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

From: Funkadelic ; Year: 1970; Genre: Soul/Psychedelic Funk I wonder what it was like back in the day when people dropped the needle down on this brand-new album and were greeted by this out-of-this-world funky psychedelia that the world had not truly experienced before? For me, I was born in a time that this music was already permeating the U.S. culture, so I have no idea wot this did for those listening to it for the first time. Anyway, as I have repeated endlessly: Eddie Hazel's mind-blowing guitar playing with that wah-wah pedal really is my main draw, but I will also state that Billy "Bass" Nelson's grooving bass is exquisite as well.    Hear Mommy, What's a Funkadelic? on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Fetch Me the Pongmaster     My song pick 2 years ago today: The (Young) Rascals - In the Midnight Hour     My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - Peaceable Kingdom   My song pick 4 years ago t...

From: The United States of America ; Year: 1968; Genre: Progressive Rock/Psychedelic Rock Very odd, but as of late I have been hearing about this short-lived experimental rock band a bit once again. I've always liked them since discovering the band quite a few years ago, but I've never been huge into their music.  They only lasted about one year and only made a single album, but every member went on to much greater things. The astounding talent within it really was its downfall; "too many chefs and not enough cooks," so to speak. The musical differences and strong, differing directions I suppose led to the fate. However, despite all of this, some have been looking back and finally seeing the true cutting edge musical ideas and implementation thereof; better late than never, eh?   Hear Where Is Yesterday on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Cranberries - Sunday     My song pick 2 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Vorpal Laserblaster...

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: Terrapin Station ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock ¡Doh! I cannot believe that I missed my Memorial Day Grateful Dead pick; I guess better late than never. For some reason unbeknownst to me I just felt like putting on Terrapin Station again; immediately was welcomed by this rather strangely made track. I love the overall reggae feel, but that's kind of an illusion I suppose with Bill Kreutzmann's drumming in the modified 7/4 meter, (technically he's doing something like a 14/8), gives it a swinging reggae feel.  Anyway, it is definitely a great weird one, which I absolutely adore, that fits an overall tardy pick such as this.   Hear Estimated Prophet on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Blancmange - What's Your Problem?     My song pick 2 years ago today: Geddy Lee - I Am...You Are     My song pick 3 years ago today: Tina Turner - Private Dancer   My song pick 4 years ago today: Yes - Onward   My song...

From: Electric Ladyland ; Year: 1968; Genre: Psychedelic Rock Wanted to pick something "out there" from Jimi Hendrix; this short, (less-than-a-minute), piece with only odd sounds just seemed perfect for the bill.   Hear Moon, Turn the Tides....Gently Gently Away on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Chicken Shack - Daughter on the Hillside     My song pick 2 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright   My song pick 3 years ago today: Fleet Foxes - Innocent Son   My song pick 4 years ago today: Aphrodite's Child - The Four Horsemen   My song pick 5 years ago today: Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me   My song pick 6 years ago today: Barenaked Ladies - Shoe Box   My song pick 7 years ago today: Jigsaw - Mystic Harmony My song pick 8 years ago today: Chet Atkins - The Girl Friend of the Whirling Dervish My song pick 9 years ago today: Alice in Chains - What The Hell Have I My song pick 10...

From: Mother Trucker ; Year: 1972; Genre: Country Funk/Rock Here's another country funk track to end the workweek and to also start a new month. Dennis Caldirola, aka. Dennis the Fox , is probably not a well-known artist, but has been active in the business for quite a while. As far as I am aware, Mother Trucker is his only studio album, but is well worth a good listen.   Hear Piledriver on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Strawberry Alarm Clock - Incense and Peppermints   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bee Gees - First of May   My song pick 4 years ago today: Artie Shaw and His Orchestra - Nightmare   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Easybeats - Heaven and Hell   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Who - Ball and Chain   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Saint of Me My song pick 8 years ago today: Ste...

From: There Is No Space For Us ; Year: 2025; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock For the last decade or so I have loved that I can count on Hawkwind to seemingly release something new almost every year. This is one of the single releases off of their most recent album from last year and is a close-to-perfect song to bring the record to a close. It is essentially an instrumental with only the final seconds having any vocals. The arrangements are quite beautiful with some great contributions on both the guitar, piano, and synth in particular. It kind of has an overall melancholy feel throughout, but also some hopeful chords and melodies to give the feeling of trudging along; perhaps either on the long journey home, or continuing on the adventure to see wot's beyond the next horizon.   Hear A Long Long Way From Home on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Explorers Club - Impact 5 – Last Call    My song pick 2 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - ...

From: Hardcore Jollies ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Psychedelic Soul/Funk Going with one of my favourite funk bands for today's pick; sure I have picked a lot of P-Funk, but I am certain that there is no such thing as too much P-Funk, especially the Funkadelic side of things 😁. This is kind of a mellower, jazzier piece that leans into their psychedelic soul background, which makes for a great song to bring this legendary album to a close.     Hear Adolescent Funk on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ain't No Good Life     My song pick 2 years ago today: Johnny Rivers - Secret Agent Man   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - Resist   My song pick 4 years ago today: Heart - The Oldest Story in the World   My song pick 5 years ago today: Cream - Sitting on Top of the World   My song pick 6 years ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Forever Falling   My song pick 7 years ago today:...

From: Genesis ; Year: 1968; Genre: Psychedelic Rock Thought that I would give this band another, closer listen; this time, their debut album. I love bands like these where they are essentially a "supergroup," but instead of already successful musicians joining forces, these are successful musicians in the making that would go on elsewhere for it. This is a neat piece of psychedelia-infused riff heavy prog rock that is especially good when listening on a good pair of headphones.   Hear Looking Glass on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lakeside - Power     My song pick 2 years ago today: Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship - Starship   My song pick 3 years ago today: Alice in Chains - So Far Under   My song pick 4 years ago today: C.W. McCall - Black Bear Road   My song pick 5 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Sheep   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bill Withers - Lean On Me   My song pick 7 years ago today: Small Fa...

From: Strange Days ; Year: 1967; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Blues Rock Once more went back to this record and have since had this track on my mind. From wot I've read this was either the first or one of the first songs written by Jim Morrison for The Doors. It is very much an odd composition with the weird groove and, of course, Jim Morrison's out-of-this-world lyrics/vocals. However, I would have to say that Robbie Krieger's spooky sounding slide guitar and solo really is the icing on the cake so to speak.   Hear Moonlight Drive on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Sammy Davis Jr. - Whisper to One     My song pick 2 years ago today: Queen - Flash to the Rescue   My song pick 3 years ago today: Ace - Rock & Roll Runaway   My song pick 4 years ago today: Imagination - Just an Illusion   My song pick 5 years ago today: Alestorm - Fannybaws   My song pick 6 years ago today: Marillion - Seasons End   My song pick ...

From: Blue Öyster Cult ; Year: 1972; Genre: Psychedelic Rock Been listening to early BÖC lately; I've always found their self-titled debut album is kind of a "grab bag" of sorts. Sure there are some hits and ones that sound a lot like their emerging sound, then you got some oddities... like this one. Don't get me wrong, it is not a bad song, just different. If one does not pay too much attention to the lyrics, the somewhat "mystical" sounding melody is great. However, there's not very many bands out there that can make a song about a lady being compared to a foot, but Eric Bloom really sell it amazingly. I mean, some people have a thing for feet, so it could be a compliment, but it does go into stranger areas when it tells of a man biting her face and saying she tasted like "a falling arch" and her face changing to a Guernsey cow. It may be weird, but sometimes weird is good, and is a reason I love Blue Öyster Cult and their music so much; neve...

From: A New Time - A New Day ; Year: 1968; Genre: Psychedelic Soul Don't know wot it is like elsewhere in the world, but today marks the start of Daylight Savings Time over here, which really sucks. I felt the need to pick something more appropriate for the occasion. One of the first tracks that came to mind was The Chambers Brothers' classic Time Has Come Today , which I had already picked. However, on the followup album they had this apt title track, which absolutely fit wot I needed, and love those lead vocals a lot. Whilst I have never gotten full-on into this band, every time I hear one of their tracks immediately I like it. I definitely will have to delve further into their catalogue.    Hear A New Time - A New Day on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lou Christie - Lightnin' Strikes     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rose Royce - Keep On Keepin' On   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bob Marley & The Wailers - Midni...

From: Hall of the Mountain Grill ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock/Space Rock For no particular reason just felt like putting Hawkwind's Hall of the Mountain Grill on whilst working today. This is the opening song on the record, which I erroneously believed I had already picked. It's one of their signature psychedelic tracks that, whilst quite progressive and boundary pushing musically, it contains such a great trancelike groove throughout that will let you lose your mind dancing; that is, if that is wot you wish to do.     Hear Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Working Man – A Tribute to Rush - YYZ     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Meters - Liar   My song pick 3 years ago today: Luther Vandross - Grown Thangs   My song pick 4 years ago today: Fleet Foxes - Sunblind   My song pick 5 years ago today: Steven Wilson - Count of Unease   My song pick 6 yea...

From: Dragon Fly ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock I wanted to go back and listen to something from Jefferson Starship for whatever reason, so here's one off of their debut album after the band re-emerged under the "Starship" name. Although, unofficially, the 1970 Paul Kantner album Blows Against the Empire was technically the first time you actually saw it under the name Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship . Anyway, this is one of those songs that is pure beauty all around. I still cannot comprehend why Grace Slick didn't get to perform more of the lead vocals; she is only lead on three tracks, this being, of course, one of them. I suppose I have always been an avid fan of hers as a songwriter, musician and vocalist; she is the full package. One of the biggest and best parts of this song is Papa John Creach's violin playing; it's just adds that beauty that really pushes their music's emotions over the top.   Hear Hyperdrive on YouTube.         My so...

From: At Home ; Year: 1969; Genre: Psychedelic Rock I have always been of the opinion that Shocking Blue is one of those bands that, as the late-great comedian  Rodney Dangerfield was so fond of saying: "They Don't Get No Respect." Just a band that you can tell is boiling over with musical talent and ideas that while did get famous, for wotever reason, they never got up to where they should've been. This one is a great example: a great low fidelity piece of bluesy psychedelia with some very experimental sounds, mostly Robby Van Leeuwen's guitar playing and his playing of the sitar, which is quite a difficult instrument to play even at a novice level. Of course, Mariska Veres' vocals and presence on the vocals are one of the best qualities of the band.    Hear Love Buzz on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Curious Ruminant     My song pick 2 years ago today: 3 Doors Down - Loser   My song pick 3 years ago to...

From: Pet Sounds ; Year: 1966; Genre: Progressive Rock/Psychedelic Rock It is amazing to think this album was released some 60 years ago and is still more or less fitting the very definition of progressive music. Even to this day people, including myself, are inspired by just listening and hearing something mayhap not noticed prior. I swear, in centuries from now this and the other work of Brian Wilson will be marveled like the master composers have been. This is among my favourites on the record and to a casual listener might seem a little weird and disjointed, but everything works like a fine mechanical clock; even the unique  Electro-Theremin .     Hear I Just Wasn't Made for These Times on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Danzig - Thirteen     My song pick 2 years ago today: R.E.M. - Losing My Religion   My song pick 3 years ago today: Midnight Express - Danger Zone   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Ron...

From: Moby Grape ; Year: 1967; Genre: Psychedelic Rock Moby Grape came back into my mind recently, and I noticed that they haven't been on my blog yet; need to rectify that. They are one of the many bands that came out of the San Francisco psychedelic/acid rock scene that found success. This track, which closes out the album, was written by Skip Spence, who was with Jefferson Airplane prior as their drummer on the band's debut album.    Hear Indifference on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rare Earth - The Seed     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bruce Springsteen - I'm on Fire   My song pick 3 years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Meadow   My song pick 4 years ago today: Pearl Jam - Dance of the Clairvoyants   My song pick 5 years ago today: Twelfth Night - East of Eden   My song pick 6 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Jungle Man   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Lady Jane ...

From: Book of Dreams ; Year: 1977; Genre: Psychedelic Rock This is one of the deeper cuts off of one of Steve Miller's bigger hit records, which I've already chosen a great deal from. To my ear at least, it sounds like Wish Upon a Star was one that didn't get the polish/attention of its brethren, but you can hear a whole lot of potential there, plus despite this, it is a good track. If you like the band and his more synthesizer-driven bluesy psychedelia sound, then you are in for a treat.    Hear Wish Upon a Star on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Cher - Pirate     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rush - Available Light   My song pick 3 years ago today: The O'Jays - For the Love of Money   My song pick 4 years ago today: R.E.O. Speedwagon - Time For Me to Fly   My song pick 5 years ago today: Hammerfall - And Yet I Smile   My song pick 6 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Only Way (Hymn)   ...