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

From: If You Saw Thro' My Eyes ; Year: 1971; Genre: Folk Rock Kinda shocked yesterday to discover that prolific drummer and vocalist Gerry Conway passed away almost two weeks ago; he apparently had been fighting a battle with ALS . Almost universally across the many band mates and artists he played for said he was easy to get along with and an amazing musician. Whilst many might not immediately know who he was, they probably have heard him with bands/artists such as Iain Matthews, Al Stewart, Grimms, Richard Thompson, Mike McGear, Jethro Tull, Cat Stevens, Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Fotheringay, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, amongst others.   Hear Morgan the Pirate on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Soundgarden - Tighter & Tighter   My song pick 2 years ago today: Damn Yankees - Runaway   My song pick 3 years ago today: Camel - Lies   My song pick 4 years ago today: Hawkwind - 65 Million Years Ago   My song pick 5 years...

From: ...And I Know You Wanna Dance ; Year:1966; Genre: Rock Noted that I had not chosen a song from Johnny Rivers in a long while, so I decided that today I would. Whilst probably his greatest hit and his signature tune, it actually had its genesis as a theme song for an American localization of the British spy show Danger Man ; as well as the localized new theme they also re-titled the show Secret Agent . Apparently the original T.V. title had only a single verse and chorus, but was later recorded live with the extra verse and additional choruses that was part of this album and the one that really transcended the song's original purpose.   Hear Secret Agent Man on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - Resist   My song pick 2 years ago today: Heart - The Oldest Story in the World   My song pick 3 years ago today: Cream - Sitting on Top of the World   My song pick 4 years ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - Forever Falling   My ...

From: The Midnight Special and other Southern Prison Songs ; Year: 1940; Genre: Blues/Folk Most probably are aware of this song from a plethora of recording artists over the last 70 or so years, but the version by Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter was among the first to popularize the song to a wide audience. The origins of the song are nebulous at best being that it was passed down from musician to musician with lyrics differing from one to the next for many years prior to Lead Belly recording his famous version; to say the least Midnight Special most likely originated in the 19th century in the southern U.S.. You just get the feeling of yearning and hope from this one from the perspective of a man incarcerated awaiting parole with the steam engine's headlamp lighting the cell giving comfort.   Hear Midnight Special on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Teen Archer   My song pick 2 years ago today: Triumph - Rock & Roll Machi...

From: Black is Black ; Year: 1966; Genre: Rock For about a week or so I have had Los Bravos' music playing in my head a lot, so I'm, of course, picking a song of theirs. This is one of their singles that apparently hit pretty big in Europe, The U.K. and Australia, but not as much in the U.S. or Canada. It is kind of odd because this one is more pop sounding than their other hits, but still has the raw emotion brought out with the vocals and music in a very Spanish fashion.   Hear I Don't Care on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Talking Heads - Burning Down the House   My song pick 2 years ago today: Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Guess Who? - Believe Me   My song pick 4 years ago today: Journey - Open Arms   My song pick 5 years ago today: Peter Frampton - Nassau/Baby, I Love Your Way My song pick 6 years ago today: Hawkwind - Nuclear Drive My song pick 7 years ago today: Alice in Chains...

From: An Hour Before It's Dark ; Year: 2022; Genre: Progressive Rock Here's one of the epic, multi-sub-song tracks from their most recent album: An Hour Before It's Dark . Care contains four sections: i. Maintenance Drugs , ii. An Hour Before It's Dark , iii. Every Cell , iv. Angels on Earth . Wot I really love about this piece is how they kept it true to their established feel and sound; without a doubt I could immediately recognize it as a Marillion tune across the board, capturing the best of their musical essence.   Hear Care on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Eric Burdon and War - The Vision of Rassan   My song pick 2 years ago today: Brave Belt - Long Way 'Round   My song pick 3 years ago today: Meat Loaf - Paradise By the Dashboard Light   My song pick 4 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Light Years of Love   My song pick 5 years ago today: Tool - Vicarious My song pick 6 years ago today: Nena - Ich häng' an dir My s...

From: Duran Duran ; Year: 1981; Genre: New Wave/Synthpop Just had the music from this band on the 'ol noggin today. This is one of their first hit singles from their debut record and still one that is quite ubiquitous all of these years later.   Hear Girls on Film on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Mountain - Tired Angels (to J.M.H.)   My song pick 2 years ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Ramble Tamble   My song pick 3 years ago today: 10cc - Art for Art's Sake   My song pick 4 years ago today: Brotherhood of Man - Save All Your Kisses For Me   My song pick 5 years ago today: Wolfmother - Enemy Is In Your Mind My song pick 6 years ago today: The Cure - More Than This My song pick 7 years ago today: Carmen - Dedicated to Lydia My song pick 8 years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Toccata My song pick 9 years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll My song pick 10 years ago to...

From: Cardiac Arrest ; Year: 1977; Genre: Funk The very first Friday of the new month! Yes, I'm going right back to something from the one and only Cameo; they've been playing a lot in my player as of late! :D Anyway, this is an early hit from the band off of their first album, and you can feel the influence of P-Funk on this one in particular. I absolutely love the Star Trek/space references in the intro and throughout the song as well as the vocals. That and the hard, grinding groove are wot I really love about this one; some definite positive and uplifting music to get you in a better mood.   Hear Funk Funk on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Genesis - Tonight, Tonight, Tonight   My song pick 2 years ago today: Hawkwind - Strange Encounters   My song pick 3 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Space for the Earth   My song pick 4 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life   My song pick 5 years ago today: Dayton Sidewind...