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

From: Get Ready ; Year: 1969; Genre: Blues Rock Kind of felt like going for one of Rare Earth's extended tracks, of which I have already picked a lot. This is, of course, the modern classic standard originally written by John D. Loudermilk and has been covered and recorded many times. I'll always love this heavy blues version that I heard a lot over the years; all the instruments are incredible, but especially that organwork; and those guitars are spectacular.   Hear Tobacco Road on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Devo - Jocko Homo     My song pick 2 years ago today: Three Dog Night - Pieces of April   My song pick 3 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Hate to Feel   My song pick 4 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Sell My Soul   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ohio Players - Love Rollercoaster   My song pick 6 years ago today: Fairport Convention - Expletive Delighted   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Holli...

From: Dreams/Answers ; Year: 1968; Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B For the life on me I cannot remember if I have picked a song off of Rare Earth's debut album; wotever the case, I know I have now. Dreams/Answers predates their signing with the iconic label Motown and did not do very well, but they hit big with their followup after joining the hit making factory. As you might've guessed, this is a medley of two of the Supremes' biggest hit songs: Where Did Our Love Go and Stop! In the Name of Love .    Hear Stop/Where Did Our Love Go on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Azteca - Peace Everybody     My song pick 2 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Too Much Sunshine   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Nothing Lasts   My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Box in my Head   My song pick 5 years ago today: King Harvest - A Little Bit Like Magic   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Temptations - ...

From: Rarearth ; Year: 1977; Genre: Hard Rock/Funk Rock Just in the mood for some hard funk rock from Rare Earth, and this has it in spades.    Hear Tin Can People on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Al Di Meola - Capoeira   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rush - Chain Lightning   My song pick 3 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Yertle The Turtle   My song pick 4 years ago today: Ian Anderson - In Maternal Grace   My song pick 5 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - I Am a Rock   My song pick 6 years ago today: .38 Special - Stone Cold Believer My song pick 7 years ago today: The Cure - Winter My song pick 8 years ago today: The Drifters - On Broadway My song pick 9 years ago today: Elvis Presley - Steamroller Blues My song pick 10 years ago today: King Crimson - In the Wake of Poseidon (including "Libra's Theme") My song pick 11 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Sitting at the Wheel My song pick 12...

From: One World ; Year: 1971; Genre: Funk Rock/Soul Well, we are at the midpoint of the month and its third Friday. Been meaning to choose one more from Rare Earth, so, it's a good match.   Hear The Seed on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bruce Springsteen - I'm on Fire   My song pick 2 years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Meadow   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pearl Jam - Dance of the Clairvoyants   My song pick 4 years ago today: Twelfth Night - East of Eden   My song pick 5 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Jungle Man   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Lady Jane My song pick 7 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Tenderloin My song pick 8 years ago today: The Beach Boys - I Can Hear Music My song pick 9 years ago today: Earthless - Equus October My song pick 10 years ago today: Rammstein - Weiner Blut My song pick 11 years ago today: Miles Davis - Funky Tonk My song pick 12 years ag...

From: Willie Remembers.. ; Year: 1972; Genre: Hard Rock/Funk Rock Just a perfect time for another hard funky song from Rare Earth. I love how I can just put this album on and play whilst I work; time just flies on by.   Hear I Couldn't Believe What Happened Last Night on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Diana Ross - Touch Me in the Morning   My song pick 2 years ago today: Nazareth - Love Hurts   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Nice - Hang on to a Dream   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Grass Roots - The River Is Wide   My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Perfect Water My song pick 6 years ago today: Cinderella - Gypsy Road My song pick 7 years ago today: April Wine - Just Between You and Me My song pick 8 years ago today: Sky - Chiropodie No.1 My song pick 9 years ago today: Queen - Headlong My song pick 10 years ago today: The Chakachas - Jungle Fever My song pick 11 years ago today: The Outlaws...

From: Ma ; Year: 1973; Genre: Funk/Soul/Motown Listening to some Rare Earth this morning with this selection coming from their album Ma . At just over four minutes, Big John Is My Name is the shortest track from the record. It has some amazing bass and drums throughout and is dripping with some great psychedelic funk.   Hear Big John Is My Name on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Moody Blues - In My World   My song pick 2 years ago today: Oomph! - Kennst Du Mich?   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rare Earth - 6-3-4-5   My song pick 4 years ago today: Commodores - Nightshift   My song pick 5 years ago today: Pallas - Throwing Stones at the Wind My song pick 6 years ago today: Wolfmother - Mind's Eye My song pick 7 years ago today: Pendragon - If I Were The Wind (and you were the rain) My song pick 8 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Flying Dutchman My song pick 9 years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Vasoline My song pi...

From: Ecology ; Year: 1970; Genre: Funk Rock/Psychedelic Rock This first week of summer has been weird for me; doesn't feel like a workweek for some reason and now said workweek is coming to a close. Oh well; might as well just throw myself into the funky hard rock of Rare Earth I guess. Ecology is one of those records where there is no real "throw away" songs, and this is an excellent one to start side two of the LP.   Hear Satisfaction Guaranteed on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Meat Loaf - You Took the Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Saturday Night)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Cam Ye O'er Frae France   My song pick 3 years ago today: Hawkwind - The Road To...   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lacy J. Dalton - 16th Avenue My song pick 5 years ago today: Rush - Something for Nothing My song pick 6 years ago today: Gary Davis - Gotta Get Your Love My song pick 7 years ago today: Hall & Oats - Maneate...

From: One World ; Year: 1971; Genre: Soul/R&B/Hard Rock Such a great idea to open an album with a hard hitting, genre-spanning 7+ minute track such as this; must've just been magic to drop the stylus on the record and behold it exiting the speakers. This is a cover originally written and recorded by Ray Charles and his band and is quite a historical and landmark composition; I really like wot Rare Earth did in this cover.   Hear What'd I Say on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - In Brief Visitation   My song pick 2 years ago today: Geddy Lee - Slipping   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Sweet - Hell Raiser   My song pick 4 years ago today: ZZ Top - I Thank You My song pick 5 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - You Made Me Believe in Magic My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Mother Goose My song pick 7 years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV. 1027 - Sonata in G Major My song pick 8 years ago today...

From: Midnight Lady ; Year: 1976; Genre: Funk Rock/Soul Was vacillating between a few bands/artists to pick for today's song, but eventually settled on choosing one from the one and only R&B/Funk/Soul group: Rare Earth. I absolutely love the rhythm section of this song, both the Latin-influenced drums/percussion and that awesome bass line with the thumping pedal tones. On top of that you got the great lead instruments and vocals with those very '70s sounding strings accompanying; a fun song all in all.   Hear Midnight Lady on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Ventures - Journey to the Stars   My song pick 2 years ago today: Missing Link - Sorcery   My song pick 3 years ago today: Boston - Party   My song pick 4 years ago today: Azteca - Non Pacem My song pick 5 years ago today: The Zombies - Beechwood Park My song pick 6 years ago today: Three Dog Night - The Loner My song pick 7 years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Babies...

From: Ma ; Year: 1973; Genre: Psychedelic Soul Been sick over the last few days, so I've not had a lot of time to listen to any music, however, this album and this Motown cover from Rare Earth just felt good. This track was, of course, first recorded by The Temptations, but made famous by The Undisputed Truth a short time later. Whilst not nearly at the level of the original, I really like wot they did with it in making it distinctively their own sound while keeping the original soul/message of the song intact.   Hear Smiling Faces Sometimes on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Rhythm Machine - Thought My Love Was Fine   My song pick 2 years ago today: Devo - Uncontrollable Urge   My song pick 3 years ago today: Pallas - Nightmare My song pick 4 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Just Trying to Be My song pick 5 years ago today: Pitchshifter - Genius My song pick 6 years ago today: Styx - Born For Adventure My song pick 7 years ago today: Ia...

From: Willie Remembers ; Year: 1972; Genre: Hard Rock Bringing November to a close with some Rare Earth today. The other day I got to check out this album, which is one I had yet to sample, and this is the lead single from it. From wot I understand the overall record wasn't received well but is a must for fans of the band.   Hear Good Time Sally on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Asia - Anytime   My song pick 2 years ago today: Joe Cocker - Woman to Woman   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jimmy Jules & The Nuclear Soul System - Xmas Done Got Funky My song pick 4 years ago today: Queen - A Winter's Tale My song pick 5 years ago today: Gloryhammer - Rise of the Chaos Wizards My song pick 6 years ago today: Foghat - Third Time Lucky (First Time I Was a Fool) My song pick 7 years ago today: Béla Fleck & the Flecktones - Scratch & Sniff My song pick 8 years ago today: Triumph - A World of Fantasy My song pick 9 years ago...

From: Ma ; Year: 1973; Genre: Hard Rock/Psychedelic Soul Had this album from Rare Earth on my mind for a while now and I decided on picking another song from it. I like the big, thumping sound from the band, which is something you should be accustomed to if you've heard them at all.   Hear Hum Along and Dance on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Rammstein - Radio   My song pick 2 years ago today: Matthews' Southern Comfort - Tell Me Why My song pick 3 years ago today: Sam & Dave - Hold On, I'm Coming My song pick 4 years ago today: Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman My song pick 5 years ago today: Meat Loaf - Life is a Lemon (and I Want My Money Back) My song pick 6 years ago today: Martin Barre - I Raise My Glass To You My song pick 7 years ago today: ABBA - Knowing Me, Knowing You My song pick 8 years ago today: The Kooks - She Moves In Her Own Way My song pick 9 years ago today: Hector Berlioz - Op. 14 - Symphonie Fantastique: Ép...

From: Dreams/Answers ; Year: 1968; Genre: Funk/Rock/Soul It's the first Funky Friday of the new month and just so happened to have Rare Earth going through my mind. 6-3-4-5 is a neat piece of funky soul that really hits the spot on a day like today.   Hear 6-3-4-5 on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Commodores - Nightshift   My song pick 2 years ago today: Pallas - Throwing Stones at the Wind My song pick 3 years ago today: Wolfmother - Mind's Eye My song pick 4 years ago today: Pendragon - If I Were The Wind (and you were the rain) My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Flying Dutchman My song pick 6 years ago today: Stone Temple Pilots - Vasoline My song pick 7 years ago today: Bruce Hornsby and the Range - Mandolin Rain My song pick 8 years ago today: George Strait - Ocean Front Property My song pick 9 years ago today: April Wine - Future Tense My song pick 10 years ago today: The Darkness - Hazel Eyes My song pick 11...

From: Ma ; Year: 1973; Genre: Hard Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Funk Heard some Rare Earth yesterday and it got me in the mood to make one my pick today. This is their 17+ minute epic title track that took up one entire side of the record. Hear Ma on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Crash Test Dummies - Swimming in Your Ocean My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - A New Day Yesterday My song pick 3 years ago today: Vital Tech Tones - Crash Course My song pick 4 years ago today: Primus - Poetry and Prose My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Budapest My song pick 6 years ago today: Ozark Mountain Daredevils - If You Wanna Get to Heaven My song pick 7 years ago today: Dream Theater - Lie My song pick 8 years ago today: Aerosmith - Home Tonight My song pick 9 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Overseer Overture / Flight from Lucifer My song pick 10 years ago today: The Beatles - Think for Yourself My song pick 11 years ago today: Queen feat. Dav...

From: Ecology ; Year: 1970; Genre: Rock/Soul/Funk This one has some great rock infused funk and soul throughout with a great groove. Hear Born to Wander on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: The Byrds - I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better My song pick 2 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - I'm On the Lamb, But Ain't No Sheep My song pick 3 years ago today: Fates Warning - Stranger (With a Familiar Face) My song pick 4 years ago today: Herbie Hancock - Oh! Oh! Here He Comes My song pick 5 years ago today: Lobo - Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - Different Strings My song pick 7 years ago today: Led Zeppelin - The Rain Song My song pick 8 years ago today: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - Big Country My song pick 9 years ago today: ABBA - When All is Said and Done My song pick 10 years ago today: Hawkwind - Motorhead My song pick 11 years ago today: Savatage - Can You Hear Me Now

From: Rare Earth In Concert ; Year: 1971; Genre: Rock/R&B/Funk It hit me for some reason to pick a song from Rare Earth today; it's been a while since I picked one. This is one of their higher ranked singles and for good reason; their sound that fuses hard rock and Motown is incredible. Hear Hey Big Brother on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: The Drifters - Up On The Roof My song pick two years ago today: Lou Rawls - Long 'Bout Midnight My song pick three years ago today: The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg My song pick four years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Roll On Down the Highway My song pick five years ago today: Pallas - Ark of Infinity My song pick six years ago today: Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - A Taste of Honey My song pick seven years ago today: Steve Miller Band - Rock'n Me My song pick eight years ago today: Three Dog Night - Try A Little Tenderness My song pick nine years ago today: Stev...

From: Band Together ; Year: 1978; Genre: Disco/Funk When making my pick this morning I had some music from Rare Earth running through my mind. I decided to choose something different, something that's not what you think of when someone mentions the band. This is a cover of a Bee Gees song and a bit of a hit for the band at the time. Not a bad song at all, but the sound is very dated to the late 70s era however; it still has that Rare Earth punch though. Hear Warm Ride on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Pallas - Warriors My song pick two years ago today: Soundgarden - Flower My song pick three years ago today: Northern Kings - Wanted Dead or Alive My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Bungle in the Jungle My song pick five years ago today: Edvard Grieg - Op. 54, No.3 - The March of the Trolls ( Troldtog ) My song pick six years ago today: Rob Zombie - Dragula My song pick seven years ago today: Tears for Fears - Mad World

From: One World ; Year: 1971; Genre: Hard Rock Since I was choosing between two bands to pick yesterday I thought I would pick one from the other band I had in mind. Rare Earth is a band I came to like actually after only hearing one of their songs, however, this is one of their songs that I only heard just recently. I have to say, their up to their usual great form. Hear Under God's Light on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Foreigner - Double Vision My song pick two years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Dark Matter My song pick three years ago today: Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs My song pick four years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil My song pick five years ago today: The Moody Blues - OM My song pick six years ago today: Jon Oliva's Pain - Guardian Of Forever

From: Get Ready ; Year: 1969; Genre: Hard Rock/R&B I woke up this morning with this song from Motown's own hard rock band running through my head. Get Ready was, of course, originally written by the incomparable Smokey Robinson and was a hit song recorded by The Temptations. This hard rock rendition comes across as an extended jam, which was based off their live performance of the song; Rare Earth would close out their set with this extended jam complete with each instrument getting a proper solo. It ended up at over twenty minutes in length and took up the entire b-side of the album. From what I understand Motown was unsure about releasing their version as a single, of course when the label finally relented it was released at a far more radio-friendly 2:48. Hear the full 20+ minute version on YouTube. Hear the much abbreviated single edit on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Trio of Doom - Continuum My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Aqua...

1584 Rare Earth - I Just Want to Celebrate From: One World , Year: 1971 Genre: Hard Rock/Funk This is another one of those days where I had every intention of picking another song, but this one started to play in my head. And as I usually do, I took it as a sign I should pick it, although I should've waited for Friday; this would have made a good Funky Friday pick. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a classic live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Top Gear Band - Red Light Spells Danger My song pick two years ago today: Azteca - Love is a Stranger My song pick three years ago today: Danzig - Mother My song pick four years ago today: Savatage - Gutter Ballet +