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

From: The Miracles doin' Mickey's Monkey ; Year: 1963; Genre: Motown/Soul/R&B Here's one that will sure get you dancin' with that catchy Bo Diddley rhythm. Most probably have heard Mickey's Monkey at some point; it actually was written about the popular dance, The Monkey , and helped to propel it to a national level for a time. They reference legendary songwriter William "Mickey" Stevenson in the lyrics even though I do not believe he was involved with the song or dance; this song was written by another legendary team: Holland-Dozier-Holland. Wot's very interesting about this song is just how many Motown superstars performed for the backing vocals: The Temptations, Mary Wilson (of the Supremes), Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, The Marvelettes, and the renowned disc jockey and radio personality "Jockey Jack" Gibson , and of course the incomparable Funk Brothers.    Hear Mickey's Monkey on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago tod...

From: The Marvelettes (The Pink Album) ; Year: 1967; Genre: Soul/Pop/Motown Had a couple of other songs in mind to potentially choose for today, but had some from The Marvelettes on my mind, so I am going with one. As if I need a reason to pick a song from one of the many fantastic groups out of the Motown hit machine.    Hear The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Cult - Spiritwalker   My song pick 2 years ago today: Boyz II Men - Motownphilly   My song pick 3 years ago today: Yes - Then   My song pick 4 years ago today: Brave Belt - Goodbye, Soul Shy   My song pick 5 years ago today: Klaatu - Little Neutrino My song pick 6 years ago today: Pallas - Win or Lose My song pick 7 years ago today: AC/DC - Rock 'N' Roll Damnation My song pick 8 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - One Way Out My song pick 9 years ago today: Dream Theater - The Ministry of Lost Souls My song pi...

From: Playboy ; Year: 1962; Genre: Motown/R&B/Pop I've almost picked this song a few times over that last few years, ever since I heard it playing at the foot of the Space Needle in Seattle. Of course I heard it before that time, but it brought it back into my consciousness. Anyway, this one has an excellent mix of that great Funk Brothers' sound and pop sounds of the time. Hear Beechwood 4-5789 on YouTube.   My song pick 1 year ago today: The Who - Don't Let Go The Coat My song pick 2 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Turn Up the Night My song pick 3 years ago today: Billy Joel - Big Shot My song pick 4 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Statesboro Blues My song pick 5 years ago today: The Scorpions - The Zoo My song pick 6 years ago today: Hawkwind - Wraith My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Bends Like a Willow My song pick 8 years ago today: Rhapsody of Fire - The Mystic Prophecy of the Demonknight My song pick 9 years ago today: L...