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

From: Smokin' ; Year: 1972; Genre: Hard Rock/Blues Rock Thus far today I've had this song on my mind, so as usual I am choosing it. Probably the best aspect of this one is the singalong chorus, which makes it perfect when played in a party setting; of course, the beat and driving bass line already makes it quite danceable.   Hear 30 Days in the Hole on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Thermals - An Ear For Baby   My song pick 2 years ago today: Hawkwind - Jack of Shadows   My song pick 3 years ago today: George Clinton - Maximumisness   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bruce Hornsby & The Range - Look Out Any Window   My song pick 5 years ago today: Marillion - This Strange Engine   My song pick 6 years ago today: 10cc - Good Morning Judge My song pick 7 years ago today: The Moody Blues - I Know You're Out There Somewhere My song pick 8 years ago today: Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong - Money Blues My son...

From: Cooleyhighharmony ; Year: 1991; Genre: Soul/Doo-Wop This is probably the song that is a lot think of when they hear Boyz II Men. Wot really else is there to say, but they really did a spectacular job on this, their a cappella rendition of this classic track.   Hear It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Daniel Boone - Beautiful Sunday   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Hallucinations   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Kinks - Sleepwalker   My song pick 4 years ago today: Carmen - The Horseman   My song pick 5 years ago today: Daniel Lanois - That's The Way It Is   My song pick 6 years ago today: Raspberries - Go All The Way My song pick 7 years ago today: The Thermals - Test Pattern My song pick 8 years ago today: Kool & The Gang - Jungle Boogie My song pick 9 years ago today: The Beatles - For You Blue My song pick 10 years ago today: Boston -...

From: Empire (reissue); Year: 1990; Genre: Hard Rock I had not re-visited Queensrÿche or this album in a long time, so I thought I should rectify it. Last Night in Paris originally comes from the motion picture soundtrack from The Adventures of Ford Fairlane , but was later included on reissues of Empire . I vaguely recall the movie, but I do not believe that I ever actually saw it. At least we got a good new song out of it!   Hear Last Time in Paris on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Alive 'N Kickin' - Tighter, Tighter   My song pick 2 years ago today: Sweet - Call Me   My song pick 3 years ago today: Lou Rawls - Groovy People   My song pick 4 years ago today: Marillion - Dry Land   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ray Davies - The Getaway   My song pick 6 years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Keep On Chooglin' My song pick 7 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Luther the Anthropoid (Ape Man) My s...

From: Age of Impact ; Year: 1998; Genre: Progressive Metal/Progressive Rock This is the fifth and final track from the epic concept album of the ultra supergroup Explorers Club. As you would expect from a band consisting of members of Dream Theater, Mr. Big, Yes, Asia, Frank Zappa, Alice Cooper and Joe Bonamassa to name a few, there is a lot of very technical and extreme music throughout. Sad thing is that their only other album, Raising the Mammoth , consists of two huge pieces and I have already chosen one of them, so only one track from this epic project to pick....   Hear Impact 5 – Last Call on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Wilson Pickett - Smokin' in the United Nations   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jim Croce - Speedball Tucker   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Beatles - And Your Bird Can Sing   My song pick 5 years ago today: King Crimson - Industry ...

From: Up for the Down Stroke ; Year: 1974; Genre: Funk/Soul/R&B You could look at this track two ways: 1. it is a cover, or 2. it is a re-recording. Originally was cut for the predecessor Doo-Wop group: The Parliaments , of which George Clinton was the leader under the title (I Wanna) Testify . It was, of course, made funkier for Parliament, which I say is a plus.   Hear Testify on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Iain Matthews - Morgan the Pirate   My song pick 2 years ago today: Soundgarden - Tighter & Tighter   My song pick 3 years ago today: Damn Yankees - Runaway   My song pick 4 years ago today: Camel - Lies   My song pick 5 years ago today: Hawkwind - 65 Million Years Ago   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Police - Don't Stand Too Close To Me My song pick 7 years ago today: Mastodon - The Wolf is Loose My song pick 8 years ago today: Steely Dan - Don't Take Me Alive My song pick 9 years ago today: Jethr...

From: Street Survivors ; Year: 1977; Genre: Southern Rock/Blues Rock As far as I am aware, this is the only song that Steve Gaines sung solo lead vocals on. It really is a shame that he was taken so young; he showed an amazing and quickly evolving virtuosity.   Hear Ain't No Good Life on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Johnny Rivers - Secret Agent Man   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rush - Resist   My song pick 3 years ago today: Heart - The Oldest Story in the World   My song pick 4 years ago today: Cream - Sitting on Top of the World   My song pick 5 years ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Forever Falling   My song pick 6 years ago today: Genesis - Behind the Lines My song pick 7 years ago today: Rush - Emotion Detector My song pick 8 years ago today: Al Di Meola - The Wizard My song pick 9 years ago today: Rhapsody of Fire - Dark Wings of Steel My song pick 10 years ago today: Parliament - Flash Light My ...

From: Clambake ; Year: 1968; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/Country/Rockabilly Had this one come on the other day, which was apparently a late edition to this record that had a troubled studio time. Elvis had heard Jerry Reed's original over the radio and very much wanted to record his own version, however, none of the studio guitarists were capable of putting down the part due to Mr. Reed's strange tuning and the fact that he had a unique "claw" picking style. As the story goes they were trying to cut the track, but the guitar part was just not coming, so they sent someone to find Jerry Reed to ask him for pointers. He was actually out fishing, so it must've been quite an interesting time finding him, but after explaining to him what they were doing he essentially said that the traditional flatpickers at the studio would not be able to replicate it, so he packed up and headed to the studio. Kind of funny how Jerry Reed got to cover his own song about a year after he him...

From: Suicidal for Life ; Year: 1994; Genre: Trash Metal/Crossover Thrash/Funk Metal Had not thought of this band for a long while now and just felt like revisiting their music once more. I love Robert Turjillo's bass lines and fills on this one, it really brings the song alive.   Hear Depression and Anguish on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Los Bravos - I Don't Care   My song pick 2 years ago today: Talking Heads - Burning Down the House   My song pick 3 years ago today: Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Guess Who? - Believe Me   My song pick 5 years ago today: Journey - Open Arms   My song pick 6 years ago today: Peter Frampton - Nassau/Baby, I Love Your Way My song pick 7 years ago today: Hawkwind - Nuclear Drive My song pick 8 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Dirt My song pick 9 years ago today: Kool & the Gang - Funky Man My song pick 10 years ago today: Jethro Tull -...

From: Resist ; Year: 2022; Genre: Alternative Rock I keep coming back to The 'Oils' most recent album, mostly due to looking for more new music from one of my favourite bands. It is actually for the reason that I am so out of touch with popular culture anymore and even a lot of the bands and artists I really like fly under my radar. That beings said, of course, this record is full of great, deep and heavy music. They have never lost their edge in wot they do best; heck, even their music from back in the '80s is still current, musically, lyrically, and subject matter wise. Probably more now than then.    Hear We Are Not Afraid on YouTube. Watch a live performance on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Marillion - Care   My song pick 2 years ago today: Eric Burdon and War - The Vision of Rassan   My song pick 3 years ago today: Brave Belt - Long Way 'Round   My song pick 4 years ago today: Meat Loaf - Paradise By the Dashboard Light ...

From: The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society ; Year: 1968; Genre: Pop/Rock I do not know why, but I just keep coming back to The Kinks lately and their phenomenal musicianship and songwriting. This one that starts side two of their 'Village Green Preservation Society album of critical acclaim. You might think that this track is a reference to George Orwell's masterpiece with the same title , but that is all it has in common in reality. It is more of an upbeat pop track with Ray Davies singing about an idealistic country scene opposite of the madness and rat-race of the urban setting.   Hear Animal Farm on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Duran Duran - Girls on Film   My song pick 2 years ago today: Mountain - Tired Angels (to J.M.H.)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Ramble Tamble   My song pick 4 years ago today: 10cc - Art for Art's Sake   My song pick 5 years ago today: Brothe...

From: Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds ; Year: 1978; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock/Space Rock Discovered this rock opera double album the other day; it piqued my interest would be an understatement. Hard progressive rock AND H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds ? Heck yeah! I remember reading this one back in grade school, I was fascinated by H.G. Wells' vision of both the Martians and their Tripods. The ship in the novel and this song's namesake, Thunder Child I have come to like even more after Star Trek bestowed that name on one of the Akira class ships that you saw fighting The Dominion and The Borg, so yeah, it is awesome. Anyway, this track comes at the end of side 2 and is a mix of narration and vocals by Chris Thompson of Manfred Mann fame with some great, fast-paced music.   Hear Thunder Child on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Cameo - Funk Funk   My song pick 2 years ago today: Genesis - Tonight, Tonight, Tonight...

From: Power ; Year: 1987; Genre: Funk Great song to end the workweek with; very much an empowering, celebratory/party track.    Hear Power on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship - Starship   My song pick 2 years ago today: Alice in Chains - So Far Under   My song pick 3 years ago today: C.W. McCall - Black Bear Road   My song pick 4 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Sheep   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bill Withers - Lean On Me   My song pick 6 years ago today: Small Faces - Itchycoo Park My song pick 7 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Night in the City My song pick 8 years ago today: The Psychedelic Furs - Pretty in Pink My song pick 9 years ago today: Cesar 830 - Bridges My song pick 10 years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - So Damn Cool My song pick 11 years ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Renegades of Funk My song pick 12 years ago today: Triumph - Fight th...

From: War ; Year: 1971; Genre: Soul/Blues Rock/Jazz Fusion When one of their songs came on while driving this morning it just put me in a better mood, which was without a doubt needed. They are one of those bands that seems to almost always have something positive and uplifting about their material; this beautiful bluesy soul instrumental included.   Hear Vibeka on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Spacehog - Only a Few   My song pick 2 years ago today: Duran Duran - New Religion   My song pick 3 years ago today: T. Rex - Dandy in the Underworld   My song pick 4 years ago today: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough   My song pick 5 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Phase I   My song pick 6 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell My song pick 7 years ago today: Dire Straits - Heavy Fuel My song pick 8 years ago today: The Doobie Brothers - Black Water My song pick 9 years ago today: The...

From: End of the World ; Year: 1968; Genre: Progressive Rock/Psychedelic Rock Here is another song that would've gone good yesterday, so I guess it's an April Fools bonus! Been listening to this storied Greek power trio a bit over the last couple of days; I have to say, when a band's first record is titled End of the World and their final album is titled 666 (The Apocalypse of John) , you have to be ready for some really heavy music in the extreme.  They do not disappoint on this track; I am not entirely sure as to what exactly this song is about, as far as I can tell it about an adult, Benjy, with a child's mind that wanders whose birthday it is and that for a change everybody is being nice to him, especially his best friend Caddy who he seems to be infatuated with. However, this could all be in the person's mind and/or someone losing it. That is probably the best aspect of a song such as this: the listener can find his/her own meaning. All that being said, the mu...

From: Lou Rawls and Strings ; Year: 1965; Genre: Jazz/Soul Every now and then I run across a song title that would seem perfect for an occasion, but I never make a note of it. I am not sure if this was one such song, but I seemed to remember that Lou Rawls had a song with "Fool" in it, which fits today quite well. Am not 100 percent that this was the track I was thinking of, but it will have to do for this April Fools Day pick. Not like I need an excuse to listen to the legendary voice of Lou Rawls.   Hear Now And Then There's A Fool Such As I on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ricky Nelson - Poor Little Fool   My song pick 2 years ago today: Whitesnake - Fool For Your Loving   My song pick 3 years ago today: James Brown - These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall In Love   My song pick 5 years ago today: Billy Joel - Sometimes a Fantasy  ...

From: Things Are Great ; Year: 2022; Genre: Indie Rock I have to say, this most recent record from Band of Horses still holds up a few years on; I still love to put it on and zone out listening to it. This track in particular reminds me a lot of mid-late 1970s soft rock in all the best ways.   Hear In Need of Repair on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Classics IV - Traces   My song pick 2 years ago today: Dr. John - Snake Eyes   My song pick 3 years ago today: Harry Nilsson - Jump Into the Fire   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bob Dylan - It Ain't Me Babe   My song pick 5 years ago today: Of Monsters and Men - Alligator   My song pick 6 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Beat 'Em Up My song pick 7 years ago today: ZZ Top - Cheap Sunglasses My song pick 8 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Time Is On Your Side My song pick 9 years ago today: Exile - Please Be There My song pick 10 years ago today: Hank Willia...

From: Shinin' On ; Year: 1974; Genre: Rock/Pop Had this catchy tune on the brain whilst working on my car last night; thought it would be a good choice. Originally recorded and became a huge hit by Little Eva , Grand Funk Railroad put it on this record out of a episode of spontaneity whilst messing around in the studio. Their hard-edged rock sound combined by their amazing harmonies made it soar to the top of the charts, which at the time was only the second song to hit #1 twice by two different artists.   Hear The Loco-Motion on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Young Girl's Heart   My song pick 2 years ago today: Toto - 99   My song pick 3 years ago today: Lou Reed - Men of Good Fortune   My song pick 4 years ago today: Victor Wooten - Joe's Journey   My song pick 5 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Fighting for Strangers   My song pick 6 years ago today: Dire Straits - Romeo & Juliet My song pic...

From: Nightcap ; Year: 1993 (1982); Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Just needed something a bit more familiar today; thought I'd go back this this CD that I purchased way back in the day when I was first getting into 'Tull. I believe The Curse was written and recorded back during about '81 or '82 for the Broadsword and the Beast sessions. I guess this track would be one of the songs left on the floor for being too much like other songs that made it on the record; very similar to Flying Colours I would imagine. For me the music has always been the draw here with a lot of the keyboards blending with traditional rock instruments making a sound that I would describe as hard rock new wave.   Hear The Curse on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Brides of Funkenstein - I'm Holding You Responsible   My song pick 2 years ago today: Elton John - Razor Face   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Duprees - You Belong to Me   My song pick 4 y...

From: Fat Albert Rotunda ; Year: 1969; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Jazz-Funk Seem absolutely perfect for one of jazz legend Herbie Hancock's amazing compositions; and there are a lot, I mean A LOT to choose from. While each one of his albums and albums he appeared on have zero filler, I have always loved his Fat Albert Rotunda record. I just one I just put on and let it play all the way through without stopping and sometimes even putting the whole thing on repeat; it's just that good, full stop.   Hear Fat Mama on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Kingsmen - Louie Louie   My song pick 2 years ago today: Hawkwind - Spaceship Blues   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy   My song pick 4 years ago today: Hall & Oates - You Make My Dreams (Come True)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Something's on the Move   My song pick 6 years ago today: Queen - Don't Try So Hard My song pick 7 years ago tod...

Op. 64 ; Year: 1844; Genre: Romance Period/classical I had another song in mind for today, but with it being my 6400th song picked I had to go with something someway fitting. So, here is master composer Felix Mendelssohn's 64th Opus; his Violin Concerto in E-Minor, which was among his last compositions. It is a truly exquisite piece that, for me at least, will demand attention, but not the entire time. Kind of lulls you with the beautiful violin only for something with the melody and/or rhythmic characteristics to snap me back to attention. He was a true master of music and composition; in my opinion a great blend of the previous, current, and future eras of classical music.   Hear Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E-Minor, Op 64 on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Mountain - The Animal Trainer and the Toad   My song pick 2 years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - Sadie   My song pick 3 years ago today: Taylor Hawkins & The Coatta...