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

mancity2012_eamo said:
Still unsure of how any of this works.
Dipping in when interested will do me fine.
Click to expand...
Thats great.
If you are interessted, we started with a few weeks of history covering the main genres. Blues, Jazz, Country etc from the early 19c to 1960. There are write ups for each genre and a playlist covering each. Everything is covered by links on the first page. Since then we have been constructing playlists year by year. Again, the links to the playlists are on the first page. You can get 'year' playlists on any of the main streaming sites but they lack the gems unearthed on this thread and the write ups. Hope you get involved. An Irish viewpoint would be great.
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
I'll step in to do '72 as you all have done some heavy lifting lately, but if anyone else steps up outside of us, I would gladly hand it over.

I probably wouldn't have time to do any serious write-up before this weekend, so if no one else has the urge to step in, I'll take it on after that.
Click to expand...
Last call if anyone other than Sadds, OB1, GLS, or threespires want to take on 1972.

I'm starting in earnest later this weekend unless anyone else wants a go. No hard feelings either way.
 
"We're so sorry, Uncle Albert... But we haven't done a bloody thing all day"

Well, I'm not sure this will be welcomed here, but I have to go with the song I remember singing along with from the radio in the back of the car in one of my earliest memories musically as a child. The fact I had an "Uncle Albert" too along with the quirky lyrics only made this a bonus singalong back then.

And this song had it all. A cool and unique posh British accent over the phone, multiple tempo changes, especially into those horns at about 2:20 in, on to the ultimate sing along to "Hands across the water".

And who can forget the words that younger me never knew, but laughingly mumbled along to "the butter wouldn't melt so I put it in the pie"?

Yeah, it's a silly song, but memories are memories no matter how dated they seem to be now, and there is a sheer joy to this song overall. I will say for many years that this one has had a special place to me as well where Paul noted that the lyric, "'Hands across the water/Heads across the sky' referred to Linda and him being American and British."

Me and Mrs B&W can appreciate that too, even if since yesterday she's now now a dual citizen after over 5+ years of bureaucratic and frustrating delays. So yesterday was not just Another Day, and in that honour to one of her favourite performers from her home country of birth:

"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" - Paul and Linda McCartney
 
Last edited:
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
"We're so sorry, Uncle Albert... But we haven't done a bloody thing all day"

Well, I'm not sure this will be welcomed here, but I have to go with the song I remember singing along with from the radio in the back of the car in one of my earliest memories musically as a child. The fact I had an "Uncle Albert" too along with the quirky lyrics only made this a bonus singalong back then.

And this song had it all. A cool and unique posh British accent over the phone, multiple tempo changes, especially into those horns at about 2:20 in, on to the ultimate sing along to "Hands across the water".

And who can forget the words that younger me never knew, but laughingly mumbled along to "the butter wouldn't melt so I put it in the pie"?

Yeah, it's a silly song, but memories are memories no matter how dated they seem to be now, and there is a sheer joy to this song overall. I will say for many years that this one has had a special place to me as well where Paul noted that the lyric, "'Hands across the water/Heads across the sky' referred to Linda and him being American and British."

Me and Mrs B&W can appreciate that too, even if since yesterday she's now now a dual citizen after over 5+ years of bureaucratic and frustrating delays. So yesterday was not just Another Day, and in that honour to one of her favourite performers from her home country of birth:

"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" - Paul and Linda McCartney
Click to expand...
I very nearly nominated that and Lennon's Imagine! Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey is a brilliant song and just like many McCartney numbers brimming with catchy melodies.

I'm a bit too busy to do another write up mate so I'm good for you to start it!
 
OB1 said:
Yeah, I getting an itchy trigger figure. Far too many classics not yet suggested.

I’ve started making my own playlist as I play through the best albums of the year (based on best ever… website) in order that I own and I think I picked four from Sticky Fingers.

Sadly, The Stones have stopped playing Brown Sugar due to some self-imposed workery!

Played this album yesterday; glad someone picked something from it. Some amazing musicianship on it.
Click to expand...

I vascilated between the opener, The Noonward Race and Vital Transformation but to be fair pretty much everything on it is worthy of interest.
 
  • Like
Reactions: OB1
It occurs to me that each year can be as interesting for the people who are absent either through permanent decline or because they were in their 'lost' years, as for what is produced.

Once upon a time Chet Baker had the world at his feet but by '71 the prince of cool was in the abyss. He'd previously had to take a job in a California gas station to keep the wolf from the door and by now his embouchure was wrecked as a result of dentures after he'd had his teeth kicked out. So he had stopped performing and after a failed comeback album was completely inactive, a giant in his field fallen silent by his early 40s, and far from the first in this or other genres.

Despite never managing to beat his addictions he would eventually make a comeback helped by Elvis Costello but for now the musical world turned on it's axis whilst one of its greats continued to flail down in the hole.
 
Last edited:
For a little change of pace, I'll add one from another great singer/songwriter who I don't think has been mentioned yet. Don't really know if this is folk or country or pop, but it is just a beautiful song by an underrated talent and one of the leaders of the outlaw country scene that broke from Nashville and the slick sound of the 60s and 70s.

Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again - Kris Kristofferson
 
mancity2012_eamo said:
Did anyone mention;
Bill Withers.
Ain’t no Sunshine.
Click to expand...
I think you just did, and I second that and "Locomotive Breath" to count for you as well, as that too was on my shortlist.

I'd hate for OB1 and Sadds to have too much on their plate come Monday. ;-)
 
This being the all time biggest bestest year in the history of rock deserves more than 40 tracks. So bending the rules just a little, here are more classics:

Nursery Cryme was the first Genesis album to feature Steve Hackett and Phil. And imo it really elevates their music over the previous Trespass. Its a very varied album containing such gems as The Fountain of Salmacis, Return of the Giant Hogweed and Harold The Barrel which is one of Gabriels 'tell a story' songs:

A well-known bognor restaurant-owner disappeared
Early this morning
Last seen in a mouse-brown overcoat
Suitably camouflaged
They saw him catch a train

"Father of three its disgusting"
"Such a horrible thing to do"
Harold the barrel cut off his toes and he served them all for tea
"Can't go far", "he can't go far"
"Hasn't got a leg to stand on"
"He can't go far"

I'm standing in a doorway on the main square
Tension is mounting
There's a restless crowd of angry people
"More than we've ever seen
Had to tighten up security"
Over to the scene at the town hall
The lord mayor's ready to speak
"Man of suspicion, you can't last long
The British public is on our side"

"Can't last long", "you can't last long"
"Said you couldn't trust him, his brother was just the same"
"You can't last long"

If I was many miles from here
I'd be sailing in an open boat on the sea
Instead I'm on this window ledge
With the whole world below

Up at the window
Look at the window
"We can help you"
"We can help you"
"We're all your friends
If you come on down and talk to us son"
You must be joking
Take a running jump

Anyhow, I'm not nominating that but 'The Musical Box'
The lyrics are based on a Victorian-style fairy tail written by Gabriel, about two children in a country house. The girl, Cynthia, kills the boy, Henry, by cleaving his head off with a croquet mallet. She later discovers Henry's musical box. When she opens it, 'Old King Cole' plays, and Henry returns as a spirit, but starts aging very quickly. This causes him to experience a lifetime's sexual desire in a few moments, and he tries to persuade Cynthia to have sexual intercourse with him. However, the noise causes his nurse to arrive, and she throws the musical box at him, destroying them both.
Performed live, Gabriel wore a red dress and a Fox head mask. It is one of the greatest prog rock tracks of all time and deserves a place on the play list.

Genesis - The Musical Box
 
mancity2012_eamo said:
Aqualung-Jethro Tull


I’d actually go for Locomotive Breath or Cross Eyed Mary ahead of it if we’re not talking about the full album.

Always loved Mother Goose too.
Click to expand...

I chose about four tracks off the album for my personal playlist, Mother Goose wasn’t one but it’s a great album full of very good tracks. My love for Tull has hugely grown over the years but started with a copy of Aqualung way back and seeing them live on a couple of tours, first being 1977, I think.

Loco… would be my first pick because, surprise surprise, I am a riff man. Martin Barre is one of those guitarists who doesn’t get enough attention; although I presume the riff was Ian Anderson’s. Ian A probably doesn’t get as much praise as he should either.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
This being the all time biggest bestest year in the history of rock deserves more than 40 tracks. So bending the rules just a little, here are more classics:

Nursery Cryme was the first Genesis album to feature Steve Hackett and Phil. And imo it really elevates their music over the previous Trespass. Its a very varied album containing such gems as The Fountain of Salmacis, Return of the Giant Hogweed and Harold The Barrel which is one of Gabriels 'tell a story' songs:

A well-known bognor restaurant-owner disappeared
Early this morning
Last seen in a mouse-brown overcoat
Suitably camouflaged
They saw him catch a train

"Father of three its disgusting"
"Such a horrible thing to do"
Harold the barrel cut off his toes and he served them all for tea
"Can't go far", "he can't go far"
"Hasn't got a leg to stand on"
"He can't go far"

I'm standing in a doorway on the main square
Tension is mounting
There's a restless crowd of angry people
"More than we've ever seen
Had to tighten up security"
Over to the scene at the town hall
The lord mayor's ready to speak
"Man of suspicion, you can't last long
The British public is on our side"

"Can't last long", "you can't last long"
"Said you couldn't trust him, his brother was just the same"
"You can't last long"

If I was many miles from here
I'd be sailing in an open boat on the sea
Instead I'm on this window ledge
With the whole world below

Up at the window
Look at the window
"We can help you"
"We can help you"
"We're all your friends
If you come on down and talk to us son"
You must be joking
Take a running jump

Anyhow, I'm not nominating that but 'The Musical Box'
The lyrics are based on a Victorian-style fairy tail written by Gabriel, about two children in a country house. The girl, Cynthia, kills the boy, Henry, by cleaving his head off with a croquet mallet. She later discovers Henry's musical box. When she opens it, 'Old King Cole' plays, and Henry returns as a spirit, but starts aging very quickly. This causes him to experience a lifetime's sexual desire in a few moments, and he tries to persuade Cynthia to have sexual intercourse with him. However, the noise causes his nurse to arrive, and she throws the musical box at him, destroying them both.
Performed live, Gabriel wore a red dress and a Fox head mask. It is one of the greatest prog rock tracks of all time and deserves a place on the play list.

Genesis - The Musical Box
Click to expand...

Musical Box would have been my pick from the album.
 
"Double Barrel" by Dave and Ansell Collins was the second reggae song to top the UK singles chart two years after Desmond Dekker's number one breakthrough 'Isrealites'. I have to include it because it made such a lasting impression on me when I heard it being played in a 'youth club' (remember them) that i frequented in North Yorkshire. Music is some time machine. I have vivid memories of crisps, bottles of pop and wagon wheels and of friends long gone but not forgotten.
"Double Barrel" by Dave and Ansell Collins
 
OB1 said:
I chose about four tracks off the album for my personal playlist, Mother Goose wasn’t one but it’s a great album full of very good tracks. My love for Tull has hugely grown over the years but started with a copy of Aqualung way back and seeing them live on a couple of tours, first being 1977, I think.

Loco… would be my first pick because, surprise surprise, I am a riff man. Martin Barre is one of those guitarists who doesn’t get enough attention; although I presume the riff was Ian Anderson’s. Ian A probably doesn’t get as much praise as he should either.
Click to expand...
Tull are underated as is Ian Anderson as a songwriter and vocalist. The opening of Locomotive Breath and the use of feedback to lead into the main riff is genius.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
There are at least 30 or so more iconic tracks for 71. There will be mayhem and carnage on Monday if it’s left to @OB1 and I to fill the gaps :-).
Click to expand...
My view remains that pretty much every year in the 1970’s deserves about 100 tracks but I’m out voted…

I’m keeping my powder dry on whether 1971 is the greatest year (until we get to 1979) but it could be; although that doesn’t mean it will be my favourite year, because many of its joys only came to me later in life, sometimes on a few years later, but it’s not quite the same as discovering or hearing stuff when it was first released.

Anyway, there are lots of fantastic songs that could go on a 1971 list that have not appeared yet. On my way to Southampton yesterday, I finally played the new Jon Anderson live album, which is excellent. It concentrates on 70’s Yes and many of the wonderful songs on it (well there aren’t loads of songs, despite it being a double cd) are from “The Yes Album” and “Fragile”.

My favourite Yes track (at least from the 70’s) is “Roundabout” (Yeah, it’s the riff :) ).

I am also particularly fond of “Starship Trooper”. The way it builds at the end.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top