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

From: Traces ; Year: 1969; Genre: Soft Rock/Soul This, I believe is one of the band's main songs that they are/were known for, also their highest charting one. It's another track that you will probably recognize if not already familiar with it by title.    Hear Traces on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dr. John - Snake Eyes   My song pick 2 years ago today: Harry Nilsson - Jump Into the Fire   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bob Dylan - It Ain't Me Babe   My song pick 4 years ago today: Of Monsters and Men - Alligator   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Beat 'Em Up My song pick 6 years ago today: ZZ Top - Cheap Sunglasses My song pick 7 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Time Is On Your Side My song pick 8 years ago today: Exile - Please Be There My song pick 9 years ago today: Hank Williams - Hey Good Lookin' My song pick 10 years ago today: Queensrÿche - Speak My song pick 11 years ago ...

From: Abracadabra ; Year: 1982; Genre: New Wave/Rock This is another album that I can barely remember its release; I was still a bit young to completely recollect, but in the house I grew up in music was seemingly played most of the time, including this one. Later on as a teenager I purchased the record; whilst this song was not among the hit singles from it, it was one that became an instant favourite of mine.   Hear Young Girl's Heart on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Toto - 99   My song pick 2 years ago today: Lou Reed - Men of Good Fortune   My song pick 3 years ago today: Victor Wooten - Joe's Journey   My song pick 4 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Fighting for Strangers   My song pick 5 years ago today: Dire Straits - Romeo & Juliet My song pick 6 years ago today: James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good) My song pick 7 years ago today: King Crimson - Dinosaur My song pick 8 years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Both Sid...

From: Never Buy Texas From a Cowboy ; Year: 1979; Genre: Funk Here's one from the all-female vocals group The Brides of Funkenstein, which were among the plethora of "spinoff" P-Funk groups associated with George Clinton and company. I absolutely love the guitar solo and, of course, that funky beat.   Hear I'm Holding You Responsible on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Elton John - Razor Face   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Duprees - You Belong to Me   My song pick 3 years ago today: Styx - Earl of Roseland   My song pick 4 years ago today: Klaatu - A Routine Day   My song pick 5 years ago today: Motörhead - Iron Fist My song pick 6 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Stand Back My song pick 7 years ago today: Mastodon - High Road My song pick 8 years ago today: A-Ha - Love is Reason My song pick 9 years ago today: Bob Seger - Turn the Page My song pick 10 years ago today: Rage Against the Machine - The Ghos...

From: The Kingsmen in Person ; Year: 1963; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/R&B/Garage Rock I have been at this "song-a-day" blogging thing for over 16 years now and I had not chosen this deeply storied track that has been covered and recorded more times than I dare to count. However, I do believe that The Kingsmen's cover of this song, originally written and recorded by Richard Berry, is more or less the de-facto version even though it wasn't initially intended to be more than a quick and cheap demo for the band. As stated, I could type an entire novella about this version of Louie Louie alone, let alone every one of the, (probably), thousands of other recordings, suffice it to say, there is a lot already written out there.   Hear Louie Louie on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Hawkwind - Spaceship Blues   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy   My song pick 3 years ago today: Hall & Oates - You Make My Dreams (Come True) ...

From: Nantucket Sleighride ; Year: 1971; Genre: Hard Rock While they are primarily known for the mega hit Mississippi Queen , Mountain had some other charting songs; this being one of them. It is not quite as striking or memorable as that one, it has a nice, straight-up hard blues rock feel and is one that would probably go over quite well in most instances.   Hear The Animal Trainer and the Toad on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - Sadie   My song pick 2 years ago today: Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders - Middle Child   My song pick 3 years ago today: Traffic - Feelin' Alright?   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bad Company - Ready for Love   My song pick 5 years ago today: Tesla - Not Fragile My song pick 6 years ago today: Jigsaw - Ready to Ride My song pick 7 years ago today: Billy Joel - Big Man on Mulberry Street My song pick 8 years ago today: INXS - Suicide Blonde My song pick 9 years...

From: Wipe Out ; Year: 1963; Genre: Surf Rock/ When it comes to surf rock I normally steer toward the instrumental tracks featuring a blistering guitar leading the way, but I really have come to like this quirky, fun song which actually contains... vocals. Funny enough, the legendary drummer and writer of the song is the one that sings on this one: Ron Wilson . He is best-known as one of the first pioneers of surf drumming, which is exemplified on their hit Wipe Out. Anyway, whilst the drums are not as energetic on this track, they are among the best aspects for me, along with the fore-mentioned vocals and also the organ.   Hear Surfer Joe on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - She's a Devil   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Lively Ones - Crying Guitar (Surfer's Lament)   My song pick 3 years ago today: George Clinton - One Fun At a Time   My song pick 4 years ago today: Band of Horses - Window Blues ...

From: Facets ; Year: 1966; Genre: Folk Rock This is an interesting one from Jim Croce's first album, which uses lyrics from the poem by Rudyard Kipling of the same name that has spawned a lot of media concerning it. I love the rawness of his vocals and exquisite guitar playing.     Hear The Ballad of Gunga Din on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Cab Calloway and His Orchestra - Pickin' the Cabbage   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - L.T.D. (Life, Truth, Death)   My song pick 3 years ago today: John Denver - Sweet Surrender   My song pick 4 years ago today: Blind Faith - Sea of Joy   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ultravox - Reap the Wild Wind My song pick 6 years ago today: The Fixx - One Thing Leads to Another My song pick 7 years ago today: Kansas - Miracles Out Of Nowhere My song pick 8 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - I'm a Midnight Mover My song pick 9 years ago today: Beat Crusaders - Sl...

From: Centerfield ; Year: 1985; Genre: Rock This is one of John Fogerty's infamous songs post CCR tenure where he lampooned the owner of his former label, which, of course ended up with a defamation lawsuit.  Also, the historic suit where that owner claimed that his hit from this record: Old Man Down the Road copied parts from the CCR song Run Through the Jungle , which was also authored by John Fogerty. So, yes, Centerfield was quite a mess legally, but one of the landmark albums from the time with some great music.   Hear the original version on YouTube. Watch the retitled and edited music video on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Eddie Hazel - Unkut Funk   My song pick 2 years ago today: Harlequin - Rise   My song pick 3 years ago today: Toronto - Lookin' for Trouble   My song pick 4 years ago today: Judas Priest - Evening Star   My song pick 5 years ago today: John Denver - Sunshine On My Shoulders My song pick 6 years ...

From: Chicago XI ; Year: 1977; Genre: Blues Rock Off and on have had their music on the brain, so, you know the rest.... This is the lead track on the album, and was written by the late-great Terry Kath, who also provided the smokin' lead vocals and some great guitar. Sadly, this would be his last appearance on a studio album before his untimely passing; that guy was certainly a great talent.   Hear Mississippi Delta City Blues on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dire Straits - Once Upon a Time in the West   My song pick 2 years ago today: Dave Edmunds - Queen of Hearts   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Sinful Love   My song pick 4 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Spirit of a New World   My song pick 5 years ago today: Primus - Space Farm My song pick 6 years ago today: Geraldine Hunt - Can't Fake the Feeling My song pick 7 years ago today: .38 Special - Rockin' Into the Night My song pick 8 years ...

From: Tales of Kidd Funkadelic ; Year: 1976; Genre: Funk Bringing another workweek to a close with some funk; as I have said prior: I came for Parliament, but stayed for Funkadelic; love both P-Funk bands immensely, but in the end I lean slightly towards the later. By the way the title suggests, the song does contain some... not so polite language, but very fun nevertheless.   Hear Take Your Dead Ass Home! (Say Som'n Nasty) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Exciters - Tell Him   My song pick 2 years ago today: Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - I Promise To Remember   My song pick 3 years ago today: Santana - Song of the Wind   My song pick 4 years ago today: Elton John - Jamaica Jerk-Off   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jimmy Castor - Amazon My song pick 6 years ago today: April Wine - Enough is Enough My song pick 7 years ago today: Faith No More - Falling to Pieces My song pick 8 years ago today: The Presidents of...

From: Dirty Water ; Year: 1966; Genre: Blues Rock/Garage Rock When running some errands yesterday I had this song come on my playlist, which was quite enjoyable. I have absolutely no idea how it happened to enter my music collection, but I am glad it did. Anyway, even though they originally hailed from Los Angeles, the band and the song have apparently been adopted by the city that inspired the song: Boston, Massachusetts. Both their NHL team, The Bruins, and their Major League Baseball team, The Red Sox play the track to the fans after the team wins a home game.   Watch a mimed performance on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - Rivendell   My song pick 2 years ago today: Carmen - Fandangos in Space   My song pick 3 years ago today: Harlequin - You Are The Light   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Magick Valley   My song pick 5 years ago today: Elton John - Crocodile Rock My song pick 6 years ago today: Mr. Bun...

From: California Kid and Reemo (single); Year: 1971; Genre: Rock/Pop It is finally spring here; actually the Vernal Equinox happened about 8:00 last night. Anyway, I have had some of Lobo's music on my mind for the last couple of days or so anyway, so I figured I would pick one. He seemed to write and/or perform a lot of his songs about some unnamed protagonist in the midst of wanderlust learning a valuable lesson, mostly about living, loving, and acceptance of the shape that his life turned out. In this one he runs into two soon-to-be-friends whilst at a low point emotionally, which end up turning his perspective of life around. All in all, it's a great piece of '70s popular music and a good one to have playing whilst getting around on a spring day.   Hear California Kid and Reemo on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: ABBA - I Still Have Faith In You   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Mine Is the Mountain   My song pick 3 years ...

From: War Child ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock/Flamenco Rock Another odd one from this record, which is loaded with material written and recorded over about a three-year period. Some of the songs would make the initial release and many more would be sent out over the years since. I am not sure if this track was to be part of "the film that did not happen," but apparently was, in fact, one of the first to be recorded. It's a very eclectic piece that starts out, [after some surface noise that sounds like a pub or a cafe], light and classical with the acoustic guitar, which then becomes more flamenco and builds with more instrumentation and strings along with Ian's flute and saxophones, but then flips around for the last bit as a rock 'n roll instrumental.   Hear Ladies on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Weirditude   My song pick 2 years ago today: Mott the Hoople - (Do You Remember) The Saturday Gigs   My song pick 3 ...

From: Flash Gordon: Original Soundtrack by Queen ; Year: 1980; Genre: Rock This is one of only three songs from the soundtrack that featured vocals, and those were mostly the same as the main theme except for more samples from the film that came from the point of the film where our hero is on his way to save the day.     Hear Flash to the Rescue on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ace - Rock & Roll Runaway   My song pick 2 years ago today: Imagination - Just an Illusion   My song pick 3 years ago today: Alestorm - Fannybaws   My song pick 4 years ago today: Marillion - Seasons End   My song pick 5 years ago today: Dick Dale - Esperanza My song pick 6 years ago today: Kansas - Questions of my Childhood My song pick 7 years ago today: Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe - Quartet My song pick 8 years ago today: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Radio-Activity My song pick 9 years ago today: Toto - Stranger in Town My song pick 10 ...

From: Kindred Spirits ; Year: 2013; Genre: Celtic Folk Metal Thought that I would choose something from Waylander on this St. Patrick's Day; nothing quite like some folk metal with a good helping of Celtic music to get your day going.    Hear Kindred Spirits on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Black 47 - Land Of DeValera   My song pick 2 years ago today: Frank Mackey & The Keltic Cowboys - Rocky Road to Dublin   My song pick 3 years ago today: Black 47 - Bodhráns On The Brain   My song pick 4 years ago today: Waylander - The Vernal Dance   My song pick 5 years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Dublin My song pick 6 years ago today: Black 47 - Paddy's Got a Brand New Reel My song pick 7 years ago today: Croft No Five - The Man of Arran My song pick 8 years ago today: Cruachan - The Morrigan's Call My song pick 9 years ago today: Flogging Molly - (No More) Paddy's Lament My song pick 10 years ago today: Black 47 - The Big Fe...

From: Wintersmith ; Year: 2013; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock Out of their more recent offerings I still keep coming back to the concept album based on Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld Series: Wintersmith . I don't know wot it is exactly, but the music, feeling, subject matter, production and so on, just seems to just "click" with me. This track that serves as a theme of sorts for the Nac Mac Feegle , aka "The Wee Free Men," which are a fairy folk in the vain of Brownies from Scots Folklore.   Hear The Wee Free Men on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Icehouse - Trojan Blue   My song pick 2 years ago today: Miles Davis - Paraphernalia   My song pick 3 years ago today: Utopia - Set Me Free   My song pick 4 years ago today: Nick Gilder - Rated X   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rush - Second Nature My song pick 6 years ago today: Diana Ross & The Supremes - Someday We'll be Together My song pick 7 years ago today: Megadet...

From: Real Men Wear Black ; Year: 1990; Genre: Funk/Rock/New Jack Swing Anytime is a great time to have some Cameo playing in the background, especially on a Funky Friday ! This album and song in particular just puts a smile on my face and fills me up with positive energy; pure fun for the ears, nothing else needed to say.   Hear Attitude on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - The Lights Go Down   My song pick 2 years ago today: Lawrence Gowan - The Dragon   My song pick 3 years ago today: Alice Cooper - I'm Eighteen   My song pick 4 years ago today: U.K. - Rendezvous 6:02   My song pick 5 years ago today: Parliament - Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop) My song pick 6 years ago today: The Enid - And Then There Were None My song pick 7 years ago today: Ted Nugent - Stranglehold My song pick 8 years ago today: Muse - Revolt My song pick 9 years ago today: Vixen - Edge of a Broken He...

From: Youthanasia ; Year: 1994; Genre: Thrash Metal Heard this album today whilst driving and decided to pick another song from it. Youthanasia is one of the releases from the band that, while not my favourite, it is right up there. Mostly this is due to it being smack dab in the middle of the time I started to listen to Megadeth a lot and I came to love their music.   Hear I Thought I Knew It All on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Music Explosion - Little Bit O' Soul   My song pick 2 years ago today: Alice Cooper - Hello Hooray   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Secret Road   My song pick 4 years ago today: Genesis - The Serpent   My song pick 5 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Knife-Edge My song pick 6 years ago today: UB40 - Rat in mi Kitchen My song pick 7 years ago today: Dust - Learning to Die My song pick 8 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - When the Apple Blossoms Bloom...

From: Real to Reel, Vol. 2 ; Year: 2007; Genre: Funk Rock/Hard Rock I have to say, Tesla did an amazing job with both of their albums of cover songs. Heck, and how could you go wrong with doing some Sly & The Family Stone and this epic to boot? I Want To Take You Higher was always among my top favourites from Sly and his band, but Tesla not only covered this fist-pumping and hard dancing classic, but took it even further; or higher ... perhaps.   Hear I Want To Take You Higher on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Pantera - 13 Steps To Nowhere   My song pick 2 years ago today: Till Lindemann - Ich Hasse Kinder   My song pick 3 years ago today: Normaal - Deurdonderen   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - World Wide Funk   My song pick 5 years ago today: Sam Cooke - Chain Gang My song pick 6 years ago today: King Crimson - Lizard My song pick 7 years ago today: Band of Horses - Lying Under Oak My song pick 8 y...