Rock N Roll

Soft rock is still alive and kicking, even all these years after it first came on the scene. Soft rock is like anything else, it enjoys a great start, fizzles out a little and keeps enjoying revivals. It was though, in the 70’s and the 80’s that soft rock enjoyed its most popular time.

Soft rock is the sound of mellow instruments, kind lyrics, gentle arrangements and songs all about romance, love and heartbreak. The main reason this form of rock music was so soft was to appeal not only to the teenagers, but to the parents. Soft rock is sometimes thought of as boring, offering the rock fans nothing but dull lyrics and easy sounds. However, there is a huge amount of quality, timeless songs that came from the soft rock era.

Many rock fans though of soft rock as far too easy going to be cool. Soft rock purposely avoided being involved in controversy and sometimes received criticism because of this.

The main artists within the soft rock era were James Taylor, Bread, Foreigner, Firefall, Chicago, America and many others. Their soothing, dulcet tones with the combination of the soft guitars and the gentle beats were what made them popular. The quality of the songs and the lyrics were second to none.

Rock and roll music has evolved into lots of different types of music over the years. Soft rock is just one of the ways in which it has changed through the times.

Blues rock was popular during the late 60’s and throughout the 70’s. The name Blues Rock is a magic fusion between blues music and rock and roll music. In the blues rock sound, the guitars take centre stage and create a fast paced and heavy sound. Long guitar riffs are prominent in blues rock and artists love to show off their guitar playing skills!

The main artist/band that people associate with the sound of blues rock is John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers in the 60’s. John Mayall employed some of the world’s best musicians of the generation: people such as Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton. Mick Taylor and Peter Green to name but a few. People he employed in the Bluesbreakers went on to create some of the best bands in the 1970’s – Free, Fleetwood Mac, Cream and Savoy Brown.

Black musicians also enjoyed a revival in interest during the blues rock era in the 70’s. Artists such as Buddy Guy, Freddie King and Ronnie Earl became famous, international music stars.

It was in the mid 70’s that blues rock started to wane a little and other forms of rock music were to become the new sound – Heavy metal, hard rock and southern rock were to become insanely popular.

Some blues rock tracks are Born in Chicago by Paul Butterfield blues band, Have you ever loved a woman by Eric Clapton and Tell Mama by Savoy Brown.

The 50’s was when rock and roll was really discovered by the masses. Rock and roll in the 50’s is usually divided into two camps – Primal, party music (Big Joe Turner, Wynonie Harris) and Rockabilly music (Elvis Presley).

Rockabilly combined the sounds of blues music found in the south and country music. Elvis Presley made rockabilly popular with his good looks, swaggering style and guitar riffs combined with a lush voice. Rockabilly songs focused on fats cars, gorgeous girls, and love found and lost again.

Rockabilly seemed to wane towards the end of the 1950’s as new music emerged in the 60’s. Rock changed forever in the 60’s with the British invasion of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Artists new they had to evolve the sound of rockabilly music to keep the kids and the adults entertained.

Rockabilly did enjoy a comeback in style during the 70’s and the 80’s. Many artists use rockabilly music as the basis of their sound and adapt it to the age they are in. Rockabilly was the rock and roll music that changed a generation – kids love it and parents couldn’t stand it. Rockabilly gave kids a sense of freedom, rebellion and a new found wave of sexuality.

Rockabilly is the foundation of the rock and roll music we love today, and is also the backbone of everything you hear in the charts now.

Rock and roll keeps defining eras throughout history. Not only has it been associated with hatred, protests and drugs; it is also strongly associated with peace, love and happiness.

Love and peace took a prominent place on the stage during the 60’ and the 70’s. Social issues and problems were often addressed using music and this made it possible to convey messages of peace and love all over the world.

Folk artists such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie made a huge impact on the social messages that the music conveyed. Other artists such as John Lennon, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s also made songs that held strong, social and personal messages.

Spiritual messages have also featured heavily in rock and roll music. Many artists have explored many areas of spirituality in their work, artists such as Pete Townsend and the Beatles to name but a few.

Many bands and artists have used God and religion as a foundation for their music and many are very religious. Some artists have even become born again Christians after overcoming drug and sex addictions due to their fame and money.

Rock and roll music has changed the world that we live in forever. It can be accredited with spreading and promoting the message of love and peace, but many still believe that it is nothing short of evil. While everyone is entitled to their opinion on all forms of music and the message they convey to the masses, most would agree that rock and roll has given the world something that many could not – soul.

It was official in the 60’s and during the height of rock and roll – adults didn’t get it, kids loved it and many thought rock and roll was the work of the devil! Rock and roll music was a way for the younger people to rebel against society, the government, their own lives and their family.

Living in the rock and roll lifestyle usually meant dabbling in sex and drugs. This wasn’t the same for everyone, but many artists and fans used drugs and had unprotected sex with, well anyone!

Psychedelic music became prominent in the 60’s and so did the drug use of everyday people. This is partly due to the fact that many of the artists and the bands actively encouraged their listeners to appreciate the music while being under the influence of drugs.

The rise of drug use coincided with artists and bands openly admitting that they too took the drugs. A famous case of this includes the Beatles. Once they had admitted to taking cannabis and writing songs while under the influence, the fans followed suit. Drugs and rock and roll soon became intertwined with each other and one of the main reasons why adults and parents hated it with a passion.

Many famous and legendary rock stars have died from drug abuse and many wear the scars and the tell tale signs of hard rug use on their faces today. Of course today, we are a little wiser about drugs and stars try not to promote taking illegal substances.

Rock and roll comes in many forms. It all began back in the 40’s and has been evolving ever since. Rock and roll is usually created by guitars, bass and drums. This, of course, doesn’t have to be the sound of rock and roll. A few people have changed the look and the sound of rock and roll, such as Elvis.

Rock and roll not only changed music, but every other type of media available. Movies started to be about gorgeous teenagers singing songs of love and hate, print started to feature big stars, fashion changed dramatically and language also changed.

It is thought that rock and roll music originated from African American roots and featured a mix of the blues, folk music and also church gospel. There is piano based rock music, gospel based rock and roll, and country and western music had a big influence on the flavour and the sound of rock and roll music as well as jazz and blues. All of these sounds were thrown into a huge musical melting pit and created the rock and roll we all know and love.

Many people are involved in the debate of who actually had the very first rock and roll record. Some believe that the main contender for the title of first ever rock and roll record to be Jackie Brenston with the song called ‘Rocket 88’. There has since been hit after hit after hit for many rock and roll artists in every generation.

Rock and roll has a wonderfully rich history, a history that is still being written today.