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

From: Truth ; Year: 1968; Genre: Hard Rock/Blues Rock This is the second song that I am aware of that was inspired by the late 1950s novel and film On The Beach ; the other being Dancing With Tears In My Eyes by Ultravox. While being the very dark and heavy subject matter of the omnipresent threat of nuclear holocaust experienced by those who lived Post War into the 1990s, it is quite thought-provoking. It was originally written in the early '60s by singer/songwriter Bonnie Dobson and subsequently covered many times since. I really like the overall arrangement and direction on this cover. All of the music is absolutely great as is Rod Stewart's vocals.   Hear Morning Dew on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Carmen - Sailor Song     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Isley Brothers - Hope You Feel Better Love (Part 1+2)     My song pick 3 years ago today: Gary Wright - Dream Weaver   My song pick 4 years ago today: Glass...

From: Motel California ; Year: 1996; Genre: Alternative Metal/Rap Rock I do not know why, just wanted to go with something from Ugly Kid Joe today. Also decided on going with one off of this album, which I have not picked one off of yet. Motel California was released just prior to the band breaking up and going their separate ways with other bands and such until reuniting back in 2010. You can really feel that they were getting burned out by this time and probably calling it quits was the best course of action. A great deal of the music on this one was essentially doing the same music and ideas the other popular metal bands were creating. Good thing though is that after getting back together that "spark" and originality they were known for has been ever-present.   Watch the music video on YouTube.          My song pick 1 year ago today: Loverboy - Working for the Weekend     My song pick 2 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - I'm An Animal...

From: Recycler ; Year: 1990; Genre: Blues Rock Yesterday I saw that ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard passed away. Recently I saw that they had to cancel some shows and I wondered if someone was not doing well; sadly, my suspicions ended up being correct. I knew that I should choose another one from the group today. Whilst they are not one of my top favourites, I have always liked their music and enjoy it every time I hear it. Their adherence to the southern blues that you can really dance to and is quite technical to boot really made ZZ Top a relevant act for so many decades to this day.   Hear My Head's in Mississippi on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Late Night Street Fight     My song pick 2 years ago today: Hawklords (Hawkwind) - The Age of the Micro Man     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Sossity; You're a Woman   My song pick 4 years ago today: Roger - Do It Roger   My song pick 5 ...

From: Bounce ; Year: 2002; Genre: Rock Difficult to believe that it was 25 years ago that Bounce was released, which was the last full album by Bon Jovi that I still like to this day. Also, being that it was released a couple of months after my wife and I married, and her being a big Bon Jovi fan made it quite memorable.     Hear Undivided on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - The Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice     My song pick 2 years ago today: Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs - May I     My song pick 3 years ago today: Alley Pat - Pat's Rubber Band   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Doors - Love Street   My song pick 5 years ago today: Benny Carter - Cotton Tail   My song pick 6 years ago today: Mr. Big - Defying Gravity   My song pick 7 years ago today: Rush - Double Agent My song pick 8 years ago today: Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs - Sugar Shack ...

From: Yeah! ; Year: 1973; Genre: Hard Rock Most younger individuals probably remember the Motley Crüe cover of this song, but, while they did do a great job of it, I'll always prefer the original. Although, having the awesome character actor  Michael Berryman play the principle in the music video is about as epic as you can get.    Watch a live performance from Midnight Special on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: UB40 - Groovin'     My song pick 2 years ago today: Ronnie Milsap - Let's Take the Long Way Around the World     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Temptations - Smiling Faces Sometimes   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Occasional Demons   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Dramatics - Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get   My song pick 6 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Radioactive Toy   My song pick 7 years ago today: Dick Dale and The Del-Tones - Miserlou My song pick 8 year...

From: The Wörld is Yours ; Year: 2011; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal Time for another fast as heck hard rocking song from Lemmy and his band Motörhead. I have said it before, and I'll say it again: I wish to God that I had the same ability to be as unforgivingly eloquent and immune to ridicule as Mr. Ian Kilmister.   Hear Bye Bye Bitch Bye Bye on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Don't Come Running To Me     My song pick 2 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Killing Yourself to Live     My song pick 3 years ago today: Al Di Meola - Atavism of Twilight   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lou Reed - My Red Joystick   My song pick 5 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Don't You Worry About a Thing   My song pick 6 years ago today: Cream - Take it Back   My song pick 7 years ago today: Sweet - Ballroom Blitz My song pick 8 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Don't Let the Blues Get You Down ...

From: The Revenge of Alice Cooper ; Year: 2025; Genre: Hard Rock Had this new album from Alice Cooper, (the band, not... um... and the famous solo artist of the band's namesake), came to my conscious mind again, which got me to put it on once more. What Happened to You is one of the songs on the disc to feature recording of the band's original axe slinger, the late Glen Buxton. It's an excellent hard boogie-rock song that'll make you want to get up and dance to.   Hear What Happened to You on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jerry Lee Lewis - What Made Milwaukee Famous (Made a Loser Out of Me)     My song pick 2 years ago today: Cameo - Ugly Ego     My song pick 3 years ago today: Eddie Rabbitt - Every Which Way but Loose   My song pick 4 years ago today: AC/DC - High Voltage   My song pick 5 years ago today: Three Dog Night - Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - ...

From: Counterparts ; Year: 1993; Genre: Hard Rock With this I will have picked every track from Counterparts ; not a surprise though in any sense.   Hear The Speed of Love on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - For What It's Worth     My song pick 2 years ago today: Joe Walsh - Rocky Mountain Way     My song pick 3 years ago today: Glass Hammer - The Conflict   My song pick 4 years ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Scorched Earth   My song pick 5 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - I Can Feel It In My Bones   My song pick 6 years ago today: Return to Forever - Interplay   My song pick 7 years ago today: Hawkwind - Arioch My song pick 8 years ago today: Elvis Presley - All Shook Up My song pick 9 years ago today: Deep Purple - Never Before My song pick 10 years ago today: Ex Deo - Cruor Nostri Abbas My song pick 11 years ago today: Hawkwind - Be Yourself My song pick 12 years ago toda...

From: "He's Back" (The Man Behind The Mask) single; Year: 1986; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal Just noticed that today is Monday the 13th ; couldn't let it go without picking something apropos. Whilst by no means even close to Alice Cooper's finer offerings, there is just something about this era of his music that I like; probably the familiarity of growing up with it and the movies of the time. This was one of three song of Alice's that were used for the soundtrack to the sixth installment of the Friday the 13th franchise . I remember that film quite well, although I never actually saw it back then. It was mostly the genius advertisement campaign where people would slap up posters of or paint "Jason Lives" all over the place. It even showed up in television shows, including Saturday morning cartoons; the 1980s were definitely a different time, eh?   Watch the music video on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Louis Armstrong and His Hot Seven ...

From: Simplicity ; Year: 2014; Genre: Hard Rock Tesla's Simplicity album is one that I "leap-frogged" over for no apparent reason. I absolutely love their previous album Forever More and the next album Shock , but just missed out on the one in between. I have to say, it is another case of better late than never, I really like wot I have heard; this is one of my favourites from it. Thematically, this one is quite heavy, dealing with someone who just missed out on what could've been a great relationship. From the narrator's point-of-view this individual rebuffed/strung him on throughout their time knowing one another, but then apparently comes back, expecting the narrator to have just waited endlessly. However, he and time moved on and now wot could've been can never happen. I really love the sound and composition of it; very much in their classic sound. It reminds me a lot of how they sounded back in the day, which is very good in my book.   Hear Burnout to F...

From: The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ; Year: 1994; Genre: Alternative Metal Last night was going over my "Music" app on my computer; man, I miss iTunes.... I know "owning music" is so passé and out of fashion and I should just be streaming, but that's just not for me. Anyway, I noticed quite a few of my songs greyed out, apparently missing the file that goes with it. I have absolutely no idea how I "lost" the songs, so had to go searching around for the original copies. Long story short, I got most of them recovered and backed up in multiple places. As you probably surmised, this was among the missing songs; I was really glad to have The Crow soundtrack complete once more digitally. I really wish more of the recent films had such a great soundtrack; all big hit songs that actually could serve as an early 1990s rock music soundtrack as well as a film's. This is one of those albums that you can put on and just enjoy from alpha to zed, ...

From: Vivid ; Year: 1989; Genre: Hard Rock/Alternative Metal Seems like every time I put one of the discs on I'm blown away at just how hard they rock. I really need to have them more in my rotation; at that there's no doubt!   Hear Open Letter (To a Landlord) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lalo Schifrin - Mission: Impossible     My song pick 2 years ago today: War - This Funky Music Makes You Feel Good     My song pick 3 years ago today: Blancmange - Blind Vision   My song pick 4 years ago today: Brenton Wood - Gimme Little Sign   My song pick 5 years ago today: Duran Duran - Too Much Information   My song pick 6 years ago today: Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire   My song pick 7 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Sex Machine My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crossword My song pick 9 years ago today: Blood, Sweat & Tears - You've Made Me So Very Happy My song pick 1...

From: Edge of Excess ; Year: 1992; Genre: Hard Rock This one comes from the, sadly, most recent studio album from the band. On the record they were minus original vocalist/guitarists Rik Emmett and instead featured  Phil X on guitar whilst drummer Gil Moore performed lead vocals. I've always liked most of Triumph's material, but have never been huge into the band, or anything past the mid 1980s-ish that they put out. However, never really looked into wot they were up to since, and as it turns out, not too much. Recently though, I learned of their most recent reunion and North American tour, which got me curious.  Anyway, this was one of the lead singles from Edge of Excess, and while not close to the band's best, it's still more than good enough to quench ones' thirst for their brand of arena-rock.   Hear Child of the City on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Aretha Franklin - Rock Steady     My song pick 2 years ago today: D...

From: Rebel Yell ; Year: 1983; Genre: Hard Rock Earlier I had this one playing in my mind as if it was on the radio, so you know wot I am intending for today's pick. I don't know what it is about this song, but it's just one that makes you want to sing and dance along with it. And of course you have Steve Stevens showing off his severely underrated guitar mastery. Funny though, a long time ago I started changing his "More!" lyric into "Moe!," as in the leader of The Three Stooges . Even to this day I picture some woman in the throes ecstasy calling out for Moe Howard ; still laugh a little.   Hear Rebel Yell on YouTube.          My song pick 1 year ago today: Yes - Sweet Dreams     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - Rock n' Roll Love Letter     My song pick 3 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You   My song pick 4 years ago today: Anita Ward - Ring My Bell   My song pick 5 years ago t...

From: Human Clay ; Year: 1999; Genre: Alternative Rock I don't know why, but was thinking about the band Creed today, not really their music per se, but about back when they were everywhere about two and a half decades ago. I personally remember their music and music videos being everywhere; heck, even to this day I cannot stand With Arms Wide Open . Not that there is a problem with the song, but it just got way overplayed and shoved down my throat to the point I made a rather dirty parody to it.... Whilst I have never claimed or had my "thumb on the pulse" of music news or wot is going on therein, I do remember the band seemingly imploding somewhere around '03. I believe that substance abuse by the front man and perhaps one other member led to their disbanding. From wot I've read, it seems that they reunited a couple of times since and recorded an album back in '09, but, again I have not checked them out; I hope they're doing well in their endeavours. Any...

From: Broadsword and the Beast ; Year: 1982; Genre: Hard Rock/Progressive Rock This excellent record was on my mind once more today; was bemused to learn that there were songs from it that I had yet to pick, imagine that! 😁 The overall faster tempo and virtuosity really sell the whole idea of two passionate individuals, probably a couple, coming to extreme disagreement complete with public displays of such tantrums. The imagery really plays out with the help of both the lyrical content combined with the arrangement.   Hear Flying Colours on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Dance to the Medley     My song pick 2 years ago today: Asia - Bury Me In Willow     My song pick 3 years ago today: Cher - Half-Breed   My song pick 4 years ago today: Robert Knight - Everlasting Love   My song pick 5 years ago today: Parliament - What Comes Funky   My song pick 6 years ago today: Alice in Chains -...

From: Ghost Stories ; Year: 2024; Genre: Hard Rock Just happened to have BÖC on the brain and was listening to their latest album release, Ghost Stories , which is a collection of remastered and unreleased tracks from the late 1970s to early 1980s. I'm not 100% sure, but close to it, from all I can tell, this cover of the immortal emotional song by The Animals, is a remix/remaster from Blue Öyster Cult's '78 live album Some Enchanted Evening .   Hear We Gotta Get Out of This Place on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Tim Hardin - Reason to Believe     My song pick 2 years ago today: Eric Burdon and War - Spirit     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jigsaw - Life Insurance   My song pick 4 years ago today: Tesla - Edison's Medicine   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Throwing Stones   My song pick 6 years ago today: Redbone - When You Got Trouble   My song pick 7 years ago today: Blue Öyster ...

From: The 2nd 3rd Secret ; Year: 2023; Genre: Alternative Rock Happened to be thinking about this "grunge" supergroup once again and found their second album. I know it has been about 3 1/2-4 years since I looked them up, but better late than never. Climb Aboard was without a doubt the first track to really catch my attention; it has everything you want to hear from such a group and really not a lot to detract either.   Hear Climb Aboard on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Who - When I Was a Boy     My song pick 2 years ago today: Big Country - Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pallas - Reds Under the Beds   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Future Place   My song pick 5 years ago today: Paris - Janie   My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - The Stars Look Down   My song pick 7 years ago today: Bob Welch - Outskirts My song pick 8 years ago today: ...

From: Get Ready ; Year: 1969; Genre: Blues Rock Kind of felt like going for one of Rare Earth's extended tracks, of which I have already picked a lot. This is, of course, the modern classic standard originally written by John D. Loudermilk and has been covered and recorded many times. I'll always love this heavy blues version that I heard a lot over the years; all the instruments are incredible, but especially that organwork; and those guitars are spectacular.   Hear Tobacco Road on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Devo - Jocko Homo     My song pick 2 years ago today: Three Dog Night - Pieces of April   My song pick 3 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Hate to Feel   My song pick 4 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Sell My Soul   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ohio Players - Love Rollercoaster   My song pick 6 years ago today: Fairport Convention - Expletive Delighted   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Holli...