Who Put The You in the You Es Ay? (Numbers 1 - 5)

Long lost, but found again mogger, Joxley, has posted a wonderful post on bands that are uniquely "British, British, British To The Core". Yet I can't help but feel like a noisy, opinionated American, when reading it. What's you say? How out of character CBW, or for that matter, your country of origin!

Without a doubt and without arguement, the relationship between both Britain and The U.S. has been integral to the evolution of the species known as rock n' roll since it's inception. The take and the take on both sides has spawned some of the best music (on both sides of the pond) ever made. But just like ol Jox's post, some things are lost in the nuance, and utterly and uniquely a sentiment, feeling, or personality that is uniquely specific to that country.

So, as if slapped in the most polite manner by a dueling glove, I offer a rebuttal of sorts for our fine British Moggers. In the spirit of "one upsmanship" this is a "touché" if you will.

1). Bob Dylan (specifically speaking, The Royal Albert Hall concert)

If there is a song more dripping with disdain and venom than "Like A Rolling Stone", I've yet to hear it. I'm not sure if there are many who took a chance, and gambled on their reputaion the way Dylan did when he "plugged in". Up against an image of both his own and the media's construction, Dylan decided to return to his version of the rock n' roll that inpspired him. He plodded on to disenfranchised crowds, boos and accusations of being Judas. In the recording of this concert you can hear Dylan say to the Hawks "Play Fucking Loud", and to the nay sayer's his simple reply, "I don't believe you, your a LIAR!" and follows with a version of "Like A Rolling Stone" so filled with piss and vinegar, so pointed at the accusers, and the artifice of the movement he supposedly spoke for.

2. Harry Smith - Anthology of American Folk Music

America breeds eccentrics. We didn't invent them, no, but there's a certain kind of crazy found in the American eccentric like Harry Smith, that can only evolve of this country. Smith, according to Wikipedia "was an American archivist, ethnomusicologist, student of anthropology, record collector, experimental filmmaker, artist, bohemian and mystic." He died in the Chelsea Hotel for christ sake! It doesn't get more American than that!

If there is one "album" that changed the face of music, then I would say that this is it. Flip through the platters..er..CD's and you'll find the standards of the next 30 years of Rock Music. Blind Lemon Jefferspn, Leadbelly, etc. pave the way for the American Folk music resurgence and the British Invasion. Smith compiled the anthology from music he collected during the depression. When World War II started, many old records were recycled to make boots for soldiers, so god only knows what gems were lost to the sands of time or the sands of Iwo Jima, but the small sampling Smith saved from the scrap pile sure made an amazing impact.

3. The Grateful Dead

Like 'em or Lump 'em. the Dead is one of those uniquely 100% American experience. From extended (and argueably over indulgent) improvisation, to a complete grassroots rabid fan base that itself was a self sustaining economy of tie dues, bootlegs, veggie burrito's, and miracles, there was no band that could match the pure American Experience that the Dead did. Add to that stories of unlimited studio time written into their contracts and LSD fueled recording and mastering sessions, the Dead stand as american rebels, through and through.

4. Richard Hell - The Blank Generation

Sure there's punk rock, and there's Iggy, and the rest of the Stooges too, but Richard Hell may have single handedly inspired the original "Punk Aesthetic" of safety pins and torn clothing. Not to mention a much debated theory that The Sex Pistols "Pretty Vacant" is a rip off of Hell's signature "Blank Generation".

5. James Brown - Live At The Apollo (1963)

Maybe James is an easy choice, like throwing out Elvis or Mickey Mouse, but this album signifies more American-ness than most. Mainly, it was recorded out of pocket by soul brother #1 himself, and almost wasn't released due to the fact that all the songs on it had been released. It's also a testament to Brown before he was a "crossover artist" (that is, cross over to being played to white audiences). This was a Brown, already full of confidence and stage pressence that would make him a legend.

*Clips are presented for your viewing enjoyment only, not necessarily related to the specific albums mentioned.