November 17, 2009
Over the next couple of weeks, we're going to look at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. There's been some grumbling about this year's nominees, and eventually, we're going to take a look at a couple of aspects of the hall and it's nominating process.
But it occured to me last week one of the problems with the hall is the unanswerable question "What IS Rock & Roll?" Is this?
How 'bout this?
One of the two above artists IS in the Hall of Fame....
How about this? Is it "Rock"?
I'll grant you, Aerosmith is, but Run D.M.C.? They're both in. How about this?
Sure got a lot of airplay on Progressive Rock stations in the late 60's. And it it really that much differenct than what RUN-D.M.C. does? So is it rock?
I don't remember the term "Rock & Roll" being commonly used to describe the Top-40 I grew up with, and in the late 60's, the term (except when Lou Reed used it to great effect) got trunciated into "Rock", and now has so many words in front of it like "Alternative" or "Adult Alternative" or "Album Oriented", I'm not sure just what "Rock & Roll" is.
You got a definition? I wouldn't mind hearing it......
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holmes (Abby Holmes) says...
Wow, tough question, Doug. The way that "Rock & Roll" seemed to originate was when white men borrowed the styles of black musicians, and essentially creating that music with three- or four-piece combos that included guitar, drums and sometimes vocals or bass guitar.
It's evolved over time though, of course, to involve various styles of music. Now we have "Rock" music (I suspect the "Roll" was finally lost somewhere around the disco era, though it had been fading before then) and all its subgenres. Besides rock music, we still have other genres as well, but the distinction is less descript.
I figure that what the Hall of Fame is doing awarding non-rockers its prestige is honoring those who have had any sort of impact on the life of "Rock & Roll." I know it's a stretch, but it seems the organization's focus has expanded to include any musical talent that it deems deserving of some sort of honor for his/her/its talent and accomplishment.
November 18, 2009 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
douglas (Doug Shirk) says...
Answer to the trivia question. Dusty Springfield is the one in the RARHoF. Dionne should be (and at 70 plus years old, still has the pipes)
I did neglect to note that the rap is Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" from 1970's "Small Talk At 125th And Lenox". He's considered the Godfather of Rap, although you'll get an argument from Joe Tex fans.....
November 18, 2009 at 2:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
psychoteacher (Gordon Shirk) says...
I think Abby's right, except for the origins of the music. It was started with Black R&B (Remember "Race Music"?) and then merged with White Country. Memphis didn't happen by accident. Sam Phillips was looking for a white musician that sounded black. Keep in mind that 40 years ago Dusty and Dionie would have been "Pop" not "Rock". Actually more Adult Contempory. Yet, over the years there has been so much influence between styles that resulted in all of your sub genres. I also think that the commericalizing of radio had a lot to do with this. Look at how wide a range WABX and W4 would play because they didn't have to worry about being "commerically viable." Yet now radio playlists are no longer "all exclusive" and are broken down into targeted sub genres.
November 20, 2009 at 5:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
douglas (Doug Shirk) says...
My brother makes a good point. When discussing "Rock and Roll", one can make the case that "R&R" is what ever is now or was played on what was considered "R&R" radio stations. WABX's (one of the country's first "progressive" stations) playlist not withstanding, rock and pop have been intermixed for decades, and still are. If it wasn't so, there wouldn't have been so much grumbling when Madonna was inducted......
November 20, 2009 at 10:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
psychoteacher (Gordon Shirk) says...
Here's a great example. Yesterday I heard "Le Freak" in the radio. Obvioiusly a key of the Disco Era, but look at Nile Rodgers and Bernie Edwards overall influence. "Good Times" was highly plagiarized: "Rapper's Delight" (which they sued an won over), Another One Bites the Dust and Rapture. Their joint and solo production credits include David Bowie, Robert Plant (The Honey Drippers, plus Chic drummer Tony Thompson was in the Live Aid Zepplin reunion), Robert Palmer, Mick Jagger, Duran squared, Madonna, Joe Cocker, Air Supply...the list goes on. Athough mainly associated with one genre, Rodgers and Edwards spaned out into many others.
November 22, 2009 at 4:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )