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

From: Wipe Out ; Year: 1963; Genre: Surf Rock Really enjoyed listening to The Surfaris' songs the other day, which makes incredible driving music by the way. Wipe Out has to be one of the earliest pieces of popular music to bring the drums out front; and of course, prompt bystanders to "air drum." It is also one of those hit songs that were "quickly composed and recorded on the spot." They had already recorded Surfer Joe , but also needed a b-side. Wipe Out was born out of Ron Wilson improving with speeding up a high school drumming cadence whilst the rest of the band did a 12-bar blues over the top. Suffice it to say that the b-side overshadowed the a-side is a big understatement.   Hear Wipe Out on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Banchee - Train of Life     My song pick 2 years ago today: Icehouse - Uniform     My song pick 3 years ago today: Steely Dan - Gaucho   My song pick 4 years ago today: Doc Oliver - Soul Pop...

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: Bongo Rock ; Year: 1973; Genre: Surf Rock I heard this track yesterday for the first time in years, but it wasn't this version, but rather the original by drumming great Sandy Nelson . I really love the original, but the version I heard first, way, way back on one of my Dad's many old K-Tel or Ronco superhit records; I believe the one it was on was one that featured instrumental hits of the '60s and '70s. Apparently, the Incredible Bongo Band was actually a project by producer  Michael Viner , which was originally created for making the soundtrack for the sci-fi/comedy B-film The Thing With Two Heads . From wot I can tell the soundtrack, which is a beat-heavy funk and surf rock instrumental, is about the only memorable aspect of the endeavour. The "band," which was a rotating ensemble of available studio musicians, some from the legendary Wrecking Crew , only lasted around two and a half years. Their output consisted of two albums, which I believe were a...

From: Unknown Territory ; Year: 1994; Genre: Surf Rock Surf guitar rock is and will always be one of my favourite sub-genres; of course the late-great originator and master Dick Dale is always at the top. This is an amazing piece with more than just the dripping wet virtuoso guitar wrapped in a 12-bar blues, it is simply mindblowing musically.   Hear Take It Or Leave It on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: John Denver - Fire and Rain/The Box   My song pick 2 years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Testify   My song pick 3 years ago today: Nightwish - Harvest   My song pick 4 years ago today: Kool and the Gang - Funky Granny   My song pick 5 years ago today: Soundgarden - Blood on the Valley Floor   My song pick 6 years ago today: Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Away From Home My song pick 7 years ago today: King Crimson - The Night Watch My song pick 8 years ago today: Porcupine Tree - Trains My song pi...

From: Wipe Out ; Year: 1963; Genre: Surf Rock/ When it comes to surf rock I normally steer toward the instrumental tracks featuring a blistering guitar leading the way, but I really have come to like this quirky, fun song which actually contains... vocals. Funny enough, the legendary drummer and writer of the song is the one that sings on this one: Ron Wilson . He is best-known as one of the first pioneers of surf drumming, which is exemplified on their hit Wipe Out. Anyway, whilst the drums are not as energetic on this track, they are among the best aspects for me, along with the fore-mentioned vocals and also the organ.   Hear Surfer Joe on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - She's a Devil   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Lively Ones - Crying Guitar (Surfer's Lament)   My song pick 3 years ago today: George Clinton - One Fun At a Time   My song pick 4 years ago today: Band of Horses - Window Blues ...

From: Shut Down Volume 2 ; Year: 1964; Genre: Surf Rock/Pop Seems like, for me at least, when we get into the middle of summer I have bands like The Beach Boys on my mind. I've always really liked this one, especially those complex vocal harmonies arranged in a wall of sound, which really shine when exiting the choruses.   Hear Don't Worry Baby on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Primus - American Life   My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Lap of Luxury   My song pick 3 years ago today: Mr. Bungle - Egg   My song pick 4 years ago today: Klaatu - Around the Universe in Eighty Days My song pick 5 years ago today: A-ha - Cry Wolf My song pick 6 years ago today: Bruce Springsteen - Dry Lightning My song pick 7 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Evolution Orange My song pick 8 years ago today: Rush - Madrigal My song pick 9 years ago today: John Fogerty - A Hundred and Ten in the Shade My song pick 10 years ago t...

From: Dodge City/Just for Chicks (single) ; Year: 1963; Genre: Surf Rock/Blues Rock Had a bit of fun trying to find out more about this band and song, and even at that there's not much out there apparently. Most of this is due to the fact that they seemingly only recorded this one single as a band/under the name The Ramblers, and how many other bands over the last century have gone by the same moniker. The only real reason I know about them is because legendary producer and sound smith extraordinaire Joe Meek was the one that did all of the studio work for the band in his very unique way that he is known for. Anyway, as with anything Meek touched, this track has a lot of interesting modern sounds that were very much breakthrough at the time, which made this bluesy instrumental surf rock tune a joy to the ears.   Hear Just for Chicks on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Amon Amarth - Raven's Flight   My song pick 2 years ago today: Duran Duran - Com...

From: Mr. Eliminator ; Year: 1964; Genre: Surf Rock Still rocking out to the sounds of Mr. Dick Dale and his band today off the Mr. Eliminator record, so I'm choosing another track from it. The Victor is way more in the style that those who know his more popular music. He absolutely shreds that guitar using middle-eastern style scales and chords drenched is that sopping wet reverb with each note near perfect clarity and purpose; way passed excellent music.   Hear The Victor on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jethro Tull - Shoshana Sleeping   My song pick 2 years ago today: Rammstein - Deutschland   My song pick 3 years ago today: Boston - Sail Away   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Coasters - Searchin' My song pick 5 years ago today: Wooten, Chambers, Franceschini - Funky D My song pick 6 years ago today: Elton John - Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding My song pick 7 years ago today: Paco de Lucía - La Barrosa (alegría...

From: Mr. Eliminator ; Year: 1964; Genre: Rock 'n Roll/Surf Rock Been feeling like listening to some more classics from the late-great legendary guitarist Dick Dale. There's just something different and quite interesting about this album in his early catalogue; probably somewhat due to the overall subject matter being that of the historic So-Cal car modding and racing scene of the time period. I'm not at all sure if this instrumental piece is about a truck you buy tacos for your lunch out of or perhaps a hotrod or racecar with that name bestowed upon it. Whatever the case, it's an excellent 2-minute exposition of Mr. Dale's virtuosity on the surf guitar.   Hear Taco Wagon on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Hot Butter - Slag Solution   My song pick 2 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Shakers and Movers   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Urban Apocalypse   My song pick 4 years ago today: Al Green - Guilty My song pick 5 years...

From: Surf Rider! ; Year: 1963; Genre: Surf Rock Heard The Lively Ones at some point yesterday and decided that I would check out more for this short-lived surf rock band. This track, as you could probably tell by the title, is quite a bit more mellow than the normal high-speed and frantic sound you usually get from surf rock. Some amazing musicianship to be heard here all across the board, but especially from the lead guitar; simply beautiful.   Hear Crying Guitar (Surfer's Lament) on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: George Clinton - One Fun At a Time   My song pick 2 years ago today: Band of Horses - Window Blues   My song pick 3 years ago today: Dan Fogelberg - Longer My song pick 4 years ago today: Bee Gees - Run to Me My song pick 5 years ago today: Pallas - Dance Through the Fire My song pick 6 years ago today: King Crimson - Matte Kudasai My song pick 7 years ago today: Lenny Kravitz - Fly Away My song pick 8 years ago toda...

From: The Fabulous Ventures ; Year: 1964; Genre: Surf Rock It's another day in which I had no song or artist in mind for today's song choice, but for some reason I eventually got the classic surf rock group The Ventures on my mind and went from there. This is one that has a nice, hard edge to it in that classic instrumental surf sound.   Hear Journey to the Stars on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Missing Link - Sorcery   My song pick 2 years ago today: Boston - Party   My song pick 3 years ago today: Azteca - Non Pacem My song pick 4 years ago today: The Zombies - Beechwood Park My song pick 5 years ago today: Three Dog Night - The Loner My song pick 6 years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Babies My song pick 7 years ago today: Live - Lightning Crashes My song pick 8 years ago today: Duran Duran - The Reflex My song pick 9 years ago today: Savatage - The Storm My song pick 10 years ago today: John Dowland - In Darkness We Dw...

From: The Ventures in Space ; Year: 1964; Genre: Space Rock/Surf Rock After going over some bands that I had not chosen a song from in a while The Ventures came to mind. This track is, of course, their cover of the theme song from the classic television show the Twilight Zone.    Hear Twilight Zone on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Victor Wooten - Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior   My song pick 2 years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Satisfied Man My song pick 3 years ago today: Johnny Cash - Four Strong Winds My song pick 4 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss My song pick 5 years ago today: Rush - In the Mood My song pick 6 years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - No One Survives My song pick 7 years ago today: Carmen - Siren of the Sea My song pick 8 years ago today: Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf My song pick 9 years ago today: Argent - Music from the Spheres My song pick 10 years ago today: Heart - Who Will You Ru...

From: Mr. Eliminator ; Year: 1964; Genre: Surf Rock Here's another track that features the virtuosity of Mr. Dick Dale. I could listen to his music forever it seems like; just so much to hear.   Hear Mr. Eliminator on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jane's Addiction - Just Because   My song pick 2 years ago today: Journey - Remember Me My song pick 3 years ago today: The Cranberries - Linger My song pick 4 years ago today: Sammy Hagar - There's Only One Way to Rock My song pick 5 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Forgotten Years My song pick 6 years ago today: The Nashville Allstars - Opus de Funk My song pick 7 years ago today: Rush - Freeze (Part IV of 'Fear') My song pick 8 years ago today: Chris Isaak - Wicked Game My song pick 9 years ago today: Dion - Abraham, Martin and John My song pick 10 years ago today: Joachim Witt - Wem Gehört Das Sternenlicht My song pick 11 years ago today: Cab Calloway & The Harlemaniacs - The ...

From: Miserlou (single); Year: 1962; Genre: Surf Rock Without a doubt this is probably Mr. Dale's most famous song he ever recorded, especially since being used in the film Pulp Fiction . Actually it's a traditional tune from the Middle-East, which translated means "Egyptian Woman or Woman from Egypt." Hear Miserlou on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Lonnie Mack - Memphis My song pick 2 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Cemetery In My Mind My song pick 3 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - A Time and a Place My song pick 4 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Fire at Midnight My song pick 5 years ago today: Wolfmother - Woman My song pick 6 years ago today: Dick Dale - Banzai Washout My song pick 7 years ago today: Megadeth - 13 My song pick 8 years ago today: Warrant - Heaven My song pick 9 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - The Wind Cries Mary My song pick 10 years ago today: Savatage - Damien My song pick 11...

From: Tribal Thunder ; Year: 1993; Genre: Surf Rock For those who do not know, King of the Surf Guitar Dick Dale passed away at the ripe young age of 81, an obituary can be read here . He is best known for the song Miserlou , which appeared on the film Pulp Fiction and has since become famous. He was one of the musicians that hold in high esteem, made it into his 80s and was still playing just about as hard as he was all along throughout his career. The man will be very much missed, but I'll still enjoy the music he left behind. Anyway, this is a very beautiful track that is based around a tango beat with the heavy-hitting surf guitar ploughing right through with the melody. Hear Esperanza on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Kansas - Questions of my Childhood My song pick 2 years ago today: Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe - Quartet My song pick 3 years ago today: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Radio-Activity My song pick 4 years ago today: Toto - Stranger in Town ...

From: Play ; Year: 1963; Genre: Surf Rock Felt like some hard and fast surf rock today; love that reverb on the guitar. Hear Point Panic on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: The Temptations - Masterpiece My song pick 2 years ago today: Yes - A Venture My song pick 3 years ago today: Pearl Jam - Dissent My song pick 4 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Drink Down the Moon My song pick 5 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Still... You Turn Me On My song pick 6 years ago today: Melvins - Nude with Boots My song pick 7 years ago today: The Animals - House of the Rising Sun My song pick 8 years ago today: Wild Turkey - Sentinel My song pick 9 years ago today: KISS - She My song pick 10 years ago today: Hawkwind - Assault and Battery/The Golden Void My song pick 11 years ago today: Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart

From: Tribal Thunder ; Year: 1993; Genre: Surf Rock Got lost experimenting with some surf guitar sounds last night and have had the music style on the brain since. One of the main "go tos" when listening to surf guitar rock is of course the incomparable Dick Dale. I absolutely love the intro that leads into the thumping beat of the song. Hear Speardance on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Savatage - Dead Winter Dead My song pick 2 years ago today: Dee Clark - Raindrops My song pick 3 years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Thankful N' Thoughtful My song pick 4 years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Another Beer My song pick 5 years ago today: Hawkwind - Neon Skyline/Lost Chronicles My song pick 6 years ago today: Louis Armstrong - When the Saints Go Marching In My song pick 7 years ago today: John Denver - Farewell Andromeda (Welcome To My Morning) My song pick 8 years ago today: Del Shannon - Runaway My song pick 9 years ago today: Steely ...

From: Vampires, Cowboys, Spacemen & Spooks - The Very Best of Joe Meek's Instrumentals ; Year: 2007 (1963); Genre: Rock/Surf Rock With tomorrow being Halloween and all I thought I'd choose another song in the spirit of the holiday. I absolutely love the mix of Moog synthesizer with surf rock in this one, it adds a great spooky atmosphere. Hear Return of the Vampire (The Bogey Man) on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Confusion My song pick 2 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Lap of Luxury My song pick 3 years ago today: Victor Wooten - You Can't Hold No Groove If Ya Ain't Got No Pocket My song pick 4 year ago today: The Spooks - The Spook Walks My song pick 5 years ago today: Midnight Oil - Drums of Heaven My song pick 6 years ago today: Irving Berlin - Alexander's Ragtime Band   My song pick 7 years ago today: Queensrÿche - Della Brown My song pick 8 years ago today: Van Halen - Unchained My song pi...

From: Undead Nightmare Original Soundtrack ; Year: 2010; Genre: Surf Guitar Rock Wanting again to get into the seasonal mood once again by picking an apropos tune. I love the sound of the Kreeps on this one, that guitar and organ are fun to listen to. Hear The Dead Sled on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Steely Dan - My Old School My song pick 2 years ago today: Savatage - Jesus Saves My song pick 3 years ago today: England Dan & John Ford Coley - The Prisoner My song pick 4 years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Funky Way My song pick 5 years ago today: Louis and Bebe Barron - Main Titles (Overture) from Forbidden Planet My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - Anagram (for Mongo) My song pick 7 years ago today: Sky - Troika My song pick 8 years ago today: Mason Williams - Classical Gas My song pick 9 years ago today: Alexi Murdoch - Breathe My song pick 10 years ago today: Bad Company - Shooting Star My song pick 11 years ago today: Ella Fitzge...

From: Summer Surf ; Year: 1964; Genre: Surf Guitar Rock Well, the summer season has been making its presence known; it's hot as heck. Wanted to pick another song about this rather toasty time of year and looked no farther than the "King of the Surf Guitar," Dick Dale, for my choice. This is more of a mellower track, but filled with some amazingly beautiful music. Hear Summer Surf on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Neil Young - Computer Cowboy (aka Syscrusher) My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - The Foot of Our Stairs My song pick three years ago today: Peter Tosh - Rumors of War My song pick four years ago today: War - Low Rider My song pick five years ago today: Midnight Oil - Truganini My song pick six years ago today: The Nightwatchman - I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night My song pick seven years ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - Childlike Faith In Childhood's End My song pick eight years ago today: ...