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

From: The Temptations' Christmas Card ; Year: 1970; Genre: Funk/Soul/Christmas Music 'Twas the Friday before Christmas....    Hear Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bob Rivers Comedy Corp - I'm Dressin' Up Like Santa (When I Get Out on Parole)   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Drifters - White Christmas   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Today in Bethlehem   My song pick 4 years ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - La Rossa   My song pick 5 years ago today: Binky Griptite - Stone Soul Christmas   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bachman & Turner - Find Some Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Another Harry's Bar My song pick 8 years ago today: Ronnie James Dio/Tony Iommi/Rudy Sarzo/Simon Wright - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen My song pick 9 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Holly Herald My song pick 10 years ago today: Sting - Gabriel's Message My...

From: In the End ; Year: 2019; Genre: Alternative Rock Heard some of their music yesterday whilst running errands, which got me thinking about the band once more. Even after half a decade since Dolores O'Riordan's passing, thinking about it still affects me quite a lot. Her voice and music were such a big part of my teenage years and on; probably the same for others. Anyway, this was the final song and title-track for the band's final album, which was released posthumously; her vocals were, as with many other bands before and since with a similar fate, pieced together from demos and other recordings on hand.    Hear In the End on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dr. John - Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant   My song pick 2 years ago today: Louis Armstrong with Velma Middleton - Baby It's Cold Outside   My song pick 3 years ago today: Primus - Hail Santa   My song pick 4 years ago today: Soundgarden - Head Down   My song pick 5 years ...

From: That Christmas Feeling ; Year: 1958; Genre: Christmas Music Just a Christmas tune that popped into my mind today; probably heard it recently. You hear a lot of Bing Crosby year around in the current town in which I reside, being that it is where the man grew up; they're very quick to remind everyone of him. Anyway, this is a more contemporary song that originated as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the mid 19th century during the Civil War and has a central theme about faith and positive thought overcoming the darkness and despair of the time. Although it had been set to music prior, the version most would be familiar with would most likely be that of Johnny Marks from 1956, which Bing's version is derived. However, other versions might be more prevalent in different parts of the globe.   Hear I Head the Bells on Christmas Day on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: John Denver - Christmas for Cowboys   My song pick 2 years ago today: ...

From: We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year ; Year: 2008; Genre: Metal/Christmas Music Alright, here is another seasonal song pick for the occasion. It's amazing how since Savatage alumni did their Trans-Siberian Orchestra project that metal and related genres have been utilized for the Christmas season; it really makes sense that they would go so well together with the emotion, pageantry, and symphonic nature of many metal sub-genres. Anyway, this is an excellent metal version of one of favourite contemporary carols. As you might expect, it especially focuses on Simon Phillips' drumming, which is great, but it's at its best when they all kick in.   Hear their rendition of Little Drummer Boy on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Claymation Christmas Celebration - Joy to the World   My song pick 2 years ago today: The (Young) Rascals - How Can I Be Sure   My song pick 3 years ago today: Hot & Sassy - Christmas Strutt   My...

From: Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow ; Year: 1970; Genre: Psychedelic Rock Just wanted to pick another track that features Eddie Hazel's guitar playing, no other reason.    Hear Eulogy and Light on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Gene Autry - Joy to the World   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rufus Thomas - I'll Be Your Santa Baby   My song pick 3 years ago today: David Bowie & Bing Crosby - Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy   My song pick 4 years ago today: Uriah Heep - Take Away My Soul   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Salamander's Rag Time   My song pick 6 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Universe on Fire My song pick 7 years ago today: Bon Jovi - Lay Your Hands on Me My song pick 8 years ago today: James Brown - Santa Claus Gave Me a Brand New Start My song pick 9 years ago today: The United States of America - Stranded in Time My song pick 10 years ago today: Boston - Can't...

From: A Garfield Christmas Special ; Year: 1987; Genre: Jazz Alright, am now making a concerted effort to get in a more "merry" mood this year. This one was kind of a short "showstopper" for the '87 Garfield Christmas Special and in my opinion the best of the soundtrack. Sadly though, they apparently never released an actual soundtrack for it, unlike with other ones. I can say, it does bring back a lot of memories always marking the day of the broadcast and hearing and seeing the sound of the CBS Special announcement. Even after all these years the work of Lou Rawls, Desirée Goyette, and Ed Bogas is as great as ever; simply timeless in their effort/performance.   Hear You Can Never Find An Elf When You Need One on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: James Brown And The Famous Flames - Merry Christmas Baby   My song pick 2 years ago today: Styx - Just Get Through This Night   My song pick 3 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Someday At Christmas ...

From: Noar 't Café ; Year: 1987; Genre: Blues Rock Had them come on my playlist this morning, which immediately brightened up my mood. They are just one of those bands that has that ability; always find myself cranking the volume and poorly attempt to "sing" along in a language I can only slightly understand. Is not that the definition of having fun? No?   Hear Acht Cilinder Blues on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Thompson Twins - In the Name of Love   My song pick 2 years ago today: David Bowie - Fill Your Heart   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bob Rivers - Sled Zeppelin   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bob Rivers Comedy Corp. - The Restroom Door Said, "Gentlemen"   My song pick 5 years ago today: King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black   My song pick 6 years ago today: Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show - Sylvia's Mother My song pick 7 years ago today: John Denver - Goodbye Again My song pick 8 years ago today: John McCu...

From: 'Nard ; Year: 1981; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Funk A funky instrumental piece from the late Bernard Wright; as you would expect, there is some amazing keyboard playing throughout this piece.   Hear Bread Sandwiches on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Concrete Blonde - Someday?   My song pick 2 years ago today: Mastodon - Cold Dark Place   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jerry Reed - How Many Tomorrows   My song pick 4 years ago today: Charley Pride - When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - Jingle Bells   My song pick 6 years ago today: Hawkwind - Brainstorm My song pick 7 years ago today: America - The Border My song pick 8 years ago today: Yes - Machine Messiah My song pick 9 years ago today: The Offspring - The Meaning of Life My song pick 10 years ago today: Savatage - Degrees of Sanity My song pick 11 years ago today: Extreme - Get the Funk Out My ...

From: Alien Love Secrets ; Year: 1995; Genre: Hard Rock Usually by this time I have one or two Christmas/Seasonal songs already chosen, but this year in particular I just haven't felt that "merry." If my mood doesn't change I might have to force myself to pick one.... Anyway, as of late my music selection has been favouring Steve Vai for some reason, which is not a bad thing at all. You end up with a load of technical musicianship along with something catchy and/or something to laugh along with. This one is purely a gorgeous song with every not played seemingly played to elicit an emotion out of the listener, or so it seems to me.     Hear Die to Live on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Billy Idol - Blue Christmas   My song pick 2 years ago today: Chris Squire and Alan White - Run With the Fox   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - Cold Fire   My song pick 4 years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Miss Saturday Night   My song pick...

From: Bad Magic: Seriously Bad Magic ; Year: 2023; Genre: Metal You know, one thing that I admired most about the late-great Lemmy was his ability to just not care wot others thought of him; he just lived his life and did as he saw fit. Not that he was a "bad guy" either, every interview or instance of him offstage he seemed like a down-to-earth cool guy that meant no malice, just did not give a rat's behind about others opinion of him. Say wot you want about him, but I'll always admire that about him amongst other things; I only deeply wish that I had that same ability... sadly I don't.   Hear Bullet In Your Brain on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Return to Forever - Hello Again   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Let Me Go   My song pick 3 years ago today: Heidevolk - Winteroorlog   My song pick 4 years ago today: King Crimson - Providence   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - O Chri...

From: If you Saw Thro' My Eyes ; Year: 1971; Genre: Folk Rock Was enjoying listening to this record again yesterday. There is something comforting about Iain Matthews' voice; it also helps that he had the legend herself, Sandy Denny accompanying him on vocals for this one. Also, many of his former Fairport bandmates helped out on it, so it was bound to be a nice sounding record.   Hear It Came Without Warning on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jerry Reed - My Guitar and My Song   My song pick 2 years ago today: Hall & Oates - Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid   My song pick 3 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Shoulda Coulda Woulda   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - She's A Rainbow   My song pick 5 years ago today: Supertramp - Sister Moonshine   My song pick 6 years ago today: Toronto - What About Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Broadsword My song pick...

From: In The Last Waking Moments... ; Year: 2011; Genre: Progressive Rock/Space Rock Was intending on choosing one from a band hailing from the second wave of progressive rock, or Neo-Prog as some call it. However, I decided to pick one from this prolific side-project consisting mostly of members of the band Marillion as well as a few others from both sides of "The Pond." Anyway, this was Edison's Children's debut album, and I decided that I should just go with the opening track from it. Dusk is a very atmospheric song that begins the tale told throughout In The Last Waking Moments... concerning an alien abduction. So, yes, this is very nerdy and science fiction oriented, so be warned....   Hear Dusk on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: King Crimson - Indiscipline   My song pick 2 years ago today: James Brown - Go Power At Christmas   My song pick 3 years ago today: Los Lobos - Will the Wolf Survive?   My song pick 4 years ago today...

From: South Street ; Year: 1963; Genre: Doo-Wop/Rock 'n Roll This one has really never escaped my mind, although I have not heard it in an age and a half. It's just one of those early '60s "feel good" songs that goes over well. Probably the most striking aspect of this one, other than the great rhythm and music, is how the lower bass vocal contrasts and yet works so well with the angelic three part harmony above.    Hear South Street on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Steve Gray - Snowman's Stomp   My song pick 2 years ago today: Queen - White Queen (As It Began)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Tennessee Ernie Ford - Shot-Gun Boogie   My song pick 4 years ago today: Savatage - All That I Bleed   My song pick 5 years ago today: Yes - The Remembering/High the Memory   My song pick 6 years ago today: Alphaville - Sounds Like a Melody My song pick 7 years ago today: The Spencer Davis Group - Keep On Running My song pic...

From: Spanky and Our Gang ; Year: 1967; Genre: Folk Rock/Pop I guess I should have waited to choose this song until tomorrow, but it just popped into my mind and really fits my overall mood. Erroneously, I believed that is was recorded by The Mamas and the Papas, which is understandable I suppose with them both being forefront in the folk rock movement and both possessing an incredible lead female vocalist. Almost anyone who heard it prior will recognize this track, which will likely raise your mood and get stuck in your mind.   Watch their Ed Sullivan Show performance on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Crash Test Dummies - The First Noel   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Gods - He's Growing   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Rhythm Machine - Brenda and Me   My song pick 4 years ago today: Band of Horses - Throw My Mess   My song pick 5 years ago today: Miles Davis - Miles Ahead   My song pick 6 years ago today: Grace ...

From: There's a Riot Going On ; Year: 1971; Genre: Funk/Rock/Soul Here's an infectious beat to end the workweek. The rhythm is definitely the main draw, but the nonsensical lyrics punctuated by yodeling adds quite a lot too.    Hear Spaced Cowboy on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Wings - Again and Again and Again   My song pick 2 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills   My song pick 3 years ago today: Paco De Lucía - De Madruga (Seguiriyas)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Reverend Horton Heat - Viva Las Vegas   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - WinterFunkyLand (AKA Winter Wonderland)   My song pick 6 years ago today: Four Tops - It's All In The Game My song pick 7 years ago today: Hammerfall - Wildfire My song pick 8 years ago today: Heart - Magic Man My song pick 9 years ago today: Allan Sherman - I See Bones My song pick 10 years ago today: Rush - Chemistry My song pick 11 years ago...

From: The Zealot Gene ; Year: 2022; Genre: Progressive Rock This is a very interesting track in more than a few ways. Musically, you can really feel Ian and company holding back the reins so to speak, keeping the music from becoming too hard; perhaps in another time they would've, but not here, which I believe the song benefits from. Another interesting aspect of it is how he wrote this one about, the many Judas Iscariots out there, if you will in a allegorical tale about someone being betrayed to his death. It's a very poignant piece indeed and is becoming one of my favourites on the record.   Hear The Betrayal of Joshua Kynde on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Wilson Pickett - Never My Love   My song pick 2 years ago today: Europe - Prisoners in Paradise   My song pick 3 years ago today: Cab Calloway - The Birth of the Blues   My song pick 4 years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Tightrope   My song pick 5 year...

From: The Cross & The Crucible ; Year: 2001; Genre: Progressive Rock "Piranhas, pariahs and self-styled messiahs Scrabble for airtime on towers of babble They sell us the truth while they're feeding us lies They show us the world how they'd like it to be Through camera eyes"    Hear Towers of Babble on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - Sally   My song pick 2 years ago today: Guns N' Roses - You Could Be Mine   My song pick 3 years ago today: Chicago - Sing a Mean Tune, Kid   My song pick 4 years ago today: Rush - Ghost Rider   My song pick 5 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Hoedown   My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - Ceiling Unlimited My song pick 7 years ago today: The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Tuff Enuff My song pick 8 years ago today: Joe Cocker - Feeling Alright My song pick 9 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Lady Sun My song pick 10 years ago today: Porcupine T...

From: Rarearth ; Year: 1977; Genre: Hard Rock/Funk Rock Just in the mood for some hard funk rock from Rare Earth, and this has it in spades.    Hear Tin Can People on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Al Di Meola - Capoeira   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rush - Chain Lightning   My song pick 3 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Yertle The Turtle   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ian Anderson - In Maternal Grace   My song pick 5 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - I Am a Rock   My song pick 6 years ago today: .38 Special - Stone Cold Believer My song pick 7 years ago today: The Cure - Winter My song pick 8 years ago today: The Drifters - On Broadway My song pick 9 years ago today: Elvis Presley - Steamroller Blues My song pick 10 years ago today: King Crimson - In the Wake of Poseidon (including "Libra's Theme") My song pick 11 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Sitting at the Wheel My song pick 12...

From: Tall Tales and Short Tempers ; Year:1961; Genre: Country Had this one pop into my mind today and thought it would be an apt pick for today. For me the freezing temperatures, obscene amounts of snow, and darkness exemplify this time of year. No picturesque Norman Rockwell paintings and such, not that I mind that idealized image, but reality has always been different. Anyway, this is another tragic tale concerning a horse and rider succumbing to the ills of wintertime whilst traveling to the man's lover's house during a nasty blizzard. As always, "Gentleman Jim" delivers a perfect vocal performance with all the emotional gusto he was known for. My Grandmother, who was a huge fan of Jim Reeves, had an observation about this song: Being raised in both Colorado and Idaho on farms and ranches she said that there would be absolutely no way the horse, Dan, would stop just 100 yards from the destination. Apparently in her experience with horses they know exactly where t...