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

From: The Works ; Year: 1984; Genre: Rock/Synthpop For my fourth pick in this theme I am going with a one of the most popular bands of all time, which used to get vilified by overtly self-righteous people. This was mostly due for people looking for and finding something to get offended about and those who just don't understand humour from another place. A few times back in Sunday school they would put in one VHS tape or another to show "proof" that some popular music was indoctrinating children by putting in back masked messages, i.e. supposed lyrics if you played them backwards would say some satanic or some other bad message. Of course, this idea goes way back further than the "Satanic Panic" with some claiming there is/was hidden messages by The Beatles in their music about dead band members being replaced and such. Other ones I do remember was Led Zeppelin doing it as well as Electric Light Orchestra. Jeff Lynne actually did respond in kind on the epic track...

From: Only Four You ; Year: 1985; Genre: R&B/Funk Third pick of my Satanic Panic theme. This was another one from the PMRC's "Filthy 15" songs that they vilified mostly with wild and unfounded accusations. The Mary Jane Girls are considered to be a "one-hit wonder" with this one being that hit. Although, they did have some others that did chart, just not in the "Top 40;" two other songs of theirs just missed it at numbers 41 and 42. If you count others, like the R&B or Dance charts, then they'd have 5 and 6 hits respectively. Anyway, this group were proteges of musical legend Rick James, who also wrote and produced this song and album.   Hear In My House on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Steve Vai - Die to Live     My song pick 2 years ago today: Billy Idol - Blue Christmas   My song pick 3 years ago today: Chris Squire and Alan White - Run With the Fox   My song pick 4 years ago today: Rush - Cold Fire   My so...

From: Under the Blade ; Year: 1982; Genre: Metal/Hard Rock Song #2 of my Satanic Panic theme. Another band that was quite ubiquitous during that time, vilified by the duplicitous actors was Twisted Sister; their frontman Dee Snyder in particular. Of course their mega hit " We're Not Going to Take It " got a lot of attention by those in power, but I have always found Mr. Snyder's comment about this song to be one of the more distinguished moments in the senate hearing for the PMRC. Tipper Gore, who was one of the founding members of the PMRC, stated that Under the Blade was about sadomasochism, bondage, and rape. This ascertain, of course, was once again either complete ignorance, a bald-faced lie or perhaps some from column A and some from column B.... Anyway, Dee Snyder actually told the story of the song's inception and subject matter, which had nothing at all to do with their incorrect accusations. At the time prior to becoming signed, guitarist Eddie "Fi...

From: Back In Black ; Year: 1980; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal Since I've just now gotten into the six-thousand-six-hundred-sixties in my pick numbers, wot I decided I would do is revisit some select pieces of music from the "moral panic" against rock and metal music back in the 1980s that is in hindsight referred to as the " Satanic Panic ." A perfect starting point would have to be AC/DC; at least to my memory of the time they seemed to be one of the bands/artists tarred the most. Everything from spreading the blatant lie that the band name meant "Against Christ/Devil's Children" to lying about them putting diabolical messages in their songs and beyond; sometimes being ministers or "special guests" spewing their false witness from the pulpit that stands for truth against the Devil, who is referred to ironically as the father of all lies. I could go on and continue this tangent, but long story short I kept my faith in spite of them and their l...

From: Somewhere Else ; Year: 2007; Genre: Alternative Rock/Progressive Rock Been meaning to pick another one from Marillion for some time now; finally getting around to it. This is more than a bit different from wot I expect from the band; somewhere between Porcupine Tree and early 1990s alternative music. Every detail seemingly is like special care was given in a deliberate perfection.   Hear The Wound on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Edison's Children - Dusk     My song pick 2 years ago today: King Crimson - Indiscipline   My song pick 3 years ago today: James Brown - Go Power At Christmas   My song pick 4 years ago today: Los Lobos - Will the Wolf Survive?   My song pick 5 years ago today: Sylvia - You're a Legend In Your Own Mind   My song pick 6 years ago today: Marillion - The Carol of the Bells   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Pogues - Fairytale of New York My song pick 8 years ago today: Victo...

From: Sports ; Year: 1983; Genre: Rock You know the same old story: had it in my mind, surprised that I had not chosen it yet, and now I am. Such a timeless and fun track and then some.   Hear I Want a New Drug on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Orlons - South Street     My song pick 2 years ago today: Steve Gray - Snowman's Stomp   My song pick 3 years ago today: Queen - White Queen (As It Began)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Tennessee Ernie Ford - Shot-Gun Boogie   My song pick 5 years ago today: Savatage - All That I Bleed   My song pick 6 years ago today: Yes - The Remembering/High the Memory   My song pick 7 years ago today: Alphaville - Sounds Like a Melody My song pick 8 years ago today: The Spencer Davis Group - Keep On Running My song pick 9 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Searchin' for Celine My song pick 10 years ago today: Queen - Thank God It's Christmas My song pick 11 years a...

From: On the Threshold of a Dream ; Year: 1969; Genre: Country Rock Was fully intending on choosing another song today, but ever since getting ready to write this blog post Send Me No Wine has been incessantly playing in my mind. It's really difficult for me to pick favourites from this record, or really a favourite of their first ten albums to be honest. At least for this record, and most of their others of the period, it is mostly due to how they arranged and wrote the songs to segue perfectly into each other as to make the listener keep playing the disc without skipping around or putting an entire other album on. Anyway, this is quite a catchy tune with a lot of interesting aspects within, one in particular is how they use the Mellotron to imitate a pedal steel guitar to some degree, which helps give it that signature country "boing" if you will.    Hear Send Me No Wine on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Spanky and Our Gang - ...

From: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones ; Year: 1990; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Bluegrass Apparently I have not chosen one of their songs in quite some time; in around six years to be exact. Strange, with them being a favourite of mine, I guess I should rectify that today. It's kinda odd how Béla Fleck & the Flecktones have not released a new album, as far as I am aware, for almost 15 years. At least they are still together and performing, again, as far as I am aware. Anyway, here's one from their debut album, which came out in 1990. Doesn't seem that long ago to me, but that was actually 35 years ago... wow.    Hear Frontiers on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Spaced Cowboy     My song pick 2 years ago today: Wings - Again and Again and Again   My song pick 3 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills   My song pick 4 years ago today: Paco De Lucía - De Madruga (Seguiriyas)   My song pic...

From: Funky Christmas; Year : 1976; Genre: Soul/Funk/Christmas Music Thought I would continue picking something seasonal on this first Friday in December. It is simply astonishing just how many Christmas and related songs there are performed by soul, funk, and R&B artists over the years and still counting. Being how much I love those genres, I highly doubt that I'll run out of new and different Christmas music at all, which is awesome!   Hear Feeling Like Christmas on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - The Betrayal of Joshua Kynde     My song pick 2 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Never My Love   My song pick 3 years ago today: Europe - Prisoners in Paradise   My song pick 4 years ago today: Cab Calloway - The Birth of the Blues   My song pick 5 years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Tightrope   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Thermals - Here's Your Future   My song pick ...

From: In the Christmas Spirit ; Year: 1966; Genre: Soul/R&B/Christmas Music Yesterday I learned of the passing of legendary writer and guitarist Steve Cropper. Even if you do not know him by name, you have heard his music without a doubt. He has to be right up there with the most recorded musicians, especially guitarists, in the last century. Booker T. & The M.G.'s were Stax Records in-house band and played behind most of the soul and rock acts out of the 1960s and 1970s. The band was most notably made up of Booker T. Jones on keys, Steve Cropper on guitar, Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass, and Al Jackson Jr. on drums. They were the most famous of the few "house bands" and were known outside the studio by name; their biggest hit is probably Green Onions . Anyway, I suppose I could have gone with one of the many, many artists that he played with, but it just seemed right to pick one from the original band. Because it is also the Christmas season I thought I...

From: Legend ; Year: 1978; Genre: Country Rock On and off for many years now I've been meaning to choose a track from Poco; even to the point that I believed I already had. For those who don't know about Poco, they were one of the bands formed out of the dissolution of the storied band  Buffalo Springfield ; although by the release of Legend and Poco's major successes, both members of Buffalo Springfield, Jim Messina and Ritchie Furay, had moved on. In fact the only founding member to appear on this record, and every other release for that matter, was Rusty Young, whose death a few years ago brought the band to an end. However, Rusty Young did make an appearance of Buffalo Springfield's final album, Last Time Around , as a guest musician on a track playing pedal steel guitar, so arguably there always was one member of the former band. Anyway, if you have indulged in mainstream music from the late '70s and early '80s, you probably have heard this one at some tim...

From: High and Mighty ; Year: 1976; Genre: Hard Rock Just another great, dynamic track from Uriah Heep. Plus, it's quite apropos with the first real snowfall this season coming down here.      Hear Footprints in the Snow on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jim Reeves - The Blizzard     My song pick 2 years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - That I Never Had   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Four Tops - Right On Brother   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jim Croce - Steel Rail Blues   My song pick 5 years ago today: Kansas - The Wall   My song pick 6 years ago today: Trio of Doom - Are You The One? Are You The One?   My song pick 7 years ago today: IQ - Fascination My song pick 8 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Winter My song pick 9 years ago today: Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up My song pick 10 years ago today: Yes - Cinema My song pick 11 years ago today: Heart - Sing Child My ...

From: Are You Ready ; Year: 1982; Genre: Pop Had not heard this song in ages, but just happened to hear it the other day and thought it would make an excellent pick. To my ears on this track, they remind me a great deal of ABBA, which considering the era of its writing and recording is not a surprise. Wot is of interest though is that this very upbeat poppy tune is actually a political protest song. Either way you look at it/listen to it you should still enjoy it in some regard.   Hear The Land of Make Believe on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Tesla - All the Young Dudes     My song pick 2 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Underdog   My song pick 3 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Morning Rain   My song pick 4 years ago today: Faith No More - Naked in Front of the Computer   My song pick 5 years ago today: The B-52's - Deadbeat Club   My song pick 6 years ago today: Pallas - Crown of Thorns   My son...

From: Shuffle and Go ; Year: 2020; Genre: Folk Rock Where did November go? Just seemed like we finished Halloween and October... although being that I was down sick for most of the month didn't help me savour it if at all. I guess with December starting tomorrow we'll be going full-throttle into the Holiday season; might as well get a pick for the season ready, right? Anyway, here's a Christmas folk dance song in the reel form off of Fairport's most recent studio album. I have to say, this one is quite enjoyable and fun to listen and dance along with, even if you do not know the traditional reel dance form.    Hear Good Time for a Fiddle and Bow / The Christmas Eve Reel on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - We Gotta Get Out of This Place     My song pick 2 years ago today: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Don't Do Me Like That   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rhapsody of Fire - Glory for Salvation  ...

From: Love in Motion (single); Year: 1981; Genre: New Wave Having music from the band Icehouse on the brain thus far today and took it once again as a sign I needed to revisit the group. Whilst Icehouse had already been known by that name abroad, but, their first album, Icehouse , in their native Australia and related area the band was still named Flowers, so technically Love in Motion was Icehouse's debut single, at least at home. This song would, however, eventually be included on future releases of both the original Icehouse album and their second Primitive Man .     Hear Love in Motion on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: War - Seven Tin Soldiers     My song pick 2 years ago today: Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Nightwatchman - Which Side Are You On?   My song pick 4 years ago today: Manfred Mann - Fox on the Run   My song pick 5 years ago today: Foreigner - Inside I...

From: Shot of Love ; Year: 1978; Genre: Funk/Soul/Jazz As always, Lakeside puts a smile on my face, which is in actuality true of most funk bands. This is a fun, funky track that contains a lot of neat musical ideas and concepts from jazz to disco and everything in between. I especially love the arrangements, but that bass is just monstrous, those instrumental breaks in particular. I can hear a great deal of Stevie Wonder's influence in spades.   Hear One Minute After Midnight on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Re-Assuring Tune     My song pick 2 years ago today: Supertramp - Child of Vision   My song pick 3 years ago today: Aphrodite's Child - The System/Babylon   My song pick 4 years ago today: Arlo Guthrie - Coming Into Los Angeles   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Who - Success Story   My song pick 6 years ago today: Booker T. & The MG's - My Sweet Potato   My song pick 7 years ago to...

From: The Revenge of Alice Cooper ; Year: 2025; Genre: Hard Rock This is actually the first full studio album by the band Alice Cooper since 1973, which can be confusing since "Alice Cooper" is also the persona that Vincent Furnier has recorded and performed as before and since the band broke up. This entire record features Cooper and the three surviving members, plus three tracks with previously recorded material of the departed lead guitarist Glen Buxton. Even though they have recorded a few songs together in the last 15 years or so, it has been a hoot hearing them again in that loud bluesy sound reminiscent of their early days.      Hear Intergalactic Vagabond Blues on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Johnny Preston - Running Bear     My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Horse-Hoeing Husbandry   My song pick 3 years ago today: Irene Cara - Flashdance... What a Feeling   My song pick 4 years ago tod...