Best decade of music ever? I’m going to go with the 70s. I made the statement in a bold declaration at Walpole Music last week, sort of in one of those moods to stir up the type of conversation that’s as potentially poignant as it is sufferably sophomoric.
You know, the same ilk of conversation that at times includes such reaching topics as:
1) Back In Black or Appetite For Destruction? Which is the better of the two?
2) Neil Young is mostly bullshit…discuss.
3) Lou Reed is a better singer than Michael Jackson.
And so on.
When pressed for a defense of my statement, I found the justification exceptionally simple…and it is.
Dig it:
Never before or since had/has there been a singular 10 year period of “pop” music that so successfully drew from it’s predecessors while equally influencing generations to come, splintering itself into numerous sub-genres that would themselves become entire industries unto themselves.
Consider the heyday of the Singer Songwriters in Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Curtis Mayfield, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Al Green, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Carole King.
Consider some of the greatest rock acts and albums of all time. Who’s Next, Dark Side Of The Moon, Highway To Hell, Night At The Opera, Imagine, Rumours, Physical Graffiti.
Consider the birth of Metal via Sabbath, Priest, Deep Purple.
Consider David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, T Rex.
Consider Clapton, Jeff Beck.
Consider the birth of the jam band in the Grateful Dead. Santana too…cause he rules.
Van Halen, Boston, Skynyrd, Rush, Journey, Bob Seger…all that shit.
Consider Elvis Costello, The Clash, The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Patti Smith and the birth of punk.
Consider Bob Marley.
For Mike…consider Steely Dan.
Consider the birth of modern dance music in Disco with the brilliance of the Bee Gees (yes haters, it’s brilliant…please get that) and Donna Summer. Consider the Jackson 5 and Michael.
Consider Parliament/Funkadelic, James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone, The Commodores, Ike & Tina, Tower Of Power.
I could keep this going all day…I think I’ve made my point. This’ll require some additional posts…just needed to get that off my chest. Essential stuff that your average Boston Wedding Band wouldn’t touch.
And in case you’re wondering, my second place goes to the 90s… I’ll blog about that later.
