Re: [Harp-L] the difference between funk and blues; a response to JR Ross

[billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Mike, I respectfully but strongly disagree. I lived through that era. It was my day, when my colours were bright and troubles few and girlfriends many. That was my time. Zep was *never* pop music (well maybe briefly much later when they sold out put out that stupid horrible stuff like "Hot Dog", wtf). 

The pop music of that day was Monkees (who I hated) Day Dream Believer, Association, Partridge Family (are you f'en kiddin' me?? - we said that a lot in NJ) Motown (which I loved also) stuff like that. In the late 70's kids like me who were listening to that sexy Night Bird on the rebel FM band, WNEW out of NYC were listing to what was then "alternative" music like Led Zeppelin, Sabbath, Yes, Pink Floyd, Creedence, Hocus Pocus, Deep Purple etc. NOT pop music. The pop crap was on scratchy 77 AM WABC and said Cousin Brucie. That was for teeny-boppers, we were the kids smoking weed, hanging out on the street corners in ripped up jeans (that were not bought 'distressed'), smoking weed and chooglin 40oz Stegmeiers and kicking ass. And NOT listening to pop music. unless it was some cool motown stuff. nobody could deny marvin gaye. nobody. I'll never forget the time I heard Stairway to Heaven, late at night laying in my bed on a high school school night thanking the stairs that dad hadn't
 caught me coming in wasted.

Certainly not the great blues based Zep hits like "Since I've Been Loving You" and "Killing Floor". You never heard Cousin Brucie playing that stuff. Just want to set the record straight from someone who was there and lived it. We were dark outcasts who listened to that stuff, and the anti-pop crowd.

Ye blaspheme sir. I know you are younger than my 50 years. This is how it was. Maybe later after it passed it might have come off as pop, but not in the day when it was real and fresh. That's why I loved it so much.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Oh yeah, and gas was 50 cents a gallon. I'd take my dad's buick out, race it, and put a buck in the tank and he was none the wiser. except that one time when mom took it shopping  the next day and the carb linkage stuck and shot her down route 10 at about 90 mph. she lived, thank the stars. i almost didn't. pop drank a lot and held no quarter. you know what i'm saying smo-joe?

Harp content: I'd love to hear some Stevie Ray + Butterfield. Is that recorded somewhere?

Bill

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Mike Fugazzi <mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx>
> Exactly.  We tend to look at the past through rose-colored classes when it comes 
> to a lot of music.  This extends beyond blues.  Many of us who enjoy classic 
> rock complain about contemporary radio, but at one time bands like Led Zep 
> (there's your harp content) were "pop" music.  Or we talk about how awful the 
> music kids listen to is...I wonder what parents thought of their kids listening 
> to Hendrix?
> 
> Or, like in the case of Stevie Ray Vaughn (who has jammed with 
> Butterfield...more harp content), they become "in" after their time as a touring 
> musician.
> 
> Mike Fugazzi
> 
> Harmonica/Vocals
> 
> http://www.myspace.com/niterailband
> 
> http://www.myspace.com/mikefugazzi
>