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

From: Elysium ; Year: 2011; Genre: Progressive Metal This is this first song with lyrics that I have posted in a bit; maybe I should've kept it going, but I really felt like picking this one. It's also kind of neat to think that with this pick I bring my fifth year of running this blog a close; tomorrow will mark my song a day blog's sixth anniversary. Anyway, this is one of my favourite songs off of this album; not only do I like the overall uplifting/conquering feeling this track gives you, but I absolutely love how they brought the bass way up in the mix; it just sounds awesome! Hear Under Flaming Skies on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Genesis - A Winter's Tale My song pick two years ago today: Chet Atkins - Drive In My song pick three years ago today: Letzte Instanz - Für Immer Und Ewig My song pick four years ago today: Ian Anderson - A Raft of Penguins My song pick five years ago today: John Denver - Jimmy Newman

From: Caravanserai ; Year: 1972; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Latin Rock After hearing a bit of Santana yesterday on the radio it got me in the mood to listen to some more; since apparently I haven't picked one from the band in quite some time I thought I would add one to the blog today. Of course I'm picking another one from Caravanserai ; it is and will always be my favourite album from Santana. This was the first song I ever tried to learn how to play a mambo; all I can say is, it was a deceptively difficult concept to get down, but very rewarding in the end. Hear La Fuente del Ritmo on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: King Crimson - The Court of the Crimson King My song pick two years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Yours Truly, 2095 My song pick three years ago today: Stahlhammer - Herz Aus Stahl My song pick four years ago today: America - Sister Golden Hair My song pick five years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies

From: Vampires, Cowboys, Spacemen & Spooks: The Very Best of Joe Meek's Instrumentals ; Year: 1961; Genre: Surf Rock This is a rather pretty instrumental track from one of Joe Meek's recording bands: The Outlaws. Of course this is not the same southern rock band of Green Grass and High Tides Forever fame, but rather the British band that featured a young Ritchie Blackmore, although he hadn't yet joined the band for this recording. Again, this is a rather pretty one written around a solid melody played by a wet reverbed guitar; another great example of Joe Meek's production. Hear Valley of the Sioux on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Candlebox - Far Behind My song pick two years ago today: Buckethead - Final Wars My song pick three years ago today: Megaherz - Heuchler My song pick four years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Funky Broadway My song pick five years ago today: Oasis - Wonderwall

From: The Atkins - Travis Traveling Show ; Year: 1974; Genre: Gypsy Jazz/Country I had another song in mind to pick today, but this rather beautiful song kept my mind occupied, so (as I normally do), I am taking it as a sign I should pick it. Wow, this song certainly does stir up the memories and emotions; my grandfather used to play this song a lot, I mean A LOT over the years. He was so good at playing this one and much of Chet Atkins' catalogue most couldn't tell if it was him playing or the record. Anyway, this is a great cover of the often-recorded jazz standard originally written in the mid-1920s by Isham Jones and Gus Khan. Hear I'll See You In My Dreams on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - O.D.'d on Life Itself My song pick two years ago today: Hawkwind - We Took the Wrong Step Years Ago My song pick three years ago today: Oomph! - Das Weiße Licht My song pick four years ago today: Trio of Doom - Dark Prince ...

From: Brown and Roach Incorporated ; Year: 1954; Genre: Jazz For a while now I haven't been picking any old-school jazz, so I thought I would. It still amazes me every time I listen to Clifford Brown; a great musician who only recorded four years before his tragic death at the age of 25, and in those four years elevated himself to that of a jazz great. Heck, how many can say they have written songs that went on to become full-blown jazz standards before the age of 25? I cannot even fathom where he would've been if hadn't gotten into that car accident. Anyway, this is the amazing duo of Clifford Brown and Max Roach and their band of renown's bop era take on the classic jazz standard Stompin' at the Savoy . I love how they mixed a few forms of jazz throughout their cover: you can hear bebop, hard bop, west coast (cool jazz), along with the swing of the original just to name a few. Hear Stompin' at the Savoy on YouTube. My song pick a year ago toda...

From: Arrival ; Year: 1976; Genre: Symphonic Rock Off and on over the last week or so I've had some songs from this album running through my mind. While they had quite a lot of success with their three previous albums, it was with the aptly-titled Arrival that really saw the full-on international success. Though it's not my favourite album from ABBA there are quite a few excellent songs to be heard on it; you can't help but notice the sheer amount of hits that permeate the tracklisting, and not just hits but most of the band's major, biggest hits come from this album. Anyway, this instrumental piece, which is obviously also the title-track conspicuously closes out the album; I have no idea why they wouldn't have made this track as an overture that opened the album, but I guess its placement worked. It is a rather pretty instrumental piece, which is written around a simple melody but ends up coming across as rather big; quite a nice song and all. Hear Ar...

From: La belle Hélène ; Year: 1864; Genre: Romantic Period/classical Most of the morning I've been listening to a bunch of Offenbach's works whilst getting some work done; I thought I would pick one of them today. Generally two of my favourite types of classical music are Requiems and Overtures in that order. This one happens to be the overture to one of his more famous pieces: the Opéra Bouffe La belle Hélène . It just one of many incredible pieces of music from this master of his art. Hear the La Belle Hélène Overture on YouTube. Performed by the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Conducted by Hermann Scherchen. My song pick a year ago today: Brave Belt - Another Way Out My song pick two years ago today: 3 Doors Down - Kryptonite My song pick three years ago today: Joachim Witt - Krieger Des Licht My song pick four years ago today: Jimi Hendrix - Angel My song pick five years ago today: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - Sunset Road

From: Hunting High and Low ; Year: 1985; Genre: New Wave Here's another song that I thought I had already picked at some time in the last six years of doing this blog, but I guess I didn't. Anyway, this is one of those memorable hits from the 1980s; it is known quite well for that high note at the end of the chorus. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Return to Forever - Excerpt from the First Movement of Heavy Metal My song pick two years ago today: Homer & Jethro - The Billboard Song My song pick three years ago today: Thursday - I1100 My song pick four years ago today: Wings - Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five My song pick five years ago today: Gordon Lightfoot - Sundown

From: Battle Hymn ; Year: 1971; Genre: Hard Rock I've been meaning to pick another song from Wild Turkey for a bit now; it seems like a good day to do so. This is the title-track off of their '71 debut album, and it's one of the best on the record as well in my opinion. Hear Battle Hymn on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Johann Strauss I - Op. 154 - Lorelei Rhein Klänge My song pick two years ago today: Puhdys - Hier Oben My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Circumstances My song pick four years ago today: Rammstein - Du Hast My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - Sunshine Day

From: Their 16 Greatest Hits ; Year: 1971; Genre: Pop/Rock For no apparent reason I had a bunch of The Grass Roots' music running through my mind. Of course, as I normally do, I took it as a sign I should pick one of their songs. This is one of their hits that for the longest time I did not realize that it was from the band; it's a more pop oriented and catchy tune. Hear Sooner or Later on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Felix Mendelssohn - Op. 56 - Symphony No. 3 (Scottish) My song pick two years ago today: Deep Purple - Pictures of Home My song pick three years ago today: Heart - If Looks Could Kill My song pick four years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man My song pick five years ago today: The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun

From: Let It Bleed ; Year: 1969; Genre: Hard Rock I felt like listening to some 'Stones on this "humpday," and I figured it would also be an excellent time to pick one as well; this is one of the main hits from Let It Bleed. Hear Monkey Man on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Boston - Peace of Mind My song pick two years ago today: Weezer - Buddy Holly My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein - Ich Will My song pick four years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Mad Hatter My song pick five years ago today: Ludwig van Beethoven - Op. 27, No.2 - Moonlight Sonata

From: Van Halen II ; Year: 1979; Genre: Hard Rock I happened to hear this one on the radio the other day; ever since then I kind of had it in mind to pick it. I thought some classic Van Halen would make a wonderful pick for today. Hear Dance the Night Away on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - The Whistler My song pick two years ago today: Maurice Ravel - M.19 - Pavane for a Dead Princess My song pick three years ago today: Black Label Society - Stillborn My song pick four years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - I Never Dreamed My song pick five years ago today: Duran Duran - New Moon On Monday

From: Reggatta de Blanc ; Year: 1979; Genre: New Wave/Reggae I heard this song on the radio today; as soon as I heard it I knew I had my pick. In my opinion this is one of the more interesting tracks from Sting and The Police; a very nice fusion of rock and reggae. Hear Walking on the Moon on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Led Zeppelin - Misty Mountain Hop My song pick two years ago today: Émile Waldteufel - Op. 232 - Rococo-Polka My song pick three years ago today: Sky - Sarabande My song pick four years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - On The Hunt My song pick five years ago today: Ian Anderson - A Better Moon

From: Poems, Prayers & Promises ; Year: 1971; Genre: Folk Rock For the last few days I've had this song running though my mind, so, as I normally do, I am taking it as a sign I should pick it. I grew up hearing John Denver's Poems, Prayers & Promises along with a few other of his albums to the point I can clearly hear each note and word in my mind almost perfectly. Anyway, this is one of his songs that I love to sing along to at the top of my lungs. Hear Wooden Indian on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Barenaked Ladies - One Week My song pick two years ago today: Paul Abraham Dukas - The Sorcerer's Apprentice My song pick three years ago today: Jigsaw - Jesu, the Joy of Man's Desiring My song pick four years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Second Hand My song pick five years ago today: Glenn Miller - Moonlight Serenade

From: Are You Experienced ; Year: 1967; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Psychedelic Rock This is a rather interesting piece of music that if I haven't, I really should've already picked. It's an extremely experimental song in many ways; fusing all sorts of music and ideas together. Really, because of this it can fit into many and no categories at the same time, but whatever the case it's an incredible track all the same. Hear Third Stone From the Sun on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Black Sabbath - Fairies Wear Boots My song pick two years ago today: Tesla - Forever More My song pick three years ago today: Led Zeppelin - Moby Dick My song pick four years ago today: Bob Marley & The Wailers - Three Little Birds My song pick five years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Bad Moon Rising

From: Space Ritual ; Year: 1973; Genre: Space Rock After listening to a bunch of their music yesterday I thought I would pick something from Hawkwind; there is something about their music that always seems to put a smile on my face. This is a rather bluesy piece of psychedelic space rock is written about an actual device that supposedly gathers the hypothetical universal 'life force' Orgone ; uh huh.... Hear Orgone Accumulator on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Robert Schumann - Op. 17 - Fantasie in C My song pick two years ago today: Muse - Supermassive Black Hole My song pick three years ago today: Eddie Lang - Eddie's Twister My song pick four years ago today: The Goo Goo Dolls - Black Balloon My song pick five years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon

From: Just Add Water ; Year: 2001; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Funk I'm still in the mood for some odd music; this one is Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey's cover of Jaco Pastorius' Portrait of Tracy . I love how they make the song so much more musical and "funkilated" than the original while still keeping the original's framework. In actuality their version is quite listenable probably even to those who don't normaly like music on this scale of virtuosity. Hear Portrait of Tracy on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: ZZ Top - La Grange My song pick two years ago today: Rammstein - Seemann My song pick three years ago today: Jon Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory My song pick four years ago today: The Who - The Seeker My song pick five years ago today: The Beatles - Mr. Moonlight

From: I Sing the Body Electric ; Year: 1972; Genre: Jazz Fusion Well, I made it to 2200 songs picked... I really wish I had a more appropriate song to go along with the occasion, but you cannot go wrong with picking a Weather Report song on a day like today. I really wanted to pick one of this album this morning; out of their albums, I personally have I Sing the Body Electric as my third favourite behind Mysterious Traveler and Heavy Weather . This actually was not the song I intended on picking at all; all of the other ones I had in mind were not on YouTube. However, this track seems a pretty nice fit for today; if only I'd have thought to pick it a few days ago on Sunday it would've been perfect. I really like Wayne Shorter and Miroslav Vitouš' playing on this one; it's almost ethereal at times. Hear Second Sunday in August on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: AC/DC - Thunderstruck My song pick two years ago today: Victor Wooten - Norwegian ...

From: Summer Surf ; Year: 1964; Genre: Surf Rock I needed some kickass guitar music today; Dick Dale is of course one of the best at the trade, and I absolutely adore his music. This is a cool piece of surf rock; I love how he makes that guitar scream and still be so incredibly clean. Hear Banzai Washout on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Megadeth - 13 My song pick two years ago today: Warrant - Heaven My song pick three years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - The Wind Cries Mary My song pick four years ago today: Savatage - Damien My song pick five years ago today: Marcy Playground - Sex and Candy

From: Facelift ; Year: 1990; Genre: Alternative Metal No other reason but that I like the band that I am choosing this song today; I guess it just fit my mood. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: John Denver - Take Me To Tomorrow My song pick two years ago today: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Can't Stand Your Funk My song pick three years ago today: Styx - Suite Madame Blue My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Malignant Narcissism My song pick five years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Flirtin' With Disaster

From: Take Me to Tomorrow ; Year: 1970; Genre: Folk Rock It's kind of a busy day, so I'm making somewhat of an abbreviated pick. This is a great cover by Mr. Denver of the James Taylor classic; I love the overall rock sound and feel he infused into the song, which made it quite distinct. Hear Carolina In My Mind on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Asia - Time Again My song pick two years ago today: U2 - The Unforgettable Fire My song pick three years ago today: Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World My song pick four years ago today: Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now My song pick five years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Gimme Your Money Please

From: Inside In/Inside Out ; Year: 2006; Genre: Indie Pop I had this song on my mind today, and as usual I thought I would make it my pick. Even though it's a pop track it's actually a very good song; it's very reminiscent of the music from the British Invasion . Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Hector Berlioz - Op. 14 - Symphonie Fantastique: Épisode de la vie d'un Artiste... en cinq parties My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Dun Ringill My song pick three years ago today: Ian Anderson - Fly By Night My song pick four years ago today: The Supremes - I Hear a Symphony My song pick five years ago today: Rammstein - Mutter

From: Grace Under Pressure ; Year: 1984; Genre: Progressive Rock Late last night I had the song Afterimage running through my mind, so instead of getting sleep I put on Grace Under Pressure (with headphones on of course; I didn't want to wake anyone  up in the house) and pulled out my guitar to play along resting my chin against it to get the vibration on my notes. It seem like every time I put this album on for one song it seems as if I end up playing the whole record; last night was no different. I thought I would go ahead and pick one off of this album today, but just like yesterday's pick, I've all but every song off of it. I think I have yet to pick Kid Gloves , and I'll have to check but I believe I haven't picked Distant Early Warning .... I don't know why, but I've always been drawn to this record ever since I first dropped the needle; it's just a great album in my opinion. Anyway, The Enemy Within is among the heavier tracks on the d...

From: The Grand Illusion ; Year: 1977; Genre: Hard Rock I had another song in mind for today's pick, but for some reason I had a few of Styx's songs running through my mind, so I took it as a sign I should pick one of theirs instead. Anyway, as I've said in previous posts concerning Styx; The Grand Illusion is my absolute favourite of their records. Because of this it seems that I am running out of tracks from the album to pick, so I am forced to pick one of the lesser tracks today. I suppose I could've picked one from another album, but I felt like sticking with this one. Being that this one was written by Tommy Shaw means that, yes it is a bit more of a rocker. Hear Man in the Wilderness on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Curved Air - Vivaldi My song pick two years ago today: Megadeth - Endgame My song pick three years ago today: Sirenia - The Other Side My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Spiral My song pick five years...

From: Images and Words ; Year: 1994; Genre: Progressive Metal Images and Words is one of, if not my favourite, Dream Theater album; there is just so much great music to be had throughout the disc. This, the closing track, which comes from the pen of bassist John Myung, is one of many excellent songs to be heard; an incredible 11+ minutes of great music that is. Hear Learning to Live on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Franz Schubert - D 911, Op. 89 - Die Winterreise My song pick two years ago today: Bon Jovi - Runaway My song pick three years ago today: Missing Link - Spoiled Love My song pick four years ago today: Grace Slick - Angel of the Night My song pick five years ago today: Don Williams - Yellow Moon

From: The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome ; Year: 1983; Genre: Hard Rock/Glam Rock The other day I noticed that I haven't picked a song from Slade in quite a long while, so I thought I would. While I have been a fan of their music from the '70s, it took me a bit to get into their material from subsequent decades. I have to say this song and quite a few of the others off of this album sound like they are from one of the hair metal bands of the '80s; I guess it all has to come from somewhere. Hear Slam the Hammer Down on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Stahlhammer - Mensch My song pick two years ago today: Rush - Afterimage My song pick three years ago today: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - The Last Supper (From Jesus Christ Superstar ) My song pick four years ago today: Megadeth - Sleepwalker My song pick five years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - The Whipping Post

From: Point of Know Return ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock I have been thinking about picking one from Kansas for a while now; I don't believe that I have picked one of their for quite a while now, so now would be a good time. Anyway, this is one among many great tracks off of their epic Point of Know Return album. This one in particular has great combination of excellent music and lyrics. From what I understand Portrait was written about Albert Einstein. Hear Portrait (He Knew) on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nightwish - Passion and the Opera My song pick two years ago today: Seven Mary Three - Cumbersome My song pick three years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Let It Ride My song pick four years ago today: Queen - Flash My song pick five years ago today: Joe Cocker - When The Night Comes

From: Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop ; Year: 1996; Genre: Alternative Rock The other day I happened to hear this track once again and I thought it would make a great pick. While being somewhat reminiscent of 1960's pop/rock, Lady Picture Show is definitely among STP's better works. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Ludwid van Beethoven - Op.125 - Symphony No.9 in D-Minor My song pick two years ago today: Stormwarrior - Heading Northe My song pick three years ago today: Cab Calloway - The Jumpin' Jive (Hep-Hep!) My song pick four years ago today: The Police - Synchronicity II My song pick five years ago today: Eddie Money - Take Me Home Tonight

From: Handful of Rain ; Year: 1994; Genre: Progressive Metal I was intending on picking another song today, but last night I had this song on my mind and it seemed like a pretty good fit for today. Even though the entire album's overall feel was clouded by the untimely death of Criss Oliva, I have always personally found the Handful of Rain album to be more uplifting and powerful than down/sad. The title-track is my favourite off of the record; I love the mix of the acoustic and heavier sounds. Of course Zach Steven's vocals are truly incredible as always; it's amazing to think that a single band had two of the greatest metal vocalist. Hear Handful of Rain on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Barbarian My song pick two years ago today: Charlie Parker - Summertime My song pick three years ago today: Tarot - Gone My song pick four years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black My song pick five years ago ...

From: Nevermind ; Year: 1991; Genre: Alternative Rock/Grunge For some reason this cool and mellow track seems to fit this lazy summer day very well, and I thought I would go ahead and pick it. Hear Something in the Way on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Till Lindemann and Richard Kruspe (Rammstein) - Schtiel My song pick two years ago today: Queensrÿche - Revolution Calling My song pick three years ago today: Puhdys - Große Herzen My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Digital Man My song pick five years ago today: Balance - Breaking Away

From: The 2nd Law ; Year: 2012; Genre: Progressive Rock I felt like some Muse this morning and I thought I would take this opportunity to sample something off of their newest album. This is another one of their tracks that has a noted Queen influence to it, although the overall melancholy feel of the song shows off more of their own style. Hear Explorers on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Pretenders - Middle of the Road My song pick two years ago today: U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name My song pick three years ago today: Uriah Heep - Wizard My song pick four years ago today: Queen - Bicycle Race My song pick five years ago today: The Doors - Love Me Two Times