May 03 2009
Oldies on The Rocks?
Yeah, I asked it … are “oldies” on the rocks??
Y’see, all around America, “oldies” stations are revising their “classic rock” formats. They’re dumping most of the ’60s and ’70s hits in favor of newer “oldies” — those from the ’80s forward.
And there are those in the industry that are saying our music (thus, we who either performed it or dug it back then) is washed up (as one told me, like old seaweed on the rocks — once useful, now worn-out)!
To take up the slack on the radio side, a number of AM stations have begun spinning the sounds of Beatles, Brummels, Hollies and others. Though they’re not as highly publicized as some of the FM megastations, these stations are still showing an increase in listeners.
But, wait a minnit … concerning that “other” statement: If the Eighties are the new “oldies”, then … then what music are we listenin’ to? Ancient? Archaeological? Fossilized? Should we stop playin’ shuffleboard an’ playin’ checkers long enough to “modify” our hits (providin’ we kin find our teef?). Want ‘em to fit our “advanced” age, sonny (can ya tell the double-E’s a mite pissed off here)?
Geez … I can just hear’em now: The Byrds doin’ Mr. Absorbine Man; Arlo Guthrie tryin’ to wail Cialis’ Restaurant; The Beatles’ With A Little Help from Depends.
Come ONNNNN!! We’re not just a slowly-disappearing bunch of aging hippies here!! We’re the ones who brought the “rock band” format to center-stage; we’re the ones who introed yer synthesizers and vocal tricks; we’re the ones who fought for civil rights, freedom of expression and political change in this country.
Dammit, we’re the ones who brought PEACE through our music and protests, for cryin’ out loud!
And that oughtta count for something. Bottom line? Without Beatles, Hollies, Byrds, Presleys, Everlys, Raiders, etc., you wouldn’t HAVE the rock of today!
Much less the liberties to perform it as you do!!
So, back to the question: Are “oldies” on the rocks?
HELL, NO!!
And neither are the ones who sang, wrote, performed, recorded, published, promoted, pressed, or otherwise enjoyed them! They’re not only NOT “on the rocks” … brothers and sisters, they’re ALIVE AND KICKIN’ … bringin’ energy to a just-revitalized society (talkin’ about the new Administration)!
If anything, the music of the Sixties and before is venerated and honoured by millions of fans around the world — and if Arbitron ratings, Rolling Stone Magazine, USA Today newspaper, and various TV specials are right, then the sounds are picking up steam as people are actually preferring it over today’s “classics”!
So, to every nay-sayer out there: DEAL WITH IT!!!!
And to the new or modified AM channels that are playing the classics and oldies (I mean, from when rock was truly solid gold): Just send me an email at electriceagle@rocketmail.com. I’ll guarantee you’ll get more publicity!
‘Nuff said!! So, until about 24 from now …
See ya on the flip side!
I’ve noticed a similar thing here in Australia, more and more eighties music and retro eighties fashion… It’s because all the people who were young when that stuff happened are now in positions of power in the media, music industry, fashion industry etc. I can’t stand it, personally.
It’s like how the terms ‘post punk’ and ‘proto punk’ are applied in music journalism nowadays, as if punk is the be-all and end-all of musical genres and therefore everything has to be explained in relation to it. Rubbish. It’s only because those who were young when punk was the ‘in’ thing are now writing and editing all those articles and publications. I don’t want to hear that The Who were ‘proto punk’ - why can’t punk be ‘post Who’?
Nick, it seems the FM moguls (who are struggling, by the way; Clear Channel [one of the top five] is already making some major cutbacks and layoffs, and we know that Sirius is serious about it as well!) don’t quite GET it.
They shoulda learned their lesson from the “New Coke/Classic Coke” battle here in the states: the Coca-Cola Company tried a “new” formula that went over like a lead balloon. So what’d they do? They brought back the ORIGINAL as a “Classic”. Why? CAUSE PEOPLE WANTED IT!!
Same thing with OUR music vs. the chungabuzzzzpop of the Eighties plus: PEOPLE WANT THE ORIGINALS!!
Mate, there’s no “post” or “proto” except to “music” journalists. To the REAL world, there’s “this” kind of music or “that” type.
“The Who” were a mix of ALL types, really. When ya listen to “Happy Jack” vs. “Tommy” vs. “Who Are You?”, how can ya put them as “proto” ANYTHING??
Oh … wanna hear the band do some serious BLUES?? Get their recording of “Bald-Headed Woman”. Not the YouTube vid (which is alright), but the RECORD! I’d put them against ANY modern “blues artist” ANY day!
One more thing: (GEEZ, I’m long-winded!) If ya get a chance, check out my new SITE at http://docrockonline.net. Now that I’ve plugged THAT, I’ll plug THIS and say “Thanks for writing!”
All the best,
Chuck/Electric Eagle/Doc Rock/