Posted in: Rock by C Jordan on October 28, 2008 | 19 Comments
In the right place at the right time.
Did you ever wonder if you were born in the right time?
For me, from a music point of view, the time could not have been better.
My youngest years were formed with the music of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and their contemporaries all around. Pop music was well underway and the cross culture of sound was interchanging and blending between the UK and America.
Looking back, I think the moments that formed my choice in music, were the times I spent at a friend’s house listening to his older brother’s Cream albums. The sound of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker fusing blues and rock with superb musician skills pointing the direction my taste was to follow. Around the time that I started to listen to them, Cream split up.
The next remembered defining moment was listening to the radio, one Saturday afternoon. We always used to listen religiously to The John Peel Show. The music he played was always innovative, creative and showcased new bands.
To this day I remember his words, He said that he was going to play, for the first time on radio, something from the first album of a new band.
“The track’s called Communication Breakdown and the band is called Led Zeppelin.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I listened to that sound.
With this and music by the likes of Jimmy Hendrix influencing music the sounds seemed to flood in – what to listen to next? Which album should I save up to buy?
There was the creative writing of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Joan Baez, Simon and Garfunkel and their ilk, mixing with the unique sound of Pink Floyd, the Doors, Iron Butterfly, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, etc.
The film Easy Rider was released with its Rock soundtrack epitomized by the driving Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf.
Woodstock became the biggest concert to have ever taken place with some of the best bands around playing. It featured many memorable moments amongst whish were the performance by the Who, and Jimmy Hendrix rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
Concerts have been one of the reasons that I have said that musically it has been a great period to be alive in.
I have been lucky enough to have seen some great bands.
Every Thursday night saw us at the local music club, Amethyst, which showcased such bands as Genesis, Chicken Shack, Stackridge and Hawkwind (with Motorheads Lemmy on vocals)
At the larger venues I saw Zeppelin around about 1972/73, David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust costumes, the Who with Keith Moon, Paul McCartney and Wings; Leonard Cohen playing in Liverpool and many more. As a student I was even fortunate enough to “roadie” for Roxy Music at a local gig.
I’ve been around as punk took off in the late 70s, there was the glam and the Goth of the 80s and music and styles change, innovate and move on to the present.
Musically I don’t live in the past. That music will always be there to be listened to enjoyed and reminisced about.
In recent years I have been to see U2 and my present favourite live band Muse.
And with talent such as Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and others about, music will always drive on.
Despite all the problems there have been in the world, musically this has been a good time to be alive.
Credit should be given to the article that inspired me to write this: Blink-182: Punk to Pop; Rise and Fall
Anna Ski October 28th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Those were the days, the music, the bands, the live music, it was phenomenal!!! They ruled me then, the music now rules this generation.
Great article C.
mdegenhardt October 28th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Music is a trigger by which many memories can be reflected upon. It also stands as defined memories within one’s life. This is a great write. Michael
Lindalulu October 28th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Ahh, the good old days!
goodselfme October 28th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Nice videos, audio and a great addition with your personal post.
Darlene McFarlane October 28th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Very good article! I enjpyed it very much, C Jordan. I grew up with Eric Clapton, The Beatles, The Who, Cream, and Simon & Garfunkle. By the time Black Sabbath, Ozzy and the others came along, I was listening to them but, not of my own accord. With two teens in the house, music was always on somewhere. My oldest son is 38 years old in two days and still is a big Ozzy fan.
I am sending him this article, I know he will enjoy it too.
Chambo October 28th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Chris, very well written. Music defines peoples lives to a certain extent and you have shown that with this piece. Thanks for sharing and keep it up.
Lauren Axelrod October 28th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Very interesting piece. I love the Beatles. Let it be was one of my favorites
Ruby Hawk October 28th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
A wonderful tribute to some of the best music ever. I think Bob Dylan was my favorite at the time but I loved all of them.I listened to them with my sons and then my grandsons. Take care, Ruby
nobert soloria bermosa October 29th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
they are much older than me,they’re as old as my parents actually, but I love their music and i know how to sing most of their songs,thanks, gotta sing some of their songs with my guitar later,
Poetic Enigma October 29th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
great article, with much diversity, and this is a great tribute to good musicians, terrific write
Peter Cimino October 30th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
AWESOME article. I loved it.
BC Doan November 4th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I love your selection of bands, and music!
gabbic1219 November 7th, 2008 at 11:56 am
well it’s not really my era but i love eric clapton,the bealtles will always be a legend and wasn’t ozzy ozborne in black sabbath and then they split…i still love ozzy…crazy train, and i must say so traggic of a loss to eric clapton when his little boy died(tears in heaven ) always breaks my heart when i hear that song!good article!! GABBI or bigcab1219
LP Jardine November 11th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Some great music on here.
Joie Schmidt January 18th, 2009 at 2:24 am
Wonderful article – - “The Sound of Silence” is one of my all-time favorite songs.
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
Lorenzo A. Fernandez Jr. January 18th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I like Bob Dylan, among the artists. He’s a poet in every sense of the word. Great article.
Patrick Bernauw January 22nd, 2009 at 5:22 am
Great music(ians) here, great poets too… The Beatles, Bob Dylan, U2, Simon & Garfunkel are my favorites too, but – for me – Bruce Springsteen always was & will be the Greatest. I discovered him when I was 16, with “Darkness on the Edge of Town”, I saw him the first time in 1981 with his River Tour, and I’ve heard yesterday he comes to the Low Countries once again… and, well, I feel excited again, like I was 25 years younger or so.
Words and music to grow up with… and to never grow old with?
Chris W. February 5th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I loved this article. All the song choices were perfect! I only wish that Warner hadn’t pulled their copyright shenanigans on half of your links so that I could actually watch the performances.
C Jordan February 8th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I have replaced the ones that had been pulled and they are either equal to, or better than the originals by the same groups.