Musical Homage
Last night, our whole family was at a Christmas banquet at our local church here in Kelowna. It wasn't a typical banquet in that it was potluck (everybody brings something to contribute), and it was based on an unlikely Christmas theme of "The Seventies". You haven't lived till you've seen your own children dancing to 70's music; the fun thing that we and several other parents commented on was how gratifying it was to see our teenagers having so much (to use the oldskewl term) "good clean fun". And some of the costumes were a hoot!
On an unfortunate note for those of us who at least vaguely recall the 70's, whenever there's a theme party for that extravagant and overindulgent decade, the first thing that pops to peoples minds is: DISCO.
I have never, ever, no never liked disco. I was part of that crowd that thought The Ramones were sent from God to deliver us from disco.
Here, then, is a pictorial sampling of the music that influenced me as a guitarist/bassist in my early years of playing. I've mentioned many times already that my musical influences as a Christian included Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Keith Green, Servant & Resurrection Band. But here's a smattering of the bands which influenced (and continue to some degree to influence) my "sound" and musical preferences.
Contest begins now:
On an unfortunate note for those of us who at least vaguely recall the 70's, whenever there's a theme party for that extravagant and overindulgent decade, the first thing that pops to peoples minds is: DISCO.
I have never, ever, no never liked disco. I was part of that crowd that thought The Ramones were sent from God to deliver us from disco.
Here, then, is a pictorial sampling of the music that influenced me as a guitarist/bassist in my early years of playing. I've mentioned many times already that my musical influences as a Christian included Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Keith Green, Servant & Resurrection Band. But here's a smattering of the bands which influenced (and continue to some degree to influence) my "sound" and musical preferences.
Contest begins now:
- Who are the artists behind these album covers (some of them will be no-brainers), and
- For bonus points, what is the name of the album pictured.
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posted by Robbymac at
6:36 PM
16 Comments:
Oh man, Disco was SO bad!
Other than the five easy ones (because you can read them, not because I ever listened to them :-) ), I see BTO, the Doobie's and Zeppelin.
In the early 70's my taste in music was along the lines of Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Crosby Still Nash and Young, Neil Young, Allman Brothers, Moody Blues and Santana. Keith Green and Love Song came later.
Good memories Robby, thanks.
Rare Earth – One World
Rush – All the Worlds a stage
Led Zepplin – Led Zepplin IV
BTO - Freeways
Bruce Springsteen – Darkness at the edge of town
Bob Seger – Live Bullet
James Gang – Rides Again
Doobie Brothers – Toulouse Street
Grand Funk Railroad – Caught in the Act
Knowing you I guessed one HAD to be GFR, and found the last one!
Hey Rob,
Although none of the album covers look familiar, i know alot of that music.
About a month ago my parents went to an "Intimate and Interactive" fundraiser at UVic auditorium with none other than Randy Bachman (The B in BTO for those not sure). For every song he sang that night - whit included alot from The Guess Who - he explained how they came up with the lyrics. Absolutely facinating. My parents couldn't stop talking about it.
I have to admit that I do like some "Disco" as well though. ABBA, The Bee Gees. I have confessed my sin. Can i be forgiven even if I am not sure I can repent? LOL!!
Neil
Neil,
In a word, "NO". Repent of disco; it's not too late...
Logical Philosopher,
DANG, you RAWK!! Ya got 'em all!
Prog rock, funk, arena rock, more funk/rock -- actually, I could also have included Bruce Cockburn, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Frampton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, some Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, early Van Halen, Supertramp, Steve Miller Band, Boston, Yes, Deep Purple, The Eagles, the Guess Who (how could I forget them -- the Celtic rock band I was in a couple of years ago played on a tribute album for them!), Jackson Browne, Meatloaf, Queen, Pink Floyd, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Heart, Styx and ZZ Top.
That's enough flashback/nostalgia for one night, methinks!
Hey Rob,
The problem is that I love anything with a good beat, and there is some disco that has a really good beat.
A drummer to the core.
Neil
Rob,
Did you hear about the bass player who locked his keys in his car. Took him an hour to get the drummer out!
Cheers!
Owwwwww!!!
B.T.O. something something...
Doobie Brothers
Bob Seger
Bru-uce.
James Gang. :D
Something...
Led Zeppilen. Remember them? They were at the party... sort of.
A bunch of semi-regcognizable floating heads and...
RUSH! Beautiful! They didn't play any rush during the party.
x[
Gabba, Gabba, HEY!
Robby,
When I first met my husband in late 1980, before we were dating, he gave me an amplified bible and a compilation cassette he and a friend had made of the Christian artists you listed. It was the first Christian music I had ever heard.
When I went home for Christmas and spent my time listening to my new music and reading the Bible instead of down at the disco bar with all my friends, my parents began asking questions about my new "friend."
Of the early era Christian music, David Meece, Phil Driscoll, and the Imperials were favorites of mine. That seems so long ago.
Mycdm,
Hello, son! Yes, they didn't play any Rush at the 70's party, but hey -- Rush is awesome but not known primarily as a dance band...
Bro. Maynard,
Ay! Oh! Let's Go!
Grace,
(speaking as gently as possible) Yes, Grace, it WAS long ago. We have to face that. We're not the younger generation anymore.
Although I commend you on your consistency: Meece & the Imperials were avoided by me because they were too disco! In 1980 I first encountered Resurrection Band and Servant, and I was a very happy camper to discover Christians playing "real" music! And really challenging and hard-hitting lyrics, to boot.
My musical tastes have grown more expansive in recent years. But as Larry Norman once said: "You can't say that disco is the devil's music -- after all, disco is not music." (My wife will fish-slap me for that one...)
Neil & Bill,
Since the two of you are both drummers, you should really connect over all the drummer jokes you've heard over the years!
And as a bass player, I REALLY appreciate good drummers to play with. Long live therhythmn section!!
While 70's music was before my time, as a boy I woefully admit that my parents took me to concerts by Amy Grant (an incredibly young Michael W Smith opened), The Imperials, Phil Driscoll and The 2nd Chapter of Acts and probably a few others that I have fortunately suppressed. It wasn't until I became a teen in the later 80's that I had a chance to hear some good stuff. A band mate and good friend of mine got born again listening to Stryper and remembers a conversation with Glenn Kaiser of Rez (while driving him around at a local gig) about the importance of being a part of a local church and submitting (which is an interesting aspect of Rez's message. JPUSA = serious control issues aka Shepherding Movement) (but Cornerstone still rocks!).
And I very fondly remember going to a killer Bloodgood show... my ears rang for 2 days. Awesome!
Being a guitar player, I look down from my pedestal to gaze upon you bass players and drummers with gleeful disdain!!
(while quickly preparing myself for the coming barrage)
KSG,
How many lead guitarist's does it take to change a light bulb?
One. They just hold it up, and the world revolves around them.
Consider yourself barraged.
I feel great sympathy for your early years of Christian music exposure. Wendy & I once travelled to JPUSA to check it out as a possible ministry setting, but got some wierd vibes that are probably related to what you mentioned.
I should also mention that Wendy & I were third row the first time Stryper played a Christian festival in Canada. Great concert, great talent, but those bumble-bee outfits were over the top and just a wee bit too tight!
If I were you, I'd keep myself braced for future barrages. :)
Me. A drummer. Methinks not young sir. A hack guitar player, yes. With one male progeny who beats on the skins loudly. (Of whom I am overly proud but do torment with drummer jokes - it is the way of the Jedi.)
Of course, how do you know there's a guitarist at the door. The knock speeds up.
Jedi-Master Kinnon,
A thousand apologies. I must have read something on your blog about your son drumming and did the "absent-minded professor" routine with it.
Does that make me a padawan bass player? :)
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