Ramblings About Music

[dragoneyez]

This thought came to me while I was shooting hoops in my back yard (A lot of strange and unsolicited thoughts come to me when I'm playing basketball - it's strange. Anyway...).

Why does everybody only listen to music from 1955+? A lot of people I know think I'm strange because I listen to Led Zeppelin or the Grateful Dead. But their so oldddd. What I have to wonder is why doesn't anyone seem to listen really old music? Blues, ragtime, dixieland, jazz - classical anyone? I personally don't really listen to any of this either. Only reason why I even know about it is because of middle school music class.

So, today I pulled out one of the classical tapes that's been collecting dust in my parent's rack and listened to it. It's really not bad. No roaring guitars, no polished vocals, no booming bass or banging drums. But it's good nontheless. And it allows you to think while listening to music.

Out of all my friends, I think I probably have the widest range of musical taste (aforementioned "old" music included). Yet, I have all three Linkin Park cds and no Scott Joplin. Four Nickelback and no John Coltrane. Hell, I even have to two old Britney Spears cds collecting dust, yet no Louis Armstrong.

Why?

I'm probably not the best equiped to answer, but I might as well try since I posed the question.

When do I actually get to hear Scott Joplin. Or John Coltrane. Or Louis Armstrong? I know the Maple Leaf Rag - I can recognize it in a movie or TV because I heard it a long time ago and the memory stuck. But, John Coltrane and Louis Armstrong. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. VH1 only shows music and music specials back to about 1980. MTV - that's a laugh - no music at all. And I honestly don't have the time or money to go searching for one of their cds at a record store(s) and buy it [something tells me I won't find Scott Joplin at Wal-Mart].

Because of the way of the world, it's hard to actually get into these types of music. They're an acquired taste at best - especially for the ADD generation. Music has become more of a form of escapism than ever. In a fast paced world, this out-of-place music actually forces you to sit back, listen, and think. For the most part, people don't like this.

I'm honestly thinking now of falling out of step with "Billboard" (I don't think I was very in step with it in the first place) and radio (ick) and trying out something different.

Basic question, if you've trudged through that long mess is this:

Do you listen to music pre-1955, do you like it, and why don't you think most people listen to anything considered "old" today?

(Oh, and if you do listen to older music, have any suggestions?)

[NORTHCOAST]

Very interesting and thoughtful thread.  I imagine most of the "oldies" are available at the library, so you can check them out without the committment of purchasing them.  I'm wondering if some of the old stuff is even put out on CD.   I'm gonna have to check when I go to the library tomorrow night.   I have never personally listened to any of the artists you mentioned.  I did just check out Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" because it is listed in Rolling Stone magazine as #12 on the list of the Top 500 albums of all time.  Listened a few times and it just didn't do it for me.  But, I'm not a big jazz fan because it is too unstructured for me.   A guy at work has a Coltrane poster on his wall, so I'm gonna check him out eventually.  Right now though I'm into 60s & 70s classic pop/rock.  I'm working my way through the Top 500 list and hope to listen to them all eventually.   It is neat that you are into checking out the "oldies" though.  Especially since so many artists from the 60s to present refer back to them as their inspiration.  I listened to Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street" (RS #7) that the Stones say was inspired by early blues & boogie recordings.  It's also so interesting to me to hear how groundbreaking some of those early artists were.   I don't fully understand how because it is hard looking at it through the rear view mirror decades later.  It would be really neat to take a college class in it though to get the context of the music. 

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

I'm going to be taking a class on this stuff for the entire year. It's on Thursdays for three hours at 6:30pm. It's a Listening to Music class.

I think because the music itself isn't really well documented in places that today's music buyers will look. I mean, who would go to the library to look for music? (I know people that do but they look for pop music). This kind of music is pretty much something that you'd find for Historic reasons and not musical pleasure listenings.

It's kinda hard to even think of why this kind of music isn't listened to as a passtime anymore though. I guess there's no real situation in which it would be alright besides a conversation piece or background to a classy dinner party.

[j]

Unless they've been digitally remastered, they're quite awful to listen to. The lack of clarity, the jarring noises...

Why don't we listen to them? It depends on your current mood, doesn't it? We listen to the music that fits our mood the best. On a hot summer day you might want to listen to "Lean Back". On a cold winter night, you might want to listen to the haunting vocals of Sarah McLachlan. During a romantic evening at home, you'll pick up some jazz or lounge music.

So name me one activity/situation where it'll be ideal to listen to Doris Day or Patti Page. I can only think of one - after watching "Pleasantville".

[NORTHCOAST]

I just finished reading the recent Rolling Stone tribute to Ray Charles.  He's definitely a "founding father" that I am going to have to check out. 

[dragoneyez]

j said:

So name me one activity/situation where it'll be ideal to listen to Doris Day or Patti Page. I can only think of one - after watching "Pleasantville".

I wasn't really talking about Doris Day or Patti Page (or other assorted big band / poppy singers). Ick (though, if it's your thing, the better to you).