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

1382 Blue Öyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper From: Agents of Fortune , Year: 1976 After listening to some BÖC the other day I noticed that I had not picked what is probably their quintessential song yet, so I will with today's pick. Strangely enough, even with the amount of times this track get played in all media outlets, I've never really become sick of it. Watch a fan video with the studio version on YouTube. Watch a classic live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Grateful Dead - Ripple My song pick two years ago today: Eddie Rabbitt - Step By Step My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Between the Wheels +

1380-1 The Grateful Dead - Help is on the Way/Slipknot! From: Blues for Allah , Year: 1975 It's Memorial Day again, and I'm continuing my tradition of picking a Grateful Dead track on this Holiday. This is an awesome jazzy track with a nice groove to it; there is excellent musicianship throughout. Hear Help is on the Way/Slipknot! on YouTube. Hear a live recording of the song circa '75 on YouTube. Watch a live performance circa '90 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Louis Armstrong - Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen My song pick two years ago today: R.E.O. Speedwagon - Take It On The Run My song pick three years ago today: The Grass Roots - Temptation Eyes +

1379 Derek and the Dominoes - Key to the Highway From: Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, Year: 1970 I've actually been meaning to pick this track for a while now since Arthur picked it on his Song a Day blog . From what I understand this recording of this blues standard came into being when Eric Clapton and Duane Allman were jamming in the studio whilst they were on break during recording the album; apparently the record's producer heard them playing and started recording it. Hear the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: David Bowie - All The Madmen My song pick two years ago today: Rush - Finding My Way My song pick three years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Long As I Can See The Light +

1378 Fleetwood Mac - Rhiannon From: Fleetwood Mac , Year: 1975 I heard this song on the radio this morning and thought it would make an excellent pick for today. From what I've read this song was loosely inspired by an old Welsh tale which Stevie Nicks discovered in a novel. This has always been one of my favourite Fleetwood Mac songs and I ended up only liking it more after playing it in bands I've been in over the years. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a classic live performance circa '76 on YouTube. Here is the live performance from The Dance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Return To Forever - The Magician My song pick two years ago today: The Gipsy Kings - Hotel California My song pick three years ago today: The Fifth Dimension - Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In +

1377 Return to Forever - Sofistifunk From: No Mystery , Year: 1975 I felt like listening to some fusion this morning, the music from this superb group of master musicians seemed like an excellent choice. Today is Friday, right? Yeah. I haven't made a "Funky Friday" pick in some time now, so I'll take this opportunity to make one. This Funky Fusion track off of their No Mystery album tune was written by the incomparable Lenny White, who is one of my favourite drummers of all time. Hear Sofistifunk on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Savatage - 24 Hours Ago My song pick two years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - The Rubberband Man My song pick three years ago today: Boston - Something About You +

1376 Genesis - The Musical Box From: Nursery Cryme , Year: 1971 I felt like some classic Genesis from the Peter Gabriel era this morning, so, for no other reason I just put on their Nursery Cryme album. I decided that this rather epic song, which is the first or the album, would be a wonderful pick for the day; this song and album are excellent in so many aspects. Hear The Musical Box on YouTube. Watch a live performance of the song circa '73 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Savatage - The Dungeons Are Calling My song pick two years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - I'm Alive My song pick three years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Uncle John's Band +

1375 Max Roach - Valse Hot From: Jazz in 3/4 Time , Year: 1957 Max Roach's Jazz in 3/4 Time album has been getting almost constant play from me for the last day of so. This is such a superb collection of experimental and Hard Bop Jazz; it's been so much fun to listen to waltzes that swing and bop all over the place. The album consists of both original material and reworked Jazz standards done in waltz time; this track in particular was written by the band's saxophonist Sonny Rollins. The whole band is truly awesome and inspiring throughout not just this song, but the entire album. Here is a live recording of the song performed by the Clifford Brown and Max Roach Quintet on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nightwish - Amaranth My song pick two years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Alabama Getway My song pick three years ago today: Bob Seger - Night Moves +

1374 UB40 - Tears From My Eyes From: Labour of Love II , Year: 1989 Over the last bit Arthur has been picking some Reggae with UB40 being one of the bands featured. I figured I should finally get around to adding one of their songs to my Song a Day blog; it's long overdue. Anyway, I had quite a few of their songs in mind to choose, but after thinking about it this track just kept playing in my mind, so I took it as a sign to choose it. Plus it is one of my favourites from the band. Labour of Love II is one of my favourite of their albums, it was played a lot around our house back in the day. I've noticed that they are one of those bands that could usually be played in mixed company without anyone getting annoyed. Hear the studio version on YouTube. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - 10.08 to Paddington My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Mayhem, Maybe My song pick three years ago today: ...

1373 Hurricane Smith - Oh Babe, What Would You Say? From: Oh Babe, What Would You Say? (Single), Year: 1972 I've had this rather Jazzy Pop tune running through my mind for the last little bit now and I figured I would make it my pick today. From what I've read about him, Norman "Hurricane" Smith did most of his work in the music industry as an engineer/producer; he most notably worked on most of the Beatles' and some of Pink Floyd's albums. Apparently John Lennon himself bestowed the name "Hurricane" on him, which he used as a pseudonym for his own recordings. I have heard this song a lot over the years, there is something quite charming about the "old timey" feel in this one. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a television performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band - On The Dark Side My song pick two years ago today: Collective Soul - Pretty Donna ...

1372 Alabama - Mountain Music From: Mountain Music , Year: 1982 I'm procrastinating tonight and really need to get my pick in and to finish my theme week as well. Anyway, this is the last pick in my "...And about 1300 days later" theme week of picking songs from bands that I haven't picked another song from since my first 100 song picks. I took a look at my first 100 picks and noticed that I had only chosen a song from Alabama once before. I chose their song Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler) back on the 9th of November, 2007 as my 70th pick ; oddly enough it was the 6th song in my Truck Driving Song theme week as well. While I'm not a huge fan of Country/Western Music in general there are quite a few bands in the genre that I do like; Alabama is one of them. This is one of their first songs that came to mind when making my pick; I believe it is one of their more popular songs as well. As with most of their material, the vocal harmonies and musicianship are top-...

1371 Skid Row - Youth Gone Wild From: Skid Row , Year 1989 It's day #6 of my "...And about 1300 days later" theme week of picking songs from artists that I have not chosen a song from since my first 100 song picks. I totally thought that I had picked this song about a year ago; it was probably one of those times where I meant to pick it, but for some reason another track got picked instead. Anyway, the last track from Skid Row I added to my list was 18 and Life , I picked it on the 18th of September, 2007; it was my 18th overall pick . Watch the music video on YouTube. Here is a live performance circa '91 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - The Bertha Butt Boogie My song pick two years ago today: Steely Dan - Hey Nineteen My song pick three years ago today: Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Serenade To A Cuckoo +

1370 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - K. 525, Serenade No. 13 for Strings in G major " Eine Kleine Nachtmusik " K.525, Year: 1787 'Tis the fifth day of my "...And about 1300 days later" theme week of picking songs from artists that I have not picked since my first 100 song picks. I really didn't expect any classical composers, especially Mozart to be part of this list. I know I keep saying it this week, but I though for sure that I had picked more than a couple of his compositions, but alas, the last song I chose from Mozart's Köchel Catalogue was the Queen of the Night Aria from The Magic Flute , K.620 on the 20th of September, 2007 ; my 20th pick overall. This is one of my favourite of Mozart's compositions and is one of his more famous ones; almost anyone should recognize this piece after the first two or three notes of the first movement. Here is the Allegro movement on YouTube. Here is the Romanze: Andante movement on YouTube. Here is the Menuetto:...

1369 Tesla - I Wanna Live From: Forever More , Year: 2008 I'm on day four of my "...And about 1300 days later" theme week, i.e. picking songs from bands that have not graced my list since my first 100 picks. Since starting this theme week I still cannot believe how many great bands I've neglected to pick a song from; I thought for sure that I had chosen another one of their songs in the past 1300 days since I last chose the last one. Anyway, the last time I chose a song from Tesla was way back on the 19th of September of '07, it was my 19th overall pick ; the song I chose was their cover of the Five-Man Electrical Band's song " Signs ." This track was their biggest hit off of their most recent release: Forever More . I have to say that I actually like this album quite a bit and definitely will have to get it in the near future. Hear I Wanna Live on YouTube. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rammstein -...

1368 Billy Thorpe - East of Eden's Gate From: East of Eden's Gate , Year: 1982 First off, before I make my pick I would like to thank the Blogger team for restoring my post from a few of days ago that was lost during site maintenance. Also, Max has joined my current theme and is picking some songs from bands that haven't made his list since early days of his song-a-day blog. Anyway, on to today's pick! This is day three of my "...And about 1300 day later." theme week, i.e. picking songs from bands that haven't graced my blog since the first 100 song picks. The last song I picked from Billy Thorpe was his epic Space Rock track " Children of the Sun " as my 58th overall pick back on the 28th of October, 2007 . While many can only name that track when asked to name one of his songs, he actually had quite a few singles over the years, mostly with his band: Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs. This is another one of my favourite songs from his dis...

1367 Argent - God Gave Rock and Roll to You From: In Deep , Year: 1973 Here's my second pick in my "...And about 1300 days later" theme week, i.e. picking songs from bands that have not graced my blog since the first 100 picks. This is probably one of the most shocking ones that I found that fit into this category because I am a huge fan of Argent. Well, crap! I thought for sure that I had chosen more songs from this Prog/Rock pioneer over the last 1300 days, but I guess I was in error. I picked their iconic song: " Hold Your Head Up " on the 20th of November, in '07; it was my 81st overall pick . Anyway, I figured I should pick a song that most have been acquainted with in one way or another over the years and this track from the pen of the band's guitarist/vocalist Russ Ballard seemed appropriate. I believe, however, that most today probably remember one of the many cover versions of this song more, most notably the one performed by Kiss, which can b...

1366 April Wine - Sign of the Gypsy Queen From: The Nature of the Beast , Year: 1981 I'm embarking on another theme of sorts this week: I'm picking songs from bands that I have not chosen another song from since my first 100 picks. I guess that I will call this theme week: "...and about 1300 days later." Anyway, what has truly amazed me is not just the number of bands, but which bands I have neglected since the first 100; there are some that I really like that I've only picked one song from over 1300 days ago. I figured I would start this week off with another song from the Canadian Hard Rock band April Wine; the last song I picked from this great band was " Roller " on October 1st of '07; it was my 31st overall pick . There are quite a few songs from April Wine that like, so I had some trouble narrowing down my pick, but I finally settled on this cover of Lorence Hud's "Sign of the Gypsy Queen" off of their The Nature of the ...

1365 Elton John - Lady Samantha From: Empty Sky (Reissue), Year: 1969, (1995) I originally heard the Three Dog Night cover version of this song when I bought a greatest hits collection of their music quite a while ago it became one of my favourite tracks on the album. When looking through the album's liner notes I found out this was another song from the songwriting team of John/Taupin. Of course I immediately had to hear the original Elton John version and it became a favourite as well. I really like both versions; they are quite similar and I could have just as easily picked the Three Dog Night version; I probably will at a later date. Anyway, I love Bernie Taupin's lyrics and subject matter in this song; it's almost like it's written about a spectre or something similar; the wailing guitar adds a lot to the atmosphere. Hear Lady Samantha on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nena - 99 Luftballons My song pick two years ago today: Rainbow -...

1364 Elvenking - The Wanderer From: The Winter Wake , Year: 2006 Today feels like a good day for some Folk Metal. Here is an awesome song from a great Italian Metal band I discovered a while ago: Elvenking. This one hails from their third studio album: The Winter Wake and, like much of their material, it's based on Folklore and Fantasy. Hear The Wanderer on YouTube. Watch a live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street My song pick two years ago today: Scorpions - Rhythm of Love My song pick three years ago today: Supertramp - Bloody Well Right +

1363 Rammstein - Amerika From: Reise, Reise , Year: 2004 Over last few months I've been having to deal with various entities in our great corporatocracy trying to swindle me out of my money, my privacy, and my identity through either shady and unethical business practices and/or pure ineptitude. I don't want to really go much into it, but it just seems that no one does business on the up and up anymore. Anyway, I've had this song about the spreading of the corporate American culture running through my mind most of the morning and it absolutely fits my mood. Watch the music video on YouTube. Here is a live performance of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Cream - White Room My song pick two years ago today: Steely Dan - Deacon Blues My song pick three years ago today: The Guess Who - Laughing +

1362 Journey - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) From: Frontiers , Year: 1983 *Update May 17th* Blogger has found and returned my original post that they lost, so here it is in its former glory! Thanks Blogger Team!* I've been hearing this song quite a bit over the last few days; I thought for sure that I had already chosen it, but it seems that I haven't yet. I've always loved the energy behind this song, it is probably one of my top ten favourites from Journey. While I normally go for the material from their more Progressive, Jazz influenced period when Greg Rolie was with the band, I like a lot of their material from their more mainstream Rock period as well. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Watch the music video on YouTube. Watch a live performance circa '83 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider My song pick two years ago today: Ian Anderson - Made In England My song pick three year...

1361 Hawkwind - Sentinel From: Blood of the Earth , Year: 2010 I was in a quandary this morning as to which song I was picking; I really wanted to choose a Hawkwind track, but I had about 20 songs in mind for the pick. For no reason I finally just decided on this excellent track off of their newest album: Blood of the Earth . I've been waiting for some new "headphone music" for a while now. This song is definitely "headphone music," it's just amazing to put the headphones on clear your mind and listen to the music. This has the classic Hawkwind sound; for those not acquainted with the band the sound would be somewhat reminiscent of early to mid 70s Pink Floyd. Hear a recording of the song on YouTube. A live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) feat. Freddy Taylor - Shine My song pick two years ago today: Alice Cooper - School's Out My s...

1360 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge From: Blood Sugar Sex Magik , Year: 1991 I'm in a 'Chili Peppers mood this morning; here's yet another track which I believed I had already chosen sometime in the past. I've always loved this rather dynamic song; to me it contrasted against much of their other tracks around the time of its release. Watch the music video on YouTube. Watch a live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Queen - These Are The Days Of Our Lives My song pick two years ago today: Megadeth - À Tout le Monde My song pick three years ago today: Booker T & The MGs - Green Onions +

1359 Mr. Big - Still Ain't Enough for Me From: What If... , Year: 2011 Been enjoying the new Mr. Big album What If... most of the morning; it's so cool to hear Paul Gilbert playing with the band again. This track contains one of the best guitar/bass solos on the album in my opinion. Hear the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Steve Vai - Celluloid Heroes My song pick two years ago today: Toto - Africa My song pick three years ago today: Santana - Stone Flower +

1358 "Weird Al" Yankovic - Amish Paradise From: Bad Hair Day , Year: 1996 There's three reasons I'm picking this track tonight: 1. Max chose [actually his 21st] "Weird Al" track the other day, 2. I noticed that I had not chosen a "Weird Al" song yet and I really needed to get with the programme, and 3. I heard the song that that this song is a parody of, (Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise ), the other day on the new Green Hornet film and it got me thinking about this song again; it was quite hard to remember the original lyrics after hearing "Weird Al's" parody. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls My song pick two years ago today: Band of Horses - Our Swords My song pick three years ago today: Murray Head - One Night In Bangkok +

1357 AC/DC - It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) From: High Voltage , Year: 1976 I've always been a fan of AC/DC, but they are one of the bands that get overplayed to the extreme. Because of that I find myself not actively seeking out their music as much in my leisure time; although I still hear them quite a bit during my day. Anyway, today I just felt like some AC/DC, so here's one of my favourites from the band; I absolutely love Bon Scott's solo on the bagpipes. Hear the studio version on YouTube. Here is the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Judas Priest - The Hellion/Electric Eye My song pick two years ago today: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Learning To Fly My song pick three years ago today: The Four Top - It's the Same Old Song +

1356 Queen - Stone Cold Crazy From: Sheer Heart Attack , Year: 1974 I had another track in mind for today's pick, but this song just started playing incessantly in my mind and I took it as a sign that I should make it my pick instead. This is just an awesome track in so many ways. Hear Stone Cold Crazy on YouTube. Watch a music video on YouTube. Here is a live performance of the song circa '77 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nightwish - She Is My Sin My song pick two years ago today: Pearl Jam - Black My song pick three years ago today: Kansas - Point of Know Return +

1355 The Rolling Stones - As Tears Go By From: December's Children (And Everybody's) , Year: 1965 For some reason I felt like listening to The 'Stones this morning. This is one of my favourites from the band; I've always loved the arrangements of this song as well as its overall mellowness. Hear the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Blink-182 - Adam's Song My song pick two years ago today: Pink Floyd - Us And Them My song pick three years ago today: Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein +

1354 S.M.V. - Mongoose Walk From: Thunder , Year: 2008 My friend has been getting me into this album for a while now, he absolutely adores it. For those unaware, S.M.V. is a project containing three of the best electric bassists alive today: S tanley Clarke, M arcus Miller, and V ictor Wooten. Anyway, this album is essentially what you get when three great musical minds collaborate; plus you get to hear bass guitars used in music like you've never heard before. Hear Mongoose Walk on YouTube. Watch a live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Delgados - Come Undone My song pick two years ago today: The Doobie Brothers - China Grove My song pick three years ago today: .38 Special - Fantasy Girl +

1353 Fairport Convention - Meet on the Ledge From: What We Did on Our Holidays , Year: 1969 I absolutely had no song in mind this morning to pick. For no reason I decided to listen to Fairport's What We Did on Our Holidays album and I thought this rather pretty and melancholy tune would make a nice pick. From what I understand this song was a hit for the band. Hear Meet on the Ledge on YouTube. Here is a live performance of the song from a few years ago on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Losing It My song pick two years ago today: The Beatles - Yesterday My song pick three years ago today: Def Leppard - Animal +

1352 Rammstein - Haifisch From: Liebe Ist Für Alle Da , Year: 2009 Getting some Rammstein picked on this very busy Monday. I've been steadily liking the music off of their newest album the more I listen to it; this is one of the main hits songs. Here is a fan video with the studio version which contains both German and English lyrics on YouTube. Watch the music video on YouTube. Here is a live performance of the song on YouTube ; the best way to hear Rammstein in my opinion. My song pick a year ago today: Tanya Tucker - What's Your Mama's Name? My song pick two years ago today: Bad Company - Bad Company My song pick three years ago today: The Highwaymen - The Highwayman +

1351 Eddie Money - Gimme Me Some Water From: Life for the Taking , Year: 1979 I had this song running through my mind as I was getting ready to make today's pick. It feels like an excellent choice for this Sunday. I've discovered that last month I had far and gone my most views of any month since being on Blogger; my thanks go out to the few viewers that are regulars and those coming in from web and image searches! Hear Gimee Me Some Water on YouTube. Watch a live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Steeleye Span - All Around My Hat My song pick two years ago today: .38 Special - Fade To Blue My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Beltane +