Sound Opinions, being the scholarly work it is, has provided footnotes to help you navigate through the show's vast maze of musical knowledge.
Because, let's face it—sometimes even we have no idea what the heck Jim and Greg are talking about.
|
|
|
| Songs featured in this episode |
|
|
Join the Mailing List
|
|
|
| Contact Us |
|
|
|
|
|
|
01-18-08 Footnotes
Show 112: Unsung Heroes of Rock and Roll
Listen to the MP3 Stream of this show: (link)
Download the Podcast: (Download the MP3)
1 If you were one of the unfortunate few to tune in to last week’s Golden Globes “ceremony” then you know first hand how the Writer’s Guild strike can affect awards season. Now it appears the Grammy Awards might be next to fall. The Recording Academy is seeking an interim agreement from the WGA to insure that the Feb. 10th awards broadcast will go off without a hitch. While they have gotten support from other industry unions, a WGA spokesperson didn’t recommend betting on a waiver. Jim, for one, would welcome a trimmed down Grammy Awards. But, Greg doesn’t think that audiences will tune in without the promise of star power. The one upside – perhaps this year the Grammys will actually be about music.
2 By next year Live Nation will not only have severed ties with Ticketmaster, but become its biggest competition. The concert promoters, turned music moguls, announced plans to launch their own ticketing company. Therefore, they’ll have their hands in every aspect of the music industry—production, marketing and sales of both albums and concert tickets. According to Jim and Greg, this brings up a lot of ethical issues that make them question how the consumer will be served. Ticketmaster is also blurring the lines of business; the company made its own announcement regarding the purchase of TicketsNow. That website is the second-largest site in the secondary-ticket market behind StubHub. Ticketmaster has been criticizing these kinds of brokers for years, but…if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. As Jim and Greg explain, now there isn’t a lot stopping Ticketmaster from withholding a large quantity of tickets from the first round of sales, only to jack up the prices and make a huge profit the second time around.
3 The other big area of competition is turning out to be the summer concert festivals. The concert promoters behind Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California are headed east to set up shop in New Jersey. The Liberty State Park event will be held on August 8-10—the same exact dates as the Vineland Music Festival. That event is being put on by the promoters behind Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits. Can New Jersey handle two 3-day concert festivals with a similarly diverse bill of hundreds of bands? Jim and Greg think no. The stage is set for “a blood bath,” between the two corporate giants, but the real victims are probably going to be music fans.
4 From the concert wars to the real war…in an effort to boost morale, the U.S. Army has put out a request for a “professional rock band.” Following suit with the National Guard, who used 3 Doors Down to help them recruit moviegoers, the Army is looking to get a little more rock and roll. Or rather, Southern Rock, Pop Rock, Post-Grunge or Hard Rock. If you play these genres of music and are some kind of celebrity, national or local, and also don’t mind suiting up in kevlar and being shipped off to Kuwait or Afghanistan, then submit your “proposal” today. Sound Opinions H.Q. can think of a few music celebs they’d nominate to be shipped off.
5 Next up Jim and Greg warn you to get ready for a full-blown Michael Jackson revival. That’s right, the man who many of us reduced to an E! True Hollywood Story may actually return to being an important music figure. A 25th anniversary edition of Thriller is scheduled for release next month, and Jermaine Jackson has said that his brother will be joining the rest of the Jackson 5 for a reunion tour later this year. But kicking the revival off is rapper Rhymefest, who just posted a free download of The Michael Jackson Dedication Album on his website. The album was produced entirely with Jackson song samples, as well as inventive skits featuring the rapper and his pop idol. Jim and Greg both recommend listeners check the album out, with Greg adding that it’s the best thing Michael Jackson has had his name on in two decades. Rhymefest fans should also check out his appearance on the show.
6 Now it’s time to hail the Unsung Heroes of Rock. The Micks and Bonos of the world may get all the acclaim, but it’s often the little guy who deserves much of the credit. Jim and Greg have gone through the rock canon to honor these lesser-known musicians.
Jerome Green
Without Bo Diddley, there wouldn’t be a Mick Jagger as we know it. And without Jerome Green, there wouldn’t have been a Bo Diddley. His maracas helped to create Diddley’s signature “shuffling freight train” sound, and his cool attitude helped to create the performers signature style—one that would be emulated by many.
Hal Blaine
Blaine is responsible for one of the most famous drum intros in rock. Just listen to
“Be My Baby,” by The Ronettes, and you’ll hear how Blaine is as important to that era’s sound as producer Phil Spector was.
Ben “Bosstone” Carr
There’s a history of go-go dancers in rock, but of course, they’re hard to showcase on the radio. Jim thinks “Bosstone” deserves credit for bringing style and maniacal energy to the band.
Augie Myers
The name might make you draw a blank, but Myers is a critical figure in rock. Greg is most impressed by how his vox continental organ managed to add a greasy, Texas sound to what was essentially another imitation British invasion band.
John Paul Jones
Jones deserves credit simply for keeping his own among the three biggest figures and egos in rock. He could pretty much play anything he got his hands on, but it was with the bass on songs like “Black Dog,” that he really shone.
Ringo Starr
Onto a man who was easily the least important member of a very important band.
Or so you might think. Jim says he’ll fight anyone who underplays his drumming. He was never a show-off, allowing the vocals and guitars to shine when they needed to. But when there was an opportunity to come to the center, Starr accepted the challenge. Jim’s been trying to master the drumming in “Rain” since he was a kid.
James Jamerson
The Motown band members weren’t even given credits on most of the songs they played on, but the reason you “move your butt” to most of those songs is because of Jamerson. He not only played rhythm, but bass melodies, injecting a whole new style into rock.
Malcolm Young
With his knickers and beanie, everyone recognizes younger brother Angus. But, it was Malcom who gave AC/DC their signature riffs. And one of their best, and one of the best in all of rock music according to Greg, is “Highway to Hell.”
Songs Featured in Show #112
Billy Bragg, “There Is Power in a Union,” Talking with the Taxman About Poetry, 1986
Eddie Money, “Two Tickets to Paradise,” Life for the Taking, 1977
BBC Big Band, “Jersey Bounce,” Swing to the Big Bands, 1992
3 Doors Down, “Citizen Soldier,” National Guard Trailer, 2007
Rhymefest, “Man in the Mirror,” Man in the Mirror: The Mixtape, 2008
Rhymefest, “Mike the Mentor,” Man in the Mirror: The Mixtape, 2008
Rhymefest, “No Sunshine,” Man in the Mirror: The Mixtape, 2008
David Bowie, “Heroes,” Heroes, 1977
Bo Diddley, “Bring It to Jerome,” Bo Diddley, 1957
The Ronettes, “Be My Baby,” Quadrophenia, 1979
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, “The Impression That I Get,” Let’s Face It, 1997
Sir Douglas Quintet, “She’s About a Mover,” Mendocino, 1969
Lupe Fiasco, “Dumb it Down,” The Cool, 2007
Led Zeppelin, “Black Dog,” Led Zeppelin IV, 1971
The Beatles, “Rain,” Hey Jude, 1970
Stevie Wonder, “I Was Made to Love Her,” I Was Made to Love Her, 1967
AC/DC, “Highway to Hell,” Highway to Hell, 1979
New Edition, “Mr. Telephone Man,” New Edition, 1984
Daughtry, “It’s Not Over,” Daughtry, 2006
The Swell Season, “Falling Slowly,” Once, 2007
|
|
