Which do you think is better?
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BingoRingo — 15 years ago(December 15, 2010 09:24 PM)
Very true, Brian had the harp down perfectlyactually, he could play most instruments almost without flaw.
As far as the comparison, I don't think you can really compare those people. Yeah, they were in the same time frame, but that's where the comparisons end. -
streetlegal — 15 years ago(December 16, 2010 11:47 AM)
Dylan is a wonderful harmonica player, if you listen to the first disc of the 1966 'Royal Albert Hall' gig, the solo Dylan performance is just as mesmerising as the electric set. There are numerous other examples of hiw harmonica prowess, perhaps the best one is the studio version of Every Grain Of Sand.
He is a wonderful, instinctive musician. -
CasseroleWorshipper — 13 years ago(June 06, 2012 02:20 AM)
I agree that his harmonica playing can be spectacular, and not only on EVERY GRAIN OF SAND but also other gospel era songs. BUT the harmonica is pretty annoying at times on the Royal Albert Hall concert, he improvises way too much and doesn't differ much from a 5 year old who's trying out the instrument for the first time. But obviously it adds a haunting quality to the music and fits his voice perfectly.
I don't mean to impose, but I am the Ocean. -
Red_Barn — 15 years ago(January 06, 2011 09:05 AM)
Dylan: Brilliant songwriter, average guitarist, poor singer. Made folk music mainstream. Used the ancient format of a man with a guitar before realising he wasn't good enough on his own and got a band. Legacy: lots of good songs that others tend to do better than he did.
Beatles: 2 good songwriters, 4 average musicians, 3 fair singers. Reintroduced 50s-style Rock and Roll into pop music before making naff Psychedelia. Right place, right time. Legacy: lots of good songs that others tend to do better than they did.
Doors: Mixture of bad poetry from a charismatic, drugged up front man with psychedelia to capture the mood of the time perfectly. Legacy: lead singers want to be moody like he was.
Stones: 3 good songwriters, 5 very good musicians, great lead singer and frontman, excellent backing singing. Took a blues foundation, expanded it tremendously into the mainstream and became the first proper rock band. They are the bridge from the past to the future and their influence is massive. Legacy: a whole generation of singers and guitarists wanting to emulate them plus a wealth of songs.
It would have been interesting to talk about The Who, The Kinks, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin too, but we'll leave that for another occasion.P.S. Don't any Dylan fans get offended - I was asked so replied and this is what I think. I'm sure you disagree.
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madcbara — 15 years ago(January 06, 2011 05:38 PM)
I think you're underestimating Dylan's legacy. He didn't only make folk music mainstream, he gave Rock music intelligence by incorporating poetry and stream of consciousness lyricism. He co-created Folk-Rock by plugging in and playing a form of music that wouldn't have been as financially successful as his previous work had been, in regards to his die-heard folkie fans of course. He's often compared to a Rimbaud reading James Dean for his hip aura during the 60's. I could definitey see that about him.
I can't seem to fathom why you think The Stones were the
"first proper rock band"
instead of The Beatles or The Crickets? They were the first Rock bands to write and record their own original songs.. and without any help from Tim Pan Alley material.
Ah, but I was so much older then
Im younger than that now -
Red_Barn — 15 years ago(January 07, 2011 03:48 AM)
Stones were a rock band, Buddy Holly et al were a Rock and Roll band. The Beatles started as R&R, then became pop, and eventually became a rock band but some time after the Stones did it.
Dylan did not give "Rock music intelligence". By the time he had jumped on the rock bandwagon it already had that. -
madcbara — 15 years ago(January 07, 2011 10:58 AM)
Rock & Roll and plain old Rock as genre terms have always been interchangable for me. Besides, weren't the Stones always rooted in Rock & Roll?
I'd argue that Dylan did indeed give Rock music it's intelligence and poetic touch.
Bringing It All Back Home
was released in the first month of January, and I've yet to find a Rock album before that could rival it's epic scope and brilliance in lyricism. Up until this point the majority of Rock lyrics were either lovey dovey or agressive rockers with catchy phrases.
The mere first verses of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" or "Gates Of Eden" rest my case completely.
Ah, but I was so much older then
Im younger than that now -
Red_Barn — 15 years ago(January 07, 2011 11:36 AM)
I'd put the Stones as more rooted in the blues.
Are you American, by any chance? I've noticed that Americans tend to be freer with their genres. Michael Jackson is in the Rock and Roll hall of fame, for heaven sake!
To my ears there is little what I would call "Rock" music that Dylan has ever done. You mentioned Gates of Eden: that's just him on an acoustic and I can't think of anything less "Rock" than that.
Good lyrics have always existed as you go back in time in Country, Folk, Blues, Soul, Popand Rock.
At the end of the day, if you don'b68t agree with me, that's fine. -
madcbara — 15 years ago(January 07, 2011 04:38 PM)
Yeah, the Stones have always been very influenced by Chicago bluesmen. They grew up listening to Muddy and Jimmy Reed almost as much as they did with Chuck B. And yeah, I am American. I don't consider Michael Jackson a 'Rock and Roll' icon either..
Granted, "Gates Of Eden" may not be a "Rock" song per say, but I still consider Dylan a "Rock" icon, no matter how much he uses the acoustic guitar.
Ah, but I was so much older then
Im younger than that now -
VerbalKint2424 — 15 years ago(January 07, 2011 06:44 PM)
GOD. Reading these replies, I see what Elvis Costello meant when he said
"Writing about music is like dancing about architectureit's a really stupid thing to want to do."
Some of you are trying to deduce who's better through statistics!! What nonsense. Just enjoy the music, and be thankful your not listening to beep like Little Wayne.