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

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: Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds ; Year: 1978; Genre: Progressive Rock/Space Rock Had this album on my mind last night once again; thought I'd go with another one, or in this case two from this epic retelling of the H.G. Wells classic set to music. The Red Weed  is split into two parts and actually "sandwiches" another track: The Spirit of Man . The second part is especially cool in that you get to hear the late-great Phil Lynott as the character Parsons Nathaniel, which is pure awesomeness! The music and the dialogue work absolutely perfect together to keep the listener engaged.   Hear The Red Weed (Part 1)  on YouTube.   Hear The Red Weed (Part 2) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Explorers Club - Impact 4 – Time Enough     My song pick 2 years ago today: Marcus Miller - Keep 'Em Running   My song pick 3 years ago today: Iain Matthews - Darkness, Darkness   My song pick 4 years ago tod...

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: Station to Station ; Year: 1976; Genre: Progressive Rock/Space Rock Had this album play whilst out running errands and I thought it was a nice sign that I should pick another track from it. TVC 15 is kind of a fun little quirky song that delves into Bowie's excellent imagination. Behind the upbeat and very danceable veneer is a disturbing tale. It is about a man's girlfriend being pulled into his fancy television set; he begs and pleads for it to return her to no avail. He ponders and later intends to make the same "leap" to be with her on the other side. Bowie at his best, no doubt.   Hear TVC 15 on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Parliament (feat. Scarface & Mudbone) - I'm Gon Make U Sick O'me     My song pick 2 years ago today: Tears for Fears - Head Over Heels   My song pick 3 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Stagger Lee   My song pick 4 years ago today: Elton John - The Fox   My song pick 5 years ago to...

From: The Chronicle of the Black Sword ; Year: 1985; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Space Rock/Hard Rock Here is another epic song from one of Hawkwind's even more epic album The Chronicle of the Black Sword . This track is one based on Michael Moorcock's work concerning one of his "Eternal Champions:" Elric of Melniboné and his black sword Stormbringer. Song of the Swords is a perfect track to start of the record with the heavy driving, slightly punkish sound combined with the fantasy lyrics.   Hear Song of the Swords on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Roman Holliday - Stand By     My song pick 2 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Destination Unknown   My song pick 3 years ago today: Charlie Ryan - Hot Rod Lincoln   My song pick 4 years ago today: Sweeney Todd - Short Distance, Long Journey   My song pick 5 years ago today: Funkadelic - Foot Soldiers (Star Spangled Funky) My song pick 6 years ago...

From: Silent Running Original Soundtrack ; Year: 1972; Genre: Folk Rock/Space Rock I just love these science fiction films from the 60s and 70s; the way that artists back then were smitten with the concept of "space cowboys" and how the great folk and rock performers melded the folk music, which is sung and played from the heart, to the idea of space pioneers. This was the title track, which music was composed by Peter Schickele, (also known as P.D.Q. Bach ), with lyrics by Diane Lampert was one of two songs from the movie performed by acclaimed folk artist Joan Baez. Suffice it to say, with the musical ability behind this one it is a definite classic.   Hear Silent Running on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Primus - Mr. Knowitall     My song pick 2 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - The Stake   My song pick 3 years ago today: John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom   My song pick 4 years ago today: Parliament - Presence of a Brai...

From: Smash Hits ; Year: 1968 (1967); Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Hard Rock Felt like something from Jimi Hendrix once more, but by no means the last time.... This spaced out piece of heavy psychedelia was originally the b-side of a U.K. single of the song Burning of the Midnight Lamp , which is one of my top favourite songs from the legend. Whilst the title of the track is an overt reference to two widely used hallucinogens, the overall musicianship and performance make this one far more than it would appear superficially.   Hear The Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs - May I     My song pick 2 years ago today: Alley Pat - Pat's Rubber Band   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Doors - Love Street   My song pick 4 years ago today: Benny Carter - Cotton Tail   My song pick 5 years ago today: Mr. Big - Defying Gravity   My song pick 6 years ago tod...

From: X In Search of Space ; Year: 1971; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Space Rock/Progressive Rock Some bluesy/folk psychedelic space rock with this pick to help get through the first half of the weekend. Such a perfect track to lose yourself listening to with a good set of headphones on.   Hear You Know You're Only Dreaming on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Marcus Miller - Teen Town     My song pick 2 years ago today: Primus - Jilly's On Smack   My song pick 3 years ago today: Michael Masser - You Don't Ever Have to Be Alone   My song pick 4 years ago today: John Coltrane - Moment's Notice   My song pick 5 years ago today: James & Bobby Purify - I'm Your Puppet   My song pick 6 years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - Four Hands In The Fire My song pick 7 years ago today: Pearl Jam - Can't Deny Me My song pick 8 years ago today: Helloween - Hocus Pocus My song pick 9 years ago today: Foreigner - Juke Box Her...

From: Blows Against the Empire ; Year: 1970; Genre: Space Rock/Folk Rock Picking two today because I wanted to choose another track from this album: Have You Seen the Stars Tonight? However, the track the precedes it, Home is only 37 seconds long and is kind of a lead-in, so I thought it was a good idea. Anywho, both of these tracks are comprised of basically the who's who of the Bay Area music scene with members of The Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and, of course, Jefferson Airplane. Home has more of the expected science fiction music and sound effects, but Have You Seen the Stars Tonight? is more of a psychedelic space folk primarily with acoustic instruments and features Jerry Garcia's pedal steel work, which adds a lot of beauty to the song along with Grace Slick's piano playing.   Hear Home and Have You Seen the Stars Tonight? on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Molly Hatchet - Backstabber     My song pick 2 y...

From: Space is the Place ; Year: 1973; Genre: Avant-Garde Jazz/Jazz Fusion/Funk Felt like going way, way... way out there for today's song pick; couldn't go out much farther than the great Sun Ra. He has always reminded me a lot of Mingus, probably should be the other way around with Sun Ra being in the business long before Charles Mingus , but I heard and became a fan of Mingus quite a bit prior to hearing Ra for the first time. Anyway, to most not accustomed to the freer forms of jazz this probably would be 21 minutes of disjointed music and odd sounds, but was, even in '73, a boundary-pushing, tip-of-the-spear artistic jazz. Whilst not everyone's cup o' tea, most who love experimental music would find definite interest here.   Hear Space is the Place on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Taco - Singin' in the Rain     My song pick 2 years ago today: Big Maybelle - Candy   My song pick 3 years ago today: David Bowie - Sweet Thing/...

From: The Use of Ashes ; Year: 1970; Genre: Folk Rock/Space Rock Tom Rapp is one of the composers that I really admire mostly for the reason how he was able to weave amazing, deep and meaningful lyrics with beautiful music; something I really wish I was capable of. Anyway, this track was inspired by the short story by literary great Ray Bradbury titled: The Rocket Man . Overall the story told in song is quite faithful to its source-material; telling the tale of a son and mother staying behind on Earth whilst the father, (the titular rocket man), explores space. The father perishes going down in the Sun itself and the son and mother avoid daylight. Probably my favourite aspect of this song is the counter line played on the harpsichord, which makes for a beautiful counter to the heaviness of the vocals/lyrics. From wot I understand, the epic song by Elton John of the same title was, in fact, apparently Bernie Taupin was inspired by this one.   Hear Rocket Man on YouTube.   ...

From: Vitamin Enhanced ; Year: 1993 (1988); Genre: Progressive Rock/Psychedelic Rock Throughout the 1980s, like many bands when trying to make it big, Ozric Tentacles made cassette albums that were available at their shows. However, eventually they transferred their first six albums to compact disc and sold them in the Vitamin Enhanced boxed set. Shortly after cereal brand Kellogg's sued the band over their argument that the cover art looked too similar to their iconic Corn Flakes, so the band was forced to withdraw the boxed set, which in turn made it quite the rare collector's item. Since then, each of the six albums has been released in its own right. Anyway, this one originally came from their '88 release Sliding and Gliding Worlds , and if you like technical ambient sounds and music that is just pure fun, then this one is for you.   Hear Fetch Me the Pongmaster on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The (Young) Rascals - In the Midnight Hour ...

From: Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds ; Year: 1978; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock/Space Rock Discovered this rock opera double album the other day; it piqued my interest would be an understatement. Hard progressive rock AND H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds ? Heck yeah! I remember reading this one back in grade school, I was fascinated by H.G. Wells' vision of both the Martians and their Tripods. The ship in the novel and this song's namesake, Thunder Child I have come to like even more after Star Trek bestowed that name on one of the Akira class ships that you saw fighting The Dominion and The Borg, so yeah, it is awesome. Anyway, this track comes at the end of side 2 and is a mix of narration and vocals by Chris Thompson of Manfred Mann fame with some great, fast-paced music.   Hear Thunder Child on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Cameo - Funk Funk   My song pick 2 years ago today: Genesis - Tonight, Tonight, Tonight...

From: Doremi Fasol Latido ; Year: 1972; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock Felt the urge to choose one from this album, which, from wot I understand, it and the songs are a reference to The Sound of the Spheres as well as the diatonic scale. With these two pieces of music being the second and third tracks would make them, I guess, the Sun (Re) and Mercury (Mi). With One Change being a very brief track it could make some sense. Anyway, Space is Deep reminds me a lot of the psychedelic folk or rather space folk that was present from a few groups from around the time with the Queen song 39 coming to mind. Only in the middle section does the full band come in with the first half of the song or so being acoustic 12 string guitar, vocals, and odd synthesizers/noises. Lyrically it is based on Michael Moorcock's The Black Corridor , which adds to the spaciness. As earlier stated, One Change is a short song, or as I called them many years ago: " songitesimals , " I thought it...

From: Electric Tepee ; Year: 1992; Genre: Space Rock/Progressive Rock I really like these ambient soundscape instrumentals from this album; it's especially delightful if you can listen to them on a sound system that has very good range. Instead of pulses on a beat you have constant aural waves that change in pitch and modulation.   Hear Blue Shift on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Sho Nuff - Monster Monster   My song pick 2 years ago today: Wishbone Ash - Anger in Harmony   My song pick 3 years ago today: Eurythmics - Missionary Man   My song pick 4 years ago today: Green River - Together We'll Never   My song pick 5 years ago today: Chris Squire - Safe (Canon Song)   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Chi-lites - Have You Seen Her? My song pick 7 years ago today: Roy Ayers - Funk in the Hole My song pick 8 years ago today: Hawkwind - Steppenwolf My song pick 9 years ago today: Ian Anderson - What-Ifs, Maybes And Migh...

From: In The Last Waking Moments... ; Year: 2011; Genre: Progressive Rock/Space Rock Was intending on choosing one from a band hailing from the second wave of progressive rock, or Neo-Prog as some call it. However, I decided to pick one from this prolific side-project consisting mostly of members of the band Marillion as well as a few others from both sides of "The Pond." Anyway, this was Edison's Children's debut album, and I decided that I should just go with the opening track from it. Dusk is a very atmospheric song that begins the tale told throughout In The Last Waking Moments... concerning an alien abduction. So, yes, this is very nerdy and science fiction oriented, so be warned....   Hear Dusk on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: King Crimson - Indiscipline   My song pick 2 years ago today: James Brown - Go Power At Christmas   My song pick 3 years ago today: Los Lobos - Will the Wolf Survive?   My song pick 4 years ago today...

From: Blows Against the Empire ; Year: 1970; Genre: Psychedelic Rock A showcase of Grace Slick's amazing vocals and Jack Casady's bass, I only wish this brief track was longer.   Hear Sunrise on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Harlequin - Fine Line   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ray Davies - Thanksgiving Day   My song pick 3 years ago today: Hawkwind - Alcyone   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Gator   My song pick 5 years ago today: Pallas - The Executioner (Bernie Goetz a Gun)   My song pick 6 years ago today: Band of Horses - Dull Times/The Moon My song pick 7 years ago today: Los Bravos - Black is Black My song pick 8 years ago today: Led Zeppelin - Thank You My song pick 9 years ago today: Helmet - Unsung My song pick 10 years ago today: The Who - Doctor Jekyll & Mr. Hyde My song pick 11 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along the Watchtower My song pick 12 years ago today:...