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

From: That Christmas Feeling ; Year: 1958; Genre: Christmas Music Just a Christmas tune that popped into my mind today; probably heard it recently. You hear a lot of Bing Crosby year around in the current town in which I reside, being that it is where the man grew up; they're very quick to remind everyone of him. Anyway, this is a more contemporary song that originated as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the mid 19th century during the Civil War and has a central theme about faith and positive thought overcoming the darkness and despair of the time. Although it had been set to music prior, the version most would be familiar with would most likely be that of Johnny Marks from 1956, which Bing's version is derived. However, other versions might be more prevalent in different parts of the globe.   Hear I Head the Bells on Christmas Day on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: John Denver - Christmas for Cowboys   My song pick 2 years ago today: ...

From: Merry Christmas ; Year: 1945 (1942); Genre: Jazz/Pop Happy New Year! I thought it would be appropriate to kick off my first song of the New Year with this rather schmaltzy piece from good 'ol Bing Crosby from his hit film Holiday Inn .    Hear Let's Start The New Year Right on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Louis Armstrong - I Can't Afford To Miss This Dream   My song pick 2 years ago today: Parliament - Bop Gun (Endangered Species)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Peter Gabriel - A Wonderful Day In A One-Way World   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year My song pick 5 years ago today: The Eagles - Funky New Year My song pick 6 years ago today: Steely Dan - Midnight Cruiser My song pick 7 years ago today: James Brown - Get Up Offa That Thing/Release the Pressure My song pick 8 years ago today: Primus with the Fungi Ensemble - Pure Imagination My song pick 9 years ago today: The Moody...

From: Merry Christmas ; Year: 1945(1943); Genre: Christmas Music Happened to have this rather sentimental and melancholy song about the Holiday and the time around it on my mind today, so I'm picking it. With a great deal of his hit songs being of the subject of Christmas it is no wonder that he becomes more ubiquitous this time of year. This one, of course, was released for the service men and women's morale during The War, which it did perfectly apparently, but it has really transcended those beginnings into a Holiday mainstay since.   Hear I'll Be Home For Christmas (If Only In My Dreams) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Pavane   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Smashing Pumpkins - Christmastime   My song pick 3 years ago today: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Jingle Bells   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bob Rivers - Goin' Up To Bethlehem My song pick 5 years ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - The Night Sant...

From: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy ; Year: 1978; Genre: Pop/Christmas Probably one of the more remembered pop cultural events of the last 40 some/odd years pertaining to Christmas, this duet between the two legends is definitely iconic. It's sad to think that both have passed away now, but they live on; they sure did an excellent performance on this one.   Hear Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Uriah Heep - Take Away My Soul   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Salamander's Rag Time   My song pick 3 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Universe on Fire My song pick 4 years ago today: Bon Jovi - Lay Your Hands on Me My song pick 5 years ago today: James Brown - Santa Claus Gave Me a Brand New Start My song pick 6 years ago today: The United States of America - Stranded in Time My song pick 7 years ago today: Boston - Can'tcha Say (Believe in Me)/Still in Love My song pick 8 years ago toda...

From: Merry Christmas ; Year: 1945; Genre: Christmas Music Well, it's Christmas Eve and all, thinking I should pick a real good one. This is without a doubt the definitive version of this very popular contemporary Christmas song from the pen of Irving Berlin. Hear White Christmas on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: B. Bumble and the Stingers - Nut Rocker My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen My song pick three years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Wizards in Winter My song pick four years ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Christmas at Ground Zero My song pick five years ago today: Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) - I Believe in Father Christmas My song pick six years ago today: Louis Armstrong - 'Zat You Santa Claus? My song pick seven years ago today: Jethro Tull - A Christmas Song My song pick eight years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost of Christmas Eve

From: One Hundred Hits of Bing Crosby ; Year: 2011 (~1940); Genre: Pop For the last little bit when my song pick number happens to be the same as the year that a song was written or published I kept meaning to pick one from the pen of songwriter extraordinaire Stephen Foster . There is most likely a good chance that you haven't heard his name, but I can all but guarantee that you've heard more than a few of his compositions. He happened to pass away in the year 1864 and this song was one of many that was published posthumously. It's amazing to look at the songs he authored; many of which are known quite well today. However, even with the sheer amount of notable songs to his name when he passed away he was more or less destitute. Anyway, this is one of my favourites that he wrote and there are many versions of the song out there to pick from. In the end I decided on this one from the incomparable Bing Crosby, which is one of the best in my opinion. Hear Beautiful...