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

From: Mothership Connection ; Year: 1975; Genre: Funk/Jazz Fusion/Progressive Rock Wow! Where did June go? Sped right on by without me noticing or so it would seem. Anyway, I had every intention to choose a funky track by an artist I rarely pick, but I just couldn't get this landmark record off my mind; is that a bad thing? I think absolutely not! Unfunky UFO is kind of a hidden gem on the album, if you will, being dwarfed by its larger-than-life-itself brethren from the record. So much more musically going on throughout this one than just an amazing funk track; this one would stand up well with the best progressive rock songs out there in my opinion, and you can get down and boogie to it to boot. Truly a work of art.   Hear Unfunky UFO on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bread - Let Your Love Go   My song pick 2 years ago today: Simple Minds - Love Song   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Hard Liner   My song pick 4 years ago today: Traffic - Glad My

From: The Broadsword and the Beast ; Year: 1982; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Just for the sheer amount of great songs on the record, I have to say that Broadsword and the Beast is my favourite 'Tull album from the 1980s. I don't know if it was that I first bought the compact disc of it during my impressionable late teens or some other factor unbeknownst to myself, but there is always something I find interesting musically and/or lyrically about every track; even the ones that weren't released initially. I really believe this track in particular embodies the overall transitory nature of the album in that it has some of elements that hearken back to the band's material of the '70s and some of the short-lived synth-heavy sound they had throughout the early to mid '80s.   Hear Seal Driver on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Delgados - Primary Alternative   My song pick 2 years ago today: Toto - Make Believe   My song pick 3 years ago today:

From: Mange Tout ; Year: 1984; Genre: Synthpop/New Wave Never before realized just how good Blancmange's music is turned way up with the bass emphasized; quite a lot of fun.    Hear Blind Vision on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Brenton Wood - Gimme Little Sign   My song pick 2 years ago today: Duran Duran - Too Much Information   My song pick 3 years ago today: Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire   My song pick 4 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Sex Machine My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crossword My song pick 6 years ago today: Blood, Sweat & Tears - You've Made Me So Very Happy My song pick 7 years ago today: Mike + The Mechanics - Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground) My song pick 8 years ago today: Santo & Johnny - Summertime My song pick 9 years ago today: Zager and Evans - In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) My song pick 10 years ago today: Homer & Jethro - The Battle of Camp Kookamonga My s

From: Where Did Our Love Go ; Year: 1964; Genre: R&B/Soul/Motown It seems every time I have a song by The Supremes or Diana Ross come on without realizing it I turn the volume way up and just bask in the beautiful sounds of their vocals and the incomparable music of the one and only Funk Brothers. What a combination of two of the best musical forces in the last century; you'd have to be bereft of a soul in my personal opinion to not enjoy this.   Hear Come See About Me on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Outfield - Since You've Been Gone   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Freeways   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Yes - Lightning Strikes My song pick 5 years ago today: Queensrÿche - For What It's Worth My song pick 6 years ago today: Marillion - The New Kings My song pick 7 years ago today: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -

From: Reise, Reise ; Year: 2004; Genre: Symphonic Metal/Neue Deutsche Härte I'm often taken aback by this track every time I hear this album; the swelling, ebbing and overall soaring feeling Ohne Dich gives sends goose bumps and chills down your spine. I really love the bass notes that you feel as much as hear, which adds a great deal to the song. Of course Till's clear, lower-registered vocals and the lyrics make this one truly an emotional piece; one of my absolute favourites from the band.   Hear Ohne Dich on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bobby Freeman - C'mon and Swim (Parts 1 + 2)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Martha and the Vandellas - Heat Wave   My song pick 3 years ago today: Funkadelic - Standing on the Verge of Getting It On   My song pick 4 years ago today: Carmen - Conclusion (She Changed) My song pick 5 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Bare Trees My song pick 6 years ago today: The Offspring - Days Go By My song pick 7 years ago to

From: Candy Everybody Wants ; Year: 1992; Genre: Alternative Rock It's kinda interesting how the songs on this EP sound compared to their main releases and hit songs; I just love that low-fi sound in how this Morrissey cover was both recorded and produced.   Hear Everyday is Like Sunday on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Megadeth - Mastermind   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - Don't Take My Funk   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Les Invisibles   My song pick 4 years ago today: Asia - Midnight Sun My song pick 5 years ago today: Murray Head - Say It Ain't So, Joe My song pick 6 years ago today: Pallas - Winter is Coming My song pick 7 years ago today: Watchtower - Tyrants in Distress My song pick 8 years ago today: Exist†Trace - Vanguard My song pick 9 years ago today: The Scorpions - Wind of Change My song pick 10 years ago today: Megadeth - The Right to Go Insane My song pick 11 years ago today: Earthless -

From: The Woman in Red (Soundtrack) ; Year: 1984; Genre: R&B/Motown After having this famous track from Stevie Wonder running through my mind I was pondering just how many songs about the telephone/and or a phone call there are out there? I cannot begin to count honestly; must be the whole intimacy of talking to someone important whilst at the same time being a distance away, which is something most can do today, but roughly only in the last century and a half has it been possible. Heck, even when Stevie Wonder wrote this track an endless list of such songs already existed, but I will say that he made one for the ages and then some. The overall schmaltz and sappiness of this love song really sells this one and puts it over the edge, of course that Latinesque Motown beat and the great music could most likely take it most of the way there.   Hear I Just Called To Say I Love You on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Anita Ward - Ring My Bell   My song pick 2 years ago tod

From: Ecology ; Year: 1970; Genre: Funk Rock/Psychedelic Rock This first week of summer has been weird for me; doesn't feel like a workweek for some reason and now said workweek is coming to a close. Oh well; might as well just throw myself into the funky hard rock of Rare Earth I guess. Ecology is one of those records where there is no real "throw away" songs, and this is an excellent one to start side two of the LP.   Hear Satisfaction Guaranteed on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Meat Loaf - You Took the Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Saturday Night)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Cam Ye O'er Frae France   My song pick 3 years ago today: Hawkwind - The Road To...   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lacy J. Dalton - 16th Avenue My song pick 5 years ago today: Rush - Something for Nothing My song pick 6 years ago today: Gary Davis - Gotta Get Your Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Hall & Oats - Maneater My song pick

From: Practice Makes Perfect ; Year: 1977; Genre: Country/Folk/Latin It has been a while since I picked one from Johnny Rodriguez. This is his cover of the 1973 Eurovision second-place song from the band Mocedades , which he recorded in his signature Tex-Mex country style and sung in the original Spanish. Erez tú has been recorded an immense amount of times over the years, so there is a pretty good chance that you have heard a version of it at some point. I personally love Johnny Rodriguez's version with his style that sounds familiar and exotic at the same time.   Hear Eres tú on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Stanley Clarke - More Hot Fun   My song pick 2 years ago today: Cheap Trick - Ain't That a Shame   My song pick 3 years ago today: Marcus Miller - Superspy   My song pick 4 years ago today: Seals & Crofts - Diamond Girl My song pick 5 years ago today: Rick James - Call Me Up My song pick 6 years ago today: Chris Squire - Hold Out Your Hand My

From: Why Can't We Be Friends? ; Year: 1975; Genre: Latin Rock/Rock/R&B No other reason to choose this track; without a doubt I adore the band, this record and all the songs contained within. This, the opening song, has that great mellow sound with that beautiful Latin rhythm, which, along with the encouraging subject matter, makes it a nice one to have on in almost any situation.   Hear Don't Let No One Get You Down on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues   My song pick 2 years ago today: Peter Schilling - Major Tom (Coming Home)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pallas - The Alien Messiah   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Beach Boys - Your Summer Dream My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Cheer - Rock Me Baby My song pick 6 years ago today: The Byrds - So You Want to be a Rock 'n' Roll Star My song pick 7 years ago today: The Chi-Lites - Stoned Out of My Mind My song pick 8 years ago today: Depeche Mode - Enj

From: Ammonia Avenue ; Year: 1984; Genre: Rock/New Wave Heard the APP the other day on television and felt like, once again, delving back into some of their albums. This was the lead single off of the Ammonia Avenue record and is every bit wot you would expect from the band in the mid-'80s.   Hear Don't Answer Me on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: John Denver - Four Strong Winds   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rush - BU2B2   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jigsaw - Keeping My Head Above Water   My song pick 4 years ago today: ABBA - Andante, Andante My song pick 5 years ago today: The Who - Join Together My song pick 6 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Abracadabra My song pick 7 years ago today: Blood, Sweat & Tears - And When I Die My song pick 8 years ago today: Styx - Mademoiselle My song pick 9 years ago today: David Shire - Night on Disco Mountain My song pick 10 years ago today: King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man My song p

From: Vapor Trails ; Year: 2002; Genre: Hard Rock/Progressive Rock Whilst still not even close to my favourite album and song from Rush, I have to say that I've been really enjoying it more in its remastered state. Being able to hear all the individual drums, instruments and vocals clearly makes the travesty that was the distorted and flat sounding mastering on the original CD sound like a completely different album. Anyway, I thought that I would revisit Vapour Trails once again with this track; while not the crown jewel by any means, it's a pretty good offering from the band.   Hear Peaceable Kingdom on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Screams   My song pick 2 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Dam That River   My song pick 3 years ago today: Funkadelic - Good Old Music   My song pick 4 years ago today: Vixen - Tangerine My song pick 5 years ago today: 3 Inches of Blood - 4000 Torches My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Rover

From: She's So Unusual ; Year: 1983; Genre: New Wave/Pop/Rock Back in the day Cyndi Lauper's debut record, She's So Unusual was everywhere; the majority of the material was hit or lesser hit singles. The entire album was played a lot around the house; this seemed to be one of them that most seemed to like. She really pulled off the whole wistful ballad about longing for a lost love that can no longer be hers, but loves that person all the more when outside of her grasp.   Hear When You Were Mine on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Welcome Back   My song pick 2 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Water   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Foxy Lady   My song pick 4 years ago today: Rammstein - Ausländer My song pick 5 years ago today: Cat Stevens - Wild World My song pick 6 years ago today: Steely Dan - The Fez My song pick 7 years ago today: The Nice - Diary of an Empty

From: Lou Rawls and Strings ; Year: 1965; Genre: Jazz/Blues Here is an earlier hit from the golden voice that was Lou Rawls; every time I hear one of his songs I stop whatever I'm doing and bask in the aural bliss of him singing. What's even better about this entire album is that another one of my absolute favourite jazz musicians, band leaders, and songwriters: Benny Carter both conducted and arranged the music for this one. Two musical giants that I like and admire a great deal collaborated most excellently on this one.   Hear Three O'Clock in the Morning on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Funkadelic - First Ya Gotta Shake The Gate   My song pick 2 years ago today: Curved Air - Easy   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Temptations - (I Know) I'm Losing You   My song pick 4 years ago today: Neil Young - Heart of Gold My song pick 5 years ago today: April Wine - 21st Century Schizoid Man My song pick 6 years ago today: Mr. Big - The Monster in Me

From: Movements ; Year: 2005 (1973); Genre: Funk/Soul I'm always finding some awesome funk tracks from this compilation series; I'm so glad I found it and that it exists. Again, I do not know much about The Blowflys other than I like their music and that Funky In The Hole was apparently released back in 1973. It's such a terrific piece of music to behold and to dance along with.   Hear Funky In The Hole on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Kansas - Mysteries and Mayhem   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Out of the Noise   My song pick 3 years ago today: Ultravox - Man of Two Worlds   My song pick 4 years ago today: Steppenwolf - Rock Me My song pick 5 years ago today: ABBA - One of Us My song pick 6 years ago today: Rick James - Below the Funk (Pass the J) My song pick 7 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Symptom of the Universe My song pick 8 years ago today: Pallas - Just a Memory My song pick 9 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Orfeo/Na

From: United Abominations ; Year: 2007; Genre: Thrash Metal Difficult to believe that this album is now 16 years old; released just a few months prior to me starting this blog.... This was one of those discs where Dave Mustaine and Megadeth were back to true form in all aspects.     Hear United Abominations on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Sly & The Family Stone - I'll Never Fall In Love Again   My song pick 2 years ago today: Hawkwind - The Forge of Vulcan   My song pick 3 years ago today: Asia - Ride Easy   My song pick 4 years ago today: Three Dog Night - It's a Jungle Out There My song pick 5 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Last Train My song pick 6 years ago today: Boston - Don't Be Afraid My song pick 7 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Blue World My song pick 8 years ago today: Queen - Gimme the Prize (Kurgan's Theme) My song pick 9 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Empty Spaces/Young Lust My song pick 1

From: No Exit ; Year: 1999; Genre: Rock I can clearly remember when this one hit the airwaves; it was kind of almost a renaissance for the band who had not really released any new material since the early '80s. Of course, Deborah Harry was quite active in that "interalbum" period, but it was definitely a welcome sound to hear that they hadn't lost much, if any, of their magic.   Hear Maria on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Crash Test Dummies (feat. Ellen Reid) - The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead   My song pick 2 years ago today: Heart - Lost Angel   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Harvest   My song pick 4 years ago today: Fat Larry's Band - Act Like You Know My song pick 5 years ago today: Laura Branigan - Deep in the Dark My song pick 6 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - I Only Want to Be With You My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - One Brown Mouse My song pick 8 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - I

From: RökFlöte ; Year: 2023; Genre: Hard Rock/Progressive Rock Here is another one from the new Jethro Tull album. Clocking in at a paltry five minutes, this is actually the longest song on the album, which is I guess par for the course since they have not recorded a new song approaching eight minutes in nearly 30 years if memory serves me correctly; unless you count Ian's solo albums that is. Anyway, this one has a pretty good blend of that hard rock edge and more delicate sounds you are used to, that is if you listen to the more recent records. My only nit-pick for me personally is the overall overproduced sound; not very raw sounding in my opinion. I will say though, it is most excellent getting to have new material from one of my top favourite bands/artist.   Hear Wolf Unchained on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Hawkwind - We Like To Be Frightened   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Maggie's Farm   My song pick 3 years ago today: Em

From: Detroit Stories ; Year: 2021; Genre: Hard Rock Checking out Alice Cooper's recent album and thought I'd pick this Velvet Underground cover for today's choice. I really like wot he did with it; his grit and showmanship shine brightly through speakers; great tune indeed.   Hear Rock & Roll on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - Nothing Is The Same   My song pick 2 years ago today: Helloween - Ride the Sky   My song pick 3 years ago today: Funkadelic - If You Don't Like the Effects, Don't Produce the Cause My song pick 4 years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Sweet Hitch-Hiker My song pick 5 years ago today: Jim Croce - I Got a Name My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - Open Secrets My song pick 7 years ago today: Sonny & Cher - The Beat Goes On My song pick 8 years ago today: The Soul Searchers - Think My song pick 9 years ago today: Soundgarden - My Wave My song pick 10 years ago today: Mid

From: Half-Breed ; Year: 1973; Genre: Rock Been a crazy, busy weekend and finally getting around to making today's pick. Had some of Cher's music come on while out and about and thought I'd choose one more of her songs. Gosh, I cannot remember the last time I hear this track, but it's definitely been a while. With the backing of the great Wrecking Crew , Cher seemed like she couldn't fail with her powerful and emotive vocals. Whilst using non-correct imagery and not quite factual statements about Cherokee culture in the song, it's great to hear a song celebrating us mixed and mutts.   Hear Half-Breed on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Robert Knight - Everlasting Love   My song pick 2 year2 ago today: Parliament - What Comes Funky   My song pick 3 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Grind   My song pick 4 years ago today: Gloryhammer - The Fires of Ancient Cosmic Destiny My song pick 5 years ago today: Dave Edmunds - Girls Talk My song pick 6 y