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

1536 Dick Dale - Riders In the Sky From: King of the Surf Guitar , Year: 1963 Genre: Surf Rock/Rock Happy Halloween! I hadn't put a lot of thought into an appropriate pick for today, but I thought that this often covered track would be excellent for the day. There are a myriad of versions of this song out there, but this rather nice instrumental version by surf guitar maestro Dick Dale seemed to fit my mood the best. Here is a fan video with the studio version on YouTube. Watch a live performance circa '07 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Andrew Gold - Spooky, Scary Skeletons My song pick two years ago today: Rammstein - Mein Teil My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Witch Hunt My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Witches Promise +

1535 Queensrÿche - Della Brown From: Empire , Year: 1990 Genre: Progressive Metal I happened to hear this song whilst on the road this evening; I figured that I would make it my pick on this Sunday. Ever since I first heard this album I've loved the seamless change between Jet City Woman and it as well as the change between it and Another Rainy Night . From what I've read this was actually intentional to create a mini concept inside the album consisting of the three songs, all of which I like. Whoa, a Progressive Metal band sneaking in a concept on one of their most mainstream albums. Anyway, this is a real nice mellow mood song; I absolutely love Eddie Jackson's slap bass intro, which carries the mood along throughout. Hear Della Brown on YouTube. Here is an unplugged live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Van Halen - Unchained My song pick two years ago today: Warren Zevon - Lawyers, Guns and Money My song pick three years ago today: Jackson Browne...

1534 Victor Wooten - Us 2 From: Palmystery , Year: 2008 Genre: Jazz Fusion I've been quite busy today and really should get my pick in, so here's a very beautiful track off of Victor Wooten's '08 Palmystery album. I love how every note played is so precise and full of purpose. Hear Us 2 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Sons of the Pioneers - Cool Water My song pick two years ago today: Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the Sky My song pick three years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Here is the News My song pick four years ago today: Faith No More - From Out of Nowhere +

1533 Sly and the Family Stone - Sing a Simple Song From: Stand! , Year: 1969 Genre: Funk/Soul/Psychedelic Rock For over a week now I've been meaning to pick a track from Sly and the Family Stone. I had this song in particular in mind to pick; I thought it would make for a great Funky Friday pick as well. Hear Sing a Simple Song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Miles Davis - So What My song pick two years ago today: Ray Charles - I Can't Stop Loving You My song pick three years ago today: J.S. Bach - BWV 659 - Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland My song pick four year ago today: Billy Thorpe - Children of the Sun +

1532 AC/DC - Big Balls From: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap , Year: 1976 Genre: Hard Rock I happened to hear this double entendres laced song again the other day; I thought it would make a nice pick. If you keep your mind out of the gutter this is quite an innocent song, but it is highly unlikely that was the intention when it was written. Hear Big Balls on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Guess Who - Hand Me Down World My song pick two years ago today: Finntroll - Skogens Hämnd My song pick three years ago today: Bon Jovi - These Days My song pick four years ago today: Yes - Roundabout +

1531 Sethian - Purity in Sorrow From: Into the Silence , Year: 2003 Genre: Progressive Metal/Heavy Metal I try not to let my previous picks influence my current ones, but after seeing the song I picked from a year ago I felt like picking another one from Sethian. This is a rather melodic track with some downer lyrics and subject matter. As with the entire album I absolutely love the musicianship and, of course, Tapio Wilska's vocals. Hear Purity in Sorrow on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Sethian - Nothing Is True My song pick two years ago today: Steely Dan - Charlie Freak My song pick three years ago today: Van Halen - Summer Nights My song pick four years ago today: Apocalyptica (featuring Nina Hagen) - Seemann +

1530 Megadeth - How the Story Ends From: Endgame , Year: 2009 Genre: Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal I'm getting geared up for the release of Megadeth's new album TH1RT3EN next week. In my opinion their last few albums have been incredible and contain some of their best material; I'm hoping that trend continues. This is one of the songs off of their last release, Endgame . I really cannot say that I have a favourite song off of this, or many Megadeth albums for that fact. I usually play an entire album when listening to one of them. There's no filler, just kick-arse Metal from beginning to end. Hear How the Story Ends on YouTube. Watch a live performance from this year on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Sethian - Epitaph My song pick two years ago today: Marcus Miller - Frankenstein My song pick three years ago today: Jackyl - The Lumberjack My song pick four years ago today: Blackmore's Night - Rainbow Blues +

1529 Don Henley - Dirty Laundry From: I Can't Stand Still , Year: 1982 Genre: Rock I happened to go over my previous picks and not only did I realize that I haven't picked this, one of my favourite songs from Don Henley, but I apparently had not picked one of his songs for quite a while now. I should probably do another ...and about 1300 days later theme week soon. Hear Dirty Laundry on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Scorpions - Big City Nights My song pick two years ago today: Graham Central Station - Earthquake My song pick three years ago today: John Denver - Season Suite - Fall My song pick four years ago today: Kyu Sakamoto - Sukiyaki ( Ue o Muite Aruko ) +

1528 Stuart Hamm - Kings of Sleep From: Kings of Sleep , Year: 1989 Genre: Rock I've been listening to this album quite a bit over the last couple of days and thought that the title track in particular would make an excellent choice for this Sunday. Like a few other tracks on the album, this one was inspired by the work of author William Gibson. This one in particular was inspired by his short story The Winter Market , which is part of his popular short story collection called Burning Chrome . This is quite a beautiful track in many ways, but I especially love all of the techniques he uses on the bass guitar as a lead and accompaniment instrument throughout the song. While it is quite technical, it is still very much listenable to a casual listener. Hear Kings of Sleep on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Steeleye Span - Lovely on the Water My song pick two years ago today: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Just a Song Before I Go My song pick three years ago today: Robert Mitchum...

1527 Mastodon - Capillarian Crest From: Blood Mountain , Year: 2006 Genre: Progressive Metal I Figured I would try and get my Saturday pick in earlier today for a change. Here is one of my favourite tracks from another great band I've been meaning to add to my list for a while now. I absolutely love both the technicality and heaviness they display in their music. Hear Capillarian Crest on YouTube. Watch a live performance/music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Hot Chocolate - Brother Louie My song pick two years ago today: Rammstein - Frühling in Paris My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - A Small Cigar My song pick four years ago today: Ian Anderson - Calliandra Shade (The Cappuccino Song) +

1526 Maktub - So Tired From: Khronos , Year: 2003 Genre: R&B/Funk/Jazz Fusion I noticed that I have yet to pick a song from this rather awesome and talented band, plus I haven't made a 'Funky Friday' pick for a couple of weeks now. So, I figured I would kill two birds with one stone with today's pick. Hear So Tired on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Dizzy Gillespie - Manteca My song pick two years ago today: Iron Maiden - Sun and Steel My song pick three years ago today: Deep Purple - Knocking At Your Back Door My song pick four years ago today: Slade - Cum On Feel The Noize +

1525 Saigon Kick - Chanel From: The Lizard , Year: 1992 Genre: Jazz/Rock/Pop Periodically I check for certain songs that I've been wanting to pick to appear on YouTube. Well, it just so happens that someone had uploaded this gem to the site a few months ago, so I'm making it today's pick. This is my favourite song from the band; I especially like the walking bass line. The jazzy sound of this track contrasts quite a bit from what you would probably think of when you think of Saigon Kick's music. This song's odd lyrics and musical style give it a lot of distinction. Here is a video with the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out My song pick two years ago today: Return to Forever - Vulcan Worlds My song pick three years ago today: Victor Wooten - Me and My Bass Guitar My song pick four years ago today: Pink Floyd - Welcome to the Machine +

1524 Asia - Only Time Will Tell From: Asia , Year: 1982 Genre: Rock/Progressive Rock I happened to catch this song on the radio yesterday after not hearing it for a while. That's one of the things I love about this blog: it serves as an archive of some of the songs that sometimes slip my mind; this way I'll always be able to remember them. Anyway, I've always liked how this track has a nice balance of both technical musicianship and mainstream appeal. Hear Only Time Will Tell on YouTube. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: British Whale (Justin Hawkins) - This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both of Us My song pick two years ago today: Donald MacLeod - Field of Gold My song pick three years ago today: John Lennon (The Plastic Ono Band) - Hold On My song pick four years ago today: John Denver - Looking for Space +

1523 Jethro Tull - Play In Time From: Benefit , Year: 1970 Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Yesterday I was going over the Benefit album, which is one of my favourites from Jethro Tull; I love overall dark and brooding nature of the songs on it. This is one of the more raucous songs on the album. This track immediately grabs your ears with the opening instrumental section played my Martin Barre on the electric guitar and Ian Anderson on the flute with backing by Clive Bunker's simple drum beat. This one also features a lot of interesting recording techniques, such as backwards recorded and sped up guitar and keyboards. Hear Play In Time on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Exile - Kiss You All Over My song pick two years ago today: Rush - Show Don't Tell My song pick three years ago today: The Four Tops - Bernadette My song pick four years ago today: Devo - Some Things Never Change +

1522 Rush - Leave That Thing Alone From: Counterparts , Year: 1993 Genre: Hard Rock For the last few months I've been getting notification that Blogger had a new interface that I should update to, so I finally decided to give it a try. As I clicked the link to try it out I though I really should leave it alone; what I have now works perfectly for my needs. Yeah, I should've listened to that warning in my head, it was complete buggy garbage. I'm an extremely adaptable fellow when it comes to software, but this was buggy to almost the point of it being unusable, yeah I dumped it and was luckily able to go back to the one that worked. I always thought an update was supposed to make things better and more efficient. Anyway, shortly after that warning entered my mind I started thinking about this instrumental track with an apropos title. Hear Leave That Thing Alone on YouTube. Here is a live performance of the song from last year's tour on YouTube. My song pick a year ago t...

1521 Steeleye Span - New York Girls From: Commoners Crown , Year: 1975 Genre: Folk Rock Last night I happened to be listening to Steeleye Span's Commoners Crown album and after I heard this track, which closes out the album, I knew I had today's pick. This is a pretty dynamic track vocally in the way it was arranged. Rick Kemp sings on verses 1 and 5, Tim Hart sings on verses 2 and 6, Peter Knight sings on 3 and 7, and Bob Johnson sings on 4 and 8; the incomparable Maddy Prior sings all of the choruses. One interesting fact about this track is that actor Peter Sellers, who was best known for his role of Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau in the Pink Panther films, played the ukelele. He also spoke the words at the end of the song: "I say, are you a matelot? Careful what you say, sir - we're on board ship here." Hear New York Girls on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Living in the U.S.A. My song pick two years ago tod...

1520 30 Seconds to Mars - Year Zero From: 30 Seconds to Mars , Year: 2002 Genre: Progressive Metal/Space Rock I'm having a lazy Saturday to offset a busy Friday, which is nice. Anyway, this track off of 30 Seconds to Mars' debut album seemed to fit my mood pretty good. This song in particular reminds me a lot of Alice in Chains. Hear Year Zero on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Don Williams - If Hollywood Don't Need You My song pick two years ago today: Cream - Strange Brew My song pick three years ago today: A-ha - The Living Daylights My song pick four years ago today: Procol Harum - Conquistador +

1519 The Smashing Pumpkins - The End Is the Beginning Is the End From: Batman & Robin: Music from and Inspired by the 'Batman & Robin' Motion Picture , Year: 1997 Genre: Alternative Rock Yesterday for no real reason this song started to run through my mind and also noted that I haven't picked a Smashing Pumpkins track yet. As I usually do, I took it as a sign that I should pick it. While I don't consider myself a huge fan of their music, I like a lot of their material. This song was part of the soundtrack to the Batman & Robin film; I have to admit that I've yet to see it and from what I understand it was a bit of a flop. I remember first hearing this song many years ago in an animé music video (AMV); I believe it was paired with Battle Angel and Kite . Here is a music video with the studio on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells a Story My song pick two years ago today: Louis Armstrong - Red Sai...

1518 Trio of Doom - Continuum From: Trio of Doom , Year: 1979 Genre: Jazz Fusion Yesterday Max chose Spyro Gyra's Cayo Hueso and it got me thinking about this Fusion track that I've been meaning to pick for a bit now. This one comes off of the Jazz power trio/super group Trio of Doom's one and only album. This is a rather pretty track that features some excellent technical musicianship from all three members. Hear Continuum on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Aqualung My song pick two years ago today: Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys - Wayfaring Stranger My song pick three years ago today: Billy Squier - In The Dark My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Steel Monkey +

1517 Miles Davis - Freedom Jazz Dance From: Miles Smiles , Year: 1967 Genre: Jazz/Post Bop The other day I happened upon the sheet music to this song packed away in my guitar case amongst my other sheet music. I have no idea where it came from, but it truly has been a joy learning it. This song was originally written by Eddie Harris, but Miles Davis' version is one of the most well known. On this album he was backed by: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. It's always fun reading the musicians list on his albums; it's like reading the who's who of Jazz music at the time of its release. Here is a recording of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Boston - More Than a Feeling My song pick two years ago today: David Bowie - Suffragette City My song pick three years ago today: Slade - Mama Weer All Crazee Now My song pick four years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Prologue/Twilight +

1516 Steely Dan - Peg From: Aja , Year: 1977 Genre: Rock/Jazz Fusion I've been meaning to pick a track from Steely Dan for about a week now, but every time another song happened to get in the way. This song happens to be, I believe, the eleventh Steely Dan song I have chosen thus far. I have always loved this band ever since I can remember. I guess for me they are what Max refers to as "Dad Music;" my father listened to them a lot whilst I was young and I came to love their music as well. Anyway, this is one of their quintessential songs off of one of their best albums; it was also the first of their albums that I owned. You've got to love all of the musical styles and genres they used in this song. Hear Peg on YouTube. Watch a live performance circa '03 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: What Made Milwaukee Famous - Selling Yourself Short My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Left Right My song pick three years ago today: Mo...

1515 Sky - Troika From: Cadmium... , Year: 1983 Genre: Progressive Rock Today Max chose Muse's adaptation of Gershon Kingsley's Popcorn on his Song-a-Day blog and it got me thinking about a couple songs in particular. This is Sky's Rock adaptation of the fourth movement of Sergei Prokofiev's suite: Lieutenant Kijé called Troika . Prokofiev originally composed the music for the score of the 1933 film of the same name , later the music was assembled into a suite: Op. 60. The original piece can be heard here on YouTube. Anyway, as always, Sky did an awesome job in their arrangement of this classical track. Hear Sky's arrangement of Troika on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Mason Williams - Classical Gas My song pick two years ago today: Alexi Murdoch - Breathe My song pick three years ago today: Bad Company - Shooting Star My song pick four years ago today: Ella Fitzgerald - Blue Skies +

1514 Rammstein - Links 2-3-4 From: Mutter , Year: 2001 Genre: Neue Deutsche Härte I really needed some Rammstein to listen to this evening; I decided on this nice rousing tune off of the Mutter album for today's pick. From what I've read about this track, it was written in response to all of the crap the band gets from ignorant individuals accusing them of being a "Nazi metal band." In the song they go as far as to say they are on the other end of the spectrum. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rammstein - Donaukinder My song pick two years ago today: U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love) My song pick three years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - Uneasy Rider My song pick four years ago today: Megadeth - Psychotron +

1513 The Allman Brothers Band - Les Brers in A Minor From: Eat a Peach , Year: 1972 Genre: Southern Rock/Rock/Jazz I've been procrastinating today and am finally making myself sit down and make my pick; it's just one of those days. Anyway, when I was deciding on a song for my pick today this impressive instrumental off of The Allman Brothers Band's monster album Eat a Peach kept running through my mind. This is another one of their songs that crosses so many styles and genres at the same time; it's simply an amazing piece of music. Hear Les Brers in A Minor on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Puhdys - He John My song pick two years ago today: Styx - Too Much Time On My Hands My song pick three years ago today: The Amboy Dukes - Journey to the Center of the Mind My song pick four years ago today: The Who - Pinball Wizard +

1512 Jigsaw - Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind From: Letherslade Farm , Year: 1970 Genre: Rock/Progressive Rock I had no song in mind for today, but then I thought of this track and it fit my mood; it is another one of Jigsaw's arrangements of classical pieces of music. From what I have read, this song was originally a poem written by William Shakespeare and has been made into a song a few times in the past. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: U2 - Mysterious Ways My song pick two years ago today: Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son My song pick three years ago today: The Who - Behind Blue Eyes My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Part Of The Machine +

1511 Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone From: Top Gun Soundtrack , Year: 1986 Genre: Hard Rock/Rock As many have probably already know Apple founder Steve Jobs succumbed to the cancer he has been fighting for the last few years; my thoughts and prayers go our to his friends and family. Even if you disliked him and/or the company he founded you will have to admit that the man massively affected the course technology has taken in the past 30+ years and we'll surely be feeling his influence for many years to come. Anyway, ever since I heard the news yesterday I couldn't help but have this song in particular running through my mind. A few years ago when I was working on my bachelors degree I bought my first Apple computer and I happened to catch a deal where I got a free iPod with its purchase; they were still fairly new devices at the time. The first CD I happened to put on it was my wife's Top Gun Soundtrack with this iconic '80 guitar rock anthem being the first song ripped ...

1510 Megaherz - Himmelfahrt From: Himmelfahrt , Year: 2000 Genre: Industrial Metal/Neue Deutsche Härte I've noticed that for some reason I have been picking quite a few title tracks as of late. I guess that I'm continuing that trend today with this title track off of Megaherz's '00 release Himmelfahrt . The song embodies a lot of what I like about European Metal; it's extremely melodic and aggressive at the same time. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Coleman Hawkins - Stardust My song pick two years ago today: Bon Jovi - Someday I'll Be Saturday Night My song pick three years ago today: Styx - The Grand Illusion My song pick four years ago today: Neil Young - After The Gold Rush +

1509 Hawkwind - Uncle Sam's on Mars From: PXR5 , Year: 1979 Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock Something in particular happened to get this song to start running through my mind for the last little bit, but I forgot what it was. Anyway, this satirical protest song has a wee bit of punk rock edge that goes along quite well with the normal progressive Hawkwind sounds. Here is a fan video with the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Al Di Meola - Suite – Golden Dawn My song pick two years ago today: Béla Fleck & the Flecktones - Sex in a Pan My song pick three years ago today: David Bowie - Space Oddity My song pick four years ago today: The Guess Who - No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature +

1508 Depeche Mode - Stripped From: Black Celebration , Year: 1986 Genre: Dark Wave/Pop/Synthpop I'm over 1500 song picks into my song-a-day blog and I haven't picked a single Depeche Mode song. It actually was a bit of a surprise; I thought I had picked a couple of their songs, but I guess I hadn't. I grew up hearing them quite a bit and I've always been a fan of their music; this is one of my favourites. Here is the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Sammy Davis Jr. - Mr. Bojangles My song pick two years ago today: John Denver - Blues My Naughty My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres My song pick four years ago today: Rush - YYZ +

1507 Van Morrison - Wavelength From: Wavelength , Year: 1978 Genre: Rock Off and on over the last few days or so I've had this song on my mind. I decided to check and see if it was available for view on YouTube and sure enough it was! A few years back Van Morrison and his record company were extremely draconian about having his music on YouTube; they even took it as far as making them take down live covers of his songs performed by amateur bands. That is the reason I haven't chosen very many of his songs; I hate picking a song without having a YouTube video to go along with it. Anyway, I like the way this song was written and arranged; I absolutely love the build at the beginning. This one contains quite a bit more synth than much of his other material, but still just as excellent as his others. Here is a fan video with the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance circa '80 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Lee Michaels - Do You Know What I Mean? My s...

1506 Pink Floyd - Interstellar Overdrive From: Piper at the Gates of Dawn , Year: 1967 Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Space Rock I've been meaning to add this track to my list for quite a while now and am taking this Saturday's pick to do just that. This is one of my favourite pieces of early Pink Floyd. I love having this song play in background whilst going about my work; the entire album is that way for that matter. Hear the full 16+ minute version of Interstellar Overdrive on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Lets Groove My song pick two years ago today: Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd - Samba Triste My song pick three years ago today: The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary My song pick four years ago today - April Wine - Roller +