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

From: Joe's Garage (Act III); Year: 1979; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Progressive Rock Bringing actually a pretty good July to a close with this piece from the legend Frank Zappa; as always, the song goes all over the place musically, thematically, you name it. Quite a fun piece and album set to listen to, especially in mixed company and with the tracks playing out of order of course.😁 Anyway, with this concept album that encompasses three records, this one comes from towards the end, after the titular character exits prison only to find a world totally bereft of music.   Hear He Used to Cut the Grass on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: England Dan & John Ford Coley - The Prisoner   My song pick 2 years ago today: Firehouse - All She Wrote   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Motoreyes My song pick 4 years ago today: Ween - The Mollusk My song pick 5 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkle - At the Zoo My song pick 6 years ago to...

From: New Sensations ; Year: 1984; Genre: Rock/New Wave I've been thinking about a lot of Lou Reed's music over the last couple of days, and decided to go deeper into his catalogue than my normal fare that consists of his first three or four albums. The first time I heard this cute little innuendo -laced track, to say I was bemused was an understatement. Certainly different from wot I'm used to from the artist, the new wave '80s pop/rock feel and his vocals that for some reason remind me of Mark Knopfler during about the same time, it definitely showed how he and his music evolved over a decade or so.   Watch the music video on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Stevie Wonder - Don't You Worry About a Thing   My song pick 2 years ago today: Cream - Take it Back   My song pick 3 years ago today: Sweet - Ballroom Blitz My song pick 4 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Don't Let the Blues Get You Down My song pick 5 years ago tod...

From: Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand ; Year: 1980; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Funk Here's one from the incomparable master of everything musical: Stanley Clarke, who is "supplying our funky needs" on this Friday. Other than his own distinct brand of jazz/funk on this one, the production value on this track, and the entire record for that case, is simply outstanding. Such a treat on this Funky Friday !   Hear We Supply on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: ZZ Top - Stages   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Strip Cartoon   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steve Vai - The Animal My song pick 4 years ago today: Savatage - Strange Wings My song pick 5 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night My song pick 6 years ago today: Luther - It's Good for the Soul (Parts I & II) My song pick 7 years ago today: Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child 'o Mine My song pick 8 years ago today: Charles Blackwell Orchestra - Taboo My song pick 9 years...

From: Somebody's Watching Me ; Year: 1984; Genre: R&B/Pop/Motown I often have this song on my mind; probably due to the excellent writing, music, and vocals. The lines played keyboards have always been the main hook for me personally, but, of course the singing of Rockwell and brothers Michael and Jermaine Jackson, especially in the choruses are a huge draw for this mid-'80s Motown hit.    Hear Somebody's Watching Me on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Steeleye Span - The Lark in the Morning   My song pick 2 years ago today: Black 47 - Red Hugh   My song pick 3 years ago today: Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut My song pick 4 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Give It Up My song pick 5 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - It's The Engine In Me My song pick 6 years ago today: Foghat - Slow Ride My song pick 7 years ago today: Savatage - Beyond the Doors of the Dark My song pick 8 years ago today: Ha...

From: Mirrors ; Year: 1979; Genre: Hard Rock Apparently this track is among the first for Blue Öyster Cult where they collaborated with Science Fiction writer Michael Moorcock , which is something the band did many more times in the future. The Great Sun Jester is based on Moorcock's novel The Fireclown and is among the standouts on Mirrors .   Hear The Great Sun Jester on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: King Crimson - Lady of the Dancing Water   My song pick 2 years ago today: Klaatu - Dog Star   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steely Dan - Only a Fool Would Say That My song pick 4 years ago today: Primus - The Storm My song pick 5 years ago today: Return to Forever - Earth Juice My song pick 6 years ago today: Psychotic Waltz - Strange My song pick 7 years ago today: Queen - Great King Rat My song pick 8 years ago today: Karussell - Wintermärchen My song pick 9 years ago today: Ian Anderson - Old School Song My song pick 10...

From: Going Nowhere/Brand New Baby (single) ; Year: 1966; Genre: Rock/Pop Los Bravos have been on my mind a lot lately; good time as any to choose one of their songs. Whilst the band is mostly known for their smash hit Black is Black here in the United States, they had a few other more minor hits with this being one of them. Although not having as many hooks and not as catchy as their fore-mentioned mega hit song, this one is pretty good in its own right.   Hear Going Nowhere on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Kinks - You Can't Stop The Music   My song pick 2 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - The World Keeps On Turning   My song pick 3 years ago today: Soundgarden - Slaves & Bulldozers My song pick 4 years ago today: Pearl Jam - Daughter My song pick 5 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Don't Follow My song pick 6 years ago today: Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright My song pick 7 years ago today: Fine Young Canniba...

From: Diamond Dogs ; Year: 1974; Genre: Rock/Glam Rock This suite of music really shows off David Bowie's singing/songwriting/and musical abilities in spades; such a spectacular piece to behold.    Hear Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Pretenders - Don't Get Me Wrong   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Motherless Children   My song pick 3 years ago today: Howlin' Wolf - Forty-Four My song pick 4 years ago today: Arlo - Stab the Unstoppable Hero My song pick 5 years ago today: Wild Turkey - One Sole Survivor My song pick 6 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere But Not Here My song pick 7 years ago today: The Who - We're Not Gonna Take It/See Me Feel Me My song pick 8 years ago today: Chet Atkins - Funky Junk My song pick 9 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Overdrive My song pick 10 years ago today: The Doors - Light My Fire My s...

From: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway ; Year: 1974; Genre: Rock/Progressive Rock This is among my favourites from the record that would be the "swansong" of the classic prog/rock era of Genesis. It's kind of fitting that both Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins would share vocal duties on this, and a few other songs from the album, with the former leaving the band and the latter taking over his singing duties from then on.    Hear Counting Out Time on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Asia - Never Again   My song pick 2 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Go Robot   My song pick 3 years ago today: What Made Milwaukee Famous - Trying to Never Catch Up My song pick 4 years ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - Pilgrims My song pick 5 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Is There Anybody Out There? My song pick 6 years ago today: .38 Special - Caught Up In You My song pick 7 years ago today: Funkadelic - I Bet You My song pick 8 years ago ...

From: Fandangos in Space ; Year: 1973; Genre: Flamenco Rock/Progressive Rock On and off for the last few days I've had Carmen and their quite unique sound on my mind. It's very annoying that I only have three albums of music of their to choose songs from, and I've already exhausted one of their records, so the "pickings are getting slim." Anyway, even though this is a deeper cut from it and one of the briefer songs in length Retirando is still an excellent piece. I really love the odd rhythms throughout this one; it makes for a perfect segue into the record's title-track.   Hear Retirando on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: George Clinton - Last Dance My song pick 2 years ago today: Marillion - Cover My Eyes (Pain in Heaven)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Don Henley - All She Wants to Do Is Dance My song pick 4 years ago today: Brave Belt - Can You Feel It My song pick 5 years ago today: Soundgarden - Rowing My song pick 6 years ago ...

From: Back Stabbers ; Year: 1972; Genre: Soul/Funk/Disco This infectious song you just gotta dance to just seemed like a perfect 5500th pick. For me songs that are upbeat and ooze with optimism like this one are really big pick-me-ups for down times or when it seems like the entire world is seething with anger. Ronnie Baker's prominent bass line is really wot makes this song as excellent as it is in my opinion; of course the vocals and lyrics are top-notch.   Watch the performance from Soul Train on YouTube. Hear the extended version of Love Train on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Billy Joel - The Stranger   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ace - How Long   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Fixx - Red Skies My song pick 4 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Raising Steam My song pick 5 years ago today: Tesla - Hang Tough My song pick 6 years ago today: Quincy Jones - Summer in the City My song pick 7 years ago today: The Delfonics - H...

From: Paranoid ; Year: 1970; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Space Rock Paranoid is a great representation of an almost flawless record with a wide variety of music to consume from. Planet Caravan is one of those songs in a type of jazz-infused psychedelia that one absolutely does not usually think of when you hear the name "Black Sabbath;" at least not hard-core fans of the band. Anyway, every aspect of the track is something to behold in my opinion; especially the remarkable musical effects that are actually kind of interesting in how they were accomplished.   Hear Planet Caravan on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Blind Melon - Tones of Home   My song pick 2 years ago today: Temple of the Dog - Hunger Strike   My song pick 3 years ago today: David Bowie - Cygnet Committee My song pick 4 years ago today: Genesis - Dodo/Lurker My song pick 5 years ago today: War - Slippin' Into Darkness My song pick 6 years ago today: Megadeth - Trust My s...

From: True Lies (Soundtrack) ; Year: 1994; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal Another day, another band on my mind... this sensational cover of the hit song by Cream hails from the soundtrack of the Arnold Schwarzenegger action flick True Lies back in the mid-1990s. In my opinion they pull this one off almost perfectly in that they stay true to the original but add so much of themselves throughout the piece, especially the vocals, guitar, and drums.   Hear Sunshine Of Your Love on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Kansas - All The World   My song pick 2 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Part Time Lover   My song pick 3 years ago today: 30 Seconds to Mars - Echelon My song pick 4 years ago today: Blind Melon - Deserted My song pick 5 years ago today: Forest - Graveyard My song pick 6 years ago today: Billy Joel - Laura My song pick 7 years ago today: The Byrds - Mr. Spaceman My song pick 8 years ago today: Toronto - Enough is Enough My song pi...

From: High Voltage ; Year: 1976; Genre: Hard Rock Today is yet another case of having a band on my mind and am choosing a song from them; in this case it's AC/DC once again and something from their earlier period. This song serves as the title-track to the 1976 international release, but was originally released a year earlier in their native Australia on their T.N.T. album. I absolutely love that raw, gritty sound of this one, especially Bon Scott's distinct vocals.   Watch the music video on YouTube. Hear the original Australian version on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Three Dog Night - Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Thinking Round Corners   My song pick 3 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Starblind My song pick 4 years ago today: The Grass Roots - Bella Linda My song pick 5 year ago today: Rage Against the Machine - No Shelter My song pick 6 years ago today: John Cougar Melle...

From: Quick Step & Side Kick ; Year: 1983; Genre: New Wave/Synthpop It's amazing how some bands you like stay back in the dark recesses of your brain for wot seems like an eternity, but then just come out when you least expect it. To my knowledge I have only chosen one other song from the Thompson Twins, and that was at least 13 years ago, or so it would seem. I don't really know why it's been so long, but you just never know when a band or song will shake loose. Anyway, this is one of their bigger hits and actually still gets heard today somewhat; mostly on television show's soundtracks and such. The main hook of the song is that keyboard synth bass line and, of course, the simple and repetitive chorus.   Watch the music video on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: ABBA - Eagle   My song pick 2 years ago today: George Harrison - Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - The Bo...

From: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ; Year: 1973; Genre: Rock For most of the day various songs from this monumental record has been on my mind, so, yes... another song from it! I have always really liked this double-album and often play it almost without skipping a track. I've never been too sure wot the story is about this song, but it both bemused me and gave a sense of mystery as to why he or Bernie Taupin never bestowed a title to it. I know the album was recorded in about two weeks or so, so maybe it had something to do with that. Anyway, I really like the sparse accompaniment to Elton John's piano playing and vocals, but every time they add something it's darn-near perfect for the situation. The beauty of this track in both the singing and playing makes it one of the highlights for me from the record.   Hear This Song Has No Title on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Tin Tin - Toast and Marmalade for Tea   My song pick 2 years ago today: Funkade...

From: Godbluff ; Year: 1975; Genre: Progressive Rock For over two weeks I've had Van Der Graaf Generator's music on my mind; thought it'd be apt to pick another one. I do not believe that I have chosen a song from the album Godbluff as of yet; this was the first track I "dropped the needle on," and I really like it. At 9:44 in length it is the second shortest song on the original disc, so, as you probably surmised, this one might be a bit off-putting to the casual listener, but if you like technical music, "eh... forgetaboutit."   Hear Scorched Earth on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - I Can Feel It In My Bones   My song pick 2 years ago today: Return to Forever - Interplay   My song pick 3 years ago today: Hawkwind - Arioch My song pick 4 years ago today: Elvis Presley - All Shook Up My song pick 5 years ago today: Deep Purple - Never Before My song pick 6 years ago today: Ex Deo - Cruor Nostri Abbas My s...

From: Sailing the Seas of Cheese ; Year: 1991; Genre: Funk Metal Had Primus on the brain today, so I went ahead and picked one of their songs with a lot of funk elements and went with it. That nice, funky line Les Claypool holds down through this one is one of the best aspects of the song, but Larry LaLonde's guitar solos throughout just puts the overall track over the top into pure awesomeness.    Hear American Life on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Lap of Luxury   My song pick 2 years ago today: Mr. Bungle - Egg   My song pick 3 years ago today: Klaatu - Around the Universe in Eighty Days My song pick 4 years ago today: A-ha - Cry Wolf My song pick 5 years ago today: Bruce Springsteen - Dry Lightning My song pick 6 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Evolution Orange My song pick 7 years ago today: Rush - Madrigal My song pick 8 years ago today: John Fogerty - A Hundred and Ten in the Shade My song pi...

From: Dedication ; Year: 1976; Genre: Rock/Pop Just needed something familiar sounding to listen to; I thought something from a band I liked in the style of mid-late 1970s mainstream rock would work. Yesterday's Hero was one of the hits off the record and is also a cover originally written and recorded by Australian musicians/songwriters Harry Vanda and George Young . I really love those loud, big sounding, percussive drums throughout the song that gives an excellent platform for their "wall of sound."   Hear Yesterday's Hero on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Supertramp - Breakfast in America   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Eyes On Fire My song pick 4 years ago today: The Beach Boys - All Summer Long My song pick 5 years ago today: Bernard Wright - Who Do You Love My song pick 6 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Check My Brains My song pick 7...

From: Making Movies ; Year: 1980; Genre: Rock Making Movies happens to be my favourite album from Dire Straits, but many others are a close second. As such, I've found myself having to dig for deeper cuts on the record if you will, since I've chosen so many off of it. Hand in Hand is a quintessential sounding song from the band of this period, which entails amazing dynamics, top-notch musicianship, and powerful, but understated both vocal and instrument sonic delivery.   Hear Hand in Hand on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Sex Type Thing   My song pick 2 years ago today: Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me   My song pick 3 years ago today: Caramba - Hubba Hubba Zoot Zoot My song pick 4 years ago today: Big Star - In The Street My song pick 5 years ago today: Bowling for Soup - 1985 My song pick 6 years ago today: Neil Young - Computer Age My song pick 7 years ago today: Johnny Cash - Thirteen My son...

From: Born to Run ; Year: 1975; Genre: Rock I noticed today that I have woefully neglected picking song from "The Boss," with my total topping only at three. Although, I have picked many other covers from other artists that did his music, I feel like I should add more from the man himself. Whilst I've never considered myself a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen and his band, I almost always enjoy it when one of his songs come on the radio and such. I had not heard Thunder Road in ages, but I immediately recognized it by title the second I saw it, and I do like it, so it's my pick today.   Hear Thunder Road on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Return to Forever - Majestic Dance   My song pick 2 years ago today: Manfred Mann's Earth Band - As Above So Below   My song pick 3 years ago today: Parliament - P Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) My song pick 4 years ago today: Peter Frampton - Show Me the Way My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cul...

From: Recall the Beginning...a Journey From Eden ; Year: 1972; Genre: Rock Ever since I was young I've loved Steve Miller and co.'s music, but it wasn't until much later that I discovered the band's music prior to The Joker ; these earlier albums have become definite favourites of mine, this one in particular. This track is a bit "poppier" than most of his early hard rock/blues rock material, but has a lot of interesting aspects as well. From the call-and-response echo in the verses to the mix of acoustic guitar and the heavier rhythm really makes it quite unique.   Hear Nothing Lasts on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Box in my Head   My song pick 2 years ago today: King Harvest - A Little Bit Like Magic   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Temptations - My Girl My song pick 4 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Mysticum Arabicola My song pick 5 years ago today: Billy Idol - White Wedding My song pick 6 years ago t...

From: Book of Shadows ; Year: 1996; Genre: Alternative Rock/Hard Rock Been really busy this weekend, which included being on the road a bunch, and thus I had a lot of time to listen to some music. Not too surprising that I had some of Zakk Wylde's music come on, which got me to choose another one of his songs. Anyway, whilst this entire record is filled with some very emotional songs, this track in particular stands out. Zakk Wylde wrote it concerning the passing of Shannon Hoon, who was the lead singer of the band Blind Melon and a friend of his. I really like how different sounding this song is from his music you'd normally think of from him.   Hear Throwin' It All Away on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - I've Got To Make It On My Own   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - Bass-Rigged-System   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Angie My song pick 4 years ago today: Wolfmother - Victor...

From: Der Kommissar ; Year: 1982; Genre: New Wave/Synthpop Kind of an interesting song and band, covering a song originally written and recorded in the German language by the late-great Falco and then the band breaks up just before the song hits it big in North America. Growing up in the 1980s, I heard this version a great deal, and still do somewhat even to this day. My experience with After the Fire's version of Der Kommissar is that it seems to go over well with almost all audiences, which is, like I said, interesting with it being highly electronic and somewhat of a form of early hip-hop. Far and gone the song's strengths are all those "money riffs" that act as amazing hooks that demand the listener's attention, and of course it is a very danceable song to boot.   Hear Der Kommissar on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Parliament - Liquid Sunshine   My song pick 2 years ago today: Steve Vai - The Moon and I   My song pick 3 years ago tod...