeat song. Many have recorded versions of this popular standard over the years, I almost went for a few others, but I knew Dr. John's really well, and I am a fan of his work, so I chose his rendition.   Hear Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Herman's Hermits - End of the World   My song pick 2 years ago today: Alice in Chains - The One You Know   My song pick 3 years ago today: Yes - Going for the One   My song pick 4 years ago today: Dayton Sidewinders - Phoenix ...

From: Master of the Hawaiian Guitar, Volume Two ; Year: 1987 (1938); Genre: Swing Jazz/Hit Parade/Hawaiian Every time I hear this master of music, I am in awe; his music just for some reason doesn't sound dated to me personally, even though much of his music is over 75 years old. Anyway, this is his very unique take on the George Gershwin classic, (even though it wasn't that old of a song at the time he recorded it), and as I said, it has aged incredibly well. Also, back in 2012 Sol Ho'opi'i's recording was made part of the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry list.   Hear Fascinating Rhythm on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Kenny Rogers & the First Edition - Something's Burning   My song pick 2 years ago today: Queen - I Can't Live With You   My song pick 3 years ago today: Deep Purple - Throw My Bones   My song pick 4 years ago today: Foghat - Night Shift My song pick 5 years ago today: Rammstein - Los My song pick...

From: Urbane Jazz ; Year: 1955; Genre: Swing Jazz Whilst driving through an exhilarating lightning storm last night I turned on some music and one of Benny Carter's tracks came on; it was absolutely perfect for his music to frame the streams of rain and flashes and rumbling. Anyway, this morning I decided to play this record with writer and trumpeter extraordinaire Roy Eldridge co-headlining with Benny Carter. This short but sweet tune really spoke to me, so it's my pick. Hear Close Your Eyes on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jigsaw - One Way Street   My song pick 2 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Goodbye Angels   My song pick 3 years ago today: Triumph - Somebody's Out There   My song pick 4 years ago today: Primus - DMV My song pick 5 years ago today: Al Di Meola - Soaring Through a Dream My song pick 6 years ago today: Wishbone Ash - Baby the Angels Are Here My song pick 7 years ago today: Soundgarden - Rhinosaur My song...

From: Pickin' the Cabbage/Paradiddle ; Year: 1940; Genre: Big Band Jazz Thought I would get a two-for-one pick in today so to speak; Pickin' the Cabbage is one of Dizzy Gillespie's compositions, which was recorded at the time when Diz' was part of Cab Calloway's Orchestra, so getting to listen to two legendary jazz heavyweights in one song: what a treat! Sadly, Diz' did not last long after some defugalties, which came to a head during an altercation that resulted in him getting dismissed by Cab Calloway. I guess it ended up being for the best; Cab Calloway continued making great songs and many appearances throughout popular culture and Dizzy Gillespie went on to become the legend he is through countless recordings and was key in the creation of the Bebop Jazz style; it's just fun to hear him with that great orchestra. As you would probably guess, Pickin' the Cabbage is quite an avant-garde sounding piece of big band/swing jazz with a definite flavour o...

From: Louis Armstrong meets Oscar Peterson ; Year: 1957; Genre: Swing Jazz After watching another documentary on the landmark musical legend Louis Armstrong I decided to delve back into the stratospheric mountain of music he performed and came upon his and Oscar Peterson and his band's rendition of this jazz standard. I remember hearing the lyrics from the piece many times over the years, mostly on the classic Warner Brothers Merry Melodies animated short films. Even if you do not recognize the song by its title, chances are you'll recognize some of the phrases and lyrics within that've been used over the 80 years since its writing in media and pop culture. Anyway, on this song, as well as the entire album, "Satchmo" really fits in well with Oscar Peterson's band singing and playing his signature horn; they are all a great well-oiled musical dynamo across the board.   Hear Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol' Me) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ag...

From: Minnie the Moocher ; Year: 1931; Genre: Swing Jazz Cab Calloway's music was on my mind since last night whilst we had a power outage; I thought I would choose another one of his songs today. This is without a doubt his greatest hit and the song he is most known for. Even without seeing his stage presence while listening to it, he projects so well with his vocals with the playful scatting and call-and-response with the band listening to the record is the next best thing to seeing a live video.   Hear Minnie the Moocher on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: G.C. Cameron - It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday   My song pick 2 years ago today: Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop My song pick 3 years ago today: The Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost in You My song pick 4 years ago today: Bon Jovi - If I Was Your Mother My song pick 5 years ago today: Steely Dan - Aja My song pick 6 years ago today: The Coasters - Three Cool Cats My song pick 7 y...

From: Movements Vol. 4 ; Year: 2012; Genre: Swing Jazz/Funk/Soul I've still been bingeing on this at least 8-volume set of rare funk and related genres of music. Again, I know next-to-nothing about the band or when or where it was recorded, just absolutely love the music. This is, of course, the often-recorded hit track from George Gershwin's masterpiece Porgy and Bess , but this one's done in a very interesting funk flavoured swing jazz style; very unique if I do say so myself.   Hear Summertime on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Toronto - Your Daddy Don't Know   My song pick 2 years ago today: Balance - Ride the Wave   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Black Hearted Woman My song pick 4 years ago today: Joe Jackson - Breaking Us In Two My song pick 5 years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 375 - Chorale Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich My song pick 6 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - You Are ...

From: Nightmare ; Year: 1953 (1938); Genre: Big Band Jazz/Swing Jazz Heard this one come on my playlist last night, after checking to see if I had already chosen it, which I had not, I decided that it'd be today's pick. Ever since I first heard this piece of jazz I fell in love with it, such an amazing and brooding mood brought on by the melancholy melody and rhythm whilst his clarinet solos over the top.   Hear Nightmare on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Easybeats - Heaven and Hell   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Who - Ball and Chain   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Saint of Me My song pick 4 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Dodgy Bastards My song pick 5 years ago today: Nirvana - Blew My song pick 6 years ago today: Faith No More - I Started A Joke My song pick 7 years ago today: Bobby Lyle - Groove (Ain't No Doubt About It) My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Nursie My song pick 9 y...

From: Satchmo Serenades ; Year: 1952; Genre: Swing Jazz/Big Band Jazz Happy New Year to all and anyone who happens to visit my Song a Day blog! I had Louis Armstrong come to mind today whilst thinking about the song to start my new year off, and what a great track and performer to start it with. This is one of my favourites from this record and features Satchmo's horn playing and distinct vocals that all enjoy so much.   Hear I Can't Afford To Miss This Dream on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Parliament - Bop Gun (Endangered Species)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Peter Gabriel - A Wonderful Day In A One-Way World   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year My song pick 4 years ago today: The Eagles - Funky New Year My song pick 5 years ago today: Steely Dan - Midnight Cruiser My song pick 6 years ago today: James Brown - Get Up Offa That Thing/Release the Pressure My song pick 7 years ago today: Primus...

From: Blues Make Me Happy ; Year: 1962; Genre: Swing Jazz/Blues Still, to this day, I personally have to say that Cab Calloway was one of the coolest and most awesome entertainers that ever lived, period. I really wish I had a time machine I could go back in time to and see the man and his orchestra perform live; it must've been amazing. Anyway, I absolutely adore his delivery and vocal performance throughout this song, and most of his others as well; he truly was a class act that needs much more recognition than he gets today.   Hear The Birth of the Blues on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Tightrope   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Thermals - Here's Your Future   My song pick 3 years ago today: Soul Asylum - Black Gold My song pick 4 years ago today: .38 Special - Long Time Gone My song pick 5 years ago today: Woody Guthrie - Tom Joad (Parts 1+2) My song pick 6 years ago today: Stone Temple...

From: PEnnsylvania 6 - 5000 ; Year: 1940; Genre: Big Band Jazz/Swing It's taken me 13+ years to get here, but I finally made it to the big 5000, which would be halfway to the original goal that I had set (10,000). However, I have since changed my mind and decided to go as long as I can, if that takes me beyond 10,000 songs picked then that'll be cool. Anyway, this song just seemed to be the perfect one for today's monumental pick. For those who do not know the song title was the old way that telephone numbers were done from the 30s to the 60s, which was two letters and five numbers: PE-65000. This number was for the Hotel Pennsylvania's Cafe Rouge where many big bands played.   Hear PEnnsylvania 6 - 5000 on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Nirvana - Negative Creep   My song pick 2 years ago today: Gravity Kills - Falling My song pick 3 years ago today: The Network - Roshambo My song pick 4 years ago today: Glass Tiger - Animal Heart My song p...

From: Cab Calloway ; Year: 1956 (1939); Genre: Swing Jazz It's been a while since I've chosen a song from Cab Calloway, who is one of my favourite big band leaders, boy, was he a showman and had an amazing voice. I really wish I could go back and see the legend perform in his prime, but at least we have the videos from back then. Hear The Ghost of Smokey Joe on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Spiral Starecase - More Today Than Yesterday My song pick 2 years ago today: Big Brother & the Holding Company - Oh, Sweet Mary My song pick 3 years ago today: Ebony Rhythm Band - Soul Heart Transplant My song pick 4 years ago today: Pallas - Cut and Run My song pick 5 years ago today: Sky - Dies Irae My song pick 6 years ago today: Buddy Holly - Crying, Waiting, Hoping My song pick 7 years ago today: Waylander - Erdath My song pick 8 years ago today: Jim Croce - Workin' at the Car Wash Blues My song pick 9 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Fla...