The middle one's fine. Think the Clash took that riff at some point. In fairness, I'd probably add "Jailhouse Rock". He was a bit too much of the celebrity for me though. Realise that these sorts of arguments are rarely consistent!
My favourite rock n roller for many years was Eddie Cochran and I always had quite a lot of time for Buddy Holly. However, once I'd seen Chuck Berry live when he was 81, I was just so impressed by the spirit of the man that I completely revised my opinion. For all of his flaws, it is Chuck for me every time.
....The Who are more difficult because I veered a little towards the mod thing. Some very early original memories and then with the Jam looking back. I do like a fair number of their songs to some extent - yes, "Happy Jack" and I should really include "Won't Get Fooled Again" - but not "My Generation", which just seems ludicrous with hindsight, and "Pinball Wizard" - always a maybe, maybe not.
I never took to their personalities much. Townsend has always been very awkward, Daltrey became a gentleman fish farmer, Moon was a maniac. I didn't go much for the apolitical destructiveness - a bit too Bullingdon. They had delusions of grandeur. I'd choose the Kinks by several miles for the art, the humour, the whimsy. The Small Faces too at their best although they were variable.
I should add that I did see Tommy performed as a musical in the West End and it was a remarkable bit of theatre. I also saw the Who live at Glastonbury a few years ago from a great distance. I do have one or two albums of theirs so it isn't dismissal - that is hardly possible - but there have always been some big question marks there. On the plus side, they are not the Stones!
My favourite rock n roller for many years was Eddie Cochran and I always had quite a lot of time for Buddy Holly. However, once I'd seen Chuck Berry live when he was 81, I was just so impressed by the spirit of the man that I completely revised my opinion. For all of his flaws, it is Chuck for me every time.
....The Who are more difficult because I veered a little towards the mod thing. Some very early original memories and then with the Jam looking back. I do like a fair number of their songs to some extent - yes, "Happy Jack" and I should really include "Won't Get Fooled Again" - but not "My Generation", which just seems ludicrous with hindsight, and "Pinball Wizard" - always a maybe, maybe not.
I never took to their personalities much. Townsend has always been very awkward, Daltrey became a gentleman fish farmer, Moon was a maniac. I didn't go much for the apolitical destructiveness - a bit too Bullingdon. They had delusions of grandeur. I'd choose the Kinks by several miles for the art, the humour, the whimsy. The Small Faces too at their best although they were variable.
I should add that I did see Tommy performed as a musical in the West End and it was a remarkable bit of theatre. I also saw the Who live at Glastonbury a few years ago from a great distance. I do have one or two albums of theirs so it isn't dismissal - that is hardly possible - but there have always been some big question marks there. On the plus side, they are not the Stones!
I always kinda liked that New Orleans R'n'R of the Fat Man personally.
Comment