Rock Grab Bag VII

There were several long-standing musical traditions in the early twentieth century American South including jazz, blues, and folk which by the mid-century had morphed into rock & roll. Early Southern giants like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly championed rock’s early sound and simple formula while U.S. military personnel brought this exciting music- along with blues, country, and Motown- to the United Kingdom. Before long there were young British imitators like the Beatles, the Animals, and the Rolling Stones conquering America with the British Invasion and inspiring a post-war generation of American beatniks and hippies including the Mamas and the Papas, the Monkees, and the Byrds.

The Beatles

All these ‘60s groups- British and American- fell under the influence of Bob Dylan and went through folk-rock and psychedelic phases before coming out the other side as singer-songwriter, hard rock, jam rock, or country rock- and amazingly all this happened in a span of less than 15 years (before punk and my generation came along to tear it all down and drag rock back to its primitive roots). With its dope, long hair, and blue jeans mystique, rock marched on through the end of the century and some of its icons are still making music today. But, as an art form, rock has not really evolved or broken any new ground since the ‘70s; and like jazz, blues, and folk it is now just a word. Yet in its prime- and at its best- rock music represented freedom, love, revolution, and communion for millions around the world- including me.

Stephen Stills

The romantic in me believes rock has its own mythology; a world of dreams, memories, and lost loves. Rock represents a shared journey, a search for freedom, and its ideals helped defeat Communism in Eastern Europe. For decades rock seemed invincible but viewed through the lens of Marxist history rock exists and is essential only as long as it is profitable. One cannot help but see a correlation between the Internet’s rise and rock’s steady decline as both artists and listeners continue to die- and it just doesn’t pay to discover the next Beatles or make rock albums anymore. Like grunge or macramé, rock as an art form will never die. But, as a force for social change, rock’s impact will continue to diminish until a new, restless generation rediscovers its powers. Here are some more of my favorite rock songs. Enjoy!

Richie Havens at Woodstock, 1969

01, Led Zeppelin – “Tangerine” (1970)
02. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová – “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” (2007)
03. David Gray – “Money (That’s What I Want) (Live)” (2012)
04. Paul McCartney – “Fuh You” (2018)
05. Del Amitri – “Be My Downfall” (1992)
06. David Childers – “The Prettiest Thing” (2011)
07. Ringo Starr – “Hey Baby” (1976)
08. Van Morrison – “Dark Night of the Soul” (2019)
09. Crosby, Stills & Nash – “In My Life” (1994)
10. Warren Zevon – “Steady Rain” (Unknown)
11. The Beatles – “If I Needed Someone” (1965)
12. Stephen Stills – “Love the One You’re With” (1970)
13. Electric Light Orchestra – “From Out of Nowhere” (2019)
14. Richie Havens – “Fire and Rain (Live)” (1972)
15. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – “Teach Your Children” (1970)
16. Van Morrison – “If We Wait for Mountains” (2019)
17. Yusuf / Cat Stevens – “All Kinds of Roses” (2009)
18. Yusuf / Cat Stevens– “Roadsinger” (2009)

19. The Animals – “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” (1977)

20. Richie Havens – “Here Comes the Sun (Live)” (1970)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...