I just heard that Chuck Berry died today, March 18, 2017. He was one of the very first people I posted on when I started my blog. What can I say? He didn’t invent rock and roll but he might as well have. I’m re-posting … Continue reading Chuck Berry
Category: Early Rockers
The Indispensable 150 – The Spotify List
UPDATE – Since I first created this list, two of the oldies – Ray Charles’ “Hit the Road Jack,” and The Sensations’ “Let Me In” have inexplicably disappeared from Spotify. A rights issue over 60-year old songs? I added in ‘Volare’ by Bobby Rydell (teen … Continue reading The Indispensable 150 – The Spotify List
Oldies – The Indispensable 150 (Final of 4)
1962 – 1964. Stylistically, no real “theme” per se. Dionne Warwick and Dusty Springfield sing solo, no girl group. The Beach Boys surf in. Phil Spector perfects the Wall of Sound with “He’s a Rebel” and “Be My Baby.” The latter blows Brian Wilson’s mind. … Continue reading Oldies – The Indispensable 150 (Final of 4)
Oldies – The Indispensable 150 – (Part 3)
The early ’60’s. Doo-wop is still very much around if not quite as pervasive as a few years earlier. Girl groups become more predominant, the Four Seasons get going. And the Beatles – who recorded “Please Mr. Postman” and “You’ve Really Got a Hold On … Continue reading Oldies – The Indispensable 150 – (Part 3)
Oldies – The Indispensable 150 (Part 2)
The late ’50’s were a great time for music: doo-wop, early rock ‘n roll, even mainstream pop artists like Bobby Darin had hits. American Bandstand – which had started in Philly in 1952 – had gone national in 1957. Teens would give ratinga (“85. It’s … Continue reading Oldies – The Indispensable 150 (Part 2)
Oldies – The Indispensable 150 – (Intro/Part 1)
If you want to hear all 150 songs, click on this link. You’ll need a Spotify account. But they’re free. About a year or so ago I sat down and started listening to some ’50’s and ’60’s songs on YouTube. I’m a big fan of … Continue reading Oldies – The Indispensable 150 – (Intro/Part 1)
Skiffle – The Roots of British Rock ‘n Roll
To give you some idea of what type of music skiffle was, here is a list of typical instrumentation: Washboard Jug Tea chest bass Kazoo Cigar-box fiddle Musical saw Comb and paper Guitar Banjo That’s right. Get a bunch of junk from mom’s pantry and … Continue reading Skiffle – The Roots of British Rock ‘n Roll
The Legend of Stagger Lee
Strictly speaking, a legend is defined as, “a story coming down from the past, especially one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable.” The story of Stagger Lee is verifiable. But the reality has become mythologized … In early 1959, a song by Lloyd Price … Continue reading The Legend of Stagger Lee
Doo-wop
“Doo-wop is a genre of music that was developed in African-American communities in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Detroit, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles in the 1940’s, achieving mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. Built upon vocal harmony, doo-wop was one … Continue reading Doo-wop
Scotty Moore
Scotty Moore died the other day. He was 84 years old. Some of you will recognize the name. For those who don’t, he was one of the original rockabilly guitarists, in fact maybe the most prominent architect of that sound. Moore was Elvis’ original guitarist … Continue reading Scotty Moore
Music Enthusiast - At the junction of rock, blues, R&B, jazz, pop,and soul 