This just be our most ambitious podcast in the 13 year history of Trick's Synthetic Podcast. On this episode we condense about 20 years of rock 'n' roll into a single one hour show. Crazy, we just might be, but it wouldn't be the first time and it won't be the last...so enjoy this trip down rock's memory lane with our presentation of rock's first two decades of decadence with these rockin' classics:
1. "Rocket 88" (Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, 1951) is a rhythm and blues song that was first recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, in March 1951. The recording was actually Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm. Many acknowledge its importance in the development of rock and roll music, with several considering it to be the first rock and roll record.
2. "Blue Suede Shoes" (Elvis Presley, 1956) This is the opening track of his debut album Elvis Presley. Many consider him as the first rock and roll superstar as he rose to fame with TV and live appearances. Although his career was interrupted in 1958 due to being drafted into the Army. After his military service, Elvis's resumed his career focusing on movies and a less edgy style.
3."Sweet Little Sixteen" (Chuck Berry, 1958) is a rock and roll song written and first recorded by Chuck Berry. If Elvis was a white man playing race music, Chuck was one of the first African Americans to cross over to the Caucasian dominated rock and roll. He was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its opening in 1986.
4. "Surfin' U.S.A." (Beach Boys, 1963) After the death of Buddy Holly and the personal scandals of Jerry Lee Lewis and other artists, rock went dormant. The Beach Boys' Carl Wilson and Mike Love took Berry's tune, wrote new lyrics and launched the California sound of surf, fast cars, and girls. Numerous bands rode this wave including Jan and Dean, The Rip Chords, The Surfaris, and of course the Big Daddy of it all, Dick Dale.
5. "Green Onions" (Booker T. and The MGs, 1962) Written by Booker T. Jones when he was 17, although most of the record was improvised in the studio. Booker T. Jones’ skill on the Hammond organ along with Cropper’s sparse blues lead on guitar, is the embodiment of Southern sass and jazzy cool, is the embodiment of soulful sass and jazzy cool. Building on the success of instrumental bands of the early '60's like The Ventures, Chantays, Bar-Kays and Surfari's,it is one of the most popular instrumental rock and soul songs ever. It also proved that there was room in the rock n roll universe for soul music.
6. "She Loves You" (Beatles, 1963) On February 1, 1964, The Beatles, hit the American charts for the first time with “I Want to Hold Your Hand. In Britain “She Loves You” was the first Beatles #1 hit and introduced fans the the now famous,"yeah, yeah, yeah."The Beatles would go on to post a record 20 #1 hits in the US. The Beatles would go on to the greatest career for any band Rock and Roll."
7. "Like A Rolling Stone" (Bob Dylan, 1965) This song completed Dylan's transformation from folk singer to rock star, and the song is considered one of the most influential compositions in postwar popular music. Acclaimed Music said the song is the most acclaimed song of all time and Rolling Stone magazine listed the song at No. 1 of their "500 Greatest Songs of All Time." It was also responsible for launching the organ career of Al Kooper, who created one of the most famous, and spontaneous, organ riffs in rock.
8. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (Beatles,1967) Sgt. Pepper was a game changer. It was one of the first concept albums, one of the first albums with psychedelic imagery, innovative record sleeve design, the album had an influence on of the era's youth culture, fashion, drugs, mysticism, and a sense of optimism and empowerment. It is considered one of the first art rock LPs, a progenitor to progressive rock, and the start of the album era.
9. "Sunshine of Your Love" (Cream, 1967) Cream is widely regarded as the world's first supergroup, a power trio playing psychedelic tinged blues rock that set the stage for numerous groups to come. . "Sunshine of Your Love" became one of the best selling singles of 1968 and one of the best-selling songs for the Atlantic label, going gold in September 1968, signifying over 1,000,000 records sold. The song is the culmination of the British version of blues into rock and the precursor of Led Zeppelin and heavy metal, featuring a type of blues-based motivic riff and harmonic motions which serves as the basis for an endless number of songs.
10. "Purple Haze" (Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1967) If Sgt. Pepper kicked off the era of psychedelic music, Hendrix put in in high gear. It was the opening song on the Experience's debut American album, it was many people's first exposure to Hendrix's psychedelic rock. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and is included on lists of the greatest guitar songs, including at number two by Rolling Stone and number one by Q magazine.
11. "Born To Be Wild" (Steppenwolf 1968) While originally written as a ballad, the song was a sped-up and rearranged by Steppenwolf into what has been described as "a roaring anthem of turbo-charged riff rock" and "a timeless radio classic as well as a slice of '60s revolt ... provided them with their shot at AM immortality." Ir has also been called the original heavy metal song because of the words "...heavy metal thunder..." although in context it was referring to the motorcycle culture of California.
12. "Gimme Shelter" (Rolling Stones, 1969) This song captured the end of innocence in rock at the end of the 1960's. Mick Jagger told Rolling Stone Magazine that it was a very rough and violet era with violence at the movies, burning and riots, and Viet Nam. After murder by motorcycle gang security at their Altamont performance, this song perfectly set the tone of the times.
13. "I Can't Quit You Baby" (Led Zeppelin, 1969) Recycling the classic Willie Dixon song, Led Zeppelin pushed blues rock to a new level. Emerging from the ashes of Yardbirds, emerging in the second British invasion, the band combined traditional blues and power rock into a powerful force that would pack large arenas and stadiums. The sudden death of drummer, John Bonham in 1980 sounded the death knell for the band. In December of 1980 a press release was issued which read, "We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend, and the deep sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were."signed simply "Led Zeppelin.The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Many music historians believe they were as strong an influence on rock in the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960s.
14. "Girl From The North Country" (Bob Dylan, 1969) Remaking himself once again, this time Dylan went to Nashville for his new sound, something he experimented on with John Wesley Harding. Using musicians like Charlie McCoy, Charlie Daniels, Norman Blake, Fred Carter, Jr. and Johnny Cash, Dylan challenged the public's expectations by embracing a country tenor voice and aesthetic. The new country inspired rock sound in rock included The Band, Gram Parsons, The Byrds, Poco and many others and opened the door for bands that evolved both into Southern Rock and Progressive Country. Bob made country cool.
15. "Truckin' "(Grateful Dead, 1970) The song that became the slogan of the times, "Just Keep On Truckin' " was made famous by R. Crumb in his signature comic style. This fit the Dead and their following to a "T" laid back, and free flowing tunes that went on and on forever. The original jam band that evolved several times and influence several following generations of bands like Phish, Dave Matthews, String Cheese Incident, and others.
16. (Somebody Else Been) "Shaking Your Tree" (Z Z Topp, 1971) Rock and roll is alive and well with this power trio from that Little Ol' Band From Texas. The opening cut from their first album it set the tone for the band, foundation of boogie and rock Texas style. The album was described as lively, playful, at times brash, filled sexual innuendo and complete with the band's personal experiences which became central to the group's image. The band began recording at Robin Hood Studios in Tyler, Texas, which gave rise to a great story about sending producer, Bill Ham to Kilgore's The Country Tavern to get BBQ.
17. Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie, 1972) David Bowie's remarkably diverse artistic achievements almost obscure the fact that, not withstanding the earlier hit 'Space Oddity,' Ziggy Stardust was his glam rock creation that shot his career into the stratosphere. There has never been another alien rock star quite like Ziggy, with his backing band the Spiders from Mars, led by Mick Ronson, Bowie transformed his persona which he would do many times over his long career. Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust' number one of the Top 10 ‘70s Glam Bands and gave rise to bands like T Rex, Mott The Hoople, Roxy Music,The New York Dolls, Slade and many other outrageous bands through the '70's.
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