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

From: Raising the Mammoth ; Year: 2002; Genre: Progressive Metal/Symphonic Metal  This will be the last Explorers Club song I will be picking; only because I have already chosen ever other song from the band/project. Oh well, still got material from Trent Gardner's main band, Magellan to choose from.  This is the epic 21 minute instrumental extravaganza that closes this concept record out; an excellent piece to do so, indeed.    Hear the full album on YouTube. (Part 2 starts just after the 38 minute mark)        My song pick 1 year ago today: Red Rider - Power (Strength in Numbers)     My song pick 2 years ago today: Billy Squier - The Stroke     My song pick 3 years ago today: Marcus Miller - Be My Love   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - 1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Toad The Wet Sprocket - Something's Always Wrong   My song pick 6 years ...

From: Movements Vol.11 ; Year: 2022; Genre: Bossa Nova Jazz/Soul/Funk As with a great deal of the artists featured on this compilation series, there is not a lot I know of this band other than I love that funky flavoured Latin Bossa Nova jazz. Certainly a bouncy tune with an infectious groove.   Hear Sidewinder on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Be Ever Wonderful     My song pick 2 years ago today: Cyndi Lauper - Money Changes Everything     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jimmy Buffett - Come Monday   My song pick 4 years ago today: Cab Calloway and His Orchestra - Minnie the Moocher   My song pick 5 years ago today: G.C. Cameron - It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop My song pick 7 years ago today: The Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost in You My song pick 8 years ago today: Bon Jovi - If I Was Your Mother My song p...

From: Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles ; Year: 1966; Genre: Rock/Pop Records like this is among the reasons I love and respect Chet Atkins as a musician and shredding picker on the guitar. He recorded a few of these "Chet Atkins Pick on X" albums. And whilst he is mostly synonymous with Nashville and country and western, he actually delved into a wide spectrum of music, be it country, folk, bluegrass, blues, jazz, classical, R&B, soul, Spanish/Mexican/Flamenco, rock, pop and basically everything in between. He definitely was without a doubt a musician's musician. What I like most about this one is how his unmistakable picking and sound are in the forefront and ever-present, he keep The Beatles' spirit of their pop rock composition totally intact.  I really wonder though, what John, Paul, George, and Ringo thought of his covers?   Hear Chet's cover of Hard Day's Night on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: R.E.M. - Bang and Blame   ...

From: Wipe Out ; Year: 1963; Genre: Surf Rock Really enjoyed listening to The Surfaris' songs the other day, which makes incredible driving music by the way. Wipe Out has to be one of the earliest pieces of popular music to bring the drums out front; and of course, prompt bystanders to "air drum." It is also one of those hit songs that were "quickly composed and recorded on the spot." They had already recorded Surfer Joe , but also needed a b-side. Wipe Out was born out of Ron Wilson improving with speeding up a high school drumming cadence whilst the rest of the band did a 12-bar blues over the top. Suffice it to say that the b-side overshadowed the a-side is a big understatement.   Hear Wipe Out on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Banchee - Train of Life     My song pick 2 years ago today: Icehouse - Uniform     My song pick 3 years ago today: Steely Dan - Gaucho   My song pick 4 years ago today: Doc Oliver - Soul Pop...

From: Movements 2 ; Year: 2006 (1978); Genre: Funk/Soul Here is another deep cut from Tobias Kirmayer's awesome compilation series of funk and soul music. Even though The Arabian Funk was from the late 1970s it has aspects, sounds, beats and rhythm that was more mainstream a half a decade or more later; kind of a little ahead of its time.   Hear The Arabian Funk on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bloodrock - Melvin Laid An Egg     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Moody Blues - My Song     My song pick 3 years ago today: Wolfmother - Remove Your Mask   My song pick 4 years ago today: UB40 - Dance With The Devil   My song pick 5 years ago today: Van Halen - 5150   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - If You Got Funk, You Got Style   My song pick 7 years ago today: Billy Squier - Lonely Is The Night My song pick 8 years ago today: Hawkwind - The Secret Agent My song pick 9 years ago today: Th...

From: Radio Free Albemuth ; Year: 1988; Genre: Classical/Jazz Fusion One of the odd things I have discovered concerning Stu Hamm is that only musicians seem to know who his is and wot he plays. I mean, he's played on a lot of albums from a lot of artists; mainly guitar shredders like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Most would likely know about Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten, or Steve Bailey before they'd remember Stu Hamm; not to take a single thing from those axe slingers, he is just every bit as good as them in my opinion. But, when you hear his solo works he really just blows you away with not just how great of a player he is, but how inventive and original his playing and style are. After hearing much of his records I was amazed how many odd and new sounds he could make with his bass guitar. Anyway, this one comes off of one of my favourite albums of his. Radio Free Albemuth's title was taken from the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name, as well as the lion's share of...

From: Mr. Gone ; Year: 1978; Genre: Jazz Fusion Don't know why I have not been listening to as much Weather Report as I used to. At that, the last time I chose one of their songs was over three years ago, and it was one off of this record to boot. For the last couple of decades I consumed a lot of the Weather Report material as well as associated acts and artists; Wayne Shorter and, of course Jaco in particular. I'm thinking that it might have to do with delving into other Fusion bands and players that've taken up my attention. Like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, Herbie Hancock and his Head Hunters, as well as all of their related bands and solo artists, which is extensive if you think about it. It is a real treat every time one of Joe Zawinul and Weather Report's music pops on my playlist; still enjoy it a lot. Anyway, this is one of Jaco Pastorius' songs, and whilst being a tour d'force in bass guitar virtuosity, all of the other band members get to ...

From: School Days ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz-Funk/Jazz Fusion Had a few in mind for today, but went with this beautiful piece of music from his album of renown: School Days .     Hear Quiet Afternoon on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - The Colour of Right     My song pick 2 years ago today: Paul Revere & The Raiders - Steppin' Out     My song pick 3 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Tainted Blood   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bob Welch - Church   My song pick 5 years ago today: Hawkwind - Starshine   My song pick 6 years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Milky Way   My song pick 7 years ago today: Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - Tracks Of My Tears My song pick 8 years ago today: Blancmange - Living on the Ceiling My song pick 9 years ago today: Dick Dale and his Del Tones - The Wedge My song pick 10 years ago today: Gin Blossoms - Found Out About You My song pic...

Op.129; Year: ~1795; Genre: Classical Period/classical I always love music like this, it shows that "the greats" were not stodgy old folks bereft of humour. In actuality with those who are still widely-known to history it was quite the opposite. Anyway, this is a classical music lover's favourite; it is a show piece that gets played when musicians do expositions on Beethoven. Op.129 is a virtuoso piano piece with some hallmarks of the late Classical Period, but also with rumblings of the Romantic Period that had already begun to take hold, like his louder, more bombastic style.   Hear the piece on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Dokken - Into the Fire     My song pick 2 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - So Supernatural     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Zombies - Tell Her No   My song pick 4 years ago today: Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony - The Hustle   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Kinks - A Lo...

From: Ars Longa Vita Brevis ; Year: 1968; Genre: Symphonic Rock/Progressive Rock Here's a great one from The Nice, who were known for such big, bombastic musical terrors. As you might be able to discern from the title, both it and the music it contains derives from Johann Sebastian Bach's Brandenburg Concertos ; the Third in particular. Keith Emerson is as amazing as ever on the keys in this "classical rocker."   Hear Brandenburger on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Guess Who - Lightfoot     My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Roots to Branches     My song pick 3 years ago today: Queen - The Prophet's Song   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bee Gees - To Love Somebody   My song pick 5 years ago today: Marillion - Warm Wet Circles   My song pick 6 years ago today: Dire Straits - Tunnel of Love   My song pick 7 years ago today: Banchee - 3/4 Song My song pick 8 years ago today: Parliament - ...

From: Funky Music Machine ; Year: 1972; Genre: Funk/Soul Here's a great one for this Friday's pick. It features the late-great Melvin Parker on drums in the band his brother Maceo led. Both are probably most noted for playing integral parts in James Brown's band and the creation of the funk genre, but both also have an extensive amount of collaborations with many, many artists. As you would expect, this track is an early evolution of funk combined with psychedelic soul and some jazz and fun as heck to listen to.   Hear A Funky Tale to Tell on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Swingin' Medallions - Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)     My song pick 2 years ago today: Queen - Fight from the Inside     My song pick 3 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Sage   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ratt - Round and Round   My song pick 5 years ago today: Little River Band - The Night Owls   My song pick 6 ...

From: Here's to the People ; Year: 1991; Genre: Cool Jazz/Jazz Fusion Most into jazz and associated genres are most likely aware of the passing of jazz giant Sonny Rollins a couple of days ago. It is just so mind-blowing to think of all the music, musicians, and history he experienced in his 95 years on this Earth, let alone all of the decades he was active. To think, that he took a large part in and saw all the new forms of jazz and the people he played with. It is a rarity to see an active musician touring for so many years, especially in jazz live so long. He definitely will be missed and then some. Anyway, I had a lot of music from many eras to choose from for this song pick. My thoughts went to the '60s or '70s, but then I have noticed that jazz, overall, at least here in the U.S. was kind of in the background by the 1990s, so I checked out one of his albums from the early part of the decade. I have to say, I am overjoyed that I did so. This one in particular I found a...

From: Snakes & Arrows ; Year: 2007; Genre: Folk Rock After watching some recent interviews with the two surviving members of the band I thought that I would revisit Snakes & Arrows once again. Still, it is difficult for me to comprehend that Neil Peart is gone... but a least Alex and Geddy are about to embark on a tour with Anika Nilles filling in on drums. Anyway, this is one of the three instrumental songs on this record and, if I remember correctly, when I saw them live for their tour promoting it, it was one of a handful of tracks they'd play whilst Neil rested after one of his epic drum solos. Whilst being a brief piece, Alex Lifeson, on his 12-string guitar really plays his heart out on it.   Hear Hope on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Grateful Dead - Shakedown Street     My song pick 2 years ago today: Boston - To Be a Man   My song pick 3 years ago today: George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars - T.A.P.O.A....

From: What Cha Need/I'll Take You There (single); Year: 1972; Genre: Soul/Funk Here is a deeper cut for this Friday; an instrumental cover of the Staple Singer's classic written by Al Bell.   Hear I'll Take You There on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Midnight Oil - Nobody's Child     My song pick 2 years ago today: Dr. John - Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive   My song pick 3 years ago today: Herman's Hermits - End of the World   My song pick 4 years ago today: Alice in Chains - The One You Know   My song pick 5 years ago today: Yes - Going for the One   My song pick 6 years ago today: Dayton Sidewinders - Phoenix   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Police - Synchronicity I My song pick 8 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Dogs My song pick 9 years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - See You on the Other Side My song pick 10 years ago today: Queensrÿche - If I Could Change it All My song pick 11 years ago today: Kl...

From: Theme From "A Summer Place" ; Year: 1959; Genre: 20th Century classical Re-watching the new series based on Stephen King's novel It ;  It: Welcome to Derry . I'm really enjoying seeing wot I have missed the first time through; there is a great deal going on throughout. Anyway, I have heard this song in a few of the Stephen King miniseries/films and it almost always is the prelude to a disturbing scene. Kind of a "bait and switch" where this light and pretty piece puts the viewer at ease just to "pull the rug out" and leave you reeling. Its to the point that when I happen to hear this one outside of a King film I expect something bad to happen; I guess I watch too much of those. Anyway, this may be the most popular version of it, but is not the original and, funny enough, was never the actual theme to the 1959 movie , but rather a tune played in the background sporadically throughout the picture. I guess this is a case of the song staying fam...

From: Stormwatch (2019 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition) ; Year: 1979; Genre: Progressive Rock/Blues Rock It is another one of those days where I had an album playing in my mind whilst getting ready to make the day's song pick; guess which one? I'm really getting close to running out of tracks to choose from Stormwatch; if it wasn't for all the "dusted down forgotten recordings" remastered and released a number of years ago, I surely would've by now. This is an instrumental piece that was left on the cutting room floor that did not make it on to the record or any of the "rare and unreleased" discs in the time between. Whilst it's okay, it definitely is not amongst my favourites from that recording session, but still has that hard, bluesy folk rock sound from the late 1970s. Although, to my ears it sounds as if some instruments were more recently added or dubbed over some of the original tracks; I could be wrong. However, hearing some instruments...

From: I Robot ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock Just had this record on my mind since yesterday evening; why not just go ahead and pick the first, title track? I Robot  acts as the overture to the overall concept album loosely based on Isaac Asimov 's stories concerning the mechanical men . Essentially is a six-minute instrumental piece heavy with synth programing and keyboards except for a chorale providing a human touch with vocalizations, which probably was the intention considering the overall conceptual story.    Hear I Robot on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rainbow - Black Sheep of the Family   My song pick 2 years ago today: Funkadelic - Take Your Dead Ass Home! (Say Som'n Nasty)   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Exciters - Tell Him   My song pick 4 years ago today: Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - I Promise To Remember   My song pick 5 years ago today: Santana - Song of the Wind   My song...

From: Hot Heat And Sweet Groove ; Year: 1968; Genre: Soul/Funk Was really enjoying some music from Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band this morning and decided that I should choose another one of their songs. Kinda strange, but while I absolutely love their music, I never really looked into the specifics of the band. I discovered, to my amazement, that this band has gone through a few name changes and thus, makes "connecting the dots" so to speak, a little more challenging. Charles Wright was originally in a number of Doo-Wop groups early on, but this band apparently started out as "Charles Wright and the Wright Sounds," which began in 1962; around '66 and '67 they seemingly went by the name "The Soul Runners." At some point in '67 to '68 they became this incarnation that recorded today's pick and album and by 1970 became the most successful incarnation that was the verbose "Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd ...