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

From: Fake Songs ; Year: 2002; Genre: Punk Rock/Comedy It's been 19 years now and am finally getting around to picking something from Liam Lynch; should've some time ago, eh?  This is probably his best-known song as far as I am aware; he is much more prevalent in television and other film media and apparently does the majority of his work there. The whole funny "attitude song" is really wot makes it as great as it is, but it can get old quite fast if played too much.   Hear United States of Whatever on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire feat. The Emotions - Boogie Wonderland     My song pick 2 years ago today: Nina Simone - Pirate Jenny (The Black Freighter)     My song pick 3 years ago today: Smash Mouth - Walkin' On the Sun   My song pick 4 years ago today: Fairport Convention - No Man's Land   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Goin' Through the Motions   My song pic...

From: It's a Shame About Ray ; Year: 1992; Genre: Alternative Rock/Punk I just had this one on the 'ol brain last night and felt like picking it today. I remember this song, and the rest of the album for that matter; my sister had it and listened to it a lot back then. It's a Shame About Ray is one of those records with a bunch of short tracks with a lot of energy, which was wot I remember the most of the Lemonheads.   Hear Bit Part on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Eric Burdon and War - Magic Mountain     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rare Earth - I Couldn't Believe What Happened Last Night     My song pick 3 years ago today: Diana Ross - Touch Me in the Morning   My song pick 4 years ago today: Nazareth - Love Hurts   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Nice - Hang on to a Dream   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Grass Roots - The River Is Wide   My song pick 7 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult -...

From: Species Deceases ; Year: 1985; Genre: Alternative Rock/Punk Don't really need a reason to pick a song from my absolute favourite Australian band, but decided on going with one off of one of the EPs. Just about all of the four tracks on Species Deceases still get air play to this day. The high energy punk attitude and feel throughout this one in particular just gets you riled up and singing along.   Hear Blossom and Blood on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Trio of Doom - Para Oriente     My song pick 2 years ago today: Los Lobos - Don't Worry Baby     My song pick 3 years ago today: Lou Rawls - Three O'Clock in the Morning   My song pick 4 years ago today: Funkadelic - First Ya Gotta Shake The Gate   My song pick 5 years ago today: Curved Air - Easy   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Temptations - (I Know) I'm Losing You   My song pick 7 years ago today: Neil Young - Heart of Gold My song pick ...

From: Americana ; Year: 1998; Genre: Punk/Hard Rock Had this record playing in my mind today for wotever reason, which if fine because I like it a lot. This one, of course, is the title-track that has all the energy and emotion the band has turned up way past "11." Strangely enough, when you listen to the lyrics, their satirical synopsis/commentary of American culture is frighteningly all too real and in the present tense even though it was written back in the late 1990s. Although today that happy facade from back then is long gone and the outright ugliness of society is for all to see, unless you choose to bury your head.   Hear Americana on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Steeleye Span - Well Done Liar!     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Marvelettes - The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Cult - Spiritwalker   My song pick 4 years ago today: Boyz II Men - Motownphilly   My son...

From: White Trash Christmas ; Year: 2002; Genre: Metal/Comedy/Christmas Music Back to some upbeat Seasonal song picks. A heavy metal rendition of this classic Christmas carol, which really gets your blood moving and is definitely spirit raising.   Hear Not So Silent Night on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Temptations - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bob Rivers Comedy Corp - I'm Dressin' Up Like Santa (When I Get Out on Parole)   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Drifters - White Christmas   My song pick 4 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Today in Bethlehem   My song pick 5 years ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - La Rossa   My song pick 6 years ago today: Binky Griptite - Stone Soul Christmas   My song pick 7 years ago today: Bachman & Turner - Find Some Love My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Another Harry's Bar My song pick 9 years ago today: R...

From: P.O.A. ~ Pop on Arrival ~  ; Year: 2006; Genre: Surf Rock/Punk Rock Been trying really hard to pull myself out of a rut so to speak by going back to some bands that I really like, but for wotever reason I just don't choose much from.  At just over one-and-a-half minutes, ~ Sasquatch ~ is a super little number that is a neat blend of surf rock and punk, so, a lot of energy to be had in such a "transistor glamour." XD   Hear ~  Sasquatch  ~ on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Dick Dale - Take It Or Leave It     My song pick 2 years ago today: John Denver - Fire and Rain/The Box   My song pick 3 years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Testify   My song pick 4 years ago today: Nightwish - Harvest   My song pick 5 years ago today: Kool and the Gang - Funky Granny   My song pick 6 years ago today: Soundgarden - Blood on the Valley Floor   My song pick 7 years ago today: Ba...

From: Ha!-Ha!-Ha! ; Year: 1977; Genre: Punk/New Wave The sophomore album from Ultravox!, who still had the exclamation in their name and John Foxx with lead vocals for the band. Much more raw and punky sound than their better known material, but still one I like a lot. I just love the in-your-face attitude they had with this one, (which was the first single released from the record), not only musically, but with all the raunchy and bawdy lyrics with enough sneer and distortion that they blew right past the censors; how punk is that?   Hear ROckWrok on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Foreigner - Headknocker     My song pick 2 years ago today: Badfinger - Timeless   My song pick 3 years ago today: Toad The Wet Sprocket - Come Back Down   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ambrosia - Holdin' On To Yesterday   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash   My song pick 6 years ago today: Billy Joel ...

From: That Summer! (Soundtrack); Year: 1979; Genre: New Wave Haven't listened to the Zones in a while, so I am and choosing one of their songs as well. Whilst the band only lasted for a brief period and featured a single studio album, member went on to other acts that became even more famous. New Life was their contribution to the soundtrack of the '79 film That Summer! , which featured many other new wave/post punk bands that were big at the time.     Hear New Life on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Johnny Rivers - Seventh Son     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rare Earth - Satisfaction Guaranteed   My song pick 3 years ago today: Meat Loaf - You Took the Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Saturday Night)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Cam Ye O'er Frae France   My song pick 5 years ago today: Hawkwind - The Road To...   My song pick 6 years ago today: Lacy J. Dalton - 16th Avenue My...

From: Life Is Good ; Year: 2017; Genre: Celtic Rock/Punk/Folk Rock Happy St. Patty's Day once more! Not too entirely sure in which nations it is celebrated, but I do know it is usually celebrated in nations with a lot of people with Irish ancestry and I believe it is a proper Holiday/Feast celebrated by Catholics. Anyway, as usual am picking a song that is at least somewhat apropos for the occasion. I've only chosen a single track from the band Flogging Molly before, so here is another.   Hear Crushed (Hostile Nations) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Waylander - Kindred Spirits   My song pick 2 years ago today: Black 47 - Land Of DeValera   My song pick 3 years ago today: Frank Mackey & The Keltic Cowboys - Rocky Road to Dublin   My song pick 4 years ago today: Black 47 - Bodhráns On The Brain   My song pick 5 years ago today: Waylander - The Vernal Dance   My song pick 6 years ago today: Thin Lizzy - Dublin My song...

From: The Body, The Blood, The Machine ; Year: 2006; Genre: Indie Rock Lately I have been listening to this album a lot. Noticing just how great the entire record actually is; I mean, I really have always liked it since hearing I Hold the Sound as part of the soundtrack to an NHL video game about 18 some years ago. I like their other albums as well, but this one was the best, to me at least.   Hear A Pillar of Salt on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bachman & Turner - Rollin' Along   My song pick 2 years ago today: Yes - And You and I   My song pick 3 years ago today: Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) - Blue Drag   My song pick 4 years ago today: Warren Zevon - Nighttime in the Switching Yard   My song pick 5 years ago today: April Wine - Silver Dollar   My song pick 6 years ago today: Smokehouse - Polar Funk My song pick 7 years ago today: Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fal...

From: Palm Trees and Power Lines ; Year: 2004; Genre: Indie Rock/Alternative Rock/Punk I remember back, about 15 to 20 years ago there was an amazing crop of indie artists that still to this day I follow; one of them was Sugarcult. This band is yet another amongst many that I seemingly erroneously believe that I have already chosen a song from, but obviously have not. Memory was in fact the first song that I heard from the band and that hooked me for good. The high energy punk vibe combined with the maudlin subject matter and lyrics really make a great pairing.   Hear Memory on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - White Flags   My song pick 2 years ago today: Billie Holiday - If The Moon Turns Green   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rolling Stones - Laugh, I Nearly Died   My song pick 4 years ago today: Joe Tex - Ain't Gonna Bump No More   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Under the Bottom   My son...

From: Dookie ; Year: 1993; Genre: Punk Rock This rather silly juvenile "attitude" song was one I remember hearing a lot back in the day, but even more the hidden little ditty All By Myself that followed if you let the CD play.  Anyway, truthfully, it has always made me shake my head how some individuals can demean themselves by taking the time to write and/or play something like a song in "honour" of an individual that he/she hates that much. It really shows just how much space and energy that person is taking up in the life of the individual taking the time to write and/or play for this person who is the object of his/her hate, not to mention it showing the world how much hate and venom the performer of said song has in their heart. Okay, so that being said and all, this is definitely one of those excellent stress relieving tracks where you just crank it up and caterwaul to at the top of your lungs.   Hear F.O.D. on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago tod...

From: The Gift of Rock ; Year: 2005; Genre: Christmas Music/Hard Rock/Punk This raucous tune originally by The Kinks has to be among my top five contemporary Holiday songs. I've always loved how it has upbeat and in-your-face punk aspects with a very deep and poignant message, whist just underneath for most of the song, but gets sprung on you in full exposition at the end. Anyway, since lead singer Steve Harwell's passing back in September I have found myself listening to Smash Mouth more often. I really felt like I needed to choose their cover of this classic this year before the Season is over.   Hear Father Christmas on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Greensleeved   My song pick 2 years ago today: Chick Corea - What Child is This?   My song pick 3 years ago today: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Prince of Peace   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bob Rivers - Flu Ride   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Pretende...

From The Pallas E.P. ; Year: 1978; Genre: New Wave/Hard Rock This early E.P. from the band is quite different from the progressive rock that they have been known for over the years. The song is kind of an odd blend of new wave, hard rock, with some definite punk and prog thrown in there; Graeme Murray really plays the heck out of that bass throughout the song and is a big draw for me on this track.    Hear Reds Under the Beds on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Future Place   My song pick 2 years ago today: Paris - Janie   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - The Stars Look Down   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bob Welch - Outskirts My song pick 5 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Take It Easy (In Your Mind) My song pick 6 years ago today: Sammy Hagar - Heavy Metal My song pick 7 years ago today: Return to Forever - Flight of the Newborn My song pick 8 years ago today: Hawkwind - Choose Your Masques ...

From: re·ac·tor ; Year: 1981; Genre: Hard Rock Took a drive around in our old stomping grounds where we used to live over a decade ago and was enjoying some tunes as well; this album was one of the highlights for me personally. Surfer Joe and Moe the Sleaze is one of the better examples of Neil Young doing the whole grunge thing way before it got popular with a kind of blend of hard rock, punk, and blues rock.   Hear Surfer Joe and Moe the Sleaze on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Archie Bell & The Drells - The Soul City Walk   My song pick 2 years ago today: Xerath - I Hold Dominion   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steve Miller Band - Going to the Country   My song pick 4 years ago today: Hawkwind - Sweet Obsession My song pick 5 years ago today: Yes - The Prophet My song pick 6 years ago today: Genesis - The Cinema Show My song pick 7 years ago today: Skid Row - Monkey Business My song pick 8 years ago today: ZZ Top - ...

From: Playmate of the Year ; Year: 2000; Genre: Punk Rock/Pop This is another one of those instances where a song just kind of dislodged itself from the dark recesses on my brain and started to play in my head. I guess it must be within the last 22 years that I last heard it, but it's an awful fun and catchy track to listen to and I'm glad I got to hear it once again.   Hear Playmate of the Year on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Mideast Vacation   My song pick 2 years ago today: Gin Blossoms - Hey Jealousy   My song pick 3 years ago today: Dream Theater - Falls Into the Light   My song pick 4 years ago today: Quarterflash - Night Shift My song pick 5 years ago today: Mastodon - Hearts Alive My song pick 6 years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - It's a Shame My song pick 7 years ago today: Neil Young - This Note's For You My song pick 8 years ago today: Dire Straits - Telegraph Road My song pi...

From: Love + Fury ; Year: 2013; Genre: Punk/Rock Have to say: the first time I heard this punk cover of the classic song from ABBA I didn't really like, but I stuck around for the chorus and then they won me over. It's kind of interesting how they were able to whittle about 1:10 off the length of the original and still essentially not leave anything out of the track; heck, they even "shoehorned" in a guitar solo, so, yeah, I'd say it's quite a successful cover song.   Hear S.O.S. on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Maxine Nightingale - Right Back Where We Started From   My song pick 2 years ago today: Primus - Last Salmon Man (Fisherman's Chronicles, Part IV)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Paul Simon - 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover My song pick 4 years ago today: Michael Martin Murphey - Wildfire My song pick 5 years ago today: Alestorm - No Grave But The Sea My song pick 6 years ago today: Antoine Busnois - Gaude Coelestis Domina M...

From: Ixnay on the Hombre ; Year: 1997; Genre: Punk Rock/Hard Rock I currently have a lot of the music from this album on my mind, so, what the heck... might as well indulge my subconscious once more. I Choose is one of the lead singles off of Ixnay on the Hombre , and has that great sound that most fans of the band love so much.   Hear I Choose on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Wolfmother - The Simple Life   My song pick 2 years ago today: Quincy Jones - I'm Gonna Miss You In the Morning   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jim Croce - Thursday My song pick 4 years ago today: Soundgarden - Overfloater My song pick 5 years ago today: Alice Cooper - Hey Stoopid My song pick 6 years ago today: Eurythmics - Here Comes the Rain Again My song pick 7 years ago today: Jefferson Airplane - Plastic Fantastic Lover My song pick 8 years ago today: Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself My song pick 9 year...

From: The Body, The Blood, The Machine ; Year: 2006; Genre: Indie Rock This was the album that originally got me into the band, which is kind of odd being that it's a concept album from an indie rock act with some punk sensibilities, but it absolutely works. I Might Need You To Kill is the second song in the story and starts to build the narrative pretty well. Even listening to the songs by themselves they more or less stand on their own, especially with the raw, lo-fi sound of the music.   Hear I Might Need You To Kill on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: IQ - Passing Strangers   My song pick 2 years ago today: Melissa Manchester - Don't Cry Out Loud   My song pick 3 years ago today: Lighthouse - Magic's in the Dancing My song pick 4 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Down to the Line My song pick 5 years ago today: The Guess Who - Bus Rider My song pick 6 years ago today: Of Monsters and Men - Crystals My song pick 7 ...

From: Smash ; Year: 1994; Genre: Punk/Rock/Hard Rock On and off for the past few weeks I've been listening to The Offspring and thought I'd get around to picking another one of their songs. I really like what they did with the into on this track with the bright bass countering the sparse vocals, which then launch into a full-on punk/hard rock extravaganza.   Hear Bad Habit on YouTube. (Explicit Lyrics Warning)       My song pick 1 year ago today: Midnight Oil - Antarctica   My song pick 2 years ago today: Steely Dan - Black Cow   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Stop! My song pick 4 years ago today: The New Riders of the Purple Sage - Panama Red My song pick 5 years ago today: Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same My song pick 6 years ago today: Argent - Trapeze My song pick 7 years ago today: Stanley Clarke - Play the Bass My song pick 8 years ago today: Weather Report - Orange Lady My song pick 9 years ago today: Bachman...