It’s an album that starts with an Overture. No, it’s not a Broadway Cast album or film soundtrack to a musical; however, it is an album with lofty levels of conceit and pretension that could only have been recorded in the late ‘60s by Mason Williams. And for The Mason Williams Phonograph Album, it all […]
Song Of The Day – “House Party Starting” by Herbie Nichols Trio
If Herbie Nichols is remembered for anything, it’s probably for composing one of Billie Holiday’s signature songs “Lady Sings The Blues.” Problem is, Nichols is all but totally forgotten today, even though he recorded a handful of seminal EPs and an album for the Blue Note record label between 1955 and 1956. For the 30 […]
Song Of The Day – “Bloop Bleep” by Gary McFarland
Gary McFarland towed the line between samba infused light jazz and orchestral mood music. He was a vibist from California who was known as much for his vibe playing as he was for his arranging and orchestrations for others. After serving in the army where he took up trombone, trumpet and keyboards, McFarland settled on […]
Song Of The Day – “Woo Hoo” by The Rock-A-Teens
Every so often, when I’m jonesin’ for some ‘50s rockabilly or some good old rock ‘n’ roll, I need not look any further than Rhino’s exceptional Loud Fast & Out Of Control: The Wild Sounds Of The ‘50s box set. The set was compiled by Gary Stewart, James Austin and Bill Inglot and released in […]
Song Of The Day – “Down By The Riverside” by Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery
It was a summit between the leading purveyor of the Hammond B-3 organ, “The Incredible” Jimmy Smith, and one of greatest jazz guitarists of all time, Wes Montgomery. And together, they unleashed not one classic album, but two. They didn’t call him “Incredible” for nothing. Jimmy Smith was the single most influential jazz organ player […]
Song Of The Day – “Invocation & Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin” by The Mothers Of Invention
It’s Mother’s Day and you should always listen to your MOTHERS! Nobody and I mean absolutely nobody sounded like The Mothers Of Invention back in 1966 when they released their second album Absolutely Free. The Mothers offered their own brand of compositional complexity, out of the ordinary instrumentation, Doo Wop harmonies and Free Jazz wig-out […]
Song Of The Day – “Midnight Cowboy Theme” by John Barry
Not only is today’s Song Of The Day perhaps one of the greatest movie themes of all time, it is also from one of the greatest films of the 1960s. The 1969 film Midnight Cowboy was based on the 1965 novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. The movie starred Dustin Hoffman and […]
Song Of The Day – “Waiting Is Forbidden” by Rudresh Mahanthappa
Welcome to the sonic space where Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time meets King Crimson. Sound intriguing? If it doesn’t, read no further because today’s Song Of The Day is not for the faint of heart or those of closed mind. Despite his exotic name, Rudresh Mahanthappa was born in Italy of Indian descent, but raised in […]
Song Of The Day – “Calcutta!” by Lawrence Welk
Instrumental week continues… Wunnerful…wunnerful…this groovetastic little number conjures visions of Gomez and Morticia dancing up a storm in their creepy parlour while Lurch serenades them on the harpsichord. I’m not sure if this Lawrence Welk ditty was ever used on The Addams Family, or if it’s just something I’ve yanked from the cobwebs of my […]
Song Of The Day – “No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In)” by The T-Bones
And now, a message from our sponsor… It used to be that if an artist sold a song to Madison Avenue for use in a TV commercial, it was considered taboo and completely selling out to the man. Nowadays, recording artists line up to have Madison Ave. consider their music because it provides exposure they […]
