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

From: Days of Future Passed ; Year: 1967; Genre: Progressive Rock/Symphonic Rock Whilst driving around this morning I had this song come on and it has stuck in my brain ever since, which is certainly not expected from genres such as from this record. I believe that I have stated before that the 'Moodies were my "gateway drug" into all music progressive and I've never wavered in my love of the band. It is kind of superficial to say with all of the amazing and beautiful songs on the record, but this is one of the prettiest, especially with the orchestral accompaniment, which I believe was actually Mike Pinder overdubbing all of the "instruments" played on the Mellotron , but there was a proper orchestra on the record as well, mostly in the interludes. Pinder's Mellotron was one of the main cornerstones for the band's emerging sound and those contributions really show why Days of Future Passed and their subsequent songs are such landmarks in studio reco...

From: The Best of The Animals ; Year: 1966; Genre: Hard Rock Had this great tune on my mind on and off for the last few days; one of my favourites from the Animals, so I'm certainly choosing it. It's My Life was originally recorded and released as a single the year prior, but made it on their Best Of album later as well as some EPs apparently. As with their contemporaries like The Kinks and Paul Revere & the Raiders, they were one of the hardest-hitting almost proto-metal bands in the mid 1960s. Sure, there were others that played even louder and heavier from that era, but Eric Burdon just had that "punk" sensibility and could deliver a devastating soulful vocal is such a way that still resonates with people of all ages all these years later.   Hear It's My Life on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Kalimba Story     My song pick 2 years ago today: IQ - Promises (As the Years Go By)   My song pick 3 ye...

From: The Jimmy Castor Bunch ; Year: 1979; Genre: Funk For this Funky Friday I wanted to choose another one from the late-great Jimmy Castor and his band. In this song that is funky soul with a splash of jazz, he seems to be singing about a "beast" whose description sounds a lot like Godzilla, or some similar Kaiju monster, which actually works perfect with such a danceable and funky groove.   Hear Don't Do That! on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Space Cowboy     My song pick 2 years ago today: Nena - Jung Wie Du   My song pick 3 years ago today: Klaatu - The Loneliest of Creatures   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child (Slight Return)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Chet Atkins and Merle Travis - Nine Pound Hammer   My song pick 6 years ago today: Blondie - One Way or Another   My song pick 7 years ago today: Faith No More - The Real Thing ...

From: Let There Be Music ; Year: 1975; Genre: Soft Rock Just had this track pop into my mind today, and since I have yet to choose one from Orleans, as I normally do, I took it as a sign to pick it. I've never really looked into the band Orleans much, but have heard their more popular hits a lot over the years. It is one of those cases of me knowing the music but not the artist. This hit single was actually released on two consecutive studio albums, because their record company did not "see and hits" on it, so the 1974 Orleans II was only released in Europe and some Asian markets. After signing with another label they apparently re-recorded a couple of the songs, this being one of them, and released a brand new album with those two tracks being successful hits.   Hear Dance With Me on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Youngbloods - Darkness, Darkness     My song pick 2 years ago today: Deep Purple - Flight of the Rat   My song...

From: Shakin' All Over ; Year: 1965; Genre: Rock 'n Roll Just hit me today that I wanted to pick something from the early Guess Who. How earlier could you get than choosing something from the band that would become The Guess Who? Or more specifically wot the record company advertised them as a means to gain attention by leading people to believe they were an English beat group in anonymity: Guess Who? Long story short, it did bring them fame and they just stuck with that moniker. Anyway, this is one from the pen of band leader Chad Allan and is more rock 'n roll than rock, and extremely different from their biggest hits like American Woman , No Time , and such.    Hear Turn Around and Walk Away on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Pallas - XXV Part 2: The Unmakers Awake     My song pick 2 years ago today: Ray Peterson - Tell Laura I Love Her   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Beatles - You Got to Hide Your Love Away  ...

From: Hall of the Mountain Grill ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock/Space Rock For no particular reason just felt like putting Hawkwind's Hall of the Mountain Grill on whilst working today. This is the opening song on the record, which I erroneously believed I had already picked. It's one of their signature psychedelic tracks that, whilst quite progressive and boundary pushing musically, it contains such a great trancelike groove throughout that will let you lose your mind dancing; that is, if that is wot you wish to do.     Hear Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Working Man – A Tribute to Rush - YYZ     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Meters - Liar   My song pick 3 years ago today: Luther Vandross - Grown Thangs   My song pick 4 years ago today: Fleet Foxes - Sunblind   My song pick 5 years ago today: Steven Wilson - Count of Unease   My song pick 6 yea...