and Ian Moore, I decided to go back further than the 80s and trace my own musical history. In the 70s, I used to listen to Cream and Traffic. Now, of course, at the time I thought of them as rock groups, plain and simple. I didn't hyphenate or add a descriptor. Maybe that came later in music, when the pigeon-holing and labeling took over. It used to be that music was either stuff you liked, or stuff you didn't like, and the genre was less important.Because as I listen to Traffic
again today, I realize that I was listening to (gasp!) jazz and blues when all I thought I was getting was British rock. Take a listen to The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, one of my favorite songs of my younger days. So intricate, so layered, so emotive. Now, some forty years later, we call it Prog rock and that's probably an apt label. It was so progressive it sounds timeless. Yet it is so musically rich, you can tell it didn't come out the last few years. I also loved Cream -- again not realizing just what you would call what I was listening to. Shhh, it's blues-rock. I had no idea back then who Eric Clapton was or what had influenced him, I just new he was unreal on the guitar. Supernatural. Monster Guitar Man -- impervious to the laws of motion. He actually believed his fingers could be in multiple places at the same time. And Jack Bruce? Listen to that bass line -- it's sick.
So a shout out to Casey James for opening my eyes and ears. I will from here on out not judge a musical genre by its title, but will give it a fair listen. Back in the day, before we compartmentalized everything, music was just music. The Texan with the crossover appeal is bringing that concept back.
SHARI GELLER FTW!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE THIS :D
I realized a while back that a lot of the music I listened to and really liked in my younger years might be considered *ssshhh* country these days :( or :) not sure which...lol Love the old Pure Prairie League stuff. Boulder Skies, Angel #9 etc...It's weird how I remember most of that stuff but have forgotten a lot (read - most) of the disco stuff that was out then. I'm sure I can't post a link but I'll try. I've forgotten all my html codes :(
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pPbpYzQoKU post it in your browser.
Make that copy and paste it in your browser...I'm batting about 100 today :( haha!!!!!
ReplyDeletecream was eric clapton at his best. and he is still a guitar legend. so is jeff beck.
ReplyDeletedo you believe i didnt know who neil young was till couple of years ago? how could i miss on such a fantastic songwriter all these years!?
Great music. I agree with you, I love Casey's mix; and like Eric Clapton, he really does have fingers in multiple places at the same time. It's a thrill to watch Casey play that guitar!
ReplyDeleteThe rock we listend to in '60s, '70s was SEMINAL. Blues, Jazz and Country were the ROOTs for new music which was just called ROCK whether it rolled or not. Labels came later. Had an argument with the husband yesterday 'cause Disraeli Gears is in my Top 5 Album Greats and he just doesn't get it. Whatever--he's more jazzy than bluesy. Clapton/Beck/Page and assorted Guitar Gods of the early years deserve our reverence bec w/out them there would not have been the Stevie Rays and your Casey. And they span the style spectrum--Beck's discography is staggering in its range, and Page was once a mainstream session player. Clapton's Layla? Maybe the best guitar song ever...Try playing the Kevin Bacon Game with the Yardbirds and it will blow your mind.
ReplyDeleteLow Sparks is pretty unclassifiable IMHO--Traffic was rather anomalous in its day as was Winwood's voice (his early Spencer Davis Group stint at age of 16--phenomenal breakout performance.) and don't forget they owed influence to historical British folk music (John Barleycorn et al).
As a Classic Rock Gal, nothing--and I mean nothing--from today even touches that time period. Whatever name you call it.
S. Lennon
Sandi,
ReplyDeleteWe were very lucky to grow up when we did. The music back then was so rich and so diverse and the musicians were so multitalented. Radio played a fairly wide array of songs and they didn't have to log in at three minutes. You could have guitar solos and piano arpeggios. No instrument was off limits -- if it fit the song, that was all that mattered. I think now how limited my taste is and forget that when I was ten I'd listen to Glen Campbell and the Doors, Al Green and Creedence, John Lennon and Sly & The Family Stone. We had Whole Lotta Love and Suite Judy Blue Eyes and Space Oddity. You're right, that was the high point for music and we were lucky to be there for it.
were you there when we went to see Sly and the family in woodland hills or somwhere and they didn't show up? We got our money back and we were too young to realize they were really the 'family stone[d]'
ReplyDelete...and btw, Casey is a joke as a guitar player. Not even a wannabe, let alone a contender.
ReplyDelete"Sandi,"
ReplyDeleteThe swipe at Casey was unnecessary -- especially as I was appreciating renewing our past shared experiences. I know a little about the guitar, my cousin played the guitar religiously and still makes his career from it. ;) I think Casey is very good, especially when he plays the blues. But I love discussing our common musical touchpoints and hope we can continue to do that.
Hey I didn't swipe at Casey. That wasn't me. But I do remember that Sly concert, so I can guess the origins. Just to be clear--as someone who doesn't watch Idol much--Casey didn't make a strong impression on me, but I understand his appeal. I have rather high standards when it comes to guitar players, but haven't seen enough to have a full opinion. But do know that everyone is entitled to theirs. :-)
ReplyDeleteS.L.
I just thought "joke" was extreme, so that's why I responded. Not that I'm trying to make a convert, but my post from last month, review of the hometown concerts, has clips of the kind of music that isn't played on Idol and that better showcases his musicianship. I'm still not remembering the concert though...that era is a blur for me but not for the right reasons!!
ReplyDeleteFunny, my brother also has blurry childhood memory syndrome. I, on the other hand, remember everything, and with a far more sanguine response than him. How about the Ike & Tina Turner cancellation? Ring any bells? Beck at the S.M. Civic? Free tix to the rainy Thanksgiving Quadraphrenia concert? Van Morrison? Hey THAT one is epic! ;-)
ReplyDeleteDidn't watch the Casey vids yet... got too caught up in Clapton and Traffic retrospective. Will give the kid a fair shake, to be sure, though it takes a lot to rock my world these days, pun intended.
Van Morrison!!!! Remember that one. Was that the one I got in trouble for staying after to meet him?? Anyhow, June 9th post here has some good videos. Maybe I can make you a convert. http://burnthismedia.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-of-casey-james-homecoming_09.html
ReplyDeleteYup!! Soooo busted!! Luckily your evil cohort had convinced you to inhale just this once, so parental tantrums didn't signify. A profound coming of age moment in my mental scrapbook, and no surprise, one intimately connected to ... MUSIC!
ReplyDeleteWill check out the vids, thanks.