tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12331855.post115756121959011704..comments2024-03-25T07:21:22.797-04:00Comments on Bloggerhythms: Music's Greatest Generation, 1964 -1980Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12331855.post-16310702331756688072007-09-27T05:23:00.000-04:002007-09-27T05:23:00.000-04:00No doubt about it: you pegged the exact years, co...No doubt about it: you pegged the exact years, composing music's greatest era. At age 60, I was there at the beginning - thank God - personally witnessing 400 performances by Top 40-type groups of all genre. Only a couple months ago did I further organize these performances on MSexcel; and for the first time was able to really 'look' at my musical experiences in overview. <BR/><BR/>And, wouldn't you know, it all started in 1964; and it all ended in 1980! Below confirms such, in my mind anyway. These are my musical concert experiences primarily, divided into four approximate 15-year periods, which encompass my life - one before the golden era, the golden era itself, and two since. (The 400 group performances DO NOT represent 400 concerts, just the # of top musical groups seen.) <BR/><BR/>1964-1969: Saw 15-20 group performances<BR/> Yeah, I know: Roger Williams and Ferrante & Teisher (est 64-65)aren't exactly The Mamas & The Papas, but they were cool enough to get me into live scene. <BR/> Good radio and great frat parties fueled the interest. Hell, who could resist the '65 dance vibes of Doug Clark & the Hot Nuts or The Box Tops?<BR/> At Arkansas between 65-69, great musical variety broadened my interests further: Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, James Brown, Johnny Rivers, the Outsiders, and Steppenwolf.<BR/><BR/>1969-present: Primarily Memphis and Atlanta provided the urban environments for my seeing anybody and everybody ON TOUR. And I took full advantage in ways you would simply not believe &/or I won't publicly admit. BOTTOMLINE: Just sitting in the concert audience wasn't usually enough! <BR/> <BR/> Memphis (1969-1974): Saw 150 group performances<BR/>o Met or Socialized with: Lou Reed, Mick Ronson twice, Alice Cooper drummer, Steve Marriott, Mark Bolin, Billy Gibbons, Ian Hunter, Iggy Pop bass guitarist, Beach Boys, Mountain, and Black Oak Arkansas.<BR/> Atlanta (1974-1980): Saw 200 group performances <BR/>o Met or Socialized with: Joan Baez, Lynyrd Skynrd, Kiss (out of costume), Black Oak Arkansas, Bob Segar, Ruby Starr, Mother's Finest, Elvis Wade, Tina Turner, Eddie Money, Dr. Hook, Van Halen, Gino Vannelli, Elton John, Johnny Winter, Todd Rundgren, Royce Jones, Kenny Rogers, and Edgar Winter.<BR/> Atlanta (1981-2007): Saw 30 group performances<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>IN SUMMARY:<BR/><BR/> A staggering 87.5% (350 out of 400) of total group performances occurred 1964-1980, a period encompassing about 25% of my life till age 34.<BR/> Of significance are the facts that: (1) growing up and graduating ('65) from high school just 45 minutes from Memphis, (2) being sociably active with high school fraternity mega-dances (e.g., Peabody Hotel Grand Ballroom in Memphis) since age 14, (3) being caught up with the "British Invasion" on the car radio, and (4) being mobile 'on-demand' & financially-able, still did not present any notable touring concert opportunities during this first quarter of my life; otherwise I could have 'been there'. Meaning that there wasn't much going on musically BEFORE the mid-sixties.<BR/> And 8% since: nearly 30 years will have passed since 1980; and my passion for good music has not wavered one ounce. Yet I've only been 'drawn out' for around 30 group performances, which averages but one per year. Mind-blowing, and worse...depressing.<BR/>o To simplify, let's round off the numbers a little to make some points, with 'the greatest generation' being 15 years, and time since being 30 years (or twice that).<BR/>o Being a young-thinking sixty-year old - active as ever - had the 'golden years' continued on pace, that could have logically added another 700 group performances, which would have been 23 TIMES MORE THAT I ATTENDED in reality [=or 670 more].<BR/>o BUT: no offense to the music since or to those into it, but none of it 'holds a candle' to what preceded it [before 1980]. Music fuels my soul, and even contributes to my health (both mentally and physically), and has since birth. And it is this period's music that does it best. While it's been difficult to adjust to this sad reality of little new in the way of this golden era, the computer and easy access to those great oldies, has enabled me to get into their words and them individually more than ever before. And this has helped a lot.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>So, as to any question of whether those years represent "music's greatest generation":<BR/> It is simply irrefutable, by evidence presented.<BR/> It can never, ever again be replicated for every conceivable reason and logic of any diverse nature. <BR/> Conditions, in America/Europe anyway, could never present the collision of circumstances and conditions to rekindle such a SPIRIT of CREATIVITY.<BR/> The computer alone would have been enough to single-handedly bring about its demise; and it alone will make sure it's permanent.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Thanks for what you do. <BR/><BR/> <BR/>jRock <BR/>AtlantaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12331855.post-81995115157822132822007-02-13T18:48:00.000-05:002007-02-13T18:48:00.000-05:00I'm very late getting to this, Charlie, but I agre...I'm very late getting to this, Charlie, but I agree with the bulk of your analysis. I especially like William's theory that the Beatles pushed everybody to greater heights. I think that's right on--when people heard and saw what they did, they realized that in order to compete, they'd have to take their game up. <BR/><BR/>I don't see something like that happening again, largely due to the fragmentation of the audience you cite in your original post. Not just the Beatle-inspired era William notes, but the entire "classic rock" era you write about. There was a critical mass of ears and a particular media environment in which the white-hot creativity of the era thrived. That's not coming back. <BR/><BR/>Nice work<BR/>jb<BR/>The Hits Just Keep on Comin'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12331855.post-1158153189962165552006-09-13T09:13:00.000-04:002006-09-13T09:13:00.000-04:00Great piece Charlie. I've got a very similar theor...Great piece Charlie. I've got a very similar theory that I haven't had time to flesh out, but I see a golden age for music from approximately 1970-1975 when many artists on both sides of the Atlantic reached creative peaks that mere coincidence cannot explain. I'm speaking of Yes, Genesis, ELP, the Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, the Allman Brothers Band, the Grateful Dead, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, the Band, and many many others. <BR/><BR/>My underlying premise is that popular music has never had an artist operate at the level that the Beatles did with artistic excellence in every aspect from songwriting to performance to production and even productivity. When you think what the Beatles accomplished within a short span of seven years it is still mind boggling. <BR/><BR/>When the Beatles broke up in 1970, all these other artists whose careers were just starting were both influenced by the Beatles and motivated to try to take what the Beatles did and take it further (hence "progressive rock"). This I sincerely think is why all these groups produced such great work during this period, and although there are always great artists making great music at any given time, a renaissance like this is unlikely to happen again. Thanks again for your thoughtful piece of writing.William Kateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07366905492068156424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12331855.post-1158006800118068932006-09-11T16:33:00.000-04:002006-09-11T16:33:00.000-04:00Charlie,It may cheer you up some to know that in h...Charlie,<BR/><BR/>It may cheer you up some to know that in high school one of my close friends and I would get together to discuss music regularly and a few of my other friends and I would also discuss music quite intently on a semi-regular basis. This was in the early 1990s and rather than embrace the music of that era we were grooving to the music of the seventies and eighties.<BR/><BR/>One of my friends got me heavily into Pink Floyd, Queen, and the Doors and introduced me to Rush. Another friend of mine introduced me to Bad Company and REO Speedwagon, I introduced him to Toto's <I>Kingdom of Desire</I> album.<BR/><BR/>1) I disagree partially as I forsee a fusion of music and video "games"- I forsee consoles becoming considerably more interactive. With the recording and distribution of music becoming far more cost-efficient and accessible to the average teenager. I forsee a shift from an enjoyment of merely listening to music to an enjoyment of performing and sharing music with others. It'll be like singalongs in the 19th century but more high tech and on a global scale. <BR/><BR/>2) There are at least 2 stations in Chicago that actually DO play music in this format. I've heard Johnny Cash, Metallica, and Sinatra all played on that station within the span of an afternoon. Granted these stations do seem to gravitate towards specific artists as I heard an overabundance of Bon Jovi on said station.<BR/><BR/>3) Can't argue but I will say I believe there will be another similar musical movement in the future... maybe not in our lifetimes-- and someone (or plural someones) will completely change the way we think about and listen to music.<BR/><BR/>4) History is cyclical. The issues may not be the same, but there is still that socio-political voice in the music of several artists. The difference is that in the 60s that voice was often calling for positive change whereas the political songs today seem to merely be whining and complaining about how things are rather than suggesting positive change.<BR/><BR/>5. Video did kill the radio star, but I do see an increased interest in music from the past. This isn't just because the music of the past was good but because the music of the present is so vapid. <BR/><BR/>This is one of your best posts, Charlie! Keep up the great work!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com