Link Wray? inventor of the power chord..Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Link Wray? inventor of the power chord..
Yup! One chord.
Vastly overrated. Rumble (the only tune you ever hear!) got to #16 in the US, Raw-Hide got to #23, Jack the Ripper #64, then nothing.
So the record buying public agreed with me.
In fact I have just played Raw-Hide. It is one riff and so dull!
Last edited by Graham Breeze; 15-11-2011 at 11:10 PM.
Since when did the opinion of the record buying public count? these are the morons that sent the Crazy Frog, Mr Blobby and countless other horrors to number one with a bullet, most of my favourite current bands (Melvins, Deerhoof, Shellac) sell bollocks all, and it's no reflection on the quality of their music.
that said all of the guitarists/groups that emerged from the surf scene are pretty monotonous in large doses - it's generic music no?
Not in the USA they didn't.
And if it wasn't for the "record buying public" you'd never have heard of Elvis Presley.
And I don't quite know what point you are trying to make about guitarists from the "surf scene". Who, apart from Dick Dale (who never sold any records anyway until QT discovered him) had you in mind?
I did say guitarists and groups Graham, although the word 'emerged' is probably wrong, it implys that the artists went on to better things, can you tell me what great things the all conquering Duane Eddy went on to? the duet with The Art Of Noise doesn't count.
I consider the aforementioned Duane Eddy and Link Wray as artists who produced generic music, but that doesn't mean that they're any less influential. The legions of bands that followed in their wake - The Belairs, the Surfaris, The Fireballs, The Ventures, Johnny and the Hurricanes, The Harptones - any of these not generic?
Link Wray and Duane Eddy are the only two guitarists from the "surf scene" that you see consistently cited by the rock guitarists that followed, I just added Link to your Duane in the first instance.
In the second instance I wasn't so much making a point as contradicting myself, (it happens a lot) as soon as I acknowledged Link Wray as influential I listened back to his reworking of the Batman theme and felt a shiver down my spine. And by the way, are you saying that you don't think Link Wray was influential?
If it wasn't for the all knowing American "record buying public" I wouldn't have heard of Garth Brooks.
I am not trying to fall out with you.
Although the Harptones? The Harptones I have is the doo-wop group founded in 1953 and my Johnny & Hurricanes records are mostly sax lead (not surprisingly), not guitar.
Duane Eddy? Well I think he is like the Drifters (when they were with Lieber & Stoller): very, very long career and adoption of new ideas like strings: Because they're Young was massively important. Why is Buddy Holly seen as important? Wrote his own material (like Duane) and was adopting strings just before he died. Yes Link Wray is a touch stone but really based on one good track.
TAON/DE Peter Gunn track was rubbish. I don't have it. But I have all the Jamie singles 1957-62 with out takes, alternate versions & etc.
And obviously I saw Duane Eddy play live in the 1960s!
well ron
I'm not trying to fall out either, quite enjoyed a bit of a joust.
Kudos on the Jamie singles collection, that's a real commitment . (and a bit sad, I recognise the symptoms of a fellow sufferer)
P.S. You're right about the Harptones, don't know what I was thinking.
Last edited by Dubbintooth; 16-11-2011 at 07:36 AM.
And Graham, thanks for putting me right about how sage and trustworthy the American "record buying public" are, without them I wouldn't have found these gems, all pre - hot 100 number ones released in 1958...
Last edited by Dubbintooth; 16-11-2011 at 07:59 AM.
Well I know that of course. Just as I know that 525 different records reached the Billboard Hot 100 that year. But you have said you enjoyed the joust.
And because of the vast space that is the USA and its far bigger record buying public the richness of music from the US has always been far more interesting and rewarding than the UK.
Little Richard or Terry Dene?
Jerry Lee Lewis or Winifred Atwell?
Your choice.
I am humbled and cowed! For once in my life I do not feel like the older grumpier voice in forum jousting competitions. Congrats to you both for being able to squabble so convincingly about something that is prehistoric!!!
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