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

From: Down in the Boondocks ; Year: 1965; Genre: Pop/Rock Had this one on my mind the last couple of days; did not really know for sure who recorded it, but was and at the same time was not surprised to see that it was Billy Joe Royal. This is one of those "transistor glamour" songs: i.e. has everything in a small package. The music and that simple guitar hook have always been the main draw in my mind, but I've always loved the empowering vocals and message of striving for the life you want.   Hear Down in the Boondocks on YouTube.   (oh and, I should add that YouTube has gone full scorched-earth despot and made it almost impossible to watch videos now without jumping through countless hoops. Wotever their motive, probably more money for shareholders, all it did was make me adopt FreeTube , which I fully endorse.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Cameo - Raw but Tasty     My song pick 2 years ago today: Dave Edmunds and the Stray Cats - The Race Is...

From: Funkadelic ; Year: 1970; Genre: Soul/Psychedelic Funk I wonder what it was like back in the day when people dropped the needle down on this brand-new album and were greeted by this out-of-this-world funky psychedelia that the world had not truly experienced before? For me, I was born in a time that this music was already permeating the U.S. culture, so I have no idea wot this did for those listening to it for the first time. Anyway, as I have repeated endlessly: Eddie Hazel's mind-blowing guitar playing with that wah-wah pedal really is my main draw, but I will also state that Billy "Bass" Nelson's grooving bass is exquisite as well.    Hear Mommy, What's a Funkadelic? on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Fetch Me the Pongmaster     My song pick 2 years ago today: The (Young) Rascals - In the Midnight Hour     My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - Peaceable Kingdom   My song pick 4 years ago t...

From: Cicero Park ; Year: 1974; Genre: Soul Dang, I forgot just how heavy this song was; still all these years on it still hits very hard emotionally. The music is so intoxicating and works exceptionally well to draw you into those emotion filled, powerful vocals; those emotive keening wails towards the end are just so haunting and perfect....   Hear Emma on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Peter Frampton - Do You Feel Like We Do     My song pick 2 years ago today: Saigon Kick - World Goes Round     My song pick 3 years ago today: Cyndi Lauper - When You Were Mine   My song pick 4 years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Welcome Back   My song pick 5 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Water   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Foxy Lady   My song pick 7 years ago today: Rammstein - Ausländer My song pick 8 years ago today: Cat Stevens - Wild Worl...

From: Species Deceases ; Year: 1985; Genre: Alternative Rock/Punk Don't really need a reason to pick a song from my absolute favourite Australian band, but decided on going with one off of one of the EPs. Just about all of the four tracks on Species Deceases still get air play to this day. The high energy punk attitude and feel throughout this one in particular just gets you riled up and singing along.   Hear Blossom and Blood on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Trio of Doom - Para Oriente     My song pick 2 years ago today: Los Lobos - Don't Worry Baby     My song pick 3 years ago today: Lou Rawls - Three O'Clock in the Morning   My song pick 4 years ago today: Funkadelic - First Ya Gotta Shake The Gate   My song pick 5 years ago today: Curved Air - Easy   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Temptations - (I Know) I'm Losing You   My song pick 7 years ago today: Neil Young - Heart of Gold My song pick ...

From: Human Clay ; Year: 1999; Genre: Alternative Rock I don't know why, but was thinking about the band Creed today, not really their music per se, but about back when they were everywhere about two and a half decades ago. I personally remember their music and music videos being everywhere; heck, even to this day I cannot stand With Arms Wide Open . Not that there is a problem with the song, but it just got way overplayed and shoved down my throat to the point I made a rather dirty parody to it.... Whilst I have never claimed or had my "thumb on the pulse" of music news or wot is going on therein, I do remember the band seemingly imploding somewhere around '03. I believe that substance abuse by the front man and perhaps one other member led to their disbanding. From wot I've read, it seems that they reunited a couple of times since and recorded an album back in '09, but, again I have not checked them out; I hope they're doing well in their endeavours. Any...

From: The United States of America ; Year: 1968; Genre: Progressive Rock/Psychedelic Rock Very odd, but as of late I have been hearing about this short-lived experimental rock band a bit once again. I've always liked them since discovering the band quite a few years ago, but I've never been huge into their music.  They only lasted about one year and only made a single album, but every member went on to much greater things. The astounding talent within it really was its downfall; "too many chefs and not enough cooks," so to speak. The musical differences and strong, differing directions I suppose led to the fate. However, despite all of this, some have been looking back and finally seeing the true cutting edge musical ideas and implementation thereof; better late than never, eh?   Hear Where Is Yesterday on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Cranberries - Sunday     My song pick 2 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Vorpal Laserblaster...

From: The Lover in Me ; Year: 1988; Genre: Pop Thinking about this track today and seemed like a great time to choose it; no other reason.     Hear Days Like This on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Ray Stevens - Everything is Beautiful   My song pick 2 years ago today: Lou Rawls - I'm Satisfied     My song pick 3 years ago today: Blondie - Maria   My song pick 4 years ago today: Crash Test Dummies (feat. Ellen Reid) - The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead   My song pick 5 years ago today: Heart - Lost Angel   My song pick 6 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Harvest   My song pick 7 years ago today: Fat Larry's Band - Act Like You Know My song pick 8 years ago today: Laura Branigan - Deep in the Dark My song pick 9 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - I Only Want to Be With You My song pick 10 years ago today: Jethro Tull - One Brown Mouse My song pick 11 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO...

From: A Kind of Magic ; Year: 1986; Genre: Rock There are times, like today, that I keep on coming back to this record, and, of course, the soundtrack for the film Highlander , of which essentially most of the song on the album comprised it. This has always been among my favourites if for no other reason than Freddy's vocals delivery as well as the saxophone, especially the solo played by Steve Gregory , who has played on other hits of the time.    Hear One Year of Love on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rose Royce - Bad Mother Funker     My song pick 2 years ago today: R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Wolf Unchained   My song pick 4 years ago today: Hawkwind - We Like To Be Frightened   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Maggie's Farm   My song pick 6 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Infinite Space (Conclusion)   My song ...

From: Graham Central Station ; Year: 1974; Genre: Funk/Gospel/Soul Funky Friday once more, and wot a better way to mark it that with something from Larry Graham and his amazing band. This is a slow and gritty gospel funk track that does it so well some might say it crosses into a Spiritual . This one definitely has a great groove and rhythm as well, so it will probably transfix listeners in various ways.    Hear Ghetto on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Beach Boys - When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Jelly Jelly     My song pick 3 years ago today: Alice Cooper - Rock & Roll   My song pick 4 years ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - Nothing Is The Same   My song pick 5 years ago today: Helloween - Ride the Sky   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - If You Don't Like the Effects, Don't Produce the Cause My song pick 7 years ago today: Cr...

From: Broadsword and the Beast ; Year: 1982; Genre: Hard Rock/Progressive Rock This excellent record was on my mind once more today; was bemused to learn that there were songs from it that I had yet to pick, imagine that! 😁 The overall faster tempo and virtuosity really sell the whole idea of two passionate individuals, probably a couple, coming to extreme disagreement complete with public displays of such tantrums. The imagery really plays out with the help of both the lyrical content combined with the arrangement.   Hear Flying Colours on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Dance to the Medley     My song pick 2 years ago today: Asia - Bury Me In Willow     My song pick 3 years ago today: Cher - Half-Breed   My song pick 4 years ago today: Robert Knight - Everlasting Love   My song pick 5 years ago today: Parliament - What Comes Funky   My song pick 6 years ago today: Alice in Chains -...

Op.129; Year: ~1795; Genre: Classical Period/classical I always love music like this, it shows that "the greats" were not stodgy old folks bereft of humour. In actuality with those who are still widely-known to history it was quite the opposite. Anyway, this is a classical music lover's favourite; it is a show piece that gets played when musicians do expositions on Beethoven. Op.129 is a virtuoso piano piece with some hallmarks of the late Classical Period, but also with rumblings of the Romantic Period that had already begun to take hold, like his louder, more bombastic style.   Hear the piece on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Dokken - Into the Fire     My song pick 2 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - So Supernatural     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Zombies - Tell Her No   My song pick 4 years ago today: Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony - The Hustle   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Kinks - A Lo...

From: Badmotorfinger ; Year: 1991; Genre: Alternative Metal For me it is very difficult to say one of Soundgarden's albums is "my favourite," I just love them all and can listen from front to back, everyone of them. I will say though, there is something special about Badmotorfinger ; truthfully I cannot say I dislike a single track on it. Maybe it's because I was becoming a teen when it dropped and thus hit me a the perfect moment; who knows, right? The dynamics are amazing on this one with both hard-hitting de-tuned riffs shaking the Earth, and somewhat quieter and intricate, but just as heavy sections. Of course the musicianship and writing are near perfect, and Chris Cornell showing off his unmatched vocals throughout.   Hear Holy Water on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Big Brother and the Holding Company (Janis Joplin) - Ball and Chain     My song pick 2 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - That's the Way of the World   ...

From: Ars Longa Vita Brevis ; Year: 1968; Genre: Symphonic Rock/Progressive Rock Here's a great one from The Nice, who were known for such big, bombastic musical terrors. As you might be able to discern from the title, both it and the music it contains derives from Johann Sebastian Bach's Brandenburg Concertos ; the Third in particular. Keith Emerson is as amazing as ever on the keys in this "classical rocker."   Hear Brandenburger on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Guess Who - Lightfoot     My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Roots to Branches     My song pick 3 years ago today: Queen - The Prophet's Song   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bee Gees - To Love Somebody   My song pick 5 years ago today: Marillion - Warm Wet Circles   My song pick 6 years ago today: Dire Straits - Tunnel of Love   My song pick 7 years ago today: Banchee - 3/4 Song My song pick 8 years ago today: Parliament - ...

From: The Delfonics ; Year: 1970; Genre: Soul Their music was on my mind as I sat down to make this pick, so decided on choosing one of their most noted hits. There's a whole lot to love about this classic Philadelphia Soul track; I absolutely love those swells and ebbs with the vocal harmonies. Add to that the amazing music behind them that gives your ears a lot to chew on; you'll hear more and more parts of the track each time you play it.    Watch the Soul Train performance on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bloodrock - Don't Eat the Children     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - My Brightest Day     My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - Garden Road   My song pick 4 years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - May I Have a Talk With You   My song pick 5 years ago today: ZZ Top - Legs   My song pick 6 years ago today: Primus - Eclectic Electric   My song pick 7 ye...

From: The Joker ; Year: 1973; Genre: Blues Rock/Funk Rock After having Steve Miller Band's music on my mind I delved  through wot I've already chosen... dang, that is a lot. The Joker is always one of my "go to" of his records and is really that bridge between his more grassroots blues rock and his more mainstream and commercially successful brand. I would have to put Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma as one with aspects of both past and future versions of his sound. Although, that funky beat and amazing bass line is to die for; dance floor approved!   Hear Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Downtown Trio - Summertime     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bob Welch - Sentimental Lady     My song pick 3 years ago today: Rare Earth - What'd I Say   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jethro Tull - In Brief Visitation   My song pick 5 years ago today: Geddy Lee - Slipping   My song pick 6 years ag...

From: Funky Music Machine ; Year: 1972; Genre: Funk/Soul Here's a great one for this Friday's pick. It features the late-great Melvin Parker on drums in the band his brother Maceo led. Both are probably most noted for playing integral parts in James Brown's band and the creation of the funk genre, but both also have an extensive amount of collaborations with many, many artists. As you would expect, this track is an early evolution of funk combined with psychedelic soul and some jazz and fun as heck to listen to.   Hear A Funky Tale to Tell on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Swingin' Medallions - Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)     My song pick 2 years ago today: Queen - Fight from the Inside     My song pick 3 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Sage   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ratt - Round and Round   My song pick 5 years ago today: Little River Band - The Night Owls   My song pick 6 ...

From: Mr. Big Stuff ; Year: 1971; Genre: Funk/Soul Probably should have waited until tomorrow to choose this one for Funky Friday, but I love the genre and this track too much.  This one popped into my mind whilst I actually had another song with a similar riff that caused both to start running concurrently, which happens a lot in my head actually. Anyway, this is one of those songs that doesn't have one "standout" aspect(s) that catches my attention, but rather a Gestalt, if you will. The entire makeup from beat to vocal is just so good it has your complete attention from start to finish, which is the hallmark of the Stax Records hit machine. Of course Jean Knight's empowering attitude sells the lyrics and subject matter better that perfect.   Hear Mr. Big Stuff on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - I Don't Live Today     My song pick 2 years ago today: Vanilla Fudge - The Windmills Of Your Mind   ...

From: Fear of a Blank Planet ; Year: 2009; Genre: Progressive Rock This album was playing in my mind last night and this morning, which is a very good thing; a lot of amazing music to bounce around one's skull. This is a nice, shorter, (if you can call five-minutes short, right?), piece of music that has a very heavy, maudlin feeling to it; very beautiful.    Hear My Ashes on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - America     My song pick 2 years ago today: Edgar Winter - Tobacco Road     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Righteous Brothers - You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'   My song pick 4 years ago today: Eddie Grant - Electric Avenue   My song pick 5 years ago today: Melvins - The Mechanical Bride   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Little Gandy Dancer   My song pick 7 years ago today: Rush - War Paint My song pick 8 years ago today: Cr...

From: Jackson Browne ; Year: 1972; Genre: Rock Yet another very busy day upon me, so I'm being slightly brief. Jackson Browne's self-titled debut record just seemed to call to me this morning; decided to go with his second single from it.    Hear Rock Me on the Water on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Taco - Puttin' on the Ritz     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - Old Time Rock and Roll     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Sixteen Tons   My song pick 4 years ago today: Alestorm - Magellan's Expedition   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Ventures - Twilight Zone   My song pick 6 years ago today: Victor Wooten - Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior   My song pick 7 years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Satisfied Man My song pick 8 years ago today: Johnny Cash - Four Strong Winds My song pick 9 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss My song ...