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

From: Black-Man's Burdon ; Year: 1970; Genre: Funk Rock/Soul/Psychedelic Rock There's something very uplifting and joyful about the music of War, even their tracks with serious and heavy subjects are more positive and inclusive. Once again, I always have a smile of some sort after hearing one of their songs.   Hear Spirit on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jigsaw - Life Insurance   My song pick 2 years ago today: Tesla - Edison's Medicine   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Throwing Stones   My song pick 4 years ago today: Redbone - When You Got Trouble   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Then Came the Last Days of May My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Audition My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Driving Song My song pick 8 years ago today: Bon Jovi - Dry County My song pick 9 years ago today: Soundgarden - Storm My song pick 10 years ago today: Megadeth - Go To Hel...

From: The Nothing They Need ; Year: 2018; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Hard Rock For the life of me I cannot remember how I discovered this band, but whenever one of their songs come on my playlist I immediately want to listen to more, almost as if I am discovering them for the first time. Here is one from their most recent studio offering that caught my attention; kind of a blend of surf rock, '60s acid rock, and some sludge metal in the Melvins' style.   Hear This Shaky Hand is Not Mine on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Hall & Oates - Kiss on My List   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Foolish Heart   My song pick 3 years ago today: Robert John - Sad Eyes   My song pick 4 years ago today: Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed - Summertime   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Still Burnin' My song pick 6 years ago today: Brave Belt - Scarecrow My song pick 7 years ago today: Roman Holliday - Don't Try...

From: Union Town ; Year: 2011; Genre: Folk Rock Yesterday I had this one come on while driving about town; sure is a great one to sing along to in heavy traffic. I really wish Tom Morello would make more of this heavier-subject music for this project; it is very motivating and uplifting.   Hear A Wall Against the Wind on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Grateful Dead - When Push Comes to Shove   My song pick 2 years ago today: Depeche Mode - A Question of Time   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Veins   My song pick 4 years ago today: Weather Report - The Moors   My song pick 5 years ago today: Stratovarius - S.O.S. My song pick 6 years ago today: Asia - Without You My song pick 7 years ago today: Bob Weir (The Grateful Dead) - One More Saturday Night My song pick 8 years ago today: Ronnie Milsap - Daydreams About Night Things My song pick 9 years ago today: George Duke - Reach For It My song pick 10 y...

From: The Lost Demos ; Year: 2023 (2000); Genre: Hard Rock This was released last year and consisted of two unreleased tracks from his My Favourite Headache solo album back in 2000. Definitely not among the best off of the record, which is probably why they were left off initially, but such a great treat to hear some new material from one of the members of Rush.   Hear I Am...You Are on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Tina Turner - Private Dancer   My song pick 2 years ago today: Yes - Onward   My song pick 3 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - I Wish     My song pick 4 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - The Gangster is Back   My song pick 5 years ago today: Pearl Jam - Oceans My song pick 6 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Mountains of the Moon My song pick 7 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Not My Cross to Bear My song pick 8 years ago today: Savatage - Prelude to Madness My song pick 9 y...

From: American Beauty ; Year: 1970; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Folk Rock Been a busy Memorial Day Weekend, but, as always I am making my Grateful Dead pick for the day itself. This fan favourite and mainstay of the band's repertoire is one of Phil Lesh's songs that he also sings the lead on and is a rather beautiful track that he supposedly wrote for his father who was terminal; apparently he got to play it for him prior to his passing.    Hear Box of Rain on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Frank Zappa - Waka/Jawaka   My song pick 2 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Green Heaven   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Quartet   My song pick 4 years ago today: Rainbow - Fool For The Night   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Unbroken Chain My song pick 6 years ago today: The (Dixie) Dregs - Kat Food My song pick 7 years ago today: King Crimson - Fracture My song pick 8 years ago today: Sly ...

From: Third Stage ; Year: 1986; Genre: Rock Was enjoying some of the music from Boston today; mostly from the late '80s through the '90s. This one is kind of a balance between their "ballad" and their noted hard rock sound.   Hear To Be a Man on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars - T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (Fly Away)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Huey Lewis & the News - The Heart of Rock & Roll   My song pick 3 years ago today: War - Why Can't We Be Friends?   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Sail Away   My song pick 5 years ago today: Soundgarden - Ty Cobb My song pick 6 years ago today: ZZ Top - Got Me Under Pressure My song pick 7 years ago today: Audioslave - Exploder My song pick 8 years ago today: Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - Still the Same My song pick 9 years ago today: Alestorm - Magnetic North My song pick 10 years ago today: Gratef...

From: Drops of Jupiter ; Year: 2001; Genre: Alternative Rock Found out that bassist Charlie Colin passed away a few days ago at the far-too-young age of 57. Back during the early "aughts" Train was one of those bands that became a bright spot in a ever shrinking good music scene of the time. I never really got into the band, but when one of their songs come on I listen to and enjoy it. Anyway, this was the song that immediately comes to mind when I hear the band's name.   Hear Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - You Bet Your Life   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Youngbloods - Get Together   My song pick 3 years ago today: Heart - Never   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Nice - Country Pie/Brandenburg Concerto No. 6   My song pick 5 years ago today: Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway My song pick 6 years ago today: Stanley Clarke - Opening (Statement)/He Lives On (Story About the Las...

From: Rest In P ; Year: 1994; Genre: Funk Rock I really wish that there was more material out there from the late-great Mr. Hazel; he was without a shadow of a doubt one of the greatest guitarists of our time. This entire album was more or less a compilation of unreleased songs from the mid 1970s that featured P-Funk alumni amongst other noted talent. This instrumental track is a blend of hard funk-rock with a mix of jazz fusion thrown in. I especially love the drums and how they hold everything in "orbit" whilst keeping busy, but Eddie's guitar is really wot you came for and it shows.   Hear Relic 'Delic (Purple Hazel) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: George Thorogood and the Destroyers - I Drink Alone   My song pick 2 years ago today: Toronto - All I Need   My song pick 3 years ago today: Queen - It's Late   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - Don't Let It Show   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tu...

From: Faster Than the Speed of Night ; Year: 1983; Genre: Hard Rock Man, this album has to be one of those that was part of the soundtrack of my earlier years. I remember hearing Bonnie Tyler's cover of this song probably about as much as the Creedence original; love them both by the way, just in different ways. I can tell ya, she really took a radically different approach with her larger-than-life-itself vocals and the harder driving rock sound led by Roy Bittan's piano playing along with Max Weinberg's drumming. Of course, Rick Derringer's guitar playing and solo are the cherry on top the cake so to speak.   Hear Have You Ever Seen the Rain? on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Savatage - Taunting Cobras   My song pick 2 years ago today: Gloryhammer - On the Wings of a Rainbow   My song pick 3 years ago today: Wishbone Ash - Drive   My song pick 4 years ago today: Queensrÿche - The Mission   My song pick 5 years ago today: C.W. Mc...

From: In a Sentimental Mood ; Year: 1989; Genre: Swing/Big Band Jazz Had this song on my mind since yesterday; quite a catchy and upbeat track to say the least. This one is a standard from during the height of The War, originally written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. From wot I understand the title and main idea of the song was borrowed from a sermon by a popular preacher at the time, Father Divine , which translated very well into an upbeat song. Many have recorded versions of this popular standard over the years, I almost went for a few others, but I knew Dr. John's really well, and I am a fan of his work, so I chose his rendition.   Hear Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Herman's Hermits - End of the World   My song pick 2 years ago today: Alice in Chains - The One You Know   My song pick 3 years ago today: Yes - Going for the One   My song pick 4 years ago today: Dayton Sidewinders - Phoenix ...

From: When You're Hot, You're Hot ; Year: 1971; Genre: Folk/Country Funk How could you go wrong with a song written by writer/performer extraordinaire Bob Dylan covered by one of the greatest musicians of the last century? You can't, and that's a fact.   Hear Don't Think Twice, It's Alright on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Fleet Foxes - Innocent Son   My song pick 2 years ago today: Aphrodite's Child - The Four Horsemen   My song pick 3 years ago today: Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me   My song pick 4 years ago today: Barenaked Ladies - Shoe Box   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jigsaw - Mystic Harmony My song pick 6 years ago today: Chet Atkins - The Girl Friend of the Whirling Dervish My song pick 7 years ago today: Alice in Chains - What The Hell Have I My song pick 8 years ago today: Iain Matthews - Shake It My song pick 9 years ago today: The Kinks - Moving Pictures My song pick 10 years ago today: Stahlhamme...

From: In the Heat of the Night ; Year: 1979; Genre: Hard Rock I remember hearing this record a great deal whilst growing up, but this was a track that didn't seem to get played that much, at least as I can recall. Being that it was at the end of side one with three of the main hit singles before it that beckoned the needle to be dropped back on them didn't help. However, this one is quite the hidden gem, and quite a beautiful one in my opinion. It has almost the feel and energy of something Jim Steinman produced, but I believe that in and of itself is Pat Benatar's work there with her mesmerizing and powerful vocals; she could probably list the ingredients on a can of soup and make it a hit to be honest. ;P   Hear My Clone Sleeps Alone on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The B-52's - Love Shack   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - The Pinocchio Theory   My song pick 3 years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Come Tomorrow   ...

From: RökFlöte ; Year: 2023; Genre: Progressive Rock I have noted within the last few years that Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson have more or less seemingly fallen out of favour, but this time it is not the normal critical pummeling, just you don't hear about them. Believe me, I know that being a 'Tull fan means you are terminally uncool and somewhat of a musical outcast, but perhaps it is the fact that I really don't pay much attention to most popular culture and, it could also be the fact that the U.S. has kinda been in a "death spiral" so to speak culturally concerning music for about the last 25 or so years with a handful of exceptions. Who knows, right? I suppose I should pay more attention to other nations'/cultures' for my music. Anyway, I thought today would be a great time to pick another one from the latest 'Tull record, which released just over a year ago. Hammer on Hammer was the third single released from it and has that great music composed...

From: Scarecrow ; Year: 1985; Genre: Rock 'N Roll Whilst I have not really chosen a lot from him on my blog, by no means do I dislike John Mellencamp's material; it just gets overshadowed by other music that I like. Anyway, I happened to have this track on my mind at the time of posting today's song; I thought it'd make such a great choice.    Hear R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60's Rock) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: ABBA - Bang-A-Boomerang   My song pick 2 years ago today: Faster Pussycat - Nonstop to Nowhere   My song pick 3 years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Mountain Labyrinth   My song pick 4 years ago today: David Bowie - Star   My song pick 5 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Standing in the Rain My song pick 6 years ago today: David Bowie - Five Years My song pick 7 years ago today: Queen - Tenement Funster/Flick of the Wrist/Lily of the Valley My song pick 8 years ago today: ...

From: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised ; Year: 1973; Genre: Funk/Jazz Fusion/Rap Wanted to pick something unique and from an artist that I had not picked a song from on this Friday; and, boy did I find one! This is a rather poignant track from the late-great poet Gil Scott-Heron. It was originally released in 1971 as recited spoken word poetry accompanied by percussion, but a couple of years later was recorded with a full band.   Hear The Revolution Will Not Be Televised on YouTube. Hear The Original version on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Les Paul & Mary Ford - Bye Bye Blues   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Stylistics - Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Soundgarden - Somewhere   My song pick 4 years ago today: Joni Mitchell - God Must Be a Boogie Man   My song pick 5 years ago today: Funkadelic - Uncle Jam My song pick 6 years ago today: Hawkwind - Looking in the Future M...

From: Ray Charles Greatest Hits ; Year: 1962; Genre: R&B/Jazz Watched a film yesterday evening that featured one of his songs and it got me in the mood to hear more; I thought I would pick another one for my blog today as well. Truly a classic piece of music, this song. I love that Latin Jazz beat and feel that he melded with his signature Rhythm and Blues sound; a real masterpiece.   Hear Unchain My Heart on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Elvis Presley - I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Mamas & the Papas - Monday Monday   My song pick 3 years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Warrior's Return   My song pick 4 years ago today: Dio - Hungry For Heaven   My song pick 5 years ago today: Argent - Pure Love My song pick 6 years ago today: Boz Scaggs - Breakdown Dead Ahead My song pick 7 years ago today: Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction My song pick 8 years ago today: Santo & ...

From: Soaring Through a Dream ; Year: 1985; Genre: Jazz Fusion Over the years Soaring Through a Dream has worked its way up my mental list of favourite records from Al Di Meola; the blend of sounds, both traditional and electronic along with the Latin beats make it quite a unique album. At nine minutes this opus is the third track in order of length, but make no mistake, it is not boring or overly technical. It's quite the opposite; a very engaging and beautiful piece.   Hear Traces (Of A Tear) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The J. Geils Band - Freeze-Frame   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ray Charles - You'll Never Walk Alone   My song pick 3 years ago today: Fates Warning - Firefly   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jigsaw - Journey Into Space   My song pick 5 years ago today: Kiss - Heaven's on Fire My song pick 6 years ago today: The Supremes - Stop! In the Name of Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Gentle Giant - Wo...

From: Edge of Thorns ; Year: 1993; Genre: Power Metal/Progressive Metal Been listening to a lot of late '80s and early '90s Savatage lately; it was such a great time for the band musically with arguably much of their greatest material. This was one of the last songs written by the fraternal writing team of Jon and Criss Oliva before Criss' tragic death. Miles Away is among the best from this album with some excellent dynamics and musicianship.   Hear Miles Away on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Eagles - New Kid in Town   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Positive Force - We Got The Funk   My song pick 4 years ago today: Everclear - Santa Monica   My song pick 5 years ago today: Icehouse - Electric Blue My song pick 6 years ago today: Jackson Browne - The Load-Out/Stay My song pick 7 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Don't Turn Y...

From: Peace In Our Time ; Year: 1988; Genre: Alternative Rock Trying to keep up with my loose theme of "Monday the 13th" song picks with this being a Monday and the 13th day of the month. Anyway, this was a minor hit single from their 1988 album Peace In Our Time , and whilst not to the calibur of the songs that Big Country is noted for, it is still a great rocker with some excellent music and vocals and definitely up you alley if you are into the band.   Hear Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Pallas - Reds Under the Beds   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Future Place   My song pick 3 years ago today: Paris - Janie   My song pick 4 years ago today: Rush - The Stars Look Down   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bob Welch - Outskirts My song pick 6 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Take It Easy (In Your Mind) My song pick 7 years ago today: Sammy Hagar - Heavy Metal My song ...

From: Seasons in the Sun ; Year: 1974; Genre: Pop/Soft Rock I suppose that this could be considered an "emo" song long before that term existed, but there is a certain honest wistfulness about it. It seems that the older that you become there is a time where you realize that somethings and some individuals that you must let go of because the times that those things occurred and those people have passed into what was. For me personally it has been happening evermore rapid in the last five years or so; letting go of people and things that used to bring joy and fun, but are now memories viewed through a darkened glass.   Hear Seasons in the Sun on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Marcus Miller - Tales   My song pick 2 years ago today: AC/DC - Shot Down In Flames   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Cult - Rain   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ian Hunter - All-American Alien Boy   My song pick 5 years ago today: Duran Duran - Hold Ba...