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

From: Survival of the Fittest ; Year: 1975; Genre: Funk/Jazz Fusion It's another Funky Friday , (my 24th in a row), and the end of the month to boot. While the music is top-notch, the lyrics in this one leave something to be desired; you see the title of the song, yep that's all of the lyrics in the song; they get repeated and are used more as a rhythmic device than in the lead, melodic sense. Hear If You Got It, You'll Get It on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Billy Joel - Piano Man My song pick two years ago today: Pallas - Heart Attack My song pick three years ago today: Chet Atkins - Windy and Warm My song pick four years ago today: David Bowie - The Man Who Sold the World My song pick five years ago today: Dire Straits - Industrial Disease My song pick six years ago today: Blues Image - Ride Captain Ride Picks for previous February 29ths (Leap Year Picks): My leap year pick on 2.29.12: Cheech & Chong - Cheborneck My leap year...

From: Gettin' Ready ; Year: 1966; Genre: Motown/Soul I was listening to this great track yesterday and I thought it would make a good pick. Like many other they did, this is an incredible piece; in my opinion David Ruffin in particular put in one of his best vocal performances ever on this song. Hear Ain't Too Proud to Beg on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Roll On Down the Highway My song pick two years ago today: Pallas - Ark of Infinity My song pick three years ago today: Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - A Taste of Honey My song pick four years ago today: Steve Miller Band - Rock'n Me My song pick five years ago today: Three Dog Night - Try A Little Tenderness My song pick six years ago today: Steve Winwood - Roll With It

From: BWV. 24 ; Year: 1723; Genre: Baroque Period/classical Another "odometer rollover pick" today; it neat to think that I have 2400 songs down now. Anyway, I couldn't think of a fitting song to pick, so I thought I would go for something more 'epic.' I finally decided to go with J.S. Bach's 24th Opus, which is an extremely pretty Cantata. The choral vocals are beyond incredible along with the music; an amazing piece to say the least. Hear BWV. 24 Ein Ungerärbt Gemüte on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Hawkwind - Kiss of the Velvet Whip (The Mistress of Pain) My song pick two year ago today: The Doobie Brothers - It Keeps You Runnin' My song pick three years ago today: Steeleye Span - The Mooncoin Jig My song pick four years ago today: Queen - I'm Going Slightly Mad My song pick five years ago today: Jerry Reed - Lightning Rod My song pick six years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Changes

From: Mirrors ; Year: 1979; Genre: Rock Last night I had this one come on my iPod and it's still with me this morning, so I'm taking it as a sign I should pick it. This track is among the poppier songs from the band, but it's still an excellent, rather pretty track all the same. Hear In Thee on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - La Villa Strangiato (An Exercise in Self-Indulgence) My song pick two years ago today: Cheap Trick - Don't Be Cruel My song pick three years ago today: Rufus & Chaka Khan - Tell Me Something Good My song pick four years ago today: Freddie Taylor and His Swing Men from Harlem - Viper's Dream My song pick five years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Pow My song pick six years ago today - Ricky Nelson - Garden Party

From: Script for a Jester's Tear ; Year: 1983; Genre: Progressive Rock Yesterday was yet another mondo busy one, and, like I've done recently I'm picking another from one I heard on the road. This is one of my favourites from this album and is also one of my favourites from the band as well. All of the music and Fish's vocals are incredible in this one; just an amazing song all around. Hear Chelsea Monday on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Boston - Feelin' Satisfied My song pick two years ago today: Cybotron - Arrakis My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Entre Nous My song pick four years ago today: Black Sabbath - War Pigs My song pick five years ago today: Pink Floyd - One Of These Days My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Rare and Precious Chain

From: Deadwing ; Year: 2005; Genre: Progressive Metal The other day this was another one that came on the radio when I was on the road; another definite pick for me. Anyway, this is another great piece of progressive rock/metal from Steve Wilson and Porcupine Tree; definitely a feast for the ears. Hear Deadwing on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Fat My song pick two years ago today: Kreeps - Bad Voodoo My song pick three years ago today: David Bowie - Up the Hill Backwards My song pick four years ago today: Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes My song pick five years ago today: Savatage - Sleep My song pick six years ago today: The Beatles - Across The Universe

From: Left of Cool ; Year: 1998; Genre: Jazz Fusion Yesterday whilst on the road this one came on my iPod and it seemed to fit my mood perfectly; it was still on my mind this morning, so I'm making it my pick today. This one has a great riff or main melody that carries it along in a manner that is quite fun to the ear. The masterful playing of the music is at their normal great level, plus this track also feature Dave Matthews vocals. Hear Communication on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Livin' in the Fridge My song pick two years ago today: Duran Duran - (Reach Up for the) Sunrise My song pick three years ago today: The Offspring - Gone Away My song pick four years ago today: Converge - Cruel Bloom My song pick five years ago today: Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids - She's So Fine My song pick six years ago today: Lobo - A Big Red Kite

From: My Radio Sure Sounds Good to Me ; Year: 1978; Genre: Funk/Soul It's a pretty crazy day, so I'll have to make a somewhat abbreviated pick. Anyway, I'm now up to twenty-three Funky Fridays in a row. With this being such a busy day, I decided to 'homer out' again and pick a song from one of my absolute favourite funk masters. He can sure make that funky bass sound incredible; especially that distorted solo. Hear Turn It Out on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Smells Like Nirvana My song pick two years ago today: Rush - Closer to the Heart My song pick three years ago today: Johannes Brahms - Op. #45 - (A German Requiem, To Words of the Holy Scriptures) My song pick four years ago today: Heart - Love Alive My song pick five years ago today: Gregg Allman - I'm No Angel My song pick six years ago today: Yes - Long Distance Runaround/The Fish (schindleria praematurus)

From: Images and Words ; Year: 1992; Genre: Progressive Metal I had a song from Dream Theater earworming me today, (yeah, that's quite a feat for a progressive metal song to earworm you), but unfortunately I had already chosen it . So... wot's keeping me from picking another one of the songs from their early period? It's a pretty cool song in many ways, but I really like Queesrÿcheish quality and/or time period of sound that permeates this piece. Hear the full album version of Pull Me Under on YouTube. Watch the music video clip to Pull Me Under on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Another One Rides the Bus My song pick two years ago today: Genesis - The Knife My song pick three years ago today: Spaghetti Western Orchestra - The Good, The Bad And The Ugly My song pick four years ago today: Jerry Reed - Wabash Cannonball My song pick five years ago today: Ray Stevens - Gitarzan My song pick six years ago today: RE...

From: Pop ; Year: 2004; Genre: Neue Deutsche Härte I had another song in mind for my pick today, but couldn't find it on YouTube or other sites, so I delved deep into my queue and pulled this one up; I've actually had it in my queue for quite a few years now. It's not that I didn't like it or didn't ever want to pick it earlier; it just got lost in the shuffle. Anyway, this is quite a beautiful song, and I definitely love how he contrasts the vocals between the verses and the chorus. Hear Immer Noch on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: "Weird Al' Yankovic - Grapefruit Diet My song pick two years ago today: Soundgarden - I Awake My song pick three years ago today: Dream Theater - The Big Medley My song pick four years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Hey Jude My song pick five years ago today: Johnny Mandel - Suicide is Painless (Theme from M*A*S*H) My song pick six years ago today: Rush - Vital Signs

From: Canned Wheat ; Year: 1969; Genre: Rock I've been feeling like picking another song from The Guess Who for a while now, and it feels like a great day for one. This one that I fell in love with the first time I heard it. My dad owned the record and on this album there were songs that he listened to and ones he didn't; this was one of the latter. I remember one day I decided to give the other tracks a listen; to say the least this one caught my attention immediately. For most of the song it features a lot of Randy Bachman's great guitar work; especially the Chet Atkins influenced intro, which heavily contrasts with the song. This one is definitely a strangely constructed piece of music; I love their use of odd chords, especially the diminished ones in the verses. While it kind of drags in the verses the chorus really lifts the song and gets it moving quite nicely. Of course one of the things that tops it off perfectly is Burton Cummings' flute and Randy Bachman...

From: Night Owl ; Year: 1979; Genre: Rock For no real reason I thought I would pick another from the late, great Gerry Rafferty. This one has a real nice groove to it, plus the singing and the instrumental solos are just perfect for the most part. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Headline News My song pick two years ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - Richard Cory My song pick three years ago today: The Doors - Waiting for the Sun My song pick four years ago today: Black 47 - Funky Céilí (Bridie's Song) My song pick five years ago today: Duran Duran - Planet Earth My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Rocks on the Road

From: One World ; Year: 1971; Genre: Hard Rock Since I was choosing between two bands to pick yesterday I thought I would pick one from the other band I had in mind. Rare Earth is a band I came to like actually after only hearing one of their songs, however, this is one of their songs that I only heard just recently. I have to say, their up to their usual great form. Hear Under God's Light on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Foreigner - Double Vision My song pick two years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Dark Matter My song pick three years ago today: Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs My song pick four years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil My song pick five years ago today: The Moody Blues - OM My song pick six years ago today: Jon Oliva's Pain - Guardian Of Forever

From: Vincebus Eruptum ; Year: 1968; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal I had my pick down to two bands today; I ended up going with Blue Cheer because I had only picked one of their songs prior; perhaps tomorrow I'll pick one from the other band. Anyway, this is an early metal cover of a song originally from master jazz/bluesman extraordinaire Mose Allison, which has actually been cover by many other bands as well. Hear Parchment Farm on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Yes - Gates of Delirium My song pick two years ago today: Dire Straits - Money for Nothing My song pick three years ago today: ABBA - S.O.S. My song pick four years ago today: Bobby Bare - The Winner My song pick five years ago today: Pearl Jam - Even Flow My song pick six years ago today: Bon Jovi - It's My Life

From: Dancin' and Lovin' ; Year: 1979; Genre: Disco/R&B/Funk My consecutive Funky Friday picks today number is 22! This cover originally recorded by The Four Seasons is my favourite version of the song by far. I love the upbeat, positive, and overall happy feelings that they throw into their music as well as this track. Hear Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me, Girl on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: John Fogerty - Rock and Roll Girls My song pick two years ago today: Dream Theater - On the Backs of Angels My song pick three years ago today: Hawkwind - Right to Decide My song pick four years ago today: Survivor - The Eye of the Tiger My song pick five years ago today: The Black Crowes - Remedy My song pick six years ago today: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Fire (I am the god of Hellfire)

From: Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show , (Or Sweet Caroline); Year: 1969; Genre: Rock/Pop The other day this one came on whilst I was scurrying about on that mondo busy day and thought it would make an awesome pick. This has always been a song that I like, but it's interesting that a song in the more mainstream genres could use the subject matter of a gospel tent evangelist and its Religious messages so well and become a huge hit. I think a lot of why this song is so great is the mood Neil Diamond lays down in the verse that builds and builds with the powerful imagery and lyrics then launches way up high into the stratosphere in the chorus then floats quickly back down like a feather just to do it all over again; kind of taking a page out of an actual Gospel music you'd hear in a service. Hear Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Pink Floyd - Run Like Hell My song pick two years ago today: Sly and the F...

From: In the Wake of Poseidon ; Year: 1970; Genre: Progressive Rock More 70's prog rock! This is one of my favourites off of King Crimson's second album; another 8 minutes of hard rock with a smattering of jazz fusion musical bliss! Oh yeah. Hear Pictures of a City on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Neil Young - Four Strong Winds My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Jump Start My song pick three years ago today: Chet Atkins - Trambone My song pick four years ago today: John Denver - Wildflowers in a Mason Jar My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath My song pick six years ago today: Rammstein - Spieluhr

From: Look Into the Future ; Year: 1976; Genre: Progressive Rock I'm kind of an odd fan of the band Journey; I'm a part of a minority that really likes the material from their pre-Steve Perry era with Greg Rollie singing and playing organ. But I'm also an avid fan of progressive rock, so it shouldn't be a surprise for me to gravitate to their more musically intricate material. If you like powerful vocals, blazing guitar, and great soloing on the keyboards, then this song should be an eight-minute treat for the ear. Hear Look Into the Future on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Take it Like a Man My song pick two years ago today: Stratovarius - Wings of Tomorrow My song pick three years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Serpentine Fire My song pick four years ago today: Manuel de Falla - Danza Del Terror ( Dance of Terror ) My song pick five years ago today: Dire Straits - Lady Writer My song pick six years...

From: Living in the Past ; Year: 1972 (1969); Genre: Progressive Rock Today felt like an excellent day for listening to some 'Tull; I was listening to their early compilation album Living in the Past and thought I would pick a song from it. Interestingly enough I was surprised when I realized I had yet to pick the title track and first really big hit single. From what I remember about this song, Ian Anderson was asked by their record label for a new single. He decided to write something that was strange and "undanceable," so taking inspiration from Dave Brubeck's Take Five , he wrote this song in the highly unusual 5/4 time signature. Despite this it became a pretty big hit for the band and helped to launch Jethro Tull into international fame. Hear Living in the Past on YouTube. Hear the awesome live performance from their A Little Light Music CD on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Hawkwind - It Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous M...

From: Double Vision ; Year: 1978; Genre: Hard Rock After going over Foreigner's material the other day I noticed that I only really like their music from their first four albums. I guess it might be that the band lightened their sound or just that their music after that just didn't speak to me, who knows. Anyway, this is one of my favourites not only from the Double Vision album, but from the band as a whole. I've always loved the heavy, bluesy feel of this track along with the awesome riffs. Hear Blue Morning, Blue Day on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Voivod - Mechanical Mind My song pick two years ago today: Quasar - Fanfare/Seeing Stars My song pick three years ago today: Waylander - A Hero's Lament My song pick four years ago today: Queen - Seaside Rendezvous My song pick five years ago today: Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London My song pick six years ago today: Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost?

From: Of a Simple Man ; Year: 1972; Genre: Rock/Folk Rock For most of the morning I've had this song on my mind, so, as I usually do, I'm taking it as a sign to make it my pick today. Of a Simple Man is another album that I grew up listening to; often both of my parents would not only play it, but play it without skipping a track, which gave me exposure to the full album rather than only the hit singles. I suppose that "album oriented music" was one of the zeitgeists of 1970s music; the album was intentionally made to be played in its entirety. Anyway, this was one of the 'deeper cuts' and I've always loved the arrangements and the imagery of a man from a reservation having to leave and brave a big city by himself. Hear Running Dear on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Wish Them Well My song pick two years ago today: The Beatles - In My Life My song pick three years ago today: Fairport Convention - She Moves Through the Fair ...

From: Earth, Wind & Fire; Year: 1971; Genre: Funk/Soul This is number 21, yes, my 21st Funky Friday in a row! Wot can I say, I was raised on and still love almost everything from Earth, Wind & Fire; this is one of my favourites off of their self-titled debut album. Some great funky soul to wind down the work week! Hear Fan the Fire on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Queensrÿche - At The Edge My song pick two years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Rock Is My Life, and This Is My Song My song pick three years ago today: Genesis - Watcher of the Skies My song pick four years ago today: Jim Croce - These Dreams My song pick five years ago today: Alice Cooper - No More Mr. Nice Guy My song pick six years ago today: Savatage - Tonight He Grins Again

From: I Sing the Body Electric ; Year: 1972; Genre: Jazz Fusion I was thinking about picking one from Weather Report today and this monster of a song came to mind. As the title states, this is a medley consisting of three songs: Vertical Invader , T.H. , and Dr. Honoris Causa . It is also one of three tracks on their amazing '72 release I Sing the Body Electric . It is definitely a song for a person who is a fan of music in the extreme not to mention Jazz; it might be a bit too technical for a casual listener. Hear " The Medley " on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Band of Horses - Laredo My song pick two years ago today: Fairport Convention - Dawn My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Alive and Well and Living In My song pick four years ago today: .38 Special - Chain Lightnin' My song pick five years ago today: Cream - Swlabr My song pick six years ago today: Three Dog Night - Celebrate

From: Thinkin' ; Year: 1971; Genre: Hard Rock/Psychedelic Rock I was wanting to pick another from Banchee, since it's been a bit since my last pick of one of their songs. This is another instance where I'm picking one that's not a favourite off the album, but it's not a song I dislike either. I guess that I am running out of material from this great band with a rather abbreviated career; the next one I pick will probably end up being off their other album. Anyway, I'd have to say this song is one of the tracks that fit the genre labeled on Banchee: 1970's hard rock with some psychedelia thrown in for good measure. Hear Children of the Universe on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Muse - Unnatural Selection My song pick two years ago today: The Drifters - Under the Boardwalk My song pick three years ago today: Yoko Takahashi - Zankoku na Tenshi no These ( A Cruel Angel's Thesis ) My song pick four years ago today: Aphrodite's ...

From: Brain Salad Surgery ; Year: 1973; Genre: Progressive Rock Yesterday the land based radio actually redeemed itself somewhat when they played this incredibly beautiful track. It's neat how this is an outright ballad, but stays far away from the "fluff" that is normally associated with such a type of song; it's stays to the really deep and spiritual aspects to the point that you might forget what he's singing about. Interestingly enough I've noticed that out of the three incredible writers and arrangers in EL&P I have a tendency to gravitate towards Greg Lake's songs the most, which of course this is one of them. I guess it might be that I'm also a King Crimson fan and primarily a bassist, or maybe that his songs apparently speak to me. Hear Still... You Turn Me On on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Melvins - Nude with Boots My song pick two years ago today: The Animals - House of the Rising Sun My song pick three years a...

From: Count Three & Pray ; Year: 1986; Genre: New Wave It's been another very busy day, but I'm still trying to get a good pick in. This has always been a personal favourite from the new wave/pop band Berlin. It's another one of those songs where it's poppy enough to get attention from the masses, but still musical enough to keep a person with more discerning tastes amused as well. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop My song pick two years ago today: Primus - Here Come the Bastards My song pick three years ago today: Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy My song pick four years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Fall of the Peacemakers My song pick five years ago today: Don Mclean - American Pie My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Later, That Same Evening

From: Dot Com ; Year: 1999; Genre: Progressive Rock I've been going over some of 'Tull's newer material, which I have to say is not of my favourite era, but still has a certain charm and I do like some of it. Anyway, this was one of the bigger singles on the record and is a pretty good track as well. This one was put together and arranged quite well; I love the overall 'soaring' feeling you get when listening to it. Interestingly enough, if you don't count Ian Anderson's albums this was the last proper studio album released under the Jethro Tull name. Even though they have released quite a few live and other albums and Ian has released three solo albums, it is kind of sad to think that technically there hasn't been a proper new 'Tull album in 15 years. Hear Bends Like a Willow on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rhapsody of Fire - The Mystic Prophecy of the Demonknight My song pick two years ago today: Led Zeppelin - Rock and Rol...

From: In Search of the Lost Chord ; Year: 1968; Genre: Progressive Rock/Psychedelic Rock Today I was listening to a physical classic rock radio station and they announced that they were going to play a "Lost Classic" from the Moody Blues, so to say the least my interest was piqued expecting a deep cut. However, I was taken aback when this "lost classic" happened to be this song, which is not only one of the hits from a legendary British Invasion rock band, but is one of their most popular signature songs. For crying out loud in the dead of the night! What's next? Is anything less popular than Stairway to Heaven or Hotel California going to be considered a deep cut now? Ugh, this makes me want to stop listening to radio anymore. Okay, off my soapbox.... Anyway, whilst it's not among favourites from the band, this is still one I like and listen to from time to time. And I can with certainty, despite the opinions of big radio's managers, say that th...