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

From: Nexus ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Argent is another band that has been on my mind off and on for the last two weeks or so. This is one of the songs from their Nexus album that was penned by the legend Russ Ballard , who has written quite a few hits for himself and the bands he has been in, but even more for various artists as well. This was apparently one of the singles released from the record, but didn't do as well as their previous material, however, if you love the music from Argent, you should most likely really like this one too.   Hear Thunder and Lightning on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Hawkwind - Living on Earth   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Fylingdale Flyer   My song pick 3 years ago today: Genesis - Time Table   My song pick 4 years ago today: Geddy Lee - Grace to Grace My song pick 5 years ago today: Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) My song pick 6 years ag...

From: Ring of Hands ; Year: 1971; Genre: Progressive Rock/Blues Rock Noticed that I had not chosen one from one of my favourite bands, Argent, in quite a while. This is one of Russ Ballard's many songs that he's written and recorded and was covered by another act; he's one of those individuals with a lot of hit songs to his name, just not too many that he recorded himself. Anyway, this is a very interesting, bluesy piece with a lot of different musical ideas throughout.   Hear Chained on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Camel - Manic   My song pick 2 years ago today: Tom Rapp - The Swimmer (for Kurt Cobain)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rare Earth - Born to Wander My song pick 4 years ago today: The Byrds - I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - I'm On the Lamb, But Ain't No Sheep My song pick 6 years ago today: Fates Warning - Stranger (With a Familiar Face) My song pick 7 years ago today...

From: All Together Now ; Year: 1972; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock/classical This song has the longest play time on the album, the first 5 minutes is a complex organ piece performed by Rod Argent in the Prelude and Fantasia sections, then the rest of the band kicks into a hard rock sound in the 3rd and 4th movements. After hearing this one there are no doubts at the virtuosity of Rod Argent. Hear Pure Love on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Boz Scaggs - Breakdown Dead Ahead My song pick 2 years ago today: Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction My song pick 3 years ago today: Santo & Johnny - Love is Blue My song pick 4 years ago today: B. B. King - Someday, Somewhere My song pick 5 years ago today: Rose Royce - Funkin' Around My song pick 6 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Burnin' for You My song pick 7 years ago today: Styx - Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) My song pick 8 years ago today: April Wine - Sign of the Gypsy Queen My song pick...

From: In Deep ; Year: 1973; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Making a double pick today with these two heavy thumpers with some excellent musicianship from the pen of legendary songwriter/guitarist Russ Ballard. In my opinion this was definitely when the band was at its best in all aspects. Hear It's Only Money (Parts 1 + 2) on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Woncha Take Me for a While My song pick two years ago today: Bass Extremes - Bassically Yours My song pick three years ago today: Bonnie Tyler - It's a Jungle Out There My song pick four years ago today: The Cult - Fire Woman My song pick five years ago today: The Beatles - Free as a Bird My song pick six years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Julie Don't Live Here My song pick seven years ago today: Fire Bomber (Humming Bird) - My Soul For You My song pick eight years ago today: Hawkwind - D-Rider My song pick nine years ago today: Duran...

From: Circus ; Year: 1975; Genre: Progressive Rock Was in the mood to pick a song from Argent today; I thought I would go with one from their second-to-last studio album: Circus . While this one is minus the genius of Russ Ballard, it's a great one to listen to. A lot of jazz fusion and funky aspects to this 8-minute opus. Hear Trapeze on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Stanley Clarke - Play the Bass My song pick two years ago today: Weather Report - Orange Lady My song pick three years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Wild Spirit My song pick four years ago today: Wings - Jet My song pick five years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Welcome Home My song pick six years ago today: Puhdys - Alt Wie Ein Baum My song pick seven years ago today: Christian Pezold - Minuet in G Major (Anna Magdalena Notebook II), BWV Anh. 114 My song pick eight years ago today: Berlin - The Metro

From: Argent : Year: 1970; Genre: Progressive Rock I was drawing a blank today as to what song I was choosing, however, I was thinking about picking another song from Argent recently. While this was a hit for the band most would probably remember Three Dog Night's cover better, but the original is just as good in my opinion.  Hear Liar on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Hawkwind - Time We Left This World Today My song pick two years ago today: Journey - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) My song pick three years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider My song pick four years ago today: Ian Anderson - Made In England My song pick five years ago today: Mel McDaniel - Louisiana Saturday Night

From: All Together Now ; Year: 1972; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock I had an urge to listen to some Argent today and thought it would be a good idea to pick another one of their tracks too. While being overshadowed by their monster hit Hold Your Head Up , Tragedy was one of the lesser hits from All Together Now . It's a pretty good track that is carried through the verses by an excellent thumping funky bass line. As with much of the material from Argent each instrument is played amazingly and it seems as if each and every one of them has a solo at one point during this song. An excellent piece of funky prog rock for this Thursday. Hear Tragedy on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Weather Report - Barbary Coast My song pick two years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Gator Country My song pick three years ago today: The Beatles - I Me Mine My song pick four years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Up Around The Bend My song pick five years ...

From: Nexus ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock This morning, for no reason whatsoever, I felt like listening to something from Argent; this somewhat interesting track hails from their '74 Nexus album. In my opinion parts of this one sound a lot like they might've started out as a jam of sorts, especially the first four minutes or so; after that some more defined sections emerge. Whatever the case it's quite an interesting song to listen to. Hear Music from the Spheres on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Heart - Who Will You Run To My song pick two years ago today: Benny Carter - All That Jazz My song pick three years ago today: David Bowie - Rebel Rebel My song pick four years ago today: U2 - Sunday, Bloody Sunday +

1367 Argent - God Gave Rock and Roll to You From: In Deep , Year: 1973 Here's my second pick in my "...And about 1300 days later" theme week, i.e. picking songs from bands that have not graced my blog since the first 100 picks. This is probably one of the most shocking ones that I found that fit into this category because I am a huge fan of Argent. Well, crap! I thought for sure that I had chosen more songs from this Prog/Rock pioneer over the last 1300 days, but I guess I was in error. I picked their iconic song: " Hold Your Head Up " on the 20th of November, in '07; it was my 81st overall pick . Anyway, I figured I should pick a song that most have been acquainted with in one way or another over the years and this track from the pen of the band's guitarist/vocalist Russ Ballard seemed appropriate. I believe, however, that most today probably remember one of the many cover versions of this song more, most notably the one performed by Kiss, which can b...

I am picking songs this week that have three things in common: 1. I like them (of course), 2. I discovered the songs by myself without anyone introducing me to them, and 3. Almost every person that I know hates the song. I am doing this theme because this is what I view as the most sincere and true form of fanhood that a person can show: going against the grain and loving something in the face of everyone's contrariness around you. I want to make clear here is that these song are ones I like because I like them, not in spite of someone else hating them. These would be songs that I would like even if everyone around me liked them. For today's pick on my theme week I am choosing "Hold Your Head Up" by Argent; this is a song that I have liked for a very, very long time. My favorite aspects of this song are Rob Argent's organ work and the overall driving feeling the song gives. However, the part that I do find a bit wanting about this composition is the repetitivenes...