Comments on: The 5 Most Influential Artists of the 1970s http://www.myhmphs.com/2008/08/the-5-most-influential-artists-of-the-1970s/ Searching for melody and meaning in a world filled with bad music. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:25:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: AppreciatorOfRock http://www.myhmphs.com/2008/08/the-5-most-influential-artists-of-the-1970s/comment-page-1/#comment-307 AppreciatorOfRock Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:57:28 +0000 http://www.myhmphs.com/?p=287#comment-307 NO BETTY DAVIS!!!...THE ORIGINAL DIVA? NO BETTY DAVIS!!!…THE ORIGINAL DIVA?

]]> By: Barely Awake In Frog Pajamas http://www.myhmphs.com/2008/08/the-5-most-influential-artists-of-the-1970s/comment-page-1/#comment-289 Barely Awake In Frog Pajamas Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:37:13 +0000 http://www.myhmphs.com/?p=287#comment-289 One act I think should be in the mix for the '70s somewhere is Bob Marley & The Wailers. I suppose that you could make the same argument that you did for Johnny Cash a few days ago - more a legend than an influence - but Marley did expose an entire generation to reggae music. One act I think should be in the mix for the ’70s somewhere is Bob Marley & The Wailers. I suppose that you could make the same argument that you did for Johnny Cash a few days ago - more a legend than an influence - but Marley did expose an entire generation to reggae music.

]]> By: Peter http://www.myhmphs.com/2008/08/the-5-most-influential-artists-of-the-1970s/comment-page-1/#comment-288 Peter Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:40:55 +0000 http://www.myhmphs.com/?p=287#comment-288 Good post. Actually, Bruce is not among even my Top 10 favorite artists of the 1970s. But I still stand on my position that he, along with Tom Petty, gave birth to Heartland Rock (John Mellencamp, Steve Earle), which eventually morphed into Americana (John Hiatt, Jayhawks). And you could throw in The River in 1980 to sum up the decade - all in all, that's five solid albums that gave a base for Mellencamp, Bob Seger, and yes, John Cafferty to carry the sound on. The fact that the sound hasn't changed much is what gives Americana its familiarity and gives fans an alternative to whatever the flavor of the year is. Good post. Actually, Bruce is not among even my Top 10 favorite artists of the 1970s. But I still stand on my position that he, along with Tom Petty, gave birth to Heartland Rock (John Mellencamp, Steve Earle), which eventually morphed into Americana (John Hiatt, Jayhawks). And you could throw in The River in 1980 to sum up the decade - all in all, that’s five solid albums that gave a base for Mellencamp, Bob Seger, and yes, John Cafferty to carry the sound on. The fact that the sound hasn’t changed much is what gives Americana its familiarity and gives fans an alternative to whatever the flavor of the year is.

]]> By: Bill Altreuter http://www.myhmphs.com/2008/08/the-5-most-influential-artists-of-the-1970s/comment-page-1/#comment-287 Bill Altreuter Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:28:10 +0000 http://www.myhmphs.com/?p=287#comment-287 I have to disagree with you about Bruce, at least if we are using the word "influential" in its ordinary sense. A significant artist? Sure, absolutely, but really what his work represents is a synthesis of Phil Spector's sound, Bob Dylan's meter, and a few other elements. Who has he influenced? Thin Lizzy? Meatloaf? John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band? Melissa Etheridge? Springsteen is sui generis, not influential. He has not moved the form into a new direction, and with the exception of the artists I've mentioned, and (maybe) a few others, he has not inspired hoards of imitators. His sound and his work in general has not progressed in any meaningful or significant way in twenty years. On top of that, how many great recordings did he produce over the period in question? Granted, there was contract litigation that kept him out of the studio, but his 70's output consists of "Asbury Park" (solid debut, if derivative), "The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle" (an advance, certainly), "Born to Run" (indisputably great), and "Darkness on the Edge of Town" (overwrought, but solid). That's not really the track record of someone who is one of the top five "most influential", even if it the artist is one of your top five 70's favorites. Better candidates for most influential might be George Clinton, Paul Simon (yes, really), Neil Young or Brian Eno. I'm not hatin' on the Boss-- I like him fine, but I think "influential" is the wrong list for him. I have to disagree with you about Bruce, at least if we are using the word “influential” in its ordinary sense. A significant artist? Sure, absolutely, but really what his work represents is a synthesis of Phil Spector’s sound, Bob Dylan’s meter, and a few other elements. Who has he influenced? Thin Lizzy? Meatloaf? John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band? Melissa Etheridge? Springsteen is sui generis, not influential. He has not moved the form into a new direction, and with the exception of the artists I’ve mentioned, and (maybe) a few others, he has not inspired hoards of imitators. His sound and his work in general has not progressed in any meaningful or significant way in twenty years. On top of that, how many great recordings did he produce over the period in question? Granted, there was contract litigation that kept him out of the studio, but his 70’s output consists of “Asbury Park” (solid debut, if derivative), “The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle” (an advance, certainly), “Born to Run” (indisputably great), and “Darkness on the Edge of Town” (overwrought, but solid). That’s not really the track record of someone who is one of the top five “most influential”, even if it the artist is one of your top five 70’s favorites.

Better candidates for most influential might be George Clinton, Paul Simon (yes, really), Neil Young or Brian Eno.

I’m not hatin’ on the Boss– I like him fine, but I think “influential” is the wrong list for him.

]]> By: Led Zeppelin News » Blog Archive » The 5 Most Influential Artists of the 1970s http://www.myhmphs.com/2008/08/the-5-most-influential-artists-of-the-1970s/comment-page-1/#comment-281 Led Zeppelin News » Blog Archive » The 5 Most Influential Artists of the 1970s Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:16:14 +0000 http://www.myhmphs.com/?p=287#comment-281 [...] Original post by peter [...] [...] Original post by peter [...]

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