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

From: Pyramid of the Mood ; Year: 1973; Genre: Latin Rock/Jazz For the first time in a while I started out my day without having a song on my mind, so instead I decided on picking one from a favourite band of mine that I haven't apparently chosen one from in a few years: Azteca . This is one of the most upbeat tracks on the album with incredible horn and rhythm sections; of course Neal Schon's guitar playing is as good as always. Hear Red Onions on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Dream Theater - The Looking Glass My song pick two years ago today: Deep Purple - Hush My song pick three years ago today: Paris - Big Towne, 2061 My song pick four years ago today: Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You My song pick five years ago today: Alan Menken and Howard Ashman - Feed Me (Git It) (From: Little Shop of Horrors ) My song pick six years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Who'll Stop The Rain My song pick seven years ago today:...

From: Icehouse ; Year: 1981; Genre: New Wave For some reason I was in the mood for something new wave; the earlier material from the band Icehouse seemed to fit my mood pretty well, so that's what I went with. Anyway, as some probably know, this song which was also the namesake of the band's debut album wasn't originally supposed to be the name of the band. They were originally known a Flowers, but after signing their international contract a name change was forced due to another band with the name, so they took the name from the album and the song and the rest is history. This one's very much an early 1980's new wave track in every way; very a-typical of the time, but still good one unto itself. Hear Icehouse on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: ABBA - Dum Dum Diddle My song pick two years ago today: Gilbert and Sullivan - Major-General's Song My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Presto My song pick four years ago today: Nirvana...

From: Love Over Gold ; Year: 1982; Genre: Progressive Rock After listening to some of their music last night it got me into a mood for more. I was kind of surprised that I hadn't picked this one yet being that it's among my favourites from the band; I though for sure that I'd picked it already, but I guess not. The music is great as usual, but combined with the existential story and it becomes the great song that it is. Hear Telegraph Road on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Cheap Day Return My song pick two years ago today: Soundgarden - Black Rain My song pick three years ago today: Chickenfoot - Lighten Up My song pick four years ago today: Aerosmith - Dream On My song pick five years ago today: Rush - One Little Victory My song pick six years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Fortunate Son My song pick seven years ago today: Franz Schubert - Op. 1 - Der Erlkönig " The ErlKing "

From: Smiley Smile ; Year: 1967; Genre: Psychedelic Rock I had this track on my mind today, and as I usually do, I am making it my pick. The main draw for me on this one has always been the strange chords and the combination thereof throughout the song. Hear Good Vibrations on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - I Want to Take You Higher My song pick two years ago today: Argent - Tragedy My song pick three years ago today: Weather Report - Barbary Coast My song pick four years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Gator Country My song pick five years ago today: The Beatles - I Me Mine My song pick six years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Up Around The Bend My song pick seven years ago today: Rammstein - Du Riechst So Gut

From: You Can Be a Star (single); Year: 2003 (1979); Genre: Funk/Soul I'm up to 54 Funky Friday picks in a row consecutive and it felt like a great day for another one from Luther Davis Group; this one's the b-side off of the You Can Be a Star single and, likethe a-side is very upbeat piece of funk. Hear To Be Free on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Pearls Before Swine - Another Time My song pick two years ago today: Sir Arthur Sullivan - The Lost Chord My song pick three years ago today: Jimi Hendrix - Machine Gun My song pick four years ago today: Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) featuring Freddy Taylor - After You've Gone My song pick five years ago today: The Beatles - Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) My song pick six years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Commotion My song pick seven years ago today: Don Henley - Boys of Summer

From: Led Zeppelin III ; Year: 1970; Genre: Hard Rock I had no real reason in my mind to pick this song other than I like it and it felt like a great pick for today. This is also one of the most famous songs from one the most heavily talked about bands, so I guess that anything that I say would only be pointless. Hear Immigrant Song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Buddy Holly & The Crickets- It's So Easy My song pick two years ago today: Johnny Cash - My Grandfather's Clock My song pick three years ago today: Ralfe Band - 1500 Years My song pick four years ago today: Jerry Reed - The Telephone My song pick five years ago today: The Beatles - Penny Lane My song pick six years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Green River My song pick seven years ago today: Rush - A Passage To Bangkok

From: Tales from Topographic Oceans ; Year: 1973; Genre: Progressive Rock It's about the first time in a week that I've been feeling somewhat normal, so I'm able to more energy into my pick today. Anyway, this is one of the four epic tracks off of Yes' double album Tales from Topographic Oceans , which also included only four songs. Each one of the four songs took up a whole side of a record and this song is actually the 'baby' coming in at a paltry 18 and 1/2 minutes. Yep, this is progressive rock at its best (or worst) depending on your tastes, but in my opinion is a great track. Hear The Ancient (Giants Under the Sun) on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Yes - Perpetual Change My song pick two years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Mephistopheles My song pick three years ago today: The Gentrys - Keep On Dancing My song pick four years ago today: Azteca - A Night in Nazca My song pick five years ago today: The Beatles - Sgt. Pepp...

From: Pieces of Eight ; Year: 1978; Genre: Hard Rock/Progressive Rock After hearing this track the other day I knew it would be one I'd be picking soon; this is definitely Styx at their best. Hear Queen of Spades on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Nobody's Hero My song pick two years ago today: Waylander - Echoes of the Sidhe My song pick three years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Macho City My song pick four years ago today: Bad English - When I See You Smile My song pick five years ago today: The Beatles - Love Me Do My song pick six years ago today: Mr. Big - Green-Tinted Sixties Mind My song pick seven years ago today: ABBA - Our Last Summer

From: Bayreuth 1 ; Year: 1998; Genre: Neue Deutsche Härte I've been feeling sick over the last couple of days, so I didn't really feel like picking a song to-day, but I'm doing it anyway. This is the lead track off of Joachim Witt's first forée into German industrial metal; a great album and a great track. Hear Das Jüngste Gericht on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Carmen - The Gypsies My song pick two years ago today: Rosanne Cash - Seven Year Ache My song pick three years ago today: R.E.M. - The One I Love My song pick four years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tuesday's Gone My song pick five years ago today: The Beatles - Help! My song pick six years ago today: Santana - Black Magic Woman My song pick seven years ago today: Bon Jovi - Tokyo Road

From: Lightning Bolt ; Year: 2013; Genre: Alternative Rock I was in the mood for some Pearl Jam this morning; I felt motivated to pick something from their newer material instead of falling back on standards. Anyway, this one's an okay song, but not really among their best in my opinion, but still a good track. Hear Sirens on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Carmen - Daybreak My song pick two years ago today: Rush - Fountain of Lamenth My song pick three years ago today: Megadeth - Bad Omen My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Beggar's Farm My song pick five years ago today: The Beatles - Something My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Singing All Day My song pick seven years ago today: Jethro Tull - Heavy Water

From: Counterparts ; Year: 1993; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Same story, different day... listened to album last night and had its songs stuck in my mind, so I'm picking one off of it. Anyway, this was one of the singles from the record and is today a mainstay of their live shows; yes it's one of their newer classics. Hear Animate on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: War - The Cisco Kid My song pick two years ago today: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Wooden Ships My song pick three years ago today: Supertramp - Crime of the Century My song pick four years ago today: Rammstein - Benzin My song pick five years ago today: Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed - Cannonball Rag My song pick six years ago today: The Moody Blues - The Voice My song pick seven years ago today: W. A. Mozart - K.620 - The Magic Flute (Queen of the Night Aria)

From: Last Days and Time ; Year: 1972; Genre: Funk/R&B I was in a mood for today, which happens to be my 53rd straight Funky Friday pick in a row. This is one of my favourites off of this early Earth, Wind & Fire record; I absolutely love all of the different variations and the similarities between all of the movements within this instrumental track. Hear Power on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Pink Floyd - Astronomy Domine My song pick two years ago today: Richard Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries My song pick three years ago today: Joachim Witt - Du Teufel My song pick four years ago today: Karussell - Nämlich Bin Ich Glücklich My song pick five years ago today: Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams My song pick six years ago today: The Delgados - All You Need Is Hate My song pick seven years ago today: Tesla - Signs

From: Homo Erraticus ; Year: 2014; Genre: Progressive Rock I was finally able to procure Ian Anderson's newest solo concept album, ( Homo Erraticus ), the other day and have been listening to it pretty consistently ever since. However, I will say this one's taking a much longer time growing on me, but they are beginning to show their charm; this is one of the gems that has shown to me. Although I will say that while the music is quite good, the lyrics are a bit "fluff" in my opinion. Overall though I will say that this entire album wouldn't be out of place back among the concept albums of the early-mid 1970s. Hear New Blood, Old Veins on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Lenny Kravitz - I Love the Rain My song pick two years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - September My song pick three years ago today: Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic My song pick four years ago today: The Kinks - Where Have All the Good Times Gone My song pick five year...

From: All Around My Hat ; Year: 1975; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock Most of the morning I've been in the mood for some 'bloody loud folk rock' and there's not very many band that good at delivering it in my opinion than Steeleye Span. Anyway, this is another great interpretation in their great folk rock tradition; I love the dynamics they use as well as Maddy Prior's great voice (as usual). Hear Hard Times of Old England on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Kinks - This Time Tomorrow My song pick two years ago today: Alestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge My song pick three years ago today: Heart - How Deep It Goes My song pick four years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Flying High Again My song pick five years ago today: Amon Amarth feat. Lars Göran Petrov - Guardians of Asgard My song pick six years ago today: Bob Welch - Ebony Eyes My song pick seven years ago today: Jethro Tull - 17

From: Heavy Weather ; Year: 1977; Genre: Jazz Fusion Boy, after listening to a whole bunch of Jazz Fusion last night I really got into the mood for some more today. This is one of their more listenable tracks, which is from the pen of Jaco Pastorius; not to say it's not technical, because it is, just well constructed. Hear Havona on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Frank Zappa/The Mothers of Invention - Who Are the Brain Police? My song pick two years ago today: Johann Strauss II - Op. 314 - An Der Schönen Blauen Donau , or ( The Blue Danube Waltz ) My song pick three years ago today: The Walter Murphy Band - A Fifth of Beethoven My song pick four years ago today: Béla Fleck & the Flecktones - A Celtic Medley: Meridian/Traveling Light/Salamander's Reel My song pick five years ago today: Finntroll - Trollhammeren My song pick six years ago today: Pink Floyd - Learning to Fly My song pick seven years ago today: Fire Bomber (Humming Bird) - Rememb...

From: The Last DJ ; Year: 2002; Genre: Rock I was thinking about some Tom Petty music this morning. This was one that caught my attention back when it was released, not only for its sociological anti-corporate message, but the way the music is written and performed around it. This track and its message is still very pertinent today, and it does give you a feeling of loss at how radio died albeit with a few heartbeats here and there. Strangely since the dismantling of the great stations we used to have I barely, if at all listened to the radio anymore. Hear The Last DJ on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Lemmings (Including Cog) My song pick two years ago today: Nightwish - Feel for You My song pick three years ago today: Genesis - Keep It Dark My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Lessons My song pick five years ago today: Badfinger - Come and Get It My song pick six years ago today: Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends My...

From: City Nights ; Year: 1978; Genre: Glam Rock Last night I had a couple of Nick Gilder's music come on whilst driving; I decided to delve into his catalogue and pick another one of his songs. This is one of his hits and it kind of gives a nice feeling of nostalgia for those who grew up in the early 1980s; songs like this were all over the radio: a great tune. Hear Hear Comes the Night on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Billy Joel - She's Always a Woman My song pick two years ago today: Richard Wagner - WWV 90 - Liebestod (from " Tristian und Isolde ") My song pick three years ago today: Coven - Wicked Woman My song pick four years ago today: Pink Floyd - In the Flesh? My song pick five years ago today: Joachim Witt and Peter Heppner - Die Flut My song pick six years ago today: Jim Croce - You Don't Mess Around With Jim My song pick seven years ago today: Canned Heat - On The Road Again

From: In Step ; Year: 1989; Genre: Blues Rock Over the last little bit I've been listening to a lot of Stevie Ray Vaughan and thought that I would pick another one of his songs. This upbeat blues track is one of my long-time favourites from him and his two man band; I'm very surprised that I haven't picked it yet. Hear The House is a Rockin' on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Melvins - Honey Bucket My song pick two years ago today: Bing Crosby - Beautiful Dreamer My song pick three years ago today: Black 47 - Bankers and Gangsters My song pick four years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - House of the Rising Sun My song pick five years ago today: The Moody Blues - The Story in Your Eyes My song pick six years ago today: Cheech & Chong feat. Alice Bowie - Earache My Eye My song pick seven years ago today: Weather Report - Birdland

From: Galaxy ; Year: 1977; Genre: Funk It is my 52nd straight Funky Friday in a row, so I guess that means that now I have posted a full year of Funky Fridays in a row. Kind of interesting that I hit my seven year anniversary of doing this blog, my 2600th song picked, and now a year of Funky Fridays to boot all within a two week period; I'll take it as a great sign. Since I started this Friday funk thing about a year ago with the pick of War's Cisco Kid , I thought it would be appropriate to pick another one of their tracks for the occasion. And what a nice track too; eight minutes of soul inspired funk with the bass and drum right upfront in the mix where it belongs. :P Hear Galaxy on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Savatage - Man in the Mirror My song pick two years ago today: Styx - Snowblind My song pick three years ago today: Edvard Grieg - Op. 46 - In the Hall of the Mountain King My song pick four years ago today: Ben E. King - Don't Play ...

From: Jar of Flies ; Year: 1994; Genre: Alternative Rock/Grunge I was really wanting to pick something apropos for this "rollover pick" with it being my 2600th song picked, but I was drawing a blank. So, anyway here's another pick from Alice in Chains, which is one that's been on my mind; a great example of early '90s rock. Hear No Excuses on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World My song pick two years ago today: Chet Atkins - Battle Hymn of the Republic My song pick three years ago today: Bob Dylan - Maggie's Farm My song pick four years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Life by the Drop My song pick five years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Down on the Corner My song pick six years ago today: Iron Maiden - 2 Minutes To Midnight My song pick seven years ago today: Savatage - Believe

From: Hidden Treasures ; Year: 1995 (1993); Genre: Thrash Metal I've been in the mood for some Megadeth for a while now and with it being another "99" pick number I couldn't help but pick this one. It originally came from The Beavis and Butt-head Experience album, but was later included on their Hidden Treasures EP along with other non-album tracks. Hear 99 Ways to Die on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bachman & Turner - That's What It Is My song pick two years ago today: Santo & Johnny - Harbour Lights My song pick three years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Plush My song pick four years ago today: Eddie Floyd - Knock on Wood My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - Pussy Willow My song pick six years ago today: Bon Jovi featuring Big & Rich - We Got It Going On My song pick seven years ago today: The Thermals - I Hold the Sound

From: Alice in Chains ; Year: 1995; Genre: Alternative Rock/Grunge The other day I happened to hear this song playing and it brought it back to my attention; I hadn't heard it in quite a while and it was a great memory trip. I can't believe that all of these albums I grew up listening to in my early teens are all turning 20 years old. Anyway, this is a very bluesy track very much in the style you come to expect from this band; my favourite part of the song is the vocal harmonies in the chorus; it gives a great feel. Hear Heaven Beside You on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Paris - Red Rain My song pick two years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Destiny Calls My song pick three years ago today: The Who - Going Mobile My song pick four years ago today: Louis Armstrong - The Blues are Brewin' My song pick five years ago today: The Beatles - Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End My song pick six years ago today: Bruce Hornsby & the Range - The...

From: Fly From Here ; Year: 2011; Genre: Progressive Rock I had an incline this morning to pick another work from Yes, but from something newer. Even though they just released another album my attention went back to their '11 release Fly From Here ; the main suite in particular. You'd swear with this piece that you were listening to something from the 1970s. Their sound is that classic on this one; the entire band is at their best. This suite consists of six individual songs and clocks in at a total of just under 24 minutes of music; yep, it's progressive rock in all of its glory. Hear the complete Fly From Here suite on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Pat Benatar - Invincible My song pick two years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Anesthetize My song pick three years ago today: Freddy Taylor and His Swing Men from Harlem - Blue Drag My song pick four years ago today: Hans Zimmer - Fighting 17th My song pick five years ago today: Creedence Clearwate...

From: Streets: A Rock Opera ; Year: 1991; Genre: Progressive Metal Lately I've been binging on this album again and I thought it would be great to pick another one of their songs. This is the song that kicks off the rock opera and very much acts as an overture and at the same time is a great track. Hear Streets on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rammstein - Feuer und Wasser My song pick two years ago today: David Bowie - Let's Dance My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Distant Early Warning My song pick four years ago today: David Bowie - Oh! You Pretty Things My song pick five years ago today: Santana - Every Step of the Way My song pick six years ago today: Megadeth - Washington is Next! My song pick seven years ago today: Rammstein - Stripped

From: Benefit ; Year 1970; Genre: Hard Rock/Progressive Rock Yesterday while on the official Jethro Tull website I found out that their original bassist Glenn Cornick passed away; you can see Ian Anderson's write up on the site here . For me he was one of the bassists that I admired a great deal from not only my favourite band, but from any band. Anyway, although he played with a great deal of bands besides 'Tull, I figured I should pick one of the songs he played on coming off the last album he played with Jethro Tull, and this song is quite apropos. Rest in peace awesome, bespectacled bass player! Hear A Time For Everything on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Megadeth - Wanderlust My song pick two years ago today: Pearls Before Swine - The Surrealist Waltz My song pick three years ago today: Queen - Spread Your Wings My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Working Man My song pick five years ago today: Elmore James - The Sky is Crying My song ...

From: The Gut to the Butt ; Year: 1978; Genre: Funk Today marks my 51st straight Funky Friday pick in a row; here's a great late 1970s track from when funk and disco went together like peanut butter and jelly. Hear Funkasize You on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Mountain Jam My song pick two years ago today: Steve Vai - I Know You're Here My song pick three years ago today: Earthless - Godspeed My song pick four years ago today: Big Star - Thirteen My song pick five years ago today: David Bowie - Queen Bitch My song pick six years ago today: The Offspring - Self Esteem My song pick seven years ago today: The Allman Brothers - Blue Sky

From: Magical Mystery Tour ; Year: 1967; Genre: Pop/Rock Finally got my internet working (somewhat), so at least that's handled now, anyway, most of this morning I had this rather popular track from The Beatles earworming me, so as normal, I decided to pick it. Mostly it was their intro from the French National Anthem La Marseillaise that was stuck in my mind, but the rest of the song came along for the ride. Hear All You Need is Love on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Offspring - Gotta Get Away My song pick two years ago today: Band of Horses - Knock, Knock My song pick three years ago today: Three Dog Night - Heaven is in Your Mind My song pick four years ago today: Queensrÿche - One & Only My song pick five years ago today: The Spiders - Back   My song pick six years ago today: Nena - Mach Die Augen Auf   My song pick seven years ago today: The Offspring - Feelings

From: Introduce Yourself ; Year: 1987; Genre: Alternative Metal Internet is still out... having to use my phone's data to post this. If this keeps up too much longer this will become a theme week; I hope not. Anyway, I've been wanting to pick another track from Faith No More and today seemed like a good of time as any to do so. As with a lot of their music this one's a bit tongue-in-cheek; a blast to listen to. Hear We Care a Lot on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nena - Rette Mich My song pick two years ago today: Rush - New World Man My song pick three years ago today: Ten Years After - One of These Days My song pick four years ago today: Fairport Convention - Polly on the Shore My song pick five years ago today: The Guess Who - No Time   My song pick six years ago today: Jerry Reed - Lord, Mr. Ford   My song pick seven years ago today: Nena - Irgendwie, Irgendwo, Irgendwann

From: Precious Time ; Year: 1981; Genre: Hard Rock Funny, but this year it seems like I'll be spending my time posting without proper internet. Anyway, this was one that was going through my mind most of this morning, and it's a great song with powerful vocals. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Buoys - Castle My song pick two years ago today: Asia - After the War My song pick three years ago today: Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes My song pick four years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Something Special My song pick five years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 1048 - Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G-Major   My song pick six years ago today: The Buoys - Give Up Your Guns   My song pick seven years ago today: The Buoys - Timothy

BWV 1077 ; Year: 1747; Genre: Baroque Period/Classical Well, today marks the seventh anniversary of my Song a Day Blog, which I started all the way back on this date in 2007; it's hard to believe that it's now 2014 and that I've been keeping this labour of love going strong seven years later. Anyway, this is one of J.S. Bach's Canons, and is definitely a pretty little piece of music and a nice representation of late Baroque period music. Hear all of his Canons, including BWV 1077 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: 2218 Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 996 - Suite in E-Minor My song pick two years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV. 1051 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-Flat My song pick three years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 1049 - Brandenburg Concerto No.4 in G major My song pick four years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 1046 - Brandenburg Concerto No.1 in F major My song pick five years ago today: The Allman Brothers ...