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

From: Built to Last ; Year: 1989; Genre: Country Rock Dang, another month is now over; October is always positive, or at least I can hope. Had the 'Dead on my mind for most of yesterday, so I figured I should pick another one from the band, which is one I have always enjoyed. This one, which was written by late keyboardist Brent Mydland and long-time 'Dead collaborator/poet John Barlow, also features Mydland on lead vocals has a message and feel similar to the Earth movement back in the 1960/70s with more of a '90s production and sound indicative of them and their music of the era. Of course, this was also the Grateful Dead's "swansong" studio album; Brent Mydland passed away less than a year later.   Hear We Can Run on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: King Crimson - The Great Deceiver     My song pick 2 years ago today: Geddy Lee - Gone     My song pick 3 years ago today: Tommy Roe - Dizzy   My song pick 4 years ago tod...

From: Resident Alien ; Year: 1995; Genre: Glam Rock Another day of choosing a track that was on my mind; at least I am not picking one in memorandum of a recently deceased artist. (Knock on wood) Here's the song of the band's namesake from their debut studio album. I can only think of a couple of bands that wrote a song named after themselves....     Hear Spacehog on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bruce Springsteen - The Promised Land     My song pick 2 years ago today: Klaatu - Anus of Uranus     My song pick 3 years ago today: Rockwell - Obscene Phone Caller   My song pick 4 years ago today: Zebrahead - Playmate of the Year   My song pick 5 years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Mideast Vacation   My song pick 6 years ago today: Gin Blossoms - Hey Jealousy   My song pick 7 years ago today: Dream Theater - Falls Into the Light   My song pick 8 years ago today: Quarterflash - Nig...

From: Bachman-Turner Overdrive II ; Year: 1973; Genre: Hard Rock Whilst not among the outstanding hit singles on this, BTO's first big charting record, to me it has always been one of the "go to" tracks and one of my favourites. Stonegates is a song that the band did everything they were noted for in spades: C.F. Turner's powerful and expressive vocals, great rhythm and hooky riffs, and mind-blowing lead guitars.   Hear Stonegates on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: R.E.O. Speedwagon - Keep the Fire Burning     My song pick 2 years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Dead Friends Play     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - For a Thousand Mothers   My song pick 4 years ago today: Rare Earth - Smiling Faces Sometimes   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rhythm Machine - Thought My Love Was Fine   My song pick 6 years ago today: Devo - Uncontrollable Urge   My song pick 7 years ago today: Pallas - Nightmare My...

From: The Messenger ; Year: 2023; Genre: Progressive Rock Finding it quite difficult to find much of Pallas' most recent material. I believe it mostly due to them self-releasing, which they have apparently been doing since their 2011 album XXV . It is always great to hear their new material as well as their classic songs as well; they sound just as youthful as they did way back in the '80s.   Hear Heavy Air on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jerry Reed - The Phantom Of The Opry     My song pick 2 years ago today: Luther Ingram - (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right     My song pick 3 years ago today: Funkadelic - You Hit the Nail on the Head   My song pick 4 years ago today: Boston - Tell Me   My song pick 5 years ago today: Ian Anderson - The Browning of the Green   My song pick 6 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Roadways   My song pick 7 years ago today: Helloween - Pumpkins United   ...

From: The Early Years 1965-1972 ; Year: 2016; Genre: Psychedelic Rock  Still sick... some early Pink Floyd seemed almost perfect. Discovered that this used to be quite a rare song that was intended as a b-side for two early singles, but never made the cut. I believe that this is one penned by the late-great Syd Barret, but the lead vocals were performed by Nick Mason, which is very unique as well. Without a doubt between the tempo changes and Syd's sped-up backing vocals; it really delivers the insane psychedelia that the band was known for early on.   Hear Scream Thy Last Scream on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Blancmange - The Day Before You Came     My song pick 2 years ago today: Anne Murray - Snowbird     My song pick 3 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - Homeward Bound   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Question   My song pick 5 years ago today: Les Paul - Goofus   My song pi...

From: Chicago 17 ; Year: 1984; Genre: Soft Rock/Pop Caught a stupid head cold and have been insanely tired; wot a way to spend a weekend....  Had this one play in my mind for most of my waking hours yesterday, and whilst not my favourite from Chicago, the chorus always is a great draw for me. Also, it does get some play in different media every now and then, so it keeps itself somewhat in the cultural mindspace.   Hear You're the Inspiration on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Motörhead - Lost Johnny     My song pick 2 years ago today: Funkadelic - Wars of Armageddon     My song pick 3 years ago today: Black 47 - Fanatic Heart   My song pick 4 years ago today: Motörhead - Hellraiser   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - Reflections   My song pick 6 years ago today: Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot   My song pick 7 years ago today: Victor Wooten - Keep it Low ...

From: Return of the Dream Canteen ; Year: 2022; Genre: Funk Rock/Alternative Rock Needed some 'Chili Peppers today, no other reason; thought I'd just pick another off their most recent studio record.     Hear Afterlife on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Hawkwind - Song of the Swords     My song pick 2 years ago today: Roman Holliday - Stand By     My song pick 3 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Destination Unknown   My song pick 4 years ago today: Charlie Ryan - Hot Rod Lincoln   My song pick 5 years ago today: Sweeney Todd - Short Distance, Long Journey   My song pick 6 years ago today: Funkadelic - Foot Soldiers (Star Spangled Funky) My song pick 7 years ago today: Asia - Lying to Yourself     My song pick 8 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer My song pick 9 years ago today: Rush - Kid Gloves My song pick 10 years ago today: Blood, Sweat ...

From: Ghost Stories ; Year: 2024; Genre: Hard Rock This is another one of their songs that was left behind sometime between the late '70s and mid '80s and features lyrics penned by early New York punk pioneer Helen Wheels. Sure, it's not even close to their best material, but is a good hard rocker that is still fun to hear and dance along to.     Hear Gun on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Down the Road     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Jackson 5 - I'll Be There     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Undressed to Kill   My song pick 4 years ago today: Accept - Princess of the Dawn   My song pick 5 years ago today: Funkadelic - Shockwaves   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Average Man My song pick 7 years ago today: Reverend Horton Heat - Psychobilly Freakout My song pick 8 years ago today: Fates Warning - Anar...

From: Tribal Voice ; Year: 1991; Genre: Indigenous Australian Rock/New Wave It is always a bit perplexing when a song is playing in your head and you cannot identify the song or the artist. It took a little bit of sleuthing, but I was able to track it down after I realized that I had heard a version of it in the 1990s comedy movie Encino Man . It is quite a unique and truly awesome song; actually the same can be said for the band too. Being a blended group of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians makes the term "unique" kind of an understatement; have never heard a group that sounds even close. Of course, as always, I love being exposed to something different, so they are one I immediately liked. Anyway, whilst the radio edit of Treaty put the band in the spotlight, I actually like the original album version a bit more, but either one is great.    Hear Treaty on YouTube.   Hear the radio edit on YouTube.         My song p...

From: In Utero ; Year: 1993; Genre: Alternative Rock/Grunge Yet another day in which I had music from a band looping in my brain for wotever reason. Hear-Shaped Box was the lead single and I believe the highest charting single from their final, "swansong," studio album.    Watch the music video on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lou Rawls - When the Night Comes     My song pick 2 years ago today: Muse - Will of the People     My song pick 3 years ago today: Kenny Loggins - Whenever I Call You "Friend"   My song pick 4 years ago today: R.E.O. Speedwagon - Don't Let Him Go   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rush - Hand Over Fist   My song pick 6 years ago today: Wild Turkey - Gentle Rain My song pick 7 years ago today: Eddie Money - Walk on Water My song pick 8 years ago today: Dayton Sidewinders - Go Ahead On My song pick 9 years ago today: Victor Wooten - I Saw God My song pick 10 years ago ...

From: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears ; Year: 1966; Genre: Folk Rock/Psychedelic Rock Had this one playing in my mind for most of the day yesterday, which is not a bad thing by any measure; it's a very good, iconic song. Far and gone the vocals are simply amazing, and being combined with the pros that were the Wrecking Crew, you get the great track that this one is.   Hear California Dreamin' on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Iron Maiden - The Trooper     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rockwell - T.V. Psychology     My song pick 3 years ago today: Jim Stafford - Wildwood Weed   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back   My song pick 5 years ago today: The Cure - The 13th   My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - Carnies My song pick 7 years ago today: Bootsy's Rubber Band - Another Point of View My song pick 8 years ago today: America - Watership Down My song pick 9 y...

From: A Day At The Races ; Year: 1976; Genre: Progressive Rock This track, which closes out this classic record, is from the pen of Brian May is another one of Queen's songs that is a little bit out of the ordinary. Quite operatic with a lot going on throughout, plus you get to hear Freddy sing two of the choruses in Japanese. It was actually released as a single in Japan and did pretty well.   Hear Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Snakecharmer   My song pick 2 years ago today: Billy Joel - She's Right On Time     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Say Leroy (The Creature From The Black Lagoon Is Your Father)   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - You Got That Right   My song pick 5 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Running Free   My song pick 6 years ago today: Jon Oliva's Pain - Festival My song pick 7 yea...

From: Guitar Man ; Year: 1972; Genre: Soft Rock Used to listen to this record a lot back when I was in my early teens; still love it quite a bit. It's one of those album oriented rock discs that each track just leads from one to another perfectly as to not break the vibe and flow of the listener. In my opinion Guitar Man was Bread's best record by a country mile; even though they might've had bigger hits elsewhere, the sum of its parts just blows their other studio album away. Anyway, this piece that features strings and acoustic guitar is quite mellow musically on the surface, but the emotion conveyed in the chord choices and melody along with David Gates' vocal performance make it deep and heavy all the same.   Hear Aubrey on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bryan Adams - Summer of '69     My song pick 2 years ago today: For Squirrels - Plymouth     My song pick 3 years ago today: The Undisputed Truth - Atomic Funk   ...

From: Fuck Everyone And Run (F E A R) ; Year: 2016; Genre: Progressive Rock I must be in a solemn or melancholy mood lately; been listening to a lot of heavy downer, but powerful music. I suppose this whole record is more so with the overall current subject matter of how humankind has devolved to the point of seeing an impending global catastrophe, be it economic, humanitarian, etc... and the overall reaction, especially those who have the ability to make a difference, to just greedily acquire all the money and resources whilst charging head-first into the annihilation. Kind of a "the winner is the one who dies with the most" type of thinking. Anyhoo, this is the opening track/mini concept piece that consists of five songs within. Quite a pretty and uplifting suite of music that works in such a way that the listener's attention is kept throughout its entirety.      Watch a full live performance on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Rammste...

From: Truth ; Year: 1968; Genre: Hard Rock/Blues Rock This is the second song that I am aware of that was inspired by the late 1950s novel and film On The Beach ; the other being Dancing With Tears In My Eyes by Ultravox. While being the very dark and heavy subject matter of the omnipresent threat of nuclear holocaust experienced by those who lived Post War into the 1990s, it is quite thought-provoking. It was originally written in the early '60s by singer/songwriter Bonnie Dobson and subsequently covered many times since. I really like the overall arrangement and direction on this cover. All of the music is absolutely great as is Rod Stewart's vocals.   Hear Morning Dew on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Carmen - Sailor Song     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Isley Brothers - Hope You Feel Better Love (Part 1+2)     My song pick 3 years ago today: Gary Wright - Dream Weaver   My song pick 4 years ago today: Glass...

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: Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles ; Year: 1966; Genre: Rock/Pop Records like this is among the reasons I love and respect Chet Atkins as a musician and shredding picker on the guitar. He recorded a few of these "Chet Atkins Pick on X" albums. And whilst he is mostly synonymous with Nashville and country and western, he actually delved into a wide spectrum of music, be it country, folk, bluegrass, blues, jazz, classical, R&B, soul, Spanish/Mexican/Flamenco, rock, pop and basically everything in between. He definitely was without a doubt a musician's musician. What I like most about this one is how his unmistakable picking and sound are in the forefront and ever-present, he keep The Beatles' spirit of their pop rock composition totally intact.  I really wonder though, what John, Paul, George, and Ringo thought of his covers?   Hear Chet's cover of Hard Day's Night on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: R.E.M. - Bang and Blame   ...