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

From: Grand Funk Lives ; Year: 1981; Genre: Rock The original version of this track by Eric Burdon and the Animals has always been a personal favourite of mine from that band; it has been covered many, many times since. One of those bands to cover it is Grand Funk Railroad on their 1981 release, so of course it was destined to be added here.   Hear We Gotta Get Out of This Place on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Don't Do Me Like That   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rhapsody of Fire - Glory for Salvation   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rare Earth - Good Time Sally   My song pick 4 years ago today: Asia - Anytime   My song pick 5 years ago today: Joe Cocker - Woman to Woman   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jimmy Jules & The Nuclear Soul System - Xmas Done Got Funky My song pick 7 years ago today: Queen - A Winter's Tale My song pick 8 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Rise of the Cha...

From: Galaxy ; Year: 1977; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Funk Some jazz fusion and funk on the lighter side to finish out this Friday; 14+ minutes of it!   Hear Seven Tin Soldiers on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Nightwatchman - Which Side Are You On?   My song pick 3 years ago today: Manfred Mann - Fox on the Run   My song pick 4 years ago today: Foreigner - Inside Information   My song pick 5 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Tee Nine Chee Bit   My song pick 6 years ago today: Dire Straits - So Far Away My song pick 7 years ago today: Steve Miller Band - Winter Time My song pick 8 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Apocalypse 1992 My song pick 9 years ago today: Dream Theater - A Rite of Passage My song pick 10 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Mountain Men My song pick 11 years ago today: Marcus Miller - Come Together My song pick 12 years ago toda...

From: A Passion Play ; Year: 1973; Genre: Progressive Rock/Symphonic Rock Well, today marks, I suppose the beginning of the holiday season and all the positives and negatives therein. Thanksgiving in particular has always been somewhat difficult for me personally with the plethora of personalities and sore trigger spots that you try to navigate like an old minefield, knowing that the slightest wrong step will set off an explosion figuratively speaking. I get exhausted having to put on a false front, keeping all of the cracks in my facade as opaque as possible. All I can say is that when the season is over I will definitely need a long break.   Anyway, to today's pick, (it is a song blog after all).  This brief instrumental piece shows up at the end of Act 1, just after protagonist Ronnie Pilgrim's funeral as he is being taken to the afterlife to the "viewing room" at the start of Act 2. It starts out on the acoustic guitar and then the whole band kicks in with the org...

From: Running Bear (single) ; Year: 1959; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/Rockabilly 1959 in particular seemed like a sullen year musically with a bunch of songs about death going to the top of the charts as well the infamous plane crash that took three rock 'n roll legends. Actually Running Bear was coincidentally written by J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson who was amongst the victims in the crash. Sadly, he would obviously not live to hear this composition become a #1 hit later that same year. Anyway, as said prior, this is one of the "tragedy" songs that features two lovers separated by their warring tribes and a mighty river. They long to be together and meet in the middle of the river and as they kiss the river pulls them under and the two lovers perish in each other's arms. Strangely enough, the song that this one replace at #1 on the charts was another was El Paso by Marty Robbins, which is another one with a tragic tale of death, and the song that became...

From: Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots ; Year: 1955; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/Pop This is one of the earlier "teenage tragedy" songs that would permeate the late '50 through the mid '60s in American popular culture. Whilst it tells the tale of death and grieving, by the music you wouldn't really guess it. It has almost a comically circus quality of it; kind of like it was making a parody of itself and not until the last verse do you really feel the gravity of the tale and even then it's almost like: "He got killed by a train, ha! ha! ha!" sort of feel.   Hear Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jim Ed Brown - Sunday Morning We'll Be Singing   My song pick 2 years ago today: Frank Mills - Music Box Dancer   My song pick 3 years ago today: Kool & The Gang - Let the Music Take Your Mind   My song pick 4 years ago today: Eric Clapton - Pilgrim   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue...

From: The Real Thing ; Year: 1989; Genre: Alternative Metal Difficult for me personally realizing that The Real Thing is now 35 years old; it doesn't sound like it, I tell you what. They've always been a forward-thinking band that never seemed satisfied and was never "stuck" sonically, experimenting and going to realms that other popular music acts would fear to tread. Anyway, this one merges a few genres seamlessly and does so in a way that is still quite accessible; still sounds fresh all these years later.   Hear The Morning After on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Rolling Stones - The Lantern   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bernard Wright - We're Just the Band   My song pick 3 years ago today: Scandal featuring Patty Smyth - The Warrior   My song pick 4 years ago today: Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight My song pick 5 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - My Own Space   My song pick 6 years ago today: Foreigner - Ho...

From: Blows Against the Empire ; Year: 1970; Genre: Psychedelic Rock A showcase of Grace Slick's amazing vocals and Jack Casady's bass, I only wish this brief track was longer.   Hear Sunrise on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Harlequin - Fine Line   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ray Davies - Thanksgiving Day   My song pick 3 years ago today: Hawkwind - Alcyone   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Gator   My song pick 5 years ago today: Pallas - The Executioner (Bernie Goetz a Gun)   My song pick 6 years ago today: Band of Horses - Dull Times/The Moon My song pick 7 years ago today: Los Bravos - Black is Black My song pick 8 years ago today: Led Zeppelin - Thank You My song pick 9 years ago today: Helmet - Unsung My song pick 10 years ago today: The Who - Doctor Jekyll & Mr. Hyde My song pick 11 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along the Watchtower My song pick 12 years ago today:...

From: Rock Out ; Year: 2021; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal Even though the sound of Wolfmother is more or less derivative of the early metal bands, it is still quite refreshing to hear them when compared and/or contrasted with the contemporary.    Hear Ego on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Vince Guaraldi - Little Birdie   My song pick 2 years ago today: Elvis Presley - Kentucky Rain   My song pick 3 years ago today: Charlie Parker - Yardbird Suite   My song pick 4 years ago today: Stevie Nicks - Nightbird   My song pick 5 years ago today: Twelfth Night - Fact and Fiction   My song pick 6 years ago today: Karussell - Verrückter Vormittag My song pick 7 years ago today: Wild Turkey - Eternal Mother - The Return My song pick 8 years ago today: Warren Zevon - Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song) My song pick 9 years ago today: Danzig - Twist of Cain My song pick 10 years ago today: Humble Pie - Black Coffee My song pick 11 ye...

From: America Eats Its Young ; Year: 1972; Genre: Funk Rock/Hard Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Soul Here's one that really defies genres to its core; it is hard funky rock with a blistering guitar, (remind me again why Eddy Hazel isn't considered amongst the best "axe slingers" of all time?), all the psychedelia you can handle steeped in soul as well as heavy technical music that wouldn't be out of place with mid 1970s King Crimson. Dang, all I can say is that this one is the very embodiment of a musical tour-'d-force.   Hear Miss Lucifer's Love on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Steeleye Span - The Bonny Black Hare   My song pick 2 years ago today: Cheap Trick - Reach Out   My song pick 3 years ago today: Soundgarden - New Damage   My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Divine Wind   My song pick 5 years ago today: Funkadelic - Butt to Buttresusitation   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bruce Hornsby - Halcyon Days My s...

From: Listen Like Thieves ; Year: 1987; Genre: Alternative Rock Was totally drawing a blank for today's song; so I just listened to wot was playing in my head at the time and went with it. This one oozes of the mid 1980s sound and is just a good all around track.   Hear Listen Like Thieves on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Diana Ross - Upside Down   My song pick 2 years ago today: Fleet Foxes - Fool's Errand   My song pick 3 years ago today: Megadeth - Post American World   My song pick 4 years ago today: John Mellencamp - Just Another Day   My song pick 5 years ago today: James Gang - Walk Away   My song pick 6 years ago today: Carmen - Looking Outside (My Window) My song pick 7 years ago today: The Guess Who - Cardboard Empire My song pick 8 years ago today: Jigsaw - I've Seen The Film, I've Read The Book My song pick 9 years ago today: Dio - Holy Diver My song pick 10 years ago today: Dazz Band - Joystick My son...

From: Just An Old Fashioned Love Song ; Year: 1971; Genre: Pop/Dixieland Jazz I keep finding so many songs I like that Paul Williams penned, recorded by many artists who have turned them into major hits. However, it is great to hear his own take on the pieces he wrote. (Just An) Old Fashioned Love Song was one that the noted 1970s giants Three Dog Night covered and took to #4 on the charts. It has been covered by others and used elsewhere, but not to that magnitude. I will say though, the more stripped down and intimate vocals as well as the Dixieland Jazz influenced chorus really make his original quite interesting and really catches your ears.   Hear (Just An) Old Fashioned Love Song on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: LeBlanc & Carr - Falling   My song pick 2 years ago today: Styx - Sing for the Day   My song pick 3 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - What Happens Now?   My song pick 4 years ago today: Egg - Contrasong   My ...

From: Electric Ladyland ; Year: 1968; Genre: Hard Rock/Psychedelic Rock Wot else to say; just a mindblowing tune from a wizard of a musician. It's all classic; I do not believe Jimi Hendrix wrote a terrible song in his time on the Earth.    Hear Still Raining, Still Dreaming on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bonnie Tyler - Faster Than the Speed of Night   My song pick 2 years ago today: Harlequin - Take This Heart   My song pick 3 years ago today: Lakeside - Money   My song pick 4 years ago today: Devo - Working in a Coal Mine   My song pick 5 years ago today: Mastodon - Steambreather   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Sweet Dream My song pick 7 years ago today: AC/DC - R.I.P. (Rock in Peace) My song pick 8 years ago today: Hawkwind - Web Weaver My song pick 9 years ago today: The Chamber Brothers - I Can't Turn You Loose My song pick 10 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Aces High My song pick 11 y...

From: Jerry Reed Explores Guitar Country; Year: 1969; Genre: Folk/Blues/Jazz I just love Mr. Jerry Reed's version of this longtime traditional favourite folk gospel hymn that so many have recorded. There is so much truth in this one as well as an exploration of what is good of the human condition and down-trodden spirit of some soul trudging on with a glorious destination. I really like what he did with this one; the emotion he imbues with every note both through his fingers and voice are just astounding. Also, the way he progresses the song from a heavy bluesy folk to a Bossa Nova piece is a work of art exemplified.   Hear Wayfaring Stranger on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Marillion - Torch Song   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rick James - Mr. Policeman   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pendragon - Ghosts   My song pick 4 years ago today: Buffalo Springfield - Rock and Roll Woman   My song pick 5 years ago today: Hall &...

From: Chronicles ; Year: 1973; Genre: Soul/Pop This track has a very interesting story behind it. It was originally written and composed by Priscilla Jones', (nee Coolidge), sister Rita. Almost everyone will immediately recognize the melody from the ending "coda" of Derek and the Dominoes', (Eric Clapton), legendary hit song Layla . Apparently Rita Coolidge was at the time dating Clapton's drummer Jim Gordon who heard her write and play it. He allegedly brought it to Clapton and passed it off as his own and included as a coda for the song. About a year later Rita heard her piece played as part of that song and was furious, but was brushed aside in a very sexist was by Clapton's management. Eventually Priscilla and her husband, who is a master and famous all around everything musical recorded it and this is the result. I have to say, it is very different hearing the lyrics after so many years of hearing it in Layla. So sad that I did not know about this or the ...

From: What'd I Say ; Year: 1959; Genre: Soul/R&B Here is one of Ray Charles' most legendary hits that not only took him to the stratosphere, but also is one of first tracks to establish the genre that would become soul.  From wot I understand it came out of an improvisational jam to fill out the time left over on a gig and it went over amazingly with both the audience and the band, so they hurried into the studio to cut the track.   Hear What'd I Say on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Romantics - Rock You Up   My song pick 2 years ago today: Yes - Believe Again   My song pick 3 years ago today: Stanley Clarke - If This Bass Could Only Talk   My song pick 4 years ago today: Winery Dogs - Solid Ground   My song pick 5 years ago today: Alestorm - Alestorm   My song pick 6 years ago today: Osiris - War On The Bullshit My song pick 7 years ago today: Triumph - Hard Road My song pick 8 years ago today: AC/DC - Big ...

From: One World ; Year: 1971; Genre: Funk Rock/Soul Well, we are at the midpoint of the month and its third Friday. Been meaning to choose one more from Rare Earth, so, it's a good match.   Hear The Seed on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bruce Springsteen - I'm on Fire   My song pick 2 years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Meadow   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pearl Jam - Dance of the Clairvoyants   My song pick 4 years ago today: Twelfth Night - East of Eden   My song pick 5 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Jungle Man   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Lady Jane My song pick 7 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Tenderloin My song pick 8 years ago today: The Beach Boys - I Can Hear Music My song pick 9 years ago today: Earthless - Equus October My song pick 10 years ago today: Rammstein - Weiner Blut My song pick 11 years ago today: Miles Davis - Funky Tonk My song pick 12 years ag...

From: Burgers and Fries/When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone) ; Year:1978; Genre: Country There is always something reassuring for me personally when I hear the late-great Charley Pride sing. His voice was so pure that you could hear every inflection and the emotion clear as a bell. Real country and western, no twangy pop to be found here.    Hear Burgers and Fries on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Normaal - Oerend Hard   My song pick 2 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Everybody is a Star   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steely Dan - Bad Sneakers   My song pick 4 years ago today: Fates Warning - Seven Stars   My song pick 5 years ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - Sin's a Good Man's Brother   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jimi Hendrix Experience - Burning of the Midnight Lamp My song pick 7 years ago today: ABBA - Dance (While the Music Still Goes On) My song pick 8 years ago today: Santo & Johnny - Moo...

From: Flirtin' With Disaster ; Year: 1979; Genre: Southern Rock Had this track on my mind since yesterday. I remember when I used to play the 8-Track album of Flirtin' With Disaster this track was part of my "path" of songs through the four main stereo tracks. While it was never one that I particularly liked, I eventually came around to enjoy it all the more. Without a single doubt, the music, especially the guitar solos are my favourite part of it.   Hear Jukin' City on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Bangles - Manic Monday   My song pick 2 years ago today: Wolfmother - Colossal   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Moody Blues - The Spirit   My song pick 4 years ago today: Fatback Band - (Do The) Spanish Hustle   My song pick 5 years ago today: Fairport Convention - Reynardine   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Kinks - Introduction to a Solution My song pick 7 years ago today: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - M...

From: The Body, the Blood, the Machine ; Year: 2006; Genre: Indie Rock For an indie band with punk sensibilities it's kind of interesting that they'd make a full-on concept album, but they did an amazing job painting and perhaps pre-shadowing happenings years after the record's release. It is still my personal favourite from the band, which contained the song that introduced me to their music: I Hold The Sound . I have to say though, the high emotion and the frantic quality of the punk-inspired delivery vocally really help sell the urgency of the tale.   Hear St. Rosa and the Swallows on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Hollies - Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress   My song pick 2 years ago today: Dio - Rainbow in the Dark   My song pick 3 years ago today: War - You Got the Power   My song pick 4 years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - New World Messiah   My song pick 5 years ago today: Duran Duran - The Universe Alone   My song...