William's Song a Day Blog - est. September 2007

From: Tales From the Lush Attic ; Year: 1983; Genre: Progressive Rock Had a hankering for some second-wave prog rock, aka "neo-progressive rock." IQ is one of the bands from this era that I haven't gotten as heavy into, like I have with ones such as:  Pallas or Marillion . IQ though is one of the vanguard of the second prog wave and were only, as far as I am aware beaten to professional published studio release by Marillion's Script for a Jester's Tear ; their debut as well. Even at that it was just latter that same year, but who is counting, right? Anyway, this album is much more like the original prog rockers' released in that it has very few songs, but those songs are quite lengthy, taking up a good share of a side of a record. In fact, Tales From the Lush Attic originally had just five with The Enemy Smacks is just under fourteen minutes and takes up the lion's share of side 2. Musically you can without a doubt hear the influences of a lot of the pr...

From: Naturally ; Year: 1970; Genre: Rock As many probably already know, one of Three Dog Night's three-part lead vocals Chuck Negron passed away a couple of days ago at the age of 83. He was noted as the higher pitched of the three vocalists and could really belt it out. While he sung the main lead and co-leads on many of their hit songs during the band's career, I would wager to guess that this is/was his signature track and one of the most memorable. From wot I understand, the rest of the band really didn't dig this one that was being shown by Hoyt Axton, who later also mad his own recording of it. However, Chuck Negron liked the nonsensical nature of the "fun" lyrics and thought they needed something not so serious on their record. He ended up being very correct and became one of their biggest hits. Heck, even children today will get into it the second they hear the opening lyrics: "Jeremiah was a bullfrog!"   Hear Joy to the World on YouTube.     ...

From: Cookin' on the Roof ; Year: 1983; Genre: Pop/Rock/Swing This often overlooked and underappreciated '80s swing/rock/new wave group happens to be on my mind since yesterday, so I'm picking another one of their songs. This one will make you feel like dancing without a doubt.   Hear Furs 'n High Heels on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Dio - Hide in the Rainbow     My song pick 2 years ago today: Waylon Jennings - Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way   My song pick 3 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Love City   My song pick 4 years ago today: Billy Joel - Don't Ask Me Why   My song pick 5 years ago today: R.E.M. - Man on the Moon   My song pick 6 years ago today: Brook Benton - Rainy Night in Georgia My song pick 7 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Way Out of Here My song pick 8 years ago today: Cyndi Lauper - All Through The Night My song pick 9 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central...

From: Electric Jewels ; Year: 1973; Genre: Hard Rock Here is a hard rocker from the Canadian band April Wine. It's one of those songs that really gets the blood moving on a cold Monday morning.   Hear Weeping Widow on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band - Blue on Black     My song pick 2 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - They Don't See You   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bon Jovi - Hardest Part is the Night   My song pick 4 years ago today: Rainbow - Fire Dance   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Marvelettes - Beechwood 4-5789 My song pick 6 years ago today: The Who - Don't Let Go The Coat My song pick 7 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Turn Up the Night My song pick 8 years ago today: Billy Joel - Big Shot My song pick 9 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Statesboro Blues My song pick 10 years ago today: The Scorpions - The Zoo My song pick 11 years ago today: Hawkwind...

From: The Spirit of Hank Williams ; Year: 1961 (1947); Genre: Blues/Folk/Rockabilly I have always liked wot I have heard of Hank Williams, but over the last few years of delving into his music and such, I have developed a much greater respect and admiration for him and his work. In my opinion, looking at the lyrics and mournful melodies that he wrote plus the life he lead and came from, I would say he would not be out of place amongst many of the tortured artists that seemingly come once in a generation; and he even made it past the cursed age of 27, just barely. Writing songs that pierced through the bravado to go right to the heart of the regular "everyman" and expose his soul by saying and emoting hurt, sadness, loneliness, heartbreak and the overall pain of living in the lower-echelon of society. Heck, even the Grand Ole Opry didn't want him, his band, and his "lesser" music on their stage. However, when people heard this new sound they were hooked and his m...

From: Aldo Nova ; Year: 1982; Genre: Hard Rock Wow, January's final pick this year; movin' on to February. Anyway, this is another instance of having a track running through my mind and decided on choosing it. Considered to be Aldo Nova's biggest hit and, even though he has other charting songs, is labeled as a "one-hit wonder." Suffice it to say, if you have been around since the '80s or '90s chances are that you've probably heard this hard Canadian rocker at some point.   Hear Fantasy on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Bullet in the Head     My song pick 2 years ago today: Santana - Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation   My song pick 3 years ago today: Weather Report - River People   My song pick 4 years ago today: Audioslave - Until We Fall   My song pick 5 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Power of the Laser Dragon Fire   My song pick 6 years ago today: Ian Anderson - Cold Dead Reckoning (20...