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

1382 Blue Öyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper From: Agents of Fortune , Year: 1976 After listening to some BÖC the other day I noticed that I had not picked what is probably their quintessential song yet, so I will with today's pick. Strangely enough, even with the amount of times this track get played in all media outlets, I've never really become sick of it. Watch a fan video with the studio version on YouTube. Watch a classic live performance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Grateful Dead - Ripple My song pick two years ago today: Eddie Rabbitt - Step By Step My song pick three years ago today: Rush - Between the Wheels +

1380-1 The Grateful Dead - Help is on the Way/Slipknot! From: Blues for Allah , Year: 1975 It's Memorial Day again, and I'm continuing my tradition of picking a Grateful Dead track on this Holiday. This is an awesome jazzy track with a nice groove to it; there is excellent musicianship throughout. Hear Help is on the Way/Slipknot! on YouTube. Hear a live recording of the song circa '75 on YouTube. Watch a live performance circa '90 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Louis Armstrong - Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen My song pick two years ago today: R.E.O. Speedwagon - Take It On The Run My song pick three years ago today: The Grass Roots - Temptation Eyes +

1379 Derek and the Dominoes - Key to the Highway From: Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, Year: 1970 I've actually been meaning to pick this track for a while now since Arthur picked it on his Song a Day blog . From what I understand this recording of this blues standard came into being when Eric Clapton and Duane Allman were jamming in the studio whilst they were on break during recording the album; apparently the record's producer heard them playing and started recording it. Hear the studio version on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: David Bowie - All The Madmen My song pick two years ago today: Rush - Finding My Way My song pick three years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Long As I Can See The Light +

1378 Fleetwood Mac - Rhiannon From: Fleetwood Mac , Year: 1975 I heard this song on the radio this morning and thought it would make an excellent pick for today. From what I've read this song was loosely inspired by an old Welsh tale which Stevie Nicks discovered in a novel. This has always been one of my favourite Fleetwood Mac songs and I ended up only liking it more after playing it in bands I've been in over the years. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a classic live performance circa '76 on YouTube. Here is the live performance from The Dance on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Return To Forever - The Magician My song pick two years ago today: The Gipsy Kings - Hotel California My song pick three years ago today: The Fifth Dimension - Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In +

1377 Return to Forever - Sofistifunk From: No Mystery , Year: 1975 I felt like listening to some fusion this morning, the music from this superb group of master musicians seemed like an excellent choice. Today is Friday, right? Yeah. I haven't made a "Funky Friday" pick in some time now, so I'll take this opportunity to make one. This Funky Fusion track off of their No Mystery album tune was written by the incomparable Lenny White, who is one of my favourite drummers of all time. Hear Sofistifunk on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Savatage - 24 Hours Ago My song pick two years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - The Rubberband Man My song pick three years ago today: Boston - Something About You +

1376 Genesis - The Musical Box From: Nursery Cryme , Year: 1971 I felt like some classic Genesis from the Peter Gabriel era this morning, so, for no other reason I just put on their Nursery Cryme album. I decided that this rather epic song, which is the first or the album, would be a wonderful pick for the day; this song and album are excellent in so many aspects. Hear The Musical Box on YouTube. Watch a live performance of the song circa '73 on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Savatage - The Dungeons Are Calling My song pick two years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - I'm Alive My song pick three years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Uncle John's Band +

1375 Max Roach - Valse Hot From: Jazz in 3/4 Time , Year: 1957 Max Roach's Jazz in 3/4 Time album has been getting almost constant play from me for the last day of so. This is such a superb collection of experimental and Hard Bop Jazz; it's been so much fun to listen to waltzes that swing and bop all over the place. The album consists of both original material and reworked Jazz standards done in waltz time; this track in particular was written by the band's saxophonist Sonny Rollins. The whole band is truly awesome and inspiring throughout not just this song, but the entire album. Here is a live recording of the song performed by the Clifford Brown and Max Roach Quintet on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nightwish - Amaranth My song pick two years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Alabama Getway My song pick three years ago today: Bob Seger - Night Moves +