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

From: Nebraska ; Year: 1982; Genre: Folk This, the lead and title track off of his Nebraska album, just happened to be on my mind today. It reminds me a lot of the old time folk singers from way back in how they wrote song about actual happenings, mostly gruesome tales and such. In this one he tells the tale of the serial killers Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate and their eight-day spree in 1958 killing 11 people. Although, he also was inspired by the writings of Flannery O'Connor , of which he took some artistic liberties with the tale. The best aspect of this song in my opinion is how he stripped it back to essentially just him and his guitar as well as him overdubbing a few other instruments. It comes off quite to my ears as Pete Seeger meets the acoustic music of Neil Young; very emotional and profound.   Hear Nebraska on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Wolfmother - City Lights     My song pick 2 years ago today: Mac Davis...

From: Struttin' My Stuff ; Year: 1975; Genre: Southern Rock Kind of surprised that I had not yet chosen something from Elvin Bishop yet; especially this song, which is probably one of his most famous. Basically, if you have a movie or TV show depicting the 1970s this is one of the "go-to" tracks to play in the background, as such has been used for just that on many occasions.     Hear Fooled Around and Fell In Love on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Funkadelic - I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody's Got a Thing     My song pick 2 years ago today: Boyz II Men - In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - One Rainy Wish   My song pick 4 years ago today: April Wine - Cat's Claw   My song pick 5 years ago today: Alphaville - Big In Japan   My song pick 6 years ago today: Primus - Mary the Ice Cube   My song pick 7 years ago today: Masto...

From: The Spice of Life ; Year: 1969; Genre: Soul/Funk This track always puts me in a better mood than I was in when I hear it. It is definitely not in a sugary pop track kind of way, a very soulful and uplifting kind of way. Recently discovered that Marlena Shaw's recording of this track is actually a cover that was recorded a few times prior and since; I always assumed it originated with her, but I was in error. California Soul was originally written by the legendary husband-and-wife writing duo Ashford & Simpson and recorded first by The Messengers. Wotever the case, I still love this rendition/recording; there's just more great versions out there to hear.   Hear California Soul on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Sands of Time     My song pick 2 years ago today: Sol Ho'opi'i - Fascinating Rhythm   My song pick 3 years ago today: Kenny Rogers & the First Edition - Something's Burning   My song pic...

From: Voulez-Vous ; Year: 1979; Genre: Pop/Rock Off and on for quite some time I have had music from this record on my mind and with enough regularity that I am picking another one from it. Musically, this is a great "sit back and enjoy" kind of track very much in the norm of the hit making machine that was ABBA. Lyrically, this one is slightly darker in that it deals with the " schadenfreude " that the jilted ex-lover is feeling after her ex-boyfriend gets unceremoniously dumped by the girl he left her for.    Hear The King Has Lost His Crown on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Los Lobos - The Mess We're In     My song pick 2 years ago today: Ultravox - Visions in Blue   My song pick 3 years ago today: Miami Sound Machine - Bad Boy   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Northern Pikes - She Ain't Pretty   My song pick 5 years ago today: Parliament - Wizard of Finance   My song pick 6 years ago today: ABBA - Sup...

From: Centerfield ; Year: 1985; Genre: Blues Rock/Country Rock/Rockabilly Had some of the great music from this album come on in a story I happened to be in; I thought I would revisit it. This song is one of the typical Fogerty tracks that crosses all the major Americana genres and seemingly can be played almost anywhere to a crowd.    Hear Big Train (From Memphis) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Humble Pie - 30 Days in the Hole     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Thermals - An Ear For Baby   My song pick 3 years ago today: Hawkwind - Jack of Shadows   My song pick 4 years ago today: George Clinton - Maximumisness   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bruce Hornsby & The Range - Look Out Any Window   My song pick 6 years ago today: Marillion - This Strange Engine   My song pick 7 years ago today: 10cc - Good Morning Judge My song pick 8 years ago today: The Moody Blues - I Know You're Out There ...

From: The Thunderfist Chronicles ; Year: 2025; Genre: Pirate Metal/Power Metal Had them pop into my mind once again this morning; a good mix for doing your taxes to anyway. This is to date their lengthiest song at an epic 17+ minutes and filled with a great deal of big, astounding music and tales of boldness, adventure and legend.   Hear Mega-Supreme Treasure of the Eternal Thunderfist on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Boyz II Men - It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday     My song pick 2 years ago today: Daniel Boone - Beautiful Sunday   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Hallucinations   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Kinks - Sleepwalker   My song pick 5 years ago today: Carmen - The Horseman   My song pick 6 years ago today: Daniel Lanois - That's The Way It Is   My song pick 7 years ago today: Raspberries - Go All The Way My song pick 8 years ago today: The Thermals - Test...

From: Nilsson Schmilsson ; Year: 1971; Genre: Pop/Rock Haven't chosen a Harry Nilsson song in a while and since his music has been on my mind off and on lately, I thought it'd be a good time for another. This rather laid-back track has a lot of Beatleness throughout, which is probably not a surprise with how much he liked and worked with them.     Hear The Moonbeam Song on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Queensrÿche - Last Time in Paris     My song pick 2 years ago today: Alive 'N Kickin' - Tighter, Tighter   My song pick 3 years ago today: Sweet - Call Me   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lou Rawls - Groovy People   My song pick 5 years ago today: Marillion - Dry Land   My song pick 6 years ago today: Ray Davies - The Getaway   My song pick 7 years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Keep On Chooglin' My song pick 8 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Luther the Anthropoid (Ape ...

From: There Is No Space For Us ; Year: 2025; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock For the last decade or so I have loved that I can count on Hawkwind to seemingly release something new almost every year. This is one of the single releases off of their most recent album from last year and is a close-to-perfect song to bring the record to a close. It is essentially an instrumental with only the final seconds having any vocals. The arrangements are quite beautiful with some great contributions on both the guitar, piano, and synth in particular. It kind of has an overall melancholy feel throughout, but also some hopeful chords and melodies to give the feeling of trudging along; perhaps either on the long journey home, or continuing on the adventure to see wot's beyond the next horizon.   Hear A Long Long Way From Home on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Explorers Club - Impact 5 – Last Call    My song pick 2 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - ...

From: Déjà Vu ; Year: 1970; Genre: Folk Rock/Country Rock This has always been one of my favourite albums from CSN&Y; one of the first records of theirs that I bought. Heck, this is another one of those albums that might as well be a "Greatest Hits" compilation with essentially every one of the tracks getting radio play; definitely easier to name the non hit singles, that's for sure! Teach Your Children is one in particular that has permeated culture since its release; almost to the point of overplay, but with its writing and arranging it avoids that negative aspect in some regard. Apparently Graham Nash wrote it years prior when in The Hollies, but never got recorded until with CS&N. I do not believe that Neil Young had anything to do with this track on the record, but he was part of the act on the record. Without a doubt though, the best aspect of this one is hearing Jerry Garcia playing his pedal steel doing counter-lines, harmonies, and solos.   Hear Teach Yo...

From: Hardcore Jollies ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Psychedelic Soul/Funk Going with one of my favourite funk bands for today's pick; sure I have picked a lot of P-Funk, but I am certain that there is no such thing as too much P-Funk, especially the Funkadelic side of things 😁. This is kind of a mellower, jazzier piece that leans into their psychedelic soul background, which makes for a great song to bring this legendary album to a close.     Hear Adolescent Funk on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ain't No Good Life     My song pick 2 years ago today: Johnny Rivers - Secret Agent Man   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - Resist   My song pick 4 years ago today: Heart - The Oldest Story in the World   My song pick 5 years ago today: Cream - Sitting on Top of the World   My song pick 6 years ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Forever Falling   My song pick 7 years ago today:...

From: Points on the Curve ; Year: 1983; Genre: New Wave Heard this one on the television the other day and knew it was an upcoming pick. Dance Hall Days is another one of those infectious early 1980s new wave classics that just makes you feel like moving and puts you in a good mood.   Hear Dance Hall Days on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Elvis Presley - Guitar Man     My song pick 2 years ago today: Lead Belly - Midnight Special   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Teen Archer   My song pick 4 years ago today: Triumph - Rock & Roll Machine   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Chug-A-Lug (The Bun Patrol)   My song pick 6 years ago today: Mastodon - Asleep in the Deep   My song pick 7 years ago today: Uriah Heep - Fallen Angel My song pick 8 years ago today: Depeche Mode - Strangelove My song pick 9 years ago today: Billy Joel - Uptown Girl My song pick 10 years...

From: Social Distortion ; Year: 1990; Genre: Blues Rock/Alternative Rock Heard this one a few times over the last couple of weeks and really started to take a liking to it, so, yeah, I am picking it. There's just something authentic about the bluesy lyrical content and low-fi garage/bar band sound that just works absolutely perfect. I'll most likely be listening to a lot more of this band in the future.   Hear Ball and Chain on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Suicidal Tendencies - Depression and Anguish     My song pick 2 years ago today: Los Bravos - I Don't Care   My song pick 3 years ago today: Talking Heads - Burning Down the House   My song pick 4 years ago today: Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Guess Who? - Believe Me   My song pick 6 years ago today: Journey - Open Arms   My song pick 7 years ago today: Peter Frampton - Nassau/Baby, I Love Your Way My song pick...

From: Rock On ; Year: 1973; Genre: Glam Rock This jazzy pop number was the second single off of his debut album; it reminds me a lot of Dr. John , which is not surprising since David Essex was a fan of his. I have always found his music interesting in that he was a "pop idol," but has always been very experimental and progressive while still being consumable to the mainstream.    Hear Lamplight on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Midnight Oil - We Are Not Afraid     My song pick 2 years ago today: Marillion - Care   My song pick 3 years ago today: Eric Burdon and War - The Vision of Rassan   My song pick 4 years ago today: Brave Belt - Long Way 'Round   My song pick 5 years ago today: Meat Loaf - Paradise By the Dashboard Light   My song pick 6 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Light Years of Love   My song pick 7 years ago today: Tool - Vicarious My song pick 8 years ago today: Nena - Ich häng' an dir...

From: Honeysuckle Rose (Soundtrack) ; Year: 1980; Genre: Country Looking forward to another four hours of driving... if that's possible. (I really hate being behind the wheel for even short distances if you could not guess). I guess my personal mood is the opposite sentiment of this seminal hit from the outlaw country/western legend that is Willie Nelson. ....yeehaw....😩   Hear On the Road Again on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Kinks - Animal Farm     My song pick 2 years ago today: Duran Duran - Girls on Film   My song pick 3 years ago today: Mountain - Tired Angels (to J.M.H.)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Ramble Tamble   My song pick 5 years ago today: 10cc - Art for Art's Sake   My song pick 6 years ago today: Brotherhood of Man - Save All Your Kisses For Me   My song pick 7 years ago today: Wolfmother - Enemy Is In Your Mind My song pick 8 years ago today...

From: Curse of the Hidden Mirror ; Year: 2001; Genre: Hard Rock Decided on picking a song off of this album, which is by some considered to be one of the band's weakest releases. Truthfully, I have never really listened to it much, so I really have no firm opinion thus far. This track, which has a "cheeky" title, is quite similar to their normal work, so, I would probably have guessed it was BÖC just hearing it randomly.   Hear I Just Like To Be Bad on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jeff Wayne, Richard Burton, Chris Thompson - Thunder Child     My song pick 2 years ago today: Cameo - Funk Funk   My song pick 3 years ago today: Genesis - Tonight, Tonight, Tonight   My song pick 4 years ago today: Hawkwind - Strange Encounters   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Space for the Earth   My song pick 6 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life   My song pick 7 years ago today: Dayton Sid...

From: Genesis ; Year: 1968; Genre: Psychedelic Rock Thought that I would give this band another, closer listen; this time, their debut album. I love bands like these where they are essentially a "supergroup," but instead of already successful musicians joining forces, these are successful musicians in the making that would go on elsewhere for it. This is a neat piece of psychedelia-infused riff heavy prog rock that is especially good when listening on a good pair of headphones.   Hear Looking Glass on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lakeside - Power     My song pick 2 years ago today: Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship - Starship   My song pick 3 years ago today: Alice in Chains - So Far Under   My song pick 4 years ago today: C.W. McCall - Black Bear Road   My song pick 5 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Sheep   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bill Withers - Lean On Me   My song pick 7 years ago today: Small Fa...

From: Computer Games ; Year: 1982; Genre: Funk Thought I'd already chosen this one, which is George Clinton's biggest hits from his solo recordings. It has been sampled and used in popular media a lot over the years as well as just being a great funk standard.   Hear Atomic Dog on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: War - Vibeka   My song pick 2 years ago today: Spacehog - Only a Few   My song pick 3 years ago today: Duran Duran - New Religion   My song pick 4 years ago today: T. Rex - Dandy in the Underworld   My song pick 5 years ago today: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough   My song pick 6 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Phase I   My song pick 7 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell My song pick 8 years ago today: Dire Straits - Heavy Fuel My song pick 9 years ago today: The Doobie Brothers - Black Water My song pick 10 years ago today: The Moontrekkers - Dance Legle...

From: Operation: Mindcrime ; Year: 1988; Genre: Progressive Metal Just wot I need to get the blood moving on such a busy day. This one begins side two, which more or less places it in the middle of the story. Musically The Needle Lies is a fast-paced and hard hitting metal track that really compliments the point in the tale where Nikki confronts the nefarious Dr. X and tells him that he and Mary are leaving. He comes to terms with his past as an addict and vows to move on.   Hear The Needle Lies on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Aphrodite's Child - Day of the Fool     My song pick 2 years ago today: Nelson - (Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection   My song pick 3 years ago today: Louis Armstrong - Everybody's Talkin' (Echoes)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way   My song pick 5 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Guess W...

From: Night Songs ; Year: 1986; Genre: Glam Metal Hard to believe, (for me at least), that another month has passed and new one begins... time is just flying by. Anyway, it is April Fools Day once again, so I'm picking an apropos song for the occasion.   Hear Nobody's Fool on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lou Rawls - Now And Then There's A Fool Such As I     My song pick 2 years ago today: Ricky Nelson - Poor Little Fool   My song pick 3 years ago today: Whitesnake - Fool For Your Loving   My song pick 4 years ago today: James Brown - These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall In Love   My song pick 6 years ago today: Billy Joel - Sometimes a Fantasy   My song pick 7 years ago today: Def Leppard - Foolin' My song pick 8 years ago today: The Doobie Brothers - What a Fool Believes My song pick 9 years ago today: Roxy Musi...