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

From: Year ; Year: 1993; Genre: Folk Rock It just now hit me that I needed to choose another one of Maddy Prior's songs. Her Year album has always been a personal favourite, mostly due to her emotive vocal performance throughout the record. There's a spectacularly beautiful forlorn, far off and beckoning quality here that is truly unique.   Hear Somewhere Along the Road on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Focus - Why Dream?     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Beatles - We Can Work It Out   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Band - The Weight   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Four Tops - Reflections   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rare Earth - Hum Along and Dance   My song pick 6 years ago today: Rammstein - Radio   My song pick 7 years ago today: Matthews' Southern Comfort - Tell Me Why My song pick 8 years ago today: Sam & Dave - Hold On, I'm Coming My song pick 9 years ago today: Glen Camp...

From: Dodgy Bastards ; Year: 2016; Genre: Folk Rock/Progressive Rock Been enjoying this record a lot lately; reminds me a lot of the classic material. This track is their rendition of the traditional Child Ballad Cruel Brother . As with many of these ballads catalogued by Child, this one is quite dark and tragic. I really like the way they arranged the music not only to be more driving and intense, but to really bring the emotions to the surface.   Hear Cruel Brother on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Herb Alpert - Aranjuez (Mon Amour)     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Pointer Sisters - Going Down Slowly   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me   My song pick 4 years ago today: Steeleye Span - The Lark in the Morning   My song pick 5 years ago today: Black 47 - Red Hugh   My song pick 6 years ago today: Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut My song pick 7 years ago today: The Steve Miller...

From: Woman in the Wings ; Year: 1978; Genre: Folk Rock/Progressive Rock Found out they finally uploaded this song to YouTube a couple months ago; I've been wanting to pick it for an age. This one they use and blend some really contrasting musical ideas. The beat and a bunch of the song is reggae influenced; other parts are more big-band. Mix that with their progressive/folk rock and you get a very unique song. Hear Catseyes on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Megadeth - Conquer or Die! My song pick two years ago today: Steve Vai - You Didn't Break It My song pick three years ago today: UB40 - Kingston Town My song pick four years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - The Ghost My song pick five years ago today: Blondie - Dreaming My song pick six years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 244 - St. Matthew Passion My song pick seven years ago today: UB40 - Tears From My Eyes My song pick eight years ago today: Jethro Tull - 10.08 to Paddington My ...

From: Year ; Year: 1993; Genre: Folk Rock This pretty song was on my mind. Such a reassuring song as it is arranged, and her vocals just push it way over the top. Hear Deep in the Darkest Night on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: April Wine - I Like to Rock My song pick two years ago today: The Rolling Stones - 19th Nervous Breakdown My song pick three years ago today: Luther - Funky Music (Is a Part of Me) My song pick four years ago today: Neil Diamond - Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show My song pick five years ago today: Pink Floyd - Run Like Hell My song pick six years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Hot Fun in the Summertime My song pick seven years ago today: Glenn Miller - In The Mood My song pick eight years ago today: Tarot - Ashes To The Stars My song pick nine years ago today: Goo Goo Dolls - Broadway My song pick ten years ago today: The Offspring - Come Out And Play

From: Tempted and Tried ; Year: 1989; Genre: Folk Rock/Progressive Rock Had a song that I like in my head today and I'm picking it; no other reason for it. Seagull is definitely a good example of acoustic folk meets loud amplifiers, which I personally like the mixture a lot. Hear Seagull on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Rick James - Dance Wit' Me My song pick two years ago today: Miles Davis - Milestones My song pick three years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Warriors My song pick four years ago today: Soundgarden - Taree My song pick five years ago today: Lighthouse - Pretty Lady My song pick six years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Mr. Recordman My song pick seven years ago today: Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed - Something My song pick eight years ago today: Buddy Holly & the Crickets - Well... All Right My song pick nine years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Dreams

From: Woman In The Wings ; Year: 1978; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock I had this great album on my mind this morning and wanted to make a song from it as my pick. Rollercoaster is mostly driven by the bass with both simple and intricate lines. The signature heavy British progressive folk rock found on the Chrysalis label is every apparent throughout the piece; and of course Maddy Prior's vocals are as great as ever. Hear Rollercoaster with the song I Told You So on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Stretchin' Out (In a Rubber Band) My song pick two years ago today: Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks My song pick three years ago today: Hawkwind - Wind of Change My song pick four years ago today: Alestorm - Set Sail to Conquer My song pick five years ago today: Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys - The Ghost and Honest Joe My song pick six years ago today: Jerry Reed - Amos Moses My song pick seven years ago t...

From: Woman in the Wings ; Year: 1978; Genre: Folk Rock/Progressive Rock I was in the mood for something from Maddy Prior's solo work today; of course I drifted towards my favourite of her albums. I love the music and how it was arranged in this one, and the vocals are as good as always, but I definitely could do without the repetitive section at the end. Hear Rosettes on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Funkadelic - Funky Dollar Bill My song pick two years ago today: Sky - Westway My song pick three years ago today: Asia - Wildest Dreams My song pick four years ago today: Don Henley - Dirty Laundry My song pick five years ago today: The Scorpions - Big City Nights My song pick six years ago today: Graham Central Station - Earthquake My song pick seven years ago today: John Denver - Season Suite - Fall My song pick eight years ago today: Kyu Sakamoto - Sukiyaki ( Ue o Muite Aruko )

From: Woman in the Wings ; Year: 1976; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock Last night and into this morning I had songs from this Maddy Prior album running through my mind; as always, I took it as a sign that I should pick something from the record. This is a rather calm and pretty track, but with a really big sound accompanying Maddy Prior's beautiful vocals. Hear Long Shadows on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - Let Me Be the One My song pick two years ago today: Finntroll - Ett Norrskensdåd My song pick three years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV Anh. 117a, 117b - Polonause in F Major (from Anna Magdalena Notebook II ) My song pick four years ago today: Exist†Trace - Requiem My song pick five years ago today: Meat Loaf - Two out of Three Ain't Bad My song pick six years ago today: Christian Pezold - BWV Anh. 115 - Minuet in G Minor (Anna Magdalena Notebook II) My song pick seven years ago today: Raymond...

From: Wintersmith ; Year: 2013; Genre: Folk Rock/Progressive Rock I felt like picking a second song in a row from Steeleye Span this morning, but with this one coming from their most recent album. The entire album is a concept piece based mostly on the book of the same name ; this one coming towards the end of the record. It's a great, and rather pretty song; I really love Maddy Prior's vocals. Hear Ancient Eyes on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Banchee - Childern of the Universe My song pick two years ago today: Muse - Unnatural Selection My song pick three years ago today: The Drifters - Under the Boardwalk My song pick four years ago today: Yoko Takahashi - Zankoku na Tenshi no These ( A Cruel Angel's Thesis ) My song pick five years ago today: Aphrodite's Child - Hic et Nunc My song pick six years ago today: Elton John - All The Girls Love Alice My song pick seven years ago today: Rush - The Body Electric

From: Now We Are Six; Year : 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock Last night and into this morning I had this album running incessantly through my mind, so, as I always do when such happens, I am picking on off of it. Like with the majority of the band's catalogue, this one is a traditional piece or rather three pieces arranged in a way that only a "loud folk band" such as Steeleye Span could do. It's a great piece of music woven together expertly to become a treat to the ears. Hear Drink Down the Moon on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Still... You Turn Me On My song pick two years ago today: Melvins - Nude with Boots My song pick three years ago today: The Animals - House of the Rising Sun My song pick four years ago today: Wild Turkey - Sentinel My song pick five years ago today: KISS - She My song pick six years ago today: Hawkwind - Assault and Battery/The Golden Void My song pick seven years ago to...

From: Tempted and Tried ; Year: 1989; Genre: Folk Rock First day of November comes... anyway, yesterday while on the road this track came on and I though it would be a great pick for today. This is kind of a unique sounding song from the band for sure that romanticizes a fox and his perils to escape a hunt. Hear The Fox on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Victor Wooten - When I Want to Get Funky My song pick two years ago today: Curved Air - What Happens When You Blow Yourself Up? My song pick three years ago today: Megadeth - We The People My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Red Barchetta My song pick five years ago today: Bob Dylan - Tangled Up In Blue My song pick six years ago today: Supertramp - Take the Long Way Home My song pick seven years ago today: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - Vix 9

From: All Around My Hat ; Year: 1975; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock Most of the morning I've been in the mood for some 'bloody loud folk rock' and there's not very many band that good at delivering it in my opinion than Steeleye Span. Anyway, this is another great interpretation in their great folk rock tradition; I love the dynamics they use as well as Maddy Prior's great voice (as usual). Hear Hard Times of Old England on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Kinks - This Time Tomorrow My song pick two years ago today: Alestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge My song pick three years ago today: Heart - How Deep It Goes My song pick four years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Flying High Again My song pick five years ago today: Amon Amarth feat. Lars Göran Petrov - Guardians of Asgard My song pick six years ago today: Bob Welch - Ebony Eyes My song pick seven years ago today: Jethro Tull - 17

From: Rocket Cottage ; Year: 1976; Genre: Electric Folk Rock I felt like some Steeleye Span this morning and I decided to add another of their songs to ye olde blog. Orfeo is another one of their heavier songs with a very strong rhythm section; a pretty good mix of their folk interpretation of traditional music with driving British rock. Nathan's Reel acts as a much less raucous extended instrumental outro featuring Peter Night's violin playing in the traditional folk sound. Hear Orfeo/Nathan's Reel on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Alestorm - Flower of Scotland My song pick two years ago today: Cybotron - Colossus My song pick three years ago today: AC/DC - Let There Be Rock My song pick four years ago today: Steeleye Span - Black Jack Davy My song pick five years ago today: Heart - These Dreams My song pick six years ago today: The Police - Message in a Bottle

From: Storm Force Ten ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock This is an interesting song; it comes from the Kurt Weill 1928 adaptation of 18th Century Ballad Opera The Beggar's Opera called The Threepenny Opera piece: S eeräuberJenny or Pirate Jenny . The piece is about a barmaid's twisted fantasy of having a legendary pirate ship destroy the town and, at her request, having all the people of the town slaughtered. Her musings would end with her going out to sea with them. Because of the genesis of the song coming from an opera it has a notable theatrical feel to it both musically and with the vocal delivery. One of my favourite aspects of the song is the bass guitar and accordion in the verses; they really bring the whole "sea chanty" feel. I'm just waiting to hear an Alestorm version of this one; it's right up their alley. Hear The Black Freighter on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication M...

From: Woman In The Wings ; Year: 1978; Genre: Progressive Rock I was in the mood for some good hard-edged folk rock and much of the time for me that usually means listening to something Maddy Prior is involved with. This is one of my favourites off of her 1978 solo record; I've always loved the arrangement of Gutter Geese , especially the way her vocals were. The rhythm section makes a nice foundation that carries and drives it and puts the other instruments and her vocals in a nice place on top. Hear Gutter Geese on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Pink Floyd - Hey You My song pick two years ago today: Return to Forever - Dayride My song pick three years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Hot Rails to Hell My song pick four years ago today: Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show - Cover of the Rolling Stone My song pick five years ago today: Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crazed Institution

From: Woman In The Wings ; Year:1978; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock This is yet another great track that I believed I had already picked. This is a rather pretty and emotional piece that really showcases the beautiful voice of Maddy Prior. The first time I had ever heard it was from a recording that featured only Rick Kemp's bass and her singing. It was early on in hearing music from or associated with Steeleye Span; to say the least it got my attention. Hear an excellent live performance featuring Rick Kemp on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Ludwig Van Beethoven - Op.13 - Piano Sonata No.8 " Pathétique " My song pick two years ago today: Chet Atkins - Tears My song pick three years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Tusk My song pick four years ago today: Fairport Convention - Tam Lin My song pick five years ago today: Cream - Tales of Brave Ulysses

From: Rocket Cottage ; Year: 1976; Genre: Folk Rock I had an urge to listen to something from Steeleye Span today and for some reason I went with one of their more unappreciated albums: Rocket Cottage ; it's one of their heavier records musically as well. Anyway, this folk/rock interpretation of this traditional song is one of my many favourites from the album. Hear The Twelve Witches on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Georg Philipp Telemann - TWV 55:C3 - Wassermusik - Hamburger Ebbe und Flut My song pick two years ago today: Steve Winwood - The Finer Things My song pick three years ago today: Tarja Turunen - I Walk Alone My song pick four years ago today: Link Wray - Rumble My song pick five years ago today: The Carter Family - Wildwood Flower

1031 Steeleye Span - Black Jack Davy For most of the morning various Steeleye Span songs have been running through my mind; this is one of their tracks that I have been meaning to pick for a bit now, so it seems like an excellent match. This traditional song is known by many titles, but is probably best-known by the title: The Gypsy Laddie . It is known as a Border Ballad , which basically means it was written in the border region between England and Scotland. Apparently it was written in the early-mid 1700's from the Scots' side of the border. This one has been performed/recorded by a multitude of acts over the years, but I especially like the Steeleye Span version. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Heart - These Dreams My song pick two years ago today: The Police - Message in a Bottle +

841 ( Maddy Prior - The Fabled Hare ) I was thinking about picking this one for quite a while as well and have finally gotten around to it. It is quite a beautiful piece of Folk/Rock and is broken up into six pieces. The music and Maddy Prior's vocals make this song a nice treat. This song is about the fable/legend from the British Isles concerning the link between witches and hares. It is interesting that in quite a few cultures the hare is maligned and thought of as evil. The song contains quite a bit of Old English in the lyrics, which can make it a little difficult to fully understand at points. They also borrowed lyrics straight from an old poem called The World's Joy in the 4th section of the song. As the legend goes, a witch is being pursued and changes herself into a hare to avoid detection. The song then switches to the perspective of the hare and the perils of the animal. An oddity that I discovered when I read about this fable/legend, the Easter Bunny is most likely...

776 ( Maddy Prior - Cold Flame ) For a while now it seems as if I have between 10 to 15 songs in mind to pick each day; I cannot remember the last time I sat down to make a post on my song blog having to think about a song to choose. Last night I was doing some further research on the solo albums from Maddy Prior, who is the lead singer of Steeleye Span. Well, suffice it to say now I have well over 25 songs in mind to pick today. This song came off of Maddy Prior's first solo album: Woman In The Wings , in which Ian and the boys from Jethro Tull took the part of her backing group in the studio; both Robin Black and Ian Anderson produced the album. It is mindblowing to hear Maddy Prior's beautiful vocal talents mixed with the sound of Jethro Tull. This is not the first time that they have collaborated, there are a few Jethro Tull tracks in which she provided backing vocals and Ian produced at least one Steeleye Span album that I know of. This is a very beautiful t...