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

894 ( Steve Vai - #?@! Yourself ) For some reason this irreverent, profanity-laced track seemed a perfect fit for my mood this evening; oh yeah, Steve Vai and company's musicianship are quite awesome as always! Here is the studio version on YouTube. Load of profanities within, definitely (NSFW). My song pick a year ago today: The Who - I'm Free My song pick two years ago today: The Yardbirds - Heart Full of Soul +

893 ( KoKo Taylor - That's Why I'm Crying ) Yesterday I found out that Koko Taylor had died back in June of last year; I don't know how I missed the passing of "The Queen of the Blues." Anyway, if you don't know about her or her music and you even just slightly like the Blues, do yourself a favor and check her music out. This is one of my favorites among many in her catalog; so much soul, power, and emotion. Here is the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Veteran of the Psychic Wars My song pick two years ago today: Molly Hatchet - Bounty Hunter +

892 ( Charles Gounod - Funeral March of a Marionette ) This is another classical piece that most would not be able recognize by the title. However, once the main theme of the piece starts you should immediately get the image of a certain person's profile walking on the television screen. Yes, this piece of music was used for the theme of the television program Alfred Hitchcock Presents ; it has also been used in media for other purposes as well. Most would probably remember Charles Gounod for his opera Faust among other great works; he was quite a prolific composer during the Romance period of classical music. Here is a performance of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird My song pick two years ago today: Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind +

891 ( Peter Gabriel - Down To Earth ) Every since I first saw the Pixar film " Wall-E " I've been meaning to choose this song, but it kept slipping my mind for some reason. This song, which was composed by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, plays during the final credits of the film. It is a great song in so many ways, plus I needed a Peter Gabriel track on my list; I cannot believe I am almost 900 in without one. Here is a fan video with the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Edgar Winter Group - Free Ride My song pick two years ago today: Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee +

890 ( John Lennon - How Do You Sleep? ) I have been listening to some of the music off of John Lennon's Imagine over the last couple or so days, I figured that I should add a track for my pick today. This bluesy track has been one of the main ones that has kept running through my mind. From what I have read John Lennon wrote this "poison pen" song in response to Paul McCartney writing a "poison pen" song supposedly about him: Too Many People , which can be found here on YouTube . Anyway, that minutia aside this is very nice track; if a couple of superstars what to air their dirty laundry so be it, at least we, the fans, get some music out of the deal. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a clip from the "Imagine" film concerning this song on YouTube. There are many different versions and recordings of this song available on YouTube as well. My song pick a year ago today: The Who - Getting in Tune My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tu...

889 ( Azteca - Someday We'll Get By ) It has been a stressful last little bit and I am in need of some nice grooving tunes to listen to. This was one of many bands from the last few decades that did not get the respect or notoriety it was deserved. From what I understand the record company believed that they were too much of a threat to Santana, (who was on the same label), so they kept the band under the radar so to speak. Azteca , led by Coke and Pete Escovedo was actually made up mostly of former Santana alumni. From what I have heard even Carlos himself might made an appearance with them except the record company protested that as well. Just recently Azteca was reformed with a new CD/DVD and also did some live shows. What ever the case, if you like Santana, Latin Rock, or Fusion you probably would like Azteca as well. This is one of those songs that if you added something or took something away it would fall apart. You have the nice and easy groove with just a hint of funk, the...

888 ( The Byrds - Eight Miles High ) I had another song in mind today to pick, however when I started my post I noticed the number of the song on my list: 888. This song with a fitting title popped into my mind quite quickly; this combined with the fact that I have not added a Byrds song to the list yet I figured I should pick this one. Anyway, ever since I first heard this song I liked it, there is something about the structure and chord progression combined by the vocal harmonies that I like. Here is a remastered studio version on YouTube. Here is an alternate version of the song on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Wings - Band on the Run My song pick two years ago today: Faith No More - Woodpecker From Mars +