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

From: Aurora Borealis ; Year: 1972; Genre: Rock Two reasons for picking this song today: 1. had the band Jigsaw on my mind (of course), and 2. signing up for a new insurance plan today, so there ya have it. On a side-note; it's quite interesting, but is seems the more you pay for insurance the less it seems to do and cover.... Anyway, the vocals are the weak-point on this track for me; just a bit too much screechy falsetto, but the music and composition make up for it and then some.   Hear Life Insurance on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Tesla - Edison's Medicine   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Throwing Stones   My song pick 3 years ago today: Redbone - When You Got Trouble   My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Then Came the Last Days of May My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Audition My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Driving Song My song pick 7 years ago today: Bon Jovi...

From: Voices ; Year: 1980; Genre: Soft Rock/Pop/Soul Last night into today I've had this early 1980s classic running through my mind, as usual I decided to choose it. If you grew up in or lived through the '80s Hall & Oates permeated not only radio, but much of pop culture; this was and still is one you hear quite a lot from the duo to this day.   Hear Kiss on My List on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Grateful Dead - Foolish Heart   My song pick 2 years ago today: Robert John - Sad Eyes   My song pick 3 years ago today: Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed - Summertime   My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Still Burnin' My song pick 5 years ago today: Brave Belt - Scarecrow My song pick 6 years ago today: Roman Holliday - Don't Try to Stop It My song pick 7 years ago today: Grateful Dead - Dark Star My song pick 8 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Rock it My song pick 9 years ago today: Earth, Wind ...

From: In The Dark ; Year: 1987; Genre: Blues Rock Keeping my little tradition going where I pick a song from the Grateful Dead on Memorial Day . This very accessible blues rock piece felt, may I say great or "Grate" in this instance, on this holiday that officially kicks off the summer festivities here in The 'States.   Hear When Push Comes to Shove on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Depeche Mode - A Question of Time   My song pick 2 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Veins   My song pick 3 years ago today: Weather Report - The Moors   My song pick 4 years ago today: Stratovarius - S.O.S. My song pick 5 years ago today: Asia - Without You My song pick 6 years ago today: Bob Weir (The Grateful Dead) - One More Saturday Night My song pick 7 years ago today: Ronnie Milsap - Daydreams About Night Things My song pick 8 years ago today: George Duke - Reach For It My song pick 9 years ago today: Rush - The Camera Eye My song pick...

From: Private Dancer ; Year: 1984; Genre: Rock I should have chosen one from her sooner, (even before her recent passing), but never got around to it until now. This is probably the song of hers that I remember the most from and associate with Tina Turner. Interestingly enough, it was originally written by Mark Knopfler and mostly recorded by him and Dire Straits for their record Love Over Gold a couple of years prior. However, Mark Knopfler thought the song would be more appropriate to be sung by a woman due to the subject, so it was shelved until it was brought to Tina Turner, who had most of Dire Straits come in and re-record it; she lent the vocals and the rest is musical history. I have always loved her lower-registered and quite powerful vocals, which really shines in the choruses.   Hear Private Dancer on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Yes - Onward   My song pick 2 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - I Wish My song pick 3 years...

From: Waka/Jawaka ; Year: 1972; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Progressive Rock There's a lot of amazing musicians on this one doing some mind-blowing work. To be honest, at certain times throughout this piece if I didn't know it was a song by Frank Zappa, I'd guess it was either Weather Report or something featuring Al Di Meola; it's that good.   Hear Waka/Jawaka on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Green Heaven   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Quartet   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rainbow - Fool For The Night   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Unbroken Chain My song pick 5 years ago today: The (Dixie) Dregs - Kat Food My song pick 6 years ago today: King Crimson - Fracture My song pick 7 years ago today: Sly & The Family Stone - Luv n' Haight My song pick 8 years ago today: Outlaws - Green Grass & High Tides My song pick 9 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Jungle...

From: T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. ; Year: 1996; Genre: R&B/Funk Recently started listening to this record once again and thought this Friday would be an excellent time to choose one from it. This album features not only George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars, but some classic Parliament-Funkadelic alums as well. Not only that, the album, ( T he A wesome P ower O f A F ully O perational M othership), and this title-track is a reference to The Mothership that has been such a big part of the two bands' mythos for so long, so that even makes it all the more awesome!    Hear T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (Fly Away) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Huey Lewis & the News - The Heart of Rock & Roll   My song pick 2 years ago today: War - Why Can't We Be Friends?   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Sail Away   My song pick 4 years ago today: Soundgarden - Ty Cobb My song pick 5 years ago today: ZZ Top - Got Me Under Pres...

From: Roll the Bones ; Year: 1991; Genre: Rock Just felt like putting this album from one of my top favourite bands on today. Definitely not their best work, this song is a nice track to close out the disc; a nice cool down piece.   Hear You Bet Your Life on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Youngbloods - Get Together   My song pick 2 years ago today: Heart - Never   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Nice - Country Pie/Brandenburg Concerto No. 6   My song pick 4 years ago today: Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway My song pick 5 years ago today: Stanley Clarke - Opening (Statement)/He Lives On (Story About the Last Journey of a Warrior) My song pick 6 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Spacebase My song pick 7 years ago today: ABBA - Two for the Price of One My song pick 8 years ago today: Grateful Dead - Dire Wolf My song pick 9 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Queen and Country My song pick 10 years ago today: Stee...

From Maverick ; Year: 1985; Genre: Blues Rock Back over 20 some odd years ago when I listened to the radio, (with actual live disc jockeys), quite a bit I heard George Thorogood and his band a great deal; he got a lot of play in the rotation. While his music was never quite to my personal liking, and thus do not hear it as much as of late; mostly due to how streaming works and the fact that I never collected his music. Every now and then I happen to hear one of his tracks in the background at the random store or on some show or commercial and it brings back some memories. Now, with that all being said, I have never hated his music, and he's got quite a loyal fan base who really digs that alcohol-swilling style of blues, which lends itself very well to a partying atmosphere, which is most likely why his music goes over so well. Anyway, this song is an a-typical blues rock song that George and his band are known for.   Hear I Drink Alone on YouTube.       My song pic...

From: Handful of Rain ; Year: 1994; Genre: Progressive Metal Was rocking out to this song the other day whilst stuck in traffic; made the situation instantly much better. Taunting Cobras is really a perfect song they chose to lead this album; had everything the band is/was known for wrapped up in a small package like a "transistor glamour."   Hear Taunting Cobras on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Gloryhammer - On the Wings of a Rainbow   My song pick 2 years ago today: Wishbone Ash - Drive   My song pick 3 years ago today: Queensrÿche - The Mission   My song pick 4 years ago today: C.W. McCall - Four Wheel Drive My song pick 5 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Neon Knights My song pick 6 years ago today: Savatage - Chance My song pick 7 years ago today: Megadeth - A Secret Place My song pick 8 years ago today: Wings - Live and Let Die My song pick 9 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Are You Happy? ...

From: Herman's Hermits ; Year: 1965; Genre: Rock/Pop For me the lead guitar work and solo by Derek Leckenby have always been the biggest draw for me personally on this version of the often-covered song originally recorded by Skeeter Davis. With my Dad being a fan of Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits, I of course was introduced to this version way before the other ones, so it has always been a "default" recording in my mind when I think of it.   Hear End of the World on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Alice in Chains - The One You Know   My song pick 2 years ago today: Yes - Going for the One   My song pick 3 years ago today: Dayton Sidewinders - Phoenix   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Police - Synchronicity I My song pick 5 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Dogs My song pick 6 years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - See You on the Other Side My song pick 7 years ago today: Queensrÿche - If I Could Change it All My song pick 8 years a...

From: Sun Giant ; Year: 2008; Genre: Indie Folk/Indie Rock Was trying to remember when I first got introduced to this band; I think it was this album that I bought from one of those keyosk peddlers in a local shopping mall, you know, the ones that if you get too close and/or make eye contact will relentlessly bother you until you are forced to be rude or buy something. If I remember right he was selling indie CDs and this one was the only one that seemed worth the price, so I chose it and went along on my merry way. It wasn't until quite a span of time later that I happened upon the disc in the clutter around the house and decided to give it a listen. Long story short, their music eventually grew on me to the point that I liked it, so, every once in a while their stuff pops up when listening to music.   Hear Innocent Son on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Aphrodite's Child - The Four Horsemen   My song pick 2 years ago today: Gap Band - You Dropp...

From: Cosmic Thing ; Year: 1989; Genre: Rock/Pop Have apparently only chosen one other song from The B-52's, and that was a while ago... so here's another. Depending on who you ask, Love Shack is probably their biggest hit song; the structure and the overall enjoyment you get from when it starts to the end is by far its best aspects.   Hear Love Shack on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - The Pinocchio Theory   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Come Tomorrow   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blackmore's Night - Play Minstrel Play   My song pick 4 years ago today: Cheap Trick - I Want You To Want Me My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Acres Wild My song pick 6 years ago today: Soundgarden - Jesus Christ Pose My song pick 7 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Vanish In Our Sleep My song pick 8 years ago today: The Who - Another Tricky Day My song pick 9 years ago today: Rush - Bene...

From: Through the Storm ; Year: 1989; Genre: Funk/R&B/Soul For some reason lately I have been gravitating towards funky music from the later 1980s into the 1990s; don't really know why exactly, might be the memories I have from that time period. Anyway, this one has a unique duet between the Queen of Soul and the Godfather of Soul and Funk; I'm quite surprised to see that they apparently only came together for this one song, which is a shame; they worked very well together.   Hear Gimme Your Love on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Depeche Mode - Behind the Wheel   My song pick 2 years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Travelin' Man   My song pick 3 years ago today: Camel - Highways of the Sun   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Guess Who - Three More Days My song pick 5 years ago today: Heart - White Lightning & Wine My song pick 6 years ago today: Audioslave - Nothing Left to Say But Goodbye My song pick 7 years ago today: Er...

From: ABBA ; Year: 1975; Genre: Rock/Pop Interestingly enough, this song is technically the cover and at the same time the original. Written by the Anderson/Ulvaeus songwriting team from ABBA for the musical act Svenne & Lotta for a song contest, but was later recorded for the album of the band's namesake.   Hear Bang-A-Boomerang on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Faster Pussycat - Nonstop to Nowhere   My song pick 2 years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Mountain Labyrinth   My song pick 3 years ago today: David Bowie - Star   My song pick 4 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Standing in the Rain My song pick 5 years ago today: David Bowie - Five Years My song pick 6 years ago today: Queen - Tenement Funster/Flick of the Wrist/Lily of the Valley My song pick 7 years ago today: Don Henley - Sunset Grill My song pick 8 years ago today: Bad Company - No Smoke Without a Fire My song pick 9 years ago toda...

From: Bye Bye Blues ; Year: 1952; Genre: Pop/Jazz Despite the brevity of this track Les Paul and Mary Ford pack a great deal into this standard that clocks in at barely over 2-minutes. The multi-tracking that he invented is on display as ever with a wall of sound consisting of overlapping harmonies of Mary Ford's singing as well as overdubbed guitar pieces. Heck, even that solo, though very short, packs quite a punch and thus the song seems longer that it actually is.    Hear Bye Bye Blues on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Stylistics - Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Soundgarden - Somewhere   My song pick 3 years ago today: Joni Mitchell - God Must Be a Boogie Man   My song pick 4 years ago today: Funkadelic - Uncle Jam My song pick 5 years ago today: Hawkwind - Looking in the Future My song pick 6 years ago today: Stratovarius - Lifetime in a Moment My song pick 7 years ago today:...

From: Elvis Now ; Year: 1972; Genre: Gospel/Rock 'n Roll On his adaptation of this track Elvis really leans heavily into the gospel aspects that are rooted in rock 'n roll; while a wee bit dated at the time in sound, he and his band really brought the sound up to date whilst keeping the comfortable and familiar feel intact.   Hear I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Mamas & the Papas - Monday Monday   My song pick 2 years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Warrior's Return   My song pick 3 years ago today: Dio - Hungry For Heaven   My song pick 4 years ago today: Argent - Pure Love My song pick 5 years ago today: Boz Scaggs - Breakdown Dead Ahead My song pick 6 years ago today: Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction My song pick 7 years ago today: Santo & Johnny - Love is Blue My song pick 8 years ago today: B. B. King - Someday, Somewhere My song pick 9 years ago today: Rose Royce - Fu...

From: Freeze-Frame ; Year: 1981; Genre: Rock Always have liked this song and record from The J. Geils Band; the lead on the organ/keyboards that plays back and forth with the horn section is really wot I like about it. Well, that and that infectious drum beat that just urges one to dance upon hearing it.   Hear Freeze-Frame on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ray Charles - You'll Never Walk Alone   My song pick 2 years ago today: Fates Warning - Firefly   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jigsaw - Journey Into Space   My song pick 4 years ago today: Kiss - Heaven's on Fire My song pick 5 years ago today: The Supremes - Stop! In the Name of Love My song pick 6 years ago today: Gentle Giant - Words From The Wise My song pick 7 years ago today: King Crimson - I Talk to the Wind My song pick 8 years ago today: Pure Essence - Wake Up, Pts. 1&2 My song pick 9 years ago today: Eric Clapton (Derek and the Dominoes) - Bell Bottom Blu...

From: Hotel California ; Year: 1976; Genre: Country Rock/Soft Rock I used to listen to this band a lot back in the day, I do not really know why I haven't really felt the compulsion to put their music on, just not been in the mood for it I guess or I just got tired of it, who knows? Anyway, New Kid in Town used to be one of those "guilty pleasures" for myself that I'd enjoy kicking back and relaxing to with headphones on. I really believe that at this point The Eagles were at their peak creatively and it shows; sure, there are excellent classic track recorded prior and after, but the songs written around Hotel California in my opinion were some of the best they ever recorded.   Hear New Kid in Town on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Positive Force - We Got The Funk   My song pick 3 years ago today: Everclear - Santa Monica   My song pick 4 ye...

From The Pallas E.P. ; Year: 1978; Genre: New Wave/Hard Rock This early E.P. from the band is quite different from the progressive rock that they have been known for over the years. The song is kind of an odd blend of new wave, hard rock, with some definite punk and prog thrown in there; Graeme Murray really plays the heck out of that bass throughout the song and is a big draw for me on this track.    Hear Reds Under the Beds on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Future Place   My song pick 2 years ago today: Paris - Janie   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - The Stars Look Down   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bob Welch - Outskirts My song pick 5 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Take It Easy (In Your Mind) My song pick 6 years ago today: Sammy Hagar - Heavy Metal My song pick 7 years ago today: Return to Forever - Flight of the Newborn My song pick 8 years ago today: Hawkwind - Choose Your Masques ...

From: Tales ; Year: 1995; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Funk That bouncing and bumping groove he lays down really makes me want to keep hitting repeat ad infinitum, I tell you what. However, the "musical smoothy" he whips up with all the different forms of jazz over the top of that groove just makes it magical. It's so weird and amazing to hear the sound of hard bop, vocalese, fusion, free form, etc... all bound together around that hard-core funky groove; he has a  great understanding and is a true master of many forms and schools of music.   Hear Tales on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: AC/DC - Shot Down In Flames   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Cult - Rain   My song pick 3 years ago today: Ian Hunter - All-American Alien Boy   My song pick 4 years ago today: Duran Duran - Hold Back the Rain My song pick 5 years ago today: Rush - Ghost of a Chance My song pick 6 years ago today: Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage My song pick 7 years a...