Comment:
For no apparent reason, I've been thinking lately about the mid-70s, a period of popular music that's been summed up by many as bloated, arena-oriented and somewhat stale. Whether those representations are accurate or fair continues to be debated. The reason I find that time period interesting is primarily two-fold. First, I graduated high school in 1974, which sort of makes this clearly "my time". I saw many of these artists (about half of those listed) and was thrilled to be part of that energy. Vinyl was the predominant medium in those days and like many of you, I'm sure, my records were an extension of my identity. I don't feel a like connection to the vast majority of "CDs" I've accumulated over the years that comes close to anything like how I felt holding Traffic's "Welcome To The Canteen", King Crimson's "In The Court of The Crimson King" or even The Beatles "1962-1966" in my hands. Album art, liner notes and the distinguishing features of vinyl greatly enhanced my connection to the music. The other reason this era appeals to me, clearly in retrospect, is because of the tsunami that was soon to erupt in the popular music universe. While many of these tracks were receiving airplay, however limited, The Ramones were working on their brilliant sound and attitude, the Sex Pistols were just over the horizon with the jaw-dropping "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" and The Jam and The Clash were tuning up and getting ready. I reflect on the songs in this collection and realize just how close a few of them are to what we'd call the "new wave" sound (e.g., The Ballroom Blitz). Another reason that I find this era to be of interest deals with pop culture theories that attempt to explain the changes and evolution of trends in music, film, etc. My favorite pop theory deals with the climate in America in the winter months that followed the assassination of President Kennedy in November, 1963. All throughout that deep, dark winter, America collectively grieved for their fallen leader (remember, it's only a theory!), until one Sunday night in February, 1964, when 4 mop-topped, smiling lads took the stage on the Ed Sullivan Show and sang "I Want To Hold Your Hand" to a still teary-eyed America, instantly burying deep inside the hearts of the public, ever so innocently and tenderly telling all of us it was okay to move on. Right place, right time.and the rest, as they say, is history. So I think about these tracks and look for messages or tip-offs that a "new wave" was about to emerge.
Anyway, I thought I'd post this to give some props to a few tracks that have real meaning for me in identifying a point in time. The next-to-last track is clearly more recent and features Jello Biafra monologuing on this very issue. The segue to Joe Walsh is rather dramatic, if I do say so myself.
Find it at:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/pqwkal
