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

From: The Messenger ; Year: 2023; Genre: Progressive Rock Finding it quite difficult to find much of Pallas' most recent material. I believe it mostly due to them self-releasing, which they have apparently been doing since their 2011 album XXV . It is always great to hear their new material as well as their classic songs as well; they sound just as youthful as they did way back in the '80s.   Hear Heavy Air on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jerry Reed - The Phantom Of The Opry     My song pick 2 years ago today: Luther Ingram - (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right     My song pick 3 years ago today: Funkadelic - You Hit the Nail on the Head   My song pick 4 years ago today: Boston - Tell Me   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ian Anderson - The Browning of the Green   My song pick 6 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Roadways   My song pick 7 years ago today: Helloween - Pumpkins United   ...

From: The Early Years 1965-1972 ; Year: 2016; Genre: Psychedelic Rock  Still sick... some early Pink Floyd seemed almost perfect. Discovered that this used to be quite a rare song that was intended as a b-side for two early singles, but never made the cut. I believe that this is one penned by the late-great Syd Barret, but the lead vocals were performed by Nick Mason, which is very unique as well. Without a doubt between the tempo changes and Syd's sped-up backing vocals; it really delivers the insane psychedelia that the band was known for early on.   Hear Scream Thy Last Scream on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Blancmange - The Day Before You Came     My song pick 2 years ago today: Anne Murray - Snowbird     My song pick 3 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - Homeward Bound   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Question   My song pick 5 years ago today: Les Paul - Goofus   My song pi...

From: Chicago 17 ; Year: 1984; Genre: Soft Rock/Pop Caught a stupid head cold and have been insanely tired; wot a way to spend a weekend....  Had this one play in my mind for most of my waking hours yesterday, and whilst not my favourite from Chicago, the chorus always is a great draw for me. Also, it does get some play in different media every now and then, so it keeps itself somewhat in the cultural mindspace.   Hear You're the Inspiration on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Motörhead - Lost Johnny     My song pick 2 years ago today: Funkadelic - Wars of Armageddon     My song pick 3 years ago today: Black 47 - Fanatic Heart   My song pick 4 years ago today: Motörhead - Hellraiser   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - Reflections   My song pick 6 years ago today: Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot   My song pick 7 years ago today: Victor Wooten - Keep it Low ...

From: Portrait Gallery ; Year: 1975; Genre: Folk/Folk Rock Kind of surprised once more that I have not chosen a song from a certain artist. Harry Chapin has always been one that had some influence on me and my musical tastes; most will remember him for his giant hit Cat's in the Cradle , but in the short time he was on this Earth writing and recording he made a profound mark. He is another one of those troubadours poets that told amazingly detailed tales within all of his songs. This song is kind of a "scrapbooking" track in that it follows a couple throughout their lives at various points. The main theme is how you put off your dreams and aspirations when family life comes into being. Whilst the couple in the story did not live out their ambitions, they still had a successful live seeing all of their progeny succeed.   Hear Dreams Go By on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Stanley Clarke - Life is Just a Game     My song pick 2 years ag...

From: Return of the Dream Canteen ; Year: 2022; Genre: Funk Rock/Alternative Rock Needed some 'Chili Peppers today, no other reason; thought I'd just pick another off their most recent studio record.     Hear Afterlife on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Hawkwind - Song of the Swords     My song pick 2 years ago today: Roman Holliday - Stand By     My song pick 3 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Destination Unknown   My song pick 4 years ago today: Charlie Ryan - Hot Rod Lincoln   My song pick 5 years ago today: Sweeney Todd - Short Distance, Long Journey   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - Foot Soldiers (Star Spangled Funky) My song pick 7 years ago today: Asia - Lying to Yourself     My song pick 8 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer My song pick 9 years ago today: Rush - Kid Gloves My song pick 10 years ago today: Blood, Sweat ...

From: Ghost Stories ; Year: 2024; Genre: Hard Rock This is another one of their songs that was left behind sometime between the late '70s and mid '80s and features lyrics penned by early New York punk pioneer Helen Wheels. Sure, it's not even close to their best material, but is a good hard rocker that is still fun to hear and dance along to.     Hear Gun on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Down the Road     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Jackson 5 - I'll Be There     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Undressed to Kill   My song pick 4 years ago today: Accept - Princess of the Dawn   My song pick 5 years ago today: Funkadelic - Shockwaves   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Average Man My song pick 7 years ago today: Reverend Horton Heat - Psychobilly Freakout My song pick 8 years ago today: Fates Warning - Anar...

From: Bloodrock ; Year: 1970; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal "The clock on the wall says half past nine I pray to God, 'Give me more time!' I hear those steps movin' down the hall As I sit in these hallowed walls!" \m/      \m/     Hear Timepiece on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Gloryhammer - Maleficus Geminus (Colossus Matrix 38B - Ultimate Invocation Of The Binary Thaumaturge)     My song pick 2 years ago today: Gentle Giant - Memories of Old Days     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Winery Dogs - Lorelei   My song pick 4 years ago today: Primus - Conspiranoia   My song pick 5 years ago today: Depeche Mode - New Life My song pick 6 years ago today: Yes - Time and a Word My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Commercial Traveler My song pick 8 years ago today: Jefferson Starship - No Way Out My song pick 9 years ago today: Cybotron - Parameters of Consciousness My song...

From: Tribal Voice ; Year: 1991; Genre: Indigenous Australian Rock/New Wave It is always a bit perplexing when a song is playing in your head and you cannot identify the song or the artist. It took a little bit of sleuthing, but I was able to track it down after I realized that I had heard a version of it in the 1990s comedy movie Encino Man . It is quite a unique and truly awesome song; actually the same can be said for the band too. Being a blended group of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians makes the term "unique" kind of an understatement; have never heard a group that sounds even close. Of course, as always, I love being exposed to something different, so they are one I immediately liked. Anyway, whilst the radio edit of Treaty put the band in the spotlight, I actually like the original album version a bit more, but either one is great.    Hear Treaty on YouTube.   Hear the radio edit on YouTube.         My song p...

From: In Utero ; Year: 1993; Genre: Alternative Rock/Grunge Yet another day in which I had music from a band looping in my brain for wotever reason. Hear-Shaped Box was the lead single and I believe the highest charting single from their final, "swansong," studio album.    Watch the music video on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lou Rawls - When the Night Comes     My song pick 2 years ago today: Muse - Will of the People     My song pick 3 years ago today: Kenny Loggins - Whenever I Call You "Friend"   My song pick 4 years ago today: R.E.O. Speedwagon - Don't Let Him Go   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rush - Hand Over Fist   My song pick 6 years ago today: Wild Turkey - Gentle Rain My song pick 7 years ago today: Eddie Money - Walk on Water My song pick 8 years ago today: Dayton Sidewinders - Go Ahead On My song pick 9 years ago today: Victor Wooten - I Saw God My song pick 10 years ago ...

From: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears ; Year: 1966; Genre: Folk Rock/Psychedelic Rock Had this one playing in my mind for most of the day yesterday, which is not a bad thing by any measure; it's a very good, iconic song. Far and gone the vocals are simply amazing, and being combined with the pros that were the Wrecking Crew, you get the great track that this one is.   Hear California Dreamin' on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Iron Maiden - The Trooper     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rockwell - T.V. Psychology     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jim Stafford - Wildwood Weed   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Cure - The 13th   My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - Carnies My song pick 7 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Another Point of View My song pick 8 years ago today: America - Watership Down My song pick 9 y...

From: A Day At The Races ; Year: 1976; Genre: Progressive Rock This track, which closes out this classic record, is from the pen of Brian May is another one of Queen's songs that is a little bit out of the ordinary. Quite operatic with a lot going on throughout, plus you get to hear Freddy sing two of the choruses in Japanese. It was actually released as a single in Japan and did pretty well.   Hear Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Snakecharmer   My song pick 2 years ago today: Billy Joel - She's Right On Time     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Say Leroy (The Creature From The Black Lagoon Is Your Father)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - You Got That Right   My song pick 5 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Running Free   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jon Oliva's Pain - Festival My song pick 7 yea...

From: Outrageous ; Year: 1984; Genre: Funk I absolutely love Lakeside; always puts a big smile on my face and a bounce in my step.     Hear Make My Day on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Deep Purple - Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming     My song pick 2 years ago today: Audren - The Darkstone Will Shine     My song pick 3 years ago today: David Bowie - Soul Love   My song pick 4 years ago today: Band of Horses - Lights   My song pick 5 years ago today: Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - Connections & Disconnections My song pick 7 years ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Ashes in the Fall My song pick 8 years ago today: The Thermals - Power Doesn't Run on Nothing My song pick 9 years ago today: Sandy Denny - Solo My song pick 10 years ago today: Blondie - Call Me My song pick 11 years ago today: Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting My...

From: One Foot In Hell ; Year: 1986; Genre: Power Metal/Doom Metal Been exceptionally busy the last couple of days and haven't gotten a lot of sleep, so I am making somewhat of an abbreviated song pick today. Not that I am slighting this song or band; I love the song, band and album. Just needed to heavier fantastical metal to get through the day as it is.    Hear Doomed Planet on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Joan Baez - Silent Running     My song pick 2 years ago today: Primus - Mr. Knowitall     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - The Stake   My song pick 4 years ago today: John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom   My song pick 5 years ago today: Parliament - Presence of a Brain   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - The Clasp My song pick 7 years ago today: Stuart Hamm - Quahogs Anyone? (119, 120 Whatever It Takes) My song pick 8 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Tatto...

From: Legends From Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex ; Year: 2016; Genre: Power Metal There's always something about the utter unabashed "epicness" of the music of Gloryhammer that always gets me in a better mood. Definitely gives me the feeling that I can get up and slay the evil beasties throughout the day.    Hear Battle for Eternity on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Cars - Good Times Roll     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Guess Who - Talisman     My song pick 3 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Midnight Blue   My song pick 4 years ago today: Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Who - 5.15   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Delfonics - Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love) My song pick 7 years ago today: Foghat - Fool for the City My song pick 8 years ago today: Asia - Daylight My song pick 9 years ago today: Steeleye Sp...

From: Guitar Man ; Year: 1972; Genre: Soft Rock Used to listen to this record a lot back when I was in my early teens; still love it quite a bit. It's one of those album oriented rock discs that each track just leads from one to another perfectly as to not break the vibe and flow of the listener. In my opinion Guitar Man was Bread's best record by a country mile; even though they might've had bigger hits elsewhere, the sum of its parts just blows their other studio album away. Anyway, this piece that features strings and acoustic guitar is quite mellow musically on the surface, but the emotion conveyed in the chord choices and melody along with David Gates' vocal performance make it deep and heavy all the same.   Hear Aubrey on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bryan Adams - Summer of '69     My song pick 2 years ago today: For Squirrels - Plymouth     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Undisputed Truth - Atomic Funk   ...

From: Fuck Everyone And Run (F E A R) ; Year: 2016; Genre: Progressive Rock I must be in a solemn or melancholy mood lately; been listening to a lot of heavy downer, but powerful music. I suppose this whole record is more so with the overall current subject matter of how humankind has devolved to the point of seeing an impending global catastrophe, be it economic, humanitarian, etc... and the overall reaction, especially those who have the ability to make a difference, to just greedily acquire all the money and resources whilst charging head-first into the annihilation. Kind of a "the winner is the one who dies with the most" type of thinking. Anyhoo, this is the opening track/mini concept piece that consists of five songs within. Quite a pretty and uplifting suite of music that works in such a way that the listener's attention is kept throughout its entirety.      Watch a full live performance on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rammste...

From: Truth ; Year: 1968; Genre: Hard Rock/Blues Rock This is the second song that I am aware of that was inspired by the late 1950s novel and film On The Beach ; the other being Dancing With Tears In My Eyes by Ultravox. While being the very dark and heavy subject matter of the omnipresent threat of nuclear holocaust experienced by those who lived Post War into the 1990s, it is quite thought-provoking. It was originally written in the early '60s by singer/songwriter Bonnie Dobson and subsequently covered many times since. I really like the overall arrangement and direction on this cover. All of the music is absolutely great as is Rod Stewart's vocals.   Hear Morning Dew on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Carmen - Sailor Song     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Isley Brothers - Hope You Feel Better Love (Part 1+2)     My song pick 3 years ago today: Gary Wright - Dream Weaver   My song pick 4 years ago today: Glass...