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

From: Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It ; Year: 1975; Genre: Soul/Funk I could not remember the last time I chose a song from the legendary Larry Graham and his band, so I thought I would on this Funky Friday . This is one of the bigger hit singles from the band, which is a great, upbeat piece of funky soul; I especially love the vocals and that toe-tapping loping beat.   Hear Your Love on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Gentle Giant - The Power and the Glory   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ennio Morricone - The Ecstasy of Gold   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rush - Clockwork Angels My song pick 4 years ago today: The Kinks - Living on a Thin Line My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Slow Marching Band My song pick 6 years ago today: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - Flight of the Cosmic Hippo My song pick 7 years ago today: Mastodon - Creature Lives My song pick 8 years ago today: Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed My song ...

From: Broken Barricades ; Year: 1971; Genre: Progressive Rock Another performer on my mind I had today that I thought I would choose a song from, (Robin Trower), but instead I picked one from a band he was in, which is Procol Harum. This track comes from the final record from Robin Trower's first run with the band until the early 1990s. Song for a Dreamer was one he wrote in reaction to the death of Jimi Hendrix, which happened about a year prior to the album's release. As expected, there's a lot of excellent guitar work throughout this 5+ minute song.   Hear Song for a Dreamer on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Watching Over You   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down To Georgia   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Givin' It All Away My song pick 4 years ago today: Rush - Summertime Blues My song pick 5 years ago today: The Fatback Band ...

From: Ring of Hands ; Year: 1971; Genre: Progressive Rock/Blues Rock Noticed that I had not chosen one from one of my favourite bands, Argent, in quite a while. This is one of Russ Ballard's many songs that he's written and recorded and was covered by another act; he's one of those individuals with a lot of hit songs to his name, just not too many that he recorded himself. Anyway, this is a very interesting, bluesy piece with a lot of different musical ideas throughout.   Hear Chained on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Camel - Manic   My song pick 2 years ago today: Tom Rapp - The Swimmer (for Kurt Cobain)   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rare Earth - Born to Wander My song pick 4 years ago today: The Byrds - I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better My song pick 5 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - I'm On the Lamb, But Ain't No Sheep My song pick 6 years ago today: Fates Warning - Stranger (With a Familiar Face) My song pick 7 years ago today...

From: Blows Against the Empire ; Year: 1970; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Space Rock Grace Slick's powerful vocals were on my mind, so I thought I would pick something from one of her many projects. From what I understand, Blows Against the Empire , which included both Paul Kantner and Grace from Jefferson Airplane seemingly happened during a lull with the band. This was a solo project and concept album by Kantner, who used the "Starship" name as a reference to the space vehicle in the overarching story told throughout the record. After the demise of Jefferson Airplane a few years later, they apparently reused this name for the launch of Jefferson Starship. Anyway, on this album, some other members from Jefferson Airplane joined them on some of the songs along with a list of who's who of Bay Area musicians at the time filled out the lineup. Mau Mau is the lead track from the story, which tells the story of a group of counter-cultural individuals commandeering the Starship ...

From: Mr. Fantasy ; Year: 1967; Genre: Psychedelic Rock I grew up hearing the cover version of this song by Three Dog Night , but eventually came across the original from Traffic. It ended up that I really love both versions, but in different ways due to the different approaches and arrangements of the piece.     Hear Heaven is in Your Mind on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: The Moody Blues - Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Alice in Chains - Again   My song pick 3 years ago today: Toad the Wet Sprocket - Walk on the Ocean My song pick 4 years ago today: Soundgarden - 4th of July My song pick 5 years ago today: Carmen - Dancing on a Cold Wind My song pick 6 years ago today: Jane's Addiction - Three Days My song pick 7 years ago today: Grand Funk Railroad - Some Kind of Wonderful My song pick 8 years ago today: The Isley Brothers - The Pride (Parts 1&2) My song pick 9 years ago today...

From: Three Hearts ; Year: 1979; Genre: Rock/Pop I have no idea why I had Bob Welch's music on my mind today, but it is odd that I would since about a month ago it was 10 years since his tragic passing. I've always liked his music, especially with the band Paris and his later solo efforts, which I believe Three Hearts was his second record as a solo artist. This track in particular reminds me a lot of the music he wrote and performed as the frontman for Fleetwood Mac years earlier; it makes it very familiar and inviting to some who are accustomed to that sound.   Hear Church on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Hawkwind - Starshine   My song pick 2 years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Milky Way   My song pick 3 years ago today: Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - Tracks Of My Tears My song pick 4 years ago today: Blancmange - Living on the Ceiling My song pick 5 years ago today: Dick Dale and his Del Tones - The Wedge My song ...

From: Americana ; Year: 1998; Genre: Alternative Rock This is such and interesting track from this album; in my opinion they saved the best for last. It's also one of the band's longer and more "prog" pieces, which was a big departure from their punk rock roots. The first five or so minutes are just amazing with the use of Middle-Eastern minor modalities and chords; very exotic sounding. It then launches into a heavier section with a more familiar sound, but with some of the same sounds from the first part.   Hear Pay the Man on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Marillion - Living in F E A R   My song pick 2 years ago today: Black Label Society - The Day That Heaven Had Gone Away   My song pick 3 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Rock 'n' Roll Is King My song pick 4 years ago today: Return to Forever - Beyond the Seventh Galaxy My song pick 5 years ago today: Al Di Meola - July My song pick 6 years ago today: Gary Lewis an...