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

From: Chrome Children, Vol.2 ; Year: 2007 (1979); Genre: Funk It's not only a the last day of the month, but is also a Funky Friday and my 20th consecutive. I must've heard this rather funky track at some point recently and it got stuck in my mind. So, as I always do, I'm taking it as a sign I need to pick it. Definitely a perfect song for my 20th straight Funky Friday! Hear Keep Running Away on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Mastodon - Blood and Thunder My song pick two years ago today: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - K.331 - Piano Sonata No. 11 My song pick three years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Little Martha My song pick four years ago today: Steve Vai - #?@! Yourself My song pick five years ago today: The Who - I'm Free My song pick six years ago today: The Yardbirds - Heart Full of Soul

From: Unknown Territory ; Year: 1994; Genre: Surf Guitar Rock Yesterday afternoon when coming home I had some of Dick Dale's music on the radio; to tell the truth my foot has a tendency to get much heavier when his music is on. I guess it's no surprise that I got home in record time. Anyway, I knew I wanted to pick one of his songs today, but was at a loss as which one; there's a lot, I mean A LOT of good music from the legendary surf guitarist. I'd actually thought that I had picked this one at some point in the past, but after doing a search of my blog I discovered that I hadn't. This, of course, has his legendary guitar playing/sound, but I've always loved the neat syncopated rhythm of the drumming, which makes this one stand out. Hear Terra Dicktyl on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Evanescence - Bring Me to Life My song pick two years ago today: Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin - Symphony No.2 in B-Minor My song pick three years ago t

From: Clockwork Angels ; Year: 2012; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock I was listening to Rush's most recent album the other day giving it another objective listen more than a year on. The Anarchist is one of the tracks that I didn't really care for when I first heard Clockwork Angels , but it has grown on me and has become one of my favourites on the album. Hear The Anarchist on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Audioslave - Cochise My song pick two years ago today: Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos - Media Vita in Morte Sumus My song pick three years ago today: Stahlhammer - Der Zerbrochene Traum My song pick four years ago today: Charles Gounod - Funeral March of a Marionette My song pick five years ago today: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird My song pick six years ago today: Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind

From: Operation: Mindcrime ; Year: 1988; Genre: Progressive Metal I felt like picking another from Queensrÿche this morning to start out another workweek; their music is always great to help get you ready from another week of the rat race. Anyway, this is a great track among many from their Mindcrime album. Hear Breaking the Silence on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Aerosmith - Jaded My song pick two years ago today: Blind Faith - Had to Cry Today My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - By Kind Permission Of My song pick four years ago today: Peter Gabriel - Down To Earth My song pick five years ago today: Edgar Winter Group - Free Ride My song pick six years ago today: Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee

From: Fandangos in Space ; Year: 1973; Genre: Progressive Rock/Flamenco Rock I was listening to Carmen the other day whilst I was on the road and thought I would pick another one of their songs; there are a lot of great songs to choose from. This is the first track off of their debut album Fandangos in Space and while only being about five and a half minutes long there is a lot of music and it contains three sections: i. Cante, ii. Baile, and iii. Reprise. Again, they do a great job of mixing progressive rock and the flamenco; such an interesting piece of music to listen to. Hear Bulerias on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Porcupine Tree - Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled My song pick two years ago today: Miles Davis - Pharaoh's Dance My song pick three years ago today: Led Zeppelin - Ten Years Gone My song pick four years ago today: John Lennon - How Do You Sleep? My song pick five years ago today: The Who - Getting in Tune

From: Storm Force Ten ; Year: 1977; Genre: Progressive Rock/Folk Rock This is an interesting song; it comes from the Kurt Weill 1928 adaptation of 18th Century Ballad Opera The Beggar's Opera called The Threepenny Opera piece: S eeräuberJenny or Pirate Jenny . The piece is about a barmaid's twisted fantasy of having a legendary pirate ship destroy the town and, at her request, having all the people of the town slaughtered. Her musings would end with her going out to sea with them. Because of the genesis of the song coming from an opera it has a notable theatrical feel to it both musically and with the vocal delivery. One of my favourite aspects of the song is the bass guitar and accordion in the verses; they really bring the whole "sea chanty" feel. I'm just waiting to hear an Alestorm version of this one; it's right up their alley. Hear The Black Freighter on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication M

From: Seven and the Ragged Tiger ; Year: 1983; Genre: Pop/Rock/New Wave I'm kind of homering out by picking a song from a band I really like. While this is one of Duran Duran's more popular songs, it's not one of my personal favourites, but I still like to listen to The Reflex every now and then. Hear The Reflex on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Savatage - The Storm My song pick two years ago today: John Dowland - In Darkness We Dwell My song pick three years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - I Love the Night My song pick four years ago today: The Byrds - Eight Miles High My song pick five years ago today: Wings - Band on the Run My song pick six years ago today: Faith No More - Woodpecker From Mars

From: Survival ; Year: 1975; Genre: Funk/Rhythm and Blues It's another extremely busy day today, but I wanted to make sure I got another Funky Friday pick in; this is my 19th straight. Anyway, great funky song from a great band, wot more could you want? Hear Give the People What They Want on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rammstein - Alter Mann My song pick two years ago today: Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein - Der Meister My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Nothing to Say My song pick five years ago today: Bad Company - Seagull My song pick six years ago today: Diana Ross - Do You Know Where You're Going To? (The theme from 'Mahogany' )

From: Superunknown ; Year: 1994; Genre: Alternative Metal It's another busy day, so I'm making a quick pick from one of my favourite bands. This is a great track with all of the brooding and intricacies that make Soundgarden's music so great. Hear Fell on Dark Days on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Driven My song pick two years ago today: The Moody Blues - Go Now My song pick three years ago today: Queen - 39 My song pick four years ago today: Hawkwind - Standing at the Edge My song pick five years ago today: Rush - Nocturne My song pick six years ago today: Head East - Never Been Any Reason

From: Sonic Temple ; Year: 1989; Genre: Hard Rock I had this band on my mind this morning. This was actually the first song I ever heard from The Cult, although since I've come to like some of their other songs a bit more. That being said, it's still one of my favourites of theirs. Watch the music video clip to Fire Woman on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Beatles - Free as a Bird My song pick two years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Julie Don't Live Here My song pick three years ago today: Fire Bomber (Humming Bird) - My Soul For You My song pick four years ago today: Hawkwind - D-Rider My song pick five years ago today: Duran Duran - Rio My song pick six years ago today: Rare Earth - ( I Know ) I'm Losing You

From: Lights Out ; Year: 1977; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal Making kind of a quick pick today. Since I have only picked one from UFO already I thought I would pick another one of their songs. Hear Too Hot To Handle on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Stratovarius - Chasing Shadows My song pick two years ago today: The Beatles - Back in the U.S.S.R. My song pick three years ago today: Tarot - Pilot of All Dreams My song pick four years ago today: Muse - Knights of Cydonia My song pick five years ago today: Nightwish - 10th Man Down My song pick six years ago today: Jaco Pastorius - Donna Lee

From: Frizzle Fry ; Year: 1990; Genre: Metal/Funk Had Primus on the brain this morning and I wanted to pick one of their songs. This is, I believe, one of their first big hit singles and is the first in a four-part story called Fisherman's Chronicles . Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Pearl Jam - Go My song pick two years ago today: The Ventures - Beethoven's Sonata in C#-Minor My song pick three years ago today: Stuart Hamm - Count Zero My song pick four years ago today: Louis Armstrong - La Vie en Rose My song pick five years ago today: The Thermals - No Culture Icons My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crossfire

From: Hejira ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Folk Hejira is and will always be one of my absolute favourite albums from Joni Mitchell. This is such a great mix of music and lyric writing; I love the way they mixed her great folk stylings with jazz. Anyway, this is one of the great examples off the record, obviously with it being the title-track, such a pretty song. Hear Hejira on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Dream Theater - Under a Glass Moon My song pick two years ago today: Pearl Jam - Light Years My song pick three years ago today: Band of Horses - Factory My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Freewill My song pick five years ago today: R.E.M. - Stand My song pick six years ago today: Queen - Killer Queen

From: The Incident ; Year: 2009; Genre: Progressive Rock This is one I was randomly thinking about today and took it as a sign to pick it. Some pretty awesome heavy prog rock; perfect for a Saturday. Hear Bonnie the Cat on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Everything About You My song pick two years ago today: Ludwig Van Beethoven - Op. 31 No. 2 - Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor " Tempest " My song pick three years ago today: David Bowie - Diamond Dogs My song pick four years ago today: Sky - Toccata My song pick five years ago today: Journey - Who's Crying Now My song pick six years ago today: Billy Joel - Only the Good Die Young

From: You Can Be a Star (single); Year: 2003 (1979); Genre: Funk/Soul It's another Friday and also my 18th Funky Friday in a row. This is one that has been on my mind off and on for a bit now and thought I would use it for just such an occasion. I don't know much about the Luther Davis Group or this song, but it's an incredibly fun, feel-good song to listen to and one I like a lot. Hear You Can Be a Star on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Megadeth - Hangar 18 My song pick two years ago today: Black 47 - Different Drummer My song pick three years ago today: Band of Horses - The First Song My song pick four years ago today: Forest - A Glade Somewhere My song pick five years ago today: Weather Report - Teen Town My song pick six years ago today: Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 1068 - Orchestral Suite No.3 in D-Major, " Air "

From: Vapor Trails ( Remixed ); Year: 2013 (2002); Genre: Progressive Rock They finally got around to fixing the mess that was the album Vapor Trails . Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad album, but the mixing and mastering of the original left it a clippy and distorted mess. Since the overwhelming positive reception of the remasters of Earthshine and One Little Victory it made it kind of a nobrainer. Anyway, as you know or might not know this was Neil Peart's continuation of his original ' Fear Trilogy ' (now called ' Fear Series ') and more or less follows along the same lines both lyrically and musically. Hear the new remastered version of Freeze on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Chris Isaak - Wicked Game My song pick two years ago today: Dion - Abraham, Martin and John My song pick three years ago today: Joachim Witt - Wem Gehört Das Sternenlicht My song pick four years ago today: Cab Calloway & The Harlemaniacs - The Ree

From: The Dreams of Men ; Year: 2005; Genre: Progressive Rock Was listening to some Pallas this morning; this was one of the songs I had on; definitely one of the bands great tracks. Hear Warriors on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Soundgarden - Flower My song pick two years ago today: Northern Kings - Wanted Dead or Alive My song pick three years ago today: Jethro Tull - Bungle in the Jungle My song pick four years ago today: Edvard Grieg - Op. 54, No.3 - The March of the Trolls ( Troldtog ) My song pick five years ago today: Rob Zombie - Dragula My song pick six years ago today: Tears for Fears - Mad World

From: Bachman-Turner Overdrive II ; Year: 1973; Genre: Hard Rock Despite being a "deep cut" on the album in my opinion this track is just as good as the main hits on the album. I'd have to say it's pretty much a typical BTO song in that it's driven by well-defined riffs and thumping bass and drums. Hear Give It Time on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - The Waking Edge My song pick two years ago today: The Scorpions - The Good Die Young My song pick three years ago today: Megadeth - Elysian Fields My song pick four years ago today: Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) feat. Freddy Taylor - Nagasaki My song pick five years ago today: Miles Davis - Flamenco Sketches My song pick six years ago today: The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset

From: All Day and All of the Night (single); Year: 1964; Genre: Hard Rock Being that I was born way after the "British Invasion" and am more than a generation removed I was more into the bands that were influenced by the British Invasion acts than the bands of the invasion themselves. I might've said it before in previous posts, but after discovering that quite a few of the bands I liked got inspiration from The Kinks I ended up listening to their material and became fan of them as well. Anyway, I've already picked a few of their songs that I really like, so I figured I would pick one of their biggest hits on this Monday morning. This track was truly ahead of its time back when it was released. Hear All Day and All of the Night on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Iron Maiden - Caught Somewhere in Time My song pick two years ago today: Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl My song pick three years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - Mama, I'm Coming Home My so

From: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness ; Year: 1995; Genre: Alternative Rock/Metal Came down with a really bad cold/flu and am making a quick pick today. Smashing Pumpkins are a band that I've slowly been warming up to for the last couple of year, and thought I should pick another track I find appealing. Watch the Music Video Clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms My song pick two years ago today: Metallica - The Day That Never Comes My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein, featuring Carmen Zapata - Te Quiero Puta! My song pick four years ago today: Traveling Wilburys - End of the Line My song pick five years ago today: The Doors - Love Her Madly My song pick six years ago today: Rod Stewart - Young Turks ( Young Hearts Be Free )

From: Fire of Freedom ; Year: 1993; Genre: Celtic Rock/Alternative Rock Listening to Black 47 always seems to put me into a good mood; especially their more light hearted songs. After searching over what was available on YouTube, which, might I say was abysmally scant, I decided I would pick this rather comic track. I'm not too sure if this one is autobiographical about an actual happening, but whatever the case, the subject matter about a former boyfriend wrecking his ex's wedding is down to Earth enough to probably 'click' with many. Add into that the very upbeat arrangement and the comical bits within and it becomes an excellent track. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Van Halen - 1984 My song pick two years ago today: Savatage - Holocaust My song pick three years ago today: The United States of America - The Garden of Earthly Delights My song pick four years ago today: Buddy Holley & the Crickets - Oh Boy! M

From: Pork Soda ; Year: 1993; Genre: Funk Metal I'm still keeping my streak of Funky Fridays going with this, I believe being my 17th consecutive. Anyway, this is one if the band's most notable songs and technically isn't straight-up funk or anything else precisely for that matter, but it has always been hard to shoehorn Primus into a single genre anyway, so "Funk Metal" will do. Watch the music video clip on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Styx - Mr. Roboto My song pick two years ago today: Carmen - High Time My song pick three years ago today: Stahlhammer - Strom Der Zeit My song pick four years ago today: Ally Kerr - The Sore Feet Song My song pick five years ago today: Johnny Cash - Solitary Man My song pick six years ago today: Two-Mix - White Reflection

From: Deep Purple in Rock ; Year: 1970; Genre: Hard Rock/Metal This is one that Woordenaar picked about a year ago that I ran into the other day and thought I'd pick it. Actually I hadn't heard this track for a few years now; it certainly brought back some memories. Hear Child in Time on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Peter Gabriel - Shock the Monkey My song pick two years ago today: Stormwarrior - Foreign Shores My song pick three years ago today: Larry Greene - Through the Fire My song pick four years ago today: Puhdys - Geh Dem Wind Nicht Aus Dem Wege My song pick five years ago today: Journey - Lights My song pick six years ago today: Rush - Anthem

From: Endgame ; Year: 2009; Genre: Thrash Metal I had Megadeth on my mind this morning, and I thought I would pick one of their songs. This one comes off of one of my favourite of their more recent records: Endgame . As with a lot of Dave Mustaine's music there is a political message in this thrash metal track; this one is about the financial meltdown that the world is still reeling from. Hear Bite the Hand on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jefferson Starship - Find Your Way Back My song pick two years ago today: Band of Horses - Compliments My song pick three years ago today: Hawkwind - Lord of Light My song pick four years ago today: Karussell - Schattenkreuze My song pick five years ago today: The Proclaimers - I 'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) My song pick six years ago today: Arlo Guthrie - City of New Orleans

From: The Allman Brothers Band ; Year: 1969: Genre: Southern Rock I had an incline to listen to some Allman Brothers this morning. This song has been covered a bit over the years, but this is, of course the original. I love the mix of blues and rock; it's such a great track. Hear Dreams on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love My song pick two years ago today: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Superstition My song pick three years ago today: Journey - To Play Some Music My song pick four years ago today: Apocalyptica featuring Till Lindemann - Helden My song pick five years ago today: James Gang - Funk 49 My song pick six years ago today: Midnight Oil - Blue Sky Mine

From: Woman In The Wings ; Year: 1978; Genre: Progressive Rock I was in the mood for some good hard-edged folk rock and much of the time for me that usually means listening to something Maddy Prior is involved with. This is one of my favourites off of her 1978 solo record; I've always loved the arrangement of Gutter Geese , especially the way her vocals were. The rhythm section makes a nice foundation that carries and drives it and puts the other instruments and her vocals in a nice place on top. Hear Gutter Geese on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Pink Floyd - Hey You My song pick two years ago today: Return to Forever - Dayride My song pick three years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Hot Rails to Hell My song pick four years ago today: Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show - Cover of the Rolling Stone My song pick five years ago today: Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crazed Institution

From: Homecoming ; Year: 1972; Genre: Folk Rock The other day I had this tune running through my mind; it's always been among my favourites from the band. It's such a pretty song actually; I've always loved the overall optimistic feel and the existential lyrics/subject matter. Hear Ventura Highway on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nick Gilder - Hot Child in the City My song pick two years ago today: Boston - Foreplay/Long Time My song pick three years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Home and Dry My song pick four years ago today: Johnny Cash - One Piece at a Time My song pick five years ago today: Traffic - John Barleycorn My song pick six years ago today: The Moody Blues - Forever Afternoon ( Tuesday? ), Time to Get Away.

From: Glass Houses ; Year: 1980; Genre: Rock The other night I saw Billy Joel perform this song live on television and thought it would make a good pick. It's a really great track off of one of his best albums in my opinion; you got to love that hard rock edge. Hear You May Be Right on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Jethro Tull - Songs From the Wood My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Crew Nights My song pick three years ago today: The Guess Who - These Eyes My song pick four years ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Fanfare for the Common Man My song pick five years ago today: The Kinks - Do It Again My song pick six years ago today: The Guess Who - Hang On To Your Life

From: Bootsy? Player of the Year ; Year: 1978; Genre: Funk It might be the first Friday in this new year, but it's my 16th consecutive Funky Friday ! Wot a better way to kick off my first Funky Friday of the year than with one of Bootsy Collins' biggest and most recognizable songs; ya gotta love that thumping groove. Hear Bootzilla on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Do Ya My song pick two years ago today: Mr. Big - Take Cover My song pick three years ago today: Triumph - Magic Power My song pick four years ago today: Nightwish - While Your Lips Are Still Red My song pick five years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Mother's Little Helper My song pick six years ago today: Billy Joel - Two Thousand Years

From: Sirens ; Year 1983; Genre: Metal I was drawing a blank for my pick today, so I 'spun the wheel' so to speak and came up with this gem from early Savatage. I absolutely love the 'thickness' of this song's sound especially on the bottom end the way they brought the rhythm section up in the mix. Hear Scream Murder on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Sweet - Fox on the Run My song pick two years ago today: Van der Graaf Generator - Whatever Would Robert Have Said? My song pick three years ago today: Steve Vai - Kill the Guy with the Ball/The God Eaters My song pick four years ago today: Banchee - John Doe My song pick five years ago today: Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone My song pick six years ago today: Queen - Don't Stop Me Now

From: Days of Future Past ; Year: 1967; Genre: Symphonic Rock/Progressive Rock Happy New Year! I was pondering what would be a great song to start off another year and Moody Blues' Days of Future past album kept coming to mind. While it obviously is a song cycle chronicling the drudgery of an average Tuesday, this song, the overture to the dawning of the new day also fits the dawning of a new year as well. Anyway, as stated earlier, this is the overture to the song cycle, which features themes and melodies from the subsequent material on the album. It finishes with Graeme Edge reciting the poem Morning Glory . Hear The Day Begins and Morning Glory on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Rush - Here Again My song pick two years ago today: Jethro Tull - Last Man at the Party My song pick three years ago today: Dan Fogelberg - Same Old Lang Syne My song pick four years ago today: ABBA - Happy New Year My song pick five years ago today: U2 - New Year's Da