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

From: Soaring Through a Dream ; Year: 1985; Genre: Jazz Fusion/classical This is an extraordinarily beautiful song that is a bit different that the others on the record with it being a slower, melodic piece. I really like how he mixed the sound of nylon string guitars with his Synclavier guitar and other synthesizer instruments.    Hear Broken Heart on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Searchers - Needles & Pins   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Offspring - I Choose   My song pick 3 years ago today: Wolfmother - The Simple Life   My song pick 4 years ago today: Quincy Jones - I'm Gonna Miss You In the Morning   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jim Croce - Thursday My song pick 6 years ago today: Soundgarden - Overfloater My song pick 7 years ago today: Alice Cooper - Hey Stoopid My song pick 8 years ago today: Eurythmics - Here Comes the Rain Again My song pick 9 years ago today: Jefferson Airplane - Plastic...

From: Soaring Through a Dream ; Year: 1985; Genre: Jazz Fusion Over the years Soaring Through a Dream has worked its way up my mental list of favourite records from Al Di Meola; the blend of sounds, both traditional and electronic along with the Latin beats make it quite a unique album. At nine minutes this opus is the third track in order of length, but make no mistake, it is not boring or overly technical. It's quite the opposite; a very engaging and beautiful piece.   Hear Traces (Of A Tear) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The J. Geils Band - Freeze-Frame   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ray Charles - You'll Never Walk Alone   My song pick 3 years ago today: Fates Warning - Firefly   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jigsaw - Journey Into Space   My song pick 5 years ago today: Kiss - Heaven's on Fire My song pick 6 years ago today: The Supremes - Stop! In the Name of Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Gentle Giant - Wo...

From: Soaring Through a Dream ; Year: 1985; Genre: Latin Jazz/Jazz Fusion Some call it "pretentious" or "musical wanking," but to me this is one of my favourite records from jazz legend Al Di Meola and the equally great musicians that have backed him. This one in particular exemplifies the jazz fusion genre in how then blended jazz sensibilities, middle-eastern music with Latin and Brazilian rhythms/forms. Wot you get is some great music to both listen intently to, to have on whilst you work or just feel like dancing.   Hear Capoeira on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - Chain Lightning   My song pick 2 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Yertle The Turtle   My song pick 3 years ago today: Ian Anderson - In Maternal Grace   My song pick 4 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - I Am a Rock   My song pick 5 years ago today: .38 Special - Stone Cold Believer My song pick 6 years ago today: The Cure - Winter My so...

From: Cielo e Terra ; Year: 1985; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Flamenco Been a little bit since my last Al Di Meola pick, and this is another really good one. For the most part I use his music whilst working or contemplating something, which it serves quite well, but this is one of those songs that keeps demanding your attention. The exquisite flamenco playing on the guitar and the synclavier interlude really take you on a long mental journey; even with the sparse arrangement it has such a big sound.    Hear Atavism of Twilight on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Lou Reed - My Red Joystick   My song pick 2 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Don't You Worry About a Thing   My song pick 3 years ago today: Cream - Take it Back   My song pick 4 years ago today: Sweet - Ballroom Blitz My song pick 5 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Don't Let the Blues Get You Down My song pick 6 years ago today: Commodores - Easy My song pick ...

From: Opus ; Year: 2018; Genre: Classical/Jazz After having some of his music come on while I was driving yesterday I decided to check out some more of Al Di Meola's more recent work. I was pleasantly surprised by his Opus album, especially this 10-minute tour-de-force that is this song. Both beautiful and powerful musically throughout, Ava's Dream Sequence Lullaby is yet another great instance where you can hear his great musical abilities.   Hear Ava's Dream Sequence Lullaby on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dream Theater - Viper King   My song pick 2 years ago today: U2 - Seconds   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rammstein, featuring Viktoria Fersh - Moskau My song pick 4 years ago today: Led Zeppelin - Black Dog My song pick 5 years ago today: Guns N' Roses - Patience My song pick 6 years ago today: Yes - It Was All We Knew My song pick 7 years ago today: Billy Joel - Worse Comes to Worse My song pick 8 years ago today: Mar...

From: Romantic Warrior ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz Fusion Felt like hearing some of Al Di Meola's guitar playing today, so I decided to visit this song from the supergroup he was with. This one really shows off his playing ability along with all the other superstars from the Return to Forever.   Hear Majestic Dance on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Manfred Mann's Earth Band - As Above So Below   My song pick 2 years ago today: Parliament - P Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) My song pick 3 years ago today: Peter Frampton - Show Me the Way My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) My song pick 5 years ago today: Bachman & Turner - Moonlight Rider My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Cup of Wonder My song pick 7 years ago today: Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Poor Me Israelites My song pick 8 years ago today: Sky - Cannonball My song pick 9 years ago today: Muse - United Sta...

From: No Mystery ; Year: 1975; Genre: Jazz Fusion This is a beautiful, but short instrumental piece that just blows your mind with the different lines harmonizing with one another. Hear Interplay on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Hawkwind - Arioch My song pick 2 years ago today: Elvis Presley - All Shook Up My song pick 3 years ago today: Deep Purple - Never Before My song pick 4 years ago today: Ex Deo - Cruor Nostri Abbas My song pick 5 years ago today: Hawkwind - Be Yourself My song pick 6 years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Saturday Night Special My song pick 7 years ago today: Icehouse - Great Southern Land My song pick 8 years ago today: Genesis - Many Too Many My song pick 9 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Where Eagles Dare My song pick 10 years ago today: Yes - Yours Is No Disgrace My song pick 11 years ago today: Herbie Hancock - Sly My song pick 12 years ago today: Foreigner - Long, Long Way From Home

From: Electric Rendezvous ; Year: 1982; Genre: Flamenco/Flamenco Rock You want to hear some beautiful and very technical guitar music? Sure you do! This one, which features the legendary Paco de Lucía in a flamenco duet with Al Di Meola is simply one to amazed by; pure auditory bliss. Hear Passion, Grace & Fire on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Weezer - Africa My song pick 2 years ago today: Red Rider - Human Race My song pick 3 years ago today: Lighthouse - One Fine Morning My song pick 4 years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - The Ark My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - After Dark My song pick 6 years ago today: Triumph - Allied Forces My song pick 7 years ago today: Asia - The Heat Goes On My song pick 8 years ago today: Dream Theater - In the Presence of Enemies Parts I and II My song pick 9 years ago today: Hiroko Moriguchi - Samurai Heart My song pick 10 years ago today: England Dan & John Ford Coley - Simone My song pic...

From: Where Have I Known You Before ; Year: 1974; Genre: Jazz Fusion Needed my fix today of some amazing musicality and virtuosity; Chick Corea and company fill that bill in spades! Hear Beyond the Seventh Galaxy on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Al Di Meola - July My song pick two years ago today: Gary Lewis and the Playboys - Palisades Park My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Warm Sporran My song pick four years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Sole Survivor My song pick five years ago today: Mastodon - Divinations My song pick six year ago today: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - K.626 - Requiem Mass in D Minor My song pick seven years ago today: Banchee - The Night is Calling My song pick eight years ago today: Band of Horses - Cigarettes, Wedding Bands My song pick nine years ago today: Bread - Guitar Man My song pick ten years ago today: America - A Horse With No Name

From: Soaring Through a Dream ; Year: 1985; Genre: Jazz Fusion Was thoroughly enjoying this album this morning, thought I'd pick a song from it. This intricate and beautiful piece is beyond words in many ways; I love how they play with such technicality whilst making it very listenable, even to a casual listener. Hear Soaring Through a Dream on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Wishbone Ash - Baby the Angels Are Here My song pick two years ago today: Soundgarden - Rhinosaur My song pick three years ago today: Jigsaw - Love Fire My song pick four years ago today: Dream Theater - The Enemy Inside My song pick five years ago today: The Ventures - Joy My song pick six years ago today: Gackt - Cube My song pick seven years ago today: Fairport Convention - Meet on the Ledge My song pick eight years ago today: Rush - Losing It My song pick nine years ago today: The Beatles - Yesterday My song pick ten years ago today: Def Leppard - Animal

From: Where Have I Known You Before ; Year: 1974; Genre: Funk/Rock/Jazz Fusion Ever since hearing one of their songs today I decided to pick another one. I love that funky rhythm that Lenny White and Stanley Clarke lay down that leaves a foundation for Chick Corea and Al Di Meola to create a jazz-rock masterpiece on top. A great song to dance or to just sit down and listen with headphones on. Hear Earth Juice on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Psychotic Waltz - Strange My song pick two years ago today: Queen - Great King Rat My song pick three years ago today: Karussell - Wintermärchen My song pick four years ago today: Ian Anderson - Old School Song My song pick five years ago today: Alice in Chains - Them Bones My song pick six years ago today: America - Lonely People My song pick seven years ago today: Rammstein - Weißes Fleisch My song pick eight years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Space Into/Fly Like An Eagle My song pick nine years ag...

From: Soaring Through a Dream ; Year: 1985; Genre: Instrumental Rock/Jazz Fusion Thinking about Al Di Meola's music today and this rather neat and upbeat track with the apropos title, (seeing as July just started), was in my opinion the perfect pick for today. July reminds me a lot of video game music especially the music hear behind more recent indie titles. Hear July on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Gary Lewis and the Playboys - Palisades Park My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Warm Sporran My song pick three years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Sole Survivor My song pick four years ago today: Mastodon - Divinations My song pick five year ago today: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - K.626 - Requiem Mass in D Minor My song pick six years ago today: Banchee - The Night is Calling My song pick seven years ago today: Band of Horses - Cigarettes, Wedding Bands My song pick eight years ago today: Bread - Guitar Man My song pick nine yea...

From: Land of the Midnight Sun ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Rock I've been meaning to pick one from Al Di Meola lately; finally getting around to it. This is more or less an exposition of his and his guest musicians' prowess, but is still very listenable to those who want to rock out. The Wizard is one of the more hard rock based instrumentals on the album with a good dose of jazz in there for good measure. Hear The Wizard on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Rhapsody of Fire - Dark Wings of Steel My song pick two years ago today: Parliament - Flash Light My song pick three years ago today: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Breakdown My song pick four years ago today: Marillion - Garden Party My song pick five years ago today: Alestorm - Heavy Metal Pirates My song pick six years ago today: Guns N' Roses - Sympathy for the Devil My song pick seven years ago today: Bon Jovi - Bounce My song pick eight years ago today: The Platters - ...

From: Romantic Warrior ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Progressive Rock This track, which is like a mashup of jazz, rock, funk, and classical was perfect for my mood today on this Funky Friday . Whilst it's less full-on funk and more like a very jazzy Rush instrumental; this one's just too funky to not pick it. That ever changing funky rhythm that Stanley Clarke and Lenny White lay down is just too infectious. For that matter the entire band show off their chops in this 12 minute epic instrumental fight song. Hear Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant (Parts 1+2) on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Plant Music My song pick two years ago today: Luther Vandross - Never Too Much My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Living in the Past My song pick four years ago today: Hawkwind - It Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous My song pick five years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Fantasy My song pick six years ago tod...

From: Electric Rendezvous ; Year: 1982; Genre: Rock/Jazz Fusion No real reason to pick this song; just one I like. A nice bluesy rhythm with some great guitar playing over the top. Hear Black Cat Shuffle on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: David Bowie - Starman My song pick two years ago today: King Crimson - Starless My song pick three years ago today: Black 47 - Maria's Wedding My song pick four years ago today: Van Halen - 1984 My song pick five years ago today: Savatage - Holocaust My song pick six years ago today: The United States of America - The Garden of Earthly Delights My song pick seven years ago today: Buddy Holley & the Crickets - Oh Boy! My song pick eight years ago today: Oasis - Champagne Supernova My song pick nine years ago today: John Denver - Paradise

From: No Mystery ; Year: 1975; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Funk Getting a pick in on this busy, busy Funky Friday with this great funky jazz fusion tune from one of my favourite Return to Forever albums. Great technical music throughout set on an amazing funky foundation. Hear Flight of the Newborn on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Hawkwind - Choose Your Masques My song pick two years ago today: Rush - Force Ten My song pick three years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Someday Never Comes My song pick four years ago today: Pink Floyd - Time My song pick five years ago today: Rammstein - Amerika My song pick six years ago today: Cream - White Room My song pick seven years ago today: Steely Dan - Deacon Blues My song pick eight years ago today: The Guess Who - Laughing

From: Land of the Midnight Sun ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Latin Jazz I was kind of drawing a blank this morning on what song I was wanting to pick, but some music from Al Di Meola's Land of the Midnight Sun album started to come to mind. This rather brief track has a really nice Latin flare to it. Hear Love Theme from Pictures of the Sea on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bad Medicine - Trespasser My song pick two years ago today: Styx - Man in the Wilderness My song pick three years ago today: Curved Air - Vivaldi My song pick four years ago today: Megadeth - Endgame My song pick five years ago today: Sirenia - The Other Side My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Spiral My song pick seven years ago today: Outerstar - You Love It When It Rains

From: Splendido Hotel ; Year: 1980; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Latin With nothing in mind to pick or feeling like listening to anything today, I turned to one of my personal standby musical forms that I love to listen to: guitar music. This is a very beautiful piece that features guitar maestro Al Di Meola, but another incomparable guitar maestro and inventor: Les Paul. It's a truly beautiful piece of music that definitely makes a good fusion of Latin and light Jazz styles. Hear Spanish Eyes on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Of Monsters and Men - Dirty Paws My song pick two years ago today: Three Dog Night - It's For You My song pick three years ago today: Warrant - Uncle Tom's Cabin My song pick four years ago today: Bon Jovi - Keep The Faith My song pick five years ago today: Neil Young - Rockin' in the Free World My song pick six years ago today: Savatage - Skull Session

From: No Mystery ; Year: 1975; Genre: Funk/Jazz Fusion I realized that I hadn't made a Funky Friday pick for a few months now, so I figured I would today. Jungle Waterfall is another song that Stanley Clarke co-wrote with Chick Corea; as expected it is a very funky piece of jazz fusion with amazing musicianship throughout. Hear Jungle Waterfall on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Midnight Oil - Best of Both Worlds My song pick two years ago today: Northern Kings - Don't Stop Believin' My song pick three years ago today: King Crimson - Thela Hun Ginjeet My song pick four years ago today: Jaco Pastorius - Slang My song pick five years ago today: Falco - Der Kommissar

From: The Infinite Desire ; Year: 1998; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Rock I'm still in the mood to listen to some badass guitar playing. This one, obviously, is a remake of Al Di Meola's classic Race with the Devil on Spanish Highway in a guitar duet between him and guitar maestro Steve Vai. This one also, as the title insinuates, has more of a middle eastern flavour musically. I love how they mostly kept a lot of the framework of the original whilst having two incredible virtuosos go at it. Yeah, it's enough technical playing to bring joy to a musician's or musical connoisseur's ear and at the same time make a hater types of extreme technical music run for cover. Hear Race with the Devil on Turkish Highway on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nightwish - Beauty of the Beast My song pick two years ago today: L'Arc~en~Ciel - Spirit Dreams Inside My song pick three years ago today: Led Zeppelin - The Battle Of Evermore My song pick four years a...