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

From: The Window of Life ; Year: 1993; Genre: Progressive Rock Just an amazing record, this one; all of the music is both beautiful and contemplative, if that makes sense. I guess that's wot you get from one of the main bands of the second wave of prog rock.   Hear Nostradamus (Stargazing) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Kinks - Mr. Songbird     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Lost in a Fantasy     My song pick 3 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - People   My song pick 4 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Planet Caravan   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blind Melon - Tones of Home   My song pick 6 years ago today: Temple of the Dog - Hunger Strike   My song pick 7 years ago today: David Bowie - Cygnet Committee My song pick 8 years ago today: Genesis - Dodo/Lurker My song pick 9 years ago today: War - Slippin' Into Darkness My song pick...

From: LaVern Baker ; Year: 1957; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/R&B I cannot begin to count the sheer amount of times I've heard versions of this song on the radio, television, movies, video games and more over the years. However, this, the original doesn't really get played as much as it should. LaVern Baker has one of those blues/rock 'n roll voices that I just adore; powerful and gritty with sweetness throughout. Just amazing to think that they used to make music this good constantly; made the overall brevity of the song tolerable knowing you'd get another great one to follow it up.     Hear Jim Dandy on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: War - H2Overture     My song pick 2 years ago today: Def Leppard - Rocket     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jigsaw - Just Another Clown   My song pick 4 years ago today: Living Colour - Sunshine Of Your Love   My song pick 5 years ago today: Kansas - All The World   My s...

From: The Revenge of Alice Cooper ; Year: 2025; Genre: Hard Rock Had this new album from Alice Cooper, (the band, not... um... and the famous solo artist of the band's namesake), came to my conscious mind again, which got me to put it on once more. What Happened to You is one of the songs on the disc to feature recording of the band's original axe slinger, the late Glen Buxton. It's an excellent hard boogie-rock song that'll make you want to get up and dance to.   Hear What Happened to You on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jerry Lee Lewis - What Made Milwaukee Famous (Made a Loser Out of Me)     My song pick 2 years ago today: Cameo - Ugly Ego     My song pick 3 years ago today: Eddie Rabbitt - Every Which Way but Loose   My song pick 4 years ago today: AC/DC - High Voltage   My song pick 5 years ago today: Three Dog Night - Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - ...

From: 52nd Street ; Year: 1978; Genre: Soft Rock I believe that I've stated it before, but Glass Houses and The Stranger are without a doubt my top two favouite Billy Joel records. 52nd Street though, you'd think would be right there, and make no mistake, I love the album, but I have some weird idiosyncrasy where it just slips my mind. I remember the songs from it and such, and each time I see it it makes me feel like a moron that I did, in fact, miss it. Anyway, this is one of the main hits from it and one that most who like his work knows by heart.    Hear Honesty on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Kalimba Tree     My song pick 2 years ago today: John Denver - Fly Away     My song pick 3 years ago today: Paice Ashton Lord - Ghost Story   My song pick 4 years ago today: Thompson Twins - Lies   My song pick 5 years ago today: ABBA - Eagle   My song pick 6 years ago today: George ...

From: Word Up! ; Year: 1986; Genre: Funk/Hip-Hop I keep coming back to Word Up! , and I know why: it's a freaking awesome album, period. It is a record that you just put on and just lifts your mood to the stars with no filler songs!   Hear She's Mine on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Winery Dogs - The Dying     My song pick 2 years ago today: Automat - The Advance     My song pick 3 years ago today: Crowded House - Never Been The Same   My song pick 4 years ago today: Elton John - This Song Has No Title   My song pick 5 years ago today: Tin Tin - Toast and Marmalade for Tea   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - Stink Finger   My song pick 7 years ago today: April Wine - Crash and Burn My song pick 8 years ago today: Foreigner - Cold As Ice My song pick 9 years ago today: Rush - Everyday Glory My song pick 10 years ago today: Rod Stewart - The Motown Song My song pick 11 years ago tod...

From: Counterparts ; Year: 1993; Genre: Hard Rock With this I will have picked every track from Counterparts ; not a surprise though in any sense.   Hear The Speed of Love on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - For What It's Worth     My song pick 2 years ago today: Joe Walsh - Rocky Mountain Way     My song pick 3 years ago today: Glass Hammer - The Conflict   My song pick 4 years ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Scorched Earth   My song pick 5 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - I Can Feel It In My Bones   My song pick 6 years ago today: Return to Forever - Interplay   My song pick 7 years ago today: Hawkwind - Arioch My song pick 8 years ago today: Elvis Presley - All Shook Up My song pick 9 years ago today: Deep Purple - Never Before My song pick 10 years ago today: Ex Deo - Cruor Nostri Abbas My song pick 11 years ago today: Hawkwind - Be Yourself My song pick 12 years ago toda...

From Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo ; Year: 2000; Genre: Rock/Pop Had some music from the band 'Till Tuesday, which Aimee Mann fronted before finding even more success as a solo artist. Have chosen some tracks from various bands she collaborated with as well as 'Till Tuesday, but nothing from her solo works... so I'm taking care of that now. It is difficult to believe that it has been 26 years now since this song and album were released, as they say: Tempus Fugit .     Hear Red Vines on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Pearls Before Swine - Rocket Man     My song pick 2 years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Break the Chain     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby   My song pick 4 years ago today: Primus - American Life   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Lap of Luxury   My song pick 6 years ago today: Mr. Bungle - Egg   My song p...

From: Rhymes & Reasons ; Year: 1969; Genre: Folk Rock I guess this one is a song that you will not understand unless "you know." Originally penned by folk great Tom Paxton, John Denver does an amazing job with such in the best way he can.   Hear The Ballad of Richard Nixon on YouTube.        My song pick 1 year ago today: The Thermals - Returning to the Fold     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Doors - Twentieth Century Fox     My song pick 3 years ago today: 1984 - There's a Wrinkle In Our Time   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - Yesterday's Hero   My song pick 5 years ago today: Supertramp - Breakfast in America   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe   My song pick 7 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Eyes On Fire My song pick 8 years ago today: The Beach Boys - All Summer Long My song pick 9 years ago today: Bernard Wright - Who Do You Love My song pick 10 ye...

From: "He's Back" (The Man Behind The Mask) single; Year: 1986; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal Just noticed that today is Monday the 13th ; couldn't let it go without picking something apropos. Whilst by no means even close to Alice Cooper's finer offerings, there is just something about this era of his music that I like; probably the familiarity of growing up with it and the movies of the time. This was one of three song of Alice's that were used for the soundtrack to the sixth installment of the Friday the 13th franchise . I remember that film quite well, although I never actually saw it back then. It was mostly the genius advertisement campaign where people would slap up posters of or paint "Jason Lives" all over the place. It even showed up in television shows, including Saturday morning cartoons; the 1980s were definitely a different time, eh?   Watch the music video on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Louis Armstrong and His Hot Seven ...

From: Radio Free Albemuth ; Year: 1988; Genre: Classical/Jazz Fusion One of the odd things I have discovered concerning Stu Hamm is that only musicians seem to know who his is and wot he plays. I mean, he's played on a lot of albums from a lot of artists; mainly guitar shredders like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Most would likely know about Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten, or Steve Bailey before they'd remember Stu Hamm; not to take a single thing from those axe slingers, he is just every bit as good as them in my opinion. But, when you hear his solo works he really just blows you away with not just how great of a player he is, but how inventive and original his playing and style are. After hearing much of his records I was amazed how many odd and new sounds he could make with his bass guitar. Anyway, this one comes off of one of my favourite albums of his. Radio Free Albemuth's title was taken from the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name, as well as the lion's share of...

From: Back Stabbers ; Year: 1972; Genre: Soul Early this morning I was enjoying the songs from this album. I find the O'Jays' ability to take a negative subject matter and with their delivery and, of course, one of the best songwriting duos, Gamble & Huff make it feel uplifting and, dare I say, make it positive somehow. Although blending Philadelphia soul with a Bossa Nova beat, the chemistry will most always be awesome.    Hear 992 Arguments on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rare Earth - Stop/Where Did Our Love Go     My song pick 2 years ago today: Azteca - Peace Everybody     My song pick 3 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Too Much Sunshine   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Nothing Lasts   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Box in my Head   My song pick 6 years ago today: King Harvest - A Little Bit Like Magic   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Tempt...

From: Car Wash (soundtrack) ; Year: 1976; Genre: Funk/Soul Ultra busy couple of days, but definitely wanted to make a good pick for Friday. For wotever reason I just had Rose Royce on the brain, especially from their debut album and soundtrack for the classic Norman Whitfield film Car Wash . Lequeint "Duke" Jobe's bass playing really drives this one and just shows how much of an amazing player his is.   Hear Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Incredible Bongo Band - Let There Be Drums     My song pick 2 years ago today: Buster Poindexter - Hot Hot Hot     My song pick 3 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Awake, Awake   My song pick 4 years ago today: Zakk Wylde - Throwin' It All Away   My song pick 5 years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - I've Got To Make It On My Own   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bootsy Collins - Bass-Rigged-System   My song pick 7 years ago today:...

From: Idlewild South ; Year: 1970; Genre: Southern Rock/Blues Rock Recently, I read an insightful interview with the only surviving member of this historic band: Jai Johanny Johanson, or Jaimoe . He was one of the two amazing drummers/percussionists, (the other being Butch Trucks ), for the band throughout their most prosperous times and has appeared on the majority of their albums. I have to say that I still to this day love watching those two masters in the live recordings; almost like drumming professors putting on a clinic. Amongst a few neat things and anecdotes I learned was that each member had a tattoo of a psychedelic mushroom as kind of brotherhood bond and that he was proud to have the last one on his leg. It is still difficult for me to acknowledge that so many have passed on; they themselves were and are like monuments to American music. Anyway, I thought that I would revisit one of my favourite records; like most of their artistry, Idlewild South is best played all at on...

From: Simplicity ; Year: 2014; Genre: Hard Rock Tesla's Simplicity album is one that I "leap-frogged" over for no apparent reason. I absolutely love their previous album Forever More and the next album Shock , but just missed out on the one in between. I have to say, it is another case of better late than never, I really like wot I have heard; this is one of my favourites from it. Thematically, this one is quite heavy, dealing with someone who just missed out on what could've been a great relationship. From the narrator's point-of-view this individual rebuffed/strung him on throughout their time knowing one another, but then apparently comes back, expecting the narrator to have just waited endlessly. However, he and time moved on and now wot could've been can never happen. I really love the sound and composition of it; very much in their classic sound. It reminds me a lot of how they sounded back in the day, which is very good in my book.   Hear Burnout to F...

From: Undead ; Year: 1968; Genre: Blues Rock/Jazz Rock Found another cover of this favourite of mine; this one comes from the first live album from Ten Years After. It's a very interesting take on the Gershwin classic, which is used as an introduction/overture for drummer Ric Lee's  Shantung Cabbage  drum solo.    Hear Summertime/Shantung Cabbage on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: War - Slowly We Walk Together     My song pick 2 years ago today: Normaal - Val Kapot     My song pick 3 years ago today: Brass Construction - Screwed (Conditions)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Procol Harum - Song for a Dreamer   My song pick 5 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Watching Over You   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down To Georgia   My song pick 7 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Givin' It All Away My song pick 8 years ago t...

From: The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ; Year: 1994; Genre: Alternative Metal Last night was going over my "Music" app on my computer; man, I miss iTunes.... I know "owning music" is so passé and out of fashion and I should just be streaming, but that's just not for me. Anyway, I noticed quite a few of my songs greyed out, apparently missing the file that goes with it. I have absolutely no idea how I "lost" the songs, so had to go searching around for the original copies. Long story short, I got most of them recovered and backed up in multiple places. As you probably surmised, this was among the missing songs; I was really glad to have The Crow soundtrack complete once more digitally. I really wish more of the recent films had such a great soundtrack; all big hit songs that actually could serve as an early 1990s rock music soundtrack as well as a film's. This is one of those albums that you can put on and just enjoy from alpha to zed, ...

From: Mr. Gone ; Year: 1978; Genre: Jazz Fusion Don't know why I have not been listening to as much Weather Report as I used to. At that, the last time I chose one of their songs was over three years ago, and it was one off of this record to boot. For the last couple of decades I consumed a lot of the Weather Report material as well as associated acts and artists; Wayne Shorter and, of course Jaco in particular. I'm thinking that it might have to do with delving into other Fusion bands and players that've taken up my attention. Like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, Herbie Hancock and his Head Hunters, as well as all of their related bands and solo artists, which is extensive if you think about it. It is a real treat every time one of Joe Zawinul and Weather Report's music pops on my playlist; still enjoy it a lot. Anyway, this is one of Jaco Pastorius' songs, and whilst being a tour d'force in bass guitar virtuosity, all of the other band members get to ...

From: A Man of Value ; Year: 1972; Genre: Soul Had this rather profound song come on whilst driving the other day; it has been on my mind ever since. The Politician is one written by the ever-eloquent and productive songwriter/musician/singer Mac Davis, who I have come to admire the more I have delved into the breadth of his work. Mac never recorded this one as far I know, but really, I do not think you could get any better of a delivery and performance than that of the legendary Lou Rawls; this one just makes the hairs on your arms stand up and gives goose bumps/chills as the song progresses.   Hear The Politician on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: James Brown - Living in America     My song pick 2 years ago today: Pearls Before Swine - Ballad to an Amber Lady     My song pick 3 years ago today: Hawkwind - The Last Messiah   My song pick 4 years ago today: Traffic - Heaven is in Your Mind   My song pick 5 years a...