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

From: Pet Sounds ; Year: 1966; Genre: Pop/Rock Getting packed up and heading home and thought I would make my pick before getting on the road. Anyway, the other day whilst I was starting to play my new video game Bioshock Infinite I happened upon a barbershop quartet in the game called the The Bee Sharps singing this song . It was quite a treat and they did an amazing job; definitely one of those great moments for me in video games. Anyway, this is an amazing song in so many ways and is one I definitely would've picked at some time in the future. Hear God Only Knows on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Hawkwind - Living on a Knife Edge My song pick two years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Graveyard Train My song pick three years ago today: Sethian - Blood Calling My song pick four years ago today: Azteca - You Can't Take The Funk Out Of Me My song pick five years ago today: Bryan Adams - Run To You

From: King Animal ; Year: 2012; Genre: Alternative Metal/Grunge Getting my pick out of the way a bit earlier today; it's busy here at the convention. Anyway, since we're here in Seattle I figured I would pick one from one of the many bands native to the city. This is one of my favourites off of Soundgarden's newest album, although I have to say it took a couple of listens for it to grow on me. That being said I absolutely love the dynamics throughout this track. Hear Bones of Birds on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nightwish - Know Why the Nightingale Sings My song pick two years ago today: Stuart Hamm - Black Ice My song pick three years ago today: Waylander - Brú Na Bóinne My song pick four years ago today: Rammstein - Klavier My song pick five years ago today: Johnny Rivers - Summer Rain

From: Brothers in Arms ; Year: 1985; Genre: Rock I've been having fun today hanging out and taking a break in Seattle at Sakura-Con, but I figured I should take a "time out" and tend to my Song a Day blog. I had Dire Straits on the brain this morning and I discovered that I had not picked this song yet, so I am. You can never have too much Dire Straits in my opinion. Hear Walk of Life on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Foggy Mountain Boys (Flatt & Scruggs) - Cripple Creek My song pick two years ago today: Queensrÿche - Fear City Slide My song pick three years ago today: Dream Theater - Light Fuse and Get Away My song pick four years ago today: The Doors - Ghost Song My song pick five years ago today: Badfinger - Day After Day

From: Self Control ; Year: 1984; Genre: Pop/Rock Lately it seems as if I've been picking a lot of progressive rock, so I figured that I would shake things up a bit. I've actually been wanting to pick something from Laura Branigan for a while now; I grew up listening to a lot of her music and it has stayed with me over the years. This is one of her more notable songs and among my favourites of her material. Watch a music video clip with Self Control on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Yes - Starship Trooper My song pick two years ago today: Buffalo Springfield - Mr. Soul My song pick three years ago today: Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode My song pick four years ago today: J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers - Last Kiss My song pick five years ago today: Queensrÿche - Anybody Listening?

From: Hold Your Fire ; Year: 1987; Genre: Hard Rock I had an inkling to hear something from Rush's late '80s period this morning; coincidentally this track from their Hold Your Fire album was in my queue as well, so I guess it was meant to be my pick. Watch a music video clip with Lock and Key on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Porcupine Tree - Time Flies My song pick two years ago today: David Bowie - Life on Mars? My song pick three years ago today: Lorenzo Barcelata - El Cascabel My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young To Die My song pick five years ago today: The Platters - Twilight Time

From: In Through the Out Doo r ; Year: 1979; Genre: Progressive Rock The other day I heard this song, which is one of my favourite Led Zeppelin tracks, on the radio. I was surprised that I hadn't picked it yet, so today I am. Hear All of My Love on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Shocking Blue - Never Marry a Railroad Man My song pick two years ago today: Hawkwind - Mirror of Illusion My song pick three years ago today: Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven - Melancholy Blues My song pick four years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - That Smell My song pick five years ago today: Pink Floyd - Brain Damage/Eclipse

From: Dreamspace ; Year: 1994; Genre: Progressive Metal For no real reason whatsoever I listened to Stratovarius' Dreamspace album again; I hadn't played it in a while. I forgot just how good of a disc this was; it still has to be my personal favourite from the band despite their other excellent releases. Anyway, this is the title track from the record, which is filled to the brim with all of that progressive power metal goodness. Hear Dreamspace on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Queensrÿche - Promised Land My song pick two years ago today: Ed Bogas & Merl Saunders - The Riot My song pick three 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 four years ago today: Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell My song pick five years ago today: The Spencer Davis Group - Give Me Some Lovin'

From: Sky 4 Forthcoming ; Year: 1982; Genre: Progressive Rock I absolutely had no song in mind for today's pick; the few that I thought of I'd either already picked or just didn't fit. After a bit of pondering I remembered I hadn't picked one from the classical/progressive rock band Sky in a while. This one is their electronic rock rendition of Hector Berlioz's March to the Scaffold from his epic Symphonie Fantastique . Enjoy! Hear March to the Scaffold on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rhapsody of Fire - Holy Thunderforce My song pick two years ago today: Guided by Voices - Everybody Thinks I’m a Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking) My song pick three years ago today: Gorō Yamaguchi - Tsuru No Sugomori (Crane's Nest) My song pick four years ago today: M83 - Don't Save Us From The Flames My song pick five years ago today: Heart - Dreamboat Annie

From: Misplaced Childhood ; Year: 1985; Genre: Progressive Rock It felt like a good day to add another great band to my ever-growing list on my blog, so here's a song from yet another band I have yet to pick a song from: Marillion. They are one of the bands from what is referred to as "the second wave of British prog rock. Anyway, this is probably one of their most famous tracks, which in my opinion has a wee bit of a Genesis feel to it. Hear Kayleigh on YouTube. Also, I have finished labeling my posts from when I was picking songs whose pick numbers coincided with certain years, they can be found here ; they can also be found in my theme picks list to the right in the "About" column. I know it has been a while since I did that theme and looking back on it I should have labeled them as I went, but at least I finally got it done. My song pick a year ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 1062 - Concerto in C-Minor For Two Harpsichords My song pick...

From: The Complete BBC Peel Sessions ; Year: 2006; Genre: Indie Rock The other day my wife happened to wake me up playing this rather excellent cover of this ELO classic, of course this was before I was having to work a 10 hour shift. After that I had trouble getting back to sleep, so suffice it to say I was quite exhausted and as a bonus I had the song running through my mind all of the day, which was fine; it's a very good song and I absolutely love Emma Pollock's vocals. Hear The Delgados cover of Mr. Blue Sky on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Muse - Citizen Erased My song pick two years ago today: The Darkness - Is It Just Me My song pick three years ago today: Blind Willie Johnson - Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground My song pick four years ago today: Devo - Come Back Jonee My song pick five years ago today: Weather Report - A Remark You Made

From: Fanatic ; Year: 2012; Genre: Hard Rock Since waking up this morning I've had a myriad of Heart songs running through my head. After a while I started getting a bit curious as to what their current sound was like, so I looked up their latest work. For more than a few years I haven't really kept up with what Heart was up to. I'm pleased to say that their current sound is somewhat similar to their classic hard rock sound. Anyway, here's the title track from last year's release: Fanatic ; I'm still amazed at the sheer amount of amazing music that came out last year. Hear Fanatic on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love My song pick two years ago today: Queensrÿche - Roads to Madness My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Roll Yer Own My song pick four years ago today: Naturally 7 - Wall of Sound My song pick five years ago today: Nightwish - Bye Bye Beautiful

From: Hall of the Mountain Grill ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock/Space Rock Earlier today while I was on the road this rather interesting track came on my iPod. This was another one of those times when I thought for sure I had already picked the song, but hadn't. Again, I have to reiterate that this is a rather interesting track. As with many of their songs it starts out with odd sounds for about the first minute, then as the song begins to take form it is almost like Spaghetti Western music, only with a definite "spacey" flare. You can almost envision two space cowboys on a distant world dueling complete with laser pistols. Hear Wind of Change on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Alestorm - Set Sail to Conquer My song pick two years ago today: Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys - The Ghost and Honest Joe My song pick three years ago today: Jerry Reed - Amos Moses My song pick four years ago today: Santana - All The Love In The U...

From: Rocket Cottage ; Year: 1976; Genre: Folk Rock I had an urge to listen to something from Steeleye Span today and for some reason I went with one of their more unappreciated albums: Rocket Cottage ; it's one of their heavier records musically as well. Anyway, this folk/rock interpretation of this traditional song is one of my many favourites from the album. Hear The Twelve Witches on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Georg Philipp Telemann - TWV 55:C3 - Wassermusik - Hamburger Ebbe und Flut My song pick two years ago today: Steve Winwood - The Finer Things My song pick three years ago today: Tarja Turunen - I Walk Alone My song pick four years ago today: Link Wray - Rumble My song pick five years ago today: The Carter Family - Wildwood Flower

From: The Grand Illusion ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock The other day I heard this song on the radio and it has been stuck in my mind off and on ever since. Come Sail Away is one of the main songs that Styx will probably be remembered for if for no other reason than its use in popular culture. However, in my opinion, this song's greatness by itself by far out weighs anything in pop culture; it's an excellent song with all of the trappings the band was noted for during this period in their music. Hear Come Sail Away on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Alestorm - You Are a Pirate My song pick two years ago today: Bill Evans Trio - Waltz for Debbie My song pick three years ago today: The Box Tops - The Letter My song pick four years ago today: Azteca - Mazatlan My song pick five years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Have You Ever Seen the Rain?  

From: Songs of Longing & Debauchery ; Year: 2007; Genre: Celtic Rock Happy Saint Patrick's Day! I figured I should pick something apropos for today. This is a rather fun tune from the Celtic Rock band Frank Mackey & the Keltic Cowboys. Hear Kiss My Irish Ass on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Dropkick Murphys - Black Velvet Band My song pick two years ago today: Black 47 - Green Suede Shoes My song pick three years ago today: Savatage - St. Patricks My song pick four years ago today: Mose Allison - Your Mind is on Vacation My song pick five years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar

From: Deadwing (Special Bonus Track); Year: 2005; Genre: Progressive Rock Strangely enough, yesterday while I was attempting to get to my blog on my wife's computer by internet searching for it I happened upon an archive of some of the more recent posts from Max's old song a day blog that went silent a little over a year ago today, which was made by YouTube of all sites. You can find it here! I find it very odd that I ran across it after Max just discussing with me about getting a hold of a copy of his blog from a few years ago. Anyway, this is a kick-arse song that he picked a little over a year ago on his blog and also one that he happened to mention a bit ago in comments in a post a few months back . Hear Mother & Child Divided on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Space Age My song pick two years ago today: Bass Extremes - Mocha Soca My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Fly By Night My song pick four years ago...

From: In Search of the Lost Chord ; Year: 1968; Progressive/Psychedelic Rock Off and on for the last few days I've had this song on my mind, so I'm going ahead and picking it; I don't normally listen to this song by itself and would rather listen to the album is its entirety, but this time I'll make an exception. Hear Dr. Livingstone, I Presume on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) - Chasing Shadows My song pick two years ago today: The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein - Ich Tu Dir Weh My song pick four years ago today: Damn Yankees - Coming of Age My song pick five years ago today: Bread - Mother Freedom

From: A Night at the Opera ; Year: 1975; Genre: Rock The other night whilst I was driving this song came on. For me it is a joy every time this epic track is played; it's one of those songs that you can't help but sing along with. I decided that it would be my pick today if I hadn't already chosen it at some point in the past. Sure enough, I hadn't, so I am making it my pick today on this otherwise dull Wednesday. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Doobie Brothers - Listen to the Music My song pick two years ago today: Queen - Bijou My song pick three years ago today: Asia - Heat of the Moment My song pick four years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Aeroplane My song pick five years ago today: Joni Mitchell - Coyote

From: To You, Sweetheart, Aloha ; Year: 2010?; Genre: Hawaiian Music I've been meaning to pick something from Hawaiian steel guitarist extraordinaire Bud Tutmarc for a while now, and with every day that winter continues to hold on Hawaiian music such as what he played becomes sweeter to listen to. Anyway, this is a tune that I've been meaning to learn on the steel guitar, which is also one of the more difficult, but fun nevertheless. There is an interesting bit of musical trivia concerning Bud Tutmarc: his father, Paul Tutmarc , who was also an accomplished musician, created what is thought to be the first electric bass guitar Hear Hilo March on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Soundgarden - No Wrong No Right My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Wond'ring Aloud My song pick three years ago today: Joe Walsh (The Eagles) - In The City My song pick four years ago today: Pearls Before Swine - (Oh Dear) Miss Morse My song pick five ye...

From: Fright Night ; Year: 1989; Genre: Power Metal I had no song in mind this morning, so I just picked one from a band I hadn't picked one from for a bit. This is a rather short, but all the same awesome instrumental from Stratovarius' debut album. Hear Fire Dance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Aeroplane My song pick two years ago today: Styx - Renegade My song pick three years ago today: The Jaggerz - The Rapper My song pick four years ago today: Sha Na Na - Blue Moon My song pick five years ago today: The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams

From: Not Fragile ; Year: 1974; Genre: Hard Rock I'm having another busy day, so I am making a quick pick with this hard rock instrumental from Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Hear Free Wheelin' on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Limbo My song pick two years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Superstition My song pick three years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Soul To Squeeze My song pick four years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra - Fire On High My song pick five years ago today: The Polyphonic Spree - It's The Sun

From: This Was ; Year: 1968; Genre: Blues Rock I've had 'Tull's blusey version of this often covered traditional tune running through my mind the last couple of days, so, as I often do, I am picking it. Jethro Tull's guitarist at the time Mick Abrahams really shines on this one; it's really interesting to hear the band with such a different sound. Hear Cat's Squirrel on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Amon Amarth - A Beast Am I My song pick two years ago today: Steve Vai - Little Green Men My song pick three years ago today: Fairport Convention - Maddy Groves My song pick four years ago today: Billy Joel - Allentown My song pick five years ago today: Meg Rock - Clover

From: The Infinite Desire ; Year: 1998; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Rock I'm still in the mood to listen to some badass guitar playing. This one, obviously, is a remake of Al Di Meola's classic Race with the Devil on Spanish Highway in a guitar duet between him and guitar maestro Steve Vai. This one also, as the title insinuates, has more of a middle eastern flavour musically. I love how they mostly kept a lot of the framework of the original whilst having two incredible virtuosos go at it. Yeah, it's enough technical playing to bring joy to a musician's or musical connoisseur's ear and at the same time make a hater types of extreme technical music run for cover. Hear Race with the Devil on Turkish Highway on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nightwish - Beauty of the Beast My song pick two years ago today: L'Arc~en~Ciel - Spirit Dreams Inside My song pick three years ago today: Led Zeppelin - The Battle Of Evermore My song pick four years a...

From: Passion and Warfare ; Year: 1990; Genre: Rock It's kind of odd, but the other night I dreamed I was listening to Steve Vai, so that got me listening to more of his stuff. Anyway, this instrumental is considered by many to be one of his best, and I have to say I agree. It's wonderful to hear a musician take his instrument and music to its limits like this. Hear For the Love of God on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Mastodon - Seabeast My song pick two years ago today: Vangelis - Blade Runner (End Titles) My song pick three years ago today: Karussell - Wer Die Rose Ehrt My song pick four years ago today: The Delgados - Accused of Stealing My song pick five years ago today: Bon Jovi - Always

From: Aerosmith ; Year: 1972; Genre: Rock The other day my dad and I were talking about some of the concerts he attended back in the day. One of which was back in the early '70s where Aerosmith actually open for the group Three Dog Night; apparently the was prior to the band making it really big. He said the two things in particular that he distinctly remembers was how tight the band was and how ridiculously far back guitarist Joe Perry could bend whilst playing. Anyway, here's one off of their first album, and it is a pretty good one. Hear Make It on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Rolling Stones - Beast of Burden My song pick two years ago today: Modest Mouse - Float On My song pick three years ago today: Eric Burdon & The Animals - When I Was Young My song pick four years ago today: Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen My song pick five years ago today: Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin - Polovtsian Dances

From: Seasons of the Heart ; Year: 1982; Genre: Soft Rock/Folk Rock Yesterday I had this track come on my iPod and I thought it would be an excellent song to pick today. I grew up hearing this album a lot; while it's not my favourite song or album from John Denver, there are a lot of good memories I have connected to it. Hear Shanghai Breezes on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Aphrodite's Child - The Beast My song pick two years ago today: Duran Duran - Lonely In Your Nightmare My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Dogs in the Midwinter My song pick four years ago today: John Denver - Season Suite: Late Winter, Early Spring (When Everybody Goes To Mexico) My song pick five years ago today: César Antonovich Cui - Orientale

From: Ocean Front Property ; Year: 1987; Genre: Country The other night this song came to mind after a co-worker told a story as to why a piece of equipment was malfunctioning. Later another worker said, "If you believe his story, then I've got some seaside property in Montana to sell you dirt cheap." i.e. if you believe that then you'll believe anything. Anyway, off and on ever since then I've had this song on my mind, so I'm going ahead and making it my pick for today. Hear Ocean Front Property on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: April Wine - Future Tense My song pick two years ago today: The Darkness - Hazel Eyes My song pick three years ago today: The O'Jays - Back Stabbers My song pick four years ago today: Tarja Turunen - Enough My song pick five years ago today: Modest Petrovitch Mussorgsky - Night on Bald Mountain

From: My Head is an Animal ; Year: 2011; Genre: Indie Rock It seems as if every day I hear this song from the Icelandic group Of Monsters and Men on the radio, and I have to say that it has grown on me a bit. Probably the part of the song that I like the most is the launch into the chorus, which contrasts with the verses; I absolutely love how they used Nanna Hilmarsdóttir's vocals in the chorus and Ragnar Þórhallsson's in the verses. Watch the music video to Mountain Sound on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast My song pick two years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - The Jam My song pick three years ago today: Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) - La Mer (Beyond The Sea) My song pick four years ago today: Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens - Top Gun Anthem My song pick five years ago today: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Flight of the Bumblebee ...

From: Kindred Spirits ; Year: 2012; Genre: Celtic Folk Metal This track is among my favourites off of the Irish folk metal band Waylander's newest album Kindred Spirits . I love the overall melodiousness of this song in particular, which is still constant when it gets heavier. Hear Erdath on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jim Croce - Workin' at the Car Wash Blues My song pick two years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Flaming Telepaths My song pick three years ago today: AC/DC - Carry Me Home My song pick four years ago today: The Eagles - Get Over It My song pick five years ago today: Mily Balakirev - Islamey: an Oriental Fantasy

From: Kings of Sleep ; Year: 1989; Genre: Hard Rock Again, I had no song in mind today, but was thinking about the music from bassist extraordinaire Stu Hamm. This is one of the more rousing ones from the Kings of Sleep album; I love Harry Cody's lead guitar playing throughout this one. Hear Call of the Wild on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Wilson Pickett - Funk Factory My song pick two years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Life Still Goes On (I'm Lonely) My song pick three years ago today: Nirvana - In Bloom My song pick four years ago today: Static X - I'm With Stupid My song pick five years ago today: Ian Anderson - Eurology

From: Heavy Horses ; Year: 1978; Genre: Progressive Rock I was thinking about picking some Jethro Tull today; at one point this 9 minute long centerpiece of the album's namesake was my favourite of their songs. It's not that I like it any less, I actually have trouble assigning labels to which are my favourite songs anymore; there are just too many that I like. It's interesting, but with this being, I believe, my 78th song I've picked from Jethro Tull I still have yet to pick the vast majority of Ian and the band's material. Anyway, as I stated earlier this song and album are among my favourites from Jethro Tull. When I first bought this album I played it constantly and even to this day love almost every second of it. While some people might roll their eyes at a song about husbandry and large work horses, if those people would sit down and give it a listen, it is an amazing track. For the most part the song is a metaphor for Ian's overall concept of mans...