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Some irrefutable truths about rock and roll

1) Robert Johnson invented rock and roll, and is the rightful King of it. Elvis Presley's title should be amended to "Poster Boy of Early Rock and Roll."

2) Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is infinitely better than the Rufus Wainwright version and is the definitive version of the song.

3) The Rolling Stones were and are the most overrated band in the history of rock and roll.

4) If it's too loud you are, indeed, too old.

5) The Stone Roses' self-titled debut is the best debut album ever in the history of ever.

6) John Mayer needs to stop that right now.

7) A good song is a good song, whether it's played on an Audiovox tape deck and a single factory speaker in a 1976 Buick Skylark or a complete Linn Klimax system.

8) A couple of Les Pauls, a Fender Precision bass, and a decent set of drums sound every bit as good as the most disciplined orchestra.

9) There is absolutely nothing wrong with having the occasional urge to crank "Hungry Like the Wolf" from time to time, so long as it doesn't become a habit.

Did I forget anything?

*yes, I realize everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, and this is meant to be tongue-in-cheek.
theraiguy
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Tube,

Interesting take and I (sort of) agree with a lot of your views (particularly re: boogie woogie), but..."I never saw a direct link between blues and early RnR"?

I'm not sure I understand. Aside from the piano blues forms that inform barrelhouse and boogie woogie itself, Chuck Berry oozes the blues guitar tradition, no? That connection might be even clearer on the early Gatemouth Brown Peacock recordings I mentioned, but it seems pretty clear (to me) on Berry's records, too. And if it's not immediately clear from Berry, listen to Gatemouth, then Berry and I can't believe it won't be clear then. Are you saying something different?

Marty

BTW, I see the structural elements of RnR in Jordan's stuff, but the instrumentation is sufficiently foreign to the RnR convention that I'd hesitate to tag it RnR music (though many others would agree with you on that one).
rmaidenberg
32 posts
 
Per the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame website:

"While no individual can be said to have invented rock and roll, Chuck Berry comes the closest of any single figure to being the one who put all the essential pieces together. It was his particular genius to graft country & western guitar licks onto a rhythm & blues chassis in his very first single, “Maybellene.” Combined with quick-witted, rapid-fire lyrics full of sly insinuations about cars and girls, Berry laid the groundwork for not only a rock and roll sound but a rock and roll stance. The song included a brief but scorching guitar solo built around his trademark double-string licks. Accompanied by long-time piano player Johnnie Johnson and members of the Chess Records house band, including Willie Dixon, Berry wrote and performed rock and roll for the ages. To this day, the cream of Berry’s repertoire—which includes “Johnny B. Goode,” “Sweet Little Sixteen,” “Rock and Roll Music” and “Roll Over Beethoven”—is required listening for any serious rock fan and required learning for any serious rock musician.
joeylawn36111
574 posts
 
Just my opinion, but the Beatles are far from the "greatest" or "best" rock n roll band of all time. Most famous and influential? I'll give you that. But best ever? I was in the supermarket earlier this week, while "Eight Days a Week" was playing. The music didn't stand out, just the singing. And it sounded like "bubble gum music" to me - the sort of stuff 14-yr old girls scream at. Pink Floyd nukes the Beatles IMO.
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
Nice work eee3

Jealousy
Rage
Ignorance

In hockey that would be a Hat Trick.

Game over Gretzky

PS
Is it Thanksgiving? I just carved another turkey.
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
04-04-09: Joeylawn36111
Just my opinion, but the Beatles are far from the "greatest" or "best" rock n roll band of all time. Most famous and influential? I'll give you that. But best ever? I was in the supermarket earlier this week, while "Eight Days a Week" was playing. The music didn't stand out, just the singing. And it sounded like "bubble gum music" to me - the sort of stuff 14-yr old girls scream at. Pink Floyd nukes the Beatles IMO.

Songs such as "Eight Days A Week" must be looked at in context; when they were released, what was going on musically, socially and many other factors. Many Beatles songs were ground breaking at the time, much the way Dark Side Of The Moon was groundbreaking.
My 13-year-old grandson likes them both. But as far as "old" music he finds interesting, the Beatles' catalog has much more to offer. I've watched him dig through my cds.
As much as I hate to admit it, Rock&Roll is primarily for teenagers.
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