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

From: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Original Soundtrack Recording) ; Year: 1973; Genre: Cool Jazz/Jazz Fusion Well, it is Thanksgiving once again here in The 'States, and I really wanted to pick something special for the occasion. Almost everybody who grew up since the 1960s knows Vince Guaraldi's work, especially his work with the Peanuts cartoons. He kind of single-handedly brought jazz back into popular culture by introducing it to one young generation after another; for me personally I have every melody from them etched in my mind over the years. Anyway, this is one I always have liked; it's kind of Woodstock's theme for the Thanksgiving special and I believe beyond. Wot's really neat about this track is that Vince himself performs the vocals in this snappy pop-jazz piece with some excellent brass as well.   Hear Little Birdie on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Elvis Presley - Kentucky Rain   My song pick 2 years ago today: Charlie ...

From: Oh Good Grief! ; Year: 1968; Genre: Bossa Nova Jazz/West Coast "Cool" Jazz Been listening to a lot of Vince Guaraldi's work lately; in popular culture, for the most part, his music and his style are synonymous with Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts cartoons. Because of this he is most likely one of the most recognizable authors and performers of West Coast or "Cool" Jazz; generations of children since the 1960s have had him and the Peanuts cartoons as part of their childhood.  Anyway, this one that is, I believe, the theme played for the Red Barron sub-story of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and is actually quite a complex and interesting piece that'll without-a-doubt bring some good memories to the forefront.   Hear Red Baron on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dire Straits - The Bug   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Stone Roses - Sally Cinnamon   My song pick 3 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Star   My song...

From: A Charlie Brown Christmas : Year: 1965; Genre: Christmas Music/Cool Jazz Every since I first saw A Charlie Brown Christmas this song has always been a favourite of mine during the Christmas season. Chances are, even if you never seen the show, you've heard it at some point. Even if it's the first time you've heard it and you like beautiful music or jazz you'll probably like this one. Hear the instrumental version on YouTube. Hear the vocal version on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Duran Duran - A View to a Kill My song pick 2 years ago today: Rammstein - Mehr My song pick 3 years ago today: Melvins - Raise a Paw My song pick 4 years ago today: Tarja Turunen - Never Enough My song pick 5 years ago today: Twisted Sister - Heavy Metal Christmas (The Twelve Days of Christmas) My song pick 6 years ago today: Stratovarius - Learning to Fly My song pick 7 years ago today: Miles Davis - Green in Blue My song pick 8 years ago today: Tar...

From: Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus ; Year: 1962; Genre: Jazz/Cool Jazz I don't know wot it is, but every now and then I get an notion to listen to West Coast "Cool" Jazz, Vince Guaraldi's music in particular. This is such a great album; not a weak song on the entire record, and this is one of the stronger tracks in my opinion. I absolutely love that bass solo. Hear Alma-Ville on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: INXS - New Sensation My song pick 2 years ago today: Amii Stewart - Knock on Wood My song pick 3 years ago today: Link Wray - Comanche My song pick 4 years ago today: Foo Fighters - Everlong My song pick 5 years ago today: Rush - The Analog Kid My song pick 6 years ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - The Tell-Tale Heart My song pick 7 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Ethiopia My song pick 8 years ago today: Bass Extremes - Glorious Pastorius My song pick 9 years ago today: Alexander Courage - Where No Man Has ...

From: Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus ; Year: 1962; Genre: Cool Jazz/Rock/Pop Yesterday when I was out and about this rather uplifting tune came on the radio and it brought a smile to my face. It's an awesome song that only the late-great Vince Guaraldi could come up with. Hear Cast Your Fate to the Wind on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Judas Priest - Living After Midnight My song pick two years ago today: Heart - Barracuda My song pick three years ago today: The Alan Parson's Project - Breakdown My song pick four years ago today: Pink Floyd - Interstellar Overdrive My song pick five years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Lets Groove My song pick six years ago today: Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd - Samba Triste My song pick seven years ago today: The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary My song pick eight years ago today - April Wine - Roller