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

From: Nilsson Schmilsson ; Year: 1971; Genre: Hard Rock Here's another one from an artist that I have neglected to choose a song from prior. Whilst many think of mostly ballads when it comes to Harry Nilsson's material, this one is quite a hard rocker with an amazing rhythm section, especially the amazing Herbie Flowers' bass, where he pulls off some unorthodox techniques such as apparently de-tuning his bass while playing. Overall, this is an excellent track across the board with some great musicianship, writing and arranging.   Hear Jump Into the Fire on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bob Dylan - It Ain't Me Babe   My song pick 2 years ago today: Of Monsters and Men - Alligator   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Beat 'Em Up My song pick 4 years ago today: ZZ Top - Cheap Sunglasses My song pick 5 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Time Is On Your Side My song pick 6 years ago today: Exile - Please Be There ...

From: Berlin ; Year: 1973; Genre: Progressive Rock I did not really have a song ready to pick today, but after going over a few possibilities I finally settled on this track off of Lou Reed's concept album Berlin . Both Reed's vocals and Jack Bruce's bass playing make for a rather interesting dynamic with the bass essentially doing a counter-line to the melody. Whilst being part of the over concept album, Men of Good Fortune actually stands pretty well on its own.   Hear Men of Good Fortune on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Victor Wooten - Joe's Journey   My song pick 2 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Fighting for Strangers   My song pick 3 years ago today: Dire Straits - Romeo & Juliet My song pick 4 years ago today: James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good) My song pick 5 years ago today: King Crimson - Dinosaur My song pick 6 years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Both Sides My song pick 7 years ago today: Egg - I Will Be Absorbed ...

From: You Belong to Me ; Year: 1962; Genre: Doo-Wop Whilst this song has been around, recorded, and re-recorded over the last, about 70 years since its writing, this is the version I remember the most and the one I think of when the song pops in my mind. It was originally written by Chilton Price, (although Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart added and edited the song, thus got co-writing credits), who was a prolific songwriter in the Post-War era. You Belong to Me began its life so to speak with the working title " Hurry on Home to Me " as a ballad about a lover during The War begging for her sweetheart fighting overseas to come back home. Evidently, Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart thought it needed a more contemporary Post-War feel and message and thus the song was born. Apparently, the early version recorded by Jo Stafford in 1952 is the most popular version, but I've always like the doo-wop version by The Duprees.   Hear You Belong to Me on YouTube.       My song pick ...

From: The Return of the Space Cowboy ; Year: 1994; Genre: Acid Jazz/Funk/R&B Overall this is a great track all the way from the awesome bass line and drums to the keyboards and vocals; it's one of my favourite songs from this album. It's among those songs where it could probably be played to a wide audience with its broad appeal in sound, rhythm, and musicianship.   Hear Space Cowboy on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Hall & Oates - You Make My Dreams (Come True)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Something's on the Move   My song pick 3 years ago today: Queen - Don't Try So Hard My song pick 4 years ago today: Sky - Hotta My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Farm on the Freeway My song pick 6 years ago today: Quasar - The Loreli My song pick 7 years ago today: Def Leppard - Rock On My song pick 8 years ago today: The Cosmic Sound Orchestra - Fly Some Funk Up to the Moon My song pick 9 years ago tod...

From: Get The Money ; Year: 2019; Genre: Alternative Rock Kind of sad hearing that Taylor Hawkins passed away while on tour in Colombia at the all too young age of 50. Thus far I have not seen any "official" cause of death released, but according to authorities in Bogotá, Colombia it was a heart attack with other circumstances as well apparently. Quite sad; he was one heck of a drummer, among the best in my opinion. Anyway, he was probably best-known as the drummer for the Foo Fighters since their third album as well as his work with Alanis Morissette amongst others, but I thought it would be fitting picking one from the band of his namesake from their most-recent album.   Hear Middle Child on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Traffic - Feelin' Alright?   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bad Company - Ready for Love   My song pick 3 years ago today: Tesla - Not Fragile My song pick 4 years ago today: Jigsaw - Ready to Ride My song pick 5 ye...

From: Surf Rider! ; Year: 1963; Genre: Surf Rock Heard The Lively Ones at some point yesterday and decided that I would check out more for this short-lived surf rock band. This track, as you could probably tell by the title, is quite a bit more mellow than the normal high-speed and frantic sound you usually get from surf rock. Some amazing musicianship to be heard here all across the board, but especially from the lead guitar; simply beautiful.   Hear Crying Guitar (Surfer's Lament) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: George Clinton - One Fun At a Time   My song pick 2 years ago today: Band of Horses - Window Blues   My song pick 3 years ago today: Dan Fogelberg - Longer My song pick 4 years ago today: Bee Gees - Run to Me My song pick 5 years ago today: Pallas - Dance Through the Fire My song pick 6 years ago today: King Crimson - Matte Kudasai My song pick 7 years ago today: Lenny Kravitz - Fly Away My song pick 8 years ago toda...

From: It's Just Begun ; Year: 1972; Genre: Funk/Psychedelia Still bingeing on Jimmy Castor's music throughout the week; thought I'd make another Funky Friday pick with one of him and his Bunch's songs. Truly this song demands attention when listening to it by the way it's written; it is very difficult to ignore the music when being played. Add to that the distinct sound that comes from the blend of psychedelic rock and hard-hitting funk and you got something profound to enjoy listening to.   Hear L.T.D. (Life, Truth, Death) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: John Denver - Sweet Surrender   My song pick 2 years ago today: Blind Faith - Sea of Joy   My song pick 3 years ago today: Ultravox - Reap the Wild Wind My song pick 4 years ago today: The Fixx - One Thing Leads to Another My song pick 5 years ago today: Kansas - Miracles Out Of Nowhere My song pick 6 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - I'm a Midnight Mover My song pick 7 years ago...

From: Waking the Jester ; Year: 2007; Genre: Rock Been thinking about this band today and thought I'd pick one of their newer songs. Whilst I do not like their music from this later album as much as the early 1980s material, it's still a good, straight-up rocker.   Hear Rise on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Toronto - Lookin' for Trouble   My song pick 2 years ago today: Judas Priest - Evening Star   My song pick 3 years ago today: John Denver - Sunshine On My Shoulders My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Madness to the Method My song pick 5 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Rooster Jones My song pick 6 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Journey From Eden My song pick 7 years ago today: Kansas - Dust in the Wind My song pick 8 years ago today: King Crimson - Red My song pick 9 years ago today: Sky - March to the Scaffold My song pick 10 years ago today: Rhapsody of Fire - Holy Thunderforce My song pick 11...

From: Repeat When Necessary ; Year: 1979; Genre: Rockabilly/Rock/Country Rock Most would probably best remember the version of this song recorded by Juice Newton, which can be heard here on YouTube , made a large world-wide hit out of it. Whilst this original recording did not see the same amount of success, it charted in both the U.K. and Ireland. Queen of Hearts is another song that reaches across genres to make a somewhat unique sound, which kind of spread about during the late '70s to early '80s, that being the fusion of rock, country, pop, and rockabilly. Due to this, the song can be played in a varied company and could probably go over quite well.   Hear Queen of Hearts on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Sinful Love   My song pick 2 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Spirit of a New World   My song pick 3 years ago today: Primus - Space Farm My song pick 4 years ago today: Geraldine Hunt - Can't Fake the Fe...

From: The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon ; Year: 1956; Genre: Doo-Wop/Rock 'n Roll/R&B Last night I was doing a little research on this band an those associated with it and ran into this single off of their only LP record release. The interesting part about I Promise To Remember is that well-known funkmaster Jimmy Castor co-wrote the song and had recorded it with his band Jimmy and the Junior, which can be heard here on YouTube , but the record company for some reason did not like it and passed on it and instead had The Teenagers record a cover of it, which became their third hit single. Jimmy Castor would later re-record it in a funky version with his famous Jimmy Castor Bunch, which can also be found on YouTube . Interestingly enough Jimmy Castor would take over on lead vocals for The Teenagers from the latter 1980s to the 1990s, so it kind of went full-circle. Anyway, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers are probably best-known for their mega-hit Why Do Fools Fall In Love ,...

From: Fandangos in Space ; Year: 1973; Genre: Flamenco Rock/Progressive Rock For over the last week or so I've been meaning to choose another song from the avant-garde flamenco rock band Carmen. At this rate it will not be long and I'll run out of their songs to pick; I've already cleaned out one album and most of their other two. Anyway, this is, obviously, the title-track off of their debut album that has all of the hallmarks of the music they're known for; it's another song of theirs that seems to "tic" all of the check-marks for me personally.   Hear Fandangos in Space on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Harlequin - You Are The Light   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Magick Valley   My song pick 3 years ago today: Elton John - Crocodile Rock My song pick 4 years ago today: Mr. Bungle - Quote Unquote (Travolta) My song pick 5 years ago today: Jane's Addiction - Stop! My song pick 6 years ago today: Soundgarden ...

From: The Zealot Gene ; Year: 2022; Genre: Progressive Rock I has this, the recent album from one of my favourite bands on my mind today; figured picking another one from the record would also be a good idea.  In the same tradition that Ian Anderson has been touching on since 1971's Aqualung , this song and album once again touches on the subject matter of God's relationship with humankind and the predilection for complicating the image and the Will of God amongst other aspects. This essentially is almost the same as he wrote in the song from Aqualung , My God , which can be heard here on YouTube . Whilst this song is not quite a raucous musically, the way the heavy lyrics interact with overall more delicate sounds/vocals, the heaviness is played quite well with chord choices to build the serious mood. Whilst not as good or profound in my opinion as My God , it does a real good job of being a great piece of music to enjoy.   Hear Mine Is the Mountain on YouTube.   ...

From: The Hoople (reissue) ; Year: 1974; Genre: Glam Rock Whilst this song originally was a non-album single, it was later added as a bonus song on later releases, which really made it more accessible to me to hear. Apparently, around the time before and after its recording the band had musicians leave and join before Mott the Hoople would essentially end and reform as "Mott," so it's kind of a great send-off to the lineup. I could imagine The Saturday Gigs being an excellent finale or encore song at live concerts being that it has that big, arena style anthem vibe to i; you can easily imagine an audience slowly waving lit cigarette lighters whilst they played it.   Hear (Do You Remember) The Saturday Gigs on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Luther - Everybody Rejoice   My song pick 2 years ago today: Wishbone Ash - Vas Dis   My song pick 3 years ago today: Journey - Spaceman My song pick 4 years ago today: Van Halen - And the Cradle Will ...

From: In The Heat of the Night ; Year: 1982; Genre: Funk/R&B/Soul This band just happened to pop into my mind today whilst getting ready to make another Funky Friday pick; how fortuitous. Anyway, Just an Illusion is a funky track that has a very disco feel to it with a helping of some other sounds as well.   Hear Just an Illusion on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Alestorm - Fannybaws   My song pick 2 years ago today: Marillion - Seasons End   My song pick 3 years ago today: Dick Dale - Esperanza My song pick 4 years ago today: Kansas - Questions of my Childhood My song pick 5 years ago today: Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe - Quartet My song pick 6 years ago today: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Radio-Activity My song pick 7 years ago today: Toto - Stranger in Town My song pick 8 years ago today: Dream Theater - Hell's Kitchen My song pick 9 years ago today: Styx - Come Sail Away My song pick 10 years ago today: Alestorm - You Ar...

From: Song of Longing & Debauchery ; Year: 2007; Genre: Celtic Folk Rock Happy St. Patrick's Day ! As usual, I'm choosing a more or less appropriate song for my blog today. I really wish this band would've put out more music than apparently this single album, but at least it's a good one. Anyway, this track is quite folkish and more acoustically performed in the traditional style.   Hear Rocky Road to Dublin on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Black 47 - Bodhráns On The Brain   My song pick 2 years ago today: Waylander - The Vernal Dance   My song pick 3 years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Dublin My song pick 4 years ago today: Black 47 - Paddy's Got a Brand New Reel My song pick 5 years ago today: Croft No Five - The Man of Arran My song pick 6 years ago today: Cruachan - The Morrigan's Call My song pick 7 years ago today: Flogging Molly - (No More) Paddy's Lament My song pick 8 years ago today: Black 47 - The Big Fella My song pic...

From: Miles in the Sky ; Year: 1968; Genre: Jazz Fusion I happened to hear this track yesterday during my journeys and I knew I had to make it today's pick. If you want to hear almost 13 minutes of the some of the greatest jazz musicians to ever exist at their best, then this song is definitely worth a listen. Whilst it's difficult to single out one member of the band on this recording due to the immense skills displayed, George Benson's guitar playing really add a great aspect you normally do not hear too much.   Hear Paraphernalia on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Utopia - Set Me Free   My song pick 2 years ago today: Nick Gilder - Rated X   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - Second Nature My song pick 4 years ago today: Diana Ross & The Supremes - Someday We'll be Together My song pick 5 years ago today: Megadeth - Dread and the Fugitive Mind My song pick 6 years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme Back My Bullets My song p...

From: Lost Brotherhood ; Year: 1990; Genre: Progressive Rock Had a few songs in mind for today, but eventually ended up picking this dark and brooding piece from Lawrence Gowan. As is normal with his music, the playing and song construction is excellent as ever. It has a slight holdover sound from what you'd be used to in the 1980s, but there's something I find very appealing about that aspect of the song.   Hear The Dragon on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Alice Cooper - I'm Eighteen   My song pick 2 years ago today: U.K. - Rendezvous 6:02   My song pick 3 years ago today: Parliament - Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop) My song pick 4 years ago today: The Enid - And Then There Were None My song pick 5 years ago today: Ted Nugent - Stranglehold My song pick 6 years ago today: Muse - Revolt My song pick 7 years ago today: Vixen - Edge of a Broken Heart My song pick 8 years ago today: Rush - Mystic Rhythms My song p...

From: Billion Dollar Babies ; Year: 1973; Genre: Hard Rock Had the music from this album on my mind this morning while getting work done and I thought I would revisit it once again. Hello Hooray works excellently as an opening track to the record in what is essentially an overture.   Hear Hello Hooray on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Secret Road   My song pick 2 years ago today: Genesis - The Serpent   My song pick 3 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Knife-Edge My song pick 4 years ago today: UB40 - Rat in mi Kitchen My song pick 5 years ago today: Dust - Learning to Die My song pick 6 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - When the Apple Blossoms Bloom in the Windmills of Your Mind, I'll Be Your Valentine My song pick 7 years ago today: Yello - Oh Yeah My song pick 8 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Take That Pollution Out Your Throat My song pick 9 years ago today: Queen - Bohemian Rh...

From: Ich Hasse Kinder (single) ; Year: 2021; Genre: Neue Deutsche Härte/Industrial Metal Been meaning to pick this more recent song from Till Lindemann's solo endeavour away from the band Rammstein for a while now and am finally getting around to it. Whilst not too dissimilar to the Rammstein sound, there are some differences musically, but not too much to turn off a fan of the band. Lyrically the song is about a man on a long flight having to deal with someone's disobedient child making the flight very unpleasant while the parent of said child ignores their unruly offspring.   Watch the music video on YouTube. (NSFW)       My song pick 1 year ago today: Normaal - Deurdonderen   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - World Wide Funk   My song pick 3 years ago today: Sam Cooke - Chain Gang My song pick 4 years ago today: King Crimson - Lizard My song pick 5 years ago today: Band of Horses - Lying Under Oak My song pick 6 years ago today: E...

From: Wings of Tomorrow ; Year: 1984; Genre: Heavy Metal I thought I have for sure chosen a song from the metal band Europe at some point in the past, but apparently not. Sadly, almost everyone here in the U.S. knows Europe for the song The Final Countdown , which also has sadly in U.S. popular culture become associated with the time period of it's release and the "cheesiness" that comes with it.  Anyway, this is a somewhat earlier single of theirs off of their second album and has Judas Priest feel to it.   Hear Stormwind on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dazz Band - Let It All Blow   My song pick 2 years ago today: Faith No More - Epic   My song pick 3 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Too Shy To Say My song pick 4 years ago today: The Postal Service - Brand New Colony My song pick 5 years ago today: Wolfmother - Joker & the Thief My song pick 6 years ago today: Peter Gabriel - Digging in the Dirt My song pick 7 years ago t...

From: James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday ; Year: 1964; Genre: Soul/Funk/Blues For the last few Fridays I've been meaning to pick one from James Brown, but another song got in the way I guess. Anyway, this is a piece of, I suppose could be called "proto-funk" from that point when James Brown was collaborating with drummer Melvin Parker, out of which was one of the main sources of the emergence of funk.   Hear Out Of Sight on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Glenn Miller - PEnnsylvania 6 - 5000   My song pick 2 years ago today: Nirvana - Negative Creep   My song pick 3 years ago today: Gravity Kills - Falling My song pick 4 years ago today: The Network - Roshambo My song pick 5 years ago today: Glass Tiger - Animal Heart My song pick 6 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Can't Strain My Brain My song pick 7 years ago today: Paris - 1 in 10 My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Look Into the Sun My so...

From: Even Worse ; Year: 1988; Genre: Comedy/Pop/Rock I cannot even begin to count the times I've listened to this song over the years; it's classic "Weird Al." Melanie is one of his original songs, I believe it's one of two on the record with the others being parodies or songs done in the style of an artist/band. On the surface it is one of those love songs that is very happy and upbeat, but if you listen to the lyrics it tells the story of a dangerous stalker that does nefarious deeds to supposedly gain the attention and affection of the titular character Melanie.   Hear Melanie on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Winery Dogs - Time Machine   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - Time   My song pick 3 years ago today: Roxette - Joyride My song pick 4 years ago today: Jerry Reed - The Devil Went Down to Georgia My song pick 5 years ago today: Johnny Winter - Funky Music My song pick 6 years ago today: Marillio...