Song of the Day

Song of the Day (19): Looking for Lewis and Clark – The Long Ryders

The world’s on fire and the Long Ryders are running through the flames: I thought I saw some diplomat hawking secret plans in the park I thought I saw my President walking in Harlem late after dark In a world of love where they burn like Nero You write ’em a check and you then […]

Song of the Day (18): Born in Chicago – Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Bang. This song opened the debut eponymous album from the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Written by Nick Gravenites and championed by guitarist Mike Bloomfield, the song hits you square on and doesn’t let you squirm away. Released in 1965, it’s relevant today with its tale of gun violence and has become a blues standard. […]

Song of the Day (16): Kansas City – Wilbert Harrison

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote this song in 1952 and Little Willie Littlefield first recorded it in 1952. Along the way, Little Richard recorded a great version, but did not release it until much later. Wilbert Harrison made it a hit in 1959. Others to record the song include Fats Domino, the Beatles, James […]

Song of the Day (17): (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin

This is one of Aretha’s signature songs. It has a great origin story. Jerry Wexler tells how he was thinking about the idea of a natural man. He’s eating lunch at the Oyster House in New York City and as he walks out, he sees Gerry Goffin driving by. He calls out to Goffin, “Aretha […]

Song of the Day (15): Beeswing – Richard Thompson

An impossibly delicate and beautiful song about dreamy love performed with the lightest touch. Richard Thompson first came to notice as part of Fairport Convention tin the 1960s. He re-appeared making albums with his then wife Linda, including Shoot Out the Lights. After their marriage fell apart, he persisted as a solo artist proving himself a […]

Song of the Day (14): We Gotta Get You a Woman – Todd Rundgren

My son John is looking hard for a girlfriend, so this song goes out to him. A little confection from early Todd Rundgren. YouTube: https://youtu.be/-J2XARbp4-U?si=evdLel212LJRKS00Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4I8ItX9JAA8ROVQesGscAw?si=6acea05842154297

Song of the Day (13): Summer in the City – The Lovin’ Spoonful

Hard to resist this summer song on these hot days. There’s a great story of how Cass Elliot brought together John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky, the primary founders of The Lovin’ Spoonful. She invited them to a party at her Manhattan apartment to watch the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show and convinced these two […]

Song of the Day (12): Junkman – Genya Rayvan with Ian Hunter

Bruce Springsteen wishes he wrote this song and Meatloaf was jealous too. Born in Poland, Genya and her family fled the Nazis and wound up in Brooklyn where she was later discovered singing at the Lollipop Club. She led a string of rock bands including Goldie and the Gingerbreads and Ten Wheel Drive plus her […]

Song of the Day (11): I ‘d Rather Go Blind – Etta James

When she sings about going deep down in her soul, you know she means it. So vulnerable. So powerful.Her friend Ellington “Fugi” Jordan began writing this song while sitting in prison. Etta James then wrote the rest of the song. YouTube: https://youtu.be/Bcus42ihkTI?si=ApVhjaixIuPxPOdc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1kPBT8S2wJFNAyBMnGVZgL?si=fdf6047f390b41c7