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

From: There Is No Space For Us ; Year: 2025; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock For the last decade or so I have loved that I can count on Hawkwind to seemingly release something new almost every year. This is one of the single releases off of their most recent album from last year and is a close-to-perfect song to bring the record to a close. It is essentially an instrumental with only the final seconds having any vocals. The arrangements are quite beautiful with some great contributions on both the guitar, piano, and synth in particular. It kind of has an overall melancholy feel throughout, but also some hopeful chords and melodies to give the feeling of trudging along; perhaps either on the long journey home, or continuing on the adventure to see wot's beyond the next horizon.   Hear A Long Long Way From Home on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Explorers Club - Impact 5 – Last Call    My song pick 2 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - ...

From: Hall of the Mountain Grill ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock/Space Rock For no particular reason just felt like putting Hawkwind's Hall of the Mountain Grill on whilst working today. This is the opening song on the record, which I erroneously believed I had already picked. It's one of their signature psychedelic tracks that, whilst quite progressive and boundary pushing musically, it contains such a great trancelike groove throughout that will let you lose your mind dancing; that is, if that is wot you wish to do.     Hear Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Working Man – A Tribute to Rush - YYZ     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Meters - Liar   My song pick 3 years ago today: Luther Vandross - Grown Thangs   My song pick 4 years ago today: Fleet Foxes - Sunblind   My song pick 5 years ago today: Steven Wilson - Count of Unease   My song pick 6 yea...

From: The Chronicle of the Black Sword ; Year: 1985; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Space Rock/Hard Rock Here is another epic song from one of Hawkwind's even more epic album The Chronicle of the Black Sword . This track is one based on Michael Moorcock's work concerning one of his "Eternal Champions:" Elric of Melniboné and his black sword Stormbringer. Song of the Swords is a perfect track to start of the record with the heavy driving, slightly punkish sound combined with the fantasy lyrics.   Hear Song of the Swords on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Roman Holliday - Stand By     My song pick 2 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Destination Unknown   My song pick 3 years ago today: Charlie Ryan - Hot Rod Lincoln   My song pick 4 years ago today: Sweeney Todd - Short Distance, Long Journey   My song pick 5 years ago today: Funkadelic - Foot Soldiers (Star Spangled Funky) My song pick 6 years ago...

From: X In Search of Space ; Year: 1971; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Space Rock/Progressive Rock Some bluesy/folk psychedelic space rock with this pick to help get through the first half of the weekend. Such a perfect track to lose yourself listening to with a good set of headphones on.   Hear You Know You're Only Dreaming on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Marcus Miller - Teen Town     My song pick 2 years ago today: Primus - Jilly's On Smack   My song pick 3 years ago today: Michael Masser - You Don't Ever Have to Be Alone   My song pick 4 years ago today: John Coltrane - Moment's Notice   My song pick 5 years ago today: James & Bobby Purify - I'm Your Puppet   My song pick 6 years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - Four Hands In The Fire My song pick 7 years ago today: Pearl Jam - Can't Deny Me My song pick 8 years ago today: Helloween - Hocus Pocus My song pick 9 years ago today: Foreigner - Juke Box Her...

From: Doremi Fasol Latido ; Year: 1972; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock Felt the urge to choose one from this album, which, from wot I understand, it and the songs are a reference to The Sound of the Spheres as well as the diatonic scale. With these two pieces of music being the second and third tracks would make them, I guess, the Sun (Re) and Mercury (Mi). With One Change being a very brief track it could make some sense. Anyway, Space is Deep reminds me a lot of the psychedelic folk or rather space folk that was present from a few groups from around the time with the Queen song 39 coming to mind. Only in the middle section does the full band come in with the first half of the song or so being acoustic 12 string guitar, vocals, and odd synthesizers/noises. Lyrically it is based on Michael Moorcock's The Black Corridor , which adds to the spaciness. As earlier stated, One Change is a short song, or as I called them many years ago: " songitesimals , " I thought it...

From: Electric Tepee ; Year: 1992; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock I really like these ambient soundscape instrumentals from this album; it's especially delightful if you can listen to them on a sound system that has very good range. Instead of pulses on a beat you have constant aural waves that change in pitch and modulation.   Hear Blue Shift on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Sho Nuff - Monster Monster   My song pick 2 years ago today: Wishbone Ash - Anger in Harmony   My song pick 3 years ago today: Eurythmics - Missionary Man   My song pick 4 years ago today: Green River - Together We'll Never   My song pick 5 years ago today: Chris Squire - Safe (Canon Song)   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Chi-lites - Have You Seen Her? My song pick 7 years ago today: Roy Ayers - Funk in the Hole My song pick 8 years ago today: Hawkwind - Steppenwolf My song pick 9 years ago today: Ian Anderson - What-Ifs, Maybes And Migh...

From: Quark, Strangeness and Charm ; Year: 1977; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock Another record I have been delving into over the last little bit, Quark, Strangeness and Charm is one of my top favourites from Hawkwind and a blast to listen to.   The Iron Dream closes out the album, which is an instrumental just under two minutes long. Loosely based on Gustav Holst's Mars and took its title from the 1972 Norman Spinrad novel of the song's namesake. From wot I understand, this track was used as a crescendo to Uncle Sam's on Mars when played live.   Hear The Iron Dream on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: LaBelle - Lady Marmalade   My song pick 2 years ago today: Foreigner - The Damage Is Done   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blancmange - Waves   My song pick 4 years ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Bedrock Anthem My song pick 5 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Miller's Cave My song pick 6 years ago today: Ozric Ten...

From: 25 Years On ( Hawklords ) ; Year: 1978; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/New Wave Here is a good one from that one album from the band that has a double-identity crisis both in title and the band's name. As with such difficulties, apparently lawsuits and lawyers were working behind the scenes discerning as to ownership to the name "Hawkwind," which kind of made a mess of this record. For this one they changed their name to "Hawklords," which also became the title as well. With subsequent releases they went back to their Hawkwind moniker and later changed the record's title as well. Although, in 2008 Harvey Bainbridge revived the Hawklords name and restarted the band. Anyway, this one is a great blend of their psychedelic space rock and the emerging new wave sound with some nice lyrics that tell a deep, dystopian story that would make a good book/movie.   Hear The Age of the Micro Man on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Sossity; You...

From: Hall of the Mountain Grill ; Year: 1974; Genre: Space Rock/Psychedelic Rock It is quite difficult for me to choose a "favourite" album from Hawkwind; I just like so many and the songs within. However, I will say that Hall of the Mountain Grill is one of their records I return to a lot and usually play it straight through due to there being no real weak tracks and how the flow together. Anyway, Lost Johnny is one that Lemmy Kilmister co-wrote with Mick Farren and which Lemmy not only plays the bass, but also performs lead vocals on this psychedelic rocker.   Hear Lost Johnny on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Soul Searchers - Ashley's Roachclip   My song pick 2 years ago today: Frank Mackey & The Keltic Cowboys - Promise of a Better Life   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love   My song pick 4 years ago today: Yes - Harold Land   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Charles Mingus Quint...

From: X In Search of Space ; Year: 1971; Genre: Space Rock/Hard Rock/Psychedelic Rock This one is a great early metal hard rocker with all of the unusualness and science fiction inspired psychedelia to basically please most who are into those "stoner" rock/metal genres.   Hear Master of the Universe on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Gap Band - Burn Rubber On Me (Why Do You Wanna Hurt Me)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Steve Vai - Tender Surrender   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Kinks - You Really Got Me My song pick 4 years ago today: Faith No More - Cone of Shame   My song pick 5 years ago today: April Wine - One More Time My song pick 6 years ago today: Riggs - Heartbeat My song pick 7 years ago today: Dazz Band - To the Roof My song pick 8 years ago today: Jan & Dean - The Little Old Lady from Pasadena My song pick 9 years ago today: Buddy Holley and the Crickets - Maybe Baby My song pick 10 yea...

From: Church of Hawkwind ; Year: 1982; Genre: Electronic Rock/Space Rock Here is a short, but sweet electronic soundscape from Hawkwind's 1982 studio release. This record actually contains a handful of such short instrumental tracks loaded down with synthesizer music.   Hear The Last Messiah on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Traffic - Heaven is in Your Mind   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Again   My song pick 4 years ago today: Toad the Wet Sprocket - Walk on the Ocean My song pick 5 years ago today: Soundgarden - 4th of July My song pick 6 years ago today: Carmen - Dancing on a Cold Wind My song pick 7 years ago today: Jane's Addiction - Three Days My song pick 8 years ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - Some Kind of Wonderful My song pick 9 years ago today: The Isley Brothers - The Pride (Parts 1&2) My song pick ...

From: PXR5 ; Year: 1979; Genre: Space Rock/New Wave Been thinking and listening to a lot of Robert Calvert era Hawkwind recently; this tune come from the final studio album with him. Jack of Shadows is among their songs that are much more accessible to the "pop" listener and still has a lot of musical technicality to keep the regulars happy as well.   Hear Jack of Shadows on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: George Clinton - Maximumisness   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bruce Hornsby & The Range - Look Out Any Window   My song pick 3 years ago today: Marillion - This Strange Engine   My song pick 4 years ago today: 10cc - Good Morning Judge My song pick 5 years ago today: The Moody Blues - I Know You're Out There Somewhere My song pick 6 years ago today: Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong - Money Blues My song pick 7 years ago today: Weather Report - Palladíum My song pick 8 years ago today: Percy Sledge - When a Man L...

From: Into The Woods ; Year: 2017; Genre: Space Rock/Hard Rock Their song Spaceship Blues has some sounds that hearkens back to 1960s hard rock, (somewhat in the style of The Kinks in particular once it gets going). There is also spots that are, of course, in their normal psychedelic space rock style as well as some country and blues elements; all-in-all it's quite a unique and eclectic song, but what else would you expect from a band such as Hawkwind?   Hear Spaceship Blues on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy   My song pick 2 years ago today: Hall & Oates - You Make My Dreams (Come True)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Something's on the Move   My song pick 4 years ago today: Queen - Don't Try So Hard My song pick 5 years ago today: Sky - Hotta My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Farm on the Freeway My song pick 7 years ago today: Quasar - The Loreli My song pick 8 years a...

From: PXR5 ; Year: 1979; Genre: Space Rock/Psychedelic Rock This is one of the bonus tracks not originally released on PXR5 . It's kind of a stripped back and straight forward rock song; the main draw for me is the vocal work of Robert Calvert, which is about horror films and the experience thereof.   Hear We Like To Be Frightened on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Maggie's Farm   My song pick 2 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Infinite Space (Conclusion)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Hall & Oates - Out of Touch My song pick 4 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Station Man My song pick 5 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Emerald Eyes My song pick 6 years ago today: The Thermals - I Know the Pattern My song pick 7 years ago today: Grace Slick - El Diablo My song pick 8 years ago today: Marcus Miller - Juice My song pick 9 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning My song pick ...

From: Somnia ; Year: 2021; Genre: Progressive Metal/Space Rock Been enjoying some of the more recent material from Hawkwind again; this track comes from their newest album. Strange Encounters is on the heavier side musically and has that out-of-this-world psychedelic fun they are known for.   Hear Strange Encounters on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Space for the Earth   My song pick 2 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life   My song pick 3 years ago today: Dayton Sidewinders - Something My song pick 4 years ago today: The Lovin' Spoonful - Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? My song pick 5 years ago today: Duran Duran - Out of my Mind My song pick 6 years ago today: Kansas - Journey from Mariabronn My song pick 7 years ago today: Jimi Hendrix Experience - Hey Joe My song pick 8 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Takin' Care of Business My song pick 9 years ago today: Return t...

From: The Machine Stops ; Year: 2016; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock Finally got around to listening to Hawkwind's 2016 release: The Machine Stops . It seems to be a bit less popular than their other more recent albums, but in my opinion so far as wot I've listened to, I'd say it holds up well against their other more recent records; whilst not their strongest, it's still a great song and album.   Hear Living on Earth on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Fylingdale Flyer   My song pick 2 years ago today: Genesis - Time Table   My song pick 3 years ago today: Geddy Lee - Grace to Grace My song pick 4 years ago today: Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) My song pick 5 years ago today: Phantom Blue - A Little Evil My song pick 6 years ago today: Cheap Trick - Dream Police My song pick 7 years ago today: Rick James - Give it to Me Baby My song pick 8 years ago today: Weather Report - Medley: Vertical Invad...

From: Somnia ; Year: 2021; Genre: Progressive Rock/Space Rock New Hawkwind! I had the great fortune of being able to sample the band's most recent album the other day, and this song's name in particular caught my attention. I'm not sure about as to which Alcyone they are referring to. For me though I immediately recognized it as the name of the brightest star in the Pleiades cluster found in the constellation Taurus. Funny enough, you might recognize the Japanese name for the cluster as well, Subaru , from which a major car company derived its name.  Anyway, this song has a mellow acoustic sound to it with added synthesizers for a nice added colour to the track.   Hear Alcyone on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jerry Reed - Gator   My song pick 2 years ago today: Pallas - The Executioner (Bernie Goetz a Gun)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Band of Horses - Dull Times/The Moon My song pick 4 years ago today: Los Bravos - Black is Bl...

From: Blood of the Earth ; Year: 2010; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock Still working through things and listening to some of my favourite music. Here's one from Hawkwind's excellent album Blood of the Earth , the layers upon layers of music are just amazing and so deep.   Hear Starshine on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Milky Way   My song pick 2 years ago today: Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - Tracks Of My Tears My song pick 3 years ago today: Blancmange - Living on the Ceiling My song pick 4 years ago today: Dick Dale and his Del Tones - The Wedge My song pick 5 years ago today: Gin Blossoms - Found Out About You My song pick 6 years ago today: Shelia Skipworth - Look What You Done to Me My song pick 7 years ago today: Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit My song pick 8 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Angry Chair My song pick 9 years ago today: Alestorm - Shipwrecked My song pick 10 years ag...

From: Quark, Strangeness and Charm ; Year: 1977; Genre: Space Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Progressive Rock Been in a spacey mood today, so it's time for some more Hawkwind. This one could be described as a soundscape of sorts with some keyboard synth and organ improvisation over the top.   Hear The Forge of Vulcan on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Asia - Ride Easy   My song pick 2 years ago today: Three Dog Night - It's a Jungle Out There My song pick 3 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Last Train My song pick 4 years ago today: Boston - Don't Be Afraid My song pick 5 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Blue World My song pick 6 years ago today: Queen - Gimme the Prize (Kurgan's Theme) My song pick 7 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Empty Spaces/Young Lust My song pick 8 years ago today: Quasar - As You Fall Asleep My song pick 9 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Troglodyte (Cave Man) My song pick 10 year...

From: Into the Woods ; Year: 2017; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Space Rock/Progressive Rock Ever since hearing them earlier today I've had Hawkwind on my mind. I thought I would visit their released a few years ago Into the Woods, which I have not heard anything from yet. This one is heavy semi-acoustic track with all the hallmarks of the band found within.   Hear Ascent on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - (You're A) Foxy Lady   My song pick 2 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Heroes Are Hard To Find My song pick 3 years ago today: Peter Gabriel - Come Talk to Me My song pick 4 years ago today: Chuck Berry - Maybellene My song pick 5 years ago today: Maddy Prior - Rollercoaster My song pick 6 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Stretchin' Out (In a Rubber Band) My song pick 7 years ago today: Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks My song pick 8 years ago today: Hawkwind - Wind of Change My so...