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

From: The Doors ; Year: 1967; Genre: Blues Rock/Psychedelic Rock Woke up today with some of The Doors' music playing in my head; as usual I'm picking one of their songs. I've always liked this song a lot, it's among my favourites from the band; the great music mixed with the rather artistic lyrics. Hear Break on Through (To the Other Side) on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Megadeth - Seven My song pick two years ago today: Stratovarius - Under Flaming Skies My song pick three years ago today: Genesis - A Winter's Tale My song pick four years ago today: Chet Atkins - Drive In My song pick five years ago today: Letzte Instanz - Für Immer Und Ewig My song pick six years ago today: Ian Anderson - A Raft of Penguins My song pick seven years ago today: John Denver - Jimmy Newman

From: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears ; Year: 1966; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Sunshine Pop For some reason I was drawing a blank when thinking about the song I was to pick today, but as luck would have it when I sat down to make my choice The Mamas and the Papas started playing in my mind. I also realized that I hadn't picked one of their songs yet and since I've always liked the band and Cass Elliot's vocals in particular it was a good match. Most people who listen to music from the time period should recognize this early hit even thought it wasn't the most popular from the album; there is definitely a time to listen to some good 'ol fashioned sunshine Pop. Hear Go Where You Wanna Go on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Journey - Wheel in the Sky My song pick two years ago today: Santana - La Fuente del Ritmo My song pick three years ago today: King Crimson - The Court of the Crimson King My song pick four years ago today: Electric Ligh...

From: Innuendo ; Year: 1991; Genre: Hard Rock I was binging on a bunch of Queen last night, so I thought I would pick one today. I've always loved their Innuendo album and this is one of their harder rockers off of it; a great tune. Hear Headlong on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Chakachas - Jungle Fever My song pick two years ago today: The Outlaws - The Valley of the Sioux My song pick three years ago today: Candlebox - Far Behind My song pick four years ago today: Buckethead - Final Wars My song pick five years ago today: Megaherz - Heuchler My song pick six years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Funky Broadway My song pick seven years ago today: Oasis - Wonderwall

From: Science Class: Heavy Funk + Raw Disco ; Year: 2007 (1971); Genre: Funk/Soul It appears to be Friday again, and thus it's time for another Funky Friday. I actually thought that I had already picked this one, but I guess I did not. This is a nice piece of funky soul; I especially love the horns throughout this one. Hear Don't Get Discouraged on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Stahlhammer - Messerschmied My song pick two years ago today: Chet Atkins and Merle Travis - I'll See You In My Dreams My song pick three years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - O.D.'d on Life Itself My song pick four years ago today: Hawkwind - We Took the Wrong Step Years Ago My song pick five years ago today: Oomph! - Das Weiße Licht My song pick six years ago today: Trio of Doom - Dark Prince My song pick seven years ago today: Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun

From: Superunknown ; Year: 1994; Genre: Alternative Metal/Grunge I heard this song again last night; since it's one I like a lot and among my favourites from the band I decided I would add it to my blog today. I love their choice of different and interesting time signatures and melodies combined with great lyrics and subject matter. Hear The Day I Tried to Live on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Halo Effect My song pick two years ago today: Clifford Brown and Max Roach - Stompin' at the Savoy My song pick three years ago today: Franz Liszt - S.244/2 - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 My song pick four years ago today: Modest Petrovitch Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition My song pick five years ago today: Unheilig - Schutzengel My song pick six year ago today: Jaco Pastorius - Chromatic Fantasy My song pick seven years ago today: The Polyphonic Spree - Light and Day/Reach for the Sun

From: Screaming for Vengeance ; Year: 1982; Genre: Metal I'm in the mood for some Judas Priest today; no other reason for this pick other than the fact that I like the band. Like most of their best songs this one has a massive amount of power behind it; simply an amazing song. Hear Screaming for Vengeance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Genesis - Duchess My song pick two years ago today: ABBA - Arrival My song pick three year ago today: Barenaked Ladies - The Old Apartment My song pick four years ago today: The Rolling Stones - 100 Years Ago My song pick five years ago today: Eisbrecher - Mein Blut My song pick six years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Lookin' Out For #1 My song pick seven years ago today: Rammstein - Sonne

From: Stadium Arcadium ; Year: 2006; Genre: Alternative Rock Last night I caught some videos from the RHCP on the TV; it felt like a good time to pick another one of their songs. I thought for sure that I'd picked this one at some time in the past, but apparently not. Dani California has their great a-typical sound in spades and is an excellent song in many ways. Hear Dani California on YouTube. Anyway, last night I happened to notice activity on Arthur's Song-a-day blog after an about 2 year or so hiatus. It's nice to have someone again join Woordenaar and myself in talking about our favourite music. My song pick a year ago today: Porcupine Tree - Don't Hate Me My song pick two years ago today: Jacques Offenbach - La belle Hélène (Overture) My song pick three years ago today: Brave Belt - Another Way Out My song pick four years ago today: 3 Doors Down - Kryptonite My song pick five years ago today: Joachim Witt - Krieger Des Licht My song ...

From: 25 Years On ; Year: 1978; Genre: Progressive Rock/Space Rock I spent much of last night listening to Hawkwind; this often overlooked album from the band was one that I focused on a lot. Anyway, for this album alone for some reason, (but widely thought of from a legal battle over ownership of the band's name), they decided to release it as the Hawklords instead; the next album, PXR5 , they went back to the original band name of Hawkwind. All in all despite all of this the album is just as good as their other material from this time period. This one has a bit of a Crosby, Stills, and Nash feel to it, but with a definite heavy British Progressive Rock edge to it. Hear (Only) The Dead Dreams of the Cold War Kid on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Peter Gabriel - Big Time My song pick two years ago today: A-ha - Take On Me My song pick three years ago today: Return to Forever - Excerpt from the First Movement of Heavy Metal My song pick four years ago tod...

From: They Called Her Babylon ; Year: 2004; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock Something from the great band Steeleye Span seemed to be an excellent choice for today. This a rather lamentful tune about a girl who was exiled to Tasmania and the perils therein. The music that is a fusion between both traditional folk and rock is my favourite part of this song; it's a nice treat for the ears. Hear Van Diemen's Land on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Kelpie My song pick two years ago today: Wild Turkey - Battle Hymn My song pick three years ago today: Johann Strauss I - Op. 154 - Lorelei Rhein Klänge My song pick four years ago today: Puhdys - Hier Oben My song pick five years ago today: Rush - Circumstances My song pick six years ago today: Rammstein - Du Hast My song pick seven years ago today: Jethro Tull - Sunshine Day

From: Autumn Almanac (single); Year: 1967; Genre: Rock/Pop After having a conversation about The Kinks last night it got me into the mood for some of their music. Anyway, this is one of their more upbeat pop tracks that oozes with romanticism, sentimentality, and great visuals that brings up snapshots of English lifestyle; I love the prose and imagery and how it fits the music so well. Definitely one of the best songs in their catalogue. Hear Autumn Almanac on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Stevie Wonder - Skeletons My song pick two years ago today: The Grass Roots - Sooner or Later My song pick three years ago today: Felix Mendelssohn - Op. 56 - Symphony No. 3 (Scottish) My song pick four years ago today: Deep Purple - Pictures of Home My song pick five years ago today: Heart - If Looks Could Kill My song pick six years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man My song pick seven years ago today: The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun

From: Word Up! ; Year: 1986; Genre: Funk/Dance Here's something a bit different for this Funky Friday ; ah yes, mid '80s funk in all of its electronica glory; but that's not a bad thing at all. Definitely brings back some memories for me though; this is the sound I grew up hearing. Hear Back and Forth on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Michael Kiwanuka - Tell Me a Tale My song pick two years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Monkey Man My song pick three years ago today: Boston - Peace of Mind My song pick four years ago today: Weezer - Buddy Holly My song pick five years ago today: Rammstein - Ich Will My song pick six years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Mad Hatter My song pick seven years ago today: Ludwig van Beethoven - Op. 27, No.2 - Moonlight Sonata

From: Drama ; Year: 1980; Genre: Progressive Rock A couple of days ago I saw the term Tempus Fugit (Latin for Time Flies ), in something unrelated and it immediately got me thinking about this song with the same title. I love those riffs being doubled between the guitar and bass on this one; they definitely put on a "musical clinic" with this track. Hear Tempus Fugit on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Louis Armstrong and His Hot Seven - Heebie Jeebies My song pick two years ago today: Van Halen - Dance the Night Away My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - The Whistler My song pick four years ago today: Maurice Ravel - M.19 - Pavane for a Dead Princess My song pick five years ago today: Black Label Society - Stillborn My song pick six years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - I Never Dreamed My song pick seven years ago today: Duran Duran - New Moon On Monday

From: Bachman-Turner Overdrive II ; Year: 1973; Genre: Hard Rock Most music today is sadly missing one aspect that this entire album has: being built around the entire album as a composition rather than making singles. Album Oriented Rock, (AOR), is just that; it's made so you would drop the needle down on the first track and you wouldn't notice a song ending and a new one beginning as much. You'd just flip it over and listen to the other side too; that's why if you like a certain album songs like this one, which are not the big hits still resonate and you'll still enjoy them. Sure, people would probably quickly to notice Let it Ride and Takin' Care of Business a lot quicker, but if the album passed to another track it was still a good song you'd probably enjoy. Anyway, I like how this one plays around with the hard and bluesier, but catchier choruses to the much harder-edged verses. Hear Tramp on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Van der...

From: The Pleasure Principle ; Year: 1979; Genre: Synthpop/New Wave Yeah, this song brings back many memories; even definitely a classic hit that is one of those tracks that hearkens you back to the 1980s (even though it was released in '79). Hear Cars on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - 7 Screaming Diz-Busters My song pick two years ago today: John Denver - Wooden Indian My song pick three years ago today: Barenaked Ladies - One Week My song pick four years ago today: Paul Abraham Dukas - The Sorcerer's Apprentice My song pick five years ago today: Jigsaw - Jesu, the Joy of Man's Desiring My song pick six years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Second Hand My song pick seven years ago today: Glenn Miller - Moonlight Serenade

From: America's Least Wanted ; Year: 1992; Genre: Hard Rock I was thinking about Ugly Kid Joe's music the other day, and since I really haven't a song in mind for today, (or at least I can't remember if I had one in mind), I thought I would add another song from this great band today. This song is one of their mellower songs, but still has a good kick to it. Hear Busy Bee on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Ventures - Hawaií 5-0 My song pick two years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Third Stone From the Sun My song pick three years ago today: Black Sabbath - Fairies Wear Boots My song pick four years ago today: Tesla - Forever More My song pick five years ago today: Led Zeppelin - Moby Dick My song pick six years ago today: Bob Marley & The Wailers - Three Little Birds My song pick seven years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Bad Moon Rising

From: Highway to Hell ; Year: 1979; Hard Rock/Metal I just felt like picking something from AC/DC this morning; it seemed like a good time for it. This song is, of course, off of the final album to feature the legendary Bon Scott and was one of the featured singles. Hear Touch Too Much on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Find Out About Love My song pick two years ago today: Hawkwind - Orgone Accumulator My song pick three years ago today: Robert Schumann - Op. 17 - Fantasie in C My song pick four years ago today: Muse - Supermassive Black Hole My song pick five years ago today: Eddie Lang - Eddie's Twister My song pick six years ago today: The Goo Goo Dolls - Black Balloon My song pick seven years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon

From: French Sacred Music of the 14th Century, Vol. 1 ; Year: 1994 (14th Century); Genre: classical/Sacred/Renaissance Period I thought it would be fun to go way, way back musically and pick something that I like that is quite old and venerable. This one is without a doubt at this point the oldest song I've ever picked in the almost eight years I've been doing this blog. Sadly, not much has survived about Johannes Tapissler in the eight or so centuries since his death; but he was a quite famous composer and musician in his time. This sacred piece, which is a movement from a Mass about the declaration of salvation, is one of only three pieces of his music attributed to him that has survived. Credo is of course done a cappella with many choral voices; I really love the way that they harmonize and the musical tapestry they weave. Hear a performance of Credo on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing My song pick two years ag...

From: Rhythm Machine ; Year: 1976; Genre: Funk/Soul Another Friday appears as I embark on my one-hundred-and-first consecutive Funky Friday pick. Coincidentally I had another song from The Rhythm Machine on my mind this morning, so this makes for an excellent pick. This is definitely one of those great pieces of funky soul that's sure to put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step. Hear You Got Action, You Got Me on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Megadeth - Liar My song pick two years ago today: Weather Report - Second Sunday in August My song pick three years ago today: AC/DC - Thunderstruck My song pick four years ago today: Victor Wooten - Norwegian Wood My song pick five years ago today: Hawkwind - Love in Space My song pick six years ago today: Les Paul & Mary Ford - The World is Waiting for the Sunrise My song pick seven years ago today: Aerosmith - Cryin'

From: Songs From the Wood ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock Last night and into this morning I had this song playing incessantly in my mind, so as per usual I took it as a sign I should pick it. This one, as with most of the rest of the record, has a lot of traditional British music infused with the hard prog rock that the band is known for; definitely musically one of their high points musically and lyrically. My favourite part of this one in particular is the instrumental break where they layer melodies on top of one another; simply a thing of beauty. Hear Fire at Midnight on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Wolfmother - Woman My song pick two years ago today: Dick Dale - Banzai Washout My song pick three years ago today: Megadeth - 13 My song pick four years ago today: Warrant - Heaven My song pick five years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - The Wind Cries Mary My song pick six years ago today: Savatage - Damien My song pick s...

From: Fleet Foxes ; Year: 2008; Genre Folk Rock/Indie I was thinking about the Fleet Foxes and their self-titled first album as well lately and thought I would choose another one of their songs. This one's quite a rousing song that puts a smile on my face and satisfies both the musician and the person who just wants a good dancing tune. Hear Ragged Wood on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Tesla - The Way It Is My song pick two years ago today: Alice In Chains - We Die Young My song pick three years ago today: John Denver - Take Me To Tomorrow My song pick four years ago today: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Can't Stand Your Funk My song pick five years ago today: Styx - Suite Madame Blue My song pick six years ago today: Rush - Malignant Narcissism My song pick seven years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Flirtin' With Disaster

From: King Animal ; Year: 2012; Genre: Alternative Metal I got in the mood for something from Soundgarden today. This is a perfect song they used to greet fans back to their first album after a decade and a half. Very much reminiscent of their sound from their best albums, this song and much of the others on the album belong right along side their best material in my opinion. Hear Been Away Too Long on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Tommy James & the Shondells - Crimson & Clover My song pick two years ago today: John Denver - Carolina In My Mind My song pick three years ago today: Asia - Time Again My song pick four years ago today: U2 - The Unforgettable Fire My song pick five years ago today: Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World My song pick six years ago today: Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now My song pick seven years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Gimme Your Money Please

From: Stage Left ; Year: 2003; Genre: Instrumental Progressive Rock When thinking about my pick today, for some reason, I really felt like picking another track from Martin Barre. If you love intricate guitar playing this entire Stage Left album is great; this is another rather pretty instrumental. Hear I Raise My Glass To You on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: ABBA - Knowing Me, Knowing You My song pick two years ago today: The Kooks - She Moves In Her Own Way My song pick three years ago today: Hector Berlioz - Op. 14 - Symphonie Fantastique: Épisode de la vie d'un Artiste... en cinq parties My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Dun Ringill My song pick five years ago today: Ian Anderson - Fly By Night My song pick six years ago today: The Supremes - I Hear a Symphony My song pick seven years ago today: Rammstein - Mutter

From: Abacab ; Year: 1981; Genre: Rock After listening to some from this album this morning it got me in the mood for picking a song from it. Man On the Corner is one of the lesser hits from this very popular album and you can still from time to time hear it on the radio. Hear Man On the Corner on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Working John, Working Joe My song pick two years ago today: Rush - The Enemy Within (Part 1 of Fear) My song pick three years ago today: Paris - Pale Horse, Pale Rider My song pick four years ago today: Stuart Hamm - Simple Dreams My song pick five years ago today: Albert Hammond - It Never Rains In Southern California My song pick six years ago today: Band of Horses - Islands on the Coast My song pick seven years ago today: Jim Croce - Roller Derby Queen

From: Land of the Midnight Sun ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Latin Jazz I was kind of drawing a blank this morning on what song I was wanting to pick, but some music from Al Di Meola's Land of the Midnight Sun album started to come to mind. This rather brief track has a really nice Latin flare to it. Hear Love Theme from Pictures of the Sea on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bad Medicine - Trespasser My song pick two years ago today: Styx - Man in the Wilderness My song pick three years ago today: Curved Air - Vivaldi My song pick four years ago today: Megadeth - Endgame My song pick five years ago today: Sirenia - The Other Side My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Spiral My song pick seven years ago today: Outerstar - You Love It When It Rains

From: School Days ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Funk If my counting is correct, (although sometimes it's not), this is my 100th consecutive Funky Friday since I started doing a Funky Friday on every Friday almost two years ago. Anyway, to mark the occasion I thought I would pick one from bassist/composer extraordinaire Stanley Clarke, who since I picked up the bass guitar is one I've really grown to admire. This song has a really nice Latin-inspired beat combined with some great jazz/funk. Hear The Dancer on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bread - Down on my Knees My song pick two years ago today: Dream Theater - Learning to Live My song pick three years ago today: Franz Schubert - D 911, Op. 89 - Die Winterreise My song pick four years ago today: Bon Jovi - Runaway My song pick five years ago today: Missing Link - Spoiled Love My song pick six years ago today: Grace Slick - Angel of the Night My song pick seven years ago today: Don Willia...

From: Apocryphon ; Year: 2012; Genre: Metal A bit ago a friend of mine introduced me to this band and song, which is the title track to their 2012 album. I really like their sound; it reminds me a lot of 70s and early 80s metal. Hear Apocryphon on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Doors - Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) My song pick two years ago today: Slade - Slam the Hammer Down My song pick three years ago today: Stahlhammer - Mensch My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Afterimage My song pick five years ago today: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - The Last Supper (From Jesus Christ Superstar ) My song pick six years ago today: Megadeth - Sleepwalker My song pick seven years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - The Whipping Post

From: Lipstick & Barbed Wire ; Year: 2013; Genre: Rock Over the weekend at a local convention I saw a show by Eric Stuart, who is not only an accomplished voice actor and director, but one heck of a musician. Even though it was only acoustic and without the rest of his band it was definitely one of the main highlights of the convention. This was one of the songs that stood out the most that he played and I loved the way he involved the audience as well. Hear Lipstick & Barbed Wire on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Band of Horses - A Little Biblical My song pick two years ago today: Kansas - Portrait (He Knew) My song pick three years ago today: Nightwish - Passion and the Opera My song pick four years ago today: Seven Mary Three - Cumbersome My song pick five years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Let It Ride My song pick six years ago today: Queen - Flash My song pick seven years ago today: Joe Cocker - When The Night Comes

From: Disraeli Gears ; Year: 1967; Genre: Hard Rock/Psychedelic Rock I've really been in the mood for something from Cream this morning; I was surprised when I discovered that this, one of their most famous and recognizable tracks, had not graced my blog yet. Anyway, this is probably one of the more noticeable song to have been written around a catchy and powerful riff; combine that with the lyrics containing symbolic and metaphoric prose and you get an instant classic track. Hear Sunshine of Your Love on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit My song pick two years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Lady Picture Show My song pick three years ago today: Ludwid van Beethoven - Op.125 - Symphony No.9 in D-Minor My song pick four years ago today: Stormwarrior - Heading Northe My song pick five years ago today: Cab Calloway - The Jumpin' Jive (Hep-Hep!) My song pick six years ago today: The Police - Synchronicity II My so...

From: Signals ; Year: 1982; Genre: Progressive Rock I'm in the mood for some Rush from the early '80s this morning. I noted that I had not picked this song, which is part of Neil Peart's "Fear Series." It was originally a trilogy made up of three songs over from consecutive albums in the early '80s starting with Moving Pictures and ending on Signal ; Neil Peart added to it with a fourth part on their late 1990s album Vapour Trails . The Weapon is mostly a synth driven piece similar to what would be heard from Rush in the subsequent years during the mid to later part of the decade. Still, it's not a bad song though; definitely a classic from the band. Hear The Weapon on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Genesis - Abacab My song pick two years ago today: Savatage - Handful of Rain My song pick three years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Barbarian My song pick four years ago today: Charlie Parker - Summertime My song ...

From: Warrior On The Edge of Time ; Year: 1975; Genre: Progressive Rock/Space Rock No reason other than the fact that I felt like picking another from Hawkwind today. This is one of their epic 8+ minute fantasy pieces; this one's about a celestial horse and rider in legendary battles of light and dark across the cosmos. The only thing more epic than the tale is the music, which is a splendid cacophony of synth and traditional instrumentation. Hear Magnu on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Rockaria! My song pick two years ago today: Nirvana - Something in the Way My song pick three years ago today: Till Lindemann and Richard Kruspe (Rammstein) - Schtiel My song pick four years ago today: Queensrÿche - Revolution Calling My song pick five years ago today: Puhdys - Große Herzen My song pick six years ago today: Rush - Digital Man My song pick seven years ago today: Balance - Breaking Away

From: Surrealistic Pillow ; Year: 1967; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Blues Rock It's a very, very busy day, so I'm making a little more of a brief pick. This is a neat track that closes out the epic Surrealistic Pillow album; you gotta love those bluesy riffs and that bluesy groove. Hear Plastic Fantastic Lover on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself My song pick two years ago today: Muse - Explorers My song pick three years ago today: The Pretenders - Middle of the Road My song pick four years ago today: U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name My song pick five years ago today: Uriah Heep - Wizard My song pick six years ago today: Queen - Bicycle Race My song pick seven years ago today: The Doors - Love Me Two Times