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

From: The Temptations Christmas Card ; Year: 1970; Genre: Soul/Motown/Christmas Music This has to still be one of the best contemporary Christmas albums in existence, it just wouldn't be the Holidays without it; well, for me at least. Someday at Christmas is a cover originally recorded by Stevie Wonder about four years prior and has been covered repeatedly by many others since. There is nothing to not like about this track. The music and vocals are top-notch by any standards, and I absolutely love that they had the deep, velvety and resounding vocals of Melvin Franklin performing the lead on this one. His voice just works perfect for the wishful and uplifting message from within; so beautiful.   Hear Someday at Christmas on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Taco - It's Snowing In My Heart (Bad Santa)     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Soul Saints Orchestra - Santa's Got a Bag of Soul   My song pick 3 years ago today: Trans-Si...

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 Temptations' Christmas Card ; Year: 1970; Genre: Funk/Soul/Christmas Music 'Twas the Friday before Christmas....    Hear Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bob Rivers Comedy Corp - I'm Dressin' Up Like Santa (When I Get Out on Parole)   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Drifters - White Christmas   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Today in Bethlehem   My song pick 4 years ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - La Rossa   My song pick 5 years ago today: Binky Griptite - Stone Soul Christmas   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bachman & Turner - Find Some Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Another Harry's Bar My song pick 8 years ago today: Ronnie James Dio/Tony Iommi/Rudy Sarzo/Simon Wright - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen My song pick 9 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Holly Herald My song pick 10 years ago today: Sting - Gabriel's Message My...

From: The Temptations Wish it Would Rain ; Year: 1968; Genre: Soul/R&B/Motown This is a rather cool song in which bass singer Melvin Franklin got to come to the front and provide the lead vocals. It is pure awesomeness hearing that big, deep, booming voice being backed by his band mates and by the legendary Funk Brothers.   Hear I Truly, Truly Believe on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Neil Diamond - Dry Your Eyes   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - The Zealot Gene   My song pick 3 years ago today: Dick Dale and his Del-Tones - Mr. Eliminator   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jane's Addiction - Just Because   My song pick 5 years ago today: Journey - Remember Me My song pick 6 years ago today: The Cranberries - Linger My song pick 7 years ago today: Sammy Hagar - There's Only One Way to Rock My song pick 8 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Forgotten Years My song pick 9 years ago today: The Nashville Allstars...

From: Sky's the Limit ; Year: 1971; Genre: Psychedelic Soul This one has been recorded a number of times by some big names and, although not the group that made a huge hit out of it, none are bigger than The Temptations. Most would without a doubt remember the perfectly performed and executed version by The Undisputed Truth , but this was the first. I have to say though, Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards' lead vocals are, as always, something glorious to behold along with the rest of the group providing backing vocals, and the instrumentation by The Funk Brothers makes you wonder why it didn't become a hit. The 12+ minute LP version is almost like hearing a film's soundtrack; at times it would seem as if you could just drop the needle and get lost in the expanse of music.   Hear Smiling Faces Sometime on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Occasional Demons   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Dramatics - Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get ...

From: Meet The Temptations ; Year: 1964; Genre: Soul/Doo-Wop/Motown There's not much I can add by saying anything about any aspect of this song, it's just out-of-this-world on so many levels; almost a perfect song in my opinion across the board.   Hear The Way You Do The Things You Do on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Elegy   My song pick 2 years ago today: KC and the Sunshine Band - Sho-Nuff   My song pick 3 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Sign of the Southern Cross   My song pick 4 years ago today: Three Dog Night - Family of Man My song pick 5 years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Steal Away (The Night) My song pick 6 years ago today: Twelfth Night - C.R.A.B. My song pick 7 years ago today: George Clinton - Man's Best Friend/Loopzilla My song pick 8 years ago today: Marillion - Slàinte Mhath My song pick 9 years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 24 - Ein Ungerärbt Gemüte My song pick 10 years ago today: ...

From: All Directions ; Year: 1972; Genre: Funk/Psychedelic Soul/Motown I had The Temptations on my mind on this Funky Friday; this song is absolutely perfect for today. As with anything from the group I love the vocals and the harmony, and of course the Funk Brothers are as good as always playing the music.    Hear Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ultravox - All Stood Still   My song pick 2 years ago today: Nightwish - Sleepwalker My song pick 3 years ago today: Carmen - Tales of Spain My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Dragon Lady My song pick 5 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction My song pick 6 years ago today: The Sword - Apocryphon My song pick 7 years ago today: The Doors - Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) My song pick 8 years ago today: Slade - Slam the Hammer Down My song pick 9 years ago today: Stahlhammer - Mensch My song pick 10 years ago ...

From: The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul ; Year: 1967; Genre: Motown/Soul The Temptations have been on my mind a lot of the day thus far; thought I'd go ahead and pick another one of their songs. This is one of their more famous songs with the late-great David Ruffin on lead vocals. Hear (I Know) I'm Losing You on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Neil Young - Heart of Gold My song pick 2 years ago today: April Wine - 21st Century Schizoid Man My song pick 3 years ago today: Mr. Big - The Monster in Me My song pick 4 years ago today: Jaco Pastorius - Liberty City My song pick 5 years ago today: Primus - The Air is Getting Slippery My song pick 6 years ago today: Soundgarden - Halfway There My song pick 7 years ago today: Jim Croce - Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels) My song pick 8 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Last Train to London My song pick 9 years ago today: Jaco Pastorius - Kuru/Speak Like a Child My son...

From: The Temptations Sing Smokey ; Year: 1965 (1964); Genre: Soul/Motown/R&B I believe, if my memory serves me right, this is the first song from Motown that I learned on the bass. It's such an amazing and beautiful bass line, and when you listen to the rest of the song, well, you know why this is such an important piece of music. Hear My Girl on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Mysticum Arabicola My song pick 2 years ago today: Billy Idol - White Wedding My song pick 3 years ago today: Bruce Hornsby and the Range - The Valley Road My song pick 4 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Get Off of My Cloud My song pick 5 years ago today: Rick James - She Blew My Mind (69 Times) My song pick 6 years ago today: Genesis - Squonk My song pick 7 years ago today: Bob Dylan - Hurricane My song pick 8 years ago today: Bad Company - Silver, Blue & Gold My song pick 9 years ago today: Louis Armstrong - We Have All The Time In The W...

From: The Temptations Wish It Would Rain ; Year: 1968; Genre: Motown/Soul This is one of those songs that I can play over and over again; it just so beautiful. The Funk Brothers and The Temptations have, in my opinion, one of the best songs in the Motown catalogue in this amazing tune. Ruffin really brings the emotion through with his powerful lead vocal. Hear I Wish It Would Rain on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: The Eagles - Desperado My song pick 2 years ago today: Megadeth - Poisonous Shadows My song pick 3 years ago today: Miles Davis - Aïda My song pick 4 years ago today: James Blunt - So Long, Jimmy My song pick 5 years ago today: Alestorm - Death Throes of the Terrorsquid My song pick 6 years ago today: Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound My song pick 7 years ago today: Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast My song pick 8 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - The Jam My song pick 9 years ago today: Django Reinhard...

From: Masterpiece ; Year: 1973; Genre: R&B/Motown/Soul The other day I learned of Dennis Edwards ' passing; it was a very sad day. It seems that he was always in the shadow of David Ruffin, the singer in the group he replaced. Personally I love his powerful and soulful vocals and delivery thereof. Anyway, I figured I'd pick one of the songs he appeared on that I like a lot; a pretty cool 14-minute jam. Hear Masterpiece on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Yes - A Venture My song pick two years ago today: Pearl Jam - Dissent My song pick three years ago today: Steeleye Span - Drink Down the Moon My song pick four years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Still... You Turn Me On My song pick five years ago today: Melvins - Nude with Boots My song pick six years ago today: The Animals - House of the Rising Sun My song pick seven years ago today: Wild Turkey - Sentinel My song pick eight years ago today: KISS - She My song pick nine year...

From: Psychedelic Shack ; Year: 1970; Genre: Funk/Soul/Motown When I was doing some outdoor work I had this one pop into my mind and not go away, so I'd figured I go ahead and make it my 152nd Funky Friday pick in a row. Most would probably remember the Edwin Starr version of this anti-war song, which is definitely a great tune, but most don't realize that it was not the original. The Temptations recorded it, but was not released as a single because Motown didn't want to turn off The Temptations more conservative followers, so they went with Edwin Starr instead, which became a smash hit. In this version I love the vocals and what they're doing both in the lead and background, which is simply amazing and the music is excellently done as always. Hear War on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Eric Stuart Band - Lipstick & Barbed Wire My song pick two years ago today: Band of Horses - A Little Biblical My song pick three years ago today: Kansas ...

From: Vagabond Heart ; Year: 1991; Genre: Rock/Pop/Soul/R&B Yesterday this song wouldn't quit playing over and over in my mind; as I usually do I'm taking it as a sign that I need to pick it. The main reason this one sticks in your mind so hard is the "singalong" chorus and the tight harmonies provided by the incomparable Temptations. Hear The Motown Song on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Zapp - I Can Make You Dance My song pick two years ago today: Bachman & Turner - Rock & Roll is the Only Way Out My song pick three years ago today: Mortification - Overseer My song pick four years ago today: Deep Purple - Highway Star My song pick five years ago today: Rush - Not Fade Away My song pick six years ago today: Steeleye Span - Shaking of the Sheets My song pick seven years ago today: Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face My song pick eight years ago today: Taj Mahal - Fishin' Blues

From: Gettin' Ready ; Year: 1966; Genre: Motown/Soul I was listening to this great track yesterday and I thought it would make a good pick. Like many other they did, this is an incredible piece; in my opinion David Ruffin in particular put in one of his best vocal performances ever on this song. Hear Ain't Too Proud to Beg on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Roll On Down the Highway My song pick two years ago today: Pallas - Ark of Infinity My song pick three years ago today: Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - A Taste of Honey My song pick four years ago today: Steve Miller Band - Rock'n Me My song pick five years ago today: Three Dog Night - Try A Little Tenderness My song pick six years ago today: Steve Winwood - Roll With It

I heard this song this morning on the radio; the upbeat, energizing sound made me feel like choosing it. This has to be one of my favorite songs performed by The Temptations and written by one of my favourite Motown singer/songwriters: Smokey Robinson. It is distinctive from a lot of their other work because Eddie Kendricks was the featured singer on this one with his higher-register vocals. Hear Get Ready on YouTube. +