Tag: rock & roll

615. Big Joe Turner

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(November 2024) Episode 615 is BIG JOE TURNER. Known as a blues shouter, a performer whose booming voice was needed to be heard above the band. Turner’s voice was as big as his girth. His music, a mix of swing, jump blues and R&B, was extremely influential in the development of rock-n-roll. The best example is his landmark “Shake, Rattle & Roll.” Turner’s top period was in the late 40s and early 50s, but he kept making recordings through the 60s, 70s and early 80s, including jazz and electric blues. I admire his music for its influential role, but for me the style gets the formulaic and tends to bore me.

Favorite album: The Boss of the Blues

Favorite song: Roll ‘Em Pete

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: A compendium of late 40s-early 50s songs will do.

439. Duane Eddy

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(September 2022) Episode 439 is DUANE EDDY.  Famous for inventing the iconic “twangy” guitar sound – low strings playing the melody with heavy reverb. Influential to many rock guitarists and spaghetti western soundtracks.  But … that twang is all there is. Hundreds of recordings with the same sound overlaid on originals and covers, too often in an easy listening mode.

Favorite album: Have ‘Twangy’ Guitar Will Travel

Favorite song: Moovin’ and Groovin’

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: any three songs will give you the full understanding

431. Gene Vincent

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(August 2022) Episode 431 is GENE VINCENT. Perhaps not a popular opinion, but I think the sultry “Be-Bop-a-Lula” is better than anything Elvis ever did. You know I’m not a fan of rockabilly, but his early work with the Blue Caps has some genuine appeal. And his influence is indisputable, particularly on the Beatles. He tried a comeback in the late 60s which, while commercially unsuccessful, is surprisingly enjoyable, in the country rock vein of the late Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers. 

Favorite album: Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps

Favorite song: Be-Bop-a-Lula

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: mostly of historical interest, but maybe try those later country rock albums

424. Roy Orbison

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(July 2022) Episode 424 is ROY ORBISON. He’s in the pantheon of early rock-n-roll icons, but also stands apart. For one, his melodic crooner voice contrasted with the bombast of his peers. And his music resided discretely at the intersection of rock, country and pop. Again, I’m not a listener of early rock-n-roll, but his songs don’t sound as much like museum pieces as those of fellow icons. With Lefty, I have now reviewed all the Traveling Wilburys.

Favorite album: In Dreams

Favorite song: Oh, Pretty Woman

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: mostly for historical interest

421. Carl Perkins

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(July 2022) Episode 421 is CARL PERKINS. A huge influence in early rock ‘n roll, particularly rockabilly. His influence on the Beatles is documented by the number of his songs they covered. He also wrote songs that others made huge hits (Elvis’ Blue Suede Shoes). I’m not into early rock ‘n roll, but it’s interesting to see what inspired others.

Favorite album: Dance Album

Favorite song: Matchbox

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: only of historical interest

415. Jerry Lee Lewis

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(June 2022) Episode 415 is JERRY LEE LEWIS. A foundational icon of rock ‘n’ roll, both for his music and his wild antics. I am not into old time rock ‘n’ roll, so this episode was done mostly for historical interest. He has recorded (he’s still alive!) prolifically, and most of his output was in the country genre, coving standards and other running-on-fumes material.

Favorite album: Jerry Lee Lewis (1957)

Favorite song: Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: only for historical interest

342. Elvis Presley

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(July 2021) Episode 342 is ELVIS PRESLEY. There’s a reason I listened to 341 artists before I got to the “King.”  Was never a fan, and this episode did not make me one. His influence on 20th century music is hard to overstate (even if it is tainted by whitewashing which I hold against the system, not Elvis personally). And his early rock-n-roll hits are catchy even if completely oversaturating. But I can’t stand his cloying, syrupy voice which, along with his act, have become a parody unto itself. This voice fits best in his countrypolitan sound of the 1970s, which says something.

Favorite album: Elvis Presley (you know, the one whose cover the Clash mimicked)

Favorite song:  Hound Dog

Best compilation of early hits if you feel that you must: Elvis’ Golden Records

Compared to expectations: same

292. Chuck Berry

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Episode 292 is CHUCK BERRY. Of the Founders of Rock ‘n Roll, he is the most important. He cemented the guitar as its primary idiom, not only for the intro and the solo, but as an essential lyrical element on par with voice (see: “School Days”).  Plus, his antics and teen-focused, innuendo-filled lyrics set the form and attitude of rock.  Like his fellow Founders, his early hits are the essential stuff, and the subsequent albums are largely redundant, unless you really love old-timey rock ‘n roll. But to his credit, he never departed from his commitment to it (as in, he never had a disco phase). 

Favorite album: Chuck Berry Is On Top

Favorite song: Johnny B. Goode

Compared to expectations: same

264. Little Richard

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(May 2020) Episode 264 is LITTLE RICHARD. The music and style of this Founding Father are encoded in the DNA of the rock and roll. Impossible to quantify the influence of his late 50s albums and singles. But that’s all you need to hear. His voice and charisma do lift some later recordings, but most of the rest is either gospel or a retread of previous material.

Favorite album: Here’s Little Richard
Favorite song: Keep A-Knockin’

Compared to expectations: same

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