Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1985 - (page 203)

Saddleworth2 said:
I have always thought the music made on this side of the Atlantic was superior.
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Not. sure. if. serious.

Good that this thread has put you right, mind. I'm sure we'll see as the thread progresses that certain British groups became very good at adapting American roots music.
 
Surprised there is still some classics left 23 songs into this playlist, but here we are.

Three artists recorded this song in 1954-55, but I'll take the first one that came out in February 1954 vs. the Bill Haley & His Comets version in June of that same year. It would come as no surprise that Elvis would follow in January 1955 with his version once the first ones become popular. I'm sensing a theme here, and I'll strongly go original. Big Joe's version that is #127 on the Rolling Stone magazine list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time is good enough for me.

Shake, Rattle & Roll - Big Joe Turner
 
It's astonishing that nearly 70 years after those songs on @RobMCFC 's playlist, they still sound like they are filled with an energy that is unmistakably the DNA of everything that comes later. I can imagine that being a teenager around this time that this music must've sounded like nothing else.

They truly were pioneers who changed music, simple as that. I also find it slightly amazing, not to jump too far ahead, of how quickly it seemed to burn out too which Rob's highlighted. With some of the biggest stars tarred, you can see why it would've done and I can imagine it was also used to suggest a lot of teenagers they shouldn't be listened to!
 
Saddleworth2 said:
I have enjoyed all of the playlists and meticulously recreated them on Amazon music so I can return to them again and again. I have always thought the music made on this side of the Atlantic was superior but this thread has clearly shown the music I love had its roots firmly in America and before that Africa. The exception being prog rock which I still think was born and flourished in Blighty.
But maybe I’m wrong about that too. Someone will claim Rush started it all.
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Music made on this side of the Atlantic is not superior but Britain unquestionably punches above its weight when it comes to pop / rock music. Also, some of the biggest, most enduring and influential acts are English and we'll get to them in the coming years as that influence and prominence started in the 60's.

Prog did originate in England and many of its prime exponents are English but Rush are an apex predator.
 
Art Rock - British
Glam Rock - British
Acid Jazz - British
Metal - British
Punk - British (not really)
Da Vinci - Indian
 
mrbelfry said:
Greenday - American, idiot
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The placement of that comma is obviously a source of concern to me, however I have more immediate problems; in prepping tonight's tea it would appear I've eaten half the ingredients before getting to the cooking phase.
 
Resurrection Joe... said:
two more ladies deserve namechecking here...Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Big Mama THornton...both with blues / gospel roots but both rock n rollers....I think Chuck Berry admitted his whole act was based upon THarpe!...can I get Big Mama Thorntons ' Hound Dog' on the list...as an original and comparisson to Elvis version...
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Hound Dog was written specially for Mama Thornton by Lieber and Stoller as a blues song. Mama T was not best pleased to have two white men writing blues. (They were actually Jews). She went to the radio station where it was to be recorded and heard someone playing really good blues piano nearby. She went to investigate and found Mike Stoller at the piano. She put her hands on his face and said: “Honey, are you sure you ain’t black?”
 
I must be one of the few FOCs on here that has actually seen Bill Haley live. He did a short farewell tour about a year or so before he died. I saw him at The Royal Hall Harrogate.
Audience largely in Drape Suits, winkle pickers and DA haircuts.
The gig was postponed by an hour due to technical problems. We went to the pub across the road for that hour where we encountered a journo phoning in his report on the gig, including an appreciation of Haley’s performance. Had to meet the deadline, see.
Incidently, the correct term for the band is Bill Haley and His Comets, not ‘the comets’. Tbh, he was not great at the concert appearing a bit ill and weak but it was a fun experience nevertheless.
 
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KS55 said:
I must be one of the few FOCs on here that has actually seen Bill Haley live. He did a short farewell tour about a year or so before he died. I saw him at The Royal Hall Harrogate.
Audience largely in Drape Suits, winkle pickers and DA haircuts.
The gig was postponed by an hour due to technical problems. We went to the pub across the road for that hour where we encountered a journo phoning in his report on the gig, including an appreciation of Haley’s performance. Had to meet the deadline, see.
Incidently, the correct term for the band is Bill Haley and His Comets, not ‘the comets’. Tbh, he was not great at the concert appearing a bit ill and weak but it was a fine experience nevertheless.
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That is a good story to tell people - that you saw Bill Haley.

I must admit, I was surprised when I found out during my research that it was “His Comets”, but you’ll notice that it is there in big black letters on the photo caption :)
 
threespires said:
The placement of that comma is obviously a source of concern to me, however I have more immediate problems; in prepping tonight's tea it would appear I've eaten half the ingredients before getting to the cooking phase.
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What did you have for tea? The comma placement was random
 
I've been out of pocket a bit and waited for a few more songs to get added, but it's been quiet. So, I'll just note there's no way we're not getting to the 1960s without having Ritchie Valens a part of this.

As Rob noted in the intro, some of the early pioneers who weren't with us as long were certainly heavy influences even if their light only shone bright for a short period.

Humanity lost some great ones on the "day the music died" in 1959, so I'll just add in a song that to me epitomizes early Rock & Roll from the great Ritchie Valens who was only 17.

This song was inspired by Valens' music influence of Little Richard who had released "Ooh My Soul" the year prior. He even references two song characters here, one from his from the same album, and another from the artist he'd be later be permanently linked with from that plane crash. This song should be very recognizable to Led Zeppelin fans on "Boogie With Stu" from their Physical Graffiti double album. The band even gave credit to "Mrs. Valens" on that track. Make no mistake, this rock track from Ritchie and his early Latin influences helped form the music and sounds that inspired future artists going forward.

"Ooh! My Head" - Ritchie Valens
 
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