Final post of the school year! I'm not sure whether I will be continuing to blog, but this post will be spectacular! I'm going to switch it up, this post will be about a band! Now, what band deserves to be the only band that I give a separate post for... Hard decision, I'd like to do The Scorpions, but Mr. Elkin would hate me. There's always KISS, my favourite glam metal/rock band, but I blogged about them all last year. I could go with The Beatles, the first band I actively listened to. So much pressure! Plot twist, I've decided to just post on the genre of early rock and roll instead.
Rock and roll was the product of a few main genres of the 1940's and 50's, these being gospel, blues, and jazz. The birth of rock and roll was strongly assisted by the latest inventions like the electric guitar, amplifier, microphone, and 45 rpm record, which served to promote smaller and more upbeat bands, rather than huge jazz bands of 20 or 30 pieces.
Now rock and roll is a very broad genre, and it's hard to tell what song is the first rock and roll song recorded, but the best definition I've found is from Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, who stated in 1964:
"Rock and Roll? I know it when I hear it."
Very simple, very precise. Some say it's the beat, some say it's the instruments, nah, I'd prefer to go with his definition.
Ah, doo wop... Now I'm a huge fan of this brand of rock and roll because it's vocally dominated, and I just love a good harmony. Doo wop originated as choir in churches, but later evolved into a prominent form of rock and roll.
Ah, the Beatles. When rock and roll hit Britain, the first response was to replicate the songs with teen idols, not the Beatles, no, The Beatles came a little later. Rock and roll was dying down from the initial rush at this time, but the British took it and ran! Many rock and roll bands flourished in cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London.
Alright! Today's a Journey day. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' was released on Evolution, Journey's fifth studio album, in April of 1979. Evolution was Journey's first hit album, selling over three million copies in the US. This is bluesy song, with just absolutely fantastic vocal work by Steve Perry, and a great mounting crescendo of sound and instruments coming together. The entire song is bluesy, starting with a straight drum beat, playful piano work, and an even bass. In my opinion, the subject of the song is laid straight out for you in the lyrics, it's about a couple in which the man is cheating on the woman, and the vocalist has feelings for the woman, and doesn't want her to get hurt, but that's just my opinion. I hope you enjoyed, it's a lovely song.
Stepping back a bit from the classic and hard rock, and returning to a softer, more blues influenced band. Flying was released by Faces in march of 1970 on First Steps, and was their first album since the breakup of Small Faces, when the vocalist/guitarist left to form Humble Pie. To make up for the loss of him, they replaced him with two members from the Jeff Beck group. First Steps was never really popular and was many times regarded as "too soon", this referring to the recent breakup of their last band. this is a soft song, that in my opinion, sounds very preacher-like, probably due to the organ. I believe this song is about dreams, returning to the place to you once were, seeing yourself do past things, almost phantom-like.
