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

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: Theme From "A Summer Place" ; Year: 1959; Genre: 20th Century classical Re-watching the new series based on Stephen King's novel It ;  It: Welcome to Derry . I'm really enjoying seeing wot I have missed the first time through; there is a great deal going on throughout. Anyway, I have heard this song in a few of the Stephen King miniseries/films and it almost always is the prelude to a disturbing scene. Kind of a "bait and switch" where this light and pretty piece puts the viewer at ease just to "pull the rug out" and leave you reeling. Its to the point that when I happen to hear this one outside of a King film I expect something bad to happen; I guess I watch too much of those. Anyway, this may be the most popular version of it, but is not the original and, funny enough, was never the actual theme to the 1959 movie , but rather a tune played in the background sporadically throughout the picture. I guess this is a case of the song staying fam...

From: Prepare Thyself to Deal With a Miracle ; Year: 1973; Genre: Jazz/Jazz Fusion/Hard Bop Jazz/classical This has to be one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have every heard written by musical master Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Whilst most would immediately think of "Black Classical Jazz Hard Bop" that he is most noted for; this one is an in-your-face fusion of Hard Bop and Contemporary Classical music. So many interesting and delightful sounds to be heard in this uplifting music.   Hear Seasons: One Mind Winter/Summer/Ninth Ghost on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Kinks - Death of a Clown     My song pick 2 years ago today: Faith No More - A Small Victory   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Offspring - Pay the Man   My song pick 4 years ago today: Marillion - Living in F E A R   My song pick 5 years ago today: Black Label Society - The Day That Heaven Had Gone Away   My song pick 6 years ago today: Electri...

Year: 1933; Genre: Popular Music Here is a very interesting piece of music, which most would know by alternate lyrics and a different title: Gloomy Sunday (also known as " The Hungarian Suicide Song "), only sharing the music. However, the original version: The World is Ending, has an even sadder subject matter when you realize that the composer wrote the song seeing Europe sinking deeper and darker into what would climax as World War 2, especially in his native Hungary. Reading only the lyrics is enough to bring chills and scare you, especially knowing how prophetic and detailed it turned out to be. With all that is going on in the world today it is ironic how people will ignore history and just keep mindlessly repeating it.   Hear the song with the latter lyrics YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Soul Shakers - You Ain't My Brother   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Contours - Do You Love Me   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Who ...

From: Rise ; Year: 1979; Genre: Latin/Jazz Fusion/Classical/Disco Here is one I ran into the other day whilst researching the seemingly endless songs that the late-great Tommy Tedesco lent his musical talents to. It is thought that he actually has over 7000 session recordings to his name, which, of course, this is among them. Evidentially he played the Balalaika and Lute on this one instead of the guitar, which he was a master of to say the very least. Anyway, this is Herb Alpert's disco/Latin/jazz rendition of part of the famous Concerto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo .   Hear Aranjuez (Mon Amour) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Pointer Sisters - Going Down Slowly   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steeleye Span - The Lark in the Morning   My song pick 4 years ago today: Black 47 - Red Hugh   My song pick 5 years ago today: Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut ...

From: The Empire Strikes Back (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) ; Year: 1980; Genre: Soundtrack/classical Admittedly, I have not put a lot of thought into this "May the 4th" pick, but at least it's a great and well-known piece from the soundtrack of the second, (or 5th), Star Wars film depending on if you go chronologically or by release date. Anyway, master composer John Williams really did an amazing job creating a masterpiece for the ages through his channeling greats like Gustav Holst and Frédéric Chopin amongst others to bring out the feel of the villain.   Hear The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Meco - Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Kinks - So Mystifying   My song pick 3 years ago today: Kiss - God of Thunder   My song pick 4 years ago today: Chris Squire - You By My Side   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blind Melon - Galaxie My song pick 6 yea...

From: Divinities: Twelve Dances With God ; Year: 1995; Genre: Symphonic Rock/20th Century Classical This is, in my opinion, the most beautiful piece on this album, which is probably the Ian Anderson solo record I listen to the least, but I will listen to this song in particular from time to time.   Hear In Maternal Grace on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - I Am a Rock   My song pick 2 years ago today: .38 Special - Stone Cold Believer My song pick 3 years ago today: The Cure - Winter My song pick 4 years ago today: The Drifters - On Broadway My song pick 5 years ago today: Elvis Presley - Steamroller Blues My song pick 6 years ago today: King Crimson - In the Wake of Poseidon (including "Libra's Theme") My song pick 7 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Sitting at the Wheel My song pick 8 years ago today: Harry James and His Orchestra with Kitty Kallen - 11:60 PM My song pick 9 years ago today: Billy Idol - Fl...

From: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Soundtrack ; Year: 1966; Genre: Soundtrack/Classical It seems that a lot of great musical artists are passing away this year; I heard about the film maestro Ennio Morricone dying the other day. I really could not let it go without picking one of his compositions. This is among my favourites of his works; I love the way this one builds the tension in the movie. Hear The Ecstasy of Gold on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - Clockwork Angels My song pick 2 years ago today: The Kinks - Living on a Thin Line My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Slow Marching Band My song pick 4 years ago today: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - Flight of the Cosmic Hippo My song pick 5 years ago today: Mastodon - Creature Lives My song pick 6 years ago today: Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed My song pick 7 years ago today: Soundgarden - Live to Rise My song pick 8 years ago today: Shocking Blue - Venus My song pick 9 ...

From: Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue / An American In Paris ; Year: 1987 (1928) Genre: Jazz/classical Got myself in the mood to hear this Gershwin masterpiece today; chances are that you've probably heard it at some time and parts of it will give you that "I know tune" moment. Hear An American in Paris on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: War - Summer My song pick two years ago today: The Mamas & the Papas - Go Where You Wanna Go My song pick three years ago today: Journey - Wheel in the Sky My song pick four years ago today: Santana - La Fuente del Ritmo My song pick five years ago today: King Crimson - The Court of the Crimson King My song pick six years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Yours Truly, 2095 My song pick seven years ago today: Stahlhammer - Herz Aus Stahl My song pick eight years ago today: America - Sister Golden Hair My song pick nine years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies

From: Rodrigo: Complete Concertos for Guitar and Harp incl. Concierto de Aranjuez ; Year: 1999 (1939); Genre: 20th Century classical/Flamenco We've all had those times when there's a song playing in your head and because it's an instrumental/classical piece or such; this is one that was driving me insane for years now. However, the other day I finally discovered its title and who wrote it, so, yes, this is today's pick. If you've heard the piece before it's most likely the second movement, which is definitely notable. The flamenco guitar and the woodwinds really drive this composition and bring out so many emotions; definitely one of the best pieces written last century. Watch a full performance of Concierto de Aranjuez on YouTube. Or hear only the most famous second movement on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Entrow My song pick two years ago today: Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance M...

From: Minstrel in the Galley (remaster) ; Year: 1974/75; Genre: Progressive Rock/20th Century classical For some reason today I felt like listening to something light, 'Tull's Minstrel in the Gallery album came to mind and seemed like a perfect fit for me. The was a rarer gem that most have probably not heard; it was apparently written and performed/recorded by the band for a dance group called Pan's People, but was eventually released on an EP as an extra track. Later, of course, it was added to the remaster of Minstrel in the Gallery as a bonus track. The song is definitely classical in almost all respects with Ian Anderson's style. The strings and other orchestral talent make this a great little buried treasure for the music connoisseur. Hear Pan Dance on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Chris Squire - Silently Falling My song pick two years ago today: Jim Croce - Bad, Bad Leroy Brown My song pick three years ago today: Béla Fleck and the F...

From: Emerson, Lake & Palmer ; Year: 1970; Genre: Progressive Rock/classical Last night I learned that Keith Emerson took his own life a couple days ago after struggling with physical ailments. It's sad on so many levels to lose such a monumental keyboardist/musician/writer/arranger of his talent; he will surely be missed without a doubt; may he rest in peace. Anyway, whilst thinking about a good track to choose I came across this suite from Emerson, Lake & Palmer's first album based on the Three Fates of Greek Myth: Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. It's mostly Keith Emerson's keyboard work on both a grand pipe organ and piano all over the place stylistically all the way from classical to jazz, hard rock, and everything in between; almost 8 minutes of getting to hear a master musician play on his chosen instrument. Hear The Three Fates on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Dayton Sidewinders - Slippin' Into Darkness My song pick two years...

From: The Jethro Tull Christmas Album ; Year: 2003; Genre: Christmas Music/Progressive Rock/classical Being that this is the week of Christmas I figured I should pick some music for the season. This instrumental blends a lot of similar and contrasting styles in a medley Christmas song along with some original material as well. It's a great mover that gets the blood moving for the Holidays. Hear Holly Herald on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Sting - Gabriel's Message My song pick two years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Bad Risk My song pick three years ago today: Bob Dylan - See That My Grave is Kept Clean My song pick four years ago today: Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - I Am Santa Claus My song pick five years ago today: Daft Punk - End of Line My song pick six years ago today: Avatar (Savatage) - Rock Me My song pick seven years ago today: Savatage - White Witch My song pick eight years ago today: Paul McCartney - Little Willow ...

From: Chariots of Fire (Original Score) ; Year: 1981; Genre: Classical/Soundtrack About anybody who's been alive for the last 30 years has probably heard this song, and it's one that often just under the surface of my mind just waiting to bob its head up and "earworm" me, like today. The opening Titles from Chariots of Fire is one of those film scores that actually eclipsed the film it was made for. I love the mix of piano and traditional musical instruments with full-blown synth; definitely a song for the ages. Hear Chariots of Fire - Titles on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Chet Atkins - Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) My song pick two years ago today: Bob Dylan - Forever Young My song pick three years ago today: Les Paul & Mary Ford - How High the Moon My song pick four years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Rain is Falling My song pick five years ago today: Rush - Red Lenses My song pick six years ago today: The Ki...

Year: 1924; Genre: classical/Jazz I am making another pick where the date the song/piece of music was published happens to coincide with my song pick number. This is a rather famous experimental crossover piece that combines the musical worlds of jazz and classical music; in my opinion some of the best music ever written comes from such musical fusions. It is also written similar to a concerto in that it contrasts a solo piano against a jazz orchestra. To say the least it's a very interesting piece of music. Hear Rhapsody in Blue on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rammstein - Mein Land My song pick two years ago today: Karussell - Tanzen My song pick three years ago today: Pearls Before Swine - Tell Me Why My song pick four years ago today: Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe My song pick five years ago today: Steve Winwood & Traffic - Dear Mr. Fantasy

From: Love is Blue ; Year: 1968; Genre: Pop/Orchestral Off and on for some years now I've had the tune to this song running through my mind, but due to it being an instrumental and thus no lyrics to look up, I had no way of finding out what the song was or who did it. However, the other day that changed when I was going through some old Santo & Johnny records; they'd made a cover of this song and when I heard the tune I recognized it and thus had the song's title. After finding that out it was quite easy to find all of the particulars about the song. Interestingly enough, this version of the song, which I remember hearing a lot over the years was in and of itself a cover; it was originally written by André Popp and Pierre Cour . Apparently the song started its life off as an entry for the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest . That original version actually had lyrics and was sung by Vicky Leandros, which can be heard here on YouTube . However, in the end it lost the con...

From: Star Trek: The Motion Picture Soundtrack ; Year:1979; Genre: 20th Century/Contemporary Period/classical Today marks my 1701st song picked and as anyone who is a science fiction geek/nerd would know 1701 has a special meaning for us Star Trek fans. 1701 is, of course, the registry number for the Starship Enterprise : NCC-1701. There were actually quite a few pieces of music from the different series and films to choose from for this pick, but the Main Title from the first film is probably one of the most memorable across the franchise. Although this piece of music was written for the first film and parts of it were re-used for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , most would probably remember this one as the opening title for Star Trek: The Next Generation . Here is the music with footage from the film on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Queensrÿche - Welcome to the Machine My song pick two years ago today: Sheena Easton - For Your Eyes Only My song pick thre...

1600 Maurice Ravel - M.81 - Boléro M. 81, Year: 1928 Genre: classical/Orchestral Well, I've made to 1600. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to pick something fitting for this post or not being as it is so close to the New Year and all, but I happened to have this lovely piece of music on my mind and it seemed like a good choice. This is yet another one of those classical pieces of music where you'll get that "I know that tune" feeling immediately upon hearing it; it has permeated popular culture quite a bit over the years. I absolutely love the percussion and brass throughout the piece; it's such a rousing tune. Even though Ravel himself supposedly hated this piece it became his most famous and best remembered. Hear Boléro on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Megaherz - Schizophren My song pick two years ago today: Genesis - Turn It On Again My song pick three years ago today: Miles Davis - Walkin' My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Cold...

1220 Mykola Leontovych - Shchedryk (The Carol of the Bells) With it being the week of Christmas and all, I figured I should pick a seasonal piece. In actuality The Carol of the Bells , which is considered a Christmas tune, was originally an ancient Ukrainian folk chant that was used to herald in the New Year; in the early 1900's Mykola Leontovych arranged Shchedryk around that chant as the song we know today. The title: Shchedryk supposedly means "Bountiful" in Ukrainian and is about a swallow flying into a family's house and singing a song of wealth to come with the Spring. Apparently the original chant was performed sometime around April; later the celebration was moved near the New Year and was used for The Feast of Epiphany. The song was later used with new lyrics penned by Peter Wilhousky as the piece: The Carol of the Bells . Hear Shchedryk conducted by Myron Maksymiw on YouTube. Watch the Claymation Christmas' Carol of the Bells on YouTube. T...

1082 Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - The Last Supper (From Jesus Christ Superstar) This piece comes from one of my favourite scenes in Webber and Rice's greater Passion Rock Opera. I have always loved the music in this scene; the way they go from a mellow, almost sacred sound to a Rock/Soul/Funk provides an excellent hook. The original film version of the music featuring Ted Neeley (Jesus) and Carl Anderson (Judas) is my personal favourite, the others just don't sound nearly as good in my opinion. All the way through the opera Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson are incredible, especially Carl Anderson; he had an amazing voice. Here is the scene with the song from the 1974 film on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Megadeth - Sleepwalker My song pick two years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - The Whipping Post +