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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

Showing 2 responses by whart

whart's avatar
whart
3,143 posts
 
I highly recommend Nick Tosche's "Hellfire," about Jerry Lee Lewis at his peak. Lewis was raised in that fire and brimstone deep southern version of religion, and Tosche's writing alternates between dark, mock biblical passages and the sheer exuberance of Lewis' stagecraft (and lunatic offstage antics). This book captures the good v. evil theme of rock and roll in a way peculiar to its time and place; to me, the so-called 'dark side' of much later acts like Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper were more schtick than reality (much as I love certain of those albums).
I would feel a real loss without some of the music that grew out of the early rock and roll era, including late 60's- early 70's psychedlia. Just to name one album that has been a constant for me since it was released: Spirit's 'Dr. Sardonicus.' Or the soaring jazz inflected drive of the Allman's when Duane was still living.
I won't judge Schubert- his tastes and views are his own. I doubt it has much to do with age. Look at some of the music greats: Chris Blackwell, who brought us so much on Island in the early days, now in his late 70's; the late Phil Ramone, whose discography of production and engineering spanned many generations of great music making; Clive Davis, Ahmet Ergtegun, Mo Ostin and so many others of a 'certain age' who were (and still are) making great music possible.
whart's avatar
whart
3,143 posts
 
The only quibble I have with Schubert's assessment (apart from the fact that I like early R & R and what followed from it) is S's observation, on the one hand, that R& R is visceral, not intellectual ('hits you in the crotch' to paraphrase him) and on the other, that it invites introspection and navel gazing, which seem to be contradictory. I think the genre comprehends both- from the rowdy hillbilly-turned-'race' music of Sun Studios through the heavy, searing or distorted guitar-centric stuff of the late 60's (extroverted) to the singer-songwriter material of psych-folk, country rock and 'pop' music that focused on a narrative (navel-gazing). I'm good with all of it.
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