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

From: The Last Will and Testament ; Year: 2024; Genre: Progressive Metal Discovered this concept album the other day and was immediately intrigued of the idea they had for it. That of an overreaching story not just about the reading of a dying man's will, but the spilling of secrets held by not just the soon-to-be-dead patriarch, but the secrets that everyone in this seemingly upstanding family with a polished, gilded appearance, however, in reality they are anything but. As with a will, Opeth split the record out in sections, "§," seven in total and a final track to tie it all up. I have to say, it is an excellent, unique idea; totally love it!   Hear §1 (Section 1) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - Half the World     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Innocent Bystanders - Winston     My song pick 3 years ago today: Van Halen - Eruption/You Really Got Me   My song pick 4 years ago today: Fear Factory featurin...

From: Circling From Above ; Year: 2025; Genre: Folk Rock/Flamenco Rock This is a real neat one from the pen of guitarist Tommy Shaw, and it shows. Quite a bit different from the other tracks off of their newest album, that whilst utilizing a lot of acoustic instruments in a blend of rock, folk, and flamenco, it is just as or even heavier than their louder songs on it. To say the least I really love it.   Hear Blue Eyed Raven on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Elton John - All Across the Havens     My song pick 2 years ago today: 4 Non Blondes - Drifting     My song pick 3 years ago today: England Dan & John Ford Coley - It's Sad To Belong   My song pick 4 years ago today: Primus - Follow The Fool   My song pick 5 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Quest for the Hammer of Glory   My song pick 6 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Nightmare Epiphany   My song pick 7 years ago today: Rod Stewart - (I Know) I...

From: Harmonic Mind ; Year: 2026; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Progressive Rock Wanted to hear something from Ozric Tentacles today that I had not heard before; as luck would have it, their new album released about a month ago! I have to say, it is interesting to hear a shift towards jazz fusion; this track in particular reminds me of peak era Return to Forever. You can hear a noticed jump in musical maturity and composition strength; I really love this one.   Hear Malachite on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere     My song pick 2 years ago today: Mr. Big - Suffocation     My song pick 3 years ago today: Stanley Clarke - Modern Man   My song pick 4 years ago today: Cheap Trick - I Must Be Dreamin'   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rufus and Chaka Khan - Dance Wit Me   My song pick 6 years ago today: Van Halen - Love Walks In   My song pick 7 years ago...

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: 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: Movements Vol.11 ; Year: 2022; Genre: Bossa Nova Jazz/Soul/Funk As with a great deal of the artists featured on this compilation series, there is not a lot I know of this band other than I love that funky flavoured Latin Bossa Nova jazz. Certainly a bouncy tune with an infectious groove.   Hear Sidewinder on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Be Ever Wonderful     My song pick 2 years ago today: Cyndi Lauper - Money Changes Everything     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jimmy Buffett - Come Monday   My song pick 4 years ago today: Cab Calloway and His Orchestra - Minnie the Moocher   My song pick 5 years ago today: G.C. Cameron - It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop My song pick 7 years ago today: The Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost in You My song pick 8 years ago today: Bon Jovi - If I Was Your Mother My song p...

From: Circling from Above ; Year: 2025; Genre: Progressive Rock Had this, the most recent album from Styx, on my mind for the last bit; certainly you know the rest.... Anyway, Forgive is one that Tommy Shaw and Lawrence Gowan share the lead vocals and perform some amazing harmonies; you can definitely hear some Beatles influence in those harmonies amongst others. The guitar work is, of course, amazing as always and lends itself to the original Styx sound we so love.   Watch the music video on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bootsy's New Rubber Band - Funk Me Dirty     My song pick 2 years ago today: B.T. Express - Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Pegasus   My song pick 4 years ago today: Vixen - Cryin'   My song pick 5 years ago today: Weather Report - Surucucú   My song pick 6 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Summer Lady   My song pick 7 years ago toda...

From: Things are Great ; Year: 2022; Genre: Indie Rock Just one of those days where my mind is being sluggish and not really wanting to think about things... Band of Horses are always good for such.     Hear Warning Signs on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bread - Truckin'     My song pick 2 years ago today: Queen - Mustapha     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Everything In Our Lives   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lakeside - Party Patrol   My song pick 5 years ago today: Nocturnal Rites - Never Trust   My song pick 6 years ago today: Quiet Riot - Metal Health (Bang Your Head)   My song pick 7 years ago today: Traffic - Smiling Phases My song pick 8 years ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - The Emperor In His War Room My song pick 9 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Feel the Thunder My song pick 10 years ago today: The Temptations - War My song pick 11 years ago today:...

From: An Hour Before It's Dark ; Year: 2022; Genre: Progressive Rock Just needed some "neo-prog" today; decided on picking something from Marillion's most recent studio album. As with the majority of the pieces of music on the record, Be Hard On Yourself is made up of three smaller tracks: i. The Tear in the Big Picture , ii. Lust for Luxury , and iii. You Can Learn . To my ears Steve Hogarth's vocals remind me of Meat Loaf at times throughout this one, but other than that it is pretty similar to more recent Marillion across the board, which is excellent and exactly wot I needed.   Hear Be Hard On Yourself on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good     My song pick 2 years ago today: Green Day - F.O.D.     My song pick 3 years ago today: Van Halen - Dreams   My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - The Great Sun Jester   My song pick 5 years ago today: King Crimson - Lady of the D...

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: Savage Imperial Death March ; Year: 2026; Genre: Sludge Metal/Grindcore Whilst going over the Melvins' catalogue and discovered that they had a neat collaboration with Napalm Death last year, which was 100% beyond awesome! For me the Melvins never cease to be satisfying in both quality and quantity of music; it is rare, even to this day, for them to not release something every year. Anyway, apparently two members of the Melvins and three from Napam Death came together and put together some unique metal music; this track was one of the first to really stand out to me. Such a great song and record!   Hear Some Kind of Antichrist on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: David Bowie - Fascination     My song pick 2 years ago today: Lionel Richie - Stuck on You     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Rascals - A Beautiful Mornin g   My song pick 4 years ago today: Herbie Hancock - Rockit   My song pick 5 years ago today...

From: Ghost Stories ; Year: 2024; Genre: Hard Rock Just happened to have BÖC on the brain and was listening to their latest album release, Ghost Stories , which is a collection of remastered and unreleased tracks from the late 1970s to early 1980s. I'm not 100% sure, but close to it, from all I can tell, this cover of the immortal emotional song by The Animals, is a remix/remaster from Blue Öyster Cult's '78 live album Some Enchanted Evening .   Hear We Gotta Get Out of This Place on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Tim Hardin - Reason to Believe     My song pick 2 years ago today: Eric Burdon and War - Spirit     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jigsaw - Life Insurance   My song pick 4 years ago today: Tesla - Edison's Medicine   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Throwing Stones   My song pick 6 years ago today: Redbone - When You Got Trouble   My song pick 7 years ago today: Blue Öyster ...

From: The 2nd 3rd Secret ; Year: 2023; Genre: Alternative Rock Happened to be thinking about this "grunge" supergroup once again and found their second album. I know it has been about 3 1/2-4 years since I looked them up, but better late than never. Climb Aboard was without a doubt the first track to really catch my attention; it has everything you want to hear from such a group and really not a lot to detract either.   Hear Climb Aboard on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Who - When I Was a Boy     My song pick 2 years ago today: Big Country - Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pallas - Reds Under the Beds   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Future Place   My song pick 5 years ago today: Paris - Janie   My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - The Stars Look Down   My song pick 7 years ago today: Bob Welch - Outskirts My song pick 8 years ago today: ...

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: 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: Return to the Kingdom of Fife ; Year: 2023; Genre: Power Metal/Symphonic Metal I just cannot help but to love this band and their epic theatrics and larger-than-life cacophony that would be at home in any opera. Yeah, it might be camp and pretentious, but their delivery and singalong choruses really brings the listener/audience into the heroic tale.     Hear Holy Flaming Hammer Of Unholy Cosmic Frost on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Mr. Mister - Kyrie     My song pick 2 years ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Jerry Springer   My song pick 3 years ago today: Helloween - From Out of Nowhere   My song pick 4 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Lord of This World   My song pick 5 years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Cowgirl in the Sand   My song pick 6 years ago today: Band of Horses - Infinite Arms   My song pick 7 years ago today: Paris - Heart of Stone My song pick 8 years ago today:...

From: Resist ; Year: 2022; Genre: Alternative Rock Sadly, I found out that one of members of my absolute favourite Aussie band passed away. Drummer/songwriter/and player of many other instruments Robert Hirst succumbed to an ordeal with pancreatic cancer. Can I just state that I hate cancer about as much as someone can hate something; so many that I know and love and look up to have died from it... sigh. That damned disease also took their bassist Bones Hillman about six years ago as well, so yeah.... Anyway, wot caught my most by surprise was that he was 70 years old. I never realized that the members of the band are that old; they've always had a massive amount of energy and passion that easily could pass for performers half their age or younger. Robert Hirst was a founding member and a main songwriter for the band over the years. This is one of the three songs that he received writing credits for on the their latest studio album: Resist . The music is very much in their wheelho...