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

From: Not Of This Earth ; Year: 1986; Genre: Rock Getting ever closer to Halloween and I thought I should pick something in the spirit thereof. Of course The Headless Horseman is most likely a reference to the supernatural Dullahan antagonist from George Washington Irving's tale: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow . Whilst the folklore concerning a headless rider or coachman far predates it in European legends, at least in the U.S. The Legend of Sleep Hollow is the most thought of when The Headless Horseman is mentioned. Anyway, as for the song, it is a short instrumental piece played entirely by two-handed tapping on the guitar accompanied by a single drum. As you would expect, it has an overall galloping beat, and along with some "yips," whistles "ha, ha, ha's" and "yahoos" along with other riding sound effects makes for a nice atmospheric track.   Hear The Headless Horseman on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Frank Zappa - Heavenly B...

From: Look Sharp! ; Year: 1989; Genre: Rock/Pop A lot of memories always rise to the surface whenever this song comes on, and not just from the time of its release either. The Look is one that has seemingly been on wotever playlist on wotever the recorded medium that I am using at the time. Great, totally fun track all around no matter the occasion, really.   Hear The Look on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Kool & The Gang - Fresh     My song pick 2 years ago today: Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida     My song pick 3 years ago today: Donovan - Riki Tiki Tavi   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Man of God   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bob Seger - Beautiful Loser   My song pick 6 years ago today: Wishbone Ash - No Easy Road   My song pick 7 years ago today: Redbone - Wovoka   My song pick 8 years ago today: Ultravox - Frozen Ones My song pick 9 years ago today: Savatage - Sta...

From: Some Girls ; Year: 1978; Genre: Disco/Rock/Funk Just some great toe tapping music to move your feet along with for this Friday!     Hear Miss You on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Beat Crusaders - ~ Sasquatch ~   My song pick 2 years ago today: Dick Dale - Take It Or Leave It     My song pick 3 years ago today: John Denver - Fire and Rain/The Box   My song pick 4 years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Testify   My song pick 5 years ago today: Nightwish - Harvest   My song pick 6 years ago today: Kool and the Gang - Funky Granny   My song pick 7 years ago today: Soundgarden - Blood on the Valley Floor   My song pick 8 years ago today: Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Away From Home My song pick 9 years ago today: King Crimson - The Night Watch My song pick 10 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Trains My song pick 11 years ago today: Three Dog Night - Feelin' Alright My s...

From: Straight Between the Eyes ; Year: 1982; Genre: Hard Rock It seems that every time I put this record on it is kind of a rediscovery as to just how good the entirety of the album is. Whilst having two big hit singles from it, when played through, each and every track shows its quality; I suppose that is why they call it album oriented rock (AOR).   Hear Bring on the Night (Dream Chaser) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Traffic - Walking in the Wind     My song pick 2 years ago today: Megadeth - Killing Time     My song pick 3 years ago today: Chicago - Colour My World   My song pick 4 years ago today: Devo - Shout   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ebony Rhythm Band - Get Yourself Together (Smiling Phases/Sunshine of Your Love Medley)   My song pick 6 years ago today: Genesis - Harold the Barrel   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Kinks - Apeman   My song pick 8 years ago today: David Bowie -...

From: The Duke of Earl ; Year: 1962; Genre: Doo-Wop/Rock 'n Roll Had this one earworm me today like crazy; not a bad song by any measure, so I'm taking it as that I need to add it to my list. Not that long ago Duke of Earl seem, at least to me, to get played in different places frequently, but in the last few decades its presence has seemingly ebbed. As with most great Doo-Wop tunes it is one that will get stuck in your mind quite easily due to the arrangements and the harmonies. From wot I've read, like many other historic songs out there, this one came into being kind of by happenstance. When warming up for a show with the group The Dukays, one of the vocal exercises they would perform was "do, do, do... etc" in various keys and Gene Chandler started adding bandmate Earl Edwards' name to it and out of that they started doing the Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl and they quickly brainstormed and came up with it. And the rest, as they say, is music history.   Hear D...

From: Walking in London ; Year: 1992; Genre: Rock This song is total fun all the way around. They captured the musical feel of the haunting ghost story songs in pop music and combined it with an amusing and engaging tale, which apparently was inspired by an autobiographical event that happened to Johnette Napolitano earlier whilst staying in a reported haunted hotel in the city of Austin, Texas. Perfect party song for this time of year during the Halloween season.   Watch the music video on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Supertramp - Hide in Your Shell     My song pick 2 years ago today: Neil Young - The Loner     My song pick 3 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Munchies for Your Soul   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Just Look At Me Now   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Kinks - Money Talks   My song pick 6 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Humboldt Currant   My...