Song of the Day

Song of the Day (145): What’d I Say – Ray Charles

It’s December 1958 and Ray Charles is playing a club in Brownsville Pennsylvania. He’s finished his set but still has 12 minutes to fill. He would have to improvise and he told his backup singers, The Raelettes, just follow and fill in where it seem natural.He leaned into his piano and started playing a riff […]

Song of the Day (144): Chuck E’s in Love – Rickie Lee Jones

Go back to 1979, a time of arena rock, disco, punk and too many sappy singer-songwriters. Along comes this breath of fresh air mixing pop, rock, jazz and scat singing. Everyone else zigs and she zags supported by her equally maverick boyfriend, Tom Waits. The song title refers to the third wheel in the Waits-Jones […]

Song of the Day (143): The Boys Are Back in Town – Thin Lizzy

In October 1978, I landed in Dublin early on a Saturday morning ready to start a year at Trinity College. Jet lagged, I slept much of the day away, then hauled myself into Dublin, using James Joyce as a tour guide and wound up at Davy Byrne’s pub, jammed wall to wall, filled with smoke […]

Song of the Day (142): My Old Man – Steve Goodman

My father would have turned 97 today. His heart gave out years ago though he remains vivid and alive in his children and the people he touched. Our relationship was far from easy, but it was strong and despite our human weakness, we did our best to express love. I miss him. #Songoftheday #spreadinghappiness #stevegoodman […]

Song of the Day (141): All the Young Dudes – Mott the Hoople

Mott the Hoople signed to Island Records in 1969 but met with little commercial success and were ready to give it up and go their separate ways. They had an enthusiastic supporter in David Bowie who urged them to give it one more go. He offered them a new song he had written, “Suffragette City” […]

Song of the Day (140): Diamonds and Rust – Joan Baez

In November 1974, Bob Dylan called up his old flame, Joan Baez, catching her by surprise. During the conversation, he read her the lyrics to a new song, “Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts.” The call triggered a flood of emotions Baez which led her to write this song. She recorded it in January […]

Song of the Day (139): Boom Boom Mancini – Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon, one of rocks sublime and essential songwriters, tells the story of boxer Boom Boom Mancini with wit and vivid detail blending facts and insights to capture the tragedy and resilience in his tale. When Alexis Arguello gave Boom Boom a beatingSeven weeks later he was back in the ringSome have the speed and […]

Song of the Day (138): Let’s Do Some Drugs and Drive Around – The Silos

Teenage angst and nihilism at its finest: Let’s do something dumb, let’s get in a fightI’d rather get beat up than sit around all nightLet’s go get some lights, let’s go get some soundLet’s go take some drugs and drive aroundDrive around My friend Chris Potter introduced me to this song which is a fine […]

Song of the Day (137): Crazy – Patsy Cline

Written by a young Willie Nelson in 1961, several artist turned this down before Patsy Cline and her producer, Owen Bradley, scooped it up. In the process, Bradley convinced Nelson to change the song’s title from “Stupid” to “Crazy.” Many have covered this song, but none have captured the sumptuous sound and the longing in […]