All Noteworthy Albums
Silver Springs – Fleetwood Mac
SONG OF THE DAY “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac (The Dance, Warner Bros./ Reprise Records, 1997). Written by Stevie Nicks. MY TAKE This song seems to seriously want me to blog about it this week! First, I’m singing along to it as I’m creating a birthday playlist for my Aunt Di (find the playlist... »
I Had Something – Lucy Kaplansky
SONG OF THE DAY “I Had Something” by Lucy Kaplansky (The Red Thread, Red House Records, 2004). Written by Lucy Kaplansky and Richard Litvin. MY TAKE I first heard this song on Putumayo’s American Folk album, and have since bought Kaplansky’s album The Red Thread because this track peaked serious interest in me—which is saying... »
If You Want Me To Stay – Sly & The Family Stone
SONG OF THE DAY “If You Want Me To Say” by Sly & The Family Stone (Fresh, Epic Records, 1973). Written and produced by Sly Stone. MY TAKE Well, it’s hard to say anything profound about as critically-acclaimed a song and album as this, but I’ll tell you how it fits into my world... »
Adiemus – Karl Jenkins
SONG OF THE DAY “Adiemus” by Karl Jenkins (Adiemus: Songs Of Sanctuary, Jenkins Ratledge Records, 1995). Written by Karl Jenkins. MY TAKE For a week, I have been desperately trying to think of a great childhood music memory to blog about today in honor of my sister Lili’s birthday, but kept thinking of Disney songs... »
Caravan – Van Morrison
SONG OF THE DAY “Caravan” by Van Morrison (Moondance, Warner Bros. Records, 1970). Written by Van Morrison. MY TAKE This was one of the albums I was raised on. Well, to be frank, I was only raised on the A side, though I am familiar with the songs on the B side of the... »
Easy Tonight – Five For Fighting
SONG OF THE DAY “Easy Tonight” by Five For Fighting (America Town, Aware/ Columbia Records, 2000). Written by John Ondrasik. MY TAKE This song was featured earlier on this blog in the playlist titled “What Didn’t Make the Cut #5: Driving Songs CD”. I have loved this song for a decade, though the whole... »
Kisses Sweeter Than Wine – Bonnie Raitt & Jackson Browne
SONG OF THE DAY “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” by Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt (Where Have All The Flowers Gone: The Songs Of Pete Seeger, Appleseed Records, 1998). Written by . HOW I FOUND IT This cover was the greatest (and maybe only?) fourth of July present I’ve ever received in my life!... »
All I Want – Herbie Hancock feat. Sonya Kitchell
SONG OF THE DAY “All I Want” by Herbie Hancock featuring vocals by Sonya Kitchell (River: The Joni Letters, Verve Records, 2007). Written by Joni Mitchell, and originally appearing on her 1971 album Blue. »
Burning Down The House – Bonnie Raitt
SONG OF THE DAY “Burning Down The House” by Bonnie Raitt (Road Tested, Capitol Records, 1995). Written by David Byrne. WHY TODAY? This incredible version of this song was featured in a dance party scene in Six Feet Under, and was consequently brought back into my consciousness. I had mentioned it earlier in this... »
Girl With One Eye – Florence + The Machine
SONG OF THE DAY “Girl With One Eye” by Florence + The Machine (Lungs, Island Records, 2009). Written by Matt Alchin, David Ashby, & James McCool. WHY TODAY Basically, because I’m really bad. My dad bought this for me for my birthday, but it came today and I got excited and opened the present... »
Out On Weekend – Neil Young
SONG OF THE DAY “Out On Weekend” by Neil Young (Harvest, Reprise Records, 1972). Written by Neil Young. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - Harvest is the fourth solo album by Neil Young. - It featured the London Symphony Orchestra on two tracks, while noted guests David Crosby, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, and James Taylor contributed vocals. - It... »
Dog Days Are Over – Florence + The Machine
SONG OF THE DAY “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The Machine (Lungs, Universal Island/ Moshi Moshi/ IAMSOUND, 2008). Written by Florence Welch, Isabella Summers. WHY TODAY? Well, I first discovered this song back in October from the television show Mercy, and, true to form, the song appears on my October 2009 Monthly Playlist. Then a few... »
Your Protector – Fleet Foxes
SONG OF THE DAY “Your Protector” by Fleet Foxes (Fleet Foxes , Bella Union/ Sub Pop, 2008). Written by Robin Pecknold. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - Fleet Foxes is a Seattle-based indie folk band. - The band came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their second EP, Sun Giant, and their debut full... »
Woman In You – Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
SONG OF THE DAY “Woman In You” by Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals (Burn To Shine, Virgin, 1999). Written by Ben Harper. LYRICS (with my favorite phrases in italics) Could’ve sworn I heard you say amen this morning, showing some kind of sign that you believe Did it fall from your tongue without... »
The Circle Game – Joni Mitchell
SONG OF THE DAY “The Circle Game” by Joni Mitchell (Ladies Of The Canyon, Reprise Records, 1970). Written by Joni Mitchell. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - Ladies Of The Canyon is Joni Mitchell’s third album, its title referring to Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, a center of popular music culture in Los Angeles during... »
Fire & Rain – James Taylor
SONG OF THE DAY “Fire & Rain” by James Taylor (Sweet Baby James, Warner Brothers Records, 1970). Written by James Taylor. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - “Fire and Rain” quickly rose to #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 charts. - It was soon after covered by Anne Murray, on her album Honey, Wheat and... »
The Icicle Melts – The Cranberries
SONG OF THE DAY “The Icicle Melts” by The Cranberries (No Need To Argue, Island Records, 1994). Written by Dolores O’Riordan. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - This album was the band’s most successful album, and has sold about 16.7 million copies worldwide. - It contains the band’s most successful single to date, “Zombie”.... »
Forgiven – Ben Harper
SONG OF THE DAY “Forgiven” by Ben Harper (Burn To Shine, Virgin Records, 1999). Written by Ben Harper. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - This 1999 album featured many of Harper’s strong suits: blues, rock, soul, and folk, as well as included several college radio fan favorites with songs like Steal My Kisses and... »
Ding Dong – Nellie McKay
SONG OF THE DAY “Ding Dong” by Nellie McKay (Get Away From Me, Columbia Records, 2004). Written by Nellie McKay. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) -Nellie McKay is an English-born American singer-songwriter, actress, and former stand-up comedienne, noted for her critically acclaimed debut album Get Away from Me and for her Broadway debut in... »
One – Aimee Mann
SONG OF THE DAY “One” by Aimee Mann (For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson, MusicMasters Records, 1995). Written by Harry Nilsson. Also released on Warner Brother’s 1999 soundtrack to Magnolia. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - The Magnolia soundtrack is largely culled from the work of Aimee Mann, enough so that she... »
Strange Love (Don’t Be Lazy) – Brent Randall & His Pinecones
SONG OF THE DAY “Strange Love (Don’t Be Lazy)” by Brent Randall & His Pinecones (We Were Strangers in Paddington Green, 2008). INTERESTING FACTS (a la google) - From Halifax, Novia Scotia - From the blog Obscure Sound: “While their sound certainly... »
Incredibly Drunk On Whiskey – Memphis
SONG OF THE DAY “Incredibly Drunk On Whiskey” by Memphis (A Little Place Called Wilderness, Good Fences/ EMI, 2006). INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - Memphis is a musical duo consisting of long-time friends Torquil Campbell and Chris Dumont. - Dumont, originally from North Carolina, first met Campbell in New York City in the... »
This Happy Madness (Estrada Branca) – Tom Jobim
SONG OF THE DAY “This Happy Madness (Estrada Branca)” by Antonio Carlos (Tom) Jobim (Terra Brasilis, Warner Brothers Records, 1980). Music by Tom Jobim with lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes & Gene Lees. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim a.k.a. Tom Jobim was a Grammy Award-winning Brazilian songwriter,... »
Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – Rhythms Del Mundo
SONG OF THE DAY “Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by Rhythms Del Mundo (Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba, HIP-O Records/ Universal Music, 2006). Written by Bono. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba is a nonprofit collaborative album, which fuses Cuban rhythms and melodies with popular tracks from US, UK... »
Candy – Will Smith (Feat. Larry Blackmon and Cameo)
SONG OF THE DAY “Candy” by Will Smith, featuring Larry Blackmon and Cameo (Big Willie Style, Columbia Records, 1997). Written by Will Smith, Ryan Toby, L. Blackmon, T. Jenkins. WHY TODAY? It’s my mom’s 55th birthday, and she loves very few things more than she loves Will Smith, this album, and this song. Happy... »
Little Drummer Girl – Alicia Keyes
SONG OF THE DAY “Little Drummer Girl” by Alicia Keyes (Jermaine Dupri’s 12 Soulful Nights of Christmas, Columbia Records/ So So Def Records, 1996). Arranged by Alicia Keyes. TRACK LISTINGS FOR Jermaine Dupri’s 12 Soulful Nights of Christmas 1. “The Time of Year” (featuring Kenny Lattimore) 3.24 2. “Christmas Without You” (featuring Xscape) 3.56... »
Bottom – Zap Mama
SONG OF THE DAY “Bottom” by Zap Mama (Adventures in Afropea 1, Luaka Bop, 1993). INTERESTING FACTS ( a la wikipedia) - Zap Mama is a Belgian musical group founded and led by Marie Daulne. - Daulne says her mission is to be a bridge between the European and the African and bring the... »
Instant Karma – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band
SONG OF THE DAY “Instant Karma” single by John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band (Apple Records, 1970). Written by John Lennon. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - “Instant Karma!” was John Lennon’s third solo single on Apple Records, along with “Imagine” and “Give Peace a Chance”. - It ranks as one of the... »
You Are Forgiven (from the medley A Quick One, While He’s Away) – The Who
SONG OF THE DAY “You Are Forgiven” from the medley “A Quick One, While He’s Away” by The Who (A Quick One, Decca Records, 1966). Written by Pete Townshend. INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia) - “A Quick One, While He’s Away” is a 1966 medley written by Pete Townshend and recorded by The Who... »
The B.Q.E. – Sufjan Stevens
Well, folks, this is an album, not a song of the day. But I was just so excited that one of my favorite artists did an entire live orchestral project at my favorite former employer (B.A.M.) about the landmark roadway I lived under for a year (the Brooklyn Queens Expressway). So, basically, this album... »
Bibi – Jayme Stone & Mansa Sissoko
SONG OF THE DAY “Bibi” by Jayme Stone & Mansa Sissoko (Africa to Appalachia, self-released, 2008). INTERESTING FACTS (from wikipedia) - Jayme Stone is a Canadian banjoist and composer who was formerly in the jazz and roots group Tricycle. - His solo album The Utmost won the 2008 Juno Award for Instrumental Album of... »
Marry Me, A Little – Raul Esparza
SONG OF THE DAY “Marry Me, A Little” as performed by Raul Esparza (Company, 2006 Broadway Revival Cast, Nonesuch Records, 2007). INTERESTING FACTS - From Amazon.com: “There may be no original Broadway cast recording more iconic than 1970′s Company, with its funky organ sound and Elaine Stritch’s not-quite-there high notes, but the December 2006... »
Detroit ’67 – Sam Roberts
SONG OF THE DAY “Detroit ’67″ by Sam Roberts (Love At The End Of The World, Secret Brain Records/ Universal Music Canada, 2008). Written by Sam Roberts. INTERESTING FACTS - Love at the End of the World is the third full length album from Canadian rock musician Sam Roberts. - The album cover is... »
Walking In Memphis – Marc Cohn
SONG OF THE DAY “Walking In Memphis” by Marc Cohn (Marc Cohn, Atlantic, 1991). Written by Marc Cohn. INTERESTING FACTS - “Walking in Memphis” is the signature song of American singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, from his self-titled 1991 album. - The song became Cohn’s biggest hit, peaking at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and,... »
The Origin Of Love – John Cameron Mitchell & Miriam Shor
SONG OF THE DAY “The Origin Of Love” as performed by John Cameron Mitchell and Miriam Shor (Hedwig & The Angry Inch Motion Picture Soundtrack, Hybrid Recordings, 2001). Written by Stephen Trask. INTERESTING FACTS (from wikipedia) - Stephen Trask wrote the song, which is based on a story from Plato’s Symposium. In the Symposium,... »
Shine – Collective Soul / Dolly Parton
SONG OF THE DAY “Shine” by Collective Soul (Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, Atlantic, 1994). Written by Ed Roland. “Shine” by Dolly Parton with Nickel Creek (Little Sparrow, Sugar Hill Records, 2001). Written by Ed Roland. INTERESTING DETAILS (from wikipedia) - The song served as the lead single from their 1993 debut album,... »