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

From: Ghost Stories ; Year: 2024; Genre: Hard Rock Just happened to have BÖC on the brain and was listening to their latest album release, Ghost Stories , which is a collection of remastered and unreleased tracks from the late 1970s to early 1980s. I'm not 100% sure, but close to it, from all I can tell, this cover of the immortal emotional song by The Animals, is a remix/remaster from Blue Öyster Cult's '78 live album Some Enchanted Evening .   Hear We Gotta Get Out of This Place on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Tim Hardin - Reason to Believe     My song pick 2 years ago today: Eric Burdon and War - Spirit     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jigsaw - Life Insurance   My song pick 4 years ago today: Tesla - Edison's Medicine   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Throwing Stones   My song pick 6 years ago today: Redbone - When You Got Trouble   My song pick 7 years ago today: Blue Öyster ...

From: Woman, Woman ; Year: 1968; Genre: Rock/Pop Had this one bouncing around my cranium every now and then for the last couple of weeks, so, just now am getting around to picking it. Whilst I knew I had not added this song yet, I kept thinking that I had already done so with this band for another song, but was mistaken. Probably due to some other bands with a Gary as the leader of another "& the" band name. Anyhoo, those who are into older classics or grew up back when this one was on mainstream radio will immediately recognize it. Gary Puckett's soul-filled powerful vocals are one of the most prominent aspects along with the orchestration.   Hear Woman, Woman on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Marcus Miller - Rampage     My song pick 2 years ago today: Dead Meadow - This Shaky Hand is Not Mine     My song pick 3 years ago today: Hall & Oates - Kiss on My List   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Grateful Dead...

From: In the Face of Funk ; Year: 1994; Genre: Funk/Hip-Hop Dang, I ain't kiddin', this Friday really did some sneaking up on me this week. Instantly when I saw it was time to make my song pick for today there was no other band on my mind but Cameo; like I need a reason to go with one of their tracks.   Hear In the Face of Funk on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Tag Team - Whoomp! (There It Is)     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Nightwatchman - A Wall Against the Wind     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - When Push Comes to Shove   My song pick 4 years ago today: Depeche Mode - A Question of Time   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Veins   My song pick 6 years ago today: Weather Report - The Moors   My song pick 7 years ago today: Stratovarius - S.O.S. My song pick 8 years ago today: Asia - Without You My song pick 9 years ago today: Bob Weir (The Grateful Dead) ...

From: Terrapin Station ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock ¡Doh! I cannot believe that I missed my Memorial Day Grateful Dead pick; I guess better late than never. For some reason unbeknownst to me I just felt like putting on Terrapin Station again; immediately was welcomed by this rather strangely made track. I love the overall reggae feel, but that's kind of an illusion I suppose with Bill Kreutzmann's drumming in the modified 7/4 meter, (technically he's doing something like a 14/8), gives it a swinging reggae feel.  Anyway, it is definitely a great weird one, which I absolutely adore, that fits an overall tardy pick such as this.   Hear Estimated Prophet on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Blancmange - What's Your Problem?     My song pick 2 years ago today: Geddy Lee - I Am...You Are     My song pick 3 years ago today: Tina Turner - Private Dancer   My song pick 4 years ago today: Yes - Onward   My song...

From: Here's to the People ; Year: 1991; Genre: Cool Jazz/Jazz Fusion Most into jazz and associated genres are most likely aware of the passing of jazz giant Sonny Rollins a couple of days ago. It is just so mind-blowing to think of all the music, musicians, and history he experienced in his 95 years on this Earth, let alone all of the decades he was active. To think, that he took a large part in and saw all the new forms of jazz and the people he played with. It is a rarity to see an active musician touring for so many years, especially in jazz live so long. He definitely will be missed and then some. Anyway, I had a lot of music from many eras to choose from for this song pick. My thoughts went to the '60s or '70s, but then I have noticed that jazz, overall, at least here in the U.S. was kind of in the background by the 1990s, so I checked out one of his albums from the early part of the decade. I have to say, I am overjoyed that I did so. This one in particular I found a...

From: Snakes & Arrows ; Year: 2007; Genre: Folk Rock After watching some recent interviews with the two surviving members of the band I thought that I would revisit Snakes & Arrows once again. Still, it is difficult for me to comprehend that Neil Peart is gone... but a least Alex and Geddy are about to embark on a tour with Anika Nilles filling in on drums. Anyway, this is one of the three instrumental songs on this record and, if I remember correctly, when I saw them live for their tour promoting it, it was one of a handful of tracks they'd play whilst Neil rested after one of his epic drum solos. Whilst being a brief piece, Alex Lifeson, on his 12-string guitar really plays his heart out on it.   Hear Hope on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Grateful Dead - Shakedown Street     My song pick 2 years ago today: Boston - To Be a Man   My song pick 3 years ago today: George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars - T.A.P.O.A....

From: Blue Sky - Night Thunder ; Year: 1975; Genre: Progressive Country Been reading a lot about a musical movement that happened in the tail end of the '60s and early 1970s that is called progressive country . Whilst admittedly was unaware of the sub-genre, I do know about the music and I generally like it quite a bit more than the mainstream country; always assumed wot I heard was part of outlaw country , but more of a close cousin to it so to speak genre wise. A lot of the rebellious nature of outlaw was indeed a part of it, and many artists wrote and recorded songs in both. However in the case of progressive country, like progressive rock it was all about expanding, (progressing), music into something new and/or fusing other forms of music with country. It's not a surprise at all then that I just happened to like many of the songs under the genre before I knew it existed. Anyway, as you probably surmised, Michael Martin Murphey was one of the founders of prog-country and ha...

From: Ride Blue Divide ; Year: 1982; Genre: Rock I really like it when I find a diamond in the rough so to speak from a band that is considered a one hit wonder. This one was one of the last singles prior to them taking a decade off. They reformed in the early 1990s after their main hit Drivers Seat became popular once more, although with only two member from this lineup returning; they apparently took another decade off again and reformed in 2001. It was with their resurgence in the early 1990s that I became aware of Sniff 'n' The Tears, which again I say: better late than never. I like this track a bit; don't know why it didn't go somewhere, but more than likely it was non-interest and lack of advertisement. Wotever the case, it might not be their best, but it's definitely a nice one to listen to every now and then.    Hear Like Wildfire on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Hank Williams - Alone and Forsaken   My song pick 2 years ago...

From: Starfish ; Year: 1989; Genre: Alternative Rock Again, I will file this one under "I thought that I had already chosen it, but was wrong and now I have" song picks.  Under the Milky Way is one of those that has a timeless quality about it and is also exquisitely sparse in the way it was produced. The lack of tightly-packed "big" sound really sells the wide open feel on the track's subject matter.     Hear Under the Milky Way on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: B.T. Express - Discotizer     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bonnie Tyler - Have You Ever Seen the Rain?   My song pick 3 years ago today: Savatage - Taunting Cobras   My song pick 4 years ago today: Gloryhammer - On the Wings of a Rainbow   My song pick 5 years ago today: Wishbone Ash - Drive   My song pick 6 years ago today: Queensrÿche - The Mission   My song pick 7 years ago today: C.W. McCall - Four Wheel Drive My song pick 8...

From: What Cha Need/I'll Take You There (single); Year: 1972; Genre: Soul/Funk Here is a deeper cut for this Friday; an instrumental cover of the Staple Singer's classic written by Al Bell.   Hear I'll Take You There on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Midnight Oil - Nobody's Child     My song pick 2 years ago today: Dr. John - Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive   My song pick 3 years ago today: Herman's Hermits - End of the World   My song pick 4 years ago today: Alice in Chains - The One You Know   My song pick 5 years ago today: Yes - Going for the One   My song pick 6 years ago today: Dayton Sidewinders - Phoenix   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Police - Synchronicity I My song pick 8 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Dogs My song pick 9 years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - See You on the Other Side My song pick 10 years ago today: Queensrÿche - If I Could Change it All My song pick 11 years ago today: Kl...

From: Electric Ladyland ; Year: 1968; Genre: Psychedelic Rock Wanted to pick something "out there" from Jimi Hendrix; this short, (less-than-a-minute), piece with only odd sounds just seemed perfect for the bill.   Hear Moon, Turn the Tides....Gently Gently Away on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Chicken Shack - Daughter on the Hillside     My song pick 2 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright   My song pick 3 years ago today: Fleet Foxes - Innocent Son   My song pick 4 years ago today: Aphrodite's Child - The Four Horsemen   My song pick 5 years ago today: Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me   My song pick 6 years ago today: Barenaked Ladies - Shoe Box   My song pick 7 years ago today: Jigsaw - Mystic Harmony My song pick 8 years ago today: Chet Atkins - The Girl Friend of the Whirling Dervish My song pick 9 years ago today: Alice in Chains - What The Hell Have I My song pick 10...

From: George Thorogood and the Destroyers ; Year: 1977; Genre: Blues Rock Wot the heck, I'm picking the George Thorogood cover after picking the John Lee Hooker version yesterday; seems like a great idea! Yeah. Anyway, as I wrote in my last post, this is a cover of two songs from the legend of a Bluesman: House Rent Boogie and One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer . He used the first song to tell the tale as to why the guy is in the bar drowning his blues in the iconic second piece. I have to say that he and his Destroyers did the songs great and probably turned a lot of new listeners on the original John Lee Hooker tracks; I know it did with me.   Hear One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Shocking Blue - Roll Engine Roll     My song pick 2 years ago today: Pat Benatar - My Clone Sleeps Alone   My song pick 3 years ago today: The B-52's - Love Shack   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bootsy's Ru...

From: The Real Folk Blues ; Year: 1966; Genre: Blues I do not know why, but it just felt like a perfect time for a John Lee Hooker blues; why not this great track. Probably many my age and younger were introduced to this track by George Thorogood and the Destroyers who fused it with another John Lee Hooker tune House Rent Boogie , which preceded it in the medley. Apparently George Thorogood asked him for his bless in doing it and John Lee Hooker was all for it. Anyway, this blues is actually a cover, (depending on whom you ask apparently). The authorship and who recorded it first is not in question, (Rusy Toombs and Amos Milburn), just how much Hooker added to it to make it one of his signature songs. It appears that there are some music historians out there that state that Hooker's version is different enough that it is an original. Frankly I do not really care, I just enjoy listening to it; whoever it is performing it.   Hear One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer on YouTube.   ...

From: Sloppy Seconds ; Year: 1972; Genre: Country Rock/Comedy Yesterday I heard of Dennis Locorriere's passing; he was the lead vocalist and whilst played the lead guitar primarily, he basically at one time or another played almost every instrument with Dr. Hook. This rather fun comical track with its old timey sound really opens up the record beautifully. As with all the material on Sloppy Seconds , it was written by noted song-smith  Shel Silverstein , who earlier the same year recorded it as the title track to his own album.    Hear Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Soundgarden - Searching WIth My Good Eye Closed     My song pick 2 years ago today: John Cougar Mellencamp - R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60's Rock)   My song pick 3 years ago today: ABBA - Bang-A-Boomerang   My song pick 4 years ago today: Faster Pussycat - Nonstop to Nowhere   My song pick 5 years ago t...

From: Nobody Wants to be Alone ; Year: 1985; Genre: Pop/Country If I remember correctly, this album was right at the tail-end of the whole country/pop/rock crossover era that permeated the late 1970s and early 1980s. Not that there's anything wrong with that blend of genres; I for one actually like quite a few of them and believe that it was better "country" than a lot of the exaggerated nasally singing pushed out today. I would actually categorize this track in particular way more in the pop/rock or power pop genre than country. Anyway, I have heard this one a lot over the years; it really has the ability to get stuck in your head, and a fun one all the same.    Hear Touch and Go on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Savatage - Forever After     My song pick 2 years ago today: Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised   My song pick 3 years ago today: Les Paul & Mary Ford - Bye Bye Blues   My song pick 4 ...

From: Nightcap ; Year: 1993 (1982); Genre: Progressive Rock This album has had heavy rotation ever since importing it from the U.K. back in the mid 1990s, so I seemingly have songs from it in my mind semi-frequently. I believe that this track was from their early '80s  Broadsword & The Beast recording sessions, but did not make the final cut for the record. Whilst I agree with Ian Anderson that these are/were very low polished songs compared to most, but I am still 100% happy and "over the moon" that he did make them available as I really enjoy them.    Hear No Step on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lou Garno Trio - Muy Sabroso (Very Tasty)     My song pick 2 years ago today: Ray Charles - Unchain My Heart   My song pick 3 years ago today: Elvis Presley - I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Mamas & the Papas - Monday Monday   My song pick 5 years ago today: ...

From: Zapp II ; Year: 1982; Genre: Funk/R&B This week, like last, just seemed to blow by... probably it's just me. Anyway, for this Friday I knew I wanted to pick something from Roger Troutman; wot a better pick than something from his band Zapp. This one is a non-charting single, but still one of the highlights off of their second album.     Hear Do You Really Want an Answer? on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bruce Springsteen - My City of Ruins     My song pick 2 years ago today: Al Di Meola - Traces (Of A Tear)   My song pick 3 years ago today: The J. Geils Band - Freeze-Frame   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ray Charles - You'll Never Walk Alone   My song pick 5 years ago today: Fates Warning - Firefly   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jigsaw - Journey Into Space   My song pick 7 years ago today: Kiss - Heaven's on Fire My song pick 8 years ago today: The Supremes - Stop! In the Name of ...

From: Rage Against the Machine ; Year: 1992; Genre: Alternative Metal/Rap This is one of those records that has continued to reverberate almost 35 years since its release and counting; will probably still be totally relevant for another century or two. I absolutely love how their music is not stuck as a signpost from the 1990s, but feels and sounds as new as when released. The only real sad part about their music is that the same BS they were raging against is still happening and in some cases has gotten a lot worse. C'est la vie .   Hear Township Rebellion on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Cameo - Slyde     My song pick 2 years ago today: Savatage - Miles Away   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Eagles - New Kid in Town   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Positive Force - We Got The Funk   My song pick 6 years ago today:...