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

From: The Missing Piece ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock Here's a real pretty and heavy track off of Gentle Giant's 1977 album. You can tell the band was really at a zenith at this point, or close to it; it is just something to hear with it being quite technical and musical, but really easy to sit back and listen to.   Hear Memories of Old Days on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Winery Dogs - Lorelei   My song pick 2 years ago today: Primus - Conspiranoia   My song pick 3 years ago today: Depeche Mode - New Life My song pick 4 years ago today: Yes - Time and a Word My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Commercial Traveler My song pick 6 years ago today: Jefferson Starship - No Way Out My song pick 7 years ago today: Cybotron - Parameters of Consciousness My song pick 8 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - You Better Be Good (Or the Devil Gon' Getcha) My song pick 9 years ago today: Yes - No Opportunity Necessary, No

From: Quark, Strangeness and Charm ; Year: 1977; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock Another record I have been delving into over the last little bit, Quark, Strangeness and Charm is one of my top favourites from Hawkwind and a blast to listen to.   The Iron Dream closes out the album, which is an instrumental just under two minutes long. Loosely based on Gustav Holst's Mars and took its title from the 1972 Norman Spinrad novel of the song's namesake. From wot I understand, this track was used as a crescendo to Uncle Sam's on Mars when played live.   Hear The Iron Dream on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: LaBelle - Lady Marmalade   My song pick 2 years ago today: Foreigner - The Damage Is Done   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blancmange - Waves   My song pick 4 years ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Bedrock Anthem My song pick 5 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Miller's Cave My song pick 6 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Yum

From: Will of the People ; Year: 2022; Genre: Glam Rock/Hard Rock Here is another rousing song from Muse, which is a band that I have had on my mind for the last handful of days. Gotta love that rock 'n roll/rockabilly vibe in the main riff; it sets off an interesting mix.   Hear Will of the People on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Kenny Loggins - Whenever I Call You "Friend"   My song pick 2 years ago today: R.E.O. Speedwagon - Don't Let Him Go   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - Hand Over Fist   My song pick 4 years ago today: Wild Turkey - Gentle Rain My song pick 5 years ago today: Eddie Money - Walk on Water My song pick 6 years ago today: Dayton Sidewinders - Go Ahead On My song pick 7 years ago today: Victor Wooten - I Saw God My song pick 8 years ago today: Melvins - A History of Bad Men My song pick 9 years ago today: Wild Turkey - Ballad of Chuck Stallion and the Mustangs My song pick 10 years ago today: Nick Gilder

From: Captured ; Year: 1985; Genre: R&B/Synthpop/Soul/Funk Here's one that brings back a lot of memories. Just love the way he sings and the music is perfect; may be dated somewhat, but it's a comforting and familiar sound for me. Sad that this record did not have the same impact as its predecessor; I firmly believe that Rockwell is deeply underappreciated.     Hear T.V. Psychology on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jim Stafford - Wildwood Weed   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Cure - The 13th   My song pick 4 years ago today: Rush - Carnies My song pick 5 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Another Point of View My song pick 6 years ago today: America - Watership Down My song pick 7 years ago today: Hawkwind - Angels of Death My song pick 8 year ago today: Yes - America My song pick 9 years ago today: Styx - Miss America My song pick 10 years ago today: Stevie

From: The Nylon Curtain ; Year: 1982; Genre: Rock This is without a doubt my favourite song off of Billy Joel's The Nylon Curtain, just so relatable and upbeat I suppose. Of course, the cute music video that went along with it helped with my appreciation with it; he has always been so great at storytelling in song.   Hear She's Right On Time on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Say Leroy (The Creature From The Black Lagoon Is Your Father)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - You Got That Right   My song pick 3 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Running Free   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jon Oliva's Pain - Festival My song pick 5 years ago today: Eddie Money - Baby Hold On My song pick 6 years ago today: Mr. Big - 1992 My song pick 7 years ago today: Fairport Convention - Dirty Linen My song pick 8 years ago today: Rush - Middletown Dreams My song pick 9 years ago today: Guns N' Roses - Get in the Rin

From: The Darkstone Will Shine ; Year: 1997; Genre: Pop/Rock For over the last decade or so I have tried to remember this song; I knew it was from a video game back on the original PlayStation in the late 1990s, but all searches were fruitless, until recently that is. You see, back then buying and trading in video games was really big and thus there were a lot of shops around where you could bring in the games you were done with, trade them in for credit on a game that was new to you. Because of this I played a lot of games during that time; I recalled seeing this music video at some point and there was a busker in game that you could give coin to and the music would then play. Never really looked back too much on the game, but I remembered the song and the video to some degree. Anyway, after many searches online off and on over the years I guess the search engines had gotten good enough to piece together the lyrics I could actually remember, and, lo and behold I found it! Anyway, I ca

From: Frizzle Fry ; Year: 1990; Genre: Alternative Metal/Funk Metal No other reason for choosing this one today, just needed some early Primus.    Hear Mr. Knowitall on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Steve Miller Band - The Stake   My song pick 2 years ago today: John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom   My song pick 3 years ago today: Parliament - Presence of a Brain   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jethro Tull - The Clasp My song pick 5 years ago today: Stuart Hamm - Quahogs Anyone? (119, 120 Whatever It Takes) My song pick 6 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Tattoo Vampire My song pick 7 years ago today: Automat - The Rise My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery My song pick 9 years ago today: Pink Floyd - High Hopes My song pick 10 years ago today: Megadeth - 99 Ways to Die My song pick 11 years ago today: Bachman & Turner - That's What It Is My song pick 12 years ago today: Santo & Johnny - Harbour Ligh

From: American Woman ; Year: 1970; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Folk Rock Here's a very interesting one, which features only Randy Bachman's guitar and Burton Cummings' vocals and recited poetry. The melody and chords are my favourite aspects on this track.    Hear Talisman on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Midnight Blue   My song pick 2 years ago today: Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Who - 5.15   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Delfonics - Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love) My song pick 5 years ago today: Foghat - Fool for the City My song pick 6 years ago today: Asia - Daylight My song pick 7 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Lowlands of Holland My song pick 8 years ago today: Mr. Bungle - Squeeze Me Macaroni My song pick 9 years ago today: The Delfonics - Funny Feeling My song pick 10 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Heaven Beside You My song pic

From: Baypath Rd ; Year: 1994; Genre: Alternative Rock/Indie Rock Absolutely adore the raw energy and sound of this one; has all of the hallmarks of a garage band, which for me not only brings back memories, but is pure awesomeness!   Hear Plymouth on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Undisputed Truth - Atomic Funk   My song pick 2 years ago today: Canned Heat - London Blues   My song pick 3 years ago today: Soundgarden - Never the Machine Forever   My song pick 4 years ago today: Slade - Everyday My song pick 5 years ago today: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Smile of the Beyond My song pick 6 years ago today: Jerry Reed - The Bandit My song pick 7 years ago today: Disco Dream and the Androids - Dream Machine My song pick 8 years ago today: Neil Young - Mr. Soul My song pick 9 years ago today: Lobo - A Simple Man My song pick 10 years ago today: Yes - Fly From Here (Suite) My song pick 11 years ago today: Pat Benatar - Invincible My song pick 12 years ago today

From: Yes ; Year: 1969; Genre: Progressive Rock/Psychedelic Rock Nothing like some early material from Yes for this very busy weekend.    Hear Survival on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Stand Back   My song pick 2 years ago today: Norman Greenbaum - I. J. Foxx   My song pick 3 years ago today: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - I Don't Blame You At All   My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - That Was Me My song pick 5 years ago today: Huey Lewis and the News - Doing It All For My Baby My song pick 6 years ago today: Lakeside - If You Like Our Music (Get Up And Move) My song pick 7 years ago today: Blancmange - Lose Your Love My song pick 8 years ago today: Curved Air - Metamorphosis My song pick 9 years ago today: Spencer Davis Group - I'm a Man My song pick 10 years ago today: Savatage - Streets My song pick 11 years ago today: Rammstein - Feuer und Wasser My song pick 12 years ago today: David Bowie - Le

From: The Heat Is On ; Year: 1975; Genre: Funk/Hard Rock/Soul Here is an expertly blended piece of rock, soul, and funk to bring the workweek to a conclusion. This is definitely one of those songs where you come for one aspect, but stay for another, in this case that incredible guitar playing by Ernie Isley.    Hear Hope You Feel Better Love (Part 1+2) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Gary Wright - Dream Weaver   My song pick 2 years ago today: Glass Tiger - Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)   My song pick 3 years ago today: ABBA - Don't Shut Me Down   My song pick 4 years ago today: Classics IV - Stormy My song pick 5 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Funky Situation My song pick 6 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Second Hand News My song pick 7 years ago today: Harlequin - Innocence My song pick 8 years ago today: Waylon Jennings - Theme from 'The Dukes of Hazzard' (Good Ol' Boys) My song pick 9 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Up To Me

From: Nina Simone In Concert ; Year: 1964; Genre: Jazz/Soul/Opera Was listening to and reading up on Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera and happened upon this amazing rendition of the piece Pirate Jenny by the late-great Nina Simone and was blown away not just by her amazing vocals, but her presence and acting ability. It made me wish I was in the audience back then to watch it live; she certainly was something great.   Hear Pirate Jenny (The Black Freighter) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Smash Mouth - Walkin' On the Sun   My song pick 2 years ago today: Fairport Convention - No Man's Land   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Goin' Through the Motions   My song pick 4 years ago today: Marillion - The Last Straw My song pick 5 years ago today: Jane's Addiction - True Nature My song pick 6 years ago today: Manic Street Preachers - Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) My song pick 7 years ago today: Dream

From: She's So Unusual ; Year: 1983; Genre: Pop/Rock/New Wave When I say I was exposed to this album a lot earlier in my life, I'm not kidding; every track is burnt indelibly in my mind. I think my sisters wore out multiple copies of it, and my parents liked it too, as did I. Anyway, this is the lead song on the album and is a cover originally written and recorded by The Brains from 1978 and later released on their eponymous debut record.   Hear Money Changes Everything on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jimmy Buffett - Come Monday   My song pick 2 years ago today: Cab Calloway and His Orchestra - Minnie the Moocher   My song pick 3 years ago today: G.C. Cameron - It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday   My song pick 4 years ago today: Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop My song pick 5 years ago today: The Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost in You My song pick 6 years ago today: Bon Jovi - If I Was Your Mother My song pick 7 years ago today: Steely Dan - Aja

From: Book of Dreams ; Year: 1977; Genre: Rock Here is another hit song from one of my most liked bands that I had yet to pick apparently. Swingtown is one those songs that is interesting to listen to and is near perfect for the dance floor, plus it is a track that can be played and go over well in mixed company. Kind of funny too, recently discovered that, according to Greg Leon, he and Randy Rhodes were messing around with the main riff to this track and thought it sounded awesome when sped up, which eventually became inspiration for the verse riff for the Ozzy Osbourne metal classic Crazy Train ; now that I know this I cannot "unhear" it....   Hear Swingtown on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Scorpions - Hit Between the Eyes   My song pick 2 years ago today: King Crimson - The Sheltering Sky   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bernard Wright - Just Chillin' Out   My song pick 4 years ago today: Alice In Chains - Never Fade   My song pick 5 years ago tod

From: Cosmo's Factory ; Year: 1970; Genre: Rock/Rock 'n Roll Been a busy holiday weekend, and thought this CCR classic would be a good choice. Playing in bar bands overexposed me to this track in particular among others, but it's still one of the essential tracks from the band and even though I played it quite a bit people really loved it.   Hear Travelin' Band on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Drifters - This Magic Moment   My song pick 2 years ago today: Old Metropolitan Band - Summertime   My song pick 3 years ago today: Toronto - Your Daddy Don't Know   My song pick 4 years ago today: Balance - Ride the Wave   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Black Hearted Woman My song pick 6 years ago today: Joe Jackson - Breaking Us In Two My song pick 7 years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 375 - Chorale Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich My song pick 8 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - You Are a Winner

BWV 542 ; ~1720; Genre: Baroque Period/Organwork/classical Another year has passed whilst another one begins; 17 years now unless my arithmetic has failed once more... hard to believe it's been this long. Oh well, moving right along.... As usual I am choosing another one from the master of all things musical from the Baroque period: Johann Sebastian Bach . This is one of his grandiose organworks that is a truly typical piece for him; it absolutely will not fade into the background when you play it and will flat-out demand your attention, but that's one the aspects of Bach's works that I love so much.   Hear Great Fantasia and Fugue in G-Minor , BWV 542, performed by Van Doeselaar on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 566 - Prelude and Fugue in E-Major My song pick 2 years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 15 - Denn Du Wirst Meine Seele Nicht In Der Hölle Lassen   My song pick 3 years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 1 - Wie