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

From: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! ; Year: 1978; Genre: New Wave Enjoying some of their early work today; amazing that I went this long without choosing this track, which is among their standards. Originally recorded as a single about a year prior, it was re-recorded for their debut album. Although it only did well in the U.K., this rather complex ditty about human devolution is still one a lot of fans adore to this day.     Hear Jocko Homo on YouTube. Hear the original single version on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Three Dog Night - Pieces of April   My song pick 2 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Hate to Feel   My song pick 3 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Sell My Soul   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ohio Players - Love Rollercoaster   My song pick 5 years ago today: Fairport Convention - Expletive Delighted   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Hollies - On a Carousel My song pick 7 years ago today: ...

From: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1984) ; Year: 1984; Genre: Hard Rock Ever since discovering this record it has seen a lot of play from me; it was so great to hear the original group, sans Robbie Bachman on drums, who was replace by The Guess Who drummer Garry Peterson at this point. There is just some magic that happens when you get Randy Bachman and C.F. Turner together; that wailing guitar, thundering bass and those unique and amazing vocals just make it one-of-a-kind.   Hear City's Still Growin on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes   My song pick 2 years ago today: Seals & Crofts - Hummingbird   My song pick 3 years ago today: Zapp - Computer Love   My song pick 4 years ago today: Primus - The Ol' Diamondback Sturgeon (Fisherman Chronicles, Part 3)   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Tubes - Talk To Ya Later   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Kinks - Good Day My song pick 7 years ago ...

From: Intensified ; Year: 1970; Genre: Reggae/Ska Had them come on while driving this morning and thought it was about time I choose another one from Desmond Dekker and his band. As far as I can remember, they were the very first band I ever heard play reggae, ska, or any of the music from the vast Jamaican sound; definitely a legendary act to say the very least.   Hear It Mek on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bob James - Nautilus   My song pick 2 years ago today: War - War Drums   My song pick 3 years ago today: Sam & Dave - You Don't Know Like I Know   My song pick 4 years ago today: Black 47 - Livin' in America   My song pick 5 years ago today: Lenny LeBlanc - Dance Around the Campfire   My song pick 6 years ago today: Georges Bizet - Carmen Overture My song pick 7 years ago today: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Helpless My song pick 8 years ago today: Rose Royce - Car Wash My song pick 9 years ago today: ...

From: The Sinister Urge ; Year: 2001; Genre: Alternative Rock/Gothic Rock This is a rather bluesy goth-rock tune that appears on both his The Sinister Urge album as well as the soundtrack to the Rob Zombie film of the same name . I really like this one and reminds me personally of a cross between Concrete Blonde's epic hit Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) and some of the late '80s/1990s Alice Cooper music.   Hear House of 1000 Corpses on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Mike Pinder - Among the Stars   My song pick 2 years ago today: War - All Day Music   My song pick 3 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Side By Side   My song pick 4 years ago today: Sly & The Family Stone - Shine It On   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rush - We Hold On   My song pick 6 years ago today: Tee Set - Ma Belle Amie My song pick 7 years ago today: Curved Air - Phantasmagoria My song pick 8 years ago today: Roxy Music - Out of the Bl...

From: 1-2-3 ; Year: 1965; Genre: Soul Yet another one I have not heard in a very long time started playing in my mind a couple of days ago and has been there a lot ever since. You would be forgiven for believing this one was from the Motown hit factory, but it was not, but rather a really well-done song in the style. The Motown songwriting powerhouse Holland-Dozier-Holland noticed as well and took issue with it sounding too much like the Supremes' b-side Ask Any Girl for their liking and ended up settling for 15% of the royalties as well as being listed as co-authors.   Hear 1-2-3 on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dr. John - Mama Roux   My song pick 2 years ago today: Accept - Bulletproof   My song pick 3 years ago today: Mel McDaniel - Bordertown Woman   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Main Ingredient - You've Got To Take It (If You Want It)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Soundgarden - Heretic   My song pick 6 year...

From: Return of the Dream Canteen ; Year: 2022; Genre: Funk Rock/Alternative Rock/Hard Rock Dang, Friday seemingly came back around once more; giving me metaphoric whiplash. One of the aspects of RHCP is the fact that, to all intense and purpose, I can just look them up and they always have new material available to listen to. Their most recent studio album has been one I've really enjoyed as of late, which this track is the lead single. I have to say, their musical style has matured, but have not lost a step in their frenzied aural intensity.   Hear Tippa My Tongue on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Wednesday - Last Kiss   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jigsaw - Prizefighter   My song pick 3 years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Boogie No More   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Hollies - The Air That I Breathe   My song pick 5 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Masters of the Galaxy   My song pick 6 years ago today: Gloryhammer...

From: Band of Gold ; Year: 1970; Genre: Soul/R&B Heard this one at some point yesterday; it is one that enters and exits my mind some of the time, so I'm very appreciative for it coming to my conscious attention. It is one of Holland-Dozier-Holland's early projects after splitting from Motown and still features the incomparable Funk Brothers, whom they had under contract, so this track already had just about everything already going for it before Freda Payne lent her amazing vocals to it: instant hit.   Hear Band of Gold on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Finntroll - Ett folk förbannat   My song pick 2 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Dance, Dance, Dance   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Offspring - Bad Habit   My song pick 4 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Antarctica   My song pick 5 years ago today: Steely Dan - Black Cow   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Stop! My song pick 7 years ago t...

From: Hot Rod Race ; Year: 2003 (1950); Genre: Rockabilly/Country Anybody who has heard the classic rockabilly track Hot Rod Lincoln would immediately hear its similarities with this track. Hot Rod Race was, in fact, the song that Hot Rod Lincoln was an answer song to. This was arguably the first song to tap into the postwar hot rod craze in which teenagers would purchase old and essentially discarded prewar cars and modify them to go a lot faster with things such as bigger motors and newer technology. In fact, music of this type that glorifies cool fast cars and such lives on to this day throughout many genres of music. Some also argue that Hot Rod Race was also among the first songs to stylistically bend to what would become rock 'n roll, even though it was a western swing.   Hear Hot Rod Race on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: 'Til Tuesday - Voices Carry   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Kinks - Susannah's Still Alive   My song ...

From: Stray Cats ; Year: 1981; Genre: Rockabilly Thought I had already picked this one, but did not. So, you know wot that means.... This is one I have heard a lot throughout the years; it's timeless enough that it never seems out-of-place even 40+ years later; it's always going to be "cool" as long as humans have ears.   Hear Rock This Town on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: UB40 - Please Don't Make Me Cry   My song pick 2 years ago today: Debbie Harry - Chrome   My song pick 3 years ago today: Funkadelic - Maggot Brain   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jim Steinman - Left in the Dark   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Flat Broke Love   My song pick 6 years ago today: 4 Non Blondes - Spaceman My song pick 7 years ago today: Black 47 - I Got Laid On James Joyce's Grave My song pick 8 years ago today: Queen - Keep Yourself Alive My song pick 9 years ago today: Brass Construction - Changi...

From: Brave Belt II ; Year: 1972; Genre: Rock Here's a fun track with some good 'ol riff driven Canadian rock.   Hear Put It In a Song on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Blancmange - God's Kitchen   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rick & The Entire World - No No No Momerto   My song pick 3 years ago today: Faith No More - Stripsearch   My song pick 4 years ago today: Depeche Mode - World in my Eyes   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Firing Line   My song pick 6 years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Island My song pick 7 years ago today: White Zombie - Black Sunshine My song pick 8 years ago today: The Headhunters - Actual Proof My song pick 9 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Old Ghosts My song pick 10 years ago today: Rush - The Wreckers My song pick 11 years ago today: Ian Anderson - After These Wars My song pick 12 years ago today: Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal My song pick 13 yea...

From: Fire of Freedom ; Year: 1993; Genre: Celtic Rock/Alternative Rock This is a different track sonically, that is, if you are acquainted with Black 47's normal sound. It's a very moody and atmospheric song that reminds me a bit of contemporary '80s rock with a dash of Latin and blues thrown in for flavour. Kind of a heart-aching lament about a dear friend getting devoured by the big city and succumbing to the evils therein.   Hear Sleep Tight In New York City / Her Dear Old Donegal on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dickey Betts - Highway Call   My song pick 2 years ago today: Robin Trower - Too Rolling Stoned   My song pick 3 years ago today: Skid Row - Riot Act   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Jack-A-Lynn   My song pick 5 years ago today: Madness - Our House   My song pick 6 years ago today: Chicago - Beginnings My song pick 7 years ago today: Frijid Pink - Rainbow Rider My song pick 8 years ago today:...

From: Victorious ; Year: 2016; Genre: Heavy Metal/Psychedelia Whilst much of Wolfmother's sound is derivative, they sure do pick the best to call up in a postmodern way. I just wish more acts would call upon their real talent, like Wolfmother does today.   Hear City Lights on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Mac Davis - Lucas Was a Redneck   My song pick 2 years ago today: Carmen - People Dressed in Black   My song pick 3 years ago today: Boston - We're Ready   My song pick 4 years ago today: Alestorm - Treasure Island   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Human League - Do or Die   My song pick 6 years ago today: Humble Pie - Get Down To It My song pick 7 years ago today: King Crimson - Exiles My song pick 8 years ago today: Soundgarden - By Crooked Steps My song pick 9 years ago today: Brave Belt - Never Comin' Home My song pick 10 years ago today: Marillion - The Uninvited Guest My song pick 11 years ago today: ...

From: Funkadelic ; Year: 1970; Genre: Funk/Psychedelic Soul I have always, for myself anyway, gone by the axiom "come for Parliament, but stay for Funkadelic." They are like peanutbutter and jelly, excellent by themselves, but out-of-this-world together.   Hear I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody's Got a Thing on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Boyz II Men - In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - One Rainy Wish   My song pick 3 years ago today: April Wine - Cat's Claw   My song pick 4 years ago today: Alphaville - Big In Japan   My song pick 5 years ago today: Primus - Mary the Ice Cube   My song pick 6 years ago today: Mastodon - Andromeda My song pick 7 years ago today: Deep Purple - King of Dreams My song pick 8 years ago today: Counting Crows - Round Here My song pick 9 years ago today: Devo - Through Being Cool My song pick 10 years ago to...

From: Future Games ; Year: 1971; Genre: Progressive Rock Such an interesting song from a criminally underrated album and era of this storied band. Sands of Time is one that was written and sung by lead guitarist Danny Kirwan and it shows with the complexity and melodic playing through out.   Hear Sands of Time on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Sol Ho'opi'i - Fascinating Rhythm   My song pick 2 years ago today: Kenny Rogers & the First Edition - Something's Burning   My song pick 3 years ago today: Queen - I Can't Live With You   My song pick 4 years ago today: Deep Purple - Throw My Bones   My song pick 5 years ago today: Foghat - Night Shift My song pick 6 years ago today: Rammstein - Los My song pick 7 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Mirrors My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - The Pine Martin's Jig My song pick 9 years ago today: Rush - Making Memories My song pick 10 years ago today: Dayton Sidewind...

From: By the Light of the Moon ; Year: 1987; Genre: Latin Rock Kind of a downer, socially conscious track, but not preachy or extreme, but at least it finishes with a good ending/call to action.    Hear The Mess We're In on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ultravox - Visions in Blue   My song pick 2 years ago today: Miami Sound Machine - Bad Boy   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Northern Pikes - She Ain't Pretty   My song pick 4 years ago today: Parliament - Wizard of Finance   My song pick 5 years ago today: ABBA - Super Trouper   My song pick 6 years ago today: Pallas - Ghost My song pick 7 years ago today: UB40 - Here I Am (Come and Take Me) My song pick 8 years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - Long Haired Country Boy My song pick 9 years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Lodi My song pick 10 years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - All I Can Do Is Write About It My song pick 11 years ago toda...

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 ...