Any fans of 1950s + 60s rock n roll?

[authorkcfinn]

I find the rock n roll era so uplifting to listen to when I'm relaxing or taking a break between projects during the day. My personal favourites are Neil Sedaka, Bobby Rydell, Brian Hyland, Elvis, Chuck Berry and Chubby Checker. Actually I almost made that list miles longer but I'll leave it there for now. I am 24 years old so I guess it's a bit unusual to be swept up in this kind of music, I was just wondering if there was anyone else out there who enjoys it?

[FNAWrite]

One listens to what strikes one's own internal rythms.

Just like any musical style or era there are plenty of performers who can provide great examples.

A sub-genre you may want to look into is rockabilly. It's fun.

[authorkcfinn]

I do enjoy rockabilly too, but I find sometimes that the lyrics don't hold quite as much meaning for me in those more fun songs. There's something about the fact that a lot of 50s songwriters like Sedaka put so much feeling and truth into their words, I sometimes feel that's missing from today's scene.

[Loveabull]

I agree completely. In the 50's and 60's and before...the singer had to be outstanding on their own. They had some technology but nothing like now with variations of auto tune. Nowadays they can take a border collie and fool with the modulation until it sings opera

I like Sinatra and Louis Prima, Little Richard. There's an oldies music board I visit sometimes. Those guys boggle my mind. They know the artists, the singles, the dates of release, the backing players.

[authorkcfinn]

Nowadays they can take a border collie and fool with the modulation until it sings opera

So true, and funny and a little sad too! There's something very moving about pure voices and raw talent, Little Richard especially had a unqiue way of toying with notes that you know weren't doctored in any way, and such character in his tone! A lot of today's artists all sound the same to me.

[FNAWrite]

Louis prima and Frank Sinatra are not exactly roxck and roll singers. (Love Louis Prima).

I disagree that singers in the 50s/60s had better pipes. "A lot of today's artists all sound the same to me" - this phrase is certainly familiar to those of us who grew up in 50s or 60s, and likely very familiar to each preceding or succeeding generation.

For one, in all honesty, i can't say I ever thought of Little Richard as an artist who "toyed" with notes with the implication of subtle or fine gradations of tone. I have a couple of compilations of his work, easily 40-50 songs, and in those works at least, he does not present as a discriminating vocalist. Don't get me wrong, he can belt them out with an inimitable style, but as to whether he paid a lot of attention to "toying" with pitch...

"50s songwriters like Sedaka put so much feeling and truth into their words" My understanding is that Sedaka wrote the music to his songs, the lyrics to many of his hits (and songs for other artists) were penned by Howard Greenfield. Like Elton John and Bernie taupin.

[authorkcfinn]

Sedaka worked personally on many of his lyrics alongside his lyricists and did indeed write large portions of them himself.

I appreciate your opinions FNA, but do you think it'd be possible for you not to pick holes in every single thing I say? It's a little discouraging to be brand new on this forum and come back to find every sentence I've written dissected! You're entitled to your opinions of course but I meant for this to be an open expression for people who love the music, not a full blown debate.

[FNAWrite]

I don't believe I have picked holes in every little thing you have said.

I suggested a genre of 50s music you might like - you state plainly you don't like it that much, that it's less meaningful than what you do like. I point out that Sedaka had a lyricist, you state Sedaka wrote "large portions" of the lyrics credited to another. Who's picking holes?

"You're entitled to your opinions of course but I meant " that I should keep them to myself.

Sure, understood.

[Loveabull]

True Louis and Frank weren't rock and roll but crooning, bop and early jazz ushered in rock and roll. Interesting you mention John/Taupin with Neil Sedaka. In the mid-seventies Elton John helped revive Neil's career ie "Laughter in the Rain", then I believe Neil explored Klezmer...talented guy though.

I mention Louis and little Richard cause I liked the shouters, even Cab Calloway was in that neighborhood. Not rock and roll but they got the place rockin'.

[authorkcfinn]

That's not what I meant at all, FNA. I don't appreciate you putting what I say in air quotes like it's incorrect to even think that. I returned your comment about Sedaka because I happen to know that that is true, not my opinion and I thought you might like to know that.

I'm sorry if I've offended you, clearly we're having a clash here, but negativity is the last thing I want believe me. Your responses came across as highly critical, as though you were merely correcting what others have said rather than contributing your own views and that didn't gel well with me, that's all. If that wasn't your intention then by all means I am sorry for reading it that way. You know how easy it can be on forums to misinterpret people, surely?

[Loveabull]

Oh dear, come on kids you're BOTH pretty Reaally a forum is just where one person can give their opinion and another give their opinion...jeez there was somebody on here who referred to moi as a "cretin"...now I could have told this old bat that I know some "c" words too...but then I realized Do.Not.Engage.

Easy enough...

[Bighuey]

I like that old stuff too. Little Richard was a favorite, and some of Louis Prima's early stuff would be a link from R+B and rock. His Steamroller Blues and Beauty Parlor Gossip were kind of a cross-over. Theres been a lot of argument as to which was the first rock+roll, some say it was Bill Haley+The Comets Rocket 88 and others say it was Louis Jordan's Caldonia. I dont know, I think at that time a lot of artists came out with songs that could be considered rock+roll. Johnny Sparrow, Earl Bostic, and of course Elvis Sun recordings. My opinion is that true rock+roll died with the advent of the Beatles. The music completely changed after that It was just called rock from then on. I cant say one era was better that the other, there have been some very good songs from both and a lot of crap from both. True a lot of artists sound the same these days, you cant tell one from another. Same with modern country music, they all sound the same. They all go like David Allen Coe's Perfect Country Song any more. Not much variation.

LB, Cab Calloway. He wasnt rock, but he was certainly a shouter. Minnie The Moocher, Margie, Reefer Man and many others from the 30's and 40's.

[Loveabull]

Oh Big...not many people in my neck of the woods who remember..."I was drunk the day my Mom got out of prison, and I went to pick her up in the raiiiin...'David Allen Coe is awesome

[Bighuey]

LB, Coe is quite a guy. I used to have an 8-track tape of his of party songs. They were really raunchy X rated stuff, Divers Do It Deeper, You Aint a Man Unless You ........ Well, you get the picture. Look him up, he lived a very checkered life. He's in his 70's now and still performs.

[Loveabull]

Yeah I had cassettes of him back in the day...feel bad that the reissue of his greatest hits doesn't have "Would You Be My Lady?" That was SUCH a purty song...but I've heard some his ahem...party music and it's a blast. I saw him on TV maybe a year ago...hasn't aged a whole lot really
Somebody else that was great drinking music...Jerry Jeff Walker