#rock and roll history

[citizenscreen]

The Million Dollar Quartet.

on December 4, 1956, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash got together at Sun Studio in Memphis for an impromptu jam session. #OnThisDay

[rocknrollflames]

GNR News

Who will attend?

[hooked-on-elvis]

Elvis at the RCA's Studio One in NY, for a recording session in July 2, 1956, where he recorded that day 'Hound Dog' and 'Don't Be Cruel'

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I'm not into the natural light-haired Elvis as I am into black-hair EP, but on those pictures he looks so cute! I wonder if it wasn't for the acting career, would Elvis have maintained his natural hair color? 🤔

[tabney2023]

RIP Tina Turner. Simply the Best

"Tina Turner was raw. She was powerful. She was unstoppable. And she was unapologetically herself—speaking and singing her truth through joy and pain; triumph and tragedy. Today we join fans around the world in honoring the Queen of Rock and Roll, and a star whose light will never fade." Quote by Barack Obama

[albumwalloffame]

Let’s talk about The Shaggs

Yep, I’m talking about this album cover again, why? Because some information, that quite frankly I should have looked up before posting this album cover as part of the Album Cover Wall of Infamy 2021 Advent Calendar has recently come to my attention. So, let’s talk about this information and why it makes this cover so much worse.

So, the first question I should answer is, “Who actually were The Shaggs?” and beyond just “The band behind one of the most infamous albums in rock history”. The Shaggs were a rock band formed in New Hampshire, and was composed of three sisters, Dorothy, Betty and Helen Wiggin. Now, one might believe that, it being the sixties and these three being kids, they heard some records and wanted to make their own music, and admittedly I thought that too, because I was, and really still am, an idiot. These girls were literally forced into being a band by their father.

Their father was a man named Austin Wiggin Jr. and when he was young, his mother did some palm reading and predicted three things about Austin’s future, two of which came true, and the third was that his daughters would form a popular band. So, when the first two predictions came true, Austin tried to make the third come true, and how did he go about doing it? Getting his daughters interested in music by buying records? Letting them go to concerts? Nope, he literally pulled them out of school and bought them instruments and made them become a band.

Despite this literally being the worst way to form a band ever, it’s also noted that Austin never let his daughters go to any concerts, or even really have much of a social life. Helen even said that he was “Inappropriately intimate” with her once. So yes, these girls were essentially abused into becoming a band to fulfill a prophecy from a man’s dead mother.

So, my comment about “These girls look like they hoped their parents didn’t see them on a rock album cover”, is almost apt, but I can’t say it isn’t somewhat accurate. They look like they don’t want to be here, probably because the quite literally did not want to be here, it is a very “We’re here because Dad would kill us if we weren’t” vibes, and I do think he would literally kill them, nothing makes a musician legendary like death. Austin seemed like the kind of man who would go that extra mile. However, and I am trying not to say “Thankfully” here, Austin had a heart attack and died at the age of 47. After the family moved out and sold the place, the person they sold it to believed Austin’s ghost haunted the place and donated it to the Fremont Fire Department, who used it for a firefighting exercise.

As an aside, I genuinely did not think you could have a crazier story in music than The Beach Boys, the band that had ties to Charles Manson. However, this surpasses all of that.

So, that is the end of this band right? Their father died and they disbanded? Well guess what, in the early seventies, some guy actually played a few of their songs on a radio show, and that man would somehow go on to have a music career. You probably think, “Oh, he was probably just some nobody lo-fi noise jazz musician”, but no, this man became one of the biggest names in avant-garde and rock fusion, in fact he was actually present during the PMRC hearings alongside John Denver and Dee Snider, yeah, Frank Zappa was a fan of this band, and is probably a major reason for this band’s cult following. You know who else liked this album? Just a little punk kid from Washington you’ve probably never heard of, his name was Kurt Cobain. Yeah, The Shaggs are partially to thank for the big Grunge explosion of the 90s.

So, is this still one of the worst album covers in music history? Yes, again, it has the ickyness of parental abuse on it, they look uncomfortable because they probably are uncomfortable. They didn’t want to be musicians, but because their grandma predicted they’d be a popular band, their father tried to make them into a band. It is kind of funny though, he never did live to see the prediction come true, because they are something of a popular band in some circles.

I guess my comment wasn’t the only ironic thing about this band, eh?

[jimcaron]

GET THE BOOK..!!! "My Wild Times At Wild Man Sam's 1970's Rock and Roll Night Club", is now on Amazon!: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHG869SH Features NEVER SEEN before pics of The Runaways featuring a 17 year old Joan Jett on stage in 1975. A true story of what it was like to be in a rock band in the 1970's: the bands, the girls, the parties and what it was really like. Stories and pictures of the club as it happened. Go to Wildmansams.com

[blu-duvel]

Howlin' Wolf - The Howlin' Wolf Story - The Secret History Of Rock & Roll

[martysmusic]

It was two weeks from graduation in the late spring of 1989, when the guidance counselor from San Dimas High School discovered a terrible error. It seemed that two Senior Students: William S. Preston Esq. and Theodore Logan were one Elective credit shy of earning their High School diploma.

After much deliberation in the offices of the Principal and Dean, Bill & Ted were given a simple assignment: To write a ten page report on any subject. The stingy English teacher Mrs. McBride would then grade the paper on a pass or fail system. Pass: you graduate High School. Fail: and it’s Summer School.

Bill & Ted had already scraped together money from their new employment at the Circle K to buy a van. They had big plans that summer for a Wyld Stallyns Southern California tour. Their dreams were coming true. They could absolutely not afford Summer School dude.

But there was more on the line than a Summer of open mics and dive bars along the Pacific Coast. Humanity in 2688 relied on the music and philosophy of the “Two Great Ones”. It was absolutely essential that the Wyld Stallyns begin their tour. Literally the entire future depended on it!

Once again, the leaders of the World tasked Rufus to return to 1989 and assist Bill & Ted on their paper. Would this be another history assignment? Well…sort of. This time, Bill & Ted wanted to write about something closer to their own interests. They wanted to document the History of Heavy Metal!

*Cue guitar noises*.

Reluctantly, Rufus agrees.

But where to begin?

After much deliberation, Rufus took Bill & Ted to West Memphis, Arkansas in 1919. There they met a man by the name of Joe Turley (pictured). Big Joe was just returning home from the Western Front, serving his County in the Army in the Great War. Joe had no desire for Sharecropping in the cotton fields like his father had done his entire life, and his father before him.

The following is an excerpt from Bill & Ted’s paper:

Joe had always had a knack for playing the guitar, singing Spirituals in Church growing up. During his time in Europe, he had learned a new style of playing from the Gypsy Jazz guitarists in France. Joe enjoyed employing his new techniques and marrying them to the old Gospel songs he knew and loved. Determined to not pick a single ounce of cotton, he walked east to Memphis Tennessee and settled into the jazz clubs there.

Joining a troupe known as the “Dixie Gypsies”, over the next decade Joe toured St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Cleveland…even going as far as New York City and Boston. Joe’s guitar work was pressed on wax in five top selling Jazz albums, and he began to gain notoriety opening for acts like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Fats Waller.

But the Depression, as well as racial strife in the big cities took its toll, and pretty soon Joe was back in Memphis. The “Dixie Gypsies” were no more, and prospects were not good. Joe tried to get a band together, but money was tight, he couldn’t afford to hire a pianist and a horn section. That’s when Joe got a great idea. He would play the Boogie Woogie jazz parts normally reserved for a piano on the top two strings of his guitar, and layer in lead patters on the lower strings.

The sound was electrifying! With only a simple rhythm section, Joe could play the same style of Rhythm and Blues he had previously needed an entire ensemble to play. This new style was lightning in a bottle around Memphis. Big Joe Turley never truly got his due as a guitar player, but his impact was widespread.

Joe Turley’s guitar style influenced the likes of T-Bone Walker (pictured above), Goree Carter, and Gatemouth Brown. These in turn influenced white artists like Jimmie Rodgers in the Country-Swing movement and other Southern Black artists like Joe Turner. As these styles evolved, they likewise influenced another artist named Chuck Berry.

Rock and Roll was born, and it was just getting started.

GET EVEN MORE MARTY’S MUSIC:

[hooked-on-elvis]

I stumbled on this while looking over some Priscilla's pictures. The cute red-haired lady on photos 4, 6 and 7 is Rita Lee, Brazilian's Rock and Roll Queen. SHE IS THE MOST! ⚡Charming, intelligent, rebel, beautiful, funny, talented... A goddess! ❤️‍🔥💥

Sadly, she passed away this year, on May 8, 2023. R.I.P, Rita. We'll miss you forever, goddess. ♥

[turn-it-up]

Rita Lee Jones. ♥

[historydailyfrancischappellblack]

American Disc Jockey Alan Freed is Fired From WABC Radio Station in New York City for His Role in the Payola Scandal. November 21, 1959.

Image: Alan Freed, 1958. (Public Domain) On this day in history, November 21, 1958, American disc jockey Alan Freed is fired from WABC radio station in New York City for his role in the payola scandal. Though payola – paying a DJ to play a song on the radio to promote it – was not illegal at the time, bribery was, and Freed was accused of accepting such bribes. He was fired after refusing to…

[hooked-on-elvis]

What is your favorite part of the '68 Special?

Pictures: Singer Presents  ... Elvis, commonly referred to as the '68 Comeback Special. 1968.

For me, undoubtedly I say my favorite part of the '68 Special is the sit-down concerts, specially the reunion between Elvis and the remaining members of Elvis' former band, the Blue Moon Boys, Scotty Moore and DJ Fontana.

I wonder if the fans, not the specialized critic such as musicians and general people in the business but specially the fans, back then, while watching this TV special for the first time, understood or merely felt the significance of this moment. I wonder if they were surprised in seeing Elvis not only back onstage after a while but back onstage with Scotty and DJ Fontana by his side. Man, that was special! To me, the most special portion of the '68 Comeback. ♥

Bill Black, bassist, unfortunately passed away in 1965, while Elvis was still full time engaged with his Hollywood career. Fans only wish Bill could have been there with Scotty and DJ. He had that irreverent performance that fascinates me, surely he would've been a great asset to the show. I only feel sorry Elvis, neither Scotty or DJ, ever mentioned Bill on the '68 Special, but its understandable the reason why. It wasn't about the Blue Moon Boys more than it was about Elvis returning to the stage. Even so, had Bill made it to this moment, man! That would've been something else. Even more meaningful than it already was.

Scotty Moore: His memories on the '68 Comeback Special and 'behind the scenes': Elvis and The Blue Moon Boys performing in Europe?

Source: Excerpt of the documentary "Elvis: The Birth of Rock n' Roll" (2004)

Scotty reveals Elvis asked him and DJ Fontana if they would agree to go on the road with him again, this time performing overseas, in Europe. Curious enough, to that question, Scotty says Elvis called him and DJ Fontana to another room in his home, so they could talk in private - which was something unusual for him because "usually anything he had to say, he'd say no matter who was around".

For the longest time, performing around the world was something Presley aimed. Ever since he had been stationed in Germany with the US Army during his service time, a period he did paused his career therefore he didn't perform while in Europe between 1958 to 1960, reporters asked him if and when that moment would come when Elvis would go back to Europe but this time for live concerts, to the thrill of his passionate fans overseas who followed him career from afar, many since the 50s. Unfortunately touring outside US (other than few performances in Canada in 1957) never seemed the get the right time.

Once Elvis begin performing live again in 1969, after he was out of the movie contracts, Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, would always have excuses on the tip of his tongue for why an European tour, or world tour for that matter, would not be a such good idea. When Elvis received some death threats coming his way through letters sent to his crew occasionally, starting from 1969 on, those incident perfectly fit to Colonel Parker's intentions for his gold boy. Parker would use the incidents to manipulate Elvis to believe they couldn't do his security properly out of the US. Colonel would tell Presley how it would be too dangerous for him, besides they could make just as much money performing home as they have been doing so far.

Elvis never had this one dream of performing overseas coming true in his life, as much as another reunion between him and the Blue Moon Boys never came to be after the '68 Comeback Special. Scotty says that private conversation in Elvis' home (in 1968) was the last time he was together with Elvis like that, which makes this moment in history one of a kind.

During the '68 Special (sit-down concert), Scotty submits a special request to Elvis for them to play "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" together.

The song was recorded by them on February 3, 1956, at RCA studios in New York. It was released as B-side to the EP "Elvis Presley", out in September 1956. The cover shows Elvis, Scotty Moore and Bill Black performing together.

Later, the song would be featured on the LP "For Elvis Fans Only" released in 1959. Elvis would frequently include "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" to his main setlists from 1970 to 1975, occasionally performing it in 1976 and 1977.

No wonder Scotty picked this song. Maybe a subtle way of honoring late Bill Black. ♥

About their performance of this tune during the '68 Comeback Special:

As they jam together, Scotty gives a cue and Elvis tears into “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” with a raw assault of mixed emotion. His performance is so intense that it almost—in the best way—scratches the ears. Vocal cords that, so far, have proved their owner’s mastery with smooth singing are pushed to the point of fraying at the edges. As Greil Marcus noticed, when Elvis lurches into the number, what he experiences is a feeling that is both joshing and liberated. At one point, as the musicians jam together, it’s possible to hear Charlie Hodge getting carried away with laughter, as if bobbing in the fray of a heady, almost oceanic moment. In his underrated 2004 pocket volume The Rough Guide to Elvis, Paul Simpson describes “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” as “Elvis’s answer to Jack Kerouac’s On the Road.” Taking on this old staple in the Comeback, what the singer delivers is lusty, passionate, and commanding, yet also desperate, angry, and sad. He conjures with immense powers. — Mark Duffett (Counting Down Elvis - His 100 Finest Songs, 2018)

Again, what is your favorite part of the '68 Special?

[hooked-on-elvis]

Elvis Presley | Elvis on Tour (1972)

[martysmusic]

With the increased availability of not only radios but also amps, speakers, mics, and recording equipment, young people could finally produce music for another young people. Rock and Roll was the first counter-culture movement to Mama and Papa Jazz and Big Band.

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SPOTIFY

[wh0-is-lily]

Tura Satana in Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965) Dir. Russ Meyer