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

From: Sonic Attack , Year: 1981, Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock Well, as of tomorrow Blogger will no longer allow me to use the simple, easy to use software I was used to, so I decided I would "upgrade" a day early. As you can probably tell I'm not at all in favour of the move. I tried the software about six months ago and absolutely hated it; ever since I first saw the notification that this was taking place I dreaded it. I don't know what it is with these services who take a simple, easy to used, streamlined interface and "add" new features that only serve to make the blog posting process a messed up pain in the arse. Not only that, they saw fit to make the older processes that you were used to that much more difficult as well! Okay, I will end my rant now. Anyway, for no reason what-so-ever I felt like listening to some Hawkwind today. Initially I wanted to pick a song from their Alien 4 album, but sadly none of the songs that I wanted to pi...

1692 Nightwish - Know Why the Nightingale Sings From: Angels Fall First , Year: 1997 Genre: Power Metal/Symphonic Metal Yesterday I finished my collection of Nightwish music when got their first album; I know, with how big of a fan I am of the band I should've picked it up already. It's amazing to think that, with the refined sound and quality of music on this album, Nightwish had only been in existence around a year when it was released and they didn't even have a full-time bassist with the band at the time of recording. While I'd heard some of the songs on the album before I picked it up, there were a few that I hadn't yet heard that stood out; this being one of them. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Stuart Hamm - Black Ice My song pick two years ago today: Waylander - Brú Na Bóinne My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein - Klavier My song pick four years ago today: Johnny Rivers - Summer Rain +

1691 The Foggy Mountain Boys (Flatt & Scruggs) - Cripple Creek From: Foggy Mountain Banjo , Year: 1961 Genre: Bluegrass Yesterday I found out that legendary musician Earl Scruggs passed away. The two songs most would probably remember from Flatt & Scruggs would be " The Ballad of Jed Clampett " (the theme from the Beverly Hillbillies ), which can be heard here on YouTube ; and Foggy Mountain Breakdown (from the film Bonny and Clyde ); it can be heard here on YouTube . Anyway, after hearing about his death I was remembering a lot of his music, which I was mostly exposed to through my grandfather. He was a big fan of Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe, and bluegrass in general. This was the first song he taught me to play on the banjo many, many years ago. Here is a recording on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Queensrÿche - Fear City Slide My song pick two years ago today: Dream Theater - Light Fuse and Get Away My song pick three years ago today: The Doors - Gh...

1690 Yes - Starship Trooper From: The Yes Album , Year: 1971 Genre: Progressive Rock I'm having to get a lot of musical practice in the next little bit; mostly today, so I needed some stuff that was very musical to get my mind moving. The Yes Album was one of the first ones I started to listen to; Chris Squire is an excellent bassist to gain some inspiration from. Anyway, this excellent three part prog epic seemed like a good pick for today as well. Here is the entire studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Buffalo Springfield - Mr. Soul My song pick two years ago today: Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode My song pick three years ago today: J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers - Last Kiss My song pick four years ago today: Queensrÿche - Anybody Listening? +

1689 Porcupine Tree - Time Flies From: The Incident , Year: 2009 Genre: Progressive Rock In one week the new Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull concept album Thick as a Brick 2 will be released. I've been listening to a lot of Porcupine Tree over the last little bit after finding out that Steven Wilson is involved in the production process of the album; mixing the 5.1 surround sound in particular. Suffice it to say I'm really looking forward to hearing his work with Thick as a Brick 2 ; hopefully they succeeded in creating a up-to-date prog/rock sound for it. Anyway, this is one of my favourites off of Porcupine Tree's most recent release. Time Flies is the ninth track from the concept piece The Incident and is treated as the centerpiece of the album. This is an excellent track; it has a nice mix of lighter acoustic and heavier rock sound/feel with excellent musical arrangements and lyrical content; an excellent piece of Progressive Rock. Here is the full studio version on YouTube...

1688 Shocking Blue - Never Marry a Railroad Man From: 3rd Album , Year: 1971 Genre: Rock I heard this song again yesterday and thought it would make an excellent choice for today. The Shocking Blue is known mostly for their hit song Venus ; this was another one of their hits, it's just not as popular. I love their use of the nylon stringed guitar played in a flamencoesque style; it adds an amazing contrast dynamically to the heavier rock sound. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Hawkwind - Mirror of Illusion My song pick two years ago today: Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven - Melancholy Blues My song pick three years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - That Smell My song pick four years ago today: Pink Floyd - Brain Damage/Eclipse +

1687 Queensrÿche - Promised Land From: Promised Land , Year: 1994 Genre: Progressive Metal I was listening to a bunch of Queensrÿche today and thought I would pick another one of their songs to close out this weekend. This is the title track off of their '94 album Promised Land. It's rather pretty and dark at the same time; I absolutely love it. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Ed Bogas & Merl Saunders - The Riot My song pick two years ago today: J. S. Bach - BWV 870 - Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C major , from The Well-Tempered Clavier Book No. 2 My song pick three years ago today: Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell My song pick four years ago today: The Spencer Davis Group - Give Me Some Lovin' +

1686 Rhapsody of Fire - Holy Thunderforce From: Dawn of Victory , Year: 2000 Genre: Symphonic Metal/Power Metal I'm enjoying a rather lazy Saturday; it has been quite nice to just kick back and listen to some music. I've been listening to a lot of European Metal in particular this morning; I noticed that I had not chosen a song from Rhapsody of Fire yet, so I thought I would rectify that today. Here is the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Guided by Voices - Everybody Thinks I’m a Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking) My song pick two years ago today: Gorō Yamaguchi - Tsuru No Sugomori (Crane's Nest) My song pick three years ago today: M83 - Don't Save Us From The Flames My song pick four years ago today: Heart - Dreamboat Annie +

1685 Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 1062 - Concerto in C-Minor For Two Harpsichords BWV 1062, Year: 1739 Genre: Baroque Period/classical Today is my sixteen-hundred-and-eighty-fifth song pick, which also happens to be the year, (1685), which two great and quite famous Baroque composers were born: Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel . It was a toss-up as to which composer's songs I was going to pick. However, in the end, with J.S. Bach being my favourite composer from any period of classical music, I again went with something from the BWV list. This piece is actually a transcription of one of his more famous pieces, BWV 1043 - Double Violin Concerto , re-written for the harpsichord; it can easily be found on a YouTube search. I almost picked the original piece, but I've always loved the sound of the harpsichord and anytime I get an opportunity to hear one being played I take it. Here is a performance of the piece performed by Trevor Pinnock and Kenneth Gil...

1684 Muse - Citizen Erased From: Origin of Symmetry , Year: 2001 Genre: Progressive Rock I've had Muse running through my mind most of the morning and again took it as a sign to pick one of their songs. This track is amazingly constructed and arranged both musically and lyrically; one of my favourites from the band. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Darkness - Is It Just Me My song pick two years ago today: Blind Willie Johnson - Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground My song pick three years ago today: Devo - Come Back Jonee My song pick four years ago today: Weather Report - A Remark You Made +

1683 Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love From: Led Zeppelin II , Year: 1969 Genre: Hard Rock/Metal While out running some errands this morning I heard this iconic, riff heavy 'Zeppelin track on the radio. I checked to see if I'd picked it yet, and surprisingly I hadn't. Hear Whole Lotta Love on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Queensrÿche - Roads to Madness My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Roll Yer Own My song pick three years ago today: Naturally 7 - Wall of Sound My song pick four years ago today: Nightwish - Bye Bye Beautiful +

1682 Alestorm - Set Sail to Conquer From: Captain Morgan's Revenge , Year: 2008 Genre: Power Metal/Celtic Folk Metal/Pirate Metal The year 1682 happens to be the year that the pirate Bartholomew Roberts , aka "Black Bart" was born. While he's not a well remembered as the likes of Blackbeard, he was supposedly the most successful pirate during the age. Yesterday Max also picked one of their songs , so I figured I would pick another great Pirate Metal tune from Alestorm as well. Hear Set Sail to Conquer on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys - The Ghost and Honest Joe My song pick two years ago today: Jerry Reed - Amos Moses My song pick three years ago today: Santana - All The Love In The Universe My song pick four years ago today: The Who - My Generation +

1681 Georg Philipp Telemann - TWV 55:C3 - Wassermusik - Hamburger Ebbe und Flut TWV 55:C3, Year: 1723 Genre: Baroque Period/classical Doing another pick on the historical figure birthdate theme; 1681 happened to be the birth year of one of my favourite Baroque composers: Georg Philipp Telemann and oddly enough he would've turned 331 on the 14 of March. I figured it would be nice to pick one of his masterpieces today; this piece is also one of my favourites among many from this truly great composer. Here is a performance of the piece conducted by August Wenzinger: Here is Part 1 on YouTube. Here is Part 2 on YouTube. Here is Part 3 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Steve Winwood - The Finer Things My song pick two years ago today: Tarja Turunen - I Walk Alone My song pick three years ago today: Link Wray - Rumble My song pick four years ago today: The Carter Family - Wildwood Flower +

1680 Alestorm - You Are a Pirate From: Back Through Time , Year: 2011 Genre: Power Metal/Celtic Folk Metal/Pirate Metal I discovered that 1680 is thought to be the birth year of one Edward Teach, who is better known as the pirate Blackbeard . After I learned of that factoid my sixteen-hundred-and-eightieth song pick was a no brainer. For those not aware of it, this song is a cover of a song from a children's television show called LazyTown , which can be found here on YouTube . That original version from the show is actually quite popular due to it being used as a meme about internet piracy. Anyway, when I first saw this song on the album's song list I busted a gut laughing and couldn't wait to hear Alestorm's metal rendition of the song. The only thing I was actually surprised about when I discovered the track on the CD was that, being that they are a Metal band that uses the pirate theme, they hadn't done it earlier. As always with their music this song ...

1679 Dropkick Murphys - Black Velvet Band From: Blackout , Year: 2003 Genre: Celtic Rock/Punk Happy St. Patrick's Day ! I had a few songs from various bands in mind for today's pick, but I decided on this rendition of the traditional folk song originally written around the early 1800's. Although many acts have recorded their versions of this song over the last 50 years, the Celtic Rock/Punk sound of the Dropkick Murphys fits my mood the best. Hear Black Velvet Band on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Black 47 - Green Suede Shoes My song pick two years ago today: Savatage - St. Patricks My song pick three years ago today: Mose Allison - Your Mind is on Vacation My song pick four years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar +

1678 The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Space Age From: E-Man Groovin' , Year: 1976 Genre: Funk/Disco Yesterday I was going through a bunch of Jimmy Castor's music and discovered that he passed away a couple of months ago from heart failure. I was intending on picking one of his songs for a 'Funky Friday' pick anyway, but after hearing about his death I would've chosen one anyway. It seems as if I'm making more and more of these memorial picks lately; I hope that this doesn't become a trend. Anyway, this track was one of his hits from the mid-late '70s and is a rather nice piece of Disco-Funk. Hear Space Age on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bass Extremes - Mocha Soca My song pick two years ago today: Rush - Fly By Night My song pick three years ago today: Jon Hendricks - I'll Bet You Thought I'd Never Find You My song pick four years ago today: Tom Petty - Free Fallin' +

1677 Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) - Chasing Shadows From: Django Reinhardt & the 'Hot Club', Year: 2009, (1935) Genre: Gypsy Jazz Last night we rented the film Hugo , which is a period piece based on the novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret and takes place in interwar Paris circa 1931. I have to say the movie was excellent on all levels and definitely worth watching again. One of the interesting parts of the film, and also why I'm picking a song from Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli, and company, is that they actually put Django Reinhardt in the film; he was played by Emil Lager. In a few places in the film there was a Jazz Quintet playing; I immediately recognized the guitarist as at least a representation of the guitar great and his period music, but after seeing the credits roll I was surprised that in fact Django Reinhardt was actually a character in the film. Anyway, even though I had a few other songs in mind for ...

1676 The Doobie Brothers - Listen to the Music From: Toulouse Street , Year: 1972 Genre: Rock Yesterday I learned that Doobie Brothers drummer Michael Hossack passed away; apparently he'd been battling cancer for a couple of years now. I thought I would go ahead and pick one of the band's more popular songs to feature him. I used to like this song quite a bit, but a few years ago after hearing what seemed like almost every band playing in area venues covering it I kind of lost interest in the song. It was odd; they would play all original material and then somewhere in the middle of their set would play their cover version of this song. Anyway, long story short, it is an excellent song and I have now finally gotten to where I like it again. Hear the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Queen - Bijou My song pick two years ago today: Asia - Heat of the Moment My song pick three years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Aeroplane My song pick four years ago ...

1675 Soundgarden - No Wrong No Right From: Louder Than Love , Year: 1989 Genre: Metal/Grunge Having a rather rainy day today and for some reason I just felt like listening to some Soundgarden. Since I've been getting heavily back into the band, I've discovered that I really like their first two albums; the second one in particular. This track is one of my favourites from their second album. It has a rather nice mellow groove provided by Matt Cameron's drums and Hiro Yamamoto's bass; I especially love that bass line. Hear the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Wond'ring Aloud My song pick two years ago today: Joe Walsh (The Eagles) - In The City My song pick three years ago today: Pearls Before Swine - (Oh Dear) Miss Morse My song pick four years ago today: Lou Reed - Walk on the Wildside +

1674 Jethro Tull - Aeroplane From: Sunshine Day (Single) , Year: 1968 Genre: Blues Rock I had no song in mind for today, so, as I've been doing lately because my song pick numbers have gotten to where they match years that someone in music might've been born/died, etc., I Googled the year 1674. Low and behold 1674 happened to be the year that Jethro Tull was born, no, not the band or anyone in it; the agriculturalist that the band took its name from . For the record, there was never anyone in the band with the names Jethro or Tull, they actually got the name early on when the band's management would continually change its name in order to get the band re-booked at venues. It just so happens that they were known as Jethro Tull the time they got asked to do another show at The Marquee club, and it stuck. Anyway, there's a piece of useless musical trivia for you. After I discovered this, being a 'Tull fan and all, I figured I should pick one of their earliest recording...

1673 Rush - Limbo From: Test for Echo , Year: 1996 Genre: Progressive Rock The other day Max chose his first song from Rush's Test for Echo album and I believe that I have yet to choose one from that album as well, so I thought I would follow suit. While I'm a huge Rush fan, I've never really cared too much for this album, not that there is anything wrong with it per se. It's just never quite 'clicked' with me like most of their other offerings; this is the same for most of their albums of the '90s, although this album in particular marks my personal low point. Anyway, this instrumental is one of a couple of gems for me off the album. And being that it is an instrumental it's a vehicle for each of the three members of the band to showcase their skills. I really like the addition of the samples from Bobby "Boris" Pickett's Monster Mash ; it really shows how much fun they were having while recording. Hear Limbo on YouTube. Here is a live p...

1672 Amon Amarth - A Beast Am I From: Surtur Rising , Year: 2011 Genre: Death Metal/Viking Metal This is the final pick in my beastie theme week. For quite a while now I've been wanting to choose a song from Amon Amarth and since this rather awesome song fits my beastly theme week I thought I would seize the opportunity. Hear A Beast Am I on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Steve Vai - Little Green Men My song pick two years ago today: Fairport Convention - Maddy Groves My song pick three years ago today: Billy Joel - Allentown My song pick four years ago today: Meg Rock - Clover +

1671 Nightwish - Beauty of the Beast From: Century Child , Year: 2002 Genre: Power Metal/Symphonic Metal For day six of what I am now calling my 'beast theme week' I am choosing this rather epic piece from Nightwish. It's by far the longest track on the album clocking in at over 10 minutes in length and is segmented into three sections: I. ' Long Lost Love ', II: ' One More Night To Live ', and III: ' Christable '. This was also the debut album for Marco Hietala as Nightwish's bassist/male vocalist; he also wrote the music for the first section of this song. Hear Beauty of the Beast on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: L'Arc~en~Ciel - Spirit Dreams Inside My song pick two years ago today: Led Zeppelin - The Battle Of Evermore My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Black Satin Dancer My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Limelight +

1670 Mastodon - Seabeast From: Leviathan , Year: 2004 Genre: Progressive Metal I'm keeping my 'beastie' theme going yet another day; with only two days left I ought to go ahead and made it a full theme week. Anyway, when I was thinking about what song I would pick today I remembered this one off of Mastodon's Leviathan concept album. For those unaware of Mastodon's Leviathan album, the ' Seabeast ' that they're referring to is the whale from the Herman Melville novel Moby-Dick , which the theme of the album is based on. Here is a music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Vangelis - Blade Runner (End Titles) My song pick two years ago today: Karussell - Wer Die Rose Ehrt My song pick three years ago today: The Delgados - Accused of Stealing My song pick four years ago today: Bon Jovi - Always +

1669 The Rolling Stones - Beast of Burden From: Some Girls , Year: 1978 Genre: Blues Rock As I was thinking about a song to pick today this mellow and bluesy 'Stones track came to mind; I figured I'd extend my mini theme one more day. I'm not too sure how long I will keep this 'Beastly' theme going, but I'll see what I feel like tomorrow. Hear Beast of Burden on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Modest Mouse - Float On My song pick two years ago today: Eric Burdon & The Animals - When I Was Young My song pick three years ago today: Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen My song pick four years ago today: Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin - Polovtsian Dances +

1668 Aphrodite's Child - The Beast From: 666: (The Apocalypse of John, 13/18) , Year: 1972 Genre: Progressive Rock/Psychedelic Rock I thought I would keep this 'Beastie' mini theme going one more day with this song off of Aphrodite's Child's Prog Rock Concept album based on The Book or Revelation, aka 'The Apocalypse of John .' In my opinion this is actually an excellent and quite an underrated album in so many ways. I love how many of the songs contrast with one another, yet still flow quite nicely. The main draw for me on the entire album, however, is, of course, the compositions and amazing musicianship from Vangelis and company. I love the bluesy feel and the funky groove they used on this track in particular. Here is a fan video with the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Duran Duran - Lonely In Your Nightmare My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Dogs in the Midwinter My song pick three years ago today: John Denver - Season Suit...

1667 April Wine - Future Tense From: The Nature of the Beast , Year: 1981 Genre: Hard Rock I had another song in mind for today, but after I saw the title of the song I picked last night it brought this April Wine's The Nature of the Beast album to mind. Plus some Canadian Hard Rock just felt perfect for this Monday, so I'm going ahead and picking one of favourite tracks off of the album. Hear Future Tense on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Darkness - Hazel Eyes My song pick two years ago today: The O'Jays - Back Stabbers My song pick three years ago today: Tarja Turunen - Enough My song pick four years ago today: Modest Petrovitch Mussorgsky - Night on Bald Mountain +

1666 Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast From: The Number of the Beast , Year: 1982 Genre: Metal After seeing the number for today's song I thought it would be fitting to choose this one for this late evening pick. While I consider myself more of a fan of their Powerslave and Somewhere in Time albums, I have to say that this is an amazing album packed full of great songs. Watch a music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - The Jam My song pick two years ago today: Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) - La Mer (Beyond The Sea) My song pick three years ago today: Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens - Top Gun Anthem My song pick four years ago today: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Flight of the Bumblebee +

1665 Jim Croce - Workin' at the Car Wash Blues From: I Got A Name , Year: 1974 Genre: Folk Rock It would seem as if most of my weekend will now be taken up working on my car, so I figured I would pick a fitting song today. Although this excellent one from Jim Croce isn't about working on cars, it happened to get stuck in my mind and it also had 'work' and 'car' in the title. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Flaming Telepaths My song pick two years ago today: AC/DC - Carry Me Home My song pick three years ago today: The Eagles - Get Over It My song pick four years ago today: Mily Balakirev - Islamey: an Oriental Fantasy +

1664 Wilson Pickett - Funk Factory From: A Man and a Half , Year: 2008 (1972) Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B I was in the mood for some Wilson Pickett and since it's a Friday and all I figured I'd make it a Funky Friday pick. I've always been a huge fan of Wilson Pickett and this song is one of his best in my opinion. I believe that this funky soul track was released as a single with the song " One Step Away " in '72, but lucky enough it was added to one of his Greatest Hits albums. Hear Funk Factory on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Life Still Goes On (I'm Lonely) My song pick two years ago today: Nirvana - In Bloom My song pick three years ago today: Static X - I'm With Stupid My song pick four years ago today: Ian Anderson - Eurology +

1663 The Monkees - Daydream Believer From: The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees , Year: 1968 Genre: Pop Rock Davy Jones passed away yesterday from an unexpected heart attack. While I've never considered myself a fan of "the prefab four," there is some of their music I do like and I figured I should pick one of their songs. I wasn't around when they were the corporate pop band de jour and by the time I was old enough to really listen to them all that was really left was their music; I just looked at them as any other '60's pop band. While they didn't actually write most of their music and didn't even play on their earlier work, which is, other than the fact they were an industry construct, where they got most of their knocking from, that was actually, for the most part what was normal in the music industry at the time. Anyway, this is one of their songs that they recorded to feature Davy Jones on lead vocals that I've always liked, mostly for the ...