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

From: Back Stabbers ; Year: 1972; Genre: Soul Early this morning I was enjoying the songs from this album. I find the O'Jays' ability to take a negative subject matter and with their delivery and, of course, one of the best songwriting duos, Gamble & Huff make it feel uplifting and, dare I say, make it positive somehow. Although blending Philadelphia soul with a Bossa Nova beat, the chemistry will most always be awesome.    Hear 992 Arguments on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rare Earth - Stop/Where Did Our Love Go     My song pick 2 years ago today: Azteca - Peace Everybody     My song pick 3 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Too Much Sunshine   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Nothing Lasts   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Box in my Head   My song pick 6 years ago today: King Harvest - A Little Bit Like Magic   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Tempt...

From: Car Wash (soundtrack) ; Year: 1976; Genre: Funk/Soul Ultra busy couple of days, but definitely wanted to make a good pick for Friday. For wotever reason I just had Rose Royce on the brain, especially from their debut album and soundtrack for the classic Norman Whitfield film Car Wash . Lequeint "Duke" Jobe's bass playing really drives this one and just shows how much of an amazing player his is.   Hear Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Incredible Bongo Band - Let There Be Drums     My song pick 2 years ago today: Buster Poindexter - Hot Hot Hot     My song pick 3 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Awake, Awake   My song pick 4 years ago today: Zakk Wylde - Throwin' It All Away   My song pick 5 years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - I've Got To Make It On My Own   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - Bass-Rigged-System   My song pick 7 years ago today:...

From: Idlewild South ; Year: 1970; Genre: Southern Rock/Blues Rock Recently, I read an insightful interview with the only surviving member of this historic band: Jai Johanny Johanson, or Jaimoe . He was one of the two amazing drummers/percussionists, (the other being Butch Trucks ), for the band throughout their most prosperous times and has appeared on the majority of their albums. I have to say that I still to this day love watching those two masters in the live recordings; almost like drumming professors putting on a clinic. Amongst a few neat things and anecdotes I learned was that each member had a tattoo of a psychedelic mushroom as kind of brotherhood bond and that he was proud to have the last one on his leg. It is still difficult for me to acknowledge that so many have passed on; they themselves were and are like monuments to American music. Anyway, I thought that I would revisit one of my favourite records; like most of their artistry, Idlewild South is best played all at on...

From: Simplicity ; Year: 2014; Genre: Hard Rock Tesla's Simplicity album is one that I "leap-frogged" over for no apparent reason. I absolutely love their previous album Forever More and the next album Shock , but just missed out on the one in between. I have to say, it is another case of better late than never, I really like wot I have heard; this is one of my favourites from it. Thematically, this one is quite heavy, dealing with someone who just missed out on what could've been a great relationship. From the narrator's point-of-view this individual rebuffed/strung him on throughout their time knowing one another, but then apparently comes back, expecting the narrator to have just waited endlessly. However, he and time moved on and now wot could've been can never happen. I really love the sound and composition of it; very much in their classic sound. It reminds me a lot of how they sounded back in the day, which is very good in my book.   Hear Burnout to F...

From: Undead ; Year: 1968; Genre: Blues Rock/Jazz Rock Found another cover of this favourite of mine; this one comes from the first live album from Ten Years After. It's a very interesting take on the Gershwin classic, which is used as an introduction/overture for drummer Ric Lee's  Shantung Cabbage  drum solo.    Hear Summertime/Shantung Cabbage on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: War - Slowly We Walk Together     My song pick 2 years ago today: Normaal - Val Kapot     My song pick 3 years ago today: Brass Construction - Screwed (Conditions)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Procol Harum - Song for a Dreamer   My song pick 5 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Watching Over You   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down To Georgia   My song pick 7 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Givin' It All Away My song pick 8 years ago t...

From: The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ; Year: 1994; Genre: Alternative Metal Last night was going over my "Music" app on my computer; man, I miss iTunes.... I know "owning music" is so passé and out of fashion and I should just be streaming, but that's just not for me. Anyway, I noticed quite a few of my songs greyed out, apparently missing the file that goes with it. I have absolutely no idea how I "lost" the songs, so had to go searching around for the original copies. Long story short, I got most of them recovered and backed up in multiple places. As you probably surmised, this was among the missing songs; I was really glad to have The Crow soundtrack complete once more digitally. I really wish more of the recent films had such a great soundtrack; all big hit songs that actually could serve as an early 1990s rock music soundtrack as well as a film's. This is one of those albums that you can put on and just enjoy from alpha to zed, ...

From: Mr. Gone ; Year: 1978; Genre: Jazz Fusion Don't know why I have not been listening to as much Weather Report as I used to. At that, the last time I chose one of their songs was over three years ago, and it was one off of this record to boot. For the last couple of decades I consumed a lot of the Weather Report material as well as associated acts and artists; Wayne Shorter and, of course Jaco in particular. I'm thinking that it might have to do with delving into other Fusion bands and players that've taken up my attention. Like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, Herbie Hancock and his Head Hunters, as well as all of their related bands and solo artists, which is extensive if you think about it. It is a real treat every time one of Joe Zawinul and Weather Report's music pops on my playlist; still enjoy it a lot. Anyway, this is one of Jaco Pastorius' songs, and whilst being a tour d'force in bass guitar virtuosity, all of the other band members get to ...

From: A Man of Value ; Year: 1972; Genre: Soul Had this rather profound song come on whilst driving the other day; it has been on my mind ever since. The Politician is one written by the ever-eloquent and productive songwriter/musician/singer Mac Davis, who I have come to admire the more I have delved into the breadth of his work. Mac never recorded this one as far I know, but really, I do not think you could get any better of a delivery and performance than that of the legendary Lou Rawls; this one just makes the hairs on your arms stand up and gives goose bumps/chills as the song progresses.   Hear The Politician on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: James Brown - Living in America     My song pick 2 years ago today: Pearls Before Swine - Ballad to an Amber Lady     My song pick 3 years ago today: Hawkwind - The Last Messiah   My song pick 4 years ago today: Traffic - Heaven is in Your Mind   My song pick 5 years a...

From: School Days ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz-Funk/Jazz Fusion Had a few in mind for today, but went with this beautiful piece of music from his album of renown: School Days .     Hear Quiet Afternoon on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - The Colour of Right     My song pick 2 years ago today: Paul Revere & The Raiders - Steppin' Out     My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Tainted Blood   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bob Welch - Church   My song pick 5 years ago today: Hawkwind - Starshine   My song pick 6 years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Milky Way   My song pick 7 years ago today: Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - Tracks Of My Tears My song pick 8 years ago today: Blancmange - Living on the Ceiling My song pick 9 years ago today: Dick Dale and his Del Tones - The Wedge My song pick 10 years ago today: Gin Blossoms - Found Out About You My song pic...

From: Western Union/Sound of Love ; Year: 1967; Genre: Rock/Pop It still fascinates me just how songs enter my conscious mind that I've not heard in ages or have been on my mind for just about as long. This one from a band that I might at some point in the past heard about just started playing in my mind whilst feeding the animals and I decided I should look it up and make it today's pick. Kind of a straight-up pop rocker, but with a subject of a lover sending a Telegram of all things to break up the relationship. Heck, even by the late '60s it was kind of obsolete form of communication, but perhaps in using a Telegram, it shows just how cold and impersonal the person breaking up is being. I suppose you could liken it to breaking up over a text message or something similar today.Apparently they went with the whole Western Union Telegram theme because they thought the riff and sound their guitarist Mike Rabon had discovered reminded them of an old telegraph key sound and we...

From: Savage Imperial Death March ; Year: 2026; Genre: Sludge Metal/Grindcore Whilst going over the Melvins' catalogue and discovered that they had a neat collaboration with Napalm Death last year, which was 100% beyond awesome! For me the Melvins never cease to be satisfying in both quality and quantity of music; it is rare, even to this day, for them to not release something every year. Anyway, apparently two members of the Melvins and three from Napam Death came together and put together some unique metal music; this track was one of the first to really stand out to me. Such a great song and record!   Hear Some Kind of Antichrist on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: David Bowie - Fascination     My song pick 2 years ago today: Lionel Richie - Stuck on You     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Rascals - A Beautiful Mornin g   My song pick 4 years ago today: Herbie Hancock - Rockit   My song pick 5 years ago today...

From: Street Player ; Year: 1978; Genre: Funk/Soul Wanted to choose another funky track from Rufus and Chaka Khan. Decided on the title track of this record; definitely a song that will get your blood pumping with that bumping rhythm.   Hear Street Player on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Stacy Q - The River     My song pick 2 years ago today: Mott the Hoople - One of the Boys     My song pick 3 years ago today: Parliament - Unfunky UFO   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bread - Let Your Love Go   My song pick 5 years ago today: Simple Minds - Love Song   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Hard Liner   My song pick 7 years ago today: Traffic - Glad My song pick 8 years ago today: Megadeth - Rattlehead My song pick 9 years ago today: Parliament - Everything Is on the One My song pick 10 years ago today: Symphony X - Iconoclast My song pick 11 years ago today: John Fogerty - The Old Man D...

From: Watts in a Tank ; Year: 1980; Genre: Rock I remember hearing Diesel a lot back in the day, but they eventually faded only to come back into the pop culture conscience every now and then. I did not look much into the band, but with their mega hit Sausalito Summernight and its California car adventure theme, I assumed they were a U.S. band, but were actually Dutch. From wot I understand, between band member defections and not fully being able to recapture the magic they only lasted a handful of years and a total of three records, but had reunions and one other studio album since their first breakup. This track was one of the four singles from their debut, and, depending on which market you focus on, the second or third highest charting of their songs.   Hear Going Back to China on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Camel - Rain Dances     My song pick 2 years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Bi-Polar Bear     My song pick 3...

From: Vivid ; Year: 1989; Genre: Hard Rock/Alternative Metal Seems like every time I put one of the discs on I'm blown away at just how hard they rock. I really need to have them more in my rotation; at that there's no doubt!   Hear Open Letter (To a Landlord) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lalo Schifrin - Mission: Impossible     My song pick 2 years ago today: War - This Funky Music Makes You Feel Good     My song pick 3 years ago today: Blancmange - Blind Vision   My song pick 4 years ago today: Brenton Wood - Gimme Little Sign   My song pick 5 years ago today: Duran Duran - Too Much Information   My song pick 6 years ago today: Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire   My song pick 7 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Sex Machine My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crossword My song pick 9 years ago today: Blood, Sweat & Tears - You've Made Me So Very Happy My song pick 1...

From: Edge of Excess ; Year: 1992; Genre: Hard Rock This one comes from the, sadly, most recent studio album from the band. On the record they were minus original vocalist/guitarists Rik Emmett and instead featured  Phil X on guitar whilst drummer Gil Moore performed lead vocals. I've always liked most of Triumph's material, but have never been huge into the band, or anything past the mid 1980s-ish that they put out. However, never really looked into wot they were up to since, and as it turns out, not too much. Recently though, I learned of their most recent reunion and North American tour, which got me curious.  Anyway, this was one of the lead singles from Edge of Excess, and while not close to the band's best, it's still more than good enough to quench ones' thirst for their brand of arena-rock.   Hear Child of the City on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Aretha Franklin - Rock Steady     My song pick 2 years ago today: D...

From: Movements ; Year: 2005 (1970); Genre: Soul/Funk Thought that I'd bring this workweek to a close with another one from Tobias Kirmayer awesome compilation series Movements . This one is from the late-great Robert Parker ; with this one there was a dance that went along with it of the song's namesake, or it could be the song was named after the dance... who knows, eh?   Hear The Hiccup on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Luther - Don't Take the Time     My song pick 2 years ago today: Melvins - Psycho-Delic Haze     My song pick 3 years ago today: Rammstein - Ohne Dich   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bobby Freeman - C'mon and Swim (Parts 1 + 2)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Martha and the Vandellas - Heat Wave   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - Standing on the Verge of Getting It On   My song pick 7 years ago today: Carmen - Conclusion (She Changed) My song pick 8 years ago today: F...

From: Right Track ; Year: 1981; Genre: Soul Lately I've been really enjoying the music of Soul/R&B/Funk artists/bands, that were best known for their music from the 50s through the 70s, that they released in the 80s and 90s; kind of at the point that their popularity started to ebb. I find a lot of this material that is mostly marginalized to be quite exceptional in reality. With Wilson Pickett, I am admittedly biased with him being one that I like quite a lot, but I really do dig this record in particular and this track is among the highlights for me.   Hear Maybe This Time on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Waylander - Of Fear and Fury     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Trammps - Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart     My song pick 3 years ago today: 10,000 Maniacs - Everyday is Like Sunday   My song pick 4 years ago today: Megadeth - Mastermind   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - Don't Tak...

From: Rebel Yell ; Year: 1983; Genre: Hard Rock Earlier I had this one playing in my mind as if it was on the radio, so you know wot I am intending for today's pick. I don't know what it is about this song, but it's just one that makes you want to sing and dance along with it. And of course you have Steve Stevens showing off his severely underrated guitar mastery. Funny though, a long time ago I started changing his "More!" lyric into "Moe!," as in the leader of The Three Stooges . Even to this day I picture some woman in the throes ecstasy calling out for Moe Howard ; still laugh a little.   Hear Rebel Yell on YouTube.          My song pick 1 year ago today: Yes - Sweet Dreams     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - Rock n' Roll Love Letter     My song pick 3 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You   My song pick 4 years ago today: Anita Ward - Ring My Bell   My song pick 5 years ago t...