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

From: Birds of Fire ; Year: 1973; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Funk Here's my nineteen-hundredth-and-seventy-third song picked, and as I've been doing as of late, this one from John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra was released in the year that coincides with today's pick number: 1973. There were a couple of other songs I was wanting to pick off this album, but I couldn't find them on YouTube, so I finally ended up picking this 10-minute funky jazz fusion instrumental. Not a bad song at all, actually on the contrary it's an excellent piece of music, it's just probably not appreciated as much by those who like a more mainstream sound. All and all an excellent song to close out 2012 with! Hear One Word on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - The Raven My song pick two years ago today: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - The Sinister Minister My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein - Reise, Reise My song pick four ...

From: Paul Simon ; Year: 1972; Genre: Pop/Rock/Reggae I'm continuing my theme of picking songs that were released the year that coincides with my song pick number. Well, today's pick number happens to be 1972, which was also the year Paul Simon released his first solo record sans Art Garfunkel and happened to contain this song. For some reason I've always loved this song, I don't know if it's the reggae influenced music, the songwriting, the sentimental lyrics, or a combination thereof, but I've always liked it. Hear Mother and Child Reunion on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Maurice Ravel - M.81 - Boléro My song pick two years ago today: Megaherz - Schizophren My song pick three years ago today: Genesis - Turn It On Again My song pick four years ago today: Miles Davis - Walkin' My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - Cold Wind To Valhalla

From: Acquiring the Taste ; Year: 1971; Genre: Progressive Rock For my nineteen-hundred-and-seventy-first pick I am choosing another song from another band that I've been meaning to pick a song from for a bit now. Gentle Giant, which is among the granddaddies of progressive rock, is one of the bands of that ilk that I've never truly gotten that much into, but lately I've been listening to their music. Hear The House, The Street, The Room on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Something to Believe In My song pick two years ago today: Dizzy Gillespie - One Note Samba My song pick three years ago today: Steely Dan - Josie My song pick four years ago today: Joni Mitchell - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat My song pick five years ago today: Big Country - In A Big Country

From: Burrito Deluxe ; Year: 1970; Genre: Rock/Country I was taken aback by the amount of excellent music to be released in 1970, (today's song pick number), and had a horrid time narrowing it down to the one I would pick. The main reason I picked this one is because I've been wanting to pick one from The Flying Burrito Brothers for a while now and this is also a cover of one of my favourite songs from The Rolling Stones. In actuality this was the first version of the song ever recorded; it was about a year later The 'Stones released theirs.  Hear the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Steve Miller Band - My Dark Hour My song pick two years ago today: Fear Factory - Fear Campaign My song pick three years ago today: Gunnar Madsen - Surprise! My song pick four years ago today: Charles Mingus - Tonight At Noon My song pick five years ago today: Megadeth - Architecture of Aggression

From: Yes ; Year: 1969; Genre: Progressive Rock I noticed that Yes' debut album was released in 1969, (today's song pick number), and I thought that choosing something off of it would be excellent. By many this is considered to be one of the earlier proper progressive rock albums. Hear Beyond & Before on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Billy Joel - The Downeaster 'Alexa' My song pick two years ago today: Oasis - Cast No Shadow My song pick three years ago today: Nightwish - Wanderlust My song pick four years ago today: Dizzy Gillespie - Salt Peanuts My song pick five years ago today: Bon Jovi - You Give Love A Bad Name

From: Vincebus Eruptum ; Year: 1968; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal Here's a pretty good one for my nineteen-hundred-and-sixty-eighth song pick, which was released in 1968 by the protometal power trio Blue Cheer; there were a lot of good music released that year. I love their raw energy on this song and album. Hear Blue Cheer's version of Summertime Blues on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Genesis - Land of Confusion My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Stuck in the August Rain My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein - Feuer Frei! My song pick four years ago today: Huey Lewis and the News - Back In Time My song pick five years ago today: Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally)

From: The Jethro Tull Christmas Album ; Year: 2003; Genre: Progressive Rock Merry Christmas once again! I thought that I would take another day off of picking songs from the date that coincides with my song pick number for the occasion. This is a rather pretty instrumental piece that was penned by guitarist Martin Barre closes out their Christmas album; it seemed like a good song to close out the Holiday as well. Hear A Winter Snowscape on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas My song pick two years ago today: Steeleye Span - Gaudete My song pick three years ago today: Ian Anderson - A Birthday Card At Christmas My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Another Christmas Song My song pick five years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Wish Liszt (Toy Shop Madness)

From: The Lost Christmas Eve ; Year: 2004; Genre: Symphonic Metal/Progressive Metal Merry Christmas! I decided to deviate away from picking songs that were released in the year that coincides with my song pick number today and pick something more appropriate for The Season. There were a lot of good songs released in '66 that I'll probably pick sometime in the future, but for now here's a rather popular seasonal instrumental from The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Cheers! Hear Wizards in Winter on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Christmas at Ground Zero My song pick two years ago today: Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) - I Believe in Father Christmas My song pick three years ago today: Louis Armstrong - 'Zat You Santa Claus? My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - A Christmas Song My song pick five years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost of Christmas Eve

From: Mr. Tambourine Man ; Year: 1965; Genre: Folk Rock There were a great deal of songs released in 1965, (today's song pick number), that I thought about choosing. When I noticed that The Byrds' famous cover of this Bob Dylan track was released that year and that I hadn't picked it yet I knew I had my song for today. I've always loved this ever since I first heard it; it's one of my favourites from The Byrds. Interestingly enough, other than the vocals and Roger McGuinn's 12-string guitar the studio version of this song was actually performed by studio musicians. Hear Mr. Tambourine Man on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Siberian Sleigh Ride My song pick two years ago today: Twisted Sister - Oh Come All Ye Faithful My song pick three years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Joy/Angels We Have Heard on High My song pick four years ago today: The Kinks - Father Christmas My song pick five years ago to...

From: Have I the Right (Single); Year: 1964; Genre: Pop There were quite a few songs that I like from the year 1964 and was thinking about making my 1964th song picked. However, I happened to remember this song, which was the last hit produced by legendary eccentric producer and inventor Joe Meek. I have always been a fan of his unorthodox ways of getting the "perfect" sound, be it pounding a microphone on a floor wrapped in a blanket and tape to make the "perfect" bass drum sound or recording his toilet flushing to mimic the sound of a rocket launch. On this one the prominent unique sounding "drums" were enhanced actually by five microphones fastened to a staircase whilst the members of the band stamped their feet on it as well as a tambourine being beat into a microphone for further enhancement. Sadly, Joe Meek would never produce any more hits on this or the scale of any of his previous recordings and would end up taking his life three years ...

From: Please Please Me ; Year: 1963; Genre: Pop/Rock 'n Roll In 1963, which is also today's song pick number The Beatles released their first full-length studio album: Please Please Me . Interestingly enough, other than the two already-released singles, (this song was one of them), the entire album was recorded in one day. While I'm more of a fan of their later work, it's still good to listen to their earlier work, when the band was blossoming; knowing where they phenomenal career would go. Hear Please Please Me on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: John Denver - Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas) My song pick two years ago today: Mykola Leontovych - Shchedryk (The Carol of the Bells) My song pick three years ago today: Steeleye Span - Edwin My song pick four years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra/Savatage - Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - Ring Out Solstice Bells

From: Bob Dylan ; Year: 1962; Genre: Folk Bob Dylan's eponymous debut album came out in 1962, (also today's song pick number); I figured it would be an excellent choice to pick something from it. See that My Grave is Kept Clean was among the cover songs he recorded, it was originally written by "Blind" Lemon Jefferson . Hear Bob Dylan's version of See That My Grave is Kept Clean on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - I Am Santa Claus My song pick two years ago today: Daft Punk - End of Line My song pick three years ago today: Avatar (Savatage) - Rock Me My song pick four years ago today: Savatage - White Witch My song pick five years ago today: Paul McCartney - Little Willow

From: Don't Play That Song! ; Year: 1961; Genre: R&B/Soul I'm continuing to pick songs from the year that is the same as my song pick number. This song, which is probably Ben E. King's biggest hit, was also one of the bigger hits in the year 1961. I actually thought for sure that I'd already picked it, but I guess I was wrong. Outside of the powerful lyrics and their excellent delivery the utter simplicity of this song construction led by that simple bass line is probably it's greatest attribute by far. Hear Stand By Me on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow My song pick two years ago today: Nightwish - Wishmaster My song pick three years ago today: The Violent Femmes - Color Me Once My song pick four years ago today: The Who - Eminence Front My song pick five years ago today: John Fogerty - Almost Saturday Night

From: Ultimate Collection ; Year: 1998; (1960); Genre: Motown/Soul/R&B In my opinion this is one of the best hit songs from the year 1960, which is today's song pick number. I've always been a big fan of Smokey Robinson and The Miracles; this is one of their earlier hits. Hear Shop Around on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Louis Armstrong - Christmas in New Orleans My song pick two years ago today: Boston - A Man I'll Never Be My song pick three years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Blue Collar My song pick four years ago today: John Denver - Season Suite - Winter My song pick five years ago today: Band of Horses - The Funeral

From: Kind of Blue ; Year: 1959; Genre: Modal Jazz With today's pick number I had a quandary; there's a lot of good music released in the year 1959; (suffice it to say I have a lot of future picks of songs from that year). However, I then remembered that '59 was the year Miles Davis recorded and released arguably one of, if not the most influential jazz album of all time: Kind of Blue . While I've heard many, many artists citing this album as one of their main inspirations and had it described as, and I'm paraphrasing here, like The Bible: every house seems to have a copy of it, Miles Davis himself seemed to not be as enthusiastic about it looking back on it. Perhaps that's the way that pioneers on the cutting edge of even the definition of music itself look at their past work; they're always looking for what's new. In my opinion, no matter what you think of his personality, you have to admit the man had more talent and originality in his fingern...

From: Milestones ; Year: 1958; Genre:Modal  Jazz Here's a nice one that was recorded and released in 1958, which is also today's song pick number. This is Miles' cover of a Thelonious Monk tune that features both legendary saxophonists Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane. Hear Straight, No Chaser on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Triumph - Hold On My song pick two years ago today: Jack Black and Jason Segel - The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth My song pick three years ago today: John Denver - Poems, Prayers and Promises My song pick four years ago today: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Marrakesh Express My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - We Used To Know

From: That'll Be the Day (Single); Year: 1957; Genre: Rock 'n Roll Here's my pick for my 1957th pick, which also was recorded that year. While this was among Buddy Holley's many hit tracks, it was his first really big hit, which launched his brilliant, but tragically short musical career. Hear That'll Be the Day on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Alestorm - Keelhauled My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - My God My song pick three years ago today: Wolfsheim - Once in a Lifetime My song pick four years ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home) My song pick five years ago today: Pet Shop Boys - So Hard

From: Heartbreak Hotel (Single); Year: 1956; Genre: Rock 'n Rock/Blues Suffice it to say that probably from this point until I reach song pick 2013 I'll probably continue picking songs that were released on the date that coincides with my song pick number, unless of course I get bored or for a myriad of other reasons. Anyway, in 1956, which is today's pick number Elvis Presley, The King, had quite a few hit singles, of course this was one of the major ones. Heartbreak Hotel is quite an influential and famous song, even today; many a musician since has pointed to this song as being of major influence. Hear Heartbreak Hotel on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rare Earth - I Just Want to Celebrate My song pick two years ago today: Top Gear Band - Red Light Spells Danger My song pick three years ago today: Azteca - Love is a Stranger My song pick four years ago today: Danzig - Mother My song pick five years ago today: Savatage - Gutter Ballet

From: Rock Around the Clock ; Year: 2004; (1954); Genre: Rock 'N Roll Still another one of those busy days where I'm having to be brief. Anyway, In 1955, which also is my song pick number today, this rather famous song was quite big in the charts. Hear Rock Around the Clock on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Steve Vai - I'm the Hell Outta Here My song pick two years ago today: Fear Factory - Replica My song pick three years ago today: David Bowie - Changes My song pick four years ago today: Heart - Black On Black II My song pick five years ago today: Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

From: King Animal ; Year: 2012; Genre: Alternative Metal I'm having yet another busy day, so I'm having to make another pick rather quick and brief, which sucks because I do like this song. I figured I would pick another one from Soundgarden's new album; it was really the first track that caught my attention and became one of my favourites; let's just say that it's awesome in many ways. Hear Non-State Actor on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Mushroom Tabernacle Choir - 12 Drugs of Christmas My song pick two years ago today: David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes My song pick three years ago today: Ian Anderson - In the Moneylender's Temple My song pick four years ago today: Dobie Grey - Drift Away My song pick five years ago today: Lobo - Gypsy and the Midnight Ghost

From: King Animal ; Year: 2012; Genre: Alternative Metal/Grunge I'm having an extremely busy day, so I'm having to be a bit brief with today's pick. Anyway, this is one of my favourites from Soundgarden's just-released album King Animal ; I love how they were able to keep their classic sound, but still have an infusion of new sound at the same time. Hear Taree on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Lighthouse - Pretty Lady My song pick two years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Mr. Recordman My song pick three years ago today: Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed - Something My song pick four years ago today: Buddy Holly & the Crickets - Well... All Right My song pick five years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Dreams

From: Leviathan EP; Year: 2008; Genre: Pirate Metal/Celtic Folk Metal I was listening to Alestorm's Leviathan record yesterday and it felt like a good day to pick one of their songs, so here is the title track. While not even close to my favourite song from the band, it's still a good one. Hear Leviathan on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - What You're Doing My song pick two years ago today: Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Bright Moments My song pick three years ago today: Maddy Prior - The Fabled Hare My song pick four years ago today: Chuck Berry - Almost Grown My song pick five years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Right Down The Line

From: The Very Best of Les Paul & Mary Ford ; Year: 1998 (1951); Genre: Pop/Rock 'N Roll/ Jazz I'm making another pick where the date a song was released/recorded and my song pick number match. Les Paul & Mary Ford's cover of the often recorded song from the '40s Broadway musical Two for the Show was a pretty big hit in the year 1951, which is also today's pick. As always, Mary Ford's vocals and  Les Paul's guitar played are brilliant as ever. While today it might seem normal, but back then Les Paul was a pioneer in musical recording; he was among the first to employ overdubbing and multitracking on his recordings, which set his sound apart. It's interesting when you think about it: the techniques he used essentially set the path as to where studio recordings would progress ever since. Hear How High the Moon on YouTube. Watch a video clip with the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - R...

From: Bird and Diz ; Year: 1950; Genre: Bebop/Jazz This song and album were recorded and released in the year 1950, which is also today's song pick number; not that I needed an excuse to pick a song from two of my favourite jazz musicians. Bloomdido as well as the other tracks on the record are some excellent examples of Bebop at its height from two of the masters of the sub-genre. Anyway, with most of these jazz albums from the 1950s I love reading who else played on them. This one in particular, besides Bird and Diz, they also had legendary drummers Buddy Rich and Max Roach, as well as Thelonious Monk on piano to name a few. Hear Bloomdido on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Molly Hatchet - One Man's Pleasure My song pick two years ago today: Hawkwind - High Rise My song pick three years ago today: Joachim Witt - Bataillon 'd Amour My song pick four years ago today: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Ohio My song pick five years ago today:...

From: Riders in the Sky ; Year: 2002 (1949); Genre: Country/Folk I've always loved this song in most of its incarnations; this is one of the more famous version and was one of the bigger hits in 1949, which is also today's pick number. Vaughn Monroe's deep and haunting vocals are really what makes this version of the song as great as it is. Hear (Ghost) Riders in the Sky on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bob Dylan - Knockin' on Heaven's Door My song pick two years ago today: Frank Zappa - Dumb All Over My song pick three years ago today: Django Reinhardt - I'll See You In My Dreams My song pick four years ago today: Queen - You're My Best Friend My song pick five years ago today: The Zombies - She's Not There

From: Time Out ; Year: 1959; Genre: Cool Jazz Yesterday I found out that legendary jazz great and bandleader Dave Brubeck passed away at the age of 91, a write up can be found here on BBC.com . While I'm not really a fan of the jazz sub-genre that is "cool jazz" I absolutely love Dave Brubeck's work in it; him and his quartet were simply amazing. Anyway, this song, of course, comes off his landmark Time Out album, and as with all of the other material on it, it features odd time signatures. Three to Get Ready bounces back and forth between a waltz 3/4 and a straight-up 4/4. When they are playing in the 3/4 waltz time it almost sounds like classical music and goes into the syncopated jazz feel in the 4/4. Hear Three to Get Ready on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rammstein - Rammstein My song pick two years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - You Send Me My song pick three years ago today: Frijid Pink - House of the Rising Sun My song pic...

From: Grace Under Pressure ; Year: 1984; Genre: Hard Rock Yesterday I happened to have this song play on my iPod; even though I'm a big fan of their music I hadn't heard it for a spell and it brought it back to my attention. Out of a lot of their music this, in my opinion, is one of their most powerful songs, at least subject matter wise; almost every time I hear this song it gives me a bit of a chill. Musically, this one is very much like its siblings from their mid '80s synth-driven materiel. Now, when I first heard it the lyrics painted a rather gloomy and depressing picture and I really didn't really think that much of it at the time because more than a few of their songs, many of which are also on this album, have similar subject matter. However, I was curious and later found out that it was actually inspired by the horrific experience by both of Geddy Lee's parents had in the concentration camps during The Holocaust. Apparently Neil Peart heard about th...

From: Top Hat/Blue Skies Original Soundtracks ; Year: 2004 (1946); Genre: Pop/Musical/Jazz I'm again making another pick where a date concerning a song and the song pick number match. Irving Berlin composed this song for over a decade and a half prior to this recording as part of the music in the film of the song's namesake ; it was re-recorded and covered a few times as well before this rather famous version for another film was recorded. The earlier versions of the song had different lyrics; it was re-written by Irving Berlin to fit the new musical film: Blue Skies . Today most probably would recognize versions with the newer lyrics mostly because the original lyrical content was less racially sensitive. This is one of those songs that has never really gone away; it has been covered countless times, even in recent years. The unique and rather catchy, offbeat syncopated singing, especially in verses, is probably one of the main reasons this song has remained so popul...

From: 11:60 P.M. ; Year: 1945; Genre: Swing Jazz I haven't yet chosen a song from Harry James; he led one of the big bands I heard a lot growing up. So, when I noticed that he released this hit song in 1945, which is also today's song pick number, I figured I would seize the opportunity. Hear a recording of 11:60 PM on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Billy Idol - Flesh for Fantasy My song pick two years ago today: The Coasters - Along Came Jones My song pick three years ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - Footstompin' Music My song pick four years ago today: Petula Clark - Don't Sleep in the Subway My song pick f ive years ago today: Band of Horses - Wicked Gil

From: The Classic Years ; Year: 2010 (1944); Genre: Jazz Here's another one where the date of the song's recording happens to also be the number to today's pick: 1944. I'm almost 2000 songs in and there are too many artists than I can count that haven't made my list yet; I've been meaning to pick one from this rather influential vocal group for a bit now and finally I have. Even though their place in musical history has been secured for many years, recently they have gained more popularity through their material being used as period music in a few popular video games: the Bioshock and Fallout series. Anyway, this is quite a pretty love song; with the addition of Ella Fitzgerald's beautiful and amazing vocals it makes it all that much more of an amazing track. Hear I'm Making Believe on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Vengeance (The Pact) My song pick two years ago today: Hawkwind - Sleep of a Thousand Tears...

From: Dead End Street/Big Black Smoke (single); Year: 1966; Genre: Rock Well, one more month and after today there's only 30 songs now left to pick this year; wow where does the time go? Anyway, I had no song in mind to choose today, but for some reason I felt like listening to something from The Kinks, who are probably my favourite band from The British Invation. In this single release circa 1966 Ray Davies again uses his awesome lyric writing talent to paint an amazing picture, in this one it's a bleak picture of hopeless poverty. The music throughout most of the song does just as much to dampen the mood especially with the addition of that lone trombone, which adds an even more sorrowful sound to the track. It's interesting how the last few bars in the chorus break the overall depressive mood just to plunge you back into it with the next verse. Hear Dead End Street on YouTube. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Megah...

From: The Best of Fats Waller ; Year: 2012 (1942); Genre: Jazz I'm picking another song where its publishing date happens to match my song pick number; this is a real good one. This was one of the last major compositions from Fats Waller, sadly a year later a bout with pneumonia brought on by a hectic schedule took the master composer/musician's life at an untimely age of 39. He's another one of those musical giants that accomplished an amazing amount within the short time he was on this Earth. Hear Jitterbug Waltz on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Pibroch (Cap in Hand) My song pick two years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Civilize the Universe My song pick three years ago today: Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son My song pick four years ago today: John Denver - The Eagle and the Hawk My song pick five years ago today: Three Dog Night - Liar

From: Escape ; Year: 1981; Genre: Rock I was listening to some Journey this morning and also happened to go over the songs of theirs I'd already picked; I was kind of surprised that I hadn't added this song yet. I used to like Don't Stop Believing and it was actually one of my favourites from the band; I still like it, but just not as much.  I guess it must be because of how it gets overplayed in recent years; when a song gets absorbed into popular culture like this one did it loses something. It's truly sad that so many of these great bands have started whoring their art and themselves out to television shows, advertisers, and other media. I can still remember back when such a thing was a taboo; things have definitely changed. Now every time I hear it I can't help but get the image of a crowd of drunken bar patrons singing along, of course each singing it in different and sometimes multiple keys. Anyway, I'm digressing. But, with that being said th...

From: Emerson, Lake & Palmer ; Year: 1970; Genre: Progressive Rock As I've said a few times before, I normally don't let my previous picks influence current ones, well, other than not picking ones that I've already chosen. Anyway, when I noticed that a year ago I chose EL&P's epic Tarkus it got me in the mood for some more of their music. This is another one that hails from their hit debut album; it's a rather complex and pretty track that goes through a few sections and arrangements, however, at the same time it's quite a listenable track to even a casual listener. Keith Emerson's piano playing is amazing; I love how he goes from light and delicate in one section and utilizes the instrument's power in others, heck he even strums its strings towards the start. Hear Take a Pebble on YouTube. Watch a live performance circa '71 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Tarkus My song pick two years ...

From: When the Saints Go Marching I n; Year: 2009 (1939); Genre: Jazz I had some other songs in mind for today's pick, but I happened to notice that Louis Armstrong had a famous hit recording of this traditional hymn in 1939, which is today's pick number. After seeing that I couldn't help but make it my choice today. This is a pretty popular version; most people today should know or at least have heard Louie Armstrong's version of the song. Even though it had been in existence for many years before, in my mind and probably many others' as well have a tendency to associate this track with him. Hear a recording of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: John Denver - Farewell Andromeda (Welcome To My Morning) My song pick two years ago today: Del Shannon - Runaway My song pick three years ago today: Steely Dan - Black Friday My song pick four years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - I Just Want You My song pick five years ago today: Quiet Rio...

From: Calling Up Spirits ; Year: 1996; Genre: Hard Rock/Surf Rock I've been wanting to pick this song for a while now and today feels like a good time to do so; Bandito is one of my favourite songs from Dick Dale. Anyway, this is a pretty heavy instrumental surf guitar rock track with a bit of a Latin flare to it. My favourite part is how the guitar and bass interact throughout the song especially in the descending lines where the guitar starts it and then the bass finishes it and they start over again, which makes kind of an echo/roll effect. Here is a fan video with the studio version of Bandito on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Dream Theater - A Nightmare to Remember My song pick two years ago today: Bob Marley & the Wailers - Jamming My song pick three years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Crossfire My song pick four years ago today: 4 Non Blondes - What's Up? My song pick f ive years ago today: Jethro Tull - ...And ...

From: One O'Clock Jump (single); Year: 1937; Genre: Swing Jazz/Blues Here's another pick which the date of the song's release happens to match the number of today's song pick. In the year 1937 this instrumental jazz standard tore up the charts; it was made the official theme song for Basie's Orchestra and was covered many times by other artists as well. Even today this is quite a popular song that most have probably heard at one time or another. Most Rush fan will also recognize this piece as being sampled in most of Neil Peart's "epic" drum solos in recent years. Hear One O'Clock Jump on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nightwish - Storytime My song pick two years ago today: Kay Kyser and His Orchestra - Praise The Lord and Pass the Ammunition My song pick three years ago today: Nightwish feat. Tapio Wilska - The Devil & the Deep Dark Ocean My song pick four years ago today: Mason Proffit - Two Hangmen My song pi...

From: The Quintessential Billie Holiday, Vol.2: 1936 ; Year: 1990 (1936); Genre: Blues/Jazz I'm making another pick where my pick number and the date concerning a song I wanted to pick coincide. In the year 1936 Billie Holiday's cover of this Gershwin piece from the opera Porgy and Bess was amongst the year ' s most popular recordings. Hear Billie Holiday's version of Summertime on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: David Bowie - Young Americans My song pick two years ago today: Eric Robertson - "Spooked" on Classics My song pick three years ago today: Antonio Salieri - Requiem in C-Minor ( Piccolo Requiem ) My song pick four years ago today: Marmalade - Reflections of My Life My song pick five years ago today: .38 Special - Same Old Feeling