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

From: Watts in a Tank ; Year: 1980; Genre: Rock I remember hearing Diesel a lot back in the day, but they eventually faded only to come back into the pop culture conscience every now and then. I did not look much into the band, but with their mega hit Sausalito Summernight and its California car adventure theme, I assumed they were a U.S. band, but were actually Dutch. From wot I understand, between band member defections and not fully being able to recapture the magic they only lasted a handful of years and a total of three records, but had reunions and one other studio album since their first breakup. This track was one of the four singles from their debut, and, depending on which market you focus on, the second or third highest charting of their songs.   Hear Going Back to China on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Camel - Rain Dances     My song pick 2 years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Bi-Polar Bear     My song pick 3...

From: Vivid ; Year: 1989; Genre: Hard Rock/Alternative Metal Seems like every time I put one of the discs on I'm blown away at just how hard they rock. I really need to have them more in my rotation; at that there's no doubt!   Hear Open Letter (To a Landlord) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lalo Schifrin - Mission: Impossible     My song pick 2 years ago today: War - This Funky Music Makes You Feel Good     My song pick 3 years ago today: Blancmange - Blind Vision   My song pick 4 years ago today: Brenton Wood - Gimme Little Sign   My song pick 5 years ago today: Duran Duran - Too Much Information   My song pick 6 years ago today: Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire   My song pick 7 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Sex Machine My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crossword My song pick 9 years ago today: Blood, Sweat & Tears - You've Made Me So Very Happy My song pick 1...

From: Edge of Excess ; Year: 1992; Genre: Hard Rock This one comes from the, sadly, most recent studio album from the band. On the record they were minus original vocalist/guitarists Rik Emmett and instead featured  Phil X on guitar whilst drummer Gil Moore performed lead vocals. I've always liked most of Triumph's material, but have never been huge into the band, or anything past the mid 1980s-ish that they put out. However, never really looked into wot they were up to since, and as it turns out, not too much. Recently though, I learned of their most recent reunion and North American tour, which got me curious.  Anyway, this was one of the lead singles from Edge of Excess, and while not close to the band's best, it's still more than good enough to quench ones' thirst for their brand of arena-rock.   Hear Child of the City on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Aretha Franklin - Rock Steady     My song pick 2 years ago today: D...

From: Movements ; Year: 2005 (1970); Genre: Soul/Funk Thought that I'd bring this workweek to a close with another one from Tobias Kirmayer awesome compilation series Movements . This one is from the late-great Robert Parker ; with this one there was a dance that went along with it of the song's namesake, or it could be the song was named after the dance... who knows, eh?   Hear The Hiccup on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Luther - Don't Take the Time     My song pick 2 years ago today: Melvins - Psycho-Delic Haze     My song pick 3 years ago today: Rammstein - Ohne Dich   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bobby Freeman - C'mon and Swim (Parts 1 + 2)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Martha and the Vandellas - Heat Wave   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - Standing on the Verge of Getting It On   My song pick 7 years ago today: Carmen - Conclusion (She Changed) My song pick 8 years ago today: F...

From: Right Track ; Year: 1981; Genre: Soul Lately I've been really enjoying the music of Soul/R&B/Funk artists/bands, that were best known for their music from the 50s through the 70s, that they released in the 80s and 90s; kind of at the point that their popularity started to ebb. I find a lot of this material that is mostly marginalized to be quite exceptional in reality. With Wilson Pickett, I am admittedly biased with him being one that I like quite a lot, but I really do dig this record in particular and this track is among the highlights for me.   Hear Maybe This Time on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Waylander - Of Fear and Fury     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Trammps - Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart     My song pick 3 years ago today: 10,000 Maniacs - Everyday is Like Sunday   My song pick 4 years ago today: Megadeth - Mastermind   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - Don't Tak...

From: Rebel Yell ; Year: 1983; Genre: Hard Rock Earlier I had this one playing in my mind as if it was on the radio, so you know wot I am intending for today's pick. I don't know what it is about this song, but it's just one that makes you want to sing and dance along with it. And of course you have Steve Stevens showing off his severely underrated guitar mastery. Funny though, a long time ago I started changing his "More!" lyric into "Moe!," as in the leader of The Three Stooges . Even to this day I picture some woman in the throes ecstasy calling out for Moe Howard ; still laugh a little.   Hear Rebel Yell on YouTube.          My song pick 1 year ago today: Yes - Sweet Dreams     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - Rock n' Roll Love Letter     My song pick 3 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You   My song pick 4 years ago today: Anita Ward - Ring My Bell   My song pick 5 years ago t...