Rock and roll is “brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious. … It fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people. It smells phony and false. It is sung, played and written, for the most part, by cretinous goons. … This rancid-smelling aphrodisiac I deplore.” – … Continue reading Elvis Presley (2) – There’s Good Rockin’ Tonight
“If I could find a white man who had the Negro sound and the Negro feel, I could make a billion dollars” – Sam Phillips, founder (Memphis, TN, February 1952) of Sun Records. “In a blinding flash of sanctified light a human being, just a … Continue reading Elvis Presley – (1 of 4) – Good Ballad Singer – Hold
“When I hear a rock riff, I hear something that’s very tied to the drums. There’s a funky aspect to the way it works. But a great rockabilly riff operates on so many levels. I hear blues, country, and jazz. I hear big bands and … Continue reading Album Review – 40 – Stray Cats
[Seconds of Pleasure] was bright, propulsive, and poppy, filled with big melodic hooks and polished until it glistened. . . Time has been nothing but kind to this record and, judged on its own merits, it’s one of hell of a good time. At its … Continue reading Featured Album – Seconds of Pleasure – Rockpile
Blasters shows have been described as a “cross between Creedence and the Clash.” – from their website. In my mind, they were a great band that not enough people found out about. Bill Bateman is one of the best drummers there is, and then, of … Continue reading The Blasters
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 is the international language – can make friends, bridge the geographical and cultural barriers, and perhaps promote a bit of international understanding.” – Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records. “Nothing really affected me until Elvis. I always wanted to be this tough James Dean type, … Continue reading Book Review – Sam Phillips, The Man Who Invented Rock n’ Roll
