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

From: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society ; Year: 1968; Genre: Rock/Pop  Another neat one from the pen of Ray Davies, which, as with many songs by an assortment of artists, uses the song from a bird to reassure and help the narrator keep the troubles away. This one, with its shuffling and rather fanciful feel musically, reminds me a lot of some of the popular Simon & Garfunkel songs of the time. The mix of acoustic guitar and amplified instruments make much of the basis, but the use of a Mellotron takes centre stage in lieu of actual hired orchestral accompaniment, especially with the flute sound playing a counter-punctual melody that is meant to mimic the titular Mr. Songbird .    Hear Mr. Songbird on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Lost in a Fantasy     My song pick 2 years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - People   My song pick 3 years ago tod...

From: The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society ; Year: 1968; Genre: Pop/Rock I do not know why, but I just keep coming back to The Kinks lately and their phenomenal musicianship and songwriting. This one that starts side two of their 'Village Green Preservation Society album of critical acclaim. You might think that this track is a reference to George Orwell's masterpiece with the same title , but that is all it has in common in reality. It is more of an upbeat pop track with Ray Davies singing about an idealistic country scene opposite of the madness and rat-race of the urban setting.   Hear Animal Farm on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Duran Duran - Girls on Film   My song pick 2 years ago today: Mountain - Tired Angels (to J.M.H.)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Ramble Tamble   My song pick 4 years ago today: 10cc - Art for Art's Sake   My song pick 5 years ago today: Brothe...

From: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society ; Year: 1968; Genre: Rock/Pop Still in the mood for The Kinks on this Thursday. This is a very upbeat and happy tune with lyrics that are anything but in, of course, a way only Ray Davies would write. Musically it reminds me a lot of Electric Light Orchestra's music that you'd hear about a decade later; their monster hit Mr. Blue Sky in particular. However, as stated prior, the lyrics are kind of both introspective and judgemental concerning meeting up with an old best friend, (Walter), only to find that the best friend kind of withered and gave up on his dreams they once shared and now it is as if they are merely strangers with Walter not caring about the stories his old friend tried to tell.    Hear Do You Remember Walter? on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Genesis - Dancing with the Moonlit Knight   My song pick 2 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Abaddon's Bolero ...

From: Something Else By The Kinks ; Year: 1966; Genre: Rock Have no idea why, but just felt like choosing something from The Kinks today; from this era in particular.     Hear No Return on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Who - Baba O'Riley   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Isley Brothers - Shout (Parts I + II)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bee Gees - Boogie Child   My song pick 4 years ago today: Rufus & Chaka Khan - Jive Talkin'   My song pick 5 years ago today: Iron Maiden - Run Silent Run Deep   My song pick 6 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Citadel My song pick 7 years ago today: Dire Straits - Down to the Waterline My song pick 8 years ago today: Black Sabbath - Into the Void My song pick 9 years ago today: Stanely Clarke - Vulcan Princess My song pick 10 years ago today: Black Flag - Annihilate This Week My song pick 11 years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Hey Hey, My My ...

From: Something Else by the Kinks ; Year: 1967; Genre: Rock/Pop As I have stated prior, The Kinks are probably my personal favourite of the British Invasion bands, but it's mostly their more heartfelt composition that I find most appealing, like this one. Death of a Clown is one of Dave Davies' songs with a few writing contributions from his brother Ray, that definitely fits into that heartfelt category concerning the exhausting rigors that goes with being on the road performing day in and day out.    Hear Death of a Clown on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Faith No More - A Small Victory   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Offspring - Pay the Man   My song pick 3 years ago today: Marillion - Living in F E A R   My song pick 4 years ago today: Black Label Society - The Day That Heaven Had Gone Away   My song pick 5 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Rock 'n' Roll Is King My song pick 6 years ago today: Re...

From: The Kink Kontroversy ; Year: 1966; Genre: Hard Rock While I normally go for some of the music from their slightly later material where their writing and performing became more complex, I do like the raw angsty energy from these heavier, I suppose you could call it "proto-metal," tracks. It's always been interesting though how The Kinks seem to be able create this interesting music and always fill the dance floor.   Hear Till the End of the Day on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: After the Fire - Der Kommissar   My song pick 2 years ago today: Parliament - Liquid Sunshine   My song pick 3 years ago today: Steve Vai - The Moon and I   My song pick 4 years ago today: Lionel Richie - All Night Long (All Night) My song pick 5 years ago today: The Replacements - The Ledge My song pick 6 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Hey You My song pick 7 years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Powderfinger My song pic...

From: Something Else by the Kinks (Deluxe Collector's Edition) ; Year: 1967; Genre: Rock Thought I would pick this one from Dave Davies that appeared on special editions of this album; it's quite cool to hear Dave front the band with his song whilst treating us to his lead vocals.   Hear Susanna's Still Alive on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - High As Apple Pie (Slice I and II)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Mr. Bungle - Platypus   My song pick 4 years ago today: Steeleye Span - Sir James the Rose My song pick 5 years ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - My Friends My song pick 6 years ago today: Hot Butter - Telstar My song pick 7 years ago today: Nazareth - Hair of the Dog My song pick 8 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Pony Boy My song pick 9 years ago today: The Alan Parsons Pro...

From: Kinks ; Year: 1964; Genre: Rock 'N Roll/Rock Here's an early one from The Kinks, who are probably my favourite of the " British Invasion " acts, I suppose. Even though this song in particular did not represent the overall sound that made the band famous, it was among the first times people would hear a song penned by Ray Davies as well as to hear him on lead vocals.   Hear So Mystifying on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Kiss - God of Thunder   My song pick 2 years ago today: Chris Squire - You By My Side   My song pick 3 years ago today: Blind Melon - Galaxie My song pick 4 years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - All That Glitters Ain't Gold My song pick 5 years ago today: Suede - Breakdown My song pick 6 years ago today: The Pretenders - Brass in my Pocket My song pick 7 years ago today: Savatage - There in Silence My song pick 8 years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Revival My song pick 9 years ago today: Emerso...

From: Sleepwalker ; Year: 1977; Genre: Hard Rock Off and on over the last few days I have had songs from The Kinks on my mind; thought I would listen to this record, which is one of their releases that I've sadly neglected to this point. Whilst being a more classic sounding, straight-up Kinks song, there is a lot interesting going on throughout this track, especially in the rhythm section.   Hear Sleepwalker on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Carmen - The Horseman   My song pick 2 years ago today: Daniel Lanois - That's The Way It Is   My song pick 3 years ago today: Raspberries - Go All The Way My song pick 4 years ago today: The Thermals - Test Pattern My song pick 5 years ago today: Kool & The Gang - Jungle Boogie My song pick 6 years ago today: The Beatles - For You Blue My song pick 7 years ago today: Boston - I Had a Good Time My song pick 8 years ago today: Sky - FIFO (suite) My song pick 9 years ago today: Faith No Mo...

From: Preservation Act 2 ; Year: 1974; Genre: Rock Thought long and hard for a pick today and finally settled on a song from one of my favourite bands. From wot I understand this is an album you either love or hate depending of who you are. I, personally like it; there's a lot of thought-provoking music and subject matter throughout the record; this song is no exception. It has a very heavily blues-inspired feel throughout along with a very interesting subject matter that takes a very pragmatic position concerning people and money, which is based on the point-of-view of one of the main characters in the overall concept album.   Hear Money Talks on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Humboldt Currant   My song pick 2 years ago today: Bob Dylan - All Along the Watchtower   My song pick 3 years ago today: The O'Jays - Time To Get Down My song pick 4 years ago today: Dazz Band - Let it Whip My song pick 5 years ago today: Benn...

From: Soap Opera ; Year: 1975; Genre: Rock Getting around to making my pick again; I had The Kinks on my mind and as usual, yep I'm picking another one from them. I believe that I had not chosen a song from this record yet, so I'm going to. This track closes out the album and does a good job of it in my opinion.    Hear You Can't Stop The Music on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Fleetwood Mac - The World Keeps On Turning   My song pick 2 years ago today: Soundgarden - Slaves & Bulldozers My song pick 3 years ago today: Pearl Jam - Daughter My song pick 4 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Don't Follow My song pick 5 years ago today: Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright My song pick 6 years ago today: Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy My song pick 7 years ago today: "Weird" Al Yankovic - Word Crimes My song pick 8 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Come a Little Bit Closer My song pick 9 years ago toda...

From: Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One ; Year: 1970; Genre: Rock This song embodies quite a bit of what I like about The Kinks' music: beautiful music and deep lyrics.    Hear A Long Way From Home on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill   My song pick 2 years ago today: Megadeth - Peace Sells My song pick 3 years ago today: Dr. Hook - Sharing the Night Together My song pick 4 years ago today: Hawkwind - Kerb Crawler My song pick 5 years ago today: Funkadelic - Freak of the Week My song pick 6 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Wot's... Uh the Deal? My song pick 7 years ago today: Wild Turkey - Dulwich Fox My song pick 8 years ago today: Asia - Don't Cry My song pick 9 years ago today: Queen - Somebody to Love My song pick 10 years ago today: Rush (Neil Peart) - O Baterista (Drum Solo) My song pick 11 years ago today: Hawkwind - Zarozinia My song pick 12 years ago today: Ghostlan...

From: Kinks ; Year: 1964; Genre: Rock Kind of a bit surprised I have not chosen this song as of yet; it's a very popular one and I've always liked it a bit. When you think this song was from '64 and you hear the sound, it's amazing that this sound has more or less endured even to this day with many bands emulating it; I guess that The Kinks were ahead of their time.   Hear You Really Got Me on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Faith No More - Cone of Shame   My song pick 2 years ago today: April Wine - One More Time My song pick 3 years ago today: Riggs - Heartbeat My song pick 4 years ago today: Dazz Band - To the Roof My song pick 5 years ago today: Jan & Dean - The Little Old Lady from Pasadena My song pick 6 years ago today: Buddy Holley and the Crickets - Maybe Baby My song pick 7 years ago today: Lou Reed - Satellite of Love My song pick 8 years ago today: Alestorm - Barrett's Privateers My song pick 9 years ago today: Sly...

From: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society ; Year: 1968; Genre: Rock This is one of the band's songs that some have probably heard at some point, mostly due to its use in commercials. Hear Picture Book on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Golden Earring - Radar Love My song pick 2 years ago today: Martha and the Vandellas - Nowhere to Run My song pick 3 years ago today: Blood, Sweat & Tears - Smiling Phases My song pick 4 years ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Guerrilla Radio My song pick 5 years ago today: Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood My song pick 6 years ago today: Tesla - The Way It Is My song pick 7 years ago today: Alice In Chains - We Die Young My song pick 8 years ago today: John Denver - Take Me To Tomorrow My song pick 9 years ago today: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Can't Stand Your Funk My song pick 10 years ago today: Styx - Suite Madame Blue My song pick 11 years ago today: Rush - Malignant Narcissism My song...

From: Preservation Act 2 ; Year: 1974; Genre: Rock I like the dynamics of this track, which goes from soft to mildly raucous at times. It's a fun and somewhat melancholy tune, not my favourite from the band by any stretch, but a good song. Hear Nothing Lasts Forever on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Getaway My song pick 2 years ago today: Crowded House - I Walk Away My song pick 3 years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Gold Dust Woman My song pick 4 years ago today: Rush - Workin' Them Angels My song pick 5 years ago today: AC/DC - For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) My song pick 6 years ago today: Lobo - Running Deer My song pick 7 years ago today: Rush - Wish Them Well My song pick 8 years ago today: The Beatles - In My Life My song pick 9 years ago today: Fairport Convention - She Moves Through the Fair My song pick 10 years ago today: Uriah Heep - Gypsy My song pick 11 years ago today: T-Rex - Bang a Gong ( Ge...

From: Lola Versus Powerman and The Moneygoround ; Year: 1970; Genre: Rock This one just popped into my head as I was making today's pick; I was genuinely surprised I had not picked it yet for my song-a-day blog. Anyway, this is, of course, the one of The Kinks more popular songs and is instantly recognizable to anyone that has heard it. Hear Lola on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean My song pick 2 years ago today: Aerosmith - Dude (Looks Like a Lady) My song pick 3 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Only Solitaire My song pick 4 years ago today: Modest Petrovitch Mussorgsky - Intermezzo Symphonique in Modo Classico My song pick 5 years ago today: The Soul Seven - The Cissy's Thang My song pick 6 years ago today: Soundgarden - Fell on Dark Days My song pick 7 years ago today: Rush - Driven My song pick 8 years ago today: The Moody Blues - Go Now My song pick 9 years ago today: Queen - 39 My song pick 10 years ago today:...

From: Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One ; Year: 1970; Genre: Rock This song has been playing in my mind quite a bit lately, it's quite a catchy and fun track. It's one of those tunes that seems light hearted, but all around that fun music is actually somewhat serious in message. Whatever the case I like the song and it makes a perfect pick for today. Hear Apeman on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: David Bowie - China Girl My song pick 2 years ago today: The Beatles - A Day in the Life My song pick 3 years ago today: Paris - Blue Robin My song pick 4 years ago today: Dick Dale - Third Stone From the Sun My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - The Revenge of Vera Gemini My song pick 6 years ago today: Queen - Ride the Wild Wind My song pick 7 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Enter Maurice My song pick 8 years ago today: Mastodon - Capillarian Crest My song pick 9 years ago today: Hot Chocolate - Brother Louie...

From: Word of Mouth ; Year: 1984; Genre: Rock Despite the use of a drum machine on this track it still has a lot of charm and is a good song, but it would've been better with a live drummer in my opinion. Hear Good Day on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Elton John - Bennie and the Jets My song pick 2 years ago today: Stuart Hamm - Radio Free Albemuth My song pick 3 years ago today: Central Line - Walking Into Sunshine My song pick 4 years ago today: Zakk Wylde - Way Beyond Empty My song pick 5 years ago today: XTC - Travels in Nihilon My song pick 6 years ago today: The Kinks - Long Tall Sally My song pick 7 years ago today: The Beatles - And I Love Her My song pick 8 years ago today: Al Di Meola - Alien Chase on Arabian Desert My song pick 9 years ago today: Alice Cooper - Go To Hell My song pick 10 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond My song pick 11 years ago today: The Doors - Riders On The Storm

From: Preservation Act 2 ; Year: 1974; Genre: Rock Started listening to this album for the first time last night, (I know, not hearing everything from one of my favourite bands... shame on me). Anyway, I've been digging Preservation Act 2 and its story ever since putting it on; definitely one that every Kinks fan should at least sample. Hear Introduction to a Solution on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Mary Jane's Last Dance My song pick 2 years ago today: ABBA - Head Over Heels My song pick 3 years ago today: Dr. John - Right Place Wrong Time My song pick 4 years ago today: Billy Joel - All for Leyna My song pick 5 years ago today: Santo & Johnny - Adventures in Paradise My song pick 6 years ago today: Megadeth - Blackmail the Universe My song pick 7 years ago today: Black 47 - Fire of Freedom My song pick 8 years ago today: Aerosmith - Amazing My song pick 9 years ago today: Banchee - Beautifully Day...

From: Word of Mouth ; Year: 1984; Genre: Rock I was wanting to pick a song from The Kinks today; I decided to go with this rather powerful track from the pen of Dave Davies. It's one of the better songs from the band from the 1980s. Hear Living on a Thin Line on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Jethro Tull - Slow Marching Band My song pick two years ago today: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - Flight of the Cosmic Hippo My song pick three years ago today: Mastodon - Creature Lives My song pick four years ago today: Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed My song pick five years ago today: Soundgarden - Live to Rise My song pick six years ago today: Shocking Blue - Venus My song pick seven years ago today: Rush - Countdown My song pick eight years ago today: Mungo Jerry - In the Summertime My song pick nine years ago today: The Kinks - A Well Respected Man My song pick ten years ago today: Eric Clapton - Bad Love