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

From: Street Player ; Year: 1978; Genre: Funk/Soul Wanted to choose another funky track from Rufus and Chaka Khan. Decided on the title track of this record; definitely a song that will get your blood pumping with that bumping rhythm.   Hear Street Player on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Stacy Q - The River     My song pick 2 years ago today: Mott the Hoople - One of the Boys     My song pick 3 years ago today: Parliament - Unfunky UFO   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bread - Let Your Love Go   My song pick 5 years ago today: Simple Minds - Love Song   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Hard Liner   My song pick 7 years ago today: Traffic - Glad My song pick 8 years ago today: Megadeth - Rattlehead My song pick 9 years ago today: Parliament - Everything Is on the One My song pick 10 years ago today: Symphony X - Iconoclast My song pick 11 years ago today: John Fogerty - The Old Man D...

From: Watts in a Tank ; Year: 1980; Genre: Rock I remember hearing Diesel a lot back in the day, but they eventually faded only to come back into the pop culture conscience every now and then. I did not look much into the band, but with their mega hit Sausalito Summernight and its California car adventure theme, I assumed they were a U.S. band, but were actually Dutch. From wot I understand, between band member defections and not fully being able to recapture the magic they only lasted a handful of years and a total of three records, but had reunions and one other studio album since their first breakup. This track was one of the four singles from their debut, and, depending on which market you focus on, the second or third highest charting of their songs.   Hear Going Back to China on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Camel - Rain Dances     My song pick 2 years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Bi-Polar Bear     My song pick 3...

From: Vivid ; Year: 1989; Genre: Hard Rock/Alternative Metal Seems like every time I put one of the discs on I'm blown away at just how hard they rock. I really need to have them more in my rotation; at that there's no doubt!   Hear Open Letter (To a Landlord) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lalo Schifrin - Mission: Impossible     My song pick 2 years ago today: War - This Funky Music Makes You Feel Good     My song pick 3 years ago today: Blancmange - Blind Vision   My song pick 4 years ago today: Brenton Wood - Gimme Little Sign   My song pick 5 years ago today: Duran Duran - Too Much Information   My song pick 6 years ago today: Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire   My song pick 7 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Sex Machine My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crossword My song pick 9 years ago today: Blood, Sweat & Tears - You've Made Me So Very Happy My song pick 1...

From: Edge of Excess ; Year: 1992; Genre: Hard Rock This one comes from the, sadly, most recent studio album from the band. On the record they were minus original vocalist/guitarists Rik Emmett and instead featured  Phil X on guitar whilst drummer Gil Moore performed lead vocals. I've always liked most of Triumph's material, but have never been huge into the band, or anything past the mid 1980s-ish that they put out. However, never really looked into wot they were up to since, and as it turns out, not too much. Recently though, I learned of their most recent reunion and North American tour, which got me curious.  Anyway, this was one of the lead singles from Edge of Excess, and while not close to the band's best, it's still more than good enough to quench ones' thirst for their brand of arena-rock.   Hear Child of the City on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Aretha Franklin - Rock Steady     My song pick 2 years ago today: D...

From: Movements ; Year: 2005 (1970); Genre: Soul/Funk Thought that I'd bring this workweek to a close with another one from Tobias Kirmayer awesome compilation series Movements . This one is from the late-great Robert Parker ; with this one there was a dance that went along with it of the song's namesake, or it could be the song was named after the dance... who knows, eh?   Hear The Hiccup on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Luther - Don't Take the Time     My song pick 2 years ago today: Melvins - Psycho-Delic Haze     My song pick 3 years ago today: Rammstein - Ohne Dich   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bobby Freeman - C'mon and Swim (Parts 1 + 2)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Martha and the Vandellas - Heat Wave   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - Standing on the Verge of Getting It On   My song pick 7 years ago today: Carmen - Conclusion (She Changed) My song pick 8 years ago today: F...

From: Right Track ; Year: 1981; Genre: Soul Lately I've been really enjoying the music of Soul/R&B/Funk artists/bands, that were best known for their music from the 50s through the 70s, that they released in the 80s and 90s; kind of at the point that their popularity started to ebb. I find a lot of this material that is mostly marginalized to be quite exceptional in reality. With Wilson Pickett, I am admittedly biased with him being one that I like quite a lot, but I really do dig this record in particular and this track is among the highlights for me.   Hear Maybe This Time on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Waylander - Of Fear and Fury     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Trammps - Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart     My song pick 3 years ago today: 10,000 Maniacs - Everyday is Like Sunday   My song pick 4 years ago today: Megadeth - Mastermind   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - Don't Tak...

From: Rebel Yell ; Year: 1983; Genre: Hard Rock Earlier I had this one playing in my mind as if it was on the radio, so you know wot I am intending for today's pick. I don't know what it is about this song, but it's just one that makes you want to sing and dance along with it. And of course you have Steve Stevens showing off his severely underrated guitar mastery. Funny though, a long time ago I started changing his "More!" lyric into "Moe!," as in the leader of The Three Stooges . Even to this day I picture some woman in the throes ecstasy calling out for Moe Howard ; still laugh a little.   Hear Rebel Yell on YouTube.          My song pick 1 year ago today: Yes - Sweet Dreams     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - Rock n' Roll Love Letter     My song pick 3 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You   My song pick 4 years ago today: Anita Ward - Ring My Bell   My song pick 5 years ago t...

From: Full House ; Year: 1970; Genre: Folk/Folk Rock Sloth is among the fully original compositions on the record and one of their lengthier tracks. It has an amazing sound, arrangement and instrumentation throughout; a perfect balance of both folk and rock I have to say.   Hear Sloth on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Zones - New Life     My song pick 2 years ago today: Johnny Rivers - Seventh Son     My song pick 3 years ago today: Rare Earth - Satisfaction Guaranteed   My song pick 4 years ago today: Meat Loaf - You Took the Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Saturday Night)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Cam Ye O'er Frae France   My song pick 6 years ago today: Hawkwind - The Road To...   My song pick 7 years ago today: Lacy J. Dalton - 16th Avenue My song pick 8 years ago today: Rush - Something for Nothing My song pick 9 years ago today: Gary Davis - Gotta Get Your Love My so...

From: Blanc Burn ; Year: 2011; Genre: New Wave/Synthpop Finally got to put this one on the other day and all I can say is that it immediately put a smile on my face. There are heavy times where such light and whimsical songs are just wot the doctor ordered so to speak; this is one of them in spades!    Hear I'm Having a Coffee on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Mac Davis - I Believe In Music     My song pick 2 years ago today: Joe Cocker - Something     My song pick 3 years ago today: Johnny Rodriguez - Erez tú   My song pick 4 years ago today: Stanley Clarke - More Hot Fun   My song pick 5 years ago today: Cheap Trick - Ain't That a Shame   My song pick 6 years ago today: Marcus Miller - Superspy   My song pick 7 years ago today: Seals & Crofts - Diamond Girl My song pick 8 years ago today: Rick James - Call Me Up My song pick 9 years ago today: Chris Squire - Hold Out Your Hand My song pi...

From: Daydream ; Year: 1966; Genre: Folk Rock This mellow folk rock tune just felt great for this mid summer's day. The guitar played with a bunch of tremolo really compliments the vocals in this one.   Hear Butchie's Tune on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Heart - Little Queen     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Rhythm Machine - Freakish Love     My song pick 3 years ago today: War - Don't Let No One Get You Down   My song pick 4 years ago today: Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues   My song pick 5 years ago today: Peter Schilling - Major Tom (Coming Home)   My song pick 6 years ago today: Pallas - The Alien Messiah   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Beach Boys - Your Summer Dream My song pick 8 years ago today: Blue Cheer - Rock Me Baby My song pick 9 years ago today: The Byrds - So You Want to be a Rock 'n' Roll Star My song pick 10 years ago today: The Chi-Lites - Stoned Out of My Mind My ...

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...