Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame
by
George Giles
by George Giles
DIGG THIS
The Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame is not in Cleveland anymore, it has moved
online to cyberspace, to You Tube,
it's never closed and admission is free. All musical innovation
of the last century has been a uniquely American creation, another
triumph of ingenuity, passion and creativity, yet another monument
to Human
Action.
Everyone has
their own musical list that uniquely represents their feelings,
passions, and experience of their world line traversing Human Action
along their space in time. Whether it is favorite love songs, tear
jerking heartache, or backseat drive-in movie passion play, it can
be found on You Tube. Here, in no particular order, or meaning is
my "Top Ten Historical You Tube Videos" guaranteed to brighten my
spirits anytime that I have
a case of the Mondays.
- Statesboro
Blues Duane Allman and Dickey Betts brilliant
opening number for their sets from "Live at the Fillmore East"
recorded in March of 1971. This album set the standard for all
live albums to follow showing that the emotional stature of original
composition as exposited in performance can surpass studio creations.
Duane passed away later that year leaving a brilliant musical
legacy, long before the age of video, you can only see him live
on You Tube. Thirty five years after he died Duane was ranked
number 2 on the Rolling Stone top 100 guitarists
of all time.
- It's
Man's World James Brown, the Godfather of Soul teams
up with Tenor Luciano Pavarotti in an orchestral duet of his classic
love song. Recorded shortly before their untimely deaths. If James
Brown doesn't get you up offa that thing, then check your
pulse you may be dead.
- Kick
Out the Jams Detroit's original American Punks live in 1970
(I-94 is in the background). Fred Sonic Smith and Wayne Kramer
paved the way for the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, and the Clash.
The live album by the same name is finally available
on CD. Ramblin'
Rose is another classic, Wayne Kramer teaches Michael Jackson
a few steps. Iggy Pop was in the crowd taking notes.
- Apolitical
Blues Rolling Stone guitarist Mick Taylor sits in with
Lowell George and Little Feat in London in 1977. According to
Keith Richards, Mick Taylor was "the most melodic guitarist he'd
ever heard." Mao is dead and gone, and his ideology crushed
in the garbage compactor of history, but this gem lives on. Sadly
Lowell George has passed on but is still alive and well on You
Tube, don't miss Dixie
Chicken with Bonnie Raitt.
- Dock
of the Bay The immortal Otis Redding studio classic.
You will not want to miss his performance videos to
be found on You Tube as well: I've
been loving you to long. "May God have mercy on his sweet
soul" ~ Jimmy "the lips" Fagan.
- Goin
Home Alvin Lee, a guitarist's guitarist, hitting the
128th notes as only he can. Live in Woodstock in 1969. He stole
the show again at the 25th anniversary in 1994. The acoustic version
can be found there as well.
- Miles
Davis The Jazz King holds court on You Tube, too many
favorites can be found here, if I picked mine that would be all
that would be on the list. Find yours.
- King
Curtis and the Kingpins Live at the Fillmore West a classic
of jazz improvisation. Duane Allman played at his funeral along
with Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin.
- She
Came in through the Bathroom Window Joe Cocker and his
Mad Dogs and Englishmen perform the Beatles composition. Leon
Russell put this band together for a quick tour in 1970. They
were fresh off the Delaney
and Bonnie Tour immortalized live. The formed the backbone
of Eric Clapton's first solo album in 1970. They later became,
sans Leon, the Rhythm section of Derek
and the Dominoes. This band rehearsed for a week and then
went on the road, this song and the accompanying album was recorded
on their 4th gig. Brilliant, now available on DVD.
- Star
Spangled Banner the anti-war version by Jimi
Hendrix closing out Woodstock in 1969. It does not get any better
than this. I much prefer this than the imperial swing version
Americans are subject to at most sporting events. I always put
my head down, like
John Carlos at the Olympics, in memory of the fallen legions;
dying in vain so that the elite can steal more!
As you can
tell I am partial to the live performance, much preferred to the
high sound pressure renditions popularized on modern CD's. Live
performance brings the emotional stature of live performance with
spontaneous innovation as co-creators. A live performance cannot
be faked. Studio musicians, Auto
Tune and digital remix technology can turn the talentless and
dissonant (Madonnna, and Kenny Chesney come to mind) into superstars,
live on stage is always an original composition unique to the
audience of those present.
Classical music
aficionados always like to believe that their music (largely created
by dead european white guys) is deeper, more sophisticated, more
important, more complicated, or just plain better. These discussions
always devolve into arguments of definition, which as any logician
will tell you is arbitrary. I find much of it to be musical wanking,
three chord riffs with a lot of filigree.
The American
20th Century witnessed the creation of rock’n roll, jazz, blues,
gospel, r&b, soul and hip-hop. The world held it's breathe and
joyously created a multibillion dollar steamroller of peace, joy
and love enriching the lives of billions. An empire of Human Action
as musical creativity that will outlive the piteous Pax Americana
by a thousand years.
Res Ipsa
Loquitor
October
21, 2008
George
Giles [send him mail] is
an Independent writer in Nashville, TN.
Copyright
© 2008 LewRockwell.com
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