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

From: Stand Up ; Year: 1969; Genre: Progressive Rock Heard this rather interesting little song whilst driving yesterday, which is one that I like a lot from this record. This is one of the tracks on it that features some unique and different instruments; this one Ian plays the balalaika, or a facsimile thereof if I remember the story I once heard a long time ago.     Hear Jeffrey Goes To Leicester Square on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jim & Ingrid Croce - Big Wheel     My song pick 2 years ago today: Nick Gilder - 21st Century   My song pick 3 years ago today: Brenton Wood - The Oggum Boogum Song   My song pick 4 years ago today: George Clinton - Do Fries Go With That Shake?   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jefferson Starship - Alien   My song pick 6 years ago today: Climax Blues Band - Couldn't Get It Right   My song pick 7 years ago today: Ten Years After - Over the Hill My song pick 8 ye...

From: A ; Year: 1980; Genre: Progressive Rock   " And with the last line almost drawn --- wish you goodbye till further on. Will you still be there further on? "   Hear And Further On on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jamestown Story - Goodbye (I'm Sorry)     My song pick 2 years ago today: Foo Fighters - Next Year   My song pick 3 years ago today: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jimmy Jules and the Nuclear Soul System - The New Year   My song pick 5 years ago today: Genesis - Duke's End   My song pick 6 years ago today: Kool & The Gang - Celebration   My song pick 7 years ago today: Scrawl - 11:59 (It's January) My song pick 8 years ago today: Ella Fitzgerald - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? My song pick 9 years ago today: Iron Maiden - When the Wild Wind Blows My song pick 10 years ago today: Primus with The Fungi Ensemble...

From: Roots to Branches ; Year: 1995; Genre: Progressive Rock Those who have visited by song-a-day blog more that a few times already know that 'Tull is among my top favourite bands and probably always will be. Was thinking back the other day how this album came out about the same time I started getting into the band, but was never one of my favourites, and really not much since has got my attention. Although, some of Ian Anderson's solo albums have, but really Rock Island and Catfish Rising are really the last couple of records that I really like that are under the Jethro Tull name. Don't really know why, but also, don't get me wrong, there are good songs on subsequent releases, but I happen to jump around from song to song more and avoid certain tracks all together.  With Roots to Branches there are four that I go out of my way to listen to; the rest are take it or leave it in my opinion. At Last, Forever is one of them; it just has all of the classic 'Tull so...

From: The Secret Language of Birds ; Year: 2000; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock Never been big on this album, but there were a few good to excellent tracks to be heard; this being one of the better. I remember this one came out just after the Jethro Tull J-Tull Dot Com album and thus had a few similarities, but was much lighter musically, though heavier lyrically to some extent. It has more of the folky "World Music" aspect that Ian Anderson was indulging in throughout the 1990s.   Hear Panama Freighter on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Norman Greenbaum - Skyline     My song pick 2 years ago today: Megaherz - Schwarzer Engel   My song pick 3 years ago today: Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson - Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol' Me)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Al Di Meola - Ava's Dream Sequence Lullaby   My song pick 5 years ago today: Dream Theater - Viper King   My song pick 6 years ago today: U2 - ...

From: Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die! ; Year: 1976; Genre: Progressive Rock It is surprising when I find songs that I have not chosen yet; this one in particular. Not only is this my favourite from this record, but amongst my top 10 favourites from Jethro Tull, which is one of my top five favourite bands. So, yes, I am taken aback that being almost 18 years into my song-a-day blog that this one hasn't been picked yet. Anyway, musically this song is amongst their best as 'Tull was at one of their musical crests and in my opinion most of their best work came from this period. I can remember learning this song's bass line, playing it note-for-note along with the late-great John Glascock, and he was just one piece of the musical equation. For this one though, the lyrics are just as great of a draw. Whilst some might find the subject matter a bit morbid, that of completion of one's life symbolically as crossing the finish line and reviling in the adulatio...

From: Nightcap ; Year: 1993 (1982); Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Just needed something a bit more familiar today; thought I'd go back this this CD that I purchased way back in the day when I was first getting into 'Tull. I believe The Curse was written and recorded back during about '81 or '82 for the Broadsword and the Beast sessions. I guess this track would be one of the songs left on the floor for being too much like other songs that made it on the record; very similar to Flying Colours I would imagine. For me the music has always been the draw here with a lot of the keyboards blending with traditional rock instruments making a sound that I would describe as hard rock new wave.   Hear The Curse on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Brides of Funkenstein - I'm Holding You Responsible   My song pick 2 years ago today: Elton John - Razor Face   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Duprees - You Belong to Me   My song pick 4 y...

From: Curious Ruminant ; Year: 2025; Genre: Progressive Rock   The brand new 'Tull album was just released, here is the opening track, which is not the strongest on the record, but I really like the classical aspects of it. And of course, Ian as always weaves an epic tapestry of lyrics filled with symbolism and whimsy.   Hear The Puppet and the Puppet Master on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Monkees - Pleasant Valley Sunday   My song pick 2 years ago today: E.U. (Experience Unlimited) - Da Butt   My song pick 3 years ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Melanie   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Winery Dogs - Time Machine   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - Time   My song pick 6 years ago today: Roxette - Joyride My song pick 7 years ago today: Jerry Reed - The Devil Went Down to Georgia My song pick 8 years ago today: Johnny Winter - Funky Music My song pick 9 years ago today: Marillio...

From: Ring Out, Solstice Bells * March, The Mad Scientist * Christmas Song * Pan Dance (Maxi-Single); Year: 1976; Genre: Folk Rock/Progressive Rock This kind of odd b-side track has been on my mind off and on for the last couple of days, since the start of the month of March to be exact. It is one of those short-but-sweet acoustic tracks and features Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond on double bass. Never really understood exactly wot the lyrics pertained to, mentioning Christmas and high figures that lick people with hotter flame and such in the first verse. In the first chorus it seems to liken the month of March to a mad scientist with the ever-changing nature bringing colour into spring after a dull coloured winter.   Hear March, the Mad Scientist on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Gilbert and Sullivan - When I Was a Lad   My song pick 2 years ago today: Honey Cone - Want Ads   My song pick 3 years ago today: Max Roach - Little Folks   My s...

From: Curious Ruminant ; Year: 2025; Genre: Progressive Rock A new 'Tull single just released a few days ago, of course I had to give it a listen and obviously cannot wait until the full record is released on the 7th of March. Upon first impression I was reminded a lot of their early-mid 1970s heavy prog sound, which then transitioned to/melded stylistically with wot reminded me of the mid 1990s "world music" era. Somewhere in the middle I could hear blending those sounds into their late 1980s hard rock as well. From what Ian Anderson said of the track, it is autobiographical of the thirst for knowledge from books he consumes, especially in more recent times. Whatever the case, I always welcome new music from one of my favourite bands/writers, even if I do not like it as well as their classic material. I might not play it as much those songs, but at least he and the band are still making the music that speaks to me and can tell they are still creating something for the cr...

From: Nightcap ; Year: 1993 (1981); Genre: Hard Rock My playlist as of late has been favouring tracks from this album, which is kind of strange, but not too out there I guess since it probably realizes that 'Tull is one of my favourite bands. Anyway, gosh, I can still remember purchasing this one back in the 1990s of compact disc. I had to import it from Great Britain because it was not yet available on this side of the Atlantic, which I don't believe occurred until the early 2000s. Still have the "Made in England" sticker on the jewel case. Back then I listened to this album a lot, mostly disc 2 though which contained mostly their unreleased 1980s songs, many of which came out of the Broadsword and the Beast sessions back in 81-82 and this track was amongst them.  Drive on the Young Side of Life in my opinion was and is as good as anything they released during that time with the heavy music and lyrics. I really believe that leaving this one in particular on the cut...

From: The Zealot Gene ; Year: 2022; Genre: Progressive Rock This is a very interesting track in more than a few ways. Musically, you can really feel Ian and company holding back the reins so to speak, keeping the music from becoming too hard; perhaps in another time they would've, but not here, which I believe the song benefits from. Another interesting aspect of it is how he wrote this one about, the many Judas Iscariots out there, if you will in a allegorical tale about someone being betrayed to his death. It's a very poignant piece indeed and is becoming one of my favourites on the record.   Hear The Betrayal of Joshua Kynde on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Wilson Pickett - Never My Love   My song pick 2 years ago today: Europe - Prisoners in Paradise   My song pick 3 years ago today: Cab Calloway - The Birth of the Blues   My song pick 4 years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Tightrope   My song pick 5 year...

From: Homo Erraticus ; Year: 2014; Genre: Folk/Spoken Word/Poetry "Through Wandering To The Stars" paints kind of a bleak picture of humanity's existence in the concept album/story told throughout. It reminds me a lot of the poetry you would hear during interludes on Moody Blues records, but with less subtlety. It acts as a perfect segue into the final track, Cold Dead Reckoning .   Hear Per Errationes Ad Astra (2024) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Funkadelic - Field Maneuvers   My song pick 2 years ago today: Dick Dale and his Del-Tones - The Victor   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Shoshana Sleeping   My song pick 4 years ago today: Rammstein - Deutschland   My song pick 5 years ago today: Boston - Sail Away   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Coasters - Searchin' My song pick 7 years ago today: Wooten, Chambers, Franceschini - Funky D My song pick 8 years ago today: Elton John - Funeral for a Friend...

From: Stand Up ; Year 1969; Genre: Hard Rock/Blues Rock Felt like hearing some of the earlier 'Tull material; their second and third albums have always been ones I especially love. You can really feel the raw, youthful energy and how the band was still finding their direction. Anyway, this one comes from their second album, Stand Up , and is a rather raucous blues rock track that has very interesting individual sections that starts out at a low volume and goes back and forth into a much louder section, which it stays in throughout the flute and guitar solos.   Hear Back to the Family on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Klaatu - Hope   My song pick 2 years ago today: Midnight Oil - We Resist   My song pick 3 years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Borderline   My song pick 4 years ago today: Yes - Mood for a Day My song pick 5 years ago today: The Beatles - Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Who - Athena ...

From: Stormwatch (40th Anniversary Edition) ; Year: 1979; Genre: Progressive Rock This is one of the tracks that was left on the editing room floor so to speak, but was resurrected for the record's 40th Anniversary, which was masterfully mixed by Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree and finally released. This is an instrument piece that really feels incomplete and/or not all the way thought out, which is usually indicative of songs not added to the final album. If I was to guess it was an interlude to bridge two other pieces or perhaps something that would lead into or out of a grand instrument solo.   Hear A Single Man on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Funkadelic - Some More   My song pick 2 years ago today: Journey - Destiny   My song pick 3 years ago today: Queensrÿche - Electric Requiem   My song pick 4 years ago today: HammerFall - Never Forgive, Never Forget   My song pick 5 years ago today: Hall & Oates - Perkiomen My so...

From: Roots to Branches ; Year: 1995; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Had this one pop into my head whilst mulling heavier subject in my mind. It was another surprise to me that I noticed that I had not chosen this song yet; need to remedy that. Whilst I never really came to like this record, as the years have gone by and my maturity and wisdom, (hopefully), increasing, I've come to understand wot it was written about and also been able to enjoy the music that much more due to this fact.    Hear Roots to Branches on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Queen - The Prophet's Song   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bee Gees - To Love Somebody   My song pick 3 years ago today: Marillion - Warm Wet Circles   My song pick 4 years ago today: Dire Straits - Tunnel of Love   My song pick 5 years ago today: Banchee - 3/4 Song My song pick 6 years ago today: Parliament - Gettin' to Know You My song pick 7 years ago today: Silver - Wham...

From: RökFlöte ; Year: 2023; Genre: Progressive Rock I have noted within the last few years that Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson have more or less seemingly fallen out of favour, but this time it is not the normal critical pummeling, just you don't hear about them. Believe me, I know that being a 'Tull fan means you are terminally uncool and somewhat of a musical outcast, but perhaps it is the fact that I really don't pay much attention to most popular culture and, it could also be the fact that the U.S. has kinda been in a "death spiral" so to speak culturally concerning music for about the last 25 or so years with a handful of exceptions. Who knows, right? I suppose I should pay more attention to other nations'/cultures' for my music. Anyway, I thought today would be a great time to pick another one from the latest 'Tull record, which released just over a year ago. Hammer on Hammer was the third single released from it and has that great music composed...

From: War Child ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock/Flamenco Rock Another odd one from this record, which is loaded with material written and recorded over about a three-year period. Some of the songs would make the initial release and many more would be sent out over the years since. I am not sure if this track was to be part of "the film that did not happen," but apparently was, in fact, one of the first to be recorded. It's a very eclectic piece that starts out, [after some surface noise that sounds like a pub or a cafe], light and classical with the acoustic guitar, which then becomes more flamenco and builds with more instrumentation and strings along with Ian's flute and saxophones, but then flips around for the last bit as a rock 'n roll instrumental.   Hear Ladies on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Weirditude   My song pick 2 years ago today: Mott the Hoople - (Do You Remember) The Saturday Gigs   My song pick 3 ...

From: Est'd 1969 ; Year: 2019; Genre: Folk Rock/Progressive Rock I have to say, these more recent albums from Steeleye Span are some of their better mixed and produced material; every note, timbre and nuance can be clearly heard. Old Matron starts with more of a traditional folk style after the song comes around more instruments with a heavier rock quality. From beginning to end it really has a deceptive "free-form jam" feel like what you'd hear played in a pub or festival, but it is quite intricate. I really like how the flute, bass and drums follow one another in that neat line together.   Hear Old Matron on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Rose Royce - Funk Factory   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Vaughan Brothers - Brothers   My song pick 3 years ago today: Dobie Gray - The 'In' Crowd   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Dissolution (The Clouds Disperse)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bob Dylan -...