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'50s Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, Doo-Wop, Etcetera

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MidnightRambler Ich bin nicht schuld! 's ist Gottes Plan! from Germania Inferior Since: Mar, 2011
Ich bin nicht schuld! 's ist Gottes Plan!
#1: Aug 8th 2013 at 6:31:40 PM

Self-explanatory. The thread for Fifties rock & roll and related styles.

I'll start with a momentous occasion: Today, I actively listened to Elvis Presley for the first time. I always avoided him out of Hype Backlash and because of his cheesy image (I still can't stand that stupid face), but eventually my itching desire for comprehensiveness got the better of me.

I used to wonder why, if Elvis was such a huge star, he's often left out entirely in discussions of '50s rock & roll. Now I think I understand.

Elvis's music isn't bad, per se, just So Okay, It's Average. He doesn't have the blues mojo of Bo Diddley, the suavity of Buddy Holly, the jovial flair of Chuck Berry or the sheer raw energy of Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis. He alternately tries for each of these (except perhaps for the first) but awkwardly and without success.

This guy is The Theme Park Version of rock & roll. Most of his songs have been performed a lot better by others before and/or after him, and it's not like he can claim credit for writing them, either. Why he was crowned "the King" rather than one of the five rockers mentioned above remains a mystery to me.

edited 9th Aug '13 2:58:00 AM by MidnightRambler

Mache dich, mein Herze, rein...
djbj Since: Oct, 2010
#2: Aug 9th 2013 at 7:15:22 AM

The only 50s songs I have in my music library are "Johnny B. Goode" and "Rock and Roll Music" by Chuck Berry. The guitar intro to Johnny B. Goode still holds up today. Out of the other famous 50s rockers I probably like Little Richard the best for his vocal delivery.

I don't have any strong opinions about Elvis, but he does come across as kinda cheesy to me, especially when compared to other famous 50s performers. I mostly know his songs through Pop-Cultural Osmosis rather than actually sitting down to listen to them. Plus my image of Elvis is tainted after I had to sit through an Elvis Impersonator coming to my grandfathers 80th birthday party. That was painful to sit through.

The only Doo-Wop song I am really familiar with is "Earth Angel", which I learned about from Back To The Future, along with Johnny B. Goode

.

edited 9th Aug '13 7:19:22 AM by djbj

0dd1 Just awesome like that from Nowhere Land Since: Sep, 2009
Just awesome like that
#3: Aug 9th 2013 at 12:18:53 PM

[up][up]Two words: Sexual appeal.

Always loved '50s music. It's a shame how many people neglect it these days. [[[/soundinglikeanoldman]]

Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.
yardlet6 Since: Apr, 2013
#4: Aug 9th 2013 at 1:18:24 PM

Go to you tube and listen to these groups:

The Ravens The Orioles The 5 Keys The Teenagers The Valentines The Flamingos The Moonglows The Platters The Silhouettes The Castelles Lee Andrews & the Hearts(His son the the leader of the Roots) That's all for now.

Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#5: Aug 9th 2013 at 6:05:30 PM

[up][up] Besides sexual appeal, also: White America!

It was far easier to promote Elvis than Little Richard, that's for sure.

0dd1 Just awesome like that from Nowhere Land Since: Sep, 2009
Just awesome like that
#6: Aug 9th 2013 at 9:44:59 PM

[up]This is true. For all his dangerous reputation, it's interesting to think of him as the safe choice [lol] I suppose the fact that he was a devout Southern Christian didn't hurt him.

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DrStarky Okay Guy from Corn And Pig Land Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Staying up all night to get lucky
Okay Guy
#7: Aug 9th 2013 at 10:05:51 PM

"If you can get you can get a white person to make black people music you can make a shit ton of money."

Put me in motion, drink the potion, use the lotion, drain the ocean, cause commotion, fake devotion, entertain a notion, be Nova Scotian
0dd1 Just awesome like that from Nowhere Land Since: Sep, 2009
Just awesome like that
#8: Aug 9th 2013 at 10:52:50 PM

Hell, look at Eminem. Admittedly, his case might not be entirely equivalent, but certainly his race might factor into things at least somewhat.

Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.
MikeK Since: Jan, 2001
#9: Aug 18th 2013 at 10:30:50 PM

I have been meaning to get more into 50's rock & roll - right now the main things I listen to in the genre are Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly.

0dd1 Just awesome like that from Nowhere Land Since: Sep, 2009
Just awesome like that
#10: Aug 19th 2013 at 8:51:18 PM

Those two are definitely my favorites of the era—Chuck for his sheer raw energy and passion for playing and making his guitar talk like a stooge pigeon, and Buddy for his songwriting, unique singing style, and experimentation with what he could do.

You give Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, or Fats Domino a spin yet?

edited 19th Aug '13 8:51:54 PM by 0dd1

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Aldo930 Professional Moldy Fig/Curmudgeon from Quahog, R.I. Since: Aug, 2013
Professional Moldy Fig/Curmudgeon
#11: Oct 12th 2013 at 10:39:22 AM

Ah, yes, 50s rock n roll... The best kind, in my opinion. It's fun, energetic, upbeat and rhythmic.

I happen to like Elvis along with Little Richard, Chuck Berry, etc. Good music is good music.

Anybody like the Coasters? Or Bill Haley?

"They say I'm old fashioned, and live in the past, but sometimes I think progress progresses too fast."
FalconPain Since: Feb, 2015
#12: Oct 16th 2013 at 6:25:12 PM

Coasters songs are enjoyable enough, but I'm not sure they've all aged well. I can still enjoy their tributes to being ordered around by parents or how ubiquitous of a trope Big Damn Heroes has become.

The more songs by the Platters I hear, the more I have to respect the power and quality of the lead singer's voice.

Unfortunately, most of the other stuff I enjoy from the era qualifies as "generic" doo-wop from artists who did not necessarily have lengthy recording careers. The Silhouettes, the Monotones... I think I prefer the Bobby Day version of "Over and Over" to the Dave Clark Five, especially since it has the closure in the last verse.

Aldo930 Professional Moldy Fig/Curmudgeon from Quahog, R.I. Since: Aug, 2013
Professional Moldy Fig/Curmudgeon
#13: Oct 16th 2013 at 7:43:18 PM

I think the most dated thing I've heard in one of their songs was "Who calls the English teacher daddy-o?" and that's it.

"They say I'm old fashioned, and live in the past, but sometimes I think progress progresses too fast."
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