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

I don't believe that I could do a guitar themed week of songs without this great George Harrison track. An incredible song written by one of the overlooked Beatles and, of course, Eric Clapton's guitar work in this one is legendary. Here is the studio version on YouTube. +

Oh what the heck, I am up for an impromptu theme week: guitar songs. This song is classic Jerry Reed with some of the best guitar picking, lyrics and vocals. An absolutely incredible fun song to listen to. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance on YouTube. Here is a "Country Funk" live version on YouTube. +

The last couple of days it would seem as if I end up picking a song at zero hour instead of one that I had in mind for much of the day. For some reason this beautiful piece just seemed perfect for my mood tonight. The song is about the relationship and friendship that exists between musician and instrument. Apparently he wrote the song about the guitar that he learned how to play on; from what I understand he had lost this dear instrument and later ran across it and wrote this song on it. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance on YouTube. +

I had a couple of songs in mind to add to my list today, however, whilst on the road this evening this song popped on my iPod and it just seemed to be perfect for this evening. I was sure that I had already chosen it and was surprised that I hadn't added it yet, so I will. Here is the studio version on YouTube. +

I really needed to lose myself in some music today and I could not think of a better music for the task then the Space Rock of the band Hawkwind. This one of their bigger hit songs; Lemmy and the band kick some serious tail in this one, both him and Dave Brock are pure genus. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a music video on YouTube. Here is a recent live performance on YouTube. +

It seems as of late that I have been remembering bands that should have been added a long time ago to my list, but have not; this is another one that I have woefully neglected on my list. For those who do not know about Steeleye Span, they are another one of those "bloody loud folk bands" from The British Isles. One of my favorite aspects of this band other than the Progressive/Folk Rock music is Maddy Prior's exquisite vocals. This song is their Folk Rock adaptation of a traditional folk ballad about the legendary Scots prophet and laird: Thomas Learmonth, though he was/is also known by the names: " Thomas the Rhymer " or " True Thomas ." Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance of the song on YouTube. +

While doing some work yesterday I was listening to this track along with a bunch of other Nightwish music; I noticed that I had not added it yet, so I will today. This is, of course, a cover of the Andrew Lloyd Webber hit from the musical of the same name. They did an excellent job with the cover of this piece, but still put their own spin on it. The music and vocals are done quite well; of course Tarja Turunen sings the character Christine's part and bassist Marco Hietala sings the part of the Phantom in this duet. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a live performance on YouTube. +