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

From: Diesel and Dust ; Year: 1987; Genre: Alternative Rock Closing out the month of April with a pick from one of my absolute favourite bands, which happened to be the first song I heard today after waking up. Diesel and Dust is a masterpiece and one of those spectacular records that I can put the entire thing on repeat for a long while; great music.   Hear Sell My Soul on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ohio Players - Love Rollercoaster   My song pick 2 years ago today: Fairport Convention - Expletive Delighted   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Hollies - On a Carousel My song pick 4 years ago today: The Guess Who - Flying on the Ground is Wrong My song pick 5 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Warakurna My song pick 6 years ago today: The Outfield - Your Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Jefferson Starship - Jane My song pick 8 years ago today: Deep Purple - My Woman From Tokyo My song pick 9 years ago today: The Allman B...

From: The New Zapp IV U ; Year: 1985; Genre: Funk/Electronica Was drawing somewhat of a blank today whilst thinking about which song to choose for this Funky Friday pick; I figured that I couldn't go wrong with something from the funk band Zapp. Computer Love definitely is a product of its time, but more in a friendly nostalgic way and not too dated.   Hear Computer Love on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Primus - The Ol' Diamondback Sturgeon (Fisherman Chronicles, Part 3)   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Tubes - Talk To Ya Later   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Kinks - Good Day My song pick 4 years ago today: Elton John - Bennie and the Jets My song pick 5 years ago today: Stuart Hamm - Radio Free Albemuth My song pick 6 years ago today: Central Line - Walking Into Sunshine My song pick 7 years ago today: Zakk Wylde - Way Beyond Empty My song pick 8 years ago today: XTC - Travels in Nihilon My song pick 9 years ago to...

From: Hold On, I'm Comin' ; Year: 1966; Genre: Soul/R&B Was listening to a bit of Sam & Dave yesterday while out for a drive and they've been on my mind ever since. This is one of their hit singles and has that great soul sound and amazing vocal talent they are best known for and were backed by Stax's legendary in-house band Booker T. & the MGs for the recording.   Hear You Don't Know Like I Know on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Black 47 - Livin' in America   My song pick 2 years ago today: Lenny LeBlanc - Dance Around the Campfire   My song pick 3 years ago today: Georges Bizet - Carmen Overture My song pick 4 years ago today: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Helpless My song pick 5 years ago today: Rose Royce - Car Wash My song pick 6 years ago today: Camel - Never Let Go My song pick 7 years ago today: Jerry Reed - The Legend My song pick 8 years ago today: Curved Air - Heaven (Never Seemed So Far Away) My s...

From: Powerlight ; Year: 1983; Genre: R&B/Funk/Soul Yesterday I learned of the passing of long-time EW&F saxophonist, (among other instruments), Andrew Woolfolk at the age of 71. He was with the band from '73 to about '93, which was during their highest amount of success, even though their popularity has never really ebbed. Anyway, it's not like I needed a reason to choose another song from one of my absolute favourite bands, but it is a good occasion nevertheless.   Hear Side By Side on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Sly & The Family Stone - Shine It On   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rush - We Hold On   My song pick 3 years ago today: Tee Set - Ma Belle Amie My song pick 4 years ago today: Curved Air - Phantasmagoria My song pick 5 years ago today: Roxy Music - Out of the Blue My song pick 6 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Heavy Metal: The Black and Silver My song pick 7 years ago today: Primus - Shake Hands With...

From: Mello ; Year: 1978; Genre: Country Not sure why, but I had a hankering for some of the older country music; I happened to remember that I had not chosen one from Mel McDaniel in a very long while, so this seemed like a perfect time to revisit some of his music. Whilst I'm not an aficionado of country & western music, there are quite a few I like; most of which come before the late 1980s, prior to that horrid, nasally "twang" that every individual in the genre who sings has affected for some reason. Most of the country singer of the 1970s and earlier just used the singing voice and accent that God gave them, like Mel McDaniel.   Hear Bordertown Woman on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Main Ingredient - You've Got To Take It (If You Want It)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Soundgarden - Heretic   My song pick 3 years ago today: Black 47 - Hard Times My song pick 4 years ago today: Rainbow - Stone Cold My song pick 5 years a...

From: Flirtin' With Disaster ; Year: 1979; Genre: Southern Rock/Blues Rock Heard some of the music from this album the other day, and it just amazes me how much incredible musicianship, composition, and arranging Molly Hatchet was and is capable of. In this song, and many others, especially on this record, have so many musical ideas and schools of thought used throughout. Heck, they have some complex music here that really swings with all the jazz influence.   Hear Boogie No More on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Hollies - The Air That I Breathe   My song pick 2 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Masters of the Galaxy   My song pick 3 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Legend of the Astral Hammer My song pick 4 years ago today: John Fogerty - Rockin' All Over the World My song pick 5 years ago today: Iain Matthews - Gimme An Inch Girl My song pick 6 years ago today: Marmalade - I See the Rain My song pick 7 years ago today: Maddy Prior...

From: Smash ; Year: 1994; Genre: Punk/Rock/Hard Rock On and off for the past few weeks I've been listening to The Offspring and thought I'd get around to picking another one of their songs. I really like what they did with the into on this track with the bright bass countering the sparse vocals, which then launch into a full-on punk/hard rock extravaganza.   Hear Bad Habit on YouTube. (Explicit Lyrics Warning)       My song pick 1 year ago today: Midnight Oil - Antarctica   My song pick 2 years ago today: Steely Dan - Black Cow   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Stop! My song pick 4 years ago today: The New Riders of the Purple Sage - Panama Red My song pick 5 years ago today: Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same My song pick 6 years ago today: Argent - Trapeze My song pick 7 years ago today: Stanley Clarke - Play the Bass My song pick 8 years ago today: Weather Report - Orange Lady My song pick 9 years ago today: Bachman...

From: What's Going On ; Year: 1971; Genre: Soul/R&B/Motown Kind of an extension to yesterday's pick for Earth Day, this was one song I really listened to quite a bit and thought I would make it today's choice. I really don't know what to say that has not already been said about this poignant song and album; both are immortal masterpieces through and through with profound messages.   Hear Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - High As Apple Pie (Slice I and II)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Mr. Bungle - Platypus   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Sir James the Rose My song pick 4 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - My Friends My song pick 5 years ago today: Hot Butter - Telstar My song pick 6 years ago today: Nazareth - Hair of the Dog My song pick 7 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Pony Boy My song pick 8 years ...

From: Maggot Brain ; Year: 1971; Genre: Funk/Soul/Psychedelic Rock Whilst getting ready to make today's pick I realized that it was Earth Day as well as a Funky Friday , so I could not let the opportunity to observe both go by this year. I didn't have to go far to find the song to choose; this one from George Clinton's activist psychedelic funk project Funkadelic. For the vast majority of the track's running time it is mostly an amazing instrumental guitar piece played by the late-great Eddie Hazel who apparently George Clinton instructed him to play it as if his mother had died. The full song was done in one take and is considered to be among the greatest guitar solos of all time.   Hear Maggot Brain on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jim Steinman - Left in the Dark   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Flat Broke Love   My song pick 3 years ago today: 4 Non Blondes - Spaceman My song pick 4 years ago today: ...

From: Album of the Year ; Year: 1997; Genre: Alternative Rock Was thinking about Faith No More's music again today, you know the rest.... As with most of their songs, this track has quite a distinctive sound to it; the trance-like feel throughout is borderline psychedelia.   Hear Stripsearch on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Depeche Mode - World in my Eyes   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Firing Line   My song pick 3 years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Island My song pick 4 years ago today: White Zombie - Black Sunshine My song pick 5 years ago today: The Headhunters - Actual Proof My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Old Ghosts My song pick 7 years ago today: Rush - The Wreckers My song pick 8 years ago today: Ian Anderson - After These Wars My song pick 9 years ago today: Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal My song pick 10 years ago today: Paper Lace - The Night Chicago Died My song pick 1...

From: Slave to the Grind ; Year: 1991; Genre: Metal/Hard Rock Finally, am back from an extended weekend out of town and am happy to be back at my own desk, computer, and chair whilst posting to my song-a-day blog. Anyway, I had this one from my early teenage years pop into my mind sometime over the weekend and thought the raw, unrestrained energy just fit my mood absolutely perfectly. The Slave to the Grind album is and always will be a classic to me, and this is probably the song that sits atop the heap for me personally.   Hear Riot Act on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Jack-A-Lynn   My song pick 2 years ago today: Madness - Our House   My song pick 3 years ago today: Chicago - Beginnings My song pick 4 years ago today: Frijid Pink - Rainbow Rider My song pick 5 years ago today: Savatage - Summer's Rain My song pick 6 years ago today: John Denver - Everyday My song pick 7 years ago today: Pat Benatar - Heartbreaker ...

From: Third Stage ; Year: 1986; Genre: Hard Rock There's just something, for lack of a better word, "magical" about Boston's first three records; whilst the newer material has a lot of great songs, these were full of hits from beginning to end. Ever since I got Third Stage on cassette for Christmas one year, it has been one of those albums where I just play it from beginning to end without skipping a track. We're Ready has a very memorable melody, especially in the instrumental sections with that distinctive guitar sound.   Hear We're Ready on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Alestorm - Treasure Island   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Human League - Do or Die   My song pick 3 years ago today: Humble Pie - Get Down To It My song pick 4 years ago today: King Crimson - Exiles My song pick 5 years ago today: Soundgarden - By Crooked Steps My song pick 6 years ago today: Brave Belt - Never Comin' Home My song pick 7 years ago today...

From: Electric Jewels ; Year: 1973; Genre: Hard Rock Yet another band I've recently been meaning to revisit and am finally getting around to it. This is one of my favourites off of one of their earlier albums: Electric Jewels . Whilst they had that raw, hard rock edge by this point, you can hear they were still evolving musically.   Hear Cat's Claw on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Alphaville - Big In Japan   My song pick 2 years ago today: Primus - Mary the Ice Cube   My song pick 3 years ago today: Mastodon - Andromeda My song pick 4 years ago today: Deep Purple - King of Dreams My song pick 5 years ago today: Counting Crows - Round Here My song pick 6 years ago today: Devo - Through Being Cool My song pick 7 years ago today: Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus My song pick 8 years ago today: Larry Graham and Graham Central Station - G.C.S. My song pick 9 years ago today: Rush - Big Money My song pick 10 years ago today: Jethro T...

From: Innuendo ; Year: 1991; Genre: Hard Rock The other day this song came on whilst driving about and knew it was one I would soon pick. This album in its entirety is a classic album for not just the band, but for the ages in my opinion; one of their best. It was totally awesome how they put Innuendo together and recorded it knowing how little time Freddy Mercury had left and poured every last bit of creative energy they had into it. For me, this track is a tour de force of vocals, both from Freddy Mercury and the harmonies as well as some great guitar work from Brian May.   Hear I Can't Live With You on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Deep Purple - Throw My Bones   My song pick 2 years ago today: Foghat - Night Shift My song pick 3 years ago today: Rammstein - Los My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Mirrors My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - The Pine Martin's Jig My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - Making Mem...

From: Snow in June ; Year: 1990; Genre: Rock The other day this song just happened to pop into my mind from out of nowhere and I put it in the queue of songs to pick. Anyway, I do remember when this song was pretty popular in the early 1990s, but it kind of went into obscurity over the years, at least in the area I have lived in. It has a very straight-forward rock sound to it and thus goes over pretty well in a lot of situations.   Hear She Ain't Pretty on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Parliament - Wizard of Finance   My song pick 2 years ago today: ABBA - Super Trouper   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pallas - Ghost My song pick 4 years ago today: UB40 - Here I Am (Come and Take Me) My song pick 5 years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - Long Haired Country Boy My song pick 6 years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Lodi My song pick 7 years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - All I Can Do Is Write About It My song pic...

From: Hey Man... Smell My Finger ; Year: 1993; Genre: Funk/Hip Hop/Rap/R&B Getting this neat P-Funk tune in for this very busy Funky Friday . Really, wot's not to like about this track? It's got everything you could like about a funk song you could want.    Hear Maximumisness on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bruce Hornsby & The Range - Look Out Any Window   My song pick 2 years ago today: Marillion - This Strange Engine   My song pick 3 years ago today: 10cc - Good Morning Judge My song pick 4 years ago today: The Moody Blues - I Know You're Out There Somewhere My song pick 5 years ago today: Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong - Money Blues My song pick 6 years ago today: Weather Report - Palladíum My song pick 7 years ago today: Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman My song pick 8 years ago today: Peter Gabriel - Steam My song pick 9 years ago today: Phil Collins - Something Happened on the Way to Heaven ...

From: Sleepwalker ; Year: 1977; Genre: Hard Rock Off and on over the last few days I have had songs from The Kinks on my mind; thought I would listen to this record, which is one of their releases that I've sadly neglected to this point. Whilst being a more classic sounding, straight-up Kinks song, there is a lot interesting going on throughout this track, especially in the rhythm section.   Hear Sleepwalker on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Carmen - The Horseman   My song pick 2 years ago today: Daniel Lanois - That's The Way It Is   My song pick 3 years ago today: Raspberries - Go All The Way My song pick 4 years ago today: The Thermals - Test Pattern My song pick 5 years ago today: Kool & The Gang - Jungle Boogie My song pick 6 years ago today: The Beatles - For You Blue My song pick 7 years ago today: Boston - I Had a Good Time My song pick 8 years ago today: Sky - FIFO (suite) My song pick 9 years ago today: Faith No Mo...

From: All Things In Time ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz/Soul/R&B I have been having Lou Rawls' music on the brain for the last little bit and really wanted to add another one of his song to my list. As with a goodly amount of "'80's kids" I was introduced to his powerful and velvety vocals through the Garfield Specials where he sung the theme songs, did duets with Desirée Goyette , and, of course, provided Garfield's singing voice. Because of this it was real easy to become a fan of him and his work, although it's still quite difficult to hear a recording of his without envisioning Garfield singing the song.   Hear Groovy People on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Marillion - Dry Land   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ray Davies - The Getaway   My song pick 3 years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Keep On Chooglin' My song pick 4 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Luther the Anthropoid (Ape Man) My song pick 5 ...

From: Pretzel Logic ; Year: 1974; Genre: Blues Rock/Jazz Rock Been meaning to choose another one from Steely Dan lately, and am finally getting around to it. This is slowly becoming my favourite album from the band, even though I like every one of their releases; this is also the album that contains my favourite song of their as well. Anyway, this is, of course, the title-track and one of the singles off of it and has a heavy blues rock sound throughout, which makes it quite fun and easy to listen to.   Hear Pretzel Logic on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Beatles - And Your Bird Can Sing   My song pick 2 years ago today: King Crimson - Industry   My song pick 3 years ago today: Parliament - (Gloryhallastoopid) Pin The Tail On The Funky My song pick 4 years ago today: Marillion - That Time of the Night (The Short Straw) My song pick 5 years ago today: The J. Geils Band - Love Stinks My song pick 6 years ago today: Savatage - Of Rag...

From: Damn Yankees ; Year: 1990; Genre: Hard Rock This is yet another among many songs that just happened to pop into my mind that I decided to choose for today's pick. Runaway is one of the songs from this "supergroup" that has that, I suppose you could call it, "arena rock" feel with its big sound and guitar solos throughout.   Hear Runaway on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Camel - Lies   My song pick 2 years ago today: Hawkwind - 65 Million Years Ago   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Police - Don't Stand Too Close To Me My song pick 4 years ago today: Mastodon - The Wolf is Loose My song pick 5 years ago today: Steely Dan - Don't Take Me Alive My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Black Mamba My song pick 7 years ago today: Michael Martin Murphey - Medicine Man My song pick 8 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - It's Just Begun My song pick 9 years ago today: Marillion - Script for a Jester's Te...

From: Jupiter's Darling ; Year: 2004; Genre: Hard Rock For some reason I felt like listening to Heart's album Jupiter's Darling once again. The Oldest Story in the World was apparently one of the bigger hits off of the record and has their great hard rock sound throughout.   Hear Oldest Story in the World on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Cream - Sitting on Top of the World   My song pick 2 years ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Forever Falling   My song pick 3 years ago today: Genesis - Behind the Lines My song pick 4 years ago today: Rush - Emotion Detector My song pick 5 years ago today: Al Di Meola - The Wizard My song pick 6 years ago today: Rhapsody of Fire - Dark Wings of Steel My song pick 7 years ago today: Parliament - Flash Light My song pick 8 years ago today: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Breakdown My song pick 9 years ago today: Marillion - Garden Party My song pick 10 years ago today: Alestorm - Hea...

From: Rock & Roll Machine ; Year: 1977; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal This is a rather heavy one off of Triumph's second album that caught my attention today whilst going over their earlier material. Besides the hard-driving rhythm and beat the musicianship is top-notch in this one; a great all around track.   Hear Rock & Roll Machine on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Chug-A-Lug (The Bun Patrol)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Mastodon - Asleep in the Deep   My song pick 3 years ago today: Uriah Heep - Fallen Angel My song pick 4 years ago today: Depeche Mode - Strangelove My song pick 5 years ago today: Billy Joel - Uptown Girl My song pick 6 years ago today: Aerosmith - What it Takes My song pick 7 years ago today: Queen - Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy My song pick 8 years ago today: Rush - The Trees My song pick 9 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Orion My song pick 10 years ago today: Genesis - The Re...

From: Slave to the Rhythm ; Year: 1985; Genre: R&B/Funk I don't know why I had this one on my mind recently, but I thought this amazing track from Grace Jones would make a great choice for today's pick. Whilst it is considered under the genre of R&B with a lot of funk thrown in, it actually bridges quite a few genres from new wave to even elements of progressive rock. I really enjoy Grace Jones' voice throughout this song; so many excellent qualities.   Hear Slave to the Rhythm on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Guess Who? - Believe Me   My song pick 2 years ago today: Journey - Open Arms   My song pick 3 years ago today: Peter Frampton - Nassau/Baby, I Love Your Way My song pick 4 years ago today: Hawkwind - Nuclear Drive My song pick 5 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Dirt My song pick 6 years ago today: Kool & the Gang - Funky Man My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Too Many Too My song pick 8 years a...

From: Brave Belt II ; Year: 1972; Genre: Hard Rock In this song from Brave Belt, who would a year later be better known as Bachman-Turner Overdrive, it has a very recognizable sound that those who listen to BTO would be accustomed to, but I do find C.F. Turner's vocals to be a little bit off from his usual powerful and gravely vocals and rather goes a bit higher on this one.   Hear Long Way 'Round on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Meat Loaf - Paradise By the Dashboard Light   My song pick 2 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Light Years of Love   My song pick 3 years ago today: Tool - Vicarious My song pick 4 years ago today: Nena - Ich häng' an dir My song pick 5 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Under the Influence of a Groove My song pick 6 years ago today: Redbone - Come and Get Your Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Petula Clark - A Sign of the Times My song pick 8 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Wrathchild My son...