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

From: Fleetwood Mac ; Year: 1975; Genre: Hard Rock One of my favourites from the debut of Linsey Buckingham and Stevie Nick with the band, which was written and sung by Linsey Buckingham; his guitar work is the main draw for me. I have to say though, I like the vocals from The Dance better; much more power and easier to understand the words.   Hear I'm So Afraid on YouTube. Hear the version from The Dance on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Frank Zappa - He Used to Cut the Grass   My song pick 2 years ago today: England Dan & John Ford Coley - The Prisoner   My song pick 3 years ago today: Firehouse - All She Wrote   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Motoreyes My song pick 5 years ago today: Ween - The Mollusk My song pick 6 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkle - At the Zoo My song pick 7 years ago today: Rush - Prime Mover My song pick 8 years ago today: Dazz Band - Swoop "I'm Yours" My song pick 9 years a...

From: Cielo e Terra ; Year: 1985; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Flamenco Been a little bit since my last Al Di Meola pick, and this is another really good one. For the most part I use his music whilst working or contemplating something, which it serves quite well, but this is one of those songs that keeps demanding your attention. The exquisite flamenco playing on the guitar and the synclavier interlude really take you on a long mental journey; even with the sparse arrangement it has such a big sound.    Hear Atavism of Twilight on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Lou Reed - My Red Joystick   My song pick 2 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Don't You Worry About a Thing   My song pick 3 years ago today: Cream - Take it Back   My song pick 4 years ago today: Sweet - Ballroom Blitz My song pick 5 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Don't Let the Blues Get You Down My song pick 6 years ago today: Commodores - Easy My song pick ...

From: Magazine ; Year: 1977/78; Genre: Rock/Hard Rock Just felt like some earlier songs from Heart today; this magnificent cover of the Badfinger song, which was made famous by Harry Nilson was exactly wot I had in mind. As with the vast majority of their material from the time, Without You is at the level where you all but forget the other versions prior or since. I absolutely adore Anne Wilson's vocals throughout; so much power and emotion.   Hear Without You on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Stanley Clarke - We Supply   My song pick 2 years ago today: ZZ Top - Stages   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Strip Cartoon   My song pick 4 years ago today: Steve Vai - The Animal My song pick 5 years ago today: Savatage - Strange Wings My song pick 6 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night My song pick 7 years ago today: Luther - It's Good for the Soul (Parts I & II) My song pick 8 years ago today: Gu...

From: Steppin' ; Year: 1975; Genre: Funk/Soul/R&B Another one of those songs where it should be illegal not to dance along; even when driving or sitting at work you have to at very least tap your feet if it comes on. It's got everything across the board with high marks, but those vocal harmonies are something else to behold.   Hear Going Down Slowly on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me   My song pick 2 years ago today: Steeleye Span - The Lark in the Morning   My song pick 3 years ago today: Black 47 - Red Hugh   My song pick 4 years ago today: Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut My song pick 5 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Give It Up My song pick 6 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - It's The Engine In Me My song pick 7 years ago today: Foghat - Slow Ride My song pick 8 years ago today: Savatage - Beyond the Doors of the Dark My song pick 9 years ago today: Har...

From: 5150 ; Year: 1986; Genre: Hard Rock About this time most years I start listening to 5150 a lot, which seems to fit my moods for midsummer. While all the songs on the record are of notoriety in different magnitude, Dreams really stands out for me; it's always one to crank up the volume and try [and mostly fail] to keep up with Sammy Hagar's vocals. There's a lot of fond memories with this album, as well as some in the future to come.   Hear Dreams on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - The Great Sun Jester   My song pick 2 years ago today: King Crimson - Lady of the Dancing Water   My song pick 3 years ago today: Klaatu - Dog Star   My song pick 4 years ago today: Steely Dan - Only a Fool Would Say That My song pick 5 years ago today: Primus - The Storm My song pick 6 years ago today: Return to Forever - Earth Juice My song pick 7 years ago today: Psychotic Waltz - Strange My song pick 8 years ago today: Qu...

From: Are You Experienced ; Year: 1967; Genre: Hard Rock/Psychedelic Rock Just rockin' out to some great tunes today, of course can't help but smile when you here those three great musicians play; especially the guitar and voice of Jimi Hendrix.    Hear Fire on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Los Bravos - Going Nowhere   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Kinks - You Can't Stop The Music   My song pick 3 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - The World Keeps On Turning   My song pick 4 years ago today: Soundgarden - Slaves & Bulldozers My song pick 5 years ago today: Pearl Jam - Daughter My song pick 6 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Don't Follow My song pick 7 years ago today: Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright My song pick 8 years ago today: Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy My song pick 9 years ago today: "Weird" Al Yankovic - Word Crimes My song pick 10 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Come a L...

From: Blues, Candy and Big Maybelle ; Year: 1958; Genre: Blues/Jazz/R&B Every time I play her songs I'm both literally and figuratively blown away by her immense vocal power; I bet some parts of the Earth and beyond are still shaking from her singing all these years later. Hers is one of the better performing versions of the standard and in my opinion is the best out there.   Hear Candy on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: David Bowie - Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise)   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Pretenders - Don't Get Me Wrong   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Motherless Children   My song pick 4 years ago today: Howlin' Wolf - Forty-Four My song pick 5 years ago today: Arlo - Stab the Unstoppable Hero My song pick 6 years ago today: Wild Turkey - One Sole Survivor My song pick 7 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere But Not Here My song pick 8 years ago today: The W...

From: Party Patrol ; Year: 1990; Genre: Funk/Soul/Electronica/New Jack Swing Had this very fun album come on while I was out and about the other day and knew I needed to revisit it on my blog. Almost every aspect of Lakeside's Party Patrol stirs memories; not really of the album per se, but of the sound that it represents so well. That blend of the band's brand of electronic funk with the new jack swing beats that were so prevalent back in the '80s and '90s is absolutely perfect if you are in the mood for nostalgia from that time.   Hear U Got It Goin' On on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Genesis - Counting Out Time   My song pick 2 years ago today: Asia - Never Again   My song pick 3 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Go Robot   My song pick 4 years ago today: What Made Milwaukee Famous - Trying to Never Catch Up My song pick 5 years ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - Pilgrims My song pick 6 years ago today: Pink Floyd - ...

From: Resident Alien ; Year: 1995; Genre: Alternative Rock/Glam Rock After coming to mind the other day and listening to this album again I thought I would choose one from it as this Sunday's pick. Zeroes definitely has a different feel to it from their more mainstream tracks on the record, yet is still similar enough to its brethren but in a bigger package both in length and sound.    Hear Zeroes on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Carmen - Retirando   My song pick 2 years ago today: George Clinton - Last Dance My song pick 3 years ago today: Marillion - Cover My Eyes (Pain in Heaven)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Don Henley - All She Wants to Do Is Dance My song pick 5 years ago today: Brave Belt - Can You Feel It My song pick 6 years ago today: Soundgarden - Rowing My song pick 7 years ago today: Carmen - Joy My song pick 8 years ago today: Alice Mudgarden (Alice in Chains) - Right Turn My song pick 9 years ago today:...

From: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars ; Year: 1971; Genre: Space Rock/Glam Rock Heard this great track the other day whilst out and about once again, which seemed like a perfect pick. It's interesting how it seems that the late-great David Bowie was about the only one who could write and perform a space rock song and it would become extremely popular hit. This record is loaded with great memorable tunes and this one is at or near the top in my opinion. There's not one single aspect of this song that I dislike; such a great song.   Hear Moonage Daydream on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The O'Jays - Love Train   My song pick 2 years ago today: Billy Joel - The Stranger   My song pick 3 years ago today: Ace - How Long   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Fixx - Red Skies My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Raising Steam My song pick 6 years ago today: Tesla - Hang Tough My song pick 7 years ...

From: Graham Central Station ; Year: 1974; Genre: Funk/Soul I cannot name a single song that Larry Graham wrote or played on that I dislike; him and those he collaborated with are/were just that great. This record, which is, I believe, his first after leaving Sly and the Family Stone, and it is such a force from dropping the needle on the first track to the tonearm starting over again after side two concludes. I absolutely adore the blend of bluesy soul with the percussive funk that Mr. Graham helped to create and shape on this song; of course, the socially conscious message is crafted through the lyrics in such a way that it comes off with great positivity and energy.   Hear People on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Black Sabbath - Planet Caravan   My song pick 2 years ago today: Blind Melon - Tones of Home   My song pick 3 years ago today: Temple of the Dog - Hunger Strike   My song pick 4 years ago today: David Bowie - Cygnet Committ...

From: Broken Hearted ; Year: 1973; Genre: Progressive Rock Since sitting down to make today's pick for my blog I have had Jigsaw's earlier, less pop oriented music on my mind. Just Another Clown is a short, but sweet song that definitely fits that bill of their older, more"prog" oriented music.   Hear Just Another Clown on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Living Colour - Sunshine Of Your Love   My song pick 2 years ago today: Kansas - All The World   My song pick 3 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Part Time Lover   My song pick 4 years ago today: 30 Seconds to Mars - Echelon My song pick 5 years ago today: Blind Melon - Deserted My song pick 6 years ago today: Forest - Graveyard My song pick 7 years ago today: Billy Joel - Laura My song pick 8 years ago today: The Byrds - Mr. Spaceman My song pick 9 years ago today: Toronto - Enough is Enough My song pick 10 years ago today: Little River Band - Help Is On Its Way My song p...

From: Every Which Way but Loose (Soundtrack) ; Year: 1978; Genre: Country I literally grew up watching all of the countless Clint Eastwood flicks and also hearing a lot of Eddie Rabbitt's music; of course I absolutely still love this film in particular to this day. I really cannot remember a true dull moment throughout the movie, just constant laughing at the hijinx and one-liners from start to finish. Anyway, this, of course is the opening title and performed excellent as usual from Eddie Rabbitt, who seemed at the time to be riding a high point in his illustrious career as a singer-songwriter. Wow, all the talk about it has made it so now I need to find and watch the movie again....   Hear Every Which Way but Loose on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: AC/DC - High Voltage   My song pick 2 years ago today: Three Dog Night - Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Thinking Round Corners   My son...

From: Malice in Wonderland ; Year: 1976; Genre: Hard Rock/Funk Rock It has been a crazy busy last two days or so and thus I am getting a pick in late today.... Anyway, this is a rather cool one-off record for the group Paice Ashton Lord, which was, I guess, a supergroup consisting of Ian Paice, Tony Ashton, and Jon Lord along with Paul Martinez and Bernie Marsden. As you'd expect from the members involved, this one is hard rock tune with a bit of funk thrown in for good measure.   Hear Ghost Story on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Thompson Twins - Lies   My song pick 2 years ago today: ABBA - Eagle   My song pick 3 years ago today: George Harrison - Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - The Bouncer My song pick 5 years ago today: Dick Dale - Summer Surf My song pick 6 years ago today: Neil Young - Computer Cowboy (aka Syscrusher) My song pick 7 years ago today...

From: Temple of Low Men ; Year: 1988; Genre: Alternative Rock/Rock Had Crowded House on my mind for some reason; guess I have not picked one of their songs for a rather long while, so I think it's time. I believe this is one of the lead singles from their sophomore album, which has great beat and overall sound; you can definitely hear influences of other bands of the era in it. Definitely among my favourites from the band.   Hear Never Be The Same on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Elton John - This Song Has No Title   My song pick 2 years ago today: Tin Tin - Toast and Marmalade for Tea   My song pick 3 years ago today: Funkadelic - Stink Finger   My song pick 4 years ago today: April Wine - Crash and Burn My song pick 5 years ago today: Foreigner - Cold As Ice My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - Everyday Glory My song pick 7 years ago today: Rod Stewart - The Motown Song My song pick 8 years ago today: Zapp - I Can Make You...

From: On To Evermore ; Year: 1998; Genre: Progressive Rock Haven't really had a chance to check out Glass Hammer until recent; I really like what I have heard thus far. Although, their music, especially their older songs, are somewhat difficult to find on sites such as YouTube. Great music and vocals all around; definitely worth the hassle and then some.   Hear The Conflict on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Scorched Earth   My song pick 2 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - I Can Feel It In My Bones   My song pick 3 years ago today: Return to Forever - Interplay   My song pick 4 years ago today: Hawkwind - Arioch My song pick 5 years ago today: Elvis Presley - All Shook Up My song pick 6 years ago today: Deep Purple - Never Before My song pick 7 years ago today: Ex Deo - Cruor Nostri Abbas My song pick 8 years ago today: Hawkwind - Be Yourself My song pick 9 years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - S...

From: Shut Down Volume 2 ; Year: 1964; Genre: Surf Rock/Pop Seems like, for me at least, when we get into the middle of summer I have bands like The Beach Boys on my mind. I've always really liked this one, especially those complex vocal harmonies arranged in a wall of sound, which really shine when exiting the choruses.   Hear Don't Worry Baby on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Primus - American Life   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Lap of Luxury   My song pick 3 years ago today: Mr. Bungle - Egg   My song pick 4 years ago today: Klaatu - Around the Universe in Eighty Days My song pick 5 years ago today: A-ha - Cry Wolf My song pick 6 years ago today: Bruce Springsteen - Dry Lightning My song pick 7 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Evolution Orange My song pick 8 years ago today: Rush - Madrigal My song pick 9 years ago today: John Fogerty - A Hundred and Ten in the Shade My song pick 10 years ago t...

From: Movements Vol. 2 ; Year: 2006 (1970); Genre: Funk/Soul Here's another deep funky track from the phenomenal Movements compilation series of rare funk and soul. This one comes from the band called 1984 , which was released in 1970 as a single.   Hear There's a Wrinkle In Our Time on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bay City Rollers - Yesterday's Hero   My song pick 2 years ago today: Supertramp - Breakfast in America   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe   My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Eyes On Fire My song pick 5 years ago today: The Beach Boys - All Summer Long My song pick 6 years ago today: Bernard Wright - Who Do You Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Check My Brains My song pick 8 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Fire of Unknown Origin My song pick 9 years ago today: Duran Duran - Is There Something I Should Know My song pick 10 years ago toda...

From: Second Album ; Year: 1971; Genre: Symphonic Rock/Progressive Rock This epic track written by the late-great Francis Monkman has a lot, I mean A LOT going on throughout the piece. Kind of hard to precisely choose a solid genre for Piece of Mind ; there are elements of rock, jazz, different types of classical music, electronica, and even some folk elements amongst others. Whilst I like to just put it on for background music, but it's one of those pieces that will not stay there, it will demand your attention throughout most of the song.   Hear Piece of Mind on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dire Straits - Hand in Hand   My song pick 2 years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Sex Type Thing   My song pick 3 years ago today: Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me   My song pick 4 years ago today: Caramba - Hubba Hubba Zoot Zoot My song pick 5 years ago today: Big Star - In The Street My song pick 6 years ago today: Bowling ...

From: In Absentia ; Year: 2002; Genre: Progressive Rock Thought I would listen to some more PT today; In Absentia seemed like the best one for me to play. While not being the longest track on the disc, which is usually the one I gravitate towards with bands/artist such as this, it still clocks in at over seven minutes, so it's not a short "top 40" radio-friendly song. Strip the Soul is yet another one where they go to some interesting places sonically; one highlight for me is in a guitar solo that has apparent influence by Tom Morello and his "guitar record scratch" technique.   Hear Strip the Soul on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road   My song pick 2 years ago today: Return to Forever - Majestic Dance   My song pick 3 years ago today: Manfred Mann's Earth Band - As Above So Below   My song pick 4 years ago today: Parliament - P Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) My song pick 5 years ago today: Peter Frampt...

From: Capricornia ; Year: 2002; Genre: Alternative Rock To be honest I have never really paid too much attention to Midnight Oil's Capricornia album; don't really have an excuse or a reason for it. However, since the release of last year's record, Resist , it gave the push I needed to give it a closer listen. I have to say, for me personally I think it is a pretty good release for them, albeit not close to their best, but one I'll definitely put in my rotation. Too Much Sunshine was one of the singles from it; I'm not sure, but I don't believe it charted too well.... Perhaps it was too similar to their classic songs in sound for when it released, I do not know though. In my personal opinion I really like this one with the contrasting sections going from punk-inspired rock to the smoother and straight forward classic sound of the band.   Hear Too Much Sunshine on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Nothing Lasts   My song pic...