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

From: Some Girls ; Year: 1978; Genre: Disco/Rock/Funk Just some great toe tapping music to move your feet along with for this Friday!     Hear Miss You on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Beat Crusaders - ~ Sasquatch ~   My song pick 2 years ago today: Dick Dale - Take It Or Leave It     My song pick 3 years ago today: John Denver - Fire and Rain/The Box   My song pick 4 years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Testify   My song pick 5 years ago today: Nightwish - Harvest   My song pick 6 years ago today: Kool and the Gang - Funky Granny   My song pick 7 years ago today: Soundgarden - Blood on the Valley Floor   My song pick 8 years ago today: Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Away From Home My song pick 9 years ago today: King Crimson - The Night Watch My song pick 10 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Trains My song pick 11 years ago today: Three Dog Night - Feelin' Alright My s...

From: Straight Between the Eyes ; Year: 1982; Genre: Hard Rock It seems that every time I put this record on it is kind of a rediscovery as to just how good the entirety of the album is. Whilst having two big hit singles from it, when played through, each and every track shows its quality; I suppose that is why they call it album oriented rock (AOR).   Hear Bring on the Night (Dream Chaser) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Traffic - Walking in the Wind     My song pick 2 years ago today: Megadeth - Killing Time     My song pick 3 years ago today: Chicago - Colour My World   My song pick 4 years ago today: Devo - Shout   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ebony Rhythm Band - Get Yourself Together (Smiling Phases/Sunshine of Your Love Medley)   My song pick 6 years ago today: Genesis - Harold the Barrel   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Kinks - Apeman   My song pick 8 years ago today: David Bowie -...

From: The Duke of Earl ; Year: 1962; Genre: Doo-Wop/Rock 'n Roll Had this one earworm me today like crazy; not a bad song by any measure, so I'm taking it as that I need to add it to my list. Not that long ago Duke of Earl seem, at least to me, to get played in different places frequently, but in the last few decades its presence has seemingly ebbed. As with most great Doo-Wop tunes it is one that will get stuck in your mind quite easily due to the arrangements and the harmonies. From wot I've read, like many other historic songs out there, this one came into being kind of by happenstance. When warming up for a show with the group The Dukays, one of the vocal exercises they would perform was "do, do, do... etc" in various keys and Gene Chandler started adding bandmate Earl Edwards' name to it and out of that they started doing the Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl and they quickly brainstormed and came up with it. And the rest, as they say, is music history.   Hear D...

From: Walking in London ; Year: 1992; Genre: Rock This song is total fun all the way around. They captured the musical feel of the haunting ghost story songs in pop music and combined it with an amusing and engaging tale, which apparently was inspired by an autobiographical event that happened to Johnette Napolitano earlier whilst staying in a reported haunted hotel in the city of Austin, Texas. Perfect party song for this time of year during the Halloween season.   Watch the music video on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Supertramp - Hide in Your Shell     My song pick 2 years ago today: Neil Young - The Loner     My song pick 3 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Munchies for Your Soul   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Just Look At Me Now   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Kinks - Money Talks   My song pick 6 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Humboldt Currant   My...

From: Roots to Branches ; Year: 1995; Genre: Jazz Rock/Progressive Rock Do not know exactly why I am picking this one today; it is literally one of my least favourite songs from 'Tull or any of its members' solo works. I've often wondered how they would put tracks such as this one on a record and leave amazing ones on the cutting room floor that'd only see the light of day many years later on some compilation disc or remastered re-release of it. Who knows wot they were thinking at the time; or perhaps it is me that just does not appreciate some greats arts. This one is definitely listenable, but for me the vocals and the lyrics along with the overproduced quality of the song and the sterile sound of the keyboards all let this one down in the worst way. The highlights for me are Steve Bailey's bass, Martin's guitar work along with Ian's flute solos and how the flute and the guitar play off of one another.   Hear Wounded, Old and Treacherous on YouTube.      ...

From: Every 1's a Winner ; Year: 1978; Genre: Soul/Rock Lately I have really been enjoying the iconic soul band out of The U.K., Hot Chocolate a lot; they've been in heavy rotation to say the least. They were/are so good at wot, and still apparently are doing; heck, I mean, wot is about their art that is not to like? For me... nothing; I love their music, each and every aspect.   Hear Every 1's a Winner on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Merle Travis - Sixteen Tons     My song pick 2 years ago today: Lou Rawls - Season of the Witch     My song pick 3 years ago today: Ultravox - Someone Else's Clothes   My song pick 4 years ago today: Christopher Cross - Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Asia - True Colors   My song pick 6 years ago today: Elton John - Ego My song pick 7 years ago today: George Duke - Funny Funk   My song pick 8 years ago today: Steeleye Span - We Sha...

From: More Today Than Yesterday ; Year: 1969; Genre: Pop/Rock/Soul Had their main hit song of their only album's namesake earworming me earlier; thought I'd pick another from the band. Whilst they had a few other minor hits, this being one of them, they are more or less stamped with that ignoble label of "one hit wonder" to most. I actually really love their sound with the super soulful vocals from Pat Upton mixed with the well produced and arranged music. Sadly, the band did not last long apparently due to finances and the normal drama that goes with the music business. Pat Upton did, however, go on to be a session musician and for Ricky Nelson and Juice Newton as well as releasing a solo album later.   Hear No One for Me to Turn To on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Ace Frehley - New York Groove     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Kinks - Do You Remember Walter?     My song pick 3 years ago today: Genesis - Dancing with...

From: Chartbusters ; Year: 1984; Genre: Soul/Funk Just had Ray Parker Jr. on my mind, especially his early to mid 1980s material. Chartbusters was apparently a majority greatest hits album with a couple or so singles/unreleased songs, which this is one. Jamie ended up being a hit in the U.S., New Zealand, Germany, and Canada; I can easily hear why.   Hear Jamie on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Alice Cooper feat. Robert Englund - Lock Me Up     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Kinks - No Return     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Who - Baba O'Riley   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Isley Brothers - Shout (Parts I + II)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bee Gees - Boogie Child   My song pick 6 years ago today: Rufus & Chaka Khan - Jive Talkin'   My song pick 7 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Run Silent Run Deep   My song pick 8 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Citadel My song ...

From: All Aboard the Skylark ; Year: 2019; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock For some reason, put of Hawkwind's most recent studio releases, I keep coming back to this record; must just be the great music. I thought for sure that I had already picked the title-track, but I guess not. Now is as good of time as ever!   Hear All Aboard the Skylark on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Styx - Build and Destroy     My song pick 2 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Power Underneath Despair     My song pick 3 years ago today: Dolly Parton - Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Zombies - Time Of The Season   My song pick 5 years ago today: Sweat Band - Freak to Freak   My song pick 6 years ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - Orthenthian St (Parts I & II)   My song pick 7 years ago today: Steve Vai - The Crying Machine   My song pick 8 years ago today: Rush - Territ...

From: Circling From Above ; Year: 2025; Genre: Folk Rock/Flamenco Rock This is a real neat one from the pen of guitarist Tommy Shaw, and it shows. Quite a bit different from the other tracks off of their newest album, that whilst utilizing a lot of acoustic instruments in a blend of rock, folk, and flamenco, it is just as or even heavier than their louder songs on it. To say the least I really love it.   Hear Blue Eyed Raven on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Elton John - All Across the Havens     My song pick 2 years ago today: 4 Non Blondes - Drifting     My song pick 3 years ago today: England Dan & John Ford Coley - It's Sad To Belong   My song pick 4 years ago today: Primus - Follow The Fool   My song pick 5 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Quest for the Hammer of Glory   My song pick 6 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Nightmare Epiphany   My song pick 7 years ago today: Rod Stewart - (I Know) I...

From: Lionheart ; Year: 1978; Genre: Rock I have to admit, I have never considered myself a fan of Kate Bush, but definitely do not hate her music. She is an enigma to me personally; I really believe that it comes down to the fact she used her ubiquitous given and surname and not a unique and memorable stage name. Not that it is a problem, more of an issue with me and not placing an artist with a song I do in fact like and remember. Anyway, wotever the case, I thought it is far past time to add one of her songs to my blog.  This was a minor, but no her only, hit off of her sophomore album. It was supposedly inspired, subject matter wise, by The Hammer Film 's movies, which consisted mostly in the horror genre. Also though, it got even more inspiration from an autobiographical film concerning screen great Lon Chaney: Man of a Thousand Faces . From it Kate Bush was captivated in particular by James Cagney playing Lon Chaney, who was playing the role of Quasimodo in the 1923 sile...

From: Edge of Thorns ; Year: 1993; Genre: Rock I cannot begin to state just how great Edge of Thorns is; not a single weak or filler track; it will always be one of my favourites from not just Savatage, but any band. This is a neat instrumental piano interlude played by Jon Oliva between a couple of intense tracks, which is perfect in placement.   Hear Exit Music on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Santana - Leave Me Alone     My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Back to the Family     My song pick 3 years ago today: Klaatu - Hope   My song pick 4 years ago today: Midnight Oil - We Resist   My song pick 5 years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Borderline   My song pick 6 years ago today: Yes - Mood for a Day My song pick 7 years ago today: The Beatles - Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite   My song pick 8 years ago today: The Who - Athena My song pick 9 years ago today: Waylon Jennings - Do It A...

From: The Muppet Movie: Original Soundtrack Recording ; Year: 1979; Genre: Folk I don't know why, but I just wanted to pick this overture-esque and historically significant song from The Muppet Movie . Written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher, who also wrote most of the songs for the film, was sung by the legend Jim Henson himself as the staring Muppet Kermit the Frog. Basically the song consists of Jim Henson accompanied by a banjo and strings amongst other sparse instrumentation. Interestingly enough, it reached number 25 on the Billboard Charts for seven weeks and was selected for preservation into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry a few years ago.   Hear Rainbow Connection on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Journey - Feeling That Way     My song pick 2 years ago today: Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson - The Bottle     My song pick 3 years ago today: Journey - Anytime   My song pick 4 years ago...

From: Is There Anything About? ; Year: 1982; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Progressive Rock Do not know why, but just started to play this record from the jazz fusion band Brand X and immediately liked it. I guess you could say that they were wot you got if you had a group of highly skilled British musicians/composers try their hand at the jazz fusion that was popular in The States at the time. I have to say, it turns out you really get a great result all around and then some. Is There Anything About? was the leftovers/reworked tracks from their two previous albums following the band's dissolution that would last just over a decade. Whist these songs are not the best that the Brand X put out, they are very listenable as wot they are: dusted down scraps from the cutting room floor. This one was essentially redo of a backing track from their song Soho on the '79 record Product .   Hear Modern, Noisy and Effective on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Parliam...

From: 1982 ; Year: 1982; Genre: Soul/Funk Had their music on my mind again today, so you know wot that means.... This is a nice funky soul track with some disco for some dance flavour; wot's not to like?   Hear Lighten Up on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lighthouse - Disagreeable Man     My song pick 2 years ago today: Redbone - The Witch Queen of New Orleans     My song pick 3 years ago today: Karussell - Nachtkind   My song pick 4 years ago today: Aerosmith - Lightning Strikes   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jim Croce - Box No. 10   My song pick 6 years ago today: Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now My song pick 7 years ago today: The Cult - Sweet Soul Sister   My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Pied Piper My song pick 9 years ago today: Queensrÿche - Screaming in Digital My song pick 10 years ago today: Canned Heat - Going Up the Country My song pick 11 years ago today: Jaco Pasto...

From: Harmonic Mind ; Year: 2026; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Progressive Rock Wanted to hear something from Ozric Tentacles today that I had not heard before; as luck would have it, their new album released about a month ago! I have to say, it is interesting to hear a shift towards jazz fusion; this track in particular reminds me of peak era Return to Forever. You can hear a noticed jump in musical maturity and composition strength; I really love this one.   Hear Malachite on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere     My song pick 2 years ago today: Mr. Big - Suffocation     My song pick 3 years ago today: Stanley Clarke - Modern Man   My song pick 4 years ago today: Cheap Trick - I Must Be Dreamin'   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rufus and Chaka Khan - Dance Wit Me   My song pick 6 years ago today: Van Halen - Love Walks In   My song pick 7 years ago...

From: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock Been enjoying The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway for the last few days and thought I'd go ahead and pick one more from the record. Whilst it might have one of the shortest titles, it's certainly up with its brethren on this double album, plus it is more or less the last time you'd be able to hear Peter Gabriel with Genesis before going on to a successful solo career.    Hear it on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Tom Rapp - Shoebox Symphony     My song pick 2 years ago today: Jackson Browne - You Love the Thunder     My song pick 3 years ago today: Lighthouse - Sunny Days   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ulysses Crockett - Sunshine Superman   My song pick 5 years ago today: Automat - Mecadence   My song pick 6 years ago today: Carmen - Table Two For One   My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - This Is Not Love   My ...