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

From: Blacknuss ; Year: 1971; Genre: Jazz/Traditional Wow, it's my last post of 2013; tomorrow will be the start of another year of blogging about songs. Anyway, I was thinking about this song the other day and decided to see if someone had uploaded it and lo and behold someone had, so I'm picking it. Blacknuss is a truly amazing album, which I happen to have found some years ago at a yard sale. To say the least I was amazed when I head this song come on; I absolutely love what he did with this sacred classic mixing in all of the jazz and blues elements, plus his monologing, which he was known for, added so much to it. It's a truly great song to usher out the year with! Catch you all next year! Hear Roland Kirk's version of Old Rugged Cross on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Mahavishnu Orchestra - One Word My song pick two years ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - The Raven My song pick three years ago today: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - ...

From: Captain Morgan's Revenge ; Year: 2008; Genre: Celtic Folk Metal/Pirate Metal Last night through this morning I've been binging on Alestorm and thought I'd go ahead an add another one of their songs to my list today. What's not to love about this track? It's very well put together with an excellent singalong sea chanty chorus and is about pirates on a quest for gold and glory; wot more could ya want I ask? Hear Over the Seas on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Paul Simon - Mother and Child Reunion My song pick two years ago today: Maurice Ravel - M.81 - Boléro My song pick three years ago today: Megaherz - Schizophren My song pick four years ago today: Genesis - Turn It On Again My song pick five years ago today: Miles Davis - Walkin' My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Cold Wind To Valhalla

From: Evil Empire ; Year: 1996; Genre: Alternative Metal While out and about this morning I had this song running through my mind and thought I would pick it. It's definitely a rousing track that is fun to listen to. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Gentle Giant - The House, The Street, The Room My song pick two years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Something to Believe In My song pick three years ago today: Dizzy Gillespie - One Note Samba My song pick four years ago today: Steely Dan - Josie My song pick five years ago today: Joni Mitchell - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat My song pick six years ago today: Big Country - In A Big Country

From: A ; Year: 1980; Genre: Progressive Rock/Electronic Rock Last night I had this song running through my mind, so as I usually do I took it as it was meant to be picked. While this is a song off of arguable one of the worst albums the band ever released, it is kind of interesting. It's kind of a mix of Celtic folk, progressive rock, and early 1980s electronic rock all mixed in a cynical, tongue-in-cheek apocalyptic narrative. Hear Protect and Survive on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Flying Burrito Brothers - Wild Horses My song pick two years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - My Dark Hour My song pick three years ago today: Fear Factory - Fear Campaign My song pick four years ago today: Gunnar Madsen - Surprise! My song pick five years ago today: Charles Mingus - Tonight At Noon My song pick six years ago today: Megadeth - Architecture of Aggression

From: Survival of the Fittest ; Year: 1975; Genre: Funk/Jazz Fusion I almost forgot to pick a funk track today, which would've snapped my string of Funky Friday picks; today by the way is my 15th in a row. This is a rather famous track by Herbie Hancock's jazz/funk group The Headhunters and backed by The Pointer Sisters on the 9 minutes of funky jazz music. Hear God Make Me Funky on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Yes - Beyond & Before My song pick two years ago today: Billy Joel - The Downeaster 'Alexa' My song pick three years ago today: Oasis - Cast No Shadow My song pick four years ago today: Nightwish - Wanderlust My song pick five years ago today: Dizzy Gillespie - Salt Peanuts My song pick six years ago today: Bon Jovi - You Give Love A Bad Name

From: Actual Size ; Year: 2001; Genre: Rock I've been coming down from the Holiday falderal and was listening to this album from Mr. Big this morning and thought I would pick a song from it. While this album and song didn't do very well here in the USA, it was huge overseas; especially in The Land of the Rising Sun. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues My song pick two years ago today: Genesis - Land of Confusion My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Stuck in the August Rain My song pick four years ago today: Rammstein - Feuer Frei! My song pick five years ago today: Huey Lewis and the News - Back In Time My song pick six years ago today: Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally)

From: The Lost Christmas Eve ; Year: 2004; Genre: Christmas Music/Traditional Merry Christmas all! I considered picking something rousing or another comical parody today, but instead went for this rather pretty, light piece. It is a really good track to not only wind up and album, (like TSO did on this one), but to bring Christmas this year to a close. Hear the TSO version of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - A Winter Snowscape My song pick two years ago today: Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas My song pick three years ago today: Steeleye Span - Gaudete My song pick four years ago today: Ian Anderson - A Birthday Card At Christmas My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - Another Christmas Song My song pick six years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Wish Liszt (Toy Shop Madness)

From: The Jethro Tull Christmas Album ; Year: 2003; Genre: Progressive Rock/Jazz Obviously Jethro Tull is a guilty pleasure of mine and this is about the only time of year I get to listen to their Christmas album, so... yeah. Anyway, this is their cool 'west coast' jazz styled version of the Holiday classic, and pretty good too. Hear the song on YouTube. Watch a live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Wizards in Winter My song pick two years ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Christmas at Ground Zero My song pick three years ago today: Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) - I Believe in Father Christmas My song pick four years ago today: Louis Armstrong - 'Zat You Santa Claus? My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - A Christmas Song My song pick six years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost of Christmas Eve

From: A Very Special Christmas ; Year: 1987; Genre: Rock/Christmas Music Picking yet another Christmas tune for The Holiday season; it felt like a good time to pick Bob Seger and his Band's rendition of the classic Christmas song about a poor child musician giving a song to The Christ Child. Hear Bob Seger's The Little Drummer Boy on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man My song pick two years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Siberian Sleigh Ride My song pick three years ago today: Twisted Sister - Oh Come All Ye Faithful My song pick four years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Joy/Angels We Have Heard on High My song pick five years ago today: The Kinks - Father Christmas My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick

From: White Trash Christmas ; Year: 2002; Genre: Progressive Rock/Comedy/Christmas Music This Christmas parody of the Jethro Tull's legendary hit Aqualung always brings a smile to my face around this time of year. Iwas surprised that I hadn't picked in during one of the other previous six Christmas seasons since I've been doing this Song a Day blog. What Bob Rivers did turning this song about a lecherous homeless man into one about the trials and tribulations of being "Father Christmas," (a mall Santa), was epic. As a hardcore 'Tull fan I definitely approve of this one! Hear Aquaclaus on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Honeycombs - Have I the Right? My song pick two years ago today: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Christmas All Over Again My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Tears My song pick four years ago today: Sylvia - Drifter My song pick five years ago today: Cheech & Chong - Santa Claus and His Old...

From: What a Wonderful Christmas ; Year: 1997 (1955) ; Genre: Christmas/Jazz Having a very busy day, so I'm making a quick pick; this is among my favourites to listen to this time of year. Hear Christmas Night in Harlem on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Beatles - Please Please Me My song pick two years ago today: John Denver - Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas) My song pick three years ago today: Mykola Leontovych - Shchedryk (The Carol of the Bells) My song pick four years ago today: Steeleye Span - Edwin My song pick five years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra/Savatage - Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Ring Out Solstice Bells

From: A Whole New Thing ; Year : 1967; Genre: Soul/Funk Making my 14th Funky Friday pick in a row and also I happened to feel like listening to some Sly and the Family Stone. This one off of their debut album is one of the tracks to feature bassist Larry Graham on lead vocal; a truly great song. Hear Bad Risk on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bob Dylan - See That My Grave is Kept Clean My song pick two years ago today: Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - I Am Santa Claus My song pick three years ago today: Daft Punk - End of Line My song pick four years ago today: Avatar (Savatage) - Rock Me My song pick five years ago today: Savatage - White Witch My song pick six years ago today: Paul McCartney - Little Willow

From: Outlandos d'Amour ; Year: 1978; Genre: New Wave/Reggae The other day I had this album and other early Police material on my mind and thought I would pick one. I always like reggae and when people use it in different ways; The Police were one that fused it quite well with the more mainstream wave/rock/punk/pop sound and made a very interesting mix that has been duplicated many times over the years; this song is one of the best of their earlier attempts to do so. Hear So Lonely on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Ben E. King - Stand By Me My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow My song pick three years ago today: Nightwish - Wishmaster My song pick four years ago today: The Violent Femmes - Color Me Once My song pick five years ago today: The Who - Eminence Front My song pick six years ago today: John Fogerty - Almost Saturday Night

From: The Ventures' Christmas Album ; Year: 1965; Genre: Surf Rock I had this festive surf rock take on the holiday classic from The Ventures running through my mind and since it is the season I thought I would pick it. I love they mixed aspects of the monster hit Walk, Don't Run in this one. Hear Sleigh Ride on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Miracles featuring Bill "Smokey" Robinson - Shop Around My song pick two years ago today: Louis Armstrong - Christmas in New Orleans My song pick three years ago today: Boston - A Man I'll Never Be My song pick four years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Blue Collar My song pick five years ago today: John Denver - Season Suite - Winter My song pick six years ago today: Band of Horses - The Funeral

From: Elements, Pt. 1 ; Year: 2003; Genre: Progressive Metal The other day I was listening to Stratovarius' Elements, Part 1 album and really liked this track. I really love the soaring feeling this song gives the listener, especially the guitars. Hear Learning to Fly on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Miles Davis - Green in Blue My song pick two years ago today: Tarot - Midwinter Nights My song pick three years ago today: Henry Mancini - A Shot in the Dark My song pick four years ago today: Finntroll - Jaktens Tid My song pick five years ago today: Band of Horses - St. Augustine My song pick six years ago today: Dan Fogelberg - Leader of the Band

From: Molly Hatchet ; Year: 1978; Genre: Hard Rock/Southern Rock I hadn't picked one from Molly Hatchet in a while, and thought I would today. This is the " Magnum Opus " from their debut album consisting of incredible music and a kick arse guitar solo, but if you're thinking that this is just another " Freebird " copy from a Southern Rock band, it's not. For the most part this one is pretty smooth in rhythm and has a very jazzy structure with incredible musicianship throughout; it's one of my favourites from the band. Hear Dreams I'll Never See on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Miles Davis - Straight, No Chaser My song pick two years ago today: Triumph - Hold On My song pick three years ago today: Jack Black and Jason Segel - The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth My song pick four years ago today: John Denver - Poems, Prayers and Promises My song pick five years ago today: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Marrakesh Expres...

From: Curse of the Hidden Mirror ; Year: 2001; Genre: Hard Rock Last night I was listening to some BÖC, which included this album. I have to say this song in particular has their classic sound, which is a definite plus in my opinion. Hear Stone of Love on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Crickets (Buddy Holley) - That'll Be the Day My song pick two years ago today: Alestorm - Keelhauled My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - My God My song pick four years ago today: Wolfsheim - Once in a Lifetime My song pick five years ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home) My song pick six years ago today: Pet Shop Boys - So Hard

From: White Eagle ; Year: 1982; Genre: Electronic Rock/Progressive Rock Been meaning to pick something from Tangerine Dream for a while now and thought it would be a good day to do just that. This is one of their more abbreviated songs and is a very good track to as well. Hear White Eagle on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel My song pick two years ago today: Rare Earth - I Just Want to Celebrate My song pick three years ago today: Top Gear Band - Red Light Spells Danger My song pick four years ago today: Azteca - Love is a Stranger My song pick five years ago today: Danzig - Mother My song pick six years ago today: Savatage - Gutter Ballet

From: Pornograffitti ; Year: 1990; Genre: Hard Rock/Funk It's a very busy day today, so I'm going to have to make a quick pick on this 13th consecutive Funky Friday . Although this album is mostly known by the overplayed ballad More Than Words , it's also got a lot of other great songs on it, including this one. Hear Get the Funk Out on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around the Clock My song pick two years ago today: Steve Vai - I'm the Hell Outta Here My song pick three years ago today: Fear Factory - Replica My song pick four years ago today: David Bowie - Changes My song pick five years ago today: Heart - Black On Black II My song pick six years ago today: Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

From: Fly From Here ; Year: 2011; Genre: Progressive Rock I checked this album out yesterday, and have to say I like it. This song is unique for the reason that you get to hear bassist Chris Squire sing lead vocals, which is a rarity even though he regularly performs backing vocals. While it's not amongst their great memorable hits, it's still a very good song that has that unique Yes sound and feel. Hear The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Soundgarden - Non-State Actor My song pick two years ago today: The Mushroom Tabernacle Choir - 12 Drugs of Christmas My song pick three years ago today: David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes My song pick four years ago today: Ian Anderson - In the Moneylender's Temple My song pick five years ago today: Dobie Grey - Drift Away My song pick six years ago today: Lobo - Gypsy and the Midnight Ghost

From: Jailbreak ; Year: 1974; Genre: Hard Rock I had the incline to listen to some Thin Lizzy today; this is one of my favourites off of this album. I love the riff heavy rock of this song; it's definitely one of the best lesser-known tracks on this hit-laden album. Hear Warriors on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Soundgarden - Taree My song pick two years ago today: Lighthouse - Pretty Lady My song pick three years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Mr. Recordman My song pick four years ago today: Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed - Something My song pick five years ago today: Buddy Holly & the Crickets - Well... All Right My song pick six years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Dreams

From: Tattoo You ; Year: 1981; Genre: Rock It felt like a day for some 'Stones; this is one of the more notable songs from the band off of their Tattoo You album. It's hard to believe that this song is over 30 years old; it has actually aged quite well over that span of time. Hear Start Me Up on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Alestorm - Leviathan My song pick two years ago today: Rush - What You're Doing My song pick three years ago today: Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Bright Moments My song pick four years ago today: Maddy Prior - The Fabled Hare My song pick five years ago today: Chuck Berry - Almost Grown My song pick six years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Right Down The Line

From: Planet Waves ; Year: 1974; Genre: Folk Rock I had absolutely no song in mind for today, but eventually thought picking a Bob Dylan track would be good. While it does not bare a great deal of similarities, this song was modified and covered by Rod Stewart, ( which can be found here on YouTube ), but the sentiment and overall message in the song remained unchanged. Watch a live performance from The David Letterman show circa 1973 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Les Paul & Mary Ford - How High the Moon My song pick two years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Rain is Falling My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Red Lenses My song pick four years ago today: The Kinks - A Rock & Roll Fantasy My song pick five years ago today: Quincy Jones - Soul Bossa Nova My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - My Sunday Feeling

From: Making Movies ; Year: 1980; Genre: Rock Last night I heard this track, and it brought it back to my mind. Along with the bulk of Dire Straits music this is a great song with that clean, crisp Dire Straits sound. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie - Bloomdido My song pick two years ago today: Molly Hatchet - One Man's Pleasure My song pick three years ago today: Hawkwind - High Rise My song pick four years ago today: Joachim Witt - Bataillon 'd Amour My song pick five years ago today: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Ohio My song pick six years ago today: Donovan - Sunshine Superman

From: The Beatles ( White Album ) ; Year: 1968; Genre: Folk Rock Last night I had this song on my mind, which is one of my favourites written by Paul McCartney; when I noticed that I hadn't picked it yet I thought I would. This is one of the prettier songs from the band; they make an incredible sound with the sparse accompaniment. Hear Blackbird on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Vaughn Monroe - (Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend My song pick two years ago today: Bob Dylan - Knockin' on Heaven's Door My song pick three years ago today: Frank Zappa - Dumb All Over My song pick four years ago today: Django Reinhardt - I'll See You In My Dreams My song pick five years ago today: Queen - You're My Best Friend My song pick six years ago today: The Zombies - She's Not There

From: Street Songs ; Year: 1981; Genre: Funk/R&B I've made it to a full dozen Funky Friday's in a row! I was contemplating as to which funky song would be picked today and the signature bass line/hook started playing in my mind. Heck yeah! A perfect song for any day you feel funky, let alone on a Funky Friday. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Three to Get Ready My song pick two years ago today: Rammstein - Rammstein My song pick three years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - You Send Me My song pick four years ago today: Frijid Pink - House of the Rising Sun My song pick five years ago today: Jaco Pastorius - Portrait of Tracy My song pick six years ago today: Rush - Time Stand Still

From: Images at Twilight ; Year: 1979; Genre: Progressive Rock Today I really wanted to choose a song from a band that I hadn't yet picked one from; this is one from a second wave progressive rock band that I hadn't heard before. From what I understand this song was part of a 16 song set of "chapters" that spanned many of the band's albums. Hear It's Time on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Red Sector A My song pick two years ago today: Muse - Exogenesis: Symphony Parts 1,2, and 3 My song pick three years ago today: Hawkwind - Spirit of the Age My song pick four years ago today: Stuart Hamm - Flow My Tears My song pick five years ago today: Nightwish - I Wish I Had An Angel My song pick six years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan - Pride and Joy

From: Abracadabra ; Year: 1982; Genre: Rock I'm still in the mood for some 1980s electronic rock, and thought I would pick one of my favourites off of Steve Miller's Abracadabra album, which was one of biggest forays into the use of electronic devices in his music. The overall construction and feeling of this one always gets me into a good mood; you got to love that drum and keyboard intro! Hear Keeps Me Wondering Why on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Fred Astaire - Puttin' on the Ritz My song pick two years ago today: Puhdys - Wenn Traume Sterben My song pick three years ago today: Jim Reeves - It's Nothin' to Me My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Twilight Zone My song pick five years ago today: The Firm - Radioactive My song pick six years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Shot in the Dark

From: The Present ; Year: 1983; Genre: Rock I don't know what it is, but I've been leaning towards more of the 1980's hard rock and progressive rock; I guess I must be feeling nostalgic or something. The Present is one of the few albums from The Moody Blues that I don't yet own, but I probably will; this is one of the tracks that was also released as a single. It's more of a straight-ahead rocker with all the 80's electronic sounds added in, which dates it a bit, but it's still a good song anyway. Hear Sitting at the Wheel on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Harry James and His Orchestra with Kitty Kallen - 11:60 PM My song pick two years ago today: Billy Idol - Flesh for Fantasy My song pick three years ago today: The Coasters - Along Came Jones My song pick four years ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - Footstompin' Music My song pick five years ago today: Petula Clark - Don't Sleep in the Subway My song pick six years ...

From: King Animal ; Year: 2012; Genre: Alternative Rock Yesterday I was listening to Soundgarden's King Animal again and thoroughly enjoyed it. After noticing this morning that I hadn't picked this track, which is among my favourites, I of course had to make it my choice today. This is one of the tracks with their classic sound featured in spades; a totally awesome song. Hear A Thousand Days Before on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Ink Spots with Ella Fitzgerald - I'm Making Believe My song pick two years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Vengeance (The Pact) My song pick three years ago today: Hawkwind - Sleep of a Thousand Tears My song pick four years ago today: The Who - Squeeze Box My song pick five years ago today: Steely Dan - FM (No Static At All) My song pick six years ago today: The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night

From The Christmas Attic ; Year: 1998; Genre: Holiday/Symphonic Metal It's the first of December and I thought I would get into the Christmas mood with some appropriate music. This track is a rather pretty instrumental medley of Holiday music, perfect for the season. Hear Appalachian Snowfall on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Kinks - Dead End Street My song pick two years ago today: Megaherz - Kopfschuss My song pick three years ago today: Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper My song pick four years ago today: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Refugee My song pick five years ago today: Yes - Your Move/All Good People My song pick six years ago today: King Harvest - Dancing in the Moonlight