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

From: California Kid and Reemo (single); Year: 1971; Genre: Rock/Pop It is finally spring here; actually the Vernal Equinox happened about 8:00 last night. Anyway, I have had some of Lobo's music on my mind for the last couple of days or so anyway, so I figured I would pick one. He seemed to write and/or perform a lot of his songs about some unnamed protagonist in the midst of wanderlust learning a valuable lesson, mostly about living, loving, and acceptance of the shape that his life turned out. In this one he runs into two soon-to-be-friends whilst at a low point emotionally, which end up turning his perspective of life around. All in all, it's a great piece of '70s popular music and a good one to have playing whilst getting around on a spring day.   Hear California Kid and Reemo on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: ABBA - I Still Have Faith In You   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Mine Is the Mountain   My song pick 3 years ...

From: Lobo ; Year: 1979; Genre: Soft Rock Started checking out more of Lobo's music today and thought I would pick one of his songs as well. From what I understand, this was basically Lobo's last charting hit here in the U.S., but he has apparently continued to have success elsewhere in the world. Anyway, this one has all that late '70s pop/soft rock hallmarks in the extreme, but is kind of nostalgic and/or somewhat comforting to someone who grew up listening to such music.   Hear Where Were You When I Was Falling In Love on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Wilson Pickett - Back on the Right Track   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ultravox - Serenade   My song pick 3 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Over My Head My song pick 4 years ago today: Devo - Whip It My song pick 5 years ago today: Black Sabbath - After Forever My song pick 6 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Sing a Song My song pick 7 years ago today: Steeleye Span - ...

From: Of a Simple Man ; Year: 1972; Genre: Folk Rock I have a lot of fond memories growing up hearing Of a Simple Man ; this song is one in particular that I'm fond of hearing. Kind of light-hearted, but really fun just to listen and dance to. Hear Pee-Ro Juan Valdez Sam Quixote on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: AC/DC - Are You Ready My song pick 2 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Jam Fan (Hot) My song pick 3 years ago today: Van Halen - The Dream is Over My song pick 4 years ago today: Soundgarden - Been Away Too Long My song pick 5 years ago today: Tommy James & the Shondells - Crimson & Clover My song pick 6 years ago today: John Denver - Carolina In My Mind My song pick 7 years ago today: Asia - Time Again My song pick 8 years ago today: U2 - The Unforgettable Fire My song pick 9 years ago today: Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World My song pick 10 years ago today: Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now My son...

From: Of A Simple Man ; Year: 1972; Genre: Folk Rock/Pop I'm really in need of something upbeat and happy for today; I looked to none other than some '70s pop, which is always perfect for such situation. Anyway, this is the title track from Lobo's ever popular Of A Simple Man album. Great and catchy music combined with an honest delivery of some down-to-earth and somewhat whimsical lyrics; yeah, it's the kind of music that puts you in a good mood. Hear A Simple Man on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Yes - Fly From Here (Suite) My song pick two years ago today: Pat Benatar - Invincible My song pick three years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Anesthetize My song pick four years ago today: Freddy Taylor and His Swing Men from Harlem - Blue Drag My song pick five years ago today: Hans Zimmer - Fighting 17th My song pick six years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - I Put a Spell on You My song pick seven years ago today: Rammstein...

From: Of a Simple Man ; Year: 1972; Genre: Folk Rock I heard this one the other night as well and it's been one that I've always liked for some reason. It's definitely one of the better heart felt break-up songs I've ever heard that really touches most anybody who has been in that all too common situation. Hear Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Different Strings My song pick two years ago today: Led Zeppelin - The Rain Song My song pick three years ago today: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - Big Country My song pick four years ago today: ABBA - When All is Said and Done My song pick five years ago today: Hawkwind - Motorhead My song pick six years ago today: Savatage - Can You Hear Me Now

From: Of a Simple Man ; Year: 1972; Genre: Rock/Folk Rock For most of the morning I've had this song on my mind, so, as I usually do, I'm taking it as a sign to make it my pick today. Of a Simple Man is another album that I grew up listening to; often both of my parents would not only play it, but play it without skipping a track, which gave me exposure to the full album rather than only the hit singles. I suppose that "album oriented music" was one of the zeitgeists of 1970s music; the album was intentionally made to be played in its entirety. Anyway, this was one of the 'deeper cuts' and I've always loved the arrangements and the imagery of a man from a reservation having to leave and brave a big city by himself. Hear Running Dear on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Wish Them Well My song pick two years ago today: The Beatles - In My Life My song pick three years ago today: Fairport Convention - She Moves Through the Fair ...

Last night I was unwinding playing along with random songs from my iPod's playlist on my bass and this one came on. It's a good song that I have always really liked; a nice song to unwind to. I love the mixing of this album a lot and the musicianship as well, especially the bass lines. Not surprising, there are no versions of this song on YouTube or any other service that I can find. That's the problem with a lesser-known artist on the Warner label. Here are at least the lyrics: I know I owe you a better time Then the way that I've been But something's messing with my mind And it's not giving in They say that I should want to be A man who leads us all But every time I look I see Another leader fall. So I'm gonna sit in a green field And fly a big red kite I'm gonna Send my mind up the string and I'm gonna get it right. They say that I should want to have A big bank account What Uncle Sam don't take from me Man I don't need to count. So I'...

For today I decided to pick a song by yet another singer/songwriter from the 60/70s. I cannot remember when I first heard this song, but I have always loved it. I remember almost wearing out my Dad's ' Of a Simple Man ' 8-track when I was younger; this song was somewhere in the middle. On most 8-tracks the listener would usually have a 'path' of through the four stereo tracks that consisted of the most loved songs. However, with this album I usually would just start it and listen to it all the way through. Later, I bought it on record and now I have it on my iPod. Lobo and all of the musicians around him are incredible; this one has a very nice rhythm and bass line, which gives the feeling of the train moving. Where the real hook of the song is when it shifts from the verse and launches into the chorus and the back. Most of Lobo's music is in a story telling format and his lyrics are quite descriptive of what is in the story. Here is the studio version on YouTub...