Music That Changed You
And now, as they say in Monty Python, for something completely different (from my usual twaddle).
I was thinking recently about the music that floored me and changed me and my perception of music. It's happened to me several times. In order...
The Ventures — Prior to their classic instrumental Walk Don't Run, like most kids I was primarily interested in pop vocals. They got me interested in the electric guitar. I've enjoyed electric guitar music ever since. However, while I've owned a few electric guitars over the years, I've never...well, let's just say I'm no Jimi Hendrix.
Lonnie Mack — His big hit Memphis introduced me to funky guitar. His down home mix of gospel, country, R&B, and rock music as displayed on the classic album The Wham of that Memphis Man inspired Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Howard Roberts — In rough parallel with my interest in Lonnie Mack, I discovered that there were funky jazz guitarists, too. HR's slinky style of "greasy" guitar is still a pleasure (for me) to listen to.
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band — Powered by Butterfield's electrifying (and electrified) "blues harp" (aka harmonica) and Michael Bloomfield's unique electric slide guitar stylings, this was my introduction to electric urban blues Chicago-style. And that led me to many other electric blues discoveries such as the phenomena of British blues and Texas-style blues a la Johnny Winter.
Jimi Hendrix — What can I say. The whole world of rock music changed when his Are You Experienced? album was released with the great hits Foxy Lady and Purple Haze. There are many faster and better guitarists in terms of technique (Steve Vai, Buckethead, Tony McAlpine), but he was, many say, the first musician to play electric guitar vs. merely electrified guitar. If he'd done nothing other than All Along The Watchtower he'd be in guitar pantheon forever, but he gave us so much more.
Baden Powell — No, not his namesake, the founder of The Boy Scouts. This Baden Powell was a Brazilian guitarist/singer/composer who created a unique blend of classical, flamenco, and jazz guitar infused with native Brazilian rhythms, backup instruments, and melodies. I was once asked for my "desert island 10"... Ten albums I'd want to have to play if I found myself stranded on a desert island (a very strange desert island with an electrical system). I even surprised myself by saying "Any 10 Baden Powell albums." Yes, his music is that listenable. If his was the only music I had for the rest of my life, I'd never grow bored.
There's my list. Where's yours?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lewal on -
Television theme songs. Which is mostly alarming, when you're talking about Save by the Bell and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But then there's MASH.
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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on -
As an archaeopteryx, mine would be, "Come Fly With Me" - I suspect yours would be, "I Ain't Got No Body" --
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Permalink Reply by RobertPiano on -
I wrote my own death march...Nobody is allowed to hear it until I am dead...
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Permalink Reply by Strega on -
Wow, that was awesome. I'd ask you if you wrote that all by yourself, but since I've just heard it, I imagine you are now dead. (I'm so tempted to add R.I.P......)
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Permalink Reply by RobertPiano on
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Well, thanks, and well, somehow I remain alive! I'll have to write a second death march. This time it won't have as many mistakes. Still recovering from a broken finger. I recall you are a led zep fan..recorded this with my GF's daughter.
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Permalink Reply by Strega on
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I like her voice, it reminds me of Rumer. I would like to have Acker Bilk's Stranger on a Shore played at my funeral (if I don't outlive everyone I know, which is ultimately my plan). The first time I heard it I was at an ice rink at the age of seven, and I just sat down in the middle of the rink and cried because the music was too beautiful to bear.
How the hell did you break your finger, or don't I want to know?
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Permalink Reply by RobertPiano on
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Strega, you know how to pick em..."stranger on a shore" has a similar effect on me. I associate more than a few songs to the roller skate rink (e.g. David Essex and Rick Derringer come to mind). The broken finger was initiated playing volleyball and finalized a week later by climbing through a shed window. I know enough to stay away from any sort of rink these days.
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Permalink Reply by Strega on
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Explanation for broken finger duly initiated... well, close enough :)
Re Stranger on a Shore:- really? I've never met anyone else who felt moved by it the way I do. I do remember my (9 year old) brother was fascinated by my reaction, and on discovering we had the single at home, dragged my parents and me to the gramophone so he could show them my face when he played it.
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Permalink Reply by Marc on -
Ok here is mine. Chris Trapper Keg on my Coffin.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=RuKuHHNjFc4&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch...
Strega you don't want a dry eye in the house do you? I'm hoping for a chuckle in between the tears.
Warning there is a religious statement in here, that is if you believe the afterlife is a pawn shop.
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