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

1289 Chet Atkins - Windy and Warm After about a week of freezing temperatures I was greeted this morning with a nice Chinook Wind coming out of the south-west; it's been a welcome relief. Anyway, ever since I stepped out the door this morning this aptly-titled Chet Atkins track kept running through my mind and it seems like an excellent song to close out February. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Watch a classic live television performance on YouTube. Here is another live television performance on YouTube, the song starts at the 1:15 mark. My song pick a year ago today: David Bowie - The Man Who Sold the World My song pick two years ago today: Dire Straits - Industrial Disease My song pick three years ago today: Blues Image - Ride Captain Ride My leap year pick 2.29.08: ABBA - The Visitors +

1288 Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - A Taste of Honey A bit ago my dad and I were going over some of Herb Alpert's music and since I haven't picked one of his songs yet I figured today would be a excellent time to do so. As with a lot of Herb Alpert's recordings, this song did not originate from his pen; it was originally written by Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow for the Broadway production of the same name. I love his arrangements with the horn harmonies as well as neat break sections. Hear A Taste of Honey on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Steve Miller Band - Rock'n Me My song pick two years ago today: Three Dog Night - Try A Little Tenderness My song pick three years ago today: Steve Winwood - Roll With It +

1287 Steeleye Span - The Mooncoin Jig This is a neat and rather rousing instrumental off of Steeleye Span's Now We Are Six album. I love the chord shifts and the neat time signature devices used in this traditional dance tune. Peter Knight gets to shine with his mandolin and banjo playing in this one, however the rhythm section is quite excellent as well. Hear The Mooncoin Jig on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Queen - I'm Going Slightly Mad My song pick two years ago today: Jerry Reed - Lightning Rod My song pick three years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Changes +

1286 Rufus & Chaka Khan - Tell Me Something Good This one started running through my mind ever since I woke up this morning. Since it's Friday and all, I figured it would make an excellent "Funky Friday" pick. The song was written by Stevie Wonder and is one of their most memorable hits. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Freddie Taylor and His Swing Men from Harlem - Viper's Dream My song pick two years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Pow My song pick three years ago today: Ricky Nelson - Garden Party +

1285 Rush - Entre Nous I've been playing Permanent Waves quite a bit lately and I realized I hadn't pick this song yet. This was the first Rush album I ever purchased, although I had been given a cassette of Moving Pictures prior, I still consider this to be my first Rush album. At the time I was already a moderate Rush fan and wanted recordings of some of their songs to learn on my bass; I recognized a few of the tracks, which helped make my decision. To say the least after playing it the first couple of times I ended up liking the rest of the songs on the album as well. In my opinion there is not a real weak track on this album; I like to put it on and just let it repeat whilst working. The first time I actually ran into this song was from a SIDplayer file on my old Commodore 64; it was one of many digitized Rush songs that was on the disc. A SID file would be called a midi today; SID got its name from the digital/analogue audio chip in the computer called: ( S ound I nte...

1284 David Bowie - Up the Hill Backwards I've been absolutely loving David Bowie's Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) album as of late; it's steadily becoming one of my favourite Bowie albums and this is one of my favourite tracks among quite a few on the album. I love how it was arranged with its upbeat, effervescent feel, yet still having the technical side as well. Hear Up the Hill Backwards on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes My song pick two years ago today: Savatage - Sleep My song pick three years ago today: The Beatles - Across The Universe +

1283 The Offspring - Gone Away It seems like it's been ages since I've chosen a song from The Offspring, so I'm picking one today. They are one of the bands I've been into since my teenage years, for me their music was an excellent mix of pure fun and angst; perfect music for someone in his/her formative years. This is one of my favourites from their Ixnay on the Hombre album; if memory serves me right, it was a fairly big hit for them as well. Hear Gone Away on YouTube. Watch the music video on YouTube. Watch a live performance circa '01 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Converge - Cruel Bloom My song pick two years ago today: Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids - She's So Fine My song pick three years ago today: Lobo - A Big Red Kite +

1282 Johannes Brahms - Op. #45 (A German Requiem, To Words of the Holy Scriptures) Been listening to Brahms all morning and decided on picking this very beautiful piece for my pick today. Where this requiem differs from many other funeral masses is that it is written in German rather than Latin. For some reason I've always loved listening to requiems, they are easily my favourite type of classical music. There is usually more emotion and passion put into these pieces than any other from the pen of a composer. It would seem that the closer the person is to the composer that the requiem is written for, the greater the amount of passion and raw emotion the piece exhibits. It's almost like you are catching the composer at his/her most vulnerable and his/her creativity is kicked up notches much further than normal. From what I understand it is speculated this requiem was written possibly with two people in mind: Brahms' mother and/or for the composer Robert Schumann, both of wh...

1281 Spaghetti Western Orchestra - The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Later... with Jools Holland is one of the shows I've been into for quite some time now, however the only time I seem to get to watch it is when I'm having a bout with insomnia due to it only being available at 1:00 in the morning. Anyway, the other night I happened upon a re-run of the show which featured the Spaghetti Western Orchestra. As their name implies, they play selections from the Spaghetti Westerns as well as other Westerns; the music written by Ennio Morricone in particular. From what I understand they were originally called the "Ennio Morricone Experience," but for some reason they are now known as the Spaghetti Western Orchestra. Anyway, this is, of course, the theme to Sergio Leone's epic masterpiece film: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly written by Ennio Morricone; the original theatrical version of the song can be heard here on YouTube . Watch the live performance from ...

1280 Dream Theater - The Big Medley Felt like some Dream Theater for this late-evening pick; this track closes out their '95 A Change of Seasons EP. The medley consists of covers of parts of six different songs: Pink Floyd's In the Flesh? , Kansas' Carry On Wayward Son , Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody , Journey's Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' , The Dixie Dreg's Cruise Control , and Genesis' Turn It On Again . I absolutely love their arrangement, they do all of the songs justice. Hear The Big Medley on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Wilson Pickett - Hey Jude My song pick two years ago today: Johnny Mandel - Suicide is Painless (Theme from M*A*S*H) My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Vital Signs +

1279 Frank Zappa - Mudd Club Nothing else to say other than I'm in a Zappa mood. Hear Mudd Club on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: U2 - I Will Follow My song pick two year ago today: The Delgados - Keep On Breathing My song pick three years ago today: Yoko Kanno (The Seat Belts) - Tank! +

1278 The Doors - Waiting for the Sun It's seems as if it has been an eternity since I last saw the sun in all its glory in the sky; (been rather dank and dreary as of late). Anyway, I've had this fitting song running through my mind lately and it seemed like an excellent opportunity to pick it. Watch a music video with the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Black 47 - Funky Céilí (Bridie's Song) + My song pick two years ago today: Duran Duran - Planet Earth + My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Rocks on the Road +

1277 Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs Here's a one from another amazing act that I haven't picked a song from yet. Anyway, this extremely bluesy track has been running through my mind all morning long. I've always been a fan of Robin Trower and his music; this is one of my favourites. Hear Bridge of Sighs on YouTube. Here is a television performance of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil My song pick two years ago today: The Moody Blues - OM My song pick three years ago today: Jon Oliva's Pain - Guardian Of Forever +

1276 ABBA - S.O.S. I had absolutely no idea as to what song I was picking today; I decided on letting my iPod choose a random song from my library for me again. This was one of their biggest and most recognizable hits from their discography. It features their signature "launch" from the verses into the chorus, but for me the nice chord shadings they used and Agnetha Fältskog's vocals are the main draw for me. She also recorded a version of this song for her solo album: Elva Kvinnor I Ett Hus that was sung in Swedish. Watch the music video on YouTube. Hear Agnetha Fältskog's solo version sung in Swedish on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bobby Bare - The Winner My song pick two years ago today: Pearl Jam - Even Flow My song pick three years ago today: Bon Jovi - It's My Life +

1275 Hawkwind - Right to Decide I should have probably picked something Valentine's Day themed for today, but meh. Anyway, this Hawkwind track from their '92 album Electric Tepee was running through my mind this morning and per usual I'm making it my pick. This anthem is mostly a straight-up rocker with perhaps a tinge of punk thrown in for good measure; for Hawkwind it's very listenable to almost anyone. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Survivor - The Eye of the Tiger My song pick two years ago today: The Black Crowes - Remedy My song pick three years ago today: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Fire (I am the god of Hellfire) +

1274 Glenn Miller - In The Mood Last night my wife and I went out to a dance as part of the Valentine's Day celebration; they had a nice big band called Tuxedo Junction providing the music for the shindig. Anyway, this Big Band/Swing Jazz standard was the song they opened up the second set with; an excellent choice in my opinion. I can all but guarantee that almost everyone alive today has heard this song at some point in their lives. Hear In The Mood on YouTube. Watch a performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Tarot - Ashes To The Stars My song pick two year ago today: Goo Goo Dolls - Broadway My song pick three years ago today: The Offspring - Come Out And Play +

1273 Chet Atkins - Trambone Today is a bit of a sad day being the five-year anniversary of my Grandfather's passing away. As I've probably stated before on other posts he was a master musician on almost any instrument with strings on it; he also was one of the biggest Chet Atkins fans in existence and probably had most of his songs memorized. This is one of the many songs that my Grandpa played that I most associate with him; I can to still to this day hear him playing this song on that old Gibson Melody Maker. Hear Trambone on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: John Denver - Wildflower in a Mason Jar My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein - Spieluhr +

1272 Earth, Wind & Fire - Serpentine Fire Felt like listening to some Earth, Wind & Fire this morning; since it's Friday and all I figured this rather funky track would make an excellent "Funky Friday" pick. It still amazes me how many acts today have been influenced by Earth, Wind & Fire; not just musically but their whole stage presence and style as well. Watch a music video on YouTube. Watch a live performance of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Manuel de Falla - Danza Del Terror (Dance of Terror) My song pick two years ago today: Dire Straits - Lady Writer My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein - Zerstören +

1271 Miles Davis - Freddie Freeloader Ever since last night I've had Miles Davis' Kind of Blue album running steadily through my mind. This is, of course, one of the tracks from this masterpiece of an album; it is about 10 minutes of pure musical bliss. I've always loved John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley's saxophone playing/solos. Hear Freddie Freeloader on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) - Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away) My song pick two years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Little Wing My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Said She Was A Dancer +

1270 Waylander - A Hero's Lament I felt like listening to some Folk Metal of the Celtic variety this morning; this is one of my favourites off their '98 release: Reawakening Pride Once Lost . I love how this one starts out rather slow and melodic then kicks in with the full Metal sound. Hear A Hero's Lament on YouTube. Watch a live performance of the song circa '08 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Queen - Seaside Rendezvous My song pick two year ago today: Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London My song pick three years ago today: Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost? +

1269 Fairport Convention - She Moves Through the Fair It seems that many of my song picks as of late have come from bands from the UK; well I guess that trend of sorts will continue today. Anyway, this rather beautiful track is actually a traditional Irish Folk Song from which the band made their own Folk/Rock arrangement. It hails from second album: What We Did on Our Holidays , which was also the album in which the incomparable Sandy Denny made her debut with the band; her amazing vocals are by far the main draw for this song. Hear She Moves Through the Fair on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Uriah Heep - Gypsy My song pick two years ago today: T-Rex - Bang a Gong (Get it On) My song pick three years ago today: Savatage - Devastation +

1268 Genesis - Watcher of the Skies For some reason this morning I got the urge to listen to Genesis' album Foxtrot whilst I've been working. This is one of the main tracks I've been replaying quite a bit over the day thus far. Hear Watcher of the Skies on YouTube. Here is a live performance of the song circa '73 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jim Croce - These Dreams My song pick two years ago today: Alice Cooper - No More Mr. Nice Guy My song pick three years ago today: Savatage - Tonight He Grins Again +

1267 Jethro Tull - Alive and Well and Living In I'm feeling as if I almost need another weekend to recover from this extremely busy weekend; I feel as if I have wheels attached to my body. Anyway, here is one of the songs that I heard at some point whilst driving this weekend and is about as perfect a song to complete my Sunday as my lethargic mind can think of. This is actually quite a beautiful track and yet somewhat raucous at the same point. I love how it's rather mellow in the verses and builds and gets a bit rowdy in the chorus and softly comes back down. Hear Alive and Well and Living In on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: .38 Special - Chain Lightnin' My song pick two years ago today: Cream - Swlabr My song pick three years ago today: Three Dog Night - Celebrate +

1266 Yoko Takahashi - Zankoku na Tenshi no These (A Cruel Angel's Thesis) I heard some of the music from the soundtrack to the animé Neon Genesis Evangelion sometime during my travels today and thought this one would make a nice song for this late evening pick. This song was written for and used as the opening theme music for the series' episodes; it's a rather nice, upbeat track from a great show. Hear Zankoku na Tenshi no These on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Aphrodite's Child - Hic et Nunc My song pick two years ago today: Elton John - All The Girls Love Alice My song pick three years ago today: Rush - The Body Electric +

1265 Wild Turkey - Sentinel I was thinking about the band Wild Turkey this morning and I figured I should pick on of their songs today; yet another excellent band that I have neglected thus far. This track is a rather nice blend of Progressive and Hard Rock with maybe a tinge of Psychedelia thrown in for good measure; it comes off their debut album: Battle Hymn , which came out in 1971. Hear Sentinel on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: KISS - She My song pick two years ago today: Hawkwind - Assault and Battery/The Golden Void My song pick three years ago today: Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart +

1264 Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy I must have heard this song at some point recently because it's been stuck in my mind for most the morning, but on the other hand sometimes songs just spontaneously dislodge themselves from inside as well. Anyway, I've found myself becoming more of a fan of the music from the pens of the other two Beatles: George and Ringo, especially George Harrison. Many forget that Ringo Starr has a lot of studio material from the post-Beatles era; this is one of his bigger solo hits, which was co-written with George Harrison. Hear It Don't Come Easy on YouTube. Watch a music video with the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Molly Hatchet - Fall of the Peacemakers My song pick two years ago today: Don Mclean - American Pie My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Later, That Same Evening +

1263 Rush - Xanadu I'm having some Rush on the brain again this morning and am picking another one of their songs. This is probably one of their better-known "epic" songs, which is about the quest for immortality and consequences thereof; it was loosely based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem: Kubla Khan . This is one of their songs to feature each member having to play multiple instruments when played live. Ever since I first saw the Exit... Stage Left performance I've liked this track. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Watch a live performance from Exit... Stage Left on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Iron Maiden - Powerslave My song pick two years ago today: George Frideric Handel - Every Valley Shall Be Exalted My song pick three years ago today: Kohei Tanaka - Kline's Dream +

1262 Jon Oliva's Pain - Through the Eyes of the King Over the last few days I've been listening quite a bit of the music from Jon Oliva's Pain; this is one my favourites off of their '06 Maniacal Renderings album. It reminds me a lot of the classic, pre- Gutter Ballet , Savatage sound. There is a lot I like about this track, especially how the keyboards and guitars were utilized in the middle eight and solo. Hear Through the Eyes of the King on YouTube. Watch a live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nora Bayes - The Japanese Sandman My song pick two years ago today: Queen - We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions My song pick three years ago today: The Little River Band - Reminiscing +