Elvis Is Really Gone Now-Sideman Scotty Moore Passes At 84
Click on link to Rolling Stone obituary for legendary Elvis sideman Scotty Moore
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/scotty-moore-elvis-presley-guitarist-dead-at-84-20160628
Present At The Creation
The Birth Of Rock 'n' Roll
One For The Money: The History Of Rock And Roll, Bill Haley and various artists, Intrepid, 2005
Over the past several months I have spend some time reviewing recording artist from my youth, the 1950’s, the youth of the Generation of ’68 that is now taking a certain political beating once again from those who cringe at the notion that we could have fundamentally changed the way we do the collective business of running this society. But that is a story for another day. What I want to do here is recommend this very nice DVD that in capsule form addresses all the issues, or at least all that I think are important, about the genesis of rock 'n' roll, its meaning for my post-World War II generation growing up in the 1950’s and how the forces of social reaction put, or tried to put, a cap on the natural rebelliousness of the original rock 'n' roll sound.
This documentary addresses affirmatively the issue of the roots of rock and roll as deriving from the blues and later in the early 1950’s rhythm and blues from the likes of Louis Jourdan and Big Joe Turner. It further pays, as it must, tribute to the early efforts of the likes of Sam Phillips and his Sun Record operation in Memphis and that of the Press Brothers Chess Records in Chicago to create breakout music with a distinctive sound that was not Frank Sinatra or Doris Day, the music of our parents’ generation. It also pays tribute to the promoters of rock like Alan Freedman who was a key in popularizing rock for the wider white audience that was necessary to make it a national and international phenomenon. Most importantly, this film documents the very conscious attempt by parents, religious and governmental figures abetted by the record industry to bring rock under control with the creation of the “teen idols” like Ricky Nelson Fabian, Bobby Vee, etc. at the end of the 1950’s. As I have pointed out elsewhere we had to go through that experience to really appreciate the difference when groups like The Rolling Stones hit the scene in the 1960’s. We were waiting to exhale, and none too soon.
Probably the most important reason to view this DVD though is to get, under one roof, a look at all the various performers who made up the original rock ensemble. Big Joe, Bill Haley, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Buddy, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and on and on. Like I say if you want a quick one hour overview of an important cultural phenomenon of our collective history this is the one for you. Then branch out to review the individual performers. Fifty years later a lot of this stuff still sounds good. And that is not just me saying that but young kids, desperate for a sound that jumps at them, that I have run into lately as well. Kudos.
Click on link to Rolling Stone obituary for legendary Elvis sideman Scotty Moore
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/scotty-moore-elvis-presley-guitarist-dead-at-84-20160628
Present At The Creation
The Birth Of Rock 'n' Roll
One For The Money: The History Of Rock And Roll, Bill Haley and various artists, Intrepid, 2005
Over the past several months I have spend some time reviewing recording artist from my youth, the 1950’s, the youth of the Generation of ’68 that is now taking a certain political beating once again from those who cringe at the notion that we could have fundamentally changed the way we do the collective business of running this society. But that is a story for another day. What I want to do here is recommend this very nice DVD that in capsule form addresses all the issues, or at least all that I think are important, about the genesis of rock 'n' roll, its meaning for my post-World War II generation growing up in the 1950’s and how the forces of social reaction put, or tried to put, a cap on the natural rebelliousness of the original rock 'n' roll sound.
This documentary addresses affirmatively the issue of the roots of rock and roll as deriving from the blues and later in the early 1950’s rhythm and blues from the likes of Louis Jourdan and Big Joe Turner. It further pays, as it must, tribute to the early efforts of the likes of Sam Phillips and his Sun Record operation in Memphis and that of the Press Brothers Chess Records in Chicago to create breakout music with a distinctive sound that was not Frank Sinatra or Doris Day, the music of our parents’ generation. It also pays tribute to the promoters of rock like Alan Freedman who was a key in popularizing rock for the wider white audience that was necessary to make it a national and international phenomenon. Most importantly, this film documents the very conscious attempt by parents, religious and governmental figures abetted by the record industry to bring rock under control with the creation of the “teen idols” like Ricky Nelson Fabian, Bobby Vee, etc. at the end of the 1950’s. As I have pointed out elsewhere we had to go through that experience to really appreciate the difference when groups like The Rolling Stones hit the scene in the 1960’s. We were waiting to exhale, and none too soon.
Probably the most important reason to view this DVD though is to get, under one roof, a look at all the various performers who made up the original rock ensemble. Big Joe, Bill Haley, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Buddy, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and on and on. Like I say if you want a quick one hour overview of an important cultural phenomenon of our collective history this is the one for you. Then branch out to review the individual performers. Fifty years later a lot of this stuff still sounds good. And that is not just me saying that but young kids, desperate for a sound that jumps at them, that I have run into lately as well. Kudos.
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