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

From: You Send Me/Summertime (Single); Year: 1957 ; Genre: Jazz/R&B/Blues Whilst getting ready to log in to pick today's song I just happened to have Sam Cooke on the brain. One of these days I will have to see just how many recordings of this beloved Gershwin classic I have already chosen. This is another of my top favourite recordings of the piece. Though Sam Cooke could probably sing anything and it'd be incredible, he really makes this one his own with that one-of-a-kind voice. A couple of years later in '59 he recorded it again, but this time in his more recognizable Rock 'n Roll/Soul style under the title Summertime (Part 2) . I have to say, I love both of them a lot, but in different ways.   Hear Summertime on YouTube.   Hear Summertime (Part 2) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Cab Calloway & His Orchestra - Geechy Joe     My song pick 2 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Maybe Your Baby   My song pick 3 y...

From: In and Out of Focus ; Year: 1970; Genre: Progressive Rock Thought that I would check out Focus' debut album, which was titled Focus Plays Focus in their native country. I really like their other material, so reckoned I'd like this as well. It is so neat hearing already well accomplished musicians at such a young age.    Hear Why Dream? on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: The Beatles - We Can Work It Out   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Band - The Weight   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Four Tops - Reflections   My song pick 4 years ago today: Rare Earth - Hum Along and Dance   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rammstein - Radio   My song pick 6 years ago today: Matthews' Southern Comfort - Tell Me Why My song pick 7 years ago today: Sam & Dave - Hold On, I'm Coming My song pick 8 years ago today: Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman My song pick 9 years ago today: Meat Loaf - Life is a Lemon (and I Want My Money Back) My ...

From: Steppenwolf ; Year: 1968; Genre: Hard Rock Had this one on my mind last night, and after seeing that I had not chosen it yet, thought I would pick it. What really is left to say about this classic proto-metal track that already has not been said?     Hear Born to be Wild on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Ohio Players - Runnin' from the Devil   My song pick 2 years ago today: ZZ Top - Tube Snake Boogie   My song pick 3 years ago today: Olivia Newton-John - Physical   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Undisputed Truth - Smiling Faces Sometimes   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bad Company - Burnin' Sky   My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - Scars My song pick 7 years ago today: Megadeth - The Threat is Real My song pick 8 years ago today: Chicago - Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? My song pick 9 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Oakum My song pick 10 years ago today: Genesis - Man On...

From: Super Fly ; Year: 1972; Genre: Funk/Soul Don't have the foggiest why, but this song was on my mind today. This psychedelic soul/funk piece was the title track for this record, which was also the soundtrack to the film of its namesake .      Hear Superfly on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Winery Dogs - Xanadu     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bob Welch - I'll Dance Alone   My song pick 3 years ago today: Headstones - S.O.S.   My song pick 4 years ago today: Maxine Nightingale - Right Back Where We Started From   My song pick 5 years ago today: Primus - Last Salmon Man (Fisherman's Chronicles, Part IV)   My song pick 6 years ago today: Paul Simon - 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover My song pick 7 years ago today: Michael Martin Murphey - Wildfire My song pick 8 years ago today: Alestorm - No Grave But The Sea My song pick 9 years ago today: Antoine Busnois - Gaude Coelestis Domina My song pic...

From: Bloodrock ; Year: 1970; Genre: Hard Rock/Heavy Metal I absolutely love proto-metal tracks like this, the whimsical song title is just the awesome cherry on top. It reminds me of if you crossed early 'Sabbath with some of the alternative bands of the early 1990s; quite a unique sound actually.   Hear Melvin Laid An Egg on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Moody Blues - My Song     My song pick 2 years ago today: Wolfmother - Remove Your Mask   My song pick 3 years ago today: UB40 - Dance With The Devil   My song pick 4 years ago today: Van Halen - 5150   My song pick 5 years ago today: Funkadelic - If You Got Funk, You Got Style   My song pick 6 years ago today: Billy Squier - Lonely Is The Night My song pick 7 years ago today: Hawkwind - The Secret Agent My song pick 8 years ago today: The Motels - Suddenly Last Summer My song pick 9 years ago today: Faith No More - Last Cup of Sorrow My song pick 1...

From: (I Washed My Hands In) Muddy Water (single); Year: 1966; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/Gospel/Blues Rock Here's a great cover originally recorded by Stonewall Jackson a year prior and covered by many others as well by Johnny Rivers. I really love how he took a bluesy country track and turned it up and made it a proper gospel and rock 'n roll sound that would not be out of place in one of those churches where they sing and play such great music. That organ in particular really sells it along with Johnny Rivers' vocals.    Hear (I Washed My Hands In) Muddy Water on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Billy Joel - Sleeping With the Television On     My song pick 2 years ago today: Supertramp - Don't Leave Me Now   My song pick 3 years ago today: 3rd Secret - Somewhere in Time   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Temptations - Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ultravox - All Stood Still   My so...

From: Manna ; Year: 1971; Genre: Rock This one's always been among my favourite from Bread. Love the energy with that comes with that rhythm that gives the listener the feeling of movement like being in a truck speeding down a road.    Hear Truckin' on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Queen - Mustapha     My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Everything In Our Lives   My song pick 3 years ago today: Lakeside - Party Patrol   My song pick 4 years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Never Trust   My song pick 5 years ago today: Quiet Riot - Metal Health (Bang Your Head)   My song pick 6 years ago today: Traffic - Smiling Phases My song pick 7 years ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - The Emperor In His War Room My song pick 8 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Feel the Thunder My song pick 9 years ago today: The Temptations - War My song pick 10 years ago today: Eric Stuart Band - Lipstick & Barbed ...