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

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: Luna Sea ; Year: 1977; Genre: Soft Rock/Country Rock Felt like some late 1970s rock/power pop/soft rock today; do not know why. Firefall is one of the bands that tics all of the above criteria, so I'm picking another one of their tracks. So Long is one of those nice tracks that has a good beat, good vocals, and an amazing twin guitar lead; all positives in my book.     Hear So Long on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Curtis Mayfield - Superfly     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Winery Dogs - Xanadu     My song pick 3 years ago today: Bob Welch - I'll Dance Alone   My song pick 4 years ago today: Headstones - S.O.S.   My song pick 5 years ago today: Maxine Nightingale - Right Back Where We Started From   My song pick 6 years ago today: Primus - Last Salmon Man (Fisherman's Chronicles, Part IV)   My song pick 7 years ago today: Paul Simon - 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover My song pick 8 y...

From: 52nd Street ; Year: 1978; Genre: Soft Rock I believe that I've stated it before, but Glass Houses and The Stranger are without a doubt my top two favouite Billy Joel records. 52nd Street though, you'd think would be right there, and make no mistake, I love the album, but I have some weird idiosyncrasy where it just slips my mind. I remember the songs from it and such, and each time I see it it makes me feel like a moron that I did, in fact, miss it. Anyway, this is one of the main hits from it and one that most who like his work knows by heart.    Hear Honesty on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Kalimba Tree     My song pick 2 years ago today: John Denver - Fly Away     My song pick 3 years ago today: Paice Ashton Lord - Ghost Story   My song pick 4 years ago today: Thompson Twins - Lies   My song pick 5 years ago today: ABBA - Eagle   My song pick 6 years ago today: George ...

From: Waking and Dreaming ; Year: 1976; Genre: Rock/Pop Happened to have this one playing in my brain just before getting ready to make this post, you know the rest. Probably individuals around my age and old remember this slice of 1970s pop; those younger might remember some of the song used in commercials and such. Still quite enjoyable and the twin lead guitars are definitely one of the best parts.     Hear Still the One on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Mac Davis - Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me     My song pick 2 years ago today: Bob Marley and The Wailers - Freedom Time   My song pick 3 years ago today: Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Nothing Ever Happens   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Living in These Hard Times   My song pick 5 years ago today: Parliament - Livin' the Life   My song pick 6 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Rainier Fog   My song pick 7 years ago today: Savatage - S...

From: Das Letzte Einhorn "The Last Unicorn" Original Soundtrack ; Year: 1982; Genre: Soft Rock/Soundtrack Was talking about America's songs from this classic movie soundtrack and just a little later it came on while driving; quite a coincidence, right? Just seemed like a sign that it should be chosen today. Anyway, this was one of three tracks recorded by the band America for The Last Unicorn , but from wot I understand they also had a hand in the orchestral pieces as well. Gerry Beckley performs the lead vocals on this one and the title-track and, even though all pieces of music were written/arranged/produced by Jimmy Webb, this track and their others on the soundtrack sit perfectly with any compilation of songs from the band, which are actually included on some of their Greatest Hits albums.   Hear In the Sea on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - City's Still Growing     My song pick 2 years ago today: ...

From: Struttin' My Stuff ; Year: 1975; Genre: Southern Rock Kind of surprised that I had not yet chosen something from Elvin Bishop yet; especially this song, which is probably one of his most famous. Basically, if you have a movie or TV show depicting the 1970s this is one of the "go-to" tracks to play in the background, as such has been used for just that on many occasions.     Hear Fooled Around and Fell In Love on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Funkadelic - I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody's Got a Thing     My song pick 2 years ago today: Boyz II Men - In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - One Rainy Wish   My song pick 4 years ago today: April Wine - Cat's Claw   My song pick 5 years ago today: Alphaville - Big In Japan   My song pick 6 years ago today: Primus - Mary the Ice Cube   My song pick 7 years ago today: Masto...

From: Let There Be Music ; Year: 1975; Genre: Soft Rock Just had this track pop into my mind today, and since I have yet to choose one from Orleans, as I normally do, I took it as a sign to pick it. I've never really looked into the band Orleans much, but have heard their more popular hits a lot over the years. It is one of those cases of me knowing the music but not the artist. This hit single was actually released on two consecutive studio albums, because their record company did not "see and hits" on it, so the 1974 Orleans II was only released in Europe and some Asian markets. After signing with another label they apparently re-recorded a couple of the songs, this being one of them, and released a brand new album with those two tracks being successful hits.   Hear Dance With Me on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Youngbloods - Darkness, Darkness     My song pick 2 years ago today: Deep Purple - Flight of the Rat   My song...

From: Portrait ; Year: 1970; Genre: Soft Rock/Soul/Pop Yesterday I discovered that founding member of The Fifth Dimension, Lamonte McLemore passed away. He had a lot of credits as an artists, photographer and actor, besides being a singer/musician/composer; definitely a great person who left a mark on multiple places.   Hear One Less Bell to Answer on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Jackyl - My Moonshine Kicks Your Cocaine's Ass     My song pick 2 years ago today: Sylvia - Cry Just a Little Bit   My song pick 3 years ago today: John McLaughlin and Mahavishnu - Mitch Match   My song pick 4 years ago today: George Harrison - This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Slade - Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Kinks - Nothing Lasts Forever   My song pick 7 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Getaway My song pick 8 years ago today: Crowde...

From: Dog & Butterfly ; Year: 1978; Genre: Folk Rock In my opinion this one of the Wilson sister's best songs they wrote. It reminds me a lot of Joni Mitchell from around the same era; whilst the music is more rock oriented and less jazzy just the way they weave the symbolism of dealing with personal struggles likened to the dog relentlessly trying to catch what is out of reach. It is very similar in the way Joni Mitchell compared her playing guitar to jets flying in the air in her song Amelia and the predatory nature of the proverbial  Coyote to that of a man in a bar trying to "score." I just love it when master songwriters, like Anne and Nancy Wilson confront a serious subject with some light-hearted whimsy; just makes for something special.   Hear Dog & Butterfly on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - Lucifer     My song pick 2 years ago today: Midnight Oil - At the Time of Writing   My s...

From: Legend ; Year: 1978; Genre: Country Rock On and off for many years now I've been meaning to choose a track from Poco; even to the point that I believed I already had. For those who don't know about Poco, they were one of the bands formed out of the dissolution of the storied band  Buffalo Springfield ; although by the release of Legend and Poco's major successes, both members of Buffalo Springfield, Jim Messina and Ritchie Furay, had moved on. In fact the only founding member to appear on this record, and every other release for that matter, was Rusty Young, whose death a few years ago brought the band to an end. However, Rusty Young did make an appearance of Buffalo Springfield's final album, Last Time Around , as a guest musician on a track playing pedal steel guitar, so arguably there always was one member of the former band. Anyway, if you have indulged in mainstream music from the late '70s and early '80s, you probably have heard this one at some tim...

From: Firefall ; Year: 1976; Genre: Soft Rock Was getting ready to pick another song today, but this one just popped into my head and I thought it would make a better choice anyway. It's one of those fairly easy-going '70s soft rock tracks with an infectious bossa nova beat.     Hear You Are the Woman on YouTube.          My song pick 1 year ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Keep Your Head to the Sky     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl   My song pick 3 years ago today: Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Demolition Man   My song pick 4 years ago today: Foreigner - The Beat of My Heart   My song pick 5 years ago today: Bernard Wright - Funky Beat   My song pick 6 years ago today: Genesis - The Fountain of Salmacis   My song pick 7 years ago today: Klaatu - Doctor Marvello My song pick 8 years ago today: Olivia Newton-John - Have You Never Been Mellow My song pick 9 years...

From: Sedaka's Back ; Year: 1974; Genre: Soft Rock If I had any "cred" for the music I like I would have to say this track was a "guilty pleasure." Whilst it is considered adult contemporary soft rock/pop, this one is quite a composition to listen to. Between that great, crisp piano and that saxophone it will have you probably restarting the track over a few times.   Hear Laughter in the Rain on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Sweetooth     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Watching and Waiting   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Where Did Saturday Go?   My song pick 4 years ago today: Santo & Johnny - Love In Space   My song pick 5 years ago today: Harlequin - Shine On   My song pick 6 years ago today: Tower of Power - It's Not The Crime   My song pick 7 years ago today: The Beatles - The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill My song pick 8 years ago tod...

From: Vol. 4 ; Year: 1972; Genre: Rock I felt the need to choose something from Ozzy's Black Sabbath today; just seemed apropos. This is probably the mellowest song from the band, but is just as heavy. It features only three of the band members and no guitar; Tony Iommi played both the piano and Mellotron, Geezer Butler also played the Mellotron as well as his bass, and of course, Ozzy lent his vocals. Most of the song was apparently inspired about the recent separation of drummer Bill Ward from his wife, but has become so much more to fans in particular, especially live both with Sabbath and Ozzy's solo shows.    Hear Changes on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Susie Q     My song pick 2 years ago today: Lakeside - U Got It Goin' On   My song pick 3 years ago today: Genesis - Counting Out Time   My song pick 4 years ago today: Asia - Never Again   My song pick 5 years ago today:...

From: Everything is Beautiful ; Year: 1970; Genre: Soft Rock/Pop/Gospel " There is none so blind As he who will not see We must not close our minds We must let our thoughts be free For every hour that passes by You know the world gets a little bit older It's time to realize that people lies In the eyes of the beholder "    Hear Everything is Beautiful on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lou Rawls - I'm Satisfied     My song pick 2 years ago today: Blondie - Maria   My song pick 3 years ago today: Crash Test Dummies (feat. Ellen Reid) - The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead   My song pick 4 years ago today: Heart - Lost Angel   My song pick 5 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Harvest   My song pick 6 years ago today: Fat Larry's Band - Act Like You Know My song pick 7 years ago today: Laura Branigan - Deep in the Dark My song pick 8 years ago today: Bay City Rollers - I Only Want to Be With You My song pick 9 yea...

From: Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me ; Year: 1972; Genre: Country/Soft Rock It always amazes me just how many hit songs Mac Davis has written; both ones he recorded and ones other artists made hits of. This is one of his most popular singles to his name both as performer and writer, and for me at least the first song that comes to mind when he is mentioned; although there are many more.   Hear Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bob Marley and The Wailers - Freedom Time   My song pick 2 years ago today: Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Nothing Ever Happens   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Living in These Hard Times   My song pick 4 years ago today: Parliament - Livin' the Life   My song pick 5 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Rainier Fog   My song pick 6 years ago today: Savatage - Skraggy's Tomb My song pick 7 years ago today: Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Countdown My song pick 8 years...

From: Things Are Great ; Year: 2022; Genre: Indie Rock I have to say, this most recent record from Band of Horses still holds up a few years on; I still love to put it on and zone out listening to it. This track in particular reminds me a lot of mid-late 1970s soft rock in all the best ways.   Hear In Need of Repair on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Classics IV - Traces   My song pick 2 years ago today: Dr. John - Snake Eyes   My song pick 3 years ago today: Harry Nilsson - Jump Into the Fire   My song pick 4 years ago today: Bob Dylan - It Ain't Me Babe   My song pick 5 years ago today: Of Monsters and Men - Alligator   My song pick 6 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Beat 'Em Up My song pick 7 years ago today: ZZ Top - Cheap Sunglasses My song pick 8 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Time Is On Your Side My song pick 9 years ago today: Exile - Please Be There My song pick 10 years ago today: Hank Willia...

From: Can't Slow Down ; Year: 1983; Genre: Soft Rock/Soul Start of another year, so Happy New Years! Although, to some, especially those who do not go by the Gregorian Calendar, it is just another day. I guess it could be considered a human construct based on the both the seasonal cycles and, of course, observations of the movement of the Sun and other celestial objects which in turn marks one orbit around our parent star, Sol. Whatever the case, the majority of current humankind recognizes this as the starting date of the year. Anyway, enjoy the day with this soothing hit song from the one and only Lionel Richie!   Watch the music video on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bon Jovi - New Year's Day   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bing Crosby - Let's Start The New Year Right   My song pick 3 years ago today: Louis Armstrong - I Can't Afford To Miss This Dream   My song pick 4 years ago today: Parliament - Bop Gun (Endangered Species) ...

From: First Under the Wire ; Year: 1979; Genre: Pop/Rock Lonesome Loser is one of those songs that you might not recognize it by title, but, if you were around during the '80s you will most likely know it when you hear it.    Hear Lonesome Loser on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Smashing Pumpkins - Luna   My song pick 2 years ago today: Banchee - Searcher's Life   My song pick 3 years ago today: David Bowie - Real Cool World   My song pick 4 years ago today: Spacehog - In The Meantime   My song pick 5 years ago today: Rare Earth - Ma   My song pick 6 years ago today: Crash Test Dummies - Swimming in Your Ocean My song pick 7 years ago today: Jethro Tull - A New Day Yesterday My song pick 8 years ago today: Vital Tech Tones - Crash Course My song pick 9 years ago today: Primus - Poetry and Prose My song pick 10 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Budapest My song pick 11 years ago today: Ozark Mountain Daredevi...

From: This Way Is My Way ; Year: 1970; Genre: Pop/Country/Folk Rock Yesterday afternoon I was enjoying some amazing weather outdoors: a sunny day that was warm but not too hot; yes, a perfect early autumn day. Whilst taking it all in I was watching some small birds play in the water while giving my plants a drink and this song just happened to start playing in my head, so I thought it was a great time for it. I have always liked the descending melody and chord progression, plus, the vocals are excellent as well.   Hear Snowbird on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Simon & Garfunkel - Homeward Bound   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Question   My song pick 3 years ago today: Les Paul - Goofus   My song pick 4 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Back on the Borderline   My song pick 5 years ago today: Quasar - Fire in the Sky   My song pick 6 years ago today: Curved Air - Elfin Boy My song pick 7 years ago tod...