Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Chuck Berry

Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is considered one of the greatest pioneers of rock and roll. Chuck Berry was born on October 18, 1926 in  St Lewis, Missouri. Berry refined the influence of what was known as the Blues in to what is now known as Rock and roll. Chuck berry's distinctive rhythm blues is what made a huge elemental change to music in general. His greatest works include "Maybellene", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Rock and Roll Music", and "Johnny B. Goode". He loved focusing on what teen life meant to him in most of his music. Berry first recorded with Chess Records 1957. Reaching number one, "Maybellene" found on the "After School Session" album, had sold over a million copies. Chuck berry continued to record 18 studio albums all the way up to 1979.

Chuck berry wrote songs that fit my line of music, which is found in the blues/ rock genera. Berry wrote Oldies music and I'm proud that I'm probably one of the only people in this school that would allow my self to listen to it. I focus on music that people dont listen to. So trust me when i say, what people like, in my opinion, is crap. Because in reality one would think if it wasnt for the blues and the original rock, you wouldnt have your rap, unfortunantly we do.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

The Cars

The Cars united in 1976 with Ric Ocasek as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Elliot Easton on lead guitar, Greg Hawkes who played multiple instruments such as keyboards, saxophone, percussion, the synthesizer, as well as bass. David Robinson as drummer, and benjamin Orr who also played bass.Their name originated from David Robinson who was on a high influence of pop art, and thought it would be authentic to name themselves The Cars. During the winter of 1976-1977 they began writing songs for their debut album. Electra Records took The Cars in after hearing the song "Just What I Needed" on Boston's WBCN radio station. This would become their first single on their album "The Cars", it reached number 18 on the Billboard 200. Other songs followed reaching the Billboard Hot 100, "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Good Times Roll". In 1979, "Candy-O", their second album, consisted of the famous "Lets Go", and "Its All I Can Do". In 1980 then came "Panorama" they followed that up with "Shake it up" in 1981. "Heartbreak City" proved to be their most successful album. MTV awarded "You Might Think", video of the year at the first MTV video music awards. Their last album ended with "Door To Door" in 1987.

The Cars have proven to be one of the greatest pop rock artists of all time. those words from me are rare in itself considering most of my music back ground consists of mostly the blues and rock.The Cars have, in a way, revolutionized a new form of rock and roll and combined it with the New Wave sound of the time. The voice that is used by the lead singer is what allows for one of the most soothing sounds that a singer can provide. Their Love songs can lead one to believe that love is out their, so come get me. This technique is also used in oldies songs sung by bands such as the Beatles. The Cars reunited in 2010 after breaking up in 1988. In 2011 they released "Move Like This".

Monday, September 12, 2011

REO Speedwagon

The Formation of REO Speedwagon was in 1967 as an American Rock band. Their name, REO Speedwagon, originated from a Flatbed truck and a Fire Engine made by the REO Motor Company. REO came together in Champaign, Illinois at the University of Illinois. The group in 1967 kicked off by playing in campus bars and only allowing themselves to play cover songs. The original band line up consisted of Neal Doughty playing key boards, Mike Blair as bassist and vocalist, Alan Gratzer on drums, and Joe Matt on guitar and vocals. in 1971 REO signed a deal to Epic Records to begin their first original album. 1980 comes around and REO Speedwagon records their most successful album ever, "Hi Infidelity", selling a high of ten million copies commercially. "Keep on Loving You", "Take it on The Run", "In Your Letter", and "Don't Let Him Go" were found on the charts for sixty five weeks running, and for thirty two of those weeks they remained on the top ten. "Hi Infidelity was a true rock and roll masterpiece. In all Speedwagon recorded sixteen albums.

My biggest concern with REO Speedwagon was their band members. Throughout the years from 1967 to 2007 they have changed every original band member from the beginning. REO has made a total of seventeen replacements. I have a hard time believing that the band could stay together for the time that they did. The only band member who was willing to stay was Neal Doughty on key boards. Their main reason why they had a declining popularity during their latest years was because of their variety of band member replacements, but, at the same time, i believe this added  a diversity in their music, for that reason I believe they make a great group. Their greatest song would have to be their 1973 Ridin' The Storm Out.        

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Who

In 1962 two men by the names of Townshend and Entwistle formed their own Dixieland Jazz band with Townshend on banjo an Entwistle on french Horne they called themselves The Confederates. Later on, Entwistle would met a bass player while walking down the street. his name, Roger Daltrey, asks Entwistle to join his band the Detours. Entwistle, one week later, asks Townshend to try out as a guitarist. Together, the band members were now Daltrey at lead Guitar, Townshend on Rhythm guitar, Entwistle on bass, Doug Sandom, drums, and Colin Dawson as the band vocalist. Daltrey would later replace Dawson as vocalist after leaving the band. They now sought a recording contract but were told to find a better drummer. Sandom, in 1964 leaves the bands drumming position, and was replaced by Kieth Moon after destroying the drum kit provided to him. In February of 1964 they change their name to The Who. During the performance on September 1964 at the Railway Tavern in Harrow and Weadston London, Townshend accidentally busted the top of his guitar through the ceiling. Outraged by the audiences snickers and giggles Townshend slams his guitar against the ground, he then grabs a second guitar he had at hand and continued the show. At their next concert the audience began to beg at Townshend to repeat what he had done during his last gig. He refused, instead Moon accepted to destroy his own drums. For years to come the who became famous for their entertaining instrumental destruction. Rolling stone made the incident at the Railway Tavern one of "50 moments That Changed The History of Rock and Roll". The Who would go on to write a song that had the very first bass solo, "My Generation". and their single "I Can See For Miles" was their first song to reach #1 in the United States. During the filming of "The Kids Are Alright" Kieth Moon bribed the band's stage hand to load his drum set with explosives. VH1 made the incident one of the top 10 on their "100 Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Moments on Television"

In 1968 a man by the name of Abbie Hoffman attended the 1968 Woodstock Festival as a staff member at the medical tent. By the time The Who, who were playing at the event, ended a song, Hoffman, while under the influence of LSD, preceded immediately by jumping up on stage, grabbing the mike, and saying "I think this is a pile of s*** while John Sinclair rots in prison !". Townshend whipped around and screamed "F*** off ! F*** off my F****** stage !" he then grabbed his guitar and stuck him. What Hoffman was doing was protesting the case of a famous poet, John Sinclair, who was given a 10 year prison sentence for offering a Marijuana cigarette to a narcotics officer. These type of occasion were perfect examples to how great The Who actually were. Waiting to protest until the who arrive onstage was just that of stupidity, but it made me realize if you were going to protest something, you had to do it in front of one of the greatest bands of all time. The Who went on to inspire Brian May of the band Queen, and Geddy Lee of the band Rush.