821 ( The Charlie Daniels Band - The Legend of Wooley Swamp )

821 ( The Charlie Daniels Band - The Legend of Wooley Swamp )












This song just popped into my mind yesterday and I had not heard it in well over ten years. I immediately had to look it up YouTube, sure enough it was there. It was one of the songs from the Country-Rock crossover from the late 70s/early '80s; I listened to this song quite a bit while growing up. The music itself is more Southern Rock than Country in my opinion with awesome guitars and bass line.
I absolutely love songs that are stories; this one is a ghost story written in the old-time folklore fashion. It is about a greedy old man named Lucius Clay who lived in a swamp and buried his money. A bunch of young punks kill the man for his money but end up dying themselves. As the story goes, ever since the spirits of the dead men still roam the swamp.

Here is the studio version in a fan video.



My song pick a year ago today: The Doors - Strange Days
My song pick two years ago today: Argent - Hold Your Head Up


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820 ( Pink Floyd - Waiting for the Worms )

820 ( Pink Floyd - Waiting for the Worms )


The other day I saw a headline that read: "Waiting for the End of the World." The article itself was about the fascination people have with disaster films, particularly flicks with the theme of world-ending disasters.
Anyway, upon reading the headline this Pink Floyd song, "Waiting for the Worms" immediately popped into my mind.
This was one of the darker songs from "The Wall" in which the main character, Pink, is hallucinating about being a fascist leader spreading his nefarious message.
I love how this song was arranged; the dynamics are incredible. Progressive Rock at its best!

Here is the studio version.
Here is the video of the song from "The Wall."
Here is a live performance.



My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Roll the Bones
My song pick two years ago today: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - A Moment So Close


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819 ( Alexander Courage - Where No Man Has Gone Before (Theme From Star Trek) )

819 ( Alexander Courage - Where No Man Has Gone Before (Theme From Star Trek) )












We picked the new Star Trek movie the other day, and I thought that it would be fun to add the theme from Star Trek to my list. This is one of the more recognizable television themes in existence.
The theme actually changed a bit throughout the run of the series with both the melody being sung and played instrumentally.
Most are probably unaware that Gene Roddenberry wrote lyrics to this song:

Beyond the rim of the starlight,
my love is wandering in star flight.
I know he'll find
In star clustered reaches
Love, strange love
A starwoman teaches.

I know his journey ends never.
His Star Trek will go on forever.
But tell him while
He wanders his starry sea,
Remember,
Remember me.

I could probably post a page of links to the various versions, covers, and parodies, but here are a few:
Here is the operatic opening.
Here is the intro without vocals.
Here is the remastered opening.
Here is a disco version sung by Nichelle Nichols with alternate lyrics.



My song pick a year ago today: The Temptations - Get Ready
My song pick two years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Not Fragile


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818 ( Steeley Dan - Caves of Altamira )

818 ( Steeley Dan - Caves of Altamira )


Yesterday Glenn commented on my post and informed me that I had passed him in overall number of songs picked. Well, I figured that I should pick something that he had chosen off of his list for the occasion. This was one that popped out at me that I fit my mood as well; this was his 100th pick on the 21st of December, 2006.
You can really hear the Steely Dan light Jazz/Rock prominently in this one with a some definite Jazz Fusion influence; a very beautiful song in multiple ways. The song is written about the actual Cave of Altamira in Spain, in which there are many prehistoric cave paintings.

I really hope that Glenn, and everyone else for that matter, continues updating their song-a-day blogs. I have seen quite a few start one of these blogs that have all but given up on them; I fully understand how much of a pain these blogs can be. I find that one of best ways to not get too bored with it is to continue looking for music that is brand new to you instead of relying on your music library and what you have already have heard; but picking old favorites helps a lot as well. I really have no idea a what point I will stop posting songs, but surely not for a while.

Here is the studio version.
Here is a live performance from '03.



My song pick a year ago today: Free - All Right Now
My song pick two years ago today: The Easybeats - Friday On My Mind


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817 ( Jethro Tull - Baker St. Muse )

817 ( Jethro Tull - Baker St. Muse )


I have been contemplating picking this one for quite a while now and have finally gotten around to it today; not like I need a reason to choose a 'Tull song.
The Baker Street in this song is the same street in London made famous by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, and it is also the same street written about in the Gerry Rafferty hit "Baker Street," which was released a few years later.
This is the "Magnum Opus" from the "Minstrel in the Gallery" album and clocks in at over 16 minuets; ten minutes and above was nothing to a Progressive/Rock band back in the '70s.
Baker St. Muse actually contains five distinct pieces of music within: 1. Baker St. Muse, 2. The Pig-Me and the Whore, 3. Nice Little Tune, 4. Crash-Barrier Waltzer, and 5. Mother England Reverie.
Apparently Ian Anderson wrote this song during the time he resided in the Baker Street area; the lyrics are based on what he saw and experienced when walking around the area, and Ian, of course is the Baker St. Muse. Ian uses a lot of symbolism and word play in the lyrics of this one, so it might be difficult for some to fully understand what he is trying to say in certain instances.
"Baker St. Muse" starts light with just Ian and his guitar, but builds very quickly with strings and then the band kicks in and the song becomes more rollicking. "The Pig-Me and the Whore" continues in the vein of Baker St. Muse. The "Nice Little Tune" is used as a transition into the next song. "Crash-Barrier Waltzer" is a lighter song with mostly Ian's acoustic guitar accompanied by some strings. The final part: "Mother England Reverie" is my favorite part of the piece, mostly because of the lyrical content within. This one starts out light with the guitar and strings, but builds as well. At the end of Mother England Reverie there is a very nice reprise section, which revisits the melodies of the other songs.

The lyrics can be found in the info section of the YouTube videos.
Here is the first part with "Baker St. Muse" and "The Pig-Me and the Whore."
Here is the second part with "Nice Little Tune," "Crash-Barrier Waltzer," and "Mother England Reverie."



My song pick a year ago today: Toto - Hold the Line
My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Kissing Willie


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816 ( Johnny Rivers - Poor Side of Town )

816 ( Johnny Rivers - Poor Side of Town )












As with many of the songs that I seem to add to my list, (especially as of late), this one was running through my mind a bit lately; I like it quite a bit, so I am adding it to my list.
I cannot remember when I first heard this song, but have always loved it. I have discovered that I have not heard a Johnny Rivers' song that I dislike and this song is no exception. I love the power and emotion that he puts into this one, of course you really can't go wrong with a song about a jilted love; that and similar subjects account for some of the biggest hits ever written.

Here is the studio version.
Here is a music video.
Here is a live performance from last year.



My song pick a year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Stayed Awake All Night
My song pick two years ago today: David Essex - Rock On


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815 ( ABBA - I Let the Music Speak )

815 ( ABBA - I Let the Music Speak )


This one has been running through my mind for over a month now, it seems like an excellent pick for today.
This is one of their most intricate songs that I have heard both musically and lyrically. It is amazingly arranged: very brooding with a classical waltz feeling in the verses and then builds in the pre-chorus and, (with the signature ABBA hook), it launches into the chorus, then it brings you back down.
The song's subject is about a musical artist going through the creative process of putting feelings to music, treating the music as a living entity in almost the context of a lover. The lyrics are so deep you could almost drown in them at times; the lyrics can be found in the info section of the YouTube video in the link below.

Here is a fan video with the studio version.



My song pick a year ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - The Big Empty
My song pick two years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Mr. Blue Sky


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814 ( Banchee - Beautifully Day )

814 ( Banchee - Beautifully Day )












I found out about this band a bit ago and this was one of their songs I have heard that I like the most. I have not found much information about the band other than what little I could scrounge up from the meager research on them that I have done.
Banchee were a short lived Acid/Psychedelic Rock group formed in '69 from Boston. They sound similar to many of the groups in their genre at the time, but are still quite distinct. The musicianship is excellent and this song is brilliantly put together; a nice track for my Friday.

Here is the studio version.



My song pick a year ago today: The Cure - Burn
My song pick two years ago today: Fire Bomber (Hummingbird) - Dynamite Explosion


I would like to welcome a new song-a-day blogger:
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813 ( Pearls Before Swine - Tell Me Why )

813 ( Pearls Before Swine - Tell Me Why )


I am Just in an odd mood today and I felt like adding a Pearls Before Swine song today. Their sound is very difficult to describe accurately other than perhaps "Dylan meets Donovan" with some extra Psychedelia thrown in for good measure. However, they are pigeon-holed in the Psychedelic/Folk Rock genre.
This one comes off of their fourth album: "The Use of Ashes," which was released in '70 and is one of my favorites in their catalog.

Here is the studio version.



My song pick a year ago today: Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe
My song pick two years ago today: Steve Winwood & Traffic - Dear Mr. Fantasy


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812 ( S Sgt Barry Sadler - Ballad of the Green Berets )

812 ( S Sgt Barry Sadler - Ballad of the Green Berets )


I noticed that it was Veteran's Day and/or Armistice Day depending on where you are at, I figured that I should choose an appropriate song. Most of the morning I was trying to come up with a good pick, this one just happened to pop into my head and I thought that it was a perfect song for today.
Oddly enough, the first time I heard this song was in a video game over 20 years ago; it was a strategy game on my Commodore computer called "Conflict in Vietnam." I remember my mother telling me what the song actually was about, so I immediately had to find a recording. Luckily my father had the song on one of his K-Tel/Ronco super hit records or 8-Tracks.
This song was co-written by writer Robin Moore, (who had written a book of the same name, which became a film starring John Wayne with this song used as the theme), and S Sgt Barry Sadler while he was recuperating from wounds incurred during service.

Anyway, happy Vetern's Day! Be sure to thank any soldiers you see today for their service.

Here is the music video.
Here is a television performance of the song.



My song pick a year ago today: Pink Floyd - On the Turning Away
My song pick two years ago today: ABBA - Soldiers


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811 ( Lulu - To Sir With Love )

811 ( Lulu - To Sir With Love )












I was playing and de-rusting this song last night, which I had not tried to play in a few years; the song's bass line was one of the first few that I learned. Anyway, I noticed that I had not added this one to my list as of yet, so I am adding it for my pick today.
This is another song that I grew up with a lot of exposure to and came to like it quite a bit. Probably my favorite part of this song is Lulu's vocals; so powerful yet sweet as well.

Here is the studio version.
Here is a live performance of the song.
Here is a more recent live performance.



Here is my pick a year ago today: Primus - Nature Boy
Here is my pick two years ago today: Deep Purple - Space Truckin


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810 ( The Eagles - Outlaw Man )

810 ( The Eagles - Outlaw Man )


I have been intending to choose this classic Eagles song for about a month now, I am finally adding it today.
This is more of a rocker than much of their other material at the time and there are so many excellent hooks in this song, especially in the chorus. Quite a nice song to start off a busy Monday and week.

Warner Music Group = no studio version.
Here is a live performance from '73.
Here is a live performance from '76.



My song pick a year ago today: #438 Def Leppard - Lets Get Rocked
My song pick two years ago today: #70 Alabama - Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)


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809 ( Alton Ellis - Sunday Coming )

809 ( Alton Ellis - Sunday Coming )


This extremely catchy song has been perpetually stuck in my mind for about the last week ever since I happened upon a video on YouTube in which someone synced it up with the classic Disney Silly Symphony cartoon "The Skeleton Dance."
It just seemed like a good day to choose it because of the nice laid-back feel and it being a Sunday and all. I love almost every aspect of this one, especially the vocals and harmony; quite beautiful.

Here is a fan video with the studio version.



My song pick a year ago today: #437 Pat Benatar - Treat Me Right
My song pick two years ago today: #69 Ronnie Milsap - Smokey Mountain Rain


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808 ( Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Hold on Tight - Epilogue )

808 ( Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Hold on Tight - Epilogue )


I was in an ELO mood today and felt like picking one of their songs; I couldn't believe that I hadn't chosen this one yet being as it is one of my older favorites from ELO. I have loved this song ever since I first heard it a long time ago; my father had this song on many of his mix cassettes and 8-tracks, so I had a lot of exposure to it.
After I discovered the rest of the album that this track was originally released on, "Time," it became one of my favorites, if not my favorite, ELO album. It was probably the biggest hit off of the album, although there were a few other hits as well.
"Hold on Tight" is an upbeat Rocker written in a Blues, which is the wrap-up song in the album/story, however, it is obviously an excellent stand-alone song in itself. The piece: "Epilogue" is the actual ending of the entire album, which is about one and a half minutes in length and sounds very Beatleish only with a bigger sound.

Here is the studio version with "Epilogue" at the end.
Here is the music video.
Here is a live performance.



My song pick a year ago today: #436 C.W. McCall - Wolf Creek Pass
My song pick two years ago today: #68 Eddie Rabbitt - I'm Driving My Life Away


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807 ( The Kinks - (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman )

807 ( The Kinks - (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman )


The last couple of days I have been going over my collection of Kinks material and I decided that today is a good day to add one of their songs to the list. This one used to get a lot of radio play, but for some reason I have not heard it play on the air in about the last 10 years; at least I own the song and can listen to it at my leisure.
This Disco-influenced track is very fast-paced and danceable with an awesome back-beat and bass line. It is about a normal bloke seeing the sorry state of world and his life, he wishes to have the power to fix it all, but alas, reality is what it is and as the song states: "I'd like to fly, but I can't even swim."
What I like most about this song, as with most Kinks' tracks, is the descriptive lyrics from Ray Davies' pen. Every time I listen to one of his songs I am floored by the vivid pictures and scenes that he paints; he is a true musical genius in every sense of the word.

Here is a fan video with the studio version.
Here is an extended version.



My song pick a year ago today: #435 The Allman Brother's Band - Ain't Waistin' Time No More
My song pick two years ago today: #67 Red Sovine - Phantom 309


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806 ( Rush - Bastille Day )

806 ( Rush - Bastille Day )


I had a couple of other songs in mind to pick this morning, but for some reason I felt like posting one of Rush's earlier songs. I love the fresh sound of these early albums; there is a lot of energy and youthful angst in this music. This song was off of one of their more commercially unsuccessful albums, "Caress of Steel," which technically contained only five songs, three of which were less than 5 minutes in length. Progressive Rock bands back in the `70's were just getting warmed up at the 10 minute mark in most cases.
As with all of their songs, the music is quite complex. This is one of their tracks that I refer to as a "whiplash" song because because of the stops and starts in the instrumental section. One of my favorite aspects of this one for me is hearing Geddy Lee stretch his vocal chords to almost a scream at times.

Here is the studio version.
Here is a live performance of the song from '76.



My song pick a year ago today: #434 The Steve Miller Band - Brave New World
My song pick two years ago today: #66 C.W. McCall - Convoy


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805 ( Santana - Oye Como Va )

805 ( Santana - Oye Como Va )


The last couple of weeks I have been deluged by Santana's music from almost all forms of media. I heard this classic Santana track this morning and I felt like some Latin Rock this morning anyway, so I am adding it to my list.
Gregg Rolie's nice organ work is probably one of the most recognized aspects of this song other than Carlos' screaming guitar playing and the percussion; some beautiful music for this "humpday."

Here is the studio version.
Here is a classic live performance.
Here is a more recent live performance.



My song pick a year ago today: #433 Joe Walsh - Vote for Me
My song pick two years ago today: #65 Jerry Reed - East Bound and Down


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804 ( Daft Punk - One More Time )

804 ( Daft Punk - One More Time )


I need to add something different for today, I guess since I have not chosen a Daft Punk song yet now is an excellent time.
A few years ago a friend and drummer that I played with introduced me to this band. He was very much into Dance Club and Disco music, which was fortuitous for myself because I was not really into dance club music other than some of the Japanese Pop/Rock that I listen to from time to time.
Besides the Daft Punk duo of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter the song features Romanthony on vocals, which are auto tuned to add to the electronic feel of the music.
Another interesting tidbid about this album, "Discovery" is that the entire album was used to make an animated film called "Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem," which in essence was 14 music videos; last time I checked all of the videos were present on YouTube as well. In my opinion this one was the best track off the album, however there are a couple of others that are quite nice as well.

Here is the music video.
Here is the extended remix version.
Here is a live performance.



My song pick a year ago today: #432 Al Stewart - Time Passages
My song pick two years ago today: #64 Stealer's Wheel - Star


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803 ( The Beatles - Think for Yourself )

803 ( The Beatles - Think for Yourself )


For some reason this one kept popping into my mind the last little bit, so I am adding it to my list.
Songs with condescending tones are usually take it or leave it for most. I like it when songs of this kind are constructed with more intelligent reasoning rather than being overly preachy and bitchy; in my opinion this one excels quite nicely in that fashion.
One oddity about this song is that there were two bass tracks utilized; one was a traditional tone, and the other was fuzzed to have a lead instrument sound. Another excellent George Harrison composition for my list.

Here is the remastered studio version.



My song pick a year ago today: #431 Queen feat. David Bowie - Under Pressure
My song pick two years ago today: #63 The Grateful Dead - Touch of Grey


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802 ( Bob Dylan - Tangled Up In Blue )

802 ( Bob Dylan - Tangled Up In Blue )


It's late or early again, which ever way you look at it, so I guess that I will add today's pick to my list.
I actually a while ago had this song in mind for a pick, but for some reason I never chose it. However, this morning whilst on the road this song was brought back to my attention when came on the radio; I immediately knew I had my next pick.
This song epitomizes what I like about Bob Dylan and his music: wonderful imagery and storytelling, and is nicely arranged musically with a very catchy melody.

Here is the studio version.
Here is a classic live performance.
There are quite a few other versions and live performances on YouTube a well.



My song pick a year ago today: #430 Supertramp - Take the Long Way Home
My song pick two years ago today: #62 Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - Vix 9


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