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

From:  H 2 O ; Year: 1982; Genre: Rock/Soul Never knew that this track was a cover; always was under the impression that it was a Hall & Oates original. Mike Oldfield , who was also one of the song's writers, recorded and released it just prior. While it charted originally for Oldfield, it charted much better and in more territories for Hall & Oates, which is not surprising with them being such a giant musical powerhouse back in the 1980s.   Hear Family Man on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lighthouse - Man, Woman, Child     My song pick 2 years ago today: Cameo - Attitude   My song pick 3 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - The Lights Go Down   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lawrence Gowan - The Dragon   My song pick 5 years ago today: Alice Cooper - I'm Eighteen   My song pick 6 years ago today: U.K. - Rendezvous 6:02   My song pick 7 years ago today: Parliament - Aqua Boogie (A ...

From: Running Down the Road ; Year: 1969; Genre: Folk Rock/Jazz/Blues Played this record once more yesterday and was again just mesmerized by almost every facet of it; it's just one of those "historic" albums. Stealin' is a blues standard that is kind of nebulous as to its authorship, but has been one that many a wandering troubadour has played it live and in the studio over the last century. This recording of the track also has the distinction as being part of the soundtrack to the 1971 cult classic film Two-Lane Blacktop , which has most likely increased its popularity to some degree. There is a noted Dixieland Jazz feel to Arlo's rendition, which gives it a "singalong" feel; even when you have the record playing you get the compulsion to sing with everyone, even when you're by yourself with headphones on. Arlo Guthrie's music and attitude though is as such; his style is so inclusive to anyone listening. Just join in the chorus and become part ...

From: Keep it Live ; Year: 1982; Genre: Funk/Electronica A very busy Friday thus far, but still need something funky to pick. Here's a nice piece of synth-heavy funk from the early 1980s, which is a perfect fit.   Hear Keep it Live (On the K.I.L.) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters - Such a Night     My song pick 2 years ago today: Tesla - I Want To Take You Higher   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pantera - 13 Steps To Nowhere   My song pick 4 years ago today: Till Lindemann - Ich Hasse Kinder   My song pick 5 years ago today: Normaal - Deurdonderen   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - World Wide Funk   My song pick 7 years ago today: Sam Cooke - Chain Gang My song pick 8 years ago today: King Crimson - Lizard My song pick 9 years ago today: Band of Horses - Lying Under Oak My song pick 10 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Three Fates ...

From: Cargo ; Year: 1983; Genre: New Wave Having Men at Work on my brain today; I have not chosen one of their songs in quite some time, and only one to boot. This is one of their better hits that, even if you don't know it by title, you should immediately recognize it especially if you were around in the '80s and '90s. Although it has been in and out of popular culture over the years, so some younger individuals might know it from a television programme or such. One I do remember was in an episode of the T.V. series Scrubs where a character suffering from insomnia was having a hallucination of Colin Hay, who comically kept bothering him by singing an acoustic version of the song.   Hear Overkill on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Three Dog Night - Time To Get Alone     My song pick 2 years ago today: Ray Stevens - The Rockin' Teenage Mummies   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Hollies - Carrie Anne   My song pick 4 year...

From: Kansas ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Here's another one from a band's debut album, although, I'd say that with Kansas they already had their defined sound which would just get all the more polished as time went on. Although, it would take a few albums and patience for them to reach their full fame. It was there, and Aperçu is one that I really love off the record, and is among my favourites from Kansas; both the album and song.   Hear Aperçu on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Marillion - Just for the Record     My song pick 2 years ago today: Fates Warning - Outside Looking In   My song pick 3 years ago today: Toad The Wet Sprocket - Fall Down   My song pick 4 years ago today: James Brown - Out Of Sight   My song pick 5 years ago today: Glenn Miller - PEnnsylvania 6 - 5000   My song pick 6 years ago today: Nirvana - Negative Creep   My song pick 7 years ago today: Gravity Kills - Falli...

From: Blue Öyster Cult ; Year: 1972; Genre: Psychedelic Rock Been listening to early BÖC lately; I've always found their self-titled debut album is kind of a "grab bag" of sorts. Sure there are some hits and ones that sound a lot like their emerging sound, then you got some oddities... like this one. Don't get me wrong, it is not a bad song, just different. If one does not pay too much attention to the lyrics, the somewhat "mystical" sounding melody is great. However, there's not very many bands out there that can make a song about a lady being compared to a foot, but Eric Bloom really sell it amazingly. I mean, some people have a thing for feet, so it could be a compliment, but it does go into stranger areas when it tells of a man biting her face and saying she tasted like "a falling arch" and her face changing to a Guernsey cow. It may be weird, but sometimes weird is good, and is a reason I love Blue Öyster Cult and their music so much; neve...