Do you all agree when Prince said the 60s, 70s and 80s were the golden ages of music?
So I came across this interview today and it dates back to 2011. Prince felt the 60s-80s were the golden ages of music when artists played their instruments, wrote their own songs and actually had to perform (those were his reasons).
I posted it and if you watch from 7:40 you’ll see what I mean.
My sense is music in those eras was more a shared experience, we all knew the popular songs, they were a soundtrack to our lives. We had limited sources for listening to music, and those sources tended to play the same songs and artists.
As music and the music business has evolved we have ever increasing genres and sources to hear those multiplying genres. Certainly, popular forms of music still exist, but even those have diverged from each other. And then we have a huge amount of more obscure music to choose from, and the means to hear this music via streaming. I could argue today is the golden age of music. Still, I understand the sense of loss of the shared soundtrack of our lives. Music was reflective of the greater cohesiveness of the general society, now we can easily have entirely unique playlists/soundtracks to our lives.
I think Prince made the music world and the World a better place. I saw him when he was a kid. Several times after that. The first time was an eye full. He was in women's lingerie, trench coat, and a pair of knee high buccaneer boots with 6" heals. That kid (at the time) TORE IT UP... 16-17 maybe.. The last time at the Oakland Coliseum. He was 49 (I think)
T stage in the center of the coliseum, he covered every square inch of it 10 times as usual.
He should have never died. If doctors would have been taking care of his pain management he would be alive.. You can't jump off 20 foot tall speakers for 30 years and not get messed up. Worse than a pro wrestler for sure..
The world is a smaller place. He was one of a kind. AND if he said it, I believe it.. love that guy.. I liked his 80s band probably the best.. Lot of solo stuff. One man band... One man orchestra..
Of course Prince is right. In terms of rock it was definitely a golden age. Since rock was the predominant music of those decades then for sure. What he was saying about performers having to be "on their game" was even more true of the performers of the 40’s and 50’s. Those guys were often times performing for small venues like night clubs where the music is so live it isn’t even amplified other than for the singer. Sinatra was the Prince of his generation.
In terms of rock, it was such a Golden Age I knew it even at the time. One time in a Rosaur’s in Moscow, ID we were talking about it and there was a discount table piled with records. You know the records that didn’t sell in the record store, didn’t sell anywhere, so they wound up on the table. I said look there is so much good music right now I bet we could buy one of these crap discount records and the music is actually good. Here this one with the stupid snake, is that crappy enough for you? We all agreed it had to be pure crap. So that is how I came to have my copy of Crawler. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxyg2cHQdUw
Oh and you know what? Even on my current rig it is clear this was really well recorded.
Tell me that is crap. When music this good winds up on clearance, try and tell me that wasn’t a Golden Age.
I'm not a huge fan of Prince but I respect him as an artist. But I do agree with him---the fact that the music from those decades are still alive and well today. I would also consider this the Golden Age of music technology. All the changes that were made and genres that were produced during this time (synths, computers, Kraftwerk). Then digital technology with compact discs. I sincerely doubt that in 20-40 years, we'll be hearing today's Top 40 on The Classics.
Remember when music of the 90s were sampling the old music of the 60s-80s?? That alone confirmed your point a long time ago that those 3 decades were still even alive since
Yes, but I would add the 1950’s to that....today’s music is absolute sh*t. I could not name you one single song currently playing on the pop radio, I'd like to keep it that way...😁
@tablejockey loool your comment regarding people considering rappers and Mariah Carey classics made me laugh. It reminded of Joni Mitchell's Taming The Tiger
It seems that everyone is in agreement on this one; "They were the soundtrack to our lives". That is a very profound statement. Music of that era, that's not in my preferred genre, goes through my mind, and affects me when I hear it; I can relate to what I was doing when I heard it, and what I associate with that music.
Music reflects the zeitgeist of the time made in. 1940's-war years and aftermath,pre and mid war, music reflected determination and togetherness of war effort, post-celebration and optimism. 1950's-happy times, optimism continues, a more innocent sense of everlasting love, monocultural, homogeneous perception of our world, very insular and feeling of being safe and protected. 1960's- early-basically extension of 50's, mid to late-the world suddenly not so safe, government and cultural institutions not to be trusted, angst, revolution, alongside illusory visions of universal love, communal living, mind altering drugs-finding new doors of perception-ultimate expressions of optimism. Wow, really wide open decade! 1970's-60's dreams gradually die, cynicism, drugs no longer used for mind expansion, rather to numb the mind, freaks or druggies vs. hippie intentions, society continues in divisive mode-traditional American values vs. new values of 60's, 70's youth. 1980's-Increasing fragmentation, beginning of search for more individualistic ways to live, being more authentic to oneself.
Above, annotated summary of times, much left out, but gist of decades here. Also, I'd suggest popular music more reflective of time produced in than other music forms. Music always reflective of group identity, over time groups subdivide, results in increasing varied genres and sub-genres of music. Today, we can easily create playlists that reflect a singular soundtrack for however we feel at the time. For me, this is the golden age of music, I have all the music made up until now to listen to. I can bring up memories of the past and find so much new and unfamiliar music. I don't particularly care to want to relive my past, the memory of past music to events of my life is good enough. As to what is a golden age of music for anyone is more applicable to one's age than some objective judgement of what constitutes good music. For me, most of the best music is timeless, I seem to only get into the music rather than feel any specific memory. Memories interfere with pure music enjoyment, mind distracted and fixed on memory rather than music.
Why "Gangsta Rap", the only true Rap, is not in the Golden Age of Music"
Any time "White Folks" write about "Black Folks", take it with a grain of salt; how many white people can vaguely comprehend what it's like to be a slave; how many "White Folks" can vaguely comprehend what it's like to live in a "hard core ghetto".
In the past, a place where predominately Black People lived was called a "Ghetto", but none of those places even remotely compare to "present day ghettos". In the past, many middle class Black People lived where they felt most comfortable, there were also a number of "upper economic Black People" living there as well".
Not until economic factors that affected everyone; such as the high price of all commodities, gasoline being the most notable, did those so called "ghettos" become real "hard core ghettos". Lower middle class neighborhoods all over the USA, became "hard core ghettos" when lower income Blacks could not maintain their property; they were faced with the hard choice of buying food and gasoline, or painting the house; naturally food and gasoline won out. The neighborhood went down, causing middle income "Blacks" and upper income "Blacks" to flee, leaving that entire geographic area to the poorest Blacks.
So you see the last phase in the "Ghetto" was not "White Flight" as everyone is led to believe (that occurred 40 or 50 years ago) it was "Economic Black Flight", that produced current hard core Ghettos, and "Hard Core Ghettos" produced "Gangster Rap", which is an expression of life in an area where the living conditions are socially and physically unacceptable, not because the inhabitants have Black skins, but because they are the worst aspects of the end product of slavery (history is never in the past) and discrimination; "What you see, is what you get" New York, Chicago, St. Louis and L. A., places that generate "Gangster Rap"; the only true Rap, which is an expression of the reality of life in a "Hard Core Ghetto".
It's not just music, it's also films. I asked myself, "Why do I like "Black and White" movies better than current movies"?
Every time I look at a current movie, the characters are doing something that makes no sense what so ever. This can happen a time or two, and I'll go along with it, but too many times and that movie goes off; it just makes no sense, I can not tolerate this any longer.
Evidently they had better writers and better scripts a long time ago. I hate to admit it, but all my friends are not the brightest (but I love them anyway) They seem to be hooked on the most current action movies, and they bring them over for us to enjoy. In no time, this happens, that happens, and I ask my self "Why did he do that? Why did she do that? That was totally illogical. Before I can finish my first popcorn, I'm nodding off, and at the same time trying to fake enjoying the movie.
Maybe I'm just out of step with time? As far as I'm concerned, these are some very strange times.
If he is talking for every genre then you have to include the 1950's. A lot of good jazz in the 50's as well as Country music which had its golden era in the 50's.
@gochurchgo I agree that Prince was pretty damn overrated. He was just a Sly Stone wannabe in my eyes. I'm of a certain age to remember Sly And The Family Stone at their peak from 67-71 (I was born in 1959) and the way how Prince copied Sly is sad.
But Generation X grew up with Prince, they didn't live through Sly's era... Which is a shame for them because they have no idea what they missed regarding a prolific 60s band
So tell us all here the Prince shows you went to where you saw one of his ’pretty damn overrated’ shows. Prince was not only a lyrical genius but a virtuoso with any, and I mean any instrument he picked up.
The man literally channeled music 24/7. Sly was a lyrical and song writing genius and great band leader also but just a below average musician.
The person, musician that made Sly and The family Stone stand out was Larry Graham the bass player of the group. Not Sly. IMHO
Prince had his own style, swag and most defiantly his OWN sound, which made HIM stand out. He copied no one. Didn’t have to. I liken Prince more of a James Brown type band leader and funk/groove master with some NASTY guitar licks.
However, the person that did copy and used Sly’s blue print was non other than George Clinton.
Your comment shows your age. Probably some other GenX'er who wasn't alive during Sly and The Family Stone's heyday throughout the 60s - 71
I'm willing to bet you believe this whole "27 instruments myth" that Prince could supposedly play right? Sorry to burst your bubble but it was all hype and to promote himself.
Prince a song writing genius? All the man wrote were sexual lyrics, that's not some "songwriting genius" at all. Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder etc are song writing geniuses.
"The person, musician that made Sly and The family Stone stand out was Larry Graham the bass player of the group. Not Sly. IMHO"
Well that's objectively false but I wouldn't expect a GenXer like yourself to know any better because you weren't even alive then. The band to this day praised Sly Stone for his contributions.
Prince never had his own style. Prince copied Jimi Hendrix, Little Richard, James Brown, Sly and The Family Stone, Santana, Bowie and loads more...
Well, well, well. What do we have here? A 10 post troll with nothing to do but spread negativity? I wouldn’t be surprised if all your 10 posts were done today? This morning! LOL!
’Probably some other GenX’er who wasn’t alive during Sly and The Family Stone’s heyday throughout the 60s - 71’
Wrong. I notice not once in your post did you mention of actually going to any of Sly’s or Prince’s for that matter concerts? And yet you ’seem’ to know all about these guys.
Of course Prince praised Sly and The Family Stone. Is that supposed to be some golden cornel of knowledge you’re trying to impart to us here on Agon?
Prince for many years would have the entire horn and rhythm section of Sly and The Family Stone tour with his band. But you knew that already didn’t you, right?
Oh, and the stand out of Sly’s band was and still is, Larry Graham. The founding member of Graham Central Station, and one of the founding members of Sly and The Family Stone. Is that funky enough for you?
The bass licks from Larry Graham on the Stone albums to this day, have never been duplicated. Only Graham could/can make a Sly song sound like a Sly song. It’s just facts. Can I get a witness?
Wrong. I notice not once in your post did you mention of actually going to any of Sly’s or Prince’s for that matter concerts? And yet you ’seem’ to know all about these guys. Of course Prince praised Sly and The Family Stone. Is that supposed to be some golden cornel of knowledge you’re trying to impart to us here on Agon? Prince for many years would have the entire horn and rhythm section of Sly and The Family Stone tour with his band. But you knew that already didn’t you, right? Oh, and the stand out of Sly’s band was and still is, Larry Graham. The founding member of Graham Central Station, and one of the founding members of Sly and The Family Stone. Is that funky enough for you? The bass licks from Larry Graham on the Stone albums to this day, have never been duplicated. Only Graham could/can make a Sly song sound like a Sly song. It’s just facts. Can I get a witness?
Well I did see Sly and The Family Stone live in the early 70s... Sadly never showed up and I never saw Prince during his peak in the 80s but going by your logic I have to see them to know about them? What a obtuse logic that is
Yet... Sly produced the records, wrote all the music, actually it was Freddie Stone and Sly Stone who were the founding members of the band, Sly Stone was actually the one who picked Larry Graham so where did you get that nonsense from? You're only hyping Larry Graham because of his work with Prince lol you're too obvious.
You weren’t even alive when Sly and The Family Stone were having top 10 hits between 1967-1971 during their peak so what would you honestly know? You shouldn’t be calling people a "troll" if you can’t refute anything that I have said since you were asking me and the other poster what made Prince "overrated" and gave some factaul reasons and then you ended up crying... You GenX’ers are soft.
Well I did see Sly and The Family Stone live in the early 70s... Sadly never showed up
What!?
You keep repeating the same nonsense.
You’re only hyping Larry Graham because of his work with Prince lol you’re too obvious.
Wrong again. I was a Sly and The Family Stone freak the day the Stand! album came out. With the hit ’Sing a Simple Song’ and others came out. Years, long before I ever became hip to Prince.
@tyray you were born long before 67? Doubt it, your comments have said the exact opposite.
You’re really saying "really Sherlock" in reference to Sly being the one who picked Larry Graham... But you were wrong when you said Larry was "one of the founding members" for Sly and The Family Stone lol! You’ve already proven that you don’t know much about the band.
Lots of good music then that’s all that matters. In terms of just best time for music as a listener now is the best because you have all the music of the past and easy access to it all at your fingertips thanks to technological innovation via streaming.
I just had a simular conversation on FB on which generation had the best music. Baring style, and popularity I focus more on the technology. The music industry went through more technological advances during the late 50’s through the late 80’s than any other point in time. My short answer was very simply "We came from vinyl to reel to reel, 8 track, cassette, CD, Digital and back to vinyl still looking for audio nirvana. I grew up during the 60’s and still love the Motown music, but with that being said I hate the sound quality of the recordings. No matter if it was the Beatles, The Who or James Brown those early 60’s recordings played on anything above an old transistor AM radio shows the lack of depth and richness of recordings by those same artist in the late 60’s and early 70’s. The Jazz genre has been the most consistent in recording level since the mid 70’s and early 80’s to this day for the most part. I can play a old David Sanborn album 70’s (digital track) another from Fourplay 90’s and get a consistent level of sound quality than I get from other genre of music. The 80’s brought in, IMHO, the best standard of music recording the introduction of CD’s/digital recordings made it easier to create high quality master recordings. One thing I always preach about is a bad master recording will always produce a bad recording no matter how great the artist is. I don’t get all excited about remastered music by long ago artist. to many times I have been disappointed hearing a poor quality recording again using newer technology. All the DAC’s, Amp and $5k speakers can't save a poor master recording. So in reference to what Prince may have been referring to, weather it be talent or style, the technology has brought music further down the road than any one group or artist.
I think the golden era was from the fifties to about 2000 because once the ipod and digital downloads and streaming became more and more mainstream the quality of the music and the recordings went way downhill, in most instances, unless it was an established band that allowed for large recording budgets of high quality.
Many of what we consider jazz standards were written well before the 60's. As far as pop/rock goes, I think the peak was '73. There are certainly plenty of examples of exceptional songs written since then, but I think in general it's mostly downhill since then. Just my opinion, don't anybody have a cow, man.
The 60's and 70's were the peak of rock/popular music. It was the time of super groups where you actually had to write and perform the music without the help of synthesizers and computers. The 50's got it started and it blossomed during that time frame. Once the actual playing of instruments diminished, the party was over.
Do you all agree when Prince said the 60s, 70s and 80s were the golden ages of music?
No. But the 50's seem to marked the beginning of rock along with youth/teenager emphasized music. The 60's had the explosive anti-establishment anti-war musical creativity that moved rock into the mainstream. I believe it's more of the personal expressive creativity influenced by culture that produces great music rather than the mechanical "artists played their instruments, wrote their own songs and actually had to perform".
Also, Prince was obviously referring to pop/rock music exclusively vs jazz, classical, opera, etc.
I often think that I'm fortunate to have so many decades of pop/rock music to choose from. When I was younger, pickings were much slimmer.
I listen all sorts of music. The culture and the fan base of EDM in the 2000s till late was equal to the 80’s, 70’s and 60’s fun. The 90’s were awesome.
So I cant say I agree. Every decade has something special.
Music is not about Golden Ages but emotional involvement. Like other senses, like taste and smell, listening transports you back to memories, places, friends, loved ones and lots more. Music is also other experiences like the intensity of a great classical adagio or jazz improvisation the sheer melodic beauty of an artists voice. Someone mentioned they could argue now is the Golden Age. I can go with that as today unlike the 60s to 80s we can pursue our musical tastes and preferences so easily and discover many hidden treasures and riches.
As others have said, what about the 1950’s, 40’s, and 30’s? I would also include the 20’s, but there wasn’t much recording being done then. The seeds of Rock ’n’ Roll (what most of us are talking about. To bring up J.S. Bach is not only silly, but disingenuous.) were planted before the 50’s, the Hillbilly element in the rural south---Virginia, Tennessee, and other southern states, the "Folk" music brought over from England and Ireland by our ancestors ("our" referring to we of Anglo-Saxon descent, of course).
The Rhythm & Blues element was being played by Negro musicians from Los Angeles (a hotbed of R & B activity in Post-War L.A.), down to Memphis Tennessee and Muscle Shoals Alabama, up to Chicago and Detroit (blacks fleeing the south moved there to get work in the car factories---booming after WWII, performing music in clubs at night.).
Sam Phillips was recording Blues and R & B singers (including Howlin’ Wolf) for the "Race" (Negro) market, proclaiming that if he could find a white singer with the black feel he would sell a million records. Enter Elvis Presley, who loved Hillbilly (he heard Bill Monroe and other Bluegrass artists on The Grand Old Opry radio show.), R & B (he was visiting Juke Joints on the other side of the tracks to hear black singers and bands, and listening to radio stations that played their music.), and the Gospel music sung in Baptist churches, both back and white (remember, even churches were segregated back then.). Sam didn’t sell a million Elvis records, but RCA sure did. John Lennon referred to Elvis as the Big Bang of Pop music, but actually thought more highly of Chuck Berry.
It was when I finally heard Jump Blues music that I realized where Rock ’n’ Roll came from. It was the Jump Blues feel that Elvis appropriated for his uptempo Sun Records recordings (and later for his pre-Army RCA recordings.), plain as day. Performing Bill Monroe’s "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" as a Jump Blues? Genius!
By the way: I’m sure you’ve heard that 1950’s Rock’n’ Roll shows started getting banned in some cities, the city fathers claiming the shows were prone to outbreaks of fighting, in some instances claiming Rock ’n’ Roll was a degenerate form of entertainment (I’m sure schubert concurs ;-) . Do you know the REAL reason? Fear of racial integration. Those Rock ’n’ Roll shows drew both white and black audiences (the blacks most often relegated to the balcony seats.), and there were those who didn’t want the "races" (aren’t all humans members of the human race?) mixing.
I would say the evolution of many music types evolved starting in the 40-50s classic Rock for sure cemented itself in the classics book beginning in the 60s ,but back up a minute ,the greats like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton ,got their roots from greats from the 50s-40s The Blues,Muddy waters comes to mind , Buddy guy . Albert king just to name a few , the Beatles, Rolling Stones and many others all got their roots from the Blues artist mainly Black that were not promoted on the radio much back then , it took ground breaking artists like Little Richard, Fats Domino , and even Nat king Cole who was severely beaten up by whites for playing songs that whites had made down south in the 50s. We have Evolved and come along way👍 Screw all this new cancel culture, we are still the worlds melting pot of many cultures. That being said this administration needs to stop the flood gates of illegals coming in this is supposed to be a democracy,Thst being said, Music 🎼 🎶 is what soothes the soul and that quiet spot to just escape everything and relax ,Amen !!
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