The Rolling Stones, from a way back when perspective.

[Tomconroy]

Last edited Mon Oct 11, 2021, 03:26 PM - Edit history (3)

You know I lived through the era of British Invasion Rock and Roll. Back then they were one of a number of popular bands. The Beatles, in the early days, you could recognize had their roots in very traditional dance beats. The Rolling Stones loved the American Blues sound. They both worshipped Elvis.
There were some other traditions going on. Dylan came out of folk music and then added a lot. The same with Simon and Garfunkel. The intricate four part harmonies of the Beach Boys owed a lot to the Four Freshman. There were two folk rock duos: Chad and Jeremy and Peter and Gordon. But I enjoyed them all.
I do confess the popularity of the Rolling Stones puzzles me a bit. They are the only rock band from the 60s that can still fill stadiums. I guess it's a tribute to their endurance. In the 70s they were very popular but no more so than several other rock groups. By the 80s tours they had taken on legendary status. They to my mind were entertaining, but no more than several of the British Invasion and American rock groups that I loved.
I looked up the price of tickets for their tour. 100 bucks for nose bleed seats and over 6000 for on the floor seats at the stadium in Detroit. OMG, been there, done that. The playlist was from long ago.
I'll just continue to see occasionally the music that I love, when the old great bands show up. Rarer and rarer now: "They have not tasted the true sweetness of life, those who did not live through 60s rock and roll."
I think the Duc de Talleyrand said that, sort of.

[Walleye]

1. I went to Woodstock, tickets were advertised at six dollars per day

I think it was in 2004 that I got to see Bob Dylan at a small club in Wilmington Delaware in front of an audience of less than 2000 people and it was $50. Just showed up and bought them at the door. He was warming up for a tour.I think he knew the owner of the club.David Bromberg had just moved to Wilmington and was sitting just off stage.I know just how you feel, I went to many other large concerts including Paul Simon in Central Park, Bob Dylan and the Band in Los Angeles. I do often feel sorry for the younger people who don’t know what it was like to be at the birth of this music and watch it develop. That as well as the R&B and soul. There hasn’t been another era like it in my lifetime.

[Tomconroy]

3. Just so true. I like all kinds of music..I even enjoy a bit the rappers

Last edited Mon Oct 11, 2021, 03:39 PM - Edit history (1)

that were there in Central Park and that kid from Detroit. But there was nothing like the 60s. And I'm not paying 6 grand to see something I saw long ago.

[Tomconroy]

7. Wow! Have you put up a post about going to Woodstock?

I would enjoy reading it.

[Walleye]

8. No I haven't thanks for the suggestion I will get around to it soon

[luvs2sing]

2. The Beatles lost me at Sgt. Pepper.

They got all psychedelic and sitar-ish. The Stones just kept playing straight-ahead, kickass rock and roll. If I had 6 grand, I’d pay it to see Keith Richards and Ron Wood.

I wasn’t really into British bands growing up. I did like The Dave Clark Five and The Hollies, but from the time I was a child to today, my musical tastes were mostly one part Hee-Haw and one part Soul Train.

[Tomconroy]

4. I played a lot of rock in the late 60s at high volume so I'm sure

My indulgent parents wanted to dump me on the streets. Stuff like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. I think I'd still enjoy them a bit today but my heart belongs to British Invasion Rock and Roll and a couple of contemporary groups like the Beach Boys and Gary Lewis.
Of course I grew up and became my parents and love the sound of the Big Bands and the Great American Song Book. And dancing to that music is one of the great pleasures of my life (and it's probably the only reason my wife married me. The power of the foxtrot!).

[Walleye]

9. I also listen to a lot of full volume rock. And now I do really enjoy jazz, great American songs

[thucythucy]

10. "They just kept playing straight-ahead, kick ass rock and roll..."

Well, the Stones did take a slight detour on "Flowers" and "Their Satanic Majesties Request." Much as I like "She's a Rainbow" and "Ruby Tuesday" I'd hardly call those tunes kick ass rock and roll.

And the Beatles had abandoned psychedelia by the time of "Hey Jude" "Revolution" and the White Album, which was released about the same time as "Beggar's Banquet."

Any band that lasts more than a year or two will go through phases. I mean, even the Temptations went psychedelic with "Psychedelic Shack"--which is actually a kick ass album. And let's not forget Muddy Waters recording "Electric Mud."

To my mind (and ears) it's all good.

[luvs2sing]

11. Also "Wild Horses" and "Dandelion".

All of your points are good and, yes, I did drift back to The Beatles a bit after the psychedelia was over.

I think for me, there were so many musical influences going on in my home (Mom loved country, bluegrass, and rock; Dad loved jazz, swing, blues, and big band, and the radio or stereo was always playing something) that when I formed my own musical tastes, rock kind of ended up near the bottom of the list, especially after I dialed into that radio station in far-away Chicago and discovered soul.

I’m always interested in hearing how an artist will interpret a different style. Sometimes it works, other times..meh..

“Electric Mud” is still on high rotation around our house. And I still think Wilson Pickett does the best version of “Hey Jude”.

[thucythucy]

12. Here are some of my favorite alternate versions of some of my favorite songs:

Have you heard this: The Flies doing 2000 Light Years From Home:

And the Slits, doing "I Heard It Through Grapevine":

And here's Peter Tosh doing Chuck Berry:

I saw this in concert and you could have knocked me over with a feather!

[luvs2sing]

13. The Peter Tosh one was the only one I had heard.

These are great, thanks!

[thucythucy]

14. You're welcome!

Here's another one--brings back lots of memories for me:

[50 Shades Of Blue]

5. Nice walk down memory lane!

I still listen to some '60's-era Rolling Stones' music. The main attraction for me was Brian Jones - my 13-year-old self had a huge crush on him! It was just about over when I saw the Stones perform in June '66 though. IIRC my ticket cost either $4.50 or $5.50 (which was the top price). The McCoys, Trade Winds, and Standells opened for the Stones.

[Cartoonist]

6. Exile On Main Street was their last good album

Mick Taylor left because they wouldn't play any of his songs. Bad choice for Mick and Keith.

Pink Floyd was at Abbey Road when the Beatles were recording Pepper. I saw them four times and would happily see them again. Even as solo performers.

I saw Lionel Hampton and Harry James before they left us.