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

From: A Night at the Opera ; Year: 1999 (1939); Genre: Comedy In a weird mood today and had the Marx Brothers film At the Circus , or rather music from it playing in my mind incessantly. Wot the Marx Brothers did musically is seemingly timeless and is enjoyable to people born more than a century after release. I still laugh and cannot turn away from this scene in particular, it is just so entertaining and hilarious. Even though Groucho sings the lead and is the primary focus and does an amazing acting job, his brother Harpo doing his physical comedy in the background is my favourite aspect; he all but steals the show during this number. It took me a while to find the soundtrack, but luckily was able to find this album of one of their most popular film's namesake. It also includes three other film soundtracks, including At the Circus , of which this one came.   Watch the number performed from the film on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Marvin Gaye...

From: Stormwatch (2019 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition) ; Year: 1979; Genre: Progressive Rock/Blues Rock It is another one of those days where I had an album playing in my mind whilst getting ready to make the day's song pick; guess which one? I'm really getting close to running out of tracks to choose from Stormwatch; if it wasn't for all the "dusted down forgotten recordings" remastered and released a number of years ago, I surely would've by now. This is an instrumental piece that was left on the cutting room floor that did not make it on to the record or any of the "rare and unreleased" discs in the time between. Whilst it's okay, it definitely is not amongst my favourites from that recording session, but still has that hard, bluesy folk rock sound from the late 1970s. Although, to my ears it sounds as if some instruments were more recently added or dubbed over some of the original tracks; I could be wrong. However, hearing some instruments...

From: Second Fire!! ; Year: 1995; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal Decided to go with another song from one of the Japanese animé's that I have always liked a lot: Macross 7 . For those not acquainted with the series, it was created by Shōji Kawamori  and combines science fiction/space, mecha , and music/"making of the band" genres. Over the years I have been able to procure most of the CDs associated with Macross 7 and some of the other Macro ss series. I've always liked the "Duet Version" off the second disc, which is performed by both guitar virtuoso  Yoshiki Fukuyama and Chie Kajiura as their characters from the show. As far as I am aware, the music was performed by Yoshiki Fukuyama and his band at the time: Hummingbird. Anyway, this is a high-intensity heavy metal/hard rock piece that feature a lot of blazing guitar work and was heavily featured in the show.    Hear Holy Lonely Light on YouTube.   Watch an awesome live performance of the song on YouTube.   ...

From: I Robot ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock Just had this record on my mind since yesterday evening; why not just go ahead and pick the first, title track? I Robot  acts as the overture to the overall concept album loosely based on Isaac Asimov 's stories concerning the mechanical men . Essentially is a six-minute instrumental piece heavy with synth programing and keyboards except for a chorale providing a human touch with vocalizations, which probably was the intention considering the overall conceptual story.    Hear I Robot on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rainbow - Black Sheep of the Family   My song pick 2 years ago today: Funkadelic - Take Your Dead Ass Home! (Say Som'n Nasty)   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Exciters - Tell Him   My song pick 4 years ago today: Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - I Promise To Remember   My song pick 5 years ago today: Santana - Song of the Wind   My song...

From: You Don't Mess Around With Jim ; Year: 1972; Genre: Folk Rock I remember buying an old stereo 8-track tape of this album at either a yard sale or thrift store back when I was a young teenager for five cents; the tape was already quite old and a dead format even back then. Not having a lot of money to spend then, I would normally get my music cheap and then record it onto a cassette tape or just play it. One thing about Jim Croce's albums, for me at least, I never skipped a song; I'd let it play. Each and every song was special and so uplifting. The only problem with 8-tracks was the fact that you couldn't rewind them, so, if you wanted to hear a song again you had to let it come back around on the continuous loop of tape. As long as you kept your player and cartridge in good working order it'd just keep playing, that is, until that little metal switching splice fell off and it started to eat your tape. then you'd have to re-spool and use the good ol' s...

From: Tony Joe ; Year: 1970; Genre: Country Funk/Blues Something a little different for this Funky Friday; some funky country blues crossover. It is just the great kind of weird just how well country/western and funk go together. A lot of people probably see the two musical genres as not related, but since both genres are children of of blues so to speak they have much more in common than not and thus go together like peanut butter and jam. As I've said before blues is one powerful and all-encompassing musical school and can bond together a great deal; and not just music either. Tony Joe White really does well using the whole "jilted lover done wrong" idea by comparing their relationship to that of a black widow spider and her usually soon-to-be-dinner mate. Heck, this track could be played in many mixed settings and eras; even today this one would go over well. Probably the best aspect of this song for me is the overall lower fidelity production; makes his vocals even al...

From: Brain Salad Surgery ; Year: 1973; Genre: Progressive Rock Benny the Bouncer is one of "the other," more brief tracks on this extended, epic-laden album. It is driven by Keith Emerson's honky tonk ragtime-inspired piano playing that gets more and more complex as the song goes on. The overall arrangement and vocal delivery remind me a lot of late 1980s Savatage; their Streets: A Rock Opera specifically.   Hear Benny the Bouncer on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Neil Young and Promise of the Real - Already Great     My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Ladies   My song pick 3 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Weirditude   My song pick 4 years ago today: Mott the Hoople - (Do You Remember) The Saturday Gigs   My song pick 5 years ago today: Luther - Everybody Rejoice   My song pick 6 years ago today: Wishbone Ash - Vas Dis   My song pick 7 years ago today: Journey - Spaceman My song pick 8 ye...

From: Strange Days ; Year: 1967; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Blues Rock Once more went back to this record and have since had this track on my mind. From wot I've read this was either the first or one of the first songs written by Jim Morrison for The Doors. It is very much an odd composition with the weird groove and, of course, Jim Morrison's out-of-this-world lyrics/vocals. However, I would have to say that Robbie Krieger's spooky sounding slide guitar and solo really is the icing on the cake so to speak.   Hear Moonlight Drive on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Sammy Davis Jr. - Whisper to One     My song pick 2 years ago today: Queen - Flash to the Rescue   My song pick 3 years ago today: Ace - Rock & Roll Runaway   My song pick 4 years ago today: Imagination - Just an Illusion   My song pick 5 years ago today: Alestorm - Fannybaws   My song pick 6 years ago today: Marillion - Seasons End   My song pick ...

From: No Need to Argue ; Year: 1994; Genre: Alternative Rock/Celtic Rock Kind of odd that I have not chosen a song from The Cranberries for a St. Patrick's Day pick before today; definitely need to remedy that one. They are one of the more emotionally heart wrenching bands from Ireland, mostly thanks to the amazing vocals of the late-great Dolores O'Riordan and her signature wail.    Hear So Cold in Ireland on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Flogging Molly - Crushed (Hostile Nations)     My song pick 2 years ago today: Waylander - Kindred Spirits   My song pick 3 years ago today: Black 47 - Land Of DeValera   My song pick 4 years ago today: Frank Mackey & The Keltic Cowboys - Rocky Road to Dublin   My song pick 5 years ago today: Black 47 - Bodhráns On The Brain   My song pick 6 years ago today: Waylander - The Vernal Dance   My song pick 7 years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Dublin My song pick 8 years ...

From: Orgasmatron ; Year: 1986; Genre: Metal/Hard Rock Coincidentally I felt like picking something from Motörhead today and also discovered that their longtime guitarist Philip Anthony Campbell sadly passed away a couple of days ago, so I am definitely choosing one of their songs now.   Hear Deaf Forever on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Porcupine Tree - Rats Return     My song pick 2 years ago today: Steeleye Span - The Wee Free Men   My song pick 3 years ago today: Icehouse - Trojan Blue   My song pick 4 years ago today: Miles Davis - Paraphernalia   My song pick 5 years ago today: Utopia - Set Me Free   My song pick 6 years ago today: Nick Gilder - Rated X   My song pick 7 years ago today: Rush - Second Nature My song pick 8 years ago today: Diana Ross & The Supremes - Someday We'll be Together My song pick 9 years ago today: Megadeth - Dread and the Fugitive Mind My song pick 10 years ago toda...

From:  H 2 O ; Year: 1982; Genre: Rock/Soul Never knew that this track was a cover; always was under the impression that it was a Hall & Oates original. Mike Oldfield , who was also one of the song's writers, recorded and released it just prior. While it charted originally for Oldfield, it charted much better and in more territories for Hall & Oates, which is not surprising with them being such a giant musical powerhouse back in the 1980s.   Hear Family Man on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lighthouse - Man, Woman, Child     My song pick 2 years ago today: Cameo - Attitude   My song pick 3 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - The Lights Go Down   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lawrence Gowan - The Dragon   My song pick 5 years ago today: Alice Cooper - I'm Eighteen   My song pick 6 years ago today: U.K. - Rendezvous 6:02   My song pick 7 years ago today: Parliament - Aqua Boogie (A ...

From: Running Down the Road ; Year: 1969; Genre: Folk Rock/Jazz/Blues Played this record once more yesterday and was again just mesmerized by almost every facet of it; it's just one of those "historic" albums. Stealin' is a blues standard that is kind of nebulous as to its authorship, but has been one that many a wandering troubadour has played it live and in the studio over the last century. This recording of the track also has the distinction as being part of the soundtrack to the 1971 cult classic film Two-Lane Blacktop , which has most likely increased its popularity to some degree. There is a noted Dixieland Jazz feel to Arlo's rendition, which gives it a "singalong" feel; even when you have the record playing you get the compulsion to sing with everyone, even when you're by yourself with headphones on. Arlo Guthrie's music and attitude though is as such; his style is so inclusive to anyone listening. Just join in the chorus and become part ...

From: Keep it Live ; Year: 1982; Genre: Funk/Electronica A very busy Friday thus far, but still need something funky to pick. Here's a nice piece of synth-heavy funk from the early 1980s, which is a perfect fit.   Hear Keep it Live (On the K.I.L.) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters - Such a Night     My song pick 2 years ago today: Tesla - I Want To Take You Higher   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pantera - 13 Steps To Nowhere   My song pick 4 years ago today: Till Lindemann - Ich Hasse Kinder   My song pick 5 years ago today: Normaal - Deurdonderen   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - World Wide Funk   My song pick 7 years ago today: Sam Cooke - Chain Gang My song pick 8 years ago today: King Crimson - Lizard My song pick 9 years ago today: Band of Horses - Lying Under Oak My song pick 10 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Three Fates ...

From: Cargo ; Year: 1983; Genre: New Wave Having Men at Work on my brain today; I have not chosen one of their songs in quite some time, and only one to boot. This is one of their better hits that, even if you don't know it by title, you should immediately recognize it especially if you were around in the '80s and '90s. Although it has been in and out of popular culture over the years, so some younger individuals might know it from a television programme or such. One I do remember was in an episode of the T.V. series Scrubs where a character suffering from insomnia was having a hallucination of Colin Hay, who comically kept bothering him by singing an acoustic version of the song.   Hear Overkill on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Three Dog Night - Time To Get Alone     My song pick 2 years ago today: Ray Stevens - The Rockin' Teenage Mummies   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Hollies - Carrie Anne   My song pick 4 year...

From: Kansas ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Here's another one from a band's debut album, although, I'd say that with Kansas they already had their defined sound which would just get all the more polished as time went on. Although, it would take a few albums and patience for them to reach their full fame. It was there, and Aperçu is one that I really love off the record, and is among my favourites from Kansas; both the album and song.   Hear Aperçu on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Marillion - Just for the Record     My song pick 2 years ago today: Fates Warning - Outside Looking In   My song pick 3 years ago today: Toad The Wet Sprocket - Fall Down   My song pick 4 years ago today: James Brown - Out Of Sight   My song pick 5 years ago today: Glenn Miller - PEnnsylvania 6 - 5000   My song pick 6 years ago today: Nirvana - Negative Creep   My song pick 7 years ago today: Gravity Kills - Falli...

From: Blue Öyster Cult ; Year: 1972; Genre: Psychedelic Rock Been listening to early BÖC lately; I've always found their self-titled debut album is kind of a "grab bag" of sorts. Sure there are some hits and ones that sound a lot like their emerging sound, then you got some oddities... like this one. Don't get me wrong, it is not a bad song, just different. If one does not pay too much attention to the lyrics, the somewhat "mystical" sounding melody is great. However, there's not very many bands out there that can make a song about a lady being compared to a foot, but Eric Bloom really sell it amazingly. I mean, some people have a thing for feet, so it could be a compliment, but it does go into stranger areas when it tells of a man biting her face and saying she tasted like "a falling arch" and her face changing to a Guernsey cow. It may be weird, but sometimes weird is good, and is a reason I love Blue Öyster Cult and their music so much; neve...

From: Still Life ; Year: 1976; Genre: Progressive Rock Probably the last time I will be posting a track from Still Life , which is one of favourites from VdGG. It's not surprising with both how much I like it and the fact that they're one of the bands that released full records with five or six very long songs on it; with this one originally with only five. At around eight minutes in length, My Room is kind of the median length wise with two longer and two shorter songs on it. Anyway, the vocals are somewhat unique sounding with Peter Hammill singing quiet, low, and airy vocals with David Jackson's saxophone essentially playing a duet/counter line to the vocals, essentially treating the woodwind as a vocal in and of itself.   Hear My Room (Waiting for Wonderland) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Moon Crazy     My song pick 2 years ago today: Chad Allan & The Expressions (The Guess Who) - Theme from a Music Box...

From: A New Time - A New Day ; Year: 1968; Genre: Psychedelic Soul Don't know wot it is like elsewhere in the world, but today marks the start of Daylight Savings Time over here, which really sucks. I felt the need to pick something more appropriate for the occasion. One of the first tracks that came to mind was The Chambers Brothers' classic Time Has Come Today , which I had already picked. However, on the followup album they had this apt title track, which absolutely fit wot I needed, and love those lead vocals a lot. Whilst I have never gotten full-on into this band, every time I hear one of their tracks immediately I like it. I definitely will have to delve further into their catalogue.    Hear A New Time - A New Day on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lou Christie - Lightnin' Strikes     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rose Royce - Keep On Keepin' On   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bob Marley & The Wailers - Midni...