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"50's Rock And Roll"

P

peppertree

I visit a nursing home every Wednesday, to help with a church
service. I walk by a triple bulletin board which is about four feet
high and nine feet wide. The display changes every month and usually
the subject is the prominent holiday of the month.

Since August does not have a holiday, they thought of some other
subject. Their subject was "50's Rock And Roll." It included all
the stereotypes such as a jukebox, dancers in fifties clothing,
records and a 1954 Buick and 1957 Chevy Bel-Aire. (My Pastor is a car
enthusiast).

So now rock and roll from the fifties is prominent in the nursing
home. Chuck Berry will soon be in his eighties and most of the other
living chart toppers are close to seventy. It saddens me to think
that "my music" is the music of the nursing home and of senior
citizens. And not of the young citizens or the youth of today. Most
of the young people have rejected fifties rock and roll. Just as I
rejected my parents' music.

But rock and roll is the music of young people. So many of the songs
are about teenage love and teenage subjects such as Summmertime Blue
and drag racing. My parents music was about mature adult subjects,
but my music is for young people.

Why does it not appeal to young people? Why have most of them
rejected the greatest music that has ever been made? Was it because
radio stations only play less than five hundred songs and maybe a
dozen from the fifties are left? I did not grow up in the fifties,
but I always loved the rock and roll and consider it my music. I did
not live in it and I do not remember music firsthand from before 1970.

If rock and roll is entering the nursing home, then it only has a
limited time left. After that, it will end up in the same place as
the great Big Band music of the thirties and forties.

That is why I was sad to see "50's Rock And Roll" as the subject on
this month's bulletin board.

Steven Green




<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
Very interesting.

I am almost 23 and I love 50's Rock N' Roll. I will be honest with you and say that I am a minority. When I was starting high school I did not like the culture I was seeing. smoking, drugs, cussing in the hallways. And then the Columbine shooting. I then began to look for a culture that seemed to be more innocent. I found the 50's and adopted it as my own. Of course if I knew then what I knew now I may have not done what I did. Teenagers were just as rebellious during the 50's as they are now. But of course ignorance is bliss isn't it?

50's rock N' Roll lives onin a few places but not much so in this country. It thrives on the beaches of the Carolinas. If you had a hit record during that era, most likely the only market you have is Rhythm & Beach. Joe South, Clarance "Frogman" Henry, and Gary "US Bonds" are examples of this.

Meawhile an observer from overseas would expect the music from the 50's to be very popular here as it is in Europe, Japan, and Australia. They would be very surprised. But you might be very surprised at the demographics overseas. I do an internet radio show and most of my younger listeners are from Europe and Austrailia. There are some countries that did not get introduced to 50's Rock N' Roll until the waning days of the Cold War. For example in Spain there are hundreds of 50's bands and all of them are in their 20's. Lots of money over in Europe is spent on records and bootlegged (for the most part) CD's. They also pay buckoo bucks for obscure artists/groups to come perform there.

So why the big differance? I think it is because the media dismisses authentic Rock N' roll as being old and unimportant to today's music. To the contrary! Today's contemporary music would not be possible without the invention of Rock N' Roll. Every once in a while some artist (and even a big star) will tkae the style and have a hit with it. However no connection is made between the current hit record and the style being used. All that has to be done is a connection to be made.

Next month, during Labor Day weekend the Lead East festiveal will be held in Parsippany, NJ. The entire 50's culture is celebrated and people travel there from all over the world to enjoy drive in movies, sock hops, classic cars, and concerts from Rockabilly bands and DooWop groups. The event attracts thousands of people and many of them are kids with their parents, and young adults from my generation. I've never made it up there but one year I will save up my money to go. Despite the success of the festival the people who tell us what's what still tell us that 50's music is old and that authentic Rock N' Roll is unimportant. Alas, this is why the 1950's are indeed a counter-culture.

Sorry folks. I'll get off my sopabox. Thanks for reading. <P ID="signature">______________
In Harmony
From the Bop Shop,
Brian "BD Bopper"</P>
 
Steve,,,

Good music will always be good music; fads, however, will come and go. Remember how dated disco clothes, dashikis and lovebeads are? They were once considered cool. So it is with some music and musical styles. It's all cyclical.

That having been said, though, a great tune is still a great tune. Technology, artists and instrumentation may change...but, the core tune continues. Here are a few examples of killer tunes that have been re-born, as it were, and have never sounded better, imho:

(1) "Sleepwalk" by Santo & Johnny. A prime example of late-50's guitar work with a seamless tune that can grab you with it's power yet simplicity.

I found a new version that simply smokes! It's by a Hawaiian artist named Hapa. You can find it on RealRhapsody, iTunes or Napster. It's even better than the original version. Same tune, same feel, better version, better sound!

(2) "Apache" from The Ventures. (Surfaris also did a version) Nice guitar work from the late 50's/early 60's. It suffered from being recorded on analog equipment and being a cheesy arangement, though.

I found a new killer version by a guitarist as able as Stevie Ray Vaughn named Jimmy Thackery on his "Drive To Survive" CD. It takes 21st century "sound" to a new level. RealRhapsody/iTunes/Napster all have it for downloading, as well.

(3) "Harlem Nocturne" by many artists, Stan Kenton, Martin Denney, Quincy Jones and many more. Try this version: Danny Gatton from his "Cruisin' Deuces" CD. Also available on the above three online music sources.

My point is that even though the ARTIST may sound dated, the TUNE lives on with an update. That's how music lives on...it grows. :)

Rock on...
 
>
>
> Meawhile an observer from overseas would expect the music
> from the 50's to be very popular here as it is in Europe,
> Japan, and Australia. They would be very surprised. But
> you might be very surprised at the demographics overseas. I
> do an internet radio show and most of my younger listeners
> are from Europe and Austrailia. There are some countries
> that did not get introduced to 50's Rock N' Roll until the
> waning days of the Cold War. For example in Spain there are
> hundreds of 50's bands and all of them are in their 20's.
> Lots of money over in Europe is spent on records and
> bootlegged (for the most part) CD's. They also pay buckoo
> bucks for obscure artists/groups to come perform there.

I've noticed that the Japanese scene seems to be centered a bit later, around the late 60s or so. There's a lot of relatively unknown folk and psychedelia from that era that would be completely lost today without reprints from Japanese indie labels. I've bought quite a few bootlegs from them.
 
> Please don't appologize. I hung on every word of your post.
> It was great, thanks.

Thanks! I really wasn't apologizing to you. I was apologizing to the majority of the people who post on this board. Everytime I come here with my passion I am ripped to shreds because I don't fit the demographics and therefore "Don't matter". I am glad someone appreciated what I wrote.
<P ID="signature">______________
In Harmony
From the Bop Shop,
Brian "BD Bopper"</P>
 
Re: Timeless Tunes

Loco-Motion or Locomotion seems to come back almost every decade. Venus does too. Mony, Mony is another.

I think almost all of The Beatles' songs are timeless. Most can be redone today and would sound fresh.

And how many hit versions of Baby Face has there been?



> Steve,,,
>
> Good music will always be good music; fads, however, will
> come and go. Remember how dated disco clothes, dashikis and
> lovebeads are? They were once considered cool. So it is with
> some music and musical styles. It's all cyclical.
>
> That having been said, though, a great tune is still a great
> tune. Technology, artists and instrumentation may
> change...but, the core tune continues. Here are a few
> examples of killer tunes that have been re-born, as it were,
> and have never sounded better, imho:
>
> (1) "Sleepwalk" by Santo & Johnny. A prime example of
> late-50's guitar work with a seamless tune that can grab you
> with it's power yet simplicity.
>
> I found a new version that simply smokes! It's by a Hawaiian
> artist named Hapa. You can find it on RealRhapsody, iTunes
> or Napster. It's even better than the original version. Same
> tune, same feel, better version, better sound!
>
> (2) "Apache" from The Ventures. (Surfaris also did a
> version) Nice guitar work from the late 50's/early 60's. It
> suffered from being recorded on analog equipment and being a
> cheesy arangement, though.
>
> I found a new killer version by a guitarist as able as
> Stevie Ray Vaughn named Jimmy Thackery on his "Drive To
> Survive" CD. It takes 21st century "sound" to a new level.
> RealRhapsody/iTunes/Napster all have it for downloading, as
> well.
>
> (3) "Harlem Nocturne" by many artists, Stan Kenton, Martin
> Denney, Quincy Jones and many more. Try this version: Danny
> Gatton from his "Cruisin' Deuces" CD. Also available on the
> above three online music sources.
>
> My point is that even though the ARTIST may sound dated, the
> TUNE lives on with an update. That's how music lives on...it
> grows. :)
>
> Rock on...
>
<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
I plan on going to Lead East...anyone else here plan to?
<P ID="signature">______________

AOL IM: wnjoldies or jamminoldies105
CBS-FM lives at http://67.83.117.32:8010
Oldies Board co-moderator</P>
 
> > Please don't appologize. I hung on every word of your
> post.
> > It was great, thanks.
>
> Thanks! I really wasn't apologizing to you. I was
> apologizing to the majority of the people who post on this
> board. Everytime I come here with my passion I am ripped to
> shreds because I don't fit the demographics and therefore
> "Don't matter". I am glad someone appreciated what I wrote.

>>Refreshing and encouraging to say the least!! Thanks!
>
 
Re: Timeless Tunes

> Loco-Motion or Locomotion seems to come back almost every
> decade. Venus does too. Mony, Mony is another.
>
> I think almost all of The Beatles' songs are timeless. Most
> can be redone today and would sound fresh.
>
> And how many hit versions of Baby Face has there been?
>
>
>
> > Steve,,,
> >
> > Good music will always be good music; fads, however, will
> > come and go. Remember how dated disco clothes, dashikis
> and
> > lovebeads are? They were once considered cool. So it is
> with
> > some music and musical styles. It's all cyclical.
> >
> > That having been said, though, a great tune is still a
> great
> > tune. Technology, artists and instrumentation may
> > change...but, the core tune continues. Here are a few
> > examples of killer tunes that have been re-born, as it
> were,
> > and have never sounded better, imho:
> >
> > (1) "Sleepwalk" by Santo & Johnny. A prime example of
> > late-50's guitar work with a seamless tune that can grab
> you
> > with it's power yet simplicity.
> >
> > I found a new version that simply smokes! It's by a
> Hawaiian
> > artist named Hapa. You can find it on RealRhapsody, iTunes
>
> > or Napster. It's even better than the original version.
> Same
> > tune, same feel, better version, better sound!
> >
> > (2) "Apache" from The Ventures. (Surfaris also did a
> > version) Nice guitar work from the late 50's/early 60's.
> It
> > suffered from being recorded on analog equipment and being
> a
> > cheesy arangement, though.
> >
> > I found a new killer version by a guitarist as able as
> > Stevie Ray Vaughn named Jimmy Thackery on his "Drive To
> > Survive" CD. It takes 21st century "sound" to a new level.
>
> > RealRhapsody/iTunes/Napster all have it for downloading,
> as
> > well.
> >
> > (3) "Harlem Nocturne" by many artists, Stan Kenton, Martin
>
> > Denney, Quincy Jones and many more. Try this version:
> Danny
> > Gatton from his "Cruisin' Deuces" CD. Also available on
> the
> > above three online music sources.
> >
> > My point is that even though the ARTIST may sound dated,
> the
> > TUNE lives on with an update. That's how music lives
> on...it
> > grows. :)
> >
> > Rock on...
> >
>
I believe Robert Knight's 'Everlasting Love" has been covered at least three times: once in the '70s, in the early '80s, and again I believe in the '90s. It may have been done in this decade as well.
 
Re: Timeless Tunes

> I believe Robert Knight's 'Everlasting Love" has been
> covered at least three times: once in the '70s, in the early
> '80s, and again I believe in the '90s. It may have been done
> in this decade as well.
>

I can't place an 80s version of it. Carl Carlton had a hit with it in '74, and Gloria Estefan in '94 or '95 (there were 2 very different mixes of hers around). Haven't heard a newer version, but that doesn't mean one doesn't exist.
 
> > > Please don't appologize. I hung on every word of your
> > post.
> > > It was great, thanks.
> >
> > Thanks! I really wasn't apologizing to you. I was
> > apologizing to the majority of the people who post on this
>
> > board. Everytime I come here with my passion I am ripped
> to
> > shreds because I don't fit the demographics and therefore
> > "Don't matter". I am glad someone appreciated what I
> wrote.
>
> >>Refreshing and encouraging to say the least!! Thanks!
> >
>
"In The Mood" charted in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and almost 30s!
 
I remember the seventies version by The Henhouse Five aka Ray Stevens doing an imitation of a singing chicken. Did Glen Miller rollover in his (watery) grave?

In The Mood" charted in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and
> almost 30s!
>
<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
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