The beginnings of rock
Posted by: Briz Vegas on 10 April 2010
Just been doing a little digging around on the internet to find out a little more about early rock and roll. Its far more interesting than just pointing to "Rock around the clock" and saying"this is where it all began".
My definition of rock music is pretty loose. When I was a kid it was anything that was cool and was easy to listen to and made you tap your foot. Folk, classical and easy listening were too much hard work and didn't speak to me. Rock was kinda fun and a little bit subversive.
Today when I think of early rock I always think of blues music as far back as the earliest recordings and it does make me wonder just how far back this general style of music must go. Everyone was just taking from what came before them while adding a bit of themselves and the times they were living in.
"Sweet Home Chicago" might be blues to some, but to me its a bit of a crossover track. I probably first heard it thanks to the Blues Brothers film, then for years attributed it to Robert Johnson, then only today I found the earlier version by Kokomo Arnold, which even the blues brothers were not aware of.
Blues Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl5j2jd5H4k
Robert Johnson (love the footage of the time)
This is almost more rock than the version above because it is more raw.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkftesK2dck
Kokomo Arnold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOvTqVn8qgI
For me Rock n roll was even happening in 1928 (this is not related to sweet home of course)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZgS03Md3mQ
Lets do the time warp again
My definition of rock music is pretty loose. When I was a kid it was anything that was cool and was easy to listen to and made you tap your foot. Folk, classical and easy listening were too much hard work and didn't speak to me. Rock was kinda fun and a little bit subversive.
Today when I think of early rock I always think of blues music as far back as the earliest recordings and it does make me wonder just how far back this general style of music must go. Everyone was just taking from what came before them while adding a bit of themselves and the times they were living in.
"Sweet Home Chicago" might be blues to some, but to me its a bit of a crossover track. I probably first heard it thanks to the Blues Brothers film, then for years attributed it to Robert Johnson, then only today I found the earlier version by Kokomo Arnold, which even the blues brothers were not aware of.
Blues Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl5j2jd5H4k
Robert Johnson (love the footage of the time)
This is almost more rock than the version above because it is more raw.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkftesK2dck
Kokomo Arnold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOvTqVn8qgI
For me Rock n roll was even happening in 1928 (this is not related to sweet home of course)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZgS03Md3mQ
Lets do the time warp again
The first rock cd's came out of Brazil over one million years BC : )
Soul Music by Terry Pratchett is the definitive source book. "Its music with rocks in it". 