I’ve been meaning to write my music column for BC for a while now – (for those who’ve read List of the Moment and waited, I am grateful. Know that I am working on at least two forthcoming lists.) Yet, this had to come first.
Perhaps I should reintroduce myself to Blogcritics where I have been for so very long now and one of the first places I felt at home. (Thank you Eric, thank you Lisa, thank you all.) I’ve been thinking about music (wow, big surprise) and a few things came to mind. Let me say off the bat before everyone gets up in arms (I hate histrionics), these are just thoughts, musings, opinions, rantings, ravings, etc and I am just thinking outloud. There may or may not be some validity here – I don’t know. I think so, but let’s see.
It’s Kurt Cobain that got me. It heard “All Apologies” the other day – specifically an outtake from a bootleg. I heard the slur of it and the whole GenX swagger that is sort of insecure and looking for a fight at the same time. We identify because that’s us with our baggy jeans sliding just so off our hips and our sweaters hanging over our gentle palms like the security blankets. We are not quite sure we want to let go of our multiple messy layers and our Converse sneakers and messy hair and there is (there was) Kurt Cobain. We didn’t have to imitate him (though many did after the fact) – he was us and we were him and as such, we identified with him.
It had been so long since any music had really moved me, as in moved me, until Nirvana came around and the sound just fucking changed. It was like nothing else. It was the way Little Richard changed things (There would be no Elvis with no Little Richard in my view.), and Dylan, Bob Dylan, his influences run the gamut, but Dylan too is major influence who was influenced by his major cultural icons – Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Little Richard, old blues traditions, and so on. It’s a narrative thread that you can trace back pretty easily if you care to. What interests me lately is why it is that some people – like Little Richard, like John Lennon, like Bob Dylan, like Elvis Presley, like Kurt Cobain, and others we could name here (the list is too long but you know the obvious references) – I’m not intentionally leaving anyone out here – think Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 who changed the sound of Motown forever – I just can’t include everyone. You get the point though – some people just become iconic.
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Article comments
1 - MarkSaleski
very nice. good to see you around here again sadi.
2 - shaky
elvis was recording before little richard so that comment about no elvis only for little richard is wrong!
3 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hey Mark - thanks - and very nice to hear from you and to be back. So many things have stood in the way - (not my choice: some health nonsense etc and other stuff), but it's really nice to be back so i appreciate the welcome. Onward.... be in touch -- and always my best.
sade
4 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hi shaky - thanks for setting me straight then: it's good to be accurate. When did Elvis start recording and when did Little Richard start recording? We know Dylan took his cue in some ways for Little Richard since he has said as much - Elvis I don't know so much about - so I'm really curious now and want to know more... so Elvis wasn't influenced by Little Richard? (seriously, i have no idea about this one...) and I would really like the dates as it would be useful information - first recordings, labels etc - I don't doubt you for one second, but you seem to have the info. right there and if you do and it's not a problem, please let me know - thanks for the correction - looking forward to more info.
srp
5 - Paul
Sadi- Perhaps I can give the answer to your questions regarding Presley and Little Richard. Little Richard started his recording on the Peaccock and RCA labels in 1951-1952 but his songs were more gospel based. Only on one song did he touch on a style that he would be famous for a few years later. His records were not national sellers, and did not make much noise. The record company was still trying to figure out how to market him, and they kept trying him to push him towards blues,or Nat King Cole type of singing. He obviously was a gifted piano player, but he didnt become "Little Richard" until he saw another perfromer who played the same clubs named Esquerita. Richard copied his style of dress and flamboyant style from Esquerita ( who died penniless and of AIDS in the 1980's) Little Richard did not make it big until Tutti Frutti in 56. By that time, Elvis Presley had already recorded songs at Sun Records in Memphis. ELvis' first release-Thats ALl Right Mama was recorded in July of 1954, It quickly became a regional hit because the sound was different. ( It was an old blues song by Arthur Crudup, who Presley idolized) but it was done in a new style, not Blues. That style was called Rockabilly-and Elvis' Sun recordings ( along with Carl Perkins recordings) are arguably the best Rockabilly records ever recorded. Presley's other singles on Sun also were regional hits, and he toured the South in 55-influencing new artists like Carl Perkins,Buddy Holly Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash,among others. Presley toured with Country acts on the bill, but as word spread of this young kid doing this music, teenagers ( especially girls) would go crazy-and Elvis' popularity grew.. In late 55 Col Parker took over as manager, and got Elvis to sign with RCA, and Elvis released Heartbreak Hotel in 56. Now, Little Richard and Chuck Berry both had national hits by then ( Berry released his first record-"Maybellene" in 55 (which also was based on mixture of RnB and Country Western) and Elvis was a fan of both artists. Both Little Richard and Chuck Berry have said that Elvis opened the door for them to come thru. Many people are quick to say it was because Presley was white, but keep in mind that Presley was banned in many cities, his records smashed, and he was blamed for juvenille delinquency-he was not popular with the American adults. So to sum up, Elvis was the first to record "Rock and Roll" and his early Sun recordings are classics- I urge you to check them out ,and listen to a 19 year old truck driver change music history in 1954! Take Care!
6 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hey Paul - wow! thanks so much for this... this is great.One question for you then... why aren't you writing for Tant Mieux, you are so knowledgeable and informed and interesting - and sure, a lot of people would say Elvis opened the door because he was white but you addressed that so that is really interesting. I would still say that this played a hand (i would have to say so, but that's an editorial comment)... be in touch. We always need good and informed writers... and thank you so very much.... this is awesome.... cheers, sade