ere’s your very
own guide to
listening to
classic rock
bands and their
albums. When
first realizing
you like a band
the most natural
thing is to dig
and find more
music. Over the
years I’ve used
this how to as a
way to peel back
and reveal layer
after layer of
bands, they’re
histories, and
they’re great
sounding music.
The first thing
one must do is
pick out a band.
Once we have
decided what
band the initial
step forward is
underway. Our
next step in the
process of
discovering
these precious
notes is by
buying a band’s
compilation CD.
It will either
be titled
“Greatest Hits”
or “Best Of.”
This is the best
place to get the
overall sound,
aura, and
history of the
band in one
listening.
Actually it may
take you a
couple but
that’s ok too.
This shouldn’t
be an assignment
only a quest for
knowledge. By
hearing what is
considered their
best or greatest
material the
bands sound
begins to paint
an image in your
head and you’ll
file that away
along with song
titles and
lyrics as you
listen to the CD
here and there.
Remember their
may only be a
couple songs you
actually like
right away and
that’s ok. As
time goes on you
may or may not
like more. If
you decide that
this band is
where it’s at
then you may
find yourself
diving deeper
into the bands
discography.
Once
you recycled
their “Best Of”
or “Greatest
Hits” packages
which for me
most of the time
is not an
accurate
reflection of
the bands finest
hours, you then
need to peel
back another
layer and start
checking out
their albums.
This may hit
your pocket but
the beauty of
music is that it
moves us and
makes us feel is
that not worth
the paper we buy
it with?
When deciding
what album to
buy look for the
songs you liked
on their
compilation
disc. Use those
songs as a guide
for buying an
album. These
songs most of
the time
represent the
band during a
specific time
period which has
been captured on
their album.
Also, people
listen to music
in different
ways and always
remember that
the physical and
mental place
where you are
will affect the
listening and
gathering
process.
Environment is
key. Listening
to the album
several times
straight through
is a must.
Another way to
hear the album
is by picking a
couple songs
here and there
and listening to
them straight
through. You
will begin to
notice as you go
onto other
albums that the
compilation you
bought earlier
is just the tip
of the iceberg.
Everyone knows
the “Best of”
and “Greatest
Hits” of The
Beatles and
Rolling Stones
cannot be bought
on a single or
double disc.
There are so
many hidden gems
that didn’t make
the compilations
because one,
they were never
put out as a
single or two,
didn’t have much
popularity at
the time when
they were
recorded and a
long radio shelf
life. The music
business much
like today was
dominated by
singles which
was an A and B
side of a vinyl
record. An album
can only have so
many singles on
it. The band and
its management
decide what the
next single is
and then go out
and promote it.
An
essential part
of being a fan
and a dedicated
listener is to
be aware of what
the artist(s) is
trying to say.
The only way to
do this is to
read their
lyrics. Everyone
learns the
lyrics to their
favorite songs
for many
reasons. One
reason is so
they can sing
along like the
musicians
themselves with
their friends at
their favorite
watering hole.
Another reason
is to sing while
driving in the
car with the
windows down and
the wind blowing
in your hair on
a hot summer
day.
For most classic
rock bands like
The Beatles, The
Rolling Stones,
Elton John, Bob
Dylan, Led
Zeppelin and The
Doors, lyrics
were just as
important and
sometimes in
many cases more
than the music
itself. If you
look at many
bands today this
art form and the
power to convey
a message
whether it’s
“All You Need is
Love” or “Mona
Lisa’s and Mad
Hatter’s” has
certainly died
with the greats.
So when
experiencing a
band actively
listen and read
what they’re
trying to say
even if it’s
between the
lines or in
front of your
face. This will
only add to the
deeper
appreciation you
will have for a
band and their
treasure trove
of invisible
magical notes.
Now that you’ve
gone from a
band’s “Greatest
Hits” to their
real “Best of”
while reading
what they’ve got
to say it’s time
to research. Did
I just say that?
I’m sorry. Trust
me though once
you can put the
band your
discovering in
the right time
and place you
can appreciate
them even more.
By researching
about the band
you begin to
discover that
they grew as
people and
musicians. You
can begin to
link their
message at any
one time to what
was going on in
their personal
lives to what
was going on
culturally and
to the defining
moments in
global history.
If you take most
of these gods
you’ll realize
that this great
music came out
of the
turbulence of
the 1960’s. You
had Swinging
London and
Vietnam, Civil
Rights and
Student
Protests, the
assignation of
JFK and RFK, and
flower power all
within the same
decade.
Understanding
and taking in
all of this will
allow you to see
the deciding
factors that
pushed the band
you’re diggin’
to unparalleled
heights.
From here the
journey is
almost over. You
may want to
decide whether
you like the
earlier stuff
compared to the
band’s
mid-period and
late period. For
me The Beatles
late period is
their most
significant and
best. The
Rolling Stones
mid period
featuring Mick
Taylor on guitar
is their finest
and Elton John’s
early stuff is
where it’s at.
So now that
you’ve become an
active music
listener
remember it’s
just a crazy
formation of
notes that moves
us to feelings
of happiness and
sadness,
completeness and
enlightenment.
Music is meant
to be shared so
go out there and
pass what you’ve
found too
others. They’ll
appreciate it
someday. ~
