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

831 ( Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son ) I felt like some Progressive Rock today. Carry On Wayward Son is of the songs from the Prog/Rock genre that actually penetrated into the mainstream; it's one of Kansas' most famous hits. This is one of their more fun songs to play along with, mostly due to the distinct melodies and riffs in each section of the song. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: John Denver - The Eagle and the Hawk My song pick two years ago today: Three Dog Night - Liar +

830 ( Eric Idle - F--- Christmas ) Am beginning to put up the Christmas decorations today and this tongue-in-cheek tune just seemed perfect for the occasion. All of us, at one time or another, this Holiday season will have at least one of those " Grinch " moments in having to deal with the problems and hassles associated with it. Anyway, this song was written and performed by Eric Idle, who is one of the actors from the legendary British comedy show Monty Python. Here is a live recording on YouTube. Many "F" bombs in this one. (NSFW) My song pick a year ago today: Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay My song pick two years ago today: The Kinks - Celluloid Heroes +

829 ( Northern Kings - Hello ) A while ago I found out about this band through researching the European Metal bands that I am a fan of. Northern Kings are a supergroup made up of: Marco Hietala (bassist/vocals for Nightwish and Tarot among others), Tony Kakko (Vocalist for Sonata Arctica), Jarkko Ahola (Vocalist/Bassist for Teräsbetoni among others), and Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto (Vocalist for Charon among others). Anyway, Northern Kings are a side project for these musicians in which they come together to make covers of songs in their unique style of Metal. This was one of their songs that caught my attention immediately, it is their cover of the famous song by Lionel Richie, which can be found here on YouTube. They did an excellent job with their interpretation of the song, the lyrics and chord progression do not get lost at all in the conversion to Symphonic Metal. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Fallen On Hard Times My song pick two ...

828 ( Steely Dan - Black Friday ) It seems as if I am choosing quite a bit of Steely Dan as of late, it has just seemed right. They are one of my older favorite bands; I have been listening to their music for most of my life. I could not let today go without choosing this one concerning economic disaster for the occasion with it being Black Friday and all. This is the day, (the Friday after Thanksgiving), which most retail businesses are supposed to actually start to turn a profit for the fiscal year and go out of the "red" and into the "black," hence "Black Friday." Hear Black Friday on YouTube. Here is a live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - I Just Want You My song pick two years ago today: Quiet Riot - Cum On Feel The Noize +

827 ( Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Crossfire ) Been meaning to choose this song for quite a while now and I feel like adding it today. This is one of those rare songs that is liked across many genres and can be played in mixed company without problems. I love this song in almost every aspect, it is wonderfully arranged and performed. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: 4 Non Blondes - What's Up? My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - ...And The Mouse Police Never Sleeps +

826 ( Nightwish feat. Tapio Wilska - The Devil & the Deep Dark Ocean ) I have been listening to a lot of Progressive/Symphonic Metal as of late, Nightwish is one of the bands that keeps coming up. This is another one of their songs that features Tapio Wilska in a duet with Tarja Turunen; the contrasting vocals and styles complement each other extremely well. I really like the fusion of Metal and classical/Opera in this one. Jukka Nevalainen's drumming is one of my favorite aspects of this song; he is simply amazing with that double kick. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year go today: Mason Proffit - Two Hangmen My song pick two years ago today: Frank Zappa - Don't Eat The Yellow Snow +

825 ( Antonio Salieri - Requiem in C-Minor (Piccolo Requiem) ) This is a piece of music that I have been meaning to add to my list for a bit now and it just seemed right today. Ever since I first heard Salieri's music I was amazed by the sheer amount of passion that he put into it; I have since become a fan of his music. Salieri is the composer that has been vilified in pop culture as the rival of Mozart. While it is historically accurate that he did get in the way of Mozart, it was not even close to the extent that it has been portrayed. This, of course, is the music for a Funeral Mass, which is an extremely beautiful piece of music. I find that often if I like music from the Classical period, (from the mid 1700's to early 1800's), it is usually the requiems. However, there are many other pieces in different types of composition from this period that I like a lot as well. The entire piece of music is on YouTube and in sections, the links to all are belo...

824 ( Savatage - When the Crowds Are Gone ) I really felt like some Savatage today; I noticed that I had not chosen a Savatage/Trans Siberian Orchestra/Jon Oliva's Pain song in a while. This is one their song that I love to just sit back, listen and zone out to. This was from one of their transition albums from straight-up metal or thrash to the progressive symphonic metal that they are known for and which spawned Trans Siberian Orchestra. As with all of Savatage's music the vocals are mindblowing and the guitar work from Chris Oliva is excellent as ever. One part about this song that I find interesting is that much of the lyrics from the break section were borrowed and used again in their hit song Believe on the next album: Streets . Here is the music video on YouTube. Here is a live performance from '02 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Joe Walsh - Ordinary Average Guy My song pick two years ago today: Warren Zevon - Roland the Headless Thompson G...

823 ( Rush - Manhattan Project ) This was one of the songs that played on my iPod while I was on the road recently, which prompted me to play the entire Power Windows album today whilst getting caught up on work. This song is about the project that brought about the atomic bomb and the use of it in the waning days of WWII on Japan. From what I understand Neil Peart did a lot of research on the Manhattan Project before writing the song. Even with the heavy subject matter and extremely descriptive lyrics the song is still is quite listenable to the casual listener and has quite a few hooks within. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance from A Show of Hands on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Andy Taylor - When the Rain Comes Down My song pick two years ago today: Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant Massacree +

822 ( Duran Duran - Serious ) Another late pick on a Saturday, what else is new? I noticed that I have not chosen a Duran Duran song for a bit now and I decided on this one tonight after it came on my iPod's playlist. This is a nice piece of late '80s Pop/Rock with that signature smooth Duran Duran sound. Here is the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Styx - Crystal Ball My song pick two years ago today: Rush - Tom Sawyer +

821 ( The Charlie Daniels Band - The Legend of Wooley Swamp ) This song just popped into my mind yesterday and I had not heard it in well over ten years. I immediately had to look it up YouTube, sure enough it was there. It was one of the Country-Rock crossover songs from the late 70s/early '80s; I listened to this song quite a bit while growing up. The music itself is more Southern Rock than Country in my opinion with awesome guitars and bass line. I absolutely love songs that tell stories; this one is a ghost story written in the old-time folklore fashion. It is about a greedy old man named Lucius Clay who lived in a swamp and buried his money. A bunch of young punks killed the man for his money but end up dying themselves. As the story goes, ever since the spirits of the dead men still roam the swamp. Here is the studio version in a fan video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Doors - Strange Days My song pick two years ago today: Argent - Hold ...

820 ( Pink Floyd - Waiting for the Worms ) The other day I saw a headline that read: "Waiting for the End of the World." The article itself was about the fascination people have with disaster films, particularly flicks with the theme of world-ending disasters. Anyway, upon reading the headline this Pink Floyd song: Waiting for the Worms immediately popped into my mind. This was one of the darker songs from The Wall in which the main character, Pink, is hallucinating about being a fascist leader spreading his nefarious message. I love how this song was arranged; the dynamics are excellent; Progressive Rock at its best! Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is the video of the song from The Wall on YouTube. Here is a live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Roll the Bones My song pick two years ago today: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - A Moment So Close +

819 ( Alexander Courage - Where No Man Has Gone Before (Theme From Star Trek) ) We picked up the new Star Trek movie the other day, and I thought that it would be fun to add the theme from the original Star Trek series to my list. This is one of the more recognizable television themes in existence. The theme actually changed a bit throughout the run of the series with both the melody being sung and played instrumentally. Most are probably unaware that Gene Roddenberry wrote lyrics to this song: Beyond the rim of the starlight, my love is wandering in star flight. I know he'll find In star clustered reaches Love, strange love A starwoman teaches. I know his journey ends never. His Star Trek will go on forever. But tell him while He wanders his starry sea, Remember, Remember me. I could probably post a page of links to the various versions, covers, and parodies, but here are a few: Here is the operatic opening on YouTube. Here is the intro without vocal...

818 ( Steely Dan - Caves of Altamira ) For no reason whatsoever I felt like some Steely Dan this morning. You can really hear the Steely Dan light Jazz/Rock prominently in this one with a some definite Jazz Fusion influence; a very beautiful song in multiple ways. The song is written about the actual Cave of Altamira in Spain, in which there are many prehistoric cave paintings. Hear Caves of Altamira on YouTube. Here is a live performance from '03 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Free - All Right Now My song pick two years ago today: The Easybeats - Friday On My Mind +

817 ( Jethro Tull - Baker St. Muse ) I have been contemplating picking this one for quite a while now and have finally gotten around to it today; not like I need a reason to choose a 'Tull song. The Baker Street in this song is the same street in London made famous by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, and it is also the same street written about in the Gerry Rafferty hit Baker Street , which was released a few years later and can be found here on YouTube . This is the "Magnum Opus" from the Minstrel in the Gallery album and clocks in at over 16 minutes; ten minutes and above was nothing to a Progressive/Rock band back in the '70s. Baker St. Muse actually contains five distinct pieces of music within: 1. Baker St. Muse, 2. The Pig-Me and the Whore, 3. Nice Little Tune, 4. Crash-Barrier Waltzer, and 5. Mother England Reverie . Apparently Ian Anderson wrote this song during the time he resided in the Baker Street area; the lyrics are based on what...

816 ( Johnny Rivers - Poor Side of Town ) As with many of the songs that I seem to add to my list, (especially as of late), this one was running through my mind a bit and I like it, so I am adding it to my list. I cannot remember when I first heard this song, but have always loved it. I have discovered that I have not heard a Johnny Rivers' song that I dislike and this song is no exception. I love the power and emotion that he puts into this one, of course you really can't go wrong with a song about a jilted love; that and similar subjects account for some of the biggest hits ever written. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance from last year on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Stayed Awake All Night My song pick two years ago today: David Essex - Rock On +

815 ( ABBA - I Let the Music Speak ) This one has been running through my mind for over a month now, it seems like an excellent pick for today. This is one of their most intricate songs that I have heard both musically and lyrically. It is amazingly arranged: very brooding with a classical waltz feeling in the verses and then builds in the pre-chorus and, (with the signature ABBA hook), it launches into the chorus, then it brings you back down. The song's subject is about a musical artist going through the creative process of putting feelings to music, treating the music as a living entity in almost the context of a lover. The lyrics are so deep you could almost drown in them at times. Hear I Let the Music Speak on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - The Big Empty My song pick two years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Mr. Blue Sky +

814 ( Banchee - Beautifully Day ) I found out about this band a bit ago and this was one of their songs I have heard that I like the most. I have not found much information about the band other than what little I could scrounge up from the meager research on them that I have done. Banchee were a short lived Acid/Psychedelic Rock group formed in '69 from Boston. They sound similar to many of the groups in their genre at the time, but are still quite distinct. The musicianship is excellent and this song is brilliantly put together; a nice track for my Friday. Hear Beautifully Day on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Cure - Burn My song pick two years ago today: Fire Bomber (Hummingbird) - Dynamite Explosion +

813 ( Pearls Before Swine - Tell Me Why ) I am Just in an odd mood and I felt like adding a Pearls Before Swine song today. Their sound is very difficult to describe accurately other than perhaps "Dylan meets Donovan" with some extra Psychedelia thrown in for good measure. However, they are pigeon-holed in the Psychedelic/Folk Rock genre. This one comes off of their fourth album: The Use of Ashes , which was released in '70 and is one of my favorites in their catalogue. The YouTube video with the song has apparently been removed and there are no new ones available, sorry about that. My song pick a year ago today: Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe My song pick two years ago today: Steve Winwood & Traffic - Dear Mr. Fantasy +

812 ( S Sgt Barry Sadler - Ballad of the Green Berets ) I noticed that it was Veteran's Day and/or Armistice Day depending on where you are at; I figured that I should choose an appropriate song. Most of the morning I was trying to come up with a good pick, this one just happened to pop into my head and I thought that it was a perfect song for today. Oddly enough, the first time I heard this song was in a video game over 20 years ago; it was a strategy game on my Commodore computer called Conflict in Vietnam . I remember my mother telling me what the song actually was about, so I immediately had to find a recording. Luckily my father had the song on one of his K-Tel/Ronco super hit records or 8-Tracks. This song was co-written by writer Robin Moore, (who had written a book of the same name, which became a film starring John Wayne with this song used as the theme), and S Sgt Barry Sadler while he was recuperating from wounds incurred during service. Anyway, happy Veteran's Day! ...

811 ( Lulu - To Sir With Love ) I was playing and de-rusting this song last night, which I had not tried to play in quite a few years; the song's bass line was one of the first few that I learned. Anyway, I noticed that I had not added this one to my list as of yet, so I am adding it for my pick today. This is another song that I grew up with a lot of exposure to and came to like it quite a bit. Probably my favorite part of this song is Lulu's vocals; so powerful yet sweet as well. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance of the song on YouTube. Here is a more recent live performance on YouTube. Here is my pick a year ago today: Primus - Nature Boy Here is my pick two years ago today: Deep Purple - Space Truckin +

810 ( The Eagles - Outlaw Man ) I have been intending to choose this classic Eagles song for about a month now, I'm finally getting around to it today. This is more of a rocker than much of their other material at the time and there are so many excellent hooks in this song, especially in the chorus. Quite a nice song to start off a busy Monday and week. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: #438 Def Leppard - Lets Get Rocked My song pick two years ago today: #70 Alabama - Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler) +

809 ( Alton Ellis - Sunday Coming ) This extremely catchy song has been perpetually stuck in my mind for about the last week ever since I happened upon a video on YouTube in which someone synced it up with the classic Disney Silly Symphony cartoon The Skeleton Dance . It just seemed like a good day to choose it because of the nice laid-back feel and it being a Sunday and all. I love almost every aspect of this one, especially the vocals and harmony; quite beautiful. Here is a fan video with the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: #437 Pat Benatar - Treat Me Right My song pick two years ago today: #69 Ronnie Milsap - Smokey Mountain Rain +

808 ( Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Hold on Tight - Epilogue ) I was in an ELO mood today and felt like picking one of their songs; I couldn't believe that I hadn't chosen this one yet being as it is one of my older favorites from ELO. I have loved this song ever since I first heard it, which was quite a while ago. My dad had this song on many of his mix cassettes and 8-tracks, so I had a lot of exposure to it. After I discovered the rest of the album that this track was originally released on, Time , it became my favourite ELO album. It was probably the biggest hit off of the album, although there were a few other hits as well. Hold on Tight is an upbeat Rocker written in a Blues, which is the wrap-up song in the album/story, however, it is obviously an excellent stand-alone song in itself. The piece: Epilogue is the actual ending of the entire album, which is about one and a half minutes in length and sounds a bit Beatleish only with a much bigger sound. Here is t...

807 ( The Kinks - (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman ) The last couple of days I have been going over my collection of Kinks material and I decided that today is a good day to add one of their songs to the list. This one used to get a lot of radio play, but for some reason I have not heard it play on the air in about the last 10 years; at least I own the song and can listen to it at my leisure. This Disco-influenced track is very fast-paced and danceable with an awesome back-beat and bass line. It is about a normal bloke seeing the sorry state of world and his life, he wishes to have the power to fix it all, but alas, reality is what it is and as the song states: "I'd like to fly, but I can't even swim." What I like most about this song, as with most Kinks' tracks, is the descriptive lyrics from Ray Davies' pen. Every time I listen to one of his songs I am floored by the vivid pictures and scenes that he paints; he is a true musical genius in every sense of the ...

806 ( Rush - Bastille Day ) I had a couple of other songs in mind to pick this morning, but for some reason I felt like posting one of Rush's earlier songs. I love the fresh sound of these early albums; there is a lot of energy and youthful angst in this music. This song was off of one of their more commercially unsuccessful albums: Caress of Steel , which technically contained only five songs, three of which were less than 5 minutes in length. Progressive Rock bands back in the `70's were just getting warmed up at the 10 minute mark in most cases. As with all of their songs, the music is quite complex; this is one of their tracks that I refer to as a "whiplash" song because because of the stops and starts in the instrumental section. One of my favorite aspects of this one for me is hearing Geddy Lee stretch his vocal chords to almost a scream at times. Hear Bastille Day on YouTube. Here is a live performance of the song from '76 on YouTube. My song pick a year a...

805 ( Santana - Oye Como Va ) The last couple of weeks I have been deluged by Santana's music from almost all forms of media. I heard this classic Santana track this morning and I felt like some Latin Rock this morning anyway, so I am adding it to my list. Gregg Rolie's nice organ work is probably one of the most recognized aspects of this song other than Carlos' screaming guitar playing and the percussion; some beautiful music for this "humpday." Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a classic live performance on YouTube. Here is a more recent live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: #433 Joe Walsh - Vote for Me My song pick two years ago today: #65 Jerry Reed - East Bound and Down +

804 ( Daft Punk - One More Time ) I need to add something different for today, I guess since I have not chosen a Daft Punk song yet; now is an excellent time. A few years ago a friend and drummer that I played with introduced me to this band. He was very much into Dance Club and Disco music, which was fortuitous for myself because I was not really into Dance Club music other than some of the Japanese Pop/Rock that I listen to from time to time. Besides the Daft Punk duo of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter the song features Romanthony on vocals, which are auto tuned to add to the electronic feel of the music. Another interesting tidbit about this album, Discovery is that the entire album was used to make an animated film called Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem , which in essence was 14 music videos; last time I checked all of the videos were present on YouTube as well. In my opinion this one was the best track off the album, however there are a coup...

803 ( The Beatles - Think for Yourself ) For some reason this one kept popping into my mind the last little bit, so I am adding it to my list. Songs with condescending tones are usually take it or leave it for most. I like it when songs of this kind are constructed with more intelligent reasoning rather than being overly preachy and bitchy; in my opinion this one excels quite nicely in that fashion. One oddity about this song is that there were two bass tracks utilized; one was a traditional tone, and the other was fuzzed to have a lead instrument sound. Another excellent George Harrison composition for my list. Hear Think for Yourself on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: #431 Queen feat. David Bowie - Under Pressure My song pick two years ago today: #63 The Grateful Dead - Touch of Grey +

802 ( Bob Dylan - Tangled Up In Blue ) It's late or early again, which ever way you look at it, so I guess that I will add today's pick to my list. I actually a while ago had this song in mind for a pick, but for some reason I never chose it. However, this morning whilst on the road this song was brought back to my attention when came on the radio; I immediately knew I had my next pick. This song epitomizes what I like about Bob Dylan and his music: wonderful imagery and storytelling. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance of the song on YouTube. There are quite a few other versions and live performances on YouTube a well. My song pick a year ago today: #430 Supertramp - Take the Long Way Home My song pick two years ago today: #62 Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - Vix 9 +