Today’s music scene boasts advantages that many of us fans from yesteryear were never privy to. Though we might like hanging out in record shops from time to time, it’s no longer a necessary rite of passage in order to get our hands on the sounds that defined generations. While the classic sound of needle on vinyl will never go out of style, it’s much more convenient to combine today’s technology with golden oldie hits. After all, it’s not like you can lug the old record player around with you to the office or set it up in the car without endangering yourself and/or others.Welcome to an era of free love in the music industry (assuming you’re willing to sit through an ad or two), much like the free love many of us fought for in our glory days, all you need is a plug-in or wireless internet connection. Take Pandora, for example, a free streaming internet radio service (an upgraded version is available for purchase). If you prefer music from the 60′s, 70′s or 80′s, really any decade with a hits chart, you can create an entire station to play songs catering explicitly to that era. With songs generated in random order, just like regular radio to an extent, not only does this deliver a preferred selection of musical stylings, it also provides many listeners with a few new favorites they may have missed out on back it the day. Read the rest of this entry »
The Allman Brothers Band created a gritty mixture of blues, rock and R & B that has come to be known as “southern rock.” Just as they were the prototype for a generation of groups who grabbed onto the sound, Duane Allman became the standard for all southern rock guitarists.
With his Les Paul, Marshall Amps and pill bottle slide, Duane developed a tone to his playing that others continue to emulate. His technique is so highly regarded that Rolling Stone placed him at number two on their Read the rest of this entry »
The year was 1977 and John Travolta was burning up the dance floor on the big screen. The sounds of artists like the Bee Gees, Donna Summer and the Village People could be heard everywhere on car radios and in nightclubs. Revelers danced the Hustle in places like Studio 54 and The Roxy. The discothque was the place to see and be seen by the likes of A-List celebrities everywhere. Alas, after only a few short years, the disco fire burned out Read the rest of this entry »
My Grandfather loves big band music. If his current collection is any indication I don’t think he’s ever purchased anything else. I can understand his attachment, there’s nothing quite like listening to the Glenn Miller Orchestra performing “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” or Benny Goodman rocking out with “One O’Clock Jump” to stir up images of swing dancing, patriotism, and the nostalgic America he grew up in. I remember Grandma and Grandpa dancing in the living room when we went to visit. They would foxtrot and two-step to all of their old favorites and did a wonderful job of passing that love on to their children. My mom says she remembers learning to jitterbug when she was just five years old. I don’t know if my dad started that young, but to see he and my mom together now he may as well have! It’s a style of music that just makes you want to get up and be a part of it. I regret that I have no grace and cannot follow in their footsteps, but I still enjoy the music in my own way, playing tunes like “Pennsylvania 6-500″ in Jazz Band, going to outdoor big band concerts, and watching movies that showcase the era, like Swing Kids
Arguably the most famous 4 day span in music history, Woodstock has come to serve as a microcosm of pop culture in the 1960′s. In what was planned to be a more modest gathering of under 50,000 attendees, reports claim as many as half a million music lovers made the trek to see the 32 live acts on the Woodstock stage, including many of the most recognizable names and memorable performances of the era. Starting with Richie Havens and culminating with arguably Jimi Hendrix’s peak show, festival attendees were treated to an experience unmatched by any imitation since. Amid overcrowded grounds, inclement weather, rampant drug use and major sanitation issues, the so-called problems that plagued Woodstock helped shape the one-of-a-kind music festival and are often romanticized as a testament to power of music and the spirit and dedication of the event’s attendees. In reality, the place was a pig-sty, but most who were there wouldn’t have it any other way. Read the rest of this entry »
The 1960s’ had a nice thing going musically thinking, until of course the advent of disco had to kill the mojo. Still, the 70′s gave us a few memorable hits in its time, though by no means as prolifically enduring or consistently inspirational, the cream of the crop is as good as any decade. After all, disco didn’t really peak until the mid to late 70′s, giving music a little over 5 almost untainted years to work with. Here’s a guided tour down memory lane.
- “Stairway to Heaven” (Led Zeppelin) Considered by some to be the greatest rock ‘n roll song of all time, Stairway to Heaven achieved its magnetic popularity without even being released as a single. Not to mention, the track is well over 7 minutes long, topping even “Hey Jude” in duration. The reigning most requested song of all time has a different meaning to everybody, depending on where one is in their life, which is perhaps why it is both so endearing and enduring. Read the rest of this entry »
The 60′s were a groundbreaking period in music as lyrics and rhythm was freshly infused with emotion, largely in part to the growing civic unrest and social discontent that shaped the decade. With Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War, the 60′s were filled with protests, public demonstrations and an anti-establishment undercurrent that led to experimentation on new frontiers. Whether it was free love or organic substances that led to new found muses, future generations are at least thankful for the lyrical legacy the 60′s left for music lovers everywhere. Here’s a look at the best from a powerful decade of music.
- “Like a Rolling Stone” (Bob Dylan) Though many fans think this was actually the inspiration from which The Rolling Stones took their name, the song “Rollin’ Stone” by Muddy Waters is the root from which both the British rock group and this song sprang up. Still, arguably Dylan’s greatest work, “Like a Rolling Stone” was influential in its own right, named by Rolling Stone Magazine as the greatest rock ‘n roll song of all time. Read the rest of this entry »
Located at 254 West 54th Street, what started as a Broadway theatre, later serving as a CBS TV & Radio studio, played home to the most famous discotheque in world history. Serving as the uninhibited party headquarters for Manhattan’s elite, Studio 54 was characterized by its high profile guest list, anything goes atmosphere and ultimately questionable financial practices. The club’s opening on April 26, 1977 was an epic success, drawing in a who’s who of celebrities including Mick Jagger, Brooke Shields, Salvador Dali, Cher, the Trumps, the Hiltons, Liza Minnelli, among many more.Only a month after its grand opening, Studio 54 would see its first encounter with law enforcement as it was raided for improperly serving alcohol without a liquor license. Amounting to little more than a misunderstanding (the club had been using daily caterer’s permits while its license processed when the state chose to deny its license the day of the raid), the incident would foreshadow more serious events to come with Studio 54 often finding itself on the opposite side of state and federal authorities. Read the rest of this entry »
Though the 50′s isn’t particularly known for the most timeless music, still heard on radio sets and iPods today, the decade did give us some of the more melodious tunes that everybody can sing along to. While maybe not the premiere decade for chart topping hits, after all a lot of the decades lyricism is a little cheesy, as far as karaoke jams go, the 50′s are tough to beat. Here’s a look at a few tunes that are not only fairly easy to sing but are sure to have the crowd holding lighters in the air and swaying back and forth (some talent may be required).
- Mack the Knife (Bobby Darin – 1959) Though the song has been around since the late 20′s and even released just a few years earlier by Louis Armstrong, the most famous version of the popular hit was brought to us by Bobby Darin. Those with the microphone will appreciate its smooth rhythm, making it relatively easy to read the words, yet still upbeat enough to throw in a little showmanship. Read the rest of this entry »
