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

From: Das Letzte Einhorn "The Last Unicorn" Original Soundtrack ; Year: 1982; Genre: Soft Rock/Soundtrack Was talking about America's songs from this classic movie soundtrack and just a little later it came on while driving; quite a coincidence, right? Just seemed like a sign that it should be chosen today. Anyway, this was one of three tracks recorded by the band America for The Last Unicorn , but from wot I understand they also had a hand in the orchestral pieces as well. Gerry Beckley performs the lead vocals on this one and the title-track and, even though all pieces of music were written/arranged/produced by Jimmy Webb, this track and their others on the soundtrack sit perfectly with any compilation of songs from the band, which are actually included on some of their Greatest Hits albums.   Hear In the Sea on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - City's Still Growing     My song pick 2 years ago today: ...

From: Hat Trick ; Year: 1973; Genre: Rock/Folk Rock Amazingly enough, I discovered a classic album from the band America that I had not heard prior. Haven't the foggiest as to why, better late than never, right? Anyway, this is not only the title track, but also one of the lengthiest songs I have ever heard from the band. The production quality of this one in particular reminds me a lot of The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds era with some Beatle influence thrown in as well. I really like the different sections of the song and how they contrast with one another, plus that electric piano really drives the entire track.   Hear Hat Trick on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Big Dipper   My song pick 2 years ago today: Pallas - Northern Star   My song pick 3 years ago today: Queensrÿche - Speed of Light   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lighthouse - Set the Stage   My song pick 5 years ago today: Badfinger - The Dreamer My ...

From: Hideaway ; Year: 1976; Genre: Rock/Pop I'm not sure if this one was intended to be part of the animated film released a year or so later, but I cannot help but think there's a connection. However, by itself it's a great song that has both rock and soft areas as well as some orchestral sections, which I think adds a lot. Hear Watership Down on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Hawkwind - Angels of Death My song pick 2 year ago today: Yes - America My song pick 3 years ago today: Styx - Miss America My song pick 4 years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - The House is a Rockin' My song pick 5 years ago today: Melvins - Honey Bucket My song pick 6 years ago today: Bing Crosby - Beautiful Dreamer My song pick 7 years ago today: Black 47 - Bankers and Gangsters My song pick 8 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - House of the Rising Sun My song pick 9 years ago today: The Moody Blues - The Story in Your E...

From: Your Move ; Year: 1983; Genre: Pop/Rock Had an incline to pick something from the band America today. This is the main single off the Your Move album; I like the way this one moves along and of course Raphael Ravencroft's sax solo add so much to it.  Hear The Border on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Yes - Machine Messiah My song pick two years ago today: The Offspring - The Meaning of Life My song pick three years ago today: Savatage - Degrees of Sanity My song pick four years ago today: Extreme - Get the Funk Out My song pick five years ago today: Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around the Clock My song pick six years ago today: Steve Vai - I'm the Hell Outta Here My song pick seven years ago today: Fear Factory - Replica My song pick eight years ago today: David Bowie - Changes My song pick nine years ago today: Heart - Black On Black II My song pick ten years ago today: Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

From: The Last Unicorn Soundtrack ; Year: 1982; Genre: Folk Rock/Soft Rock The other day Woordenaar picked one from America and it got me wanting to choose something from the band. This one comes from the animated classic The Last Unicorn , which is a movie I still cherish to some point from my childhood. What I loved about America's contribution to the soundtrack is that their songs work excellently with the film, but also by themselves. Man's Road is my favourite song they did; while it has that soft/mellow " yacht rock " that they were known for at the time, this one has some great arrangement and an overall dark and brooding feeling that is somewhat mixed with a majestic and upbeat sound thanks to their use of a mix of minor, major, augmented, and diminished chords. Hear Man's Road on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Bernard Wright – Haboglabotribin’ My song pick two years ago today: Meat Loaf - I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won...

From: Homecoming ; Year: 1972; Genre: Folk Rock The other day I had this tune running through my mind; it's always been among my favourites from the band. It's such a pretty song actually; I've always loved the overall optimistic feel and the existential lyrics/subject matter. Hear Ventura Highway on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nick Gilder - Hot Child in the City My song pick two years ago today: Boston - Foreplay/Long Time My song pick three years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Home and Dry My song pick four years ago today: Johnny Cash - One Piece at a Time My song pick five years ago today: Traffic - John Barleycorn My song pick six years ago today: The Moody Blues - Forever Afternoon ( Tuesday? ), Time to Get Away.

From: View From the Ground ; Year: 1982; Genre: Soft Rock This morning I had this track incessantly running about in my mind; as I normally do, I took it as a sign that I should pick it, plus I like the song and haven't picked a track from America in a while. This was one of America's last big hits and one of the last songs I can remember hearing brand new on the radio, except their music from the animated film The Last Unicorn that is, which I do believe was released a year or so later. Also, this track actually came from the pen of songwriter extraordinaire Russ Ballard , who has an immense amount of hit songs credited to him. Watch the music video clip to You Can Do Magic on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - K. 1a - Andante in C My song pick two years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Help is on the Way/Slipknot! My song pick three years ago today: Louis Armstrong - Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen My song pick four...

1440 America - Lonely People From: Holiday , Year: 1974 Genre: Folk/Rock I found out today that Dan Peek passed away a couple of days ago, a write-up can be found here . This was the first America song that I knew was from his pen that came to mind; it was actually one of the band's biggest hits. Dan Peek actually hadn't been with the group since the late '70s; he left to explore a career in Christian music. Hear the original studio version on YouTube. Hear Dan Peek's re-worked solo recording on YouTube. Watch a live performance/music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rammstein - Weißes Fleisch My song pick two years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Space Into/Fly Like An Eagle My song pick three years ago today: The Delgados - The Light Before We Land +

736 ( America - Sister Golden Hair ) As usual I did not have a song in mind for this Sunday pick, however while out and about this one popped on my playlist; when I realized that I had not yet added it I knew I had my pick. I cannot remember when I first heard this one, but it was one of those rare songs that I loved the first time I heard it. I have always enjoyed how dynamic the song is, just so much to listen to in this one; the "crying" electric guitar was always the largest draw for me. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is an excellent live performance on YouTube. Here is a more recent live performance on YouTube. +

Earlier this song was on the radio and it has been stuck in my head a bit, so I decided since I haven't chosen an America song yet I will now. This Folk/Rock song is known mostly for its weird lyrics and imagery. Over the years I have heard three explanations about the odd subject matter/lyrics of the song: 1. It is a song about going through withdrawals after quitting a drug, 2. It is about taking a new drug, 3. A bad drug trip. Whatever the case, it is still an excellent song. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a Top of the Pops performance on YouTube. Here is a live performance on YouTube. +