Rock Minutes

A friend of mine e-mailed me the other day stating that the 1960′s were the greatest decade for music. He wanted to know what I thought was the next best decade for music assuming the 60′s were in fact the greatest decade in music history. That really got me thinking so I thought I would write about it this week.

To start with I would agree the 60′s were the greatest decade we will probably ever see in music. The 60′s had the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the British Invasion in general. You had the beginning of Motown, Memphis-Stax, and the music coming out of Muscle Shoals. You also had Bob Dylan who led a revolution as a folk singer but he also changed the musical landscape when he went electric. Woodstock closed out the 60′s as the most important music festival any of us will see in our lifetime. I would hope you all would agree that the 60′s are the most important decade we have ever seen in music. The real question is what decade would I put behind the 60′s?

1950′s

There is no doubt the 1950′s are a very influential decade in music. It was really the decade that started it all. It was the decade the phrase Rock n’ roll was coined by DJ Alan Freed. The 50′s saw icons like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Sam Cooke among others. Many people consider what was happening in the 1950′s here in America vital to the British Invasion that would come along in the 1960’s. Just ask Keith Richards what he thinks about Chuck Berry. With all of that being said I do not think the 50’s get the nod as the second greatest decade for music.

1980′s

There is not much to say about this decade other than it was horrible for music. It produced some of the worst music we have ever heard. It was the birth of MTV, hair metal, and one hit wonders. There were some artists that had good decades such as Springsteen, Mellencamp, and Petty. It also gave us Guns N’ Roses. The 80′s also produced the college radio movement that gave us bands such as R.E.M, 10,000 Maniacs, and The Smithereens among others. Other than that I cannot think of much good that came from that decade.

1990′s

I think a lot of people might vote for this decade and in some ways they could be right. The early 90′s gave birth to the Grunge movement which was obviously monumental. The day “Smells Like Teen Spirit” hit TV and radio it signaled the end of Hair Metal which I will always be thankful for. Grunge produced great bands like Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, and Screaming Trees. Music had not seen a movement like this in quite some time and it came at just the right moment. My problem with the 1990′s is the second half of the decade. While the early 90′s had so much promise the end of the decade was dominated by boy bands and Rap-Rock. Kurt Cobain was dead and bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn were dominating the airwaves and record sales. Fred Durst became the poster child of music at that point and it was sad. Music in my mind took a real step back and ended on a very down note (pun intended).

2000′s

The decade of digital music; the decade where record stores and mainstream radio started dying a slow death. I will say technology has changed the way we get our music these days and it could be a good thing but as far as music itself I am not sure it was that great. To be honest with you I could do without the Emo movement. I do not think there is one Emo band that I like. I personally think bands like My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy suck. It also became the decade where Coldplay was the band everybody seemed to love. With those negatives I think there was a lot of good music in the 2000′s. Wilco, Ben Harper, The White Stripes, The Black Keys, Ryan Adams, Ray Lamontagne and others. I just don’t think the last decade will be looked at fondly. I could be wrong, maybe it is too soon to tell. Maybe in ten years I will look back at the 2000′s and see it in a better light but I am not sure I will.

1970′s

While some people think it was the decade music began to sell it’s soul to record companies and radio stations I think the 1970′s was the only decade that can rival the 1960′s. There were a lot of artists putting out influential music in the 1970′s. Led Zeppelin dominated the 70′s with records like Led Zeppelin III, IV, Physical Graffiti and Houses of the Holy. Neil Young was doing some of best work of his career with and without Crazy Horse. You saw artists such as Little Feat, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, and James Taylor emerge in the 70′s. Fleetwood Mac released one of the greatest albums of all time with Rumours. The Allman Brothers were making incredible records. Aerosmith was making the best music of their career. Van Halen was emerging. Eric Clapton had gone solo and released 461 Ocean Boulevard and Slowhand. Elton John was churning out some of the best pop music you will ever hear. I know I am just scratching the surface of what was going on in the 70′s but I think you get the picture. That is why I think this decade is the only decade that can even approach the 1960′s. Let me know what you think. I would love to see other people’s opinion on this subject.

Later,

Nick

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