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

From: Fire of Freedom ; Year: 1993; Genre: Celtic Rock/Alternative Rock This is a different track sonically, that is, if you are acquainted with Black 47's normal sound. It's a very moody and atmospheric song that reminds me a bit of contemporary '80s rock with a dash of Latin and blues thrown in for flavour. Kind of a heart-aching lament about a dear friend getting devoured by the big city and succumbing to the evils therein.   Hear Sleep Tight In New York City / Her Dear Old Donegal on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Dickey Betts - Highway Call   My song pick 2 years ago today: Robin Trower - Too Rolling Stoned   My song pick 3 years ago today: Skid Row - Riot Act   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Jack-A-Lynn   My song pick 5 years ago today: Madness - Our House   My song pick 6 years ago today: Chicago - Beginnings My song pick 7 years ago today: Frijid Pink - Rainbow Rider My song pick 8 years ago today:...

From: Fire of Freedom ; Year: 1993; Genre: Alternative Rock/Celtic Rock Ever since I first heard this album I loved it, even though some of the lyrics contained are somewhat extreme; just love the mournful and emotional melodies combined with the tragic stories. I don't know much about the incident mentioned in the song or when it happened, but I assume it is more biographical or someone's tribulations during one of The Twelfth celebrations. Whatever the case it's a very beautiful song with some melancholic lyrics.   Hear Fanatic Heart on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Motörhead - Hellraiser   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - Reflections   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot   My song pick 4 years ago today: Victor Wooten - Keep it Low   My song pick 5 years ago today: Klaatu - Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft My song pick 6 years ago today: Big Cou...

From: Black 47 ; Year: 1991; Genre: Celtic Rock/Alternative Rock/Funk Rock Happy St. Patrick's Day once again! You know wot that means... yep more Celtic-inspired rock and related music. Picking another one from one of my favourite bands of that ilk: Black 47; this one comes off their self-titled debut album and from towards the end of the record. It has more of their noted Celtic rock sound with the horns in the choruses whilst the verses are more of a rap/funk style in the vocal delivery with a syncopated beat and sparse instruments.   Hear Land of DeValera on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Frank Mackey & The Keltic Cowboys - Rocky Road to Dublin   My song pick 2 years ago today: Black 47 - Bodhráns On The Brain   My song pick 3 years ago today: Waylander - The Vernal Dance   My song pick 4 years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Dublin My song pick 5 years ago today: Black 47 - Paddy's Got a Brand New Reel My song pick 6 years ago tod...

From: Fire of Freedom ; Year: 1993; Genre: Alternative Rock/Celtic Rock Thought I would choose another one from Black 47, which is a band I have come to like quite a lot over the years. This is the song that is a reference to where the band derived its namesake that was the Great Hunger , (also known as The Great Potato Famine), which peaked at its worst in the year 1847. Whilst the lyrics are definitely ubiquitous in political and protest message concerning the horrific event and the struggles prior and since in the Irish nation, the music in particular is purely amazing in how it is written and arranged to aid and bring all the raw emotion to the surface of the piece.   Hear Black 47 on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Sly & The Family Stone - Dance to the Music   My song pick 2 years ago today: Primus - Prelude to a Crawl/Hennepin Crawler   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Old Aces Die Hard My song pick 4 years ago today...

From: Black 47 ; Year: 1991; Genre: Celtic Rock I had Black 47's music on my mind today and I thought I'd pick another one from the band. I love the way they blend all the different sounds and the emotions in the song to make a quite a unique piece.   Hear Livin' in America on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Lenny LeBlanc - Dance Around the Campfire   My song pick 2 years ago today: Georges Bizet - Carmen Overture My song pick 3 years ago today: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Helpless My song pick 4 years ago today: Rose Royce - Car Wash My song pick 5 years ago today: Camel - Never Let Go My song pick 6 years ago today: Jerry Reed - The Legend My song pick 7 years ago today: Curved Air - Heaven (Never Seemed So Far Away) My song pick 8 years ago today: Alestorm - Rum My song pick 9 years ago today: Bachman & Turner - Slave to the Rhythm My song pick 10 years ago today: Pink Floyd - San Tropez My song pick 11 years ag...

From: Trouble in the Land ; Year: 2000; Genre: Celtic Rock Wow, St. Patrick's Day really snuck up on me again this year; I did not have a song in mind, so I revisited one of my absolute favourite Celtic Rock bands. Anyway, this is a rather cute song with some great music throughout.   Hear Bodhráns On The Brain on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Waylander - The Vernal Dance   My song pick 2 years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Dublin My song pick 3 years ago today: Black 47 - Paddy's Got a Brand New Reel My song pick 4 years ago today: Croft No Five - The Man of Arran My song pick 5 years ago today: Cruachan - The Morrigan's Call My song pick 6 years ago today: Flogging Molly - (No More) Paddy's Lament My song pick 7 years ago today: Black 47 - The Big Fella My song pick 8 years ago today: Frank Mackey & the Keltic Cowboys - Kiss My Irish Ass My song pick 9 years ago today: Dropkick Murphys - Black Velvet Band My song pick 10 years ...

From: Bankers and Gangsters ; Year: 2010; Genre: Celtic Rock I've been in the 4700s for a while now and I had not chosen a Black 47 song, need to remedy that. Anyway, this is another one of their songs with a lot of passion behind it, which is normal for the band. You gotta love that heavy Celtic rock sound. Hear Red Hugh on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut My song pick 2 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Give It Up My song pick 3 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - It's The Engine In Me My song pick 4 years ago today: Foghat - Slow Ride My song pick 5 years ago today: Savatage - Beyond the Doors of the Dark My song pick 6 years ago today: Harlequin - Superstitious Feeling My song pick 7 years ago today: Les Paul - Hip-Billy Boogie My song pick 8 years ago today: The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season) My song pick 9 years ago today: Muse - Uprising My s...

From: Last Call ; Year: 2014; Genre: Celtic Rock/Indie Rock It's kind of sad knowing that this is the last song on Black 47's final album, but this track is a good sendoff for such a great band; it really encapsulates their sound over the years. Hear Hard Times on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Rainbow - Stone Cold My song pick 2 years ago today: For Squirrels - Disenchanted My song pick 3 years ago today: AC/DC - Jailbreak My song pick 4 years ago today: R.E.O. Speedwagon - Roll With the Changes My song pick 5 years ago today: Alan O'Day - Undercover Angel My song pick 6 years ago today: Mudhoney - Something So Clear My song pick 7 years ago today: Sylvia - The Matador My song pick 8 years ago today: Rush - By-Tor & the Snow Dog My song pick 9 years ago today: Uriah Heep - Stealin' My song pick 10 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way My song pick 11 years ago today: Ludwig van Beethoven - WoO59 - Fur Elise

From: Trouble in the Land ; Year: 2000; Genre: Celtic Rock/Indie Rock This one is such a fun song in only the way Larry Kirwan and the guys in Black 47 could do. I'm usually laughing through most of the song or at least have a big smile on my face whilst listening to it. Hear I Got Laid On James Joyce's Grave on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Queen - Keep Yourself Alive My song pick two years ago today: Brass Construction - Changin' My song pick three years ago today: Stealers Wheel - Right or Wrong My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Before and After My song pick five years ago today: Stratovarius - Atlantis My song pick six years ago today: Alestorm - Pirate Song My song pick seven years ago today: Steve Vai - The Attitude Song My song pick eight year ago today: Richard O'Brien & Richard Hartley (from The Rocky Horror Picture Show) - Science Fiction/Double Feature My song pick nine years ago today: Puhdys - Bas Bu...

From: Black 47 ; Year: 1991; Genre: Celtic Rock/Hip Hop/Funk I was fixin' to pick another song until I realized it was St. Patrick's Day and thought I should pick something apropos. So, I just "homered out" and picked one from my favourite Celtic rock band, Black 47. Paddy's Got a Brand New Reel is a thumping and apt song from their debut album. If you ever wanted to hear traditional Irish influenced music, complete with Ulian Bagpipes being played to a thumping electronic hip-hop beat this is your chance. Hear Paddy's Got a Brand New Reel on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Croft No Five - The Man of Arran My song pick two years ago today: Cruachan - The Morrigan's Call My song pick three years ago today: Flogging Molly - (No More) Paddy's Lament My song pick four years ago today: Black 47 - The Big Fella My song pick five years ago today: Frank Mackey & the Keltic Cowboys - Kiss My Irish Ass My song pick six years ...

From: Home of the Brave ; Year: 1994; Genre: Celtic Rock I know this is a politically charged song, but I felt like picking it none the less on this St. Patrick's Day. It was written about James Connolly and the Easter Uprising of 1916 . Whatever the case, it's a good lesson in modern Irish history. Hear The Big Fella on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Frank Mackey & the Keltic Cowboys - Kiss My Irish Ass My song pick two years ago today: Dropkick Murphys - Black Velvet Band My song pick three years ago today: Black 47 - Green Suede Shoes My song pick four years ago today: Savatage - St. Patricks My song pick five years ago today: Mose Allison - Your Mind is on Vacation My song pick six years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar

From: Fire of Freedom ; Year: 1993; Genre: Celtic Rock/Alternative Rock Listening to Black 47 always seems to put me into a good mood; especially their more light hearted songs. After searching over what was available on YouTube, which, might I say was abysmally scant, I decided I would pick this rather comic track. I'm not too sure if this one is autobiographical about an actual happening, but whatever the case, the subject matter about a former boyfriend wrecking his ex's wedding is down to Earth enough to probably 'click' with many. Add into that the very upbeat arrangement and the comical bits within and it becomes an excellent track. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Van Halen - 1984 My song pick two years ago today: Savatage - Holocaust My song pick three years ago today: The United States of America - The Garden of Earthly Delights My song pick four years ago today: Buddy Holley & the Crickets - Oh Boy! M...

1618 Black 47 - Different Drummer From: Home of the Brave , Year: 1994 Genre: Celtic Rock/Rock I was in the mood for some Black 47 this morning; this rather raucous yet upbeat track seem to fit my mood the best. As with all of their music this one contains many different musical styles and influences, but their Punk influence is very prominent in this one. I absolutely love the way they tell the story contained in the song in a humorous way and make the chorus a singalong for the audience as if you were in a pub listening to them live. Hear a live recording circa '99 on YouTube. Watch a live performance from a couple of years ago on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Band of Horses - The First Song My song pick two years ago today: Forest - A Glade Somewhere My song pick three years ago today: Weather Report - Teen Town My song pick four years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 1068 - Orchestral Suite No.3 in D-Major, " Air " +

1551 Black 47 - Fire of Freedom From: Fire of Freedom , Year: 1993 Genre: Rock/Celtic Rock/Reggae I've been meaning to pick this track for a bit now; I'm finally getting around to it this Sunday. This song epitomizes why I like Black 47 so much: there are so many musical styles and genres utilized within to make an excellent blend. I love their blend of Irish Folk, Reggae, Jazz, and Rock; it makes for an interesting sound. Hear Fire of Freedom on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Aerosmith - Amazing My song pick two years ago today: Banchee - Beautifully Day My song pick three years ago today: The Cure - Burn My song pick four years ago today: Fire Bomber (Hummingbird) - Dynamite Explosion +

1488 Black 47 - Bankers and Gangsters From: Bankers and Gangsters , Year: 2010 Genre: Rock/Celtic Rock/Punk Over the last couple of years I've become a huge fan of Black 47; mostly due to their eclectic arrangements that span many genres and, of course, their extreme and totally unapologetic political themes. Anyway, this is the title track off of their last album released a year ago; I've also seen the song titled: American Tragedy , but Bankers and Gangsters appears to be the official title. This song, as you could probably guess, is about the current economical state of the country. Hear Bankers and Gangsters on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - House of the Rising Sun My song pick two years ago today: The Moody Blues - The Story in Your Eyes My song pick three years ago today: Cheech & Chong feat. Alice Bowie - Earache My Eye My song pick four years ago today: Weather Report - Birdland +

1306 Black 47 - Green Suede Shoes From: Green Suede Shoes, Year: 1996 Being St. Patrick's Day and all I thought I should make a song pick that's at least somewhat fitting. This is the title track off of their '96 release; I absolutely love all of the different styles and genres of music present in this song. They do an excellent job mixing Rock, Traditional Irish Music, Punk, and Hip Hop among others to make their distinctive sound. Watch the music video on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Savatage - St. Patricks My song pick two years ago today: Mose Allison - Your Mind is on Vacation My song pick three years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar +

911 ( Black 47 - Funky Céilí (Bridie's Song) ) I found out this band quite a while ago and am finally getting around to adding one of their songs to my list. They have been described as Celtic Rock band, which in my opinion does describe their sound quite well although their music is not only just a mix of Rock and Irish pub music. I love the lyrical narrative they put forth within this song, it is down to Earth and quite humourous at the same time. Hear Funky Céilí on YouTube. Here is part of the music video on YouTube. Here is a live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Duran Duran - Planet Earth My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Rocks on the Road +