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

From: Freedom at Point Zero ; Year: 1979; Genre: Rock I had some of the music from Jefferson Starship running through my mind this morning, so, as I usually do, I took it as a sign that I should pick something from that band. Most probably already have heard this song, being that it's one of the band's biggest hits under this name. Great track; certainly brings back a lot of memories. Hear Jane on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Deep Purple - My Woman From Tokyo My song pick two years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man My song pick three years ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - Pioneers Over c. My song pick four years ago today: Al Di Meola - Race With Devil on Spanish Highway My song pick five years ago today: Falco - Titanic My song pick six years ago today: The Guess Who - Undun My song pick seven years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - The Ballad of Curtis Loew

From: Book of Shadows ; Year: 1996; Genre: Hard Rock I felt like picking something just a wee bit different today, but I guess not that different from wot I normally listen to. Despite the song not being "metal" the music, vocals, and lyrics are so heavy and deep; I absolutely loved this song and album. It's definitely one of Zakk Wylde's many masterpieces. Hear Way Beyond Empty on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: XTC - Travels in Nihilon My song pick two years ago today: The Kinks - Long Tall Sally My song pick three years ago today: The Beatles - And I Love Her My song pick four years ago today: Al Di Meola - Alien Chase on Arabian Desert My song pick five years ago today: Alice Cooper - Go To Hell My song pick six years ago today: Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond My song pick seven years ago today: The Doors - Riders On The Storm

From: Smokey and the Bandit (Soundtrack) ; Year: 1977; Genre: Country I had this song earworming me most of the morning and I knew I had today's song pick. This is essentially the title track to the classic film Smokey and the Bandit; it is the song that the movie opens with, although East Bound and Down is probably the song that is more identified with it. In my opinion though this was a great track for the beginning of the film, which tells the "legend" of title character; it set the tone and such, and of course Jerry Reed is amazing as ever. Hear The Legend on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Curved Air - Heaven (Never Seemed So Far Away) My song pick two years ago today: Alestorm - Rum My song pick three years ago today: Bachman & Turner - Slave to the Rhythm My song pick four years ago today: Pink Floyd - San Tropez My song pick five years ago today: Janis Joplin - Mercedes Benz My song pick six years ago today: Pink Floyd - Pigs On...

From: The Brown Album ; Year: 1997; Genre: Alternative Metal/Funk Metal Over the last week or so I've been listening to Primus' Brown Album a lot; boy do I love this record. Anyway, this is one of the main singles from the album and is an incredibly raw sounding fun track; everything is just perfect. Hear Shake Hands With Beef on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Cher - Dark Lady My song pick two years ago today: Curved Air - U.H.F. My song pick three years ago today: Antonio Vivaldi - The Four Seasons My song pick four years ago today: The Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There) My song pick five years ago today: The Hep Stars - Cadillac My song pick six years ago today: Hallo Venray - Orange My song pick seven years ago today: Flatt & Scruggs - Foggy Mountain Breakdown

From: You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish ; Year: 1978; Genre: Rock After playing around with some of their songs yesterday I felt like picking another one of their songs today. This one's among some of the earliest music I heard growing up; my Dad had a bunch of their material on his old 8-track cassettes. To this day I'll always remember hearing R.E.O. Speedwagon in his pickup truck on that old tape deck; good memories. Anyway, this is one of their bigger hits and is more or less a straight-up rocker and a fun one to boot. Hear Roll With the Changes on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Alan O'Day - Undercover Angel My song pick two years ago today: Mudhoney - Something So Clear My song pick three years ago today: Sylvia - The Matador My song pick four years ago today: Rush - By-Tor & the Snow Dog My song pick five years ago today: Uriah Heep - Stealin' My song pick six years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way ...

From: Woman in the Wings ; Year: 1976; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock Last night and into this morning I had songs from this Maddy Prior album running through my mind; as always, I took it as a sign that I should pick something from the record. This is a rather calm and pretty track, but with a really big sound accompanying Maddy Prior's beautiful vocals. Hear Long Shadows on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - Let Me Be the One My song pick two years ago today: Finntroll - Ett Norrskensdåd My song pick three years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV Anh. 117a, 117b - Polonause in F Major (from Anna Magdalena Notebook II ) My song pick four years ago today: Exist†Trace - Requiem My song pick five years ago today: Meat Loaf - Two out of Three Ain't Bad My song pick six years ago today: Christian Pezold - BWV Anh. 115 - Minuet in G Minor (Anna Magdalena Notebook II) My song pick seven years ago today: Raymond...

From: Let Me Know You ; Year: 1982; Genre: Funk/Soul Another Funky Friday upon me today, (my 85th straight to be exact), and I felt that I should put something from the bass master himself Stanley Clarke on. This is an awesomely fun, short track where Mr. Clarke shows how it's done on the bass guitar. Hear Play the Bass on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Weather Report - Orange Lady My song pick two years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Wild Spirit My song pick three years ago today: Wings - Jet My song pick four years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Welcome Home My song pick five years ago today: Puhdys - Alt Wie Ein Baum My song pick six years ago today: Christian Pezold - Minuet in G Major (Anna Magdalena Notebook II), BWV Anh. 114 My song pick seven years ago today: Berlin - The Metro

From: Brothers and Sister ; Year: 1973; Genre: Southern Rock/Blues/Folk/Country I had another song in mind today, but I really felt like listening to something from The Allman Brothers. This was one that I immediately fell in love with when I listened to the Brothers and Sisters album for the first time. Dickey Betts' nice acoustic slide guitar and all of the different styles of music present in this track really caught my attention and made it a song that I still absolutely enjoy. Hear Pony Boy on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - Games People Play My song pick two years ago today: Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4 My song pick three years ago today: Rush - A Farewell to Kings My song pick four years ago today: Steeleye Span - Robbery With Violins My song pick five year ago today: Jethro Tull - Dark Ages My song pick six years ago today: The Blind Boys of Alabama - Amazing Grace   My song pick seven years ago today: Emerson, Lake ...

From: Right or Wrong ; Year: 1975; Genre: Rock I noticed that I've only picked one other song from the Joe Egan/Gerry Rafferty group Stealers Wheel before today, and that was quite a long while ago . Anyway, this is another single, but from the band's latter period. It's quite an interesting song to listen to with a lot of differing sections and unique musical ideas throughout. Hear Right or Wrong on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Before and After My song pick two years ago today: Stratovarius - Atlantis My song pick three years ago today: Alestorm - Pirate Song My song pick four years ago today: Steve Vai - The Attitude Song My song pick five year ago today: Richard O'Brien & Richard Hartley (from The Rocky Horror Picture Show) - Science Fiction/Double Feature My song pick six years ago today: Puhdys - Bas Buch My song pick seven years ago today: The Pretenders - Back on the Chain Gang

From: Clockwork Angels ; Year: 2012; Genre: Progressive Rock Recently I put Rush's newest album, Clockwork Angels , back on after a long stint of only listening to my favourites on the record and it got me into the mood to pick another one off the album. Whilst this is not one of my personal top-loved tracks on the record, it's a pretty good one and one I still like a bit. Hear The Wreckers on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Ian Anderson - After These Wars My song pick two years ago today: Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal My song pick three years ago today: Paper Lace - The Night Chicago Died My song pick four years ago today: Muse - Starlight My song pick five years ago today: Styx - Lorelei My song pick six years ago today: Three Dog Night - Never Been To Spain My song pick seven years ago today: Concrete Blonde - Joey

From: In the Heat of the Night ; Year: 1979; Genre: Hard Rock Just in the mood for something very straight-up rock today and this one from Pat Benatar was one that hit my mind. It's an excellent one to sit back and rock out to. Hear Heartbreaker on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Carmen - I've Been Crying My song pick two years ago today: Banchee - 38 My song pick three years ago today: Xerath - Unite to Defy My song pick four years ago today: John Fogerty - Centerfield My song pick five years ago today: The Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today My song pick six years ago today: John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Road My song pick seven years ago today: Nirvana - Lithium

From: Seasons End ; Year: 1989; Genre: Progressive Rock I didn't have a song in mind today, but for some reason after thinking about it this neat track from Marillion just seemed to fit today. This one comes off the first album to feature Steve Hogarth on vocals after the departure of Fish. I love the sound of this one; it has the good aspects of 1980s prog without all of the overused synth that turned so many off. Hear The Uninvited Guest on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rammstein - Nebel My song pick two years ago today: Rush - The Necromancer My song pick three years ago today: Les Elgart - Bandstand Boogie My song pick four years ago today: Oomph! featuring Nina Hagen - Feiber My song pick five years ago today: The Guess Who - Minstrel Boy My song pick six years ago today: Metallica - Nothing Else Matters My song pick seven years ago today: Steely Day - Rikki Don't Lose That Number

From: Violator ; Year: 1990 (1989); Genre: Synthpop/Electronic Rock Yesterday whilst out and about I happened to hear this song come on the radio at one of the places I went. I thought it felt like a solid pick for this Saturday, so I'm going ahead. It certainly does bring back memories, this song; very young and not quite a teen when it was released. It was quite popular back then and still is today despite its synth heavy sound; a great track Hear Personal Jesus on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Larry Graham and Graham Central Station - G.C.S. My song pick two years ago today: Rush - Big Money My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Lifebeats/Prelude/The Silver Cord/Re-Assuring Tune My song pick four years ago today: The Doors - When the Music's Over My song pick five years ago today: Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Tank My song pick six years ago today: Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Karn Evil 9 My song pick seven years ago today: Kenny ...

From: Let's Go Down To Funksville ; Year: 2002 (1974); Genre: Funk/Soul Getting my Funky Friday pick in today with another one from the Dayton Sidewinders. This is of course the title track off this album and is as fun as ever to listen to. Hear Let's Go Down to Funksville on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Saxons - The Saxon War Cry My song pick two years ago today: Queen - Princes of the Universe My song pick three years ago today: Supertramp - Rudy My song pick four years ago today: Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra - Alexander's Ragtime Band My song pick five years ago today: Tears For Fears - Break It Down Again My song pick six years ago today: Dream Theater - 6:00   My song pick seven years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man

From: Gimme Back My Bullets ; Year: 1976; Genre: Southern Rock/Folk Rock My Uncle fell very ill the other day and ended up passing away yesterday after a very hard life; he always loved Lynyrd Skynyrd and especially their anthem Free Bird , which was his chosen favourite song and kind of fit his personality to a tee. I would've picked it today, but I'd already chosen it , so I'm picking another today. This is a rather pretty one filled with sentimentality and such; it just seemed absolutely perfect substitute for the occasion. Hear All I Can Do Is Write About It on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Frank Zappa - Montana My song pick two years ago today: Boston - Don't Look Back My song pick three years ago today: Beat Crusaders - Hit in the USA My song pick four years ago today: ABBA - Thank You for the Music My song pick five years ago today: Genesis - Home By The Sea My song pick six years ago today: Alannah Myles - Black Velvet My song...

From: When a Man Loves a Woman ; Year: 1966; Genre: R&B/Soul/Blues Yesterday I learned of the passing of Percy Sledge, which a writeup can be found here ; he was 74 years old. I thought for absolute sure that I had already picked this song at some point, but apparently not. What better song to pick today than this powerful and well-loved song from the legendary soulman himself? A excellent, timeless song that'll be surely heard for many, many years to come and then some. Hear When a Man Loves a Woman on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Peter Gabriel - Steam My song pick two years ago today: Phil Collins - Something Happened on the Way to Heaven My song pick three years ago today: Pallas - Rise and Fall, Part 2 My song pick four years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Black Blade My song pick five years ago today: Rammstein - Waidmanns Heil My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Rock Island My song pick seven years ago today: Cheap Trick - M...

From: Corporate America ; Year: 2002; Genre: Hard Rock I've been thinking about picking something from Boston for a while now and today seems like a great time for one. This one comes from one of their newest albums; sadly the last to feature vocalist Brad Delp. This song oozes with the signature Boston sound and should be candy to the ears of anyone who likes the band. Hear I Had a Good Time on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Sky - FIFO (suite) My song pick two years ago today: Faith No More - Easy My song pick three years ago today: Pallas - Rise and Fall, Part 1 My song pick four years ago today: Counting Crows - Mr. Jones My song pick five years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Lookin Out My Back Door My song pick six years ago today: The Grass Roots - Midnight Confessions My song pick seven years ago today: The Tornadoes - Telstar

From: Flirtin' With Disaster ; Year: 1979; Genre: Southern Rock/Hard Rock Making another abbreviated pick today, but putting in as much as I can anyway. This one is among my favoured from Molly Hatchet, not a top-tier, but still one I like quite a lot. There's actually very little I dislike from the band; their music is some that really speaks to me. The gritty and blues-heavy growl of this song really makes this one the great track it is. Hear Whiskey Man on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Alphaville - Forever Young My song pick two years ago today: Metallica - For Whom the Bell Tolls My song pick three years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) My song pick four years ago today: Iron Maiden - Flight of Icarus My song pick five years ago today: Looking Glass - Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) My song pick six years ago today: Rush - Spirit of the Radio My song pick seven years ago today: Duke Ellingt...

From: Teenager of the Year ; Year: 1994; Genre: Alternative Rock Yesterday I read the Woordenaar's reply on my Funky Friday post where other than wishing I get better gave me a song pick idea, which was this track, and I figured it would be very fitting, so I'm going ahead and picking it. Hear Headache on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Two Fingers My song pick two years ago today: Paul Simon - Hobo's Blues My song pick three years ago today: Megadeth - Sweating Bullets My song pick four years ago today: Kristoph Klover - Fire in the Sky My song pick five years ago today: David Bowie - The Supermen My song pick six years ago today: The Rolling Stones - 2000 Light Years From Home   My song pick seven years ago today: Garbage - Push It

From: Blue Sky - Night Thunder ; Year: 1975; Genre: Country/Rock I'm still feeling like heck today, but am still getting my pick in. For some reason I had some Michael Martin Murphey on my mind this morning. My Mom loved and still does love the artist and album and it's one that's burnt into my mind almost indelibly; in fact it's very surprising that I've gone almost 3000 picks in and haven't picked one of his songs yet. Anyway, this is wot would be known probably as a Rock/Country crossover, with aspects of both permeating the sound of the track. It's always been one of my favourite from the record as well as his discography. Hear Medicine Man on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - It's Just Begun My song pick two years ago today: Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear My song pick three years ago today: Carmen - Purple Flowers My song pick four years ago today: Rammstein - Keine Lust My song pick f...

From: Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome ; Year: 1977; Genre: Funk Still dealing with this migraine headache from hell, but still wanted to get my pick in and to continue my streak of Funky Friday picks. So I just "spun the wheel" so to speak and came up with this great one the legendary Parliament. Anyway, catch ya tomorrow. Hear Flash Light on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Breakdown My song pick two years ago today: Marillion - Garden Party My song pick three years ago today: Alestorm - Heavy Metal Pirates My song pick four years ago today: Guns N' Roses - Sympathy for the Devil My song pick five years ago today: Bon Jovi - Bounce My song pick six years ago today: The Platters - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes My song pick seven years ago today: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - Tears of a Clown

From: A Day At The Races ; Year: 1976; Genre: Rock I'm feeling massively under the weather today; I didn't really feel like being at the computer today, but I didn't want to miss my song pick either. So, I've been having Queen on my mind most of the last two day, so I figured I would just go ahead and pick one of theirs. I love this song quite a bit, it's got a definite timeless quality about it. Hear Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - The Trees My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Orion My song pick three years ago today: Genesis - The Return of the Giant Hogweed My song pick four years ago today: Rush - The Seeker My song pick five years ago today: Queen - The Show Must Go On My song pick six years ago today: Sammy Hagar - I Can't Drive 55   My song pick seven years ago today: Blind Mellon - No Rain

From: 20 Years of Jethro Tull ; Year: 1988 (1981); Genre: Electronic Rock/Hard Rock I felt like picking one of the deepest cuts from one of my favourite bands; this one's a rarer track included in their 20th anniversary boxed set but first recorded in the 1981 Broadsword and the Beast sessions, but for some reason (along with a number of others) was not. Anyway, this one's got a sound that's very similar to the sound prog rock bands of the era were putting out; mostly synth-driven. So it's a wee bit dated in sound, but still a rather good song in its own right. Hear Too Many Too on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Metallica - (Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth My song pick two years ago today: Guns 'N Roses - Welcome to the Jungle My song pick three years ago today: Jerry Goldsmith - Star Trek: The Motion Picture Main Title/Klingon Battle My song pick four years ago today: Queensrÿche - Welcome to the Machine My song pick five years ago today: ...

From: My Love ; Year: 1966; Genre: Pop/Rock I had one of Petula Clark's songs come on my iPhone whilst on the way home; it earwormed me and since I've always loved her singing and music I thought I would pick one of her songs today. I literally grew up hearing her music a lot from my mom, who adores her work; I guess I came to like her material too by proxy. Anyway, this is one of her main hits from the mid 1960s and has a definite Motown/R&B feel in the rhythm section, which only adds to the quality of the song. From what I understand this song was banned by the radio station owner Clear Channel because of some "end of the world" undertones, wot ever that means. Hear A Sign of the Times on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Iron Maiden - Wrathchild My song pick two years ago today: Guns N' Roses - Paradise City My song pick three years ago today: Ian Anderson - Shunt and Shuffle My song pick four years ago today: Def Leppard - Waterloo ...

From: Blue Öyster Cult ; Year: 1972; Genre: Metal/Hard Rock Getting back into normality after coming home from the little trip; I had another track in mind, but this piece of "proto-metal" really felt great for the day to get the blood moving. Hear Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Queen - Invisible Man My song pick two years ago today: Journey - Stone in Love My song pick three years ago today: Ian Anderson - Banker Bets, Banker Wins My song pick four years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Cat's in the Cradle My song pick five years ago today: Steeleye Span - Sails of Silver   My song pick six years ago today: Duran Duran - Electric Barbarella My song pick seven years ago today: Elton John - Philadelphia Freedom

From: Are You Experienced ; Year: 1967; Genre: Hard Rock/Blues Rock Getting ready to head home today and I thought since we're still in Seattle I should at least pick a track from one of the city's native sons, and what better than a song from the incomparable Jimi Hendrix. This is the most popular version of the often-covered rock standard and a great track to boot. Hear Hey Joe on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Takin' Care of Business My song pick two years ago today: Return to Forever - Jungle Waterfall My song pick three years ago today: Midnight Oil - Best of Both Worlds My song pick four years ago today: Northern Kings - Don't Stop Believin' My song pick five years ago today: King Crimson - Thela Hun Ginjeet My song pick six years ago today: Jaco Pastorius - Slang My song pick seven years ago today: Falco - Der Kommissar

From: America's Least Wanted ; Year: 1992; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal Been pretty busy today on our trip, but I'm still making time to keep up on my blog. For some reason I felt like picking something from Ugly Kid Joe this morning; this is one of their lesser hits, but still a great hard-hitting song. Hear So Damn Cool on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Renegades of Funk My song pick two years ago today: Triumph - Fight the Good Fight My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein - Dalai Lama My song pick four years ago today: Savatage - Day After Day My song pick five years ago today: ? and the Mysterians - 96 Tears My song pick six years ago today: Pink Floyd - Goodbye Blue Sky My song pick seven years ago today: The Bee Gees - New York Mining Disaster

From: GCS 2000 ; Year 1998; Genre: Funk/R&B Even though I'm out of town I'm still getting my song pick in and continuing my streak of Funky Friday picks going. This is some material from Graham Central Station after the long hiatus; the last album from the group came in 1979. This track definitely lives up to its title; it's a funky groover alright; over seven minutes worth. Hear Groove On on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Primus - Tommy the Cat My song pick two years ago today: Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer My song pick three years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Dragonfly My song pick four years ago today: Queen - Good Company My song pick five years ago today: Wolfsheim - Über's Jahr My song pick six years ago today: Alice in Chains - Man In The Box My song pick seven years ago today: INXS - Disappear

From: Vol. 4 ; Year: 1972; Genre: Metal I was in the mood for some classic metal this morning; I figured I couldn't go wrong with putting some Black Sabbath on. I find that this album is kind of a gem that gets overshadowed by their more popular albums around it, and it definitely has some great songs on it; this one included, which is my favourite on the record. Hear Tomorrow's Dream on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: King Crimson - One More Red Nightmare My song pick two years ago today: Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here My song pick three years ago today: Dudley Moore Trio - Yesterdays My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - With You There To Help Me My song pick five years ago today: Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra - Things to Come My song pick six years ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - Hazy Shade of Winter My song pick seven years ago today: Lita Ford feat. Ozzy Osbourne - Close My Eyes Forever

From: Face The Music ; Year: 1975; Genre: Symphonic Rock This new month did sneak up on me and I didn't have a fitting song for this April Fools' Day. Because of the opening lyrics, when thinking about an apropos song this one popped into my mind. It's a song a like and even though it really doesn't fit as well as others for an April Fools' pick, it feels like a great pick otherwise. Hear Evil Woman on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Main Ingredient - Everybody Plays the Fool My song pick two years ago today: Bee Gees - I Started a Joke My song pick three years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Fools Never Die My song pick four years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Can You Handle It? My song pick five years ago today: Led Zeppelin - Fool in the Rain My song pick six years ago today: Styx - Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) My song pick seven years ago today: The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again