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

From: Leviathan ; Year: 2004; Genre: Progressive Metal 2004, (which is also today's song pick number), was a a very good year for music; I had somewhat of a hard time deciding which song to pick. Of course when I remembered that Mastodon released their metal concept album Leviathan , which was based on the classic novel Moby-Dick , I knew I had my pick. This entire album is truly awesome in so many ways; one of the band's best in my opinion. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - K.331 - Piano Sonata No. 11 My song pick two years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Little Martha My song pick three years ago today: Steve Vai - #?@! Yourself My song pick four years ago today: The Who - I'm Free My song pick five years ago today: The Yardbirds - Heart Full of Soul

From: Fallen ; Year: 2003; Genre: Alternative Metal I am still picking songs where the release date coincides with my song pick number, so here's one released in 2003. Back then and even to this day this one is still one of their more popular songs. I actually first heard it being paired to many fan-made animé music videos along with many of their other songs. It kind of got overplayed a lot and it has been a while since I've heard it, that is until today of course. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin - Symphony No.2 in B-Minor My song pick two years ago today: Jon Oliva's Pain - Winter Haven My song pick three years ago today: KoKo Taylor - That's Why I'm Crying My song pick four years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Veteran of the Psychic Wars My song pick five years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Bounty Hunter

From: Audioslave ; Year: 2002; Genre: Alternative Metal I'm still picking songs released in the year that coincides with my song pick number; today is my 2002nd song picked, so I am picking one released in 2002. Anyway, here is probably the biggest hit from the supergroup Audioslave's eponymous debut album. Hear Cochise on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos - Media Vita in Morte Sumus My song pick two years ago today: Stahlhammer - Der Zerbrochene Traum My song pick three years ago today: Charles Gounod - Funeral March of a Marionette My song pick four years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird My song pick five years ago today: Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind

From: Just Push Play ; Year: 2001; Genre: Rock Here's one that I remember really well from 2001, which is also today's song pick number. This song and album in particular have special meaning for me. Watch the music video clip to Jaded on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Blind Faith - Had to Cry Today My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - By Kind Permission Of My song pick three years ago today: Peter Gabriel - Down To Earth My song pick four years ago today: Edgar Winter Group - Free Ride My song pick five years ago today: Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee

From: Lightbulb Sun ; Year: 2000; Genre: Progressive Rock Well, here I am, at my 2000th song pick.... Back in September of 2007, when I started this little blog originally on MySpace, I honestly didn't know if I would take it this far. Heck, I didn't even know if I'd make it to 1000, but here I am. I guess it's now on to 3000! Anyway, as I've been doing lately, since my song pick numbers have matched dates in music, I've been picking songs released the year that coincides with my pick number. I didn't know if I was going to pick one like this today, being that this is such a milestone and all, but I really didn't have a more fitting one in mind, so I figured I would just go along with my loose theme as of late. When I discovered Porcupine Tree released an album in 2000 I knew I had to pick one off of it; you can't go wrong with the epicness of progressive rock, especially on the day I pick my 2000th song! However, with the ominous title you...

From: Californication ; Year: 1999; Genre: Alternative Rock It's hard to believe that not only that tomorrow I'll be picking my 2000th song but also that I have yet to miss a day. Oi, that also means that at least for a few minutes in the last 2000 or so days I've been on a computer with internet access. Okay then, on to my 1999th pick, and, as I've been doing lately, I am picking songs that were released the year that coincides with my song pick number, i.e. since this is my 1999th pick I am picking one from the year 1999. Back then I remember hanging out a lot at my sister's house; we would watch music videos on VH1 until the wee hours of the morning. I remember the music videos to both Californication and Otherside were played heavily in the rotation. Around that time was when I started to get serious about playing music; this was one of the earlier songs that I attempted to learn to play on the bass guitar. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. ...

From: The Wake of Magellan ; Year: 1998; Genre: Progressive Metal Here's one from the year 1998, (also today's song pick number), well, at least here in the U.S., other regions got it a little bit earlier than that. Anyway, this is a rather pretty instrumental, which appears towards the end of this 'concept album' just before the final 'epic' song The Hourglass ; it features some amazing guitar work and piano playing. Hear The Storm on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: John Dowland - In Darkness We Dwell My song pick two years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - I Love the Night My song pick three years ago today: The Byrds - Eight Miles High My song pick four years ago today: Wings - Band on the Run My song pick five years ago today: Faith No More - Woodpecker From Mars

From: Sehnsucht ; Year: 1997; Genre: Neue Deutsche Härte This is my 1997th song picked and I am in the midst of picking songs that were released the year that coincides with my pick number. I hadn't picked a Rammstein track in a while and when I realized that they released their second album Sehnsucht in '97 I thought I would go ahead and pick one from it. Unsurprisingly I have already pick the majority of the tracks on this album and am now "scraping the barrel" so to speak. Not to say that this song is lesser than the ones off of it that I've already picked, it is just not one I like as much. Hear Alter Mann on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing My song pick two years ago today: Rammstein - Der Meister My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Nothing to Say My song pick four years ago today: Bad Company - Seagull My song pick five years ago today: Diana Ross - Do You Know Where You're Goin...

From: Test for Echo ; Year: 1996; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Recently Woordenaar chose a lot of Rush , so I figured I would follow suit and pick one as well. Since I have been picking songs that were released the year that coincides with my song pick number, (today is 1996), I am picking one off of Test for Echo . I have to say, this album is still my least favourite among Rush's studio albums, but there are still a couple of of gems on it, this being one of them. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. Watch a live performance complete with a nice bass solo by Geddy Lee on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Moody Blues - Go Now My song pick two years ago today: Queen - 39 My song pick three years ago today: Hawkwind - Standing at the Edge My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Nocturne My song pick five years ago today: Head East - Never Been Any Reason

From: Anthology 1 ; Year: 1995; Genre: Pop/Rock For those unaware, I am in the midst of picking songs whose release date coincides with my song pick number; of course today's pick number is 1995. This was amongst and probably the most notable among two of John Lennon's unreleased recordings that were reworked by the remaining members of the band and released on their Anthology discs. Ever since their release I had mixed feelings about these songs; while they were okay tracks, to me it stunk a bit of weaseling another miserable buck out of rabid fans who would probably pay top-dollar for recordings of something like Lennon burping into a microphone. At the time this was only exacerbated in my mind by them releasing the other track separately on Anthology 2 , so, to get the other song you had to buy another complete album. However, since those effected, with the obvious exception of John Lennon, had no problem with it in the end I guess it really doesn't matter tha...

From: Dreamspace ; Year: 1994; Genre: Power Metal/Progressive Metal This is my 1994th song pick, and I am still choosing songs that were released the year that coincides with my song pick number. Anyway, yesterday I was listening to some of Stratovarius' music whist on the road; their soaring sound seemed perfect for my mood and the occasion. So this morning I decided to see what they released in 1994, (today's pick number), I discovered that their album Dreamspace , which by coincidence is actually one of my favourites from the band as well was released that year. That made my pick today pretty easy; this is the first song on the album and a pretty good one I might add. Hear Chasing Shadows on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Beatles - Back in the U.S.S.R. My song pick two years ago today: Tarot - Pilot of All Dreams My song pick three years ago today: Muse - Knights of Cydonia My song pick four years ago today: Nightwish - 10th Man Down My s...

From: Vs. ; Year: 1993; Genre: Grunge I'm having somewhat of a busy day today, so I am making another abbreviated song pick. This one hails from Pearl Jam's second album, which was released in 1993, (also today's song pick number). Hear Go on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Ventures - Beethoven's Sonata in C#-Minor My song pick two years ago today: Stuart Hamm - Count Zero My song pick three years ago today: Louis Armstrong - La Vie en Rose My song pick four years ago today: The Thermals - No Culture Icons My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crossfire

From: Images and Words ; Year: 1992; Genre: Progressive Metal I can remember music from the year 1992, (which is also today's song pick number), quite well. But one aspect that I remember the most was the minimalism that permeated most forms of mainstream music, mostly in the alternative rock/metal subgenres. Those bands and the emerging sounds were definitely a breath of fresh air from the stagnating music scene at the time; even to this day I listen to most of those bands from that time. However, as with all musical trends they became a bit too hard-line; I got the feeling at times that the "minimalist" point of view was overused, sometimes to the point that a band or a musician would be shunned and ridiculed if they got too technical with their music. Dream Theater was one of the bands to go against that grain of popular music and still prosper. Anyway, here's a song off of one of my favourite Dream Theater albums: Images and Words . However, it's facil...

From: As Ugly As They Wanna Be ; Year: 1991; Genre: Metal This is my 1991st song picked, and, as I've been doing recently, I am choosing songs that were released the year that coincides with the pick number. Dang, I can remember when this song came out; it was quite popular and a bit of a novelty; I cannot believe that it was over 20 years ago. I haven't heard it in a few years, so it's kind of nice to listen to it again. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Ludwig Van Beethoven - Op. 31 No. 2 - Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor " Tempest " My song pick two years ago today: David Bowie - Diamond Dogs My song pick three years ago today: Sky - Toccata My song pick four years ago today: Journey - Who's Crying Now My song pick five years ago today: Billy Joel - Only the Good Die Young

From: Rust in Peace ; Year: 1990; Genre: Thrash Metal Here's my 1990th song picked and I'm still choosing songs released the year that coincides with my pick number. Again, there was a lot of good music released in the year in question and was forced to narrow it down to only one. Anyway, this is my favourite track off of Megadeth's 1990 album Rust in Peace. It's a great song musically and has one of their best guitar solos in my opinion. Combine that with the cool science fiction storyline/imagery and it's an incredible track in my opinion.  Hear Hangar 18 on YouTube. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Black 47 - Different Drummer My song pick two years ago today: Band of Horses - The First Song My song pick three years ago today: Forest - A Glade Somewhere My song pick four years ago today: Weather Report - Teen Town My song pick five years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 1068 - Orchestral Suite No...

From: Heart Shaped World ; Year: 1989; Genre: Soft Rock I'm still picking songs from the year that coincides with my song pick number; today's is my 1989th song chosen. As I mentioned earlier, recently I visited with my aunt and uncle, who are both amazing musicians. I was showing my guitar to my uncle and this was one of the songs he decided to show how to play on it. While I've never been a huge fan of this song, I mean I like it and all, I have to admit it's very fun to play on the guitar. It's always fun to have an excuse to overuse my Floyd Rose tremolo. Anyway, in the popular culture this song is mostly noted for it's rather sensual music video that accompanied it; I believe that many remember it for that video rather than for the song itself. Hear Wicked Game on YouTube. Watch the video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Dion - Abraham, Martin and John My song pick two years ago today: Joachim Witt - Wem Gehört Das Sternen...

From: Ultramega OK ; Year: 1988; Genre: Alternative Metal Whilst going through the years of music based on my song pick number it has been interesting seeing one era of music evolve into the next. When I saw that Soundgarden's debut album was released in 1988, (today's pick number), I couldn't help but choose it. Out of all of the "grunge" movement I would have to say that Soundgarden was and still is my favourite. Hear Flower on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Northern Kings - Wanted Dead or Alive My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Bungle in the Jungle My song pick three years ago today: Edvard Grieg - Op. 54, No.3 - The March of the Trolls ( Troldtog ) My song pick four years ago today: Rob Zombie - Dragula My song pick five years ago today: Tears for Fears - Mad World

From: Crest of a Knave ; Year: 1987; Genre: Rock I'm still choosing songs that were released the year that coincides with my song pick number. So, for my 1987th song chosen I'm picking one of my personal favourites off of 'Tull's masterpiece album Crest of a Knave . I believe this was one of the two songs that weren't on my original vinyl copy; it's a shame too, being that it's one of the better ones on the disc. Anyway, the other day I was listening to a lot of Dire Straits' music and even picked one of their songs . Many have claimed that much of this album sounds a lot like Dire Straits' material from their Love Over Gold / Brothers In Arms era; in my opinion it does as well with this being the song that sounds the most like one of their songs. I'm not too sure why on this album Ian Anderson moved their sound towards that of Dire Straits, but it seemed to work in their favour both musically and critically. I believe that most of the...

From: Somewhere In Time ; Year: 1986; Genre: Metal For those who don't know or have stumbled across this post, I've been picking songs that were released in the year that coincides with my song pick number; today's is, of course is my 1986th song picked. Damn, there was a lot of excellent music released that year; I literally had over 40 songs that I would've liked to pick. However, in the end I was in the mood for some Iron Maiden; I absolutely love almost every aspect of this awesome track, especially those twin lead guitars. Hear Caught Somewhere in Time on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl My song pick two years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Mama, I'm Coming Home My song pick three years ago today: Adam Gilberti - Dragon's First Flight My song pick four years ago today: Zakk Wylde - Farm Fiddlin' My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - Hunting Girl

From: Brothers in Arms ; Genre: 1985; Genre: Rock Ever since visiting with my uncle, who can play most of Mark Knopfler's songs on the guitar, I've had a lot of Dire Strait's music running through my mind. So, whilst searching through the albums and songs released in 1985, (today's song pick number), I couldn't help but pick this one when I saw it. In my opinion it's among some of the most beautiful music Mark Knopfler ever released. His clean, purposeful, and brilliant and guitar playing is truly something to behold. Hear Brothers in Arms on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Metallica - The Day That Never Comes My song pick two years ago today: Rammstein, featuring Carmen Zapata - Te Quiero Puta! My song pick three years ago today: Traveling Wilburys - End of the Line My song pick four years ago today: The Doors - Love Her Madly My song pick five years ago today: Rod Stewart - Young Turks ( Young Hearts Be Free )

From: 1984 ; Year: 1984; Genre: Rock While there were many other songs from 1984, (which is also my song pick number today), I couldn't pass up the opportunity to choose Van Halen's synth intro 1984 from their album 1984 for my 1984th pick. Hear 1984 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Savatage - Holocaust My song pick two years ago today: The United States of America - The Garden of Earthly Delights My song pick three years ago today: Buddy Holley & the Crickets - Oh Boy! My song pick four years ago today: Oasis - Champagne Supernova My song pick five years ago today: John Denver - Paradise

From: Kilroy Was Here ; Year: 1983; Genre: Rock Again, I had another song in mind for today's pick, but then I discovered that it wasn't released in 1983, (today's pick number); after that I was back to going over the album's released in that year. Mr. Roboto , which, of course hails from Styx's landmark Kilroy Was Here album, is probably one of the band's biggest and most recognizable hits. However, for me personally it marked the downward trend for their music. Don't get me wrong, it's still okay, but nowhere near the caliber of their material that came before. Here is the video clip for Mr. Roboto on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Carmen - High Time My song pick two years ago today: Stahlhammer - Strom Der Zeit My song pick three years ago today: Ally Kerr - The Sore Feet Song My song pick four years ago today: Johnny Cash - Solitary Man My song pick five years ago today: Two-Mix - White Reflection

From: Peter Gabriel (Security); Year: 1982; Genre: Rock/New Wave Last night whilst working I had a song in mind for today's pick, but after falling asleep from exhaustion and waking up rather groggy it has escaped me. Anyway, here's one from from Peter Gabriel's fourth album, which was released in 1982: today's song pick number. I have always kind of liked this song if for no other reason but Tony Levin's amazing as always bass playing. Here is the music video clip for Shock The Monkey on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Stormwarrior - Foreign Shores My song pick two years ago today: Larry Greene - Through the Fire My song pick three years ago today: Puhdys - Geh Dem Wind Nicht Aus Dem Wege My song pick four years ago today: Journey - Lights My song pick five years ago today: Rush - Anthem

From: Modern Times ; Year: 1981; Genre: Hard Rock It's odd to think that I am so close to 2000 songs picked; it really doesn't feel like I've been at it that long. Anyway, here's my 1981st song picked, which, as I've been doing for a while now also comes from the year that coincides with the song pick number. While I have picked songs from both Jefferson Airplane and from Grace Slick's solo work, I haven't yet picked one from the band's second "Starship" incarnation. So I'm taking the opportunity today to rectify it with this rather nice track off of their Modern Times album. Hear Find Your Way Back on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Band of Horses - Compliments My song pick two years ago today: Hawkwind - Lord of Light My song pick three years ago today: Karussell - Schattenkreuze My song pick four years ago today: The Proclaimers - I 'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) My song pick five years ago today: Arlo Guthri...

From: The Game ; Year: 1980; Genre: Rock/Rockabilly I'm having another one of those extremely busy mornings, so I'm having to make a quick pick. However, even though I am in a rush I still am choosing song from the year that coincides with my song pick number; today's is, of course 1980. I was actually quite surprised when I saw that I hadn't pick this one, which is among my many favourites from the band. Overall this has to be not only one of their more fun songs to listen to, but as a musician to also play. Watch the video clip to Crazy Little Thing Called Love on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Superstition My song pick two years ago today: Journey - To Play Some Music My song pick three years ago today: Apocalyptica featuring Till Lindemann - Helden My song pick four years ago today: James Gang - Funk 49 My song pick five years ago today: Midnight Oil - Blue Sky Mine

From: The Wall ; Year: 1979; Genre: Progressive Rock I'm continuing picking songs where the release date coincides with my pick number. There was a great deal of excellent music released in 1979, which made choosing one song quite difficult. Heck, even on this album alone there is a lot of great songs to choose from. Anyway, for my nineteen-hundred-and-seventy-ninth song picked I'm choosing this one, which is among many that I like off of Pink Floyd's classic album The Wall . I actually thought I had picked it at some time in the past, but I was surprised that I hadn't. I've always loved how this one was constructed especially at the beginning of the song. I really like David Gilmour's playing of the oddly tuned acoustic guitar and the fretless bass. Here is a music video clip with the studio version of Hey You on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Return to Forever - Dayride My song pick two years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Hot Rails ...

From: City Nights ; Year: 1978; Genre: Pop/Rock Here's one from late 1978, (also today's song pick number); it was a pretty big hit that year. I've heard this one a lot over the years; I've always liked the way it was arranged, especially the rhythm section. It's interesting, but inside this pop/rock track is rather intense subject matter that can, most of the time, be missed by the listener. From what I understand Nick Gilder witnessed the plight of some teenage runaways who were making a living as prostitutes and he decided to write this song about what he saw. However, strangely enough he wrote the song from the point of view of the "Johns" who prey on them. Hear Hot Child in the City on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Boston - Foreplay/Long Time My song pick two years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Home and Dry My song pick three years ago today: Johnny Cash - One Piece at a Time My song pick four years ago today: Traffic - ...

From: Songs From the Wood ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock Here's a pretty good one for my nineteen-hundred-and-seventy-seventh song picked, which is, of course also the year it was released. In my opinion this song and album comes from arguably one of the highest peaks musically from the band; Songs From the Wood is considered by many to be one of their best records. This song has all of the great hallmarks from their late '70's style: a good mix between the harder hitting and softer, folkish music. Both Barriemore Barlow and John Glascock are excellent on the rhythm section on this one, which has its meter all over the place. Hear Songs From the Wood on YouTube. Here is an excellent live performance of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Crew Nights My song pick two years ago today: The Guess Who - These Eyes My song pick three years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Fanfare for the Common Man My son...

From: A New World Record ; Year: 1976; Genre: Rock/Symphonic Rock I'm starting out on a very busy day and am kind of making another abbreviated pick. This classic ELO track comes from 1976, which is, as I've been doing a lot lately, also my song pick number: 1976. Suffice it to say that this is one of my favourites off of their A New World Record album. Hear Do Ya on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Mr. Big - Take Cover My song pick two years ago today: Triumph - Magic Power My song pick three years ago today: Nightwish - While Your Lips Are Still Red My song pick four years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Mother's Little Helper My song pick five years ago today: Billy Joel - Two Thousand Years

From: Fox on the Run (Single); Year: 1975; Genre: Rock/Glam Rock I was surprised when I discovered that I haven't picked a song from The Sweet yet; I thought for sure I'd pick one of their songs at some point. Anyway, this fact made today's pick a little easier to make; this song, which is one of the band's more famous and one of my favourites from their catalogue, had a single release in 1975: (today's song pick number). In actuality there were two versions of the song: the first was released in '74 and was much heavier and had greater length. The second, which was the single from '75 was at a shorter, more radio-friendly length as well as being more pop oriented in its production. Here is the more famous pop single version on YouTube. Here is the original, heavier version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - Whatever Would Robert Have Said? My song pick two years ago today: Steve Vai - Kill the Guy with th...

From: Rush ; Year: 1974; Genre: Hard Rock It's my first pick of 2013, but I'm still picking songs that were released the year that coincides with my song pick number. This rather bluesy track hails from Rush's debut album released in the year 1974. As I've said before, they are one of my favourite bands; there's a lot I love about their music and it seems that I'm not alone. Over the years they have taken quite a bit of hammering from a quite a few people, mostly critics and those who take those critics' words as gold. However, despite this they've kept going and continued to sell with over 20 consecutive gold albums, 14 of which have gone platinum or multi-platinum and are now about to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If Rush and their music are doing so well despite the contrariness of these 'givers of opinion;' (yeah, they've probably kept some from buying Rush albums, but not enough to really hurt them), that then b...