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

From: Tigers Will Survive ; Year: 1972; Genre: Folk Rock/Country Rock A rather pretty track from one of Iain Matthews' earlier solo albums that does not seem to get the attention it requires. This was his third solo record after leaving Fairport Convention. You can still hear the British folk rock influence quite a lot on this song in particular.   Hear Close the Door Lightly When You Go on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Raydio - Jack and Jill     My song pick 2 years ago today: Quincy Jones - Love, I Never Had It So Good     My song pick 3 years ago today: Young M.C. - Bust a Move   My song pick 4 years ago today: Klaatu - So Said The Lighthouse Keeper   My song pick 5 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Fair But So Uncool   My song pick 6 years ago today: Nirvana - I Know You're Right   My song pick 7 years ago today: Rush - The Big Wheel   My song pick 8 years ago today: Genesis - Invisible...

From: Stealin' Home ; Year: 1978; Genre: Rock Been busy the last couple 'o days, but I am still taking time to pick a song today. This entire album seemed to be played everywhere back in the day, so it is one that is etched in my mind. I just love that driving rhythm and laid-back rock 'n roll sound and of course Iain Matthews' vocals.   Hear Slip Away on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Stormwarrior - Freeborn     My song pick 2 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - I'm So Afraid   My song pick 3 years ago today: Frank Zappa - He Used to Cut the Grass   My song pick 4 years ago today: England Dan & John Ford Coley - The Prisoner   My song pick 5 years ago today: Firehouse - All She Wrote   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Motoreyes My song pick 7 years ago today: Ween - The Mollusk My song pick 8 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkle - At the Zoo My song pick 9 years ago today: Rush - Prime Mover...

From: If you Saw Thro' My Eyes ; Year: 1971; Genre: Folk Rock Was enjoying listening to this record again yesterday. There is something comforting about Iain Matthews' voice; it also helps that he had the legend herself, Sandy Denny accompanying him on vocals for this one. Also, many of his former Fairport bandmates helped out on it, so it was bound to be a nice sounding record.   Hear It Came Without Warning on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jerry Reed - My Guitar and My Song   My song pick 2 years ago today: Hall & Oates - Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid   My song pick 3 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Shoulda Coulda Woulda   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - She's A Rainbow   My song pick 5 years ago today: Supertramp - Sister Moonshine   My song pick 6 years ago today: Toronto - What About Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Broadsword My song pick...

From: What We Did on Our Holidays ; Year: 1969; Genre: Folk Rock/Psychedelic Rock I have always had a soft spot for this early Fairport record in particular, mostly due to its transitory nature. It has a more of an American psychedelia influence than the latter, more recognized of their releases, but also a good helping of the sound that was to come. This also marked the debut of the mesmerizing legendary singer/songwriter Sandy Denny on vocals along with a myriad of other instruments. In her far too abbreviated time on Earth she had a successful career both before and after her stint with the band. To say the least she added a great deal to the band on this and the other albums she was featured on as both a full member and the ones she was a guest musician/singer. Also, this was the final Fairport Convention album to feature Iain Matthews as a full member, of course he would go on to great success appearing on over 100 records and having a couple of big hits to his name. In fact, th...

From: If You Saw Thro' My Eyes ; Year: 1971; Genre: Folk Rock Kinda shocked yesterday to discover that prolific drummer and vocalist Gerry Conway passed away almost two weeks ago; he apparently had been fighting a battle with ALS . Almost universally across the many band mates and artists he played for said he was easy to get along with and an amazing musician. Whilst many might not immediately know who he was, they probably have heard him with bands/artists such as Iain Matthews, Al Stewart, Grimms, Richard Thompson, Mike McGear, Jethro Tull, Cat Stevens, Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Fotheringay, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, amongst others.   Hear Morgan the Pirate on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Soundgarden - Tighter & Tighter   My song pick 2 years ago today: Damn Yankees - Runaway   My song pick 3 years ago today: Camel - Lies   My song pick 4 years ago today: Hawkwind - 65 Million Years Ago   My song pick 5 years...

From: Go For Broke ; Year: 1976; Genre: Blues Rock/Country Rock Heard this one the other day and knew I had to choose it. Kind of a country/blues take on the original from The Youngbloods ; there's just something haunting and atmospheric about how Iain Matthews approached this one, a delight to listen to.   Hear Darkness, Darkness on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Laura Branigan - Forever Young   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rhythm Machine - Lil's Place   My song pick 3 years ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Afterwards   My song pick 4 years ago today: Huey Lewis & The News - Workin' for a Livin' My song pick 5 years ago today: Melvins - Eye Flys My song pick 6 years ago today: Pallas - Shadow of the Sun My song pick 7 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Radio My song pick 8 years ago today: Genesis - Harlequin My song pick 9 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Deadwing My song pick 10 years ago today:...

From: Stealin' Home ; Year: 1978; Genre: Rock Felt like hearing some late '70s music today; decided on one of the singles from one of my favourite albums from Ian Matthews. Hear Don't Hang Up Your Dancing Shoes on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Huey Lewis & The News - Hip To Be Square My song pick 2 years ago today: Rammstein - Wo Bist Du My song pick 3 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Spyroid My song pick 4 years ago today: Joe Tex - I Gotcha My song pick 5 years ago today: Weather Report - Crystal My song pick 6 years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Night Owl My song pick 7 years ago today: Duke Ellington - It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) My song pick 8 years ago today: Jefferson Airplane - Somebody to Love My song pick 9 years ago today: John Denver - In My Life My song pick 10 years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - Legend of Wooley Swamp My song pick 11 years ago today: The Doors - Strange Days ...

From: Later That Same Year ; Year: 1970; Genre: Folk Rock Don't really have a reason for choosing this song other than it seemed to fit my mood. Tell Me Why is one originally written by Neil Young, which Matthews' Southern Comfort made into a minor hit. Hear Tell Me Why on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Sam & Dave - Hold On, I'm Coming My song pick 2 years ago today: Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman My song pick 3 years ago today: Meat Loaf - Life is a Lemon (and I Want My Money Back) My song pick 4 years ago today: Martin Barre - I Raise My Glass To You My song pick 5 years ago today: ABBA - Knowing Me, Knowing You My song pick 6 years ago today: The Kooks - She Moves In Her Own Way My song pick 7 years ago today: Hector Berlioz - Op. 14 - Symphonie Fantastique: Épisode de la vie d'un Artiste... en cinq parties My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Dun Ringill My song pick 9 years ago today: Ian Anderson - Fly By Night ...

From: Stealin' Home ; Year: 1978; Genre: Rock Today some of his music was going through my mind, so I thought I'd pick another one. Gimme An Inch Girl is one that has a lot of the late '70s/early '80s sound throughout, but not quite dated either. Hear Gimme An Inch Girl on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Marmalade - I See the Rain My song pick two years ago today: Maddy Prior - Long Shadows My song pick three years ago today: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - Let Me Be the One My song pick four years ago today: Finntroll - Ett Norrskensdåd My song pick five years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV Anh. 117a, 117b - Polonause in F Major (from Anna Magdalena Notebook II ) My song pick six years ago today: Exist†Trace - Requiem My song pick seven years ago today: Meat Loaf - Two out of Three Ain't Bad My song pick eight years ago today: Christian Pezold - BWV Anh. 115 - Minuet in G Minor (Anna Magdalena Notebook II) My son...

From: Later That Same Year ; Year: 1970; Folk Rock/Jazz Rock I heard this version of the classic counter-culture anthem, written by Joni Mitchell and really made famous by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, for the first time the other day; I have to say I really like it. This one was released the same year as the other two and made it to number one on the British charts. Apparently Iain Matthews and the band were not intending on covering it, but had to get a fourth song for a broadcast and threw it together; everybody liked their live version of it, so they recorded it and the rest is history. To me this interpretation is somewhere in between the Joni Mitchell original and the CSNY version. More smooth and jazzy; reminds me a lot of a folky Steely Dan. I love the guitars throughout and especially Gordon Huntley's steel guitar; it adds so much. Hear Woodstock on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: King Crimson - Lament My song pick two years ago today: Steve Vai...

From: Stealin' Home ; Year: 1978; Genre: Rock/Pop/Soft Rock I happened to hear this somewhat dated late '70s pop/rock classic this morning and I knew I had today's pick. Boy, this one brings back a lot of memories; I had not heard it in some time, but a lot when I was younger. Even though it's a mainstream pop track there's a lot of great music to be heard throughout it. I especially love the saxophone and the bass line. Hear Shake It on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: The Kinks - Moving Pictures My song pick two years ago today: Stahlhammer - Fiend Hört Mit My song pick three years ago today: The Doors - Soul Kitchen My song pick four years ago today: Megaherz - Hurra – Wir Leben Noch My song pick five years ago today: Skid Row - Youth Gone Wild My song pick six years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - The Bertha Butt Boogie My song pick seven years ago today: Steely Dan - Hey Nineteen My song pick eight years ago today: Rahsaan ...