Be-Bop-a-Lula ?

[Richard Damron]

Alan Brookes -

You are, indeed, an "old folk" - as I.

I did not mention the fact that a few blessed souls were fortunate enough to have parental influences in their exposure to the music of the 30's, 40's and 50's. I, too, was weaned on REAL country as I learned complete tunes by the age of four. (1940 or thereabouts) My uncle, Lincoln, played rhythm guitar in a western swing band ala Spade Cooley and Bob Wills. During WW2 my mom and aunts loved to dance to the big bands. It was also during this time that they introduced me to all of the wonderful Broadway show tunes. These were my formative years and the "education" was quite complete. In my teens, a couple of college guys turned me on to jazz - Stan Kenton, in particular, for starters. The first vinyl album I ever bought was Johnny Smith's "Moonlight In Vermont". I was hooked. Bought my first guitar within two weeks of hearing that album. A Gibson ES175 and a small Fender "tweed" amplifier. Spent the next hundred years attempting to be a good "jazzer". Reasonable success but I'd never blow Wes off of the bandstand.

Have just finished refurbishing and rebuilding an old Dekley 12-stringer and installed my own home-brew copedant on it. Doesn't even begin to resemble an E9th or C6th but I have things at my disposal that one cannot find on either C6th or a "uni". My GFI D10 now sits in the corner. Another of my musical influences was the great Bill Evans. I dearly love what I call his "cluster chords". That is, it's almost as if he took an open voicing and closed it up such that the chord was a "wash" of sound as opposed to a definable chord. My copedant is designed such that I can attain closed-voiced chords in addition to wide-open things that grab your attention. You've no doubt ascertained that I'm a devotee of extended chords - Jazz-type, if you will. A chord is just a chord until you begin adding extensions - and that's when the subtle dissonance (to some) gets the juices to flowing. I also thrive on the kind of dissonance which forces you to say "Move it, dammit!" In short, these are my current preferences. That is NOT to say that I've abandoned good old-fashioned country. It's been in my blood for 70-plus years and I still enjoy it very much.

I dare say that the current flavor of "country" is nothing more than Bill Haley revisited some 55 or so years later. So sad. Oh, well. Whatever flips one's switch. Doesn't do a thing for me.

I'm having the expected growing pains with this new copedant. "Lush" chords abound. It's only a question of finding them - but find them I will. The Lord willing and the creeks don't rise I just may have enough time left - and be brazen enough - to post a thing or two on Sound Cloud. We shall see.

A final word regarding Bill Haley. As Bill Shakespeare is oft quoted - "The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones". And so it shall be with Bill Haley.

I'm an oddball on this forum but I'll be double-damned if I'll apologize for it. I, VI, II, V changes suck!

Richard

[Leslie Ehrlich]

The great thing about being alive today is that no music ever goes away, and you can choose to listen to any type of music you like. Music and musical styles accumulate continually, and the existence of any one form of music does not deter others.

This reply should be quoted every time someone complains about the passing of the 'good old days'. Good job, Alan.

[Erv Niehaus]

Music can be as complicated as you want to make it.
I find that when I tab a, so called, three chord country song, I wind up adding some additional chords that werent't germain to the original song.
The reverse is also true.
When I take on a classic jazz piece or an old standard, there are usually some very complex chords presented.
I usually can analyze the chords along with the notes and simplify things.

[Brint Hannay]

I, too, was weaned on REAL country as I learned complete tunes by the age of four. (1940 or thereabouts) My uncle, Lincoln, played rhythm guitar in a western swing band ala Spade Cooley and Bob Wills

That is NOT to say that I've abandoned good old-fashioned country. It's been in my blood for 70-plus years and I still enjoy it very much.

In your view, then, in what respect is "Rock Around the Clock" inferior, musically, to "Wabash Cannonball" or "Time Changes Everything"?

At any rate, I seriously doubt Mr. Haley deserves to shoulder as much of the responsibility for the advent of rock 'n' roll as you ascribe to him.

[Barry Blackwood]

In my teens, a couple of college guys turned me on to jazz - Stan Kenton, in particular, for starters.

Ironic, because Kenton hated country music..
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2 ... 11,6397340

[Alan Brookes]

Richard, I've always been a Bill Haley fan. He created some great music. As a Western Swing admirer, how can you put down Bill Haley, who sang Western Swing most of his life. Even after the rock and roll craze moved on he continued to sing country music.

I have a wide appreciation of all sorts of music. If you don't like modern music don't blame it on any one person. After all, I remember my grandmother complaining about the new crooners like Bing Crosby spoiling music, and there were those who complained that the Charleston and the Black Bottom were disgusting dances showing far too much leg.

[Richard Damron]

Alan -

I apologize if I've been too lax in my explanations. Never - never - do I even remotely attempt to deny anyone their personal preferences.

As I've alluded to, above, one's personal preferences are dictated by several things but the one aspect that some people blithely overlook is that of "perspective". Perspective is, among other things, time related. For an old goat like myself, my perspective encompasses a span of over 70 years. For someone else, a much narrower swath defines their perspective if they are much younger than I.

Inherent within one's perspective are the external influences of others. I consider myself fortunate in that I was exposed to a very wide spectrum of music in my formative and teen years. Hence, my tastes can said to be "eclectic". Yes, I was influenced by the Kenton orchestra. And, although Stan Kenton may have hated country music, I do not find it a dichotomy that my preferences embrace the two - jazz and country.

"Personal Preference" and "Perspective". Both should be honored yet some would arrogantly attempt to deny my right to same in favor of a perspective which cannot recognize the notable differences 'twixt mine and theirs.

I, personally, believe that my perspective affords a diversity which allows the appreciation of those musical forms in more than just one genre. In this regard, I believe that I am blessed. Others, with what appears to be myopic vision, are severely hindered in any attempt at compromise.

Once again - to each his own.

Richard

[Alan Brookes]

Richard: from what you write we probably have very similar tastes and would get on well together. Above all, we both have a sense of humour.
Generally, I like most forms of music, from Classical through to Jazz. The only music I cannot stand is Rap. I find it offensive in its sentiments, its bad language, and its disrespect for anyone and everything, plus it rarely has a tune, it sounds to me like bad pros with a rhythm background, but chaqu'un à son goût.
If you want to blame anyone for the re-direction of pop music you have to blame the person who invented the electric pick-up and the amplifier. There has been much discussion over the decades as to the origins of rock and roll, but it's really not that difficult. When you look at country music, blues and jazz, what set them apart during acoustic days was the instruments they were played on. Once you put electric pickups on those instruments the distinctions start to fade. The fusion of blues, country and folk music was inevitable, and no-one really gets credit for it. It was bound to happen. Rock and roll was created by changing technology. If you doubt that, try playing rockabilly on acoustic instruments with no amplification and no echo effects. It turns straight back into folk music, from where it originated.

[Clete Ritta]

...my perspective encompasses a span of over 70 years. For someone else, a much narrower swath defines their perspective if they are much younger than I...I was exposed to a very wide spectrum of music in my formative and teen years...

I would have to somewhat disagree with your "perspective" analogy. There have been many new forms of music since you were a teen. Kids now have the opportunity to embrace all music, from classical right up to the present. There has never been a wider swath of music than right now, and it has never been so accessible either.

My stepson (now in his early 20's) is a good example. He doesn't like current music any more than you do. Like you he has preferred jazz of the swing band era since he was about 15. Even though it was created way before his time, he has ample opportunity to enjoy it today. It is as new to him now as it was to you then. I didn't grow up in the late 1700's but I still love Mozart. BTW, I love Bill Evans too, though I was a bit late for that too!

In other words, that "very wide" spectrum of music you grew up with is even wider now. Just because it isnt current or on the radio does not mean that young people dont enjoy it, in fact many young folks wish they had grown up in another era when the music they really enjoy was actually popular (in which case my stepson would be several decades older than me). They are influenced by what they like, and there are young musicians that will develop their musical styles based on the very same perspective that you proclaim is yours. But like you said, to each his own.

[Richard Damron]

Clete Ritta -

My apologies. Chose the wrong word. Should have used "depth" as opposed to "swath". You're correct in that a wider "swath" of music is now available - embracing all forms.

My earlier contention is, nonetheless, valid: - Accompanying an increased "depth" is the greater opportunity to pick and choose amongst more of the forms - not just a limited few which happen to fall within another's - rather diminished - perspective.

That I choose to listen to a variety of genres to the exclusion of rock-n-roll and current country is, once again, my prerogative, my personal preference. Some might suggest that, by eliminating a couple of rather plebian forms, I am missing a great deal.

Their opinion, from their perspective, their personal preference.

As I've stated previously: - I, VI, II, V changes suck and are nothing more than a prime indicator of one's musical acumen should they restrict themselves so severely.

Once again. Their choice - not mine.

Richard