Blender’s got a fun list this month counting down the 100 days that changed music (link is slightly NSFW), a list of landmark dates in pop history that’s savvy enough to include some key pre-history (moments involving Frank Sinatra, Robert Johnson, and Thomas Edison) and some little-known events (the day in 1969 that James Brown sideman Clyde Stubblefield recorded the break in "Funky Drummer" that became the most oft-sampled rhythm track in hip-hop history), along with more famous milestones.
Lots to laugh and cringe at, lots to agree and argue with. (Go ahead, in the comments below.) My beef, as with similar lists elsewhere, is that this one focuses too much on moments when things went bad and not enough on when trends and artists were good — which is why they mattered to us in the first place. Example: Elvis gets mentioned for the day he sold out and signed with Col. Tom Parker (the moment, very early in his career, that began his long artistic decline), and the day he died (which, in retrospect, hardly slowed his career at all, any more than Tupac’s death did), but there’s no mention of the July 5, 1954, the day that he pretty much invented mainstream rock ‘n’ roll by recording "That’s All Right, Mama." In fact, I might even put that date at No. 1 and demote to No. 2 the Beatles’ America-conquering debut on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. Still, this is a pretty comprehensive list, and I especially love No. 79, though somewhere, Axl Rose (pictured) is not laughing.
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I don’t know if it’s on the list or not, but 50 years ago to the day is when Paul and John met. The Quarrymen (who would become The Beatles, of course) were formed shortly thereafter. I’d say that’s pretty relevent as far as musical history dates are concerned.
Darn it, Gary! I spent waaaay too much time reading thru all the lists at Blender because of your link!
Slightly OT: If anyone ever wants to see Clyde Stubblefield play live, he still does weekly sets in Madison, Wisconsin. He’s a local celeb in that town’s fantastic music scene, and also one of the most fun to meet in person. That funky drummer’s still got some skills. Long live Clyde!
Justin & Britney’s split is Number 13??? Are you kidding me???
Started from 1 and made it to 13 and decided that this list is a joke. Puhleez! How is more important than Madonna at the VMAs? Now that is something I will never forget. Justin and Britney’s relationship – long forgotten.
Are they gonna do a VH1 countdown of the list?
Ok, Ok. as much as I love ABBA, yes they paved the way for the “drunk uncle at a wedding dance”. lol!
Speaking of the synthesizer, I recently saw a fantastic documentary on Robert Moog, the inventer of the first sythesizer. The doc. features Keith Emmerson and Rick Wakeman. If anyone gets around to it, the movie should be on Showtime Beyond sometime again this month.
Blender magazine is the BEST music magazine out there now, but you’re right, Gary, they do spend too much time being negative. I subscribe and they could use some more ‘upbeat’ lists(Best CDS, Best singers, Best festivals, etc..)
Anyone look at that pic and think for half a sec it was Donny Wahlberg? Or perhaps a reject from Battfield Earth? Man, Axel, what gives?
oops I meant Battlefield. My bad
B Ro,
I think what happened was that Axel saw that Mick Hucknall from Simply Red dreded his red locks for his video for “Stars” so Axel figured that corn rows would look fabulous on him. Axel was wrong.
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