Here's the Deal:
In the days before American Idol and MTV Countdown ruled the airwaves, there was a little thing called Rock and Roll. For those of you unfamiliar, it was a genre of songwriting which, more often than not, contained steady beats, challenging lyrics, and raw, unbridled power. It's gone now, mostly dispersed through splinters like "alternative," "metal" and "hip-hop," or otherwise watered down by every band working shy of Green Day. This now defunct genre had its roots in such archaic stylings as "Jazz," "Folk," "Blues," "Country," and "R&B," and used those diverse influences to create something lively and fresh.
"Rocket 88" is where it all began.
Recorded in the music hub of Memphis, Tennessee by Ike Turner's band Kings of Rhythm--but attributed to Jackie Brenston & his Delta Cats--this tune set down the rules for Rock and Roll. Upbeat tempo, tickled ivories, saxophone licks, exuberant vocals, and most importantly, distortion. For the song features a guitar riff that, for 1951, sounds significantly altered. Apparently, the amplifier used for the session had gotten wet, creating a muffled sound in the final track. This distortion is what propels the song from R&B to Rock and Roll, for it leads the way for the experimentation of the Beatles and the wild thrashing of Hendrix.
Clearly, any song being dubbed the "first" of a certain styling is a bit problematic, as it calls into question just where the lines fall between genres--something none too easy to determine. But whether this song predates all others, or is simply an early example of the genre, seems irrelevant. The bottom line is, this is a great tune that you never hear, unless you take a trip down to Sun Records in Memphis. Something, by the way, that everyone needs to do.
But seriously, you know that new sound you lookin' for? Well, listen to this!
Check This Shit Out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbfnh1oVTk0
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