Posted a comment to part one which seems to have vanished so I'll repeat. Dawson and Propes discuss their definition of Rock & Roll in the introduction to the book and in their comments on each selected song. At one point they suggest "…milestone which have elements of rock & roll in them - and influenced the music that followed." In speaking of the Les Paul / Mary Ford recording of 'How High The Moon' they say "… the first major hit to use extensive overdubbing, speeded-up tapes and other gimmicks; it also features the first distinct rock & roll guitar solo." Uncle Cliff has spoken.
"…milestone which have elements of rock & roll in them - and influenced the music that followed." - yeah, that is easy to accept and understand and pretty much approximates my own way of thinking about this diverting idea, and how I imagine others thinking too. But it is in these terms precisely that I found ground to disagree with Dawson and Propes' well-meaning but misguided inclusion of Paul and Ford. My point is simply that "How High The Moon" have absolutely zip influence on any of the rock'n'roll music which followed. In neither form nor style nor attitude nor harmonic vocabulary. It's influence - huge and profound - was instead on the technological approach of the recording industry and studio practice generally. And this was irrespective of genre. Whether the track can be said to feature "the first distinct rock & roll guitar solo" is more clearly a matter of aesthetic opinion and perception. Mine position is still in disagreement with Dawson and Propes on this, though. And basically for the same reasons as before - form, style, attitude, vocabulary. Is that only 2 cents ? Wot about inflation ?
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Posted a comment to part one which seems to have vanished so I'll repeat. Dawson and Propes discuss their definition of Rock & Roll in the introduction to the book and in their comments on each selected song. At one point they suggest "…milestone which have elements of rock & roll in them - and influenced the music that followed." In speaking of the Les Paul / Mary Ford recording of 'How High The Moon' they say "… the first major hit to use extensive overdubbing, speeded-up tapes and other gimmicks; it also features the first distinct rock & roll guitar solo." Uncle Cliff has spoken.
Sounds like a fascinating book (and more than a few of these records were previously unknown to me). Thanks for compiling the list!
"…milestone which have elements of rock & roll in them - and influenced the music that followed." - yeah, that is easy to accept and understand and pretty much approximates my own way of thinking about this diverting idea, and how I imagine others thinking too. But it is in these terms precisely that I found ground to disagree with Dawson and Propes' well-meaning but misguided inclusion of Paul and Ford. My point is simply that "How High The Moon" have absolutely zip influence on any of the rock'n'roll music which followed. In neither form nor style nor attitude nor harmonic vocabulary. It's influence - huge and profound - was instead on the technological approach of the recording industry and studio practice generally. And this was irrespective of genre. Whether the track can be said to feature "the first distinct rock & roll guitar solo" is more clearly a matter of aesthetic opinion and perception. Mine position is still in disagreement with Dawson and Propes on this, though. And basically for the same reasons as before - form, style, attitude, vocabulary.
Is that only 2 cents ?
Wot about inflation ?
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