Today's pop music debate

[Jam The Man]

1.Brian Wilson
2.Michael Jackson
3.Elvis Presley


The Beatles, David Bowie & Paul Simon closely behind

In no particular order.

All The Beatles made 'The Beatles,' certainly not just Lennon. Working Class Hero my arse.. he was SO middle class it makes you wince.

 

[The Large One]

How many more times, Icy? The question was IMPORTANT, not INFLUENTIAL... Of course Dylan was influential, but would pop music have ground to a halt without him? Jam the Man - I very much look forward to WHY you think Michael Jackson was so important to the history of rock and pop (it was part of the original question)...

 

[glasgull]

Ok so just have a look at this (very long, sorry) review and tell me that this man is not one of the most influential musicians , if not the most, of all time.
RE cash and dylan
Ha, reviewers, what do they know!

But i do agree dylan was great and more people generally know of and listen to him - and probably more accurate to say they influenced each other - now THAT would be an awesome gig, those two up on stage - that is if Cash wasn't dead. Because that could sort of put a dampner on things...

 

[fatbadger]

1. Lesley Riddle (for teaching Maybelle Carter how to play guitar)

2. Jimmie Rodgers (just for being himself ... oh, alright then, (1) for being the first to insist upon talented, trained backing musicians, (2) for being the first singer in the history of recorded music to promote contemporary songwriting, (3) for being the first great yodeller in modern music, and (4) for being the first recording artist to design his music to cross social groups and be for more than just a small proportion of the population)

3. Harry Smith (for ensuring that the American recording artists of 1927-1929 could never be forgotten)

Honorary mention to La Monte Young, without whom none of the more interesting music of the last 30 years would have been possible.

 

[Icy Gull]

How many more times, Icy? The question was IMPORTANT, not INFLUENTIAL..

Guess I wouldn't have been a threat if I'd gone for the same job interview then

 

[glasgull]

1. Lesley Riddle (for teaching Maybelle Carter how to play guitar)

2. Jimmie Rodgers (just for being himself ... oh, alright then, (1) for being the first to insist upon talented, trained backing musicians, (2) for being the first singer in the history of recorded music to promote contemporary songwriting, (3) for being the first great yodeller in modern music, and (4) for being the first recording artist to design his music to cross social groups and be for more than just a small proportion of the population)

3. Harry Smith (for ensuring that the American recording artists of 1927-1929 could never be forgotten)

Honorary mention to La Monte Young, without whom none of the more interesting music of the last 30 years would have been possible.

Damn i feel like a philistine! Vaguely heard of Jimmy Rodgers but that's about it. Think i need a proper education...

 

[Jam The Man]

Jam the Man - I very much look forward to WHY you think Michael Jackson was so important to the history of rock and pop (it was part of the original question)...

How about being the first black artist to have a video played on MTV as a good starter.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Oooh, nearly forgot. Kool DJ Herc for 'inventing' the biggest selling genre of music at the present time.

Hip hop.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Oooh, nearly forgot. Kool DJ Herc for 'inventing' the biggest selling genre of music at the present time.

Hip hop.

Or should we credit James Brown?

 

[CHAPPERS]

Or should we credit James Brown?

Why?? Just beause the loop that was used was off one of his records? Nah.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

It wasn't just his loops. It was James Brown who took Soul into a more upbeat dancey drum-inspired direction which partly evolved into hip-hop

Anyway I refuse to discuss musical merit with someone who likes "nice" music.

 

[fatbadger]

Damn i feel like a philistine! Vaguely heard of Jimmy Rodgers but that's about it. Think i need a proper education...

Can I suggest the Harry Smith Anthology? The original 3 volumes were recently re-issued on 6 CDs by Smithsonian/Folkways and it are still as truly amazing as ever. It includes an enormous booklet providing you with just about all the information you might need on the history of recorded music in America. (Revenant Records have also released the previously-unreleased vol.4)

 

[CHAPPERS]

It wasn't just his loops. It was James Brown who took Soul into a more upbeat dancey drum-inspired direction which partly evolved into hip-hop

Anyway I refuse to discuss musical merit with someone who likes "nice" music.

Hairy muff.

Twat.

 

[The Large One]

How about being the first black artist to have a video played on MTV as a good starter.

Hardly merits a mention in the scale of importance though, does it? Herbie Hancock was the first black artist on MTV (although his face isn't seen). And he was 'discovered' on another black performers' own TV show (Diana Ross') But even that is largely irrelevant.

If we are talking about the emergence of black artists into the mainstream, I would put Fats Domino, John Lee Hooker, Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Berry Gordy, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, George Clinton - even Eddy Grant and Sly Stone amongst others - as having far more 'importance' on many more levels than Michael Jackson.

His main contribution to rock and pop has largely been self-absorption. His main contribution to black music was to try to turn himself into a white person.

I would even go so far as to say he is little more than a glorified cabaret act (a hammy one at that) who got lucky. (Can you tell that I am not a fan? )

 

[The Large One]

Why?? Just beause the loop that was used was off one of his records? Nah.

You've not listened to Eddie Bo's 1968 recording of 'Hook & Sling', then Chappers?

 

[CHAPPERS]

You've not listened to Eddie Bo's 1968 recording of 'Hook & Sling', then Chappers?

What's your point, Alan?

 

[The Large One]

Hip hop was alive and kicking in 1968.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I think a lot of people would disagree with that.

 

[The Large One]

I don't give a flying fart whether people agree or disagree - just listen to the music...

 

[The Large One]

I don't give a flying fart whether people agree or disagree - just listen to the damn music, man...