Classic Rock Review Begins in 2011
Classic Rock Review will commence as a sub-division of Modern Rock Review on January 1, 2011. Every two months, this site will focus on a particular year between 1966 and 1995 and focus on the best rock music of that particular year, with an emphasis on the albums released that year. An “album of the year” will be declared by our staff for the particular featured year, and we will invite much participation and debate from our readers.
All in all, it will take five years (2011-2015) to dedicate a bi-monthly focus on each and every one of these “classic years”. In order to keep things interesting, we will not go year-by-year in a sequential order, but instead will focus on years with an anniversary divisible by five. For example, in 2011 we will feature the classic years 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, and 1991, and not necessarily in that order.
In fact, the very first year we will feature, through January and February, will be the year 1971, a fantastic year in rock with some of the classic albums from that year including Imagine by John Lennon, Aqualung by Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin IV, Who’s Next, Straight Up by Badfinger, Sticky Fingers by the Rolling Stones, Meddle by Pink Floyd and The Yes Album.
Please comment below with any other suggestions on 1971 or this initiative in general.
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The ‘Classic’ part of rock was half over by 1966. Blue suede shoes (almost) started rock and it was released in 1956. Johnny B Goode was the lead guitar sensation for 25 years and it was released in 1958. Early Elvis caused a sensation that put Rock and Roll on the map – also the 50’s. The Beatles and the Stones broke in 1964 with the rest of that British Invasion. 1966 only proves you are too young to know anything about ‘Classic’ R & R – and to run past the ’70’s shows you aren’t really talking ‘Classic’ – you’re talking guitar rock – and who cares about that watered down subject. Go do some homework.
Thank you the comment, Rusty.
It is obvious that much of the discussion about what is “classic”, let alone what is rock n roll, is subjective. Although most believe rock n roll came of age in the 50s, there are those who think it’s true roots date back to the 30s or 40s in the Mississippi Delta.
We have chosen 1966 as our earliest date for regular reviews because, in our belief, this is about the date when rock n roll “matured” as far as branching out to where artists took alarger role as far as independent writing and producing. Also, as far as production and sonic quality, there were some major advancements in technology (4 track to 8 track to 16 track, etc.) and techniques (styles and instruments used) in the late 1960s.
Of course, not everyone will agree, but it is the scope we’ve carved out as our baseline.
Re the Delta Blues origins, three chord rock and roll likely would not be what it is (has been) without the blues. On this we can agree. But likewise metallurgy and democracy – and slavery too for that matter. So sticking to the topic at hand – that being the word ‘classic’, I’m going to guess you agreed on 1966 because of your ages; it’s what you know. Good guess? The fact is, classic rock didn’t start in ’66, even if you agree.
Here’s my last comment. It has come to my attention that classic rock is a finite thing. If you’ve spent too much time in your car tuned into ‘Classic Rock’ radio for all these years, you might be getting tired of it. Although there’s a lot, a person can get enough. Then what?
There is one element that we left out of this original argument, which establishes 1966 as our starting point more than ever – the album. Ultimately, Classic Rock Review is an album review site and we believe the “rock album” as we would come to know it, did not become widely established until about ’66.