Elvis is Rubbish

Clare Newsome:

plastic penguin:

Sorry for the history lesson, but if you look at that era, mid/late 50's, certainly in Britain, TV was a fledgling medium and for people to see such a fresh-faced, vibrant singer as Elvis must of been a revelation. Who were our stars? Lonnie Donnigan, Joe Brown and the Bruvvers. Hmm. . . .you can see why Elvis and his curled lip was so fantastic. Could he arrange and write songs? Was he a great singer? distinctive maybe. No one really cared. Two years later you had British imitators, Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, so on and so forth. Not quite the same.

Now for a real star from the mid-fifties, look no further than Buddy Holly. Wrote and arranged all his own songs, produced his own material. . .even played the guitar on most tracks. Like Elvis did his apprentiship from a young age.

I agree - i'm a Buddy Holly fan, too. He didn't have the raw edge of Elvis, though. And, of course, died even younger....

You could also argue that Holly had more influence on the Beatles than Elvis - their very name being a play on Buddy Holly and the Crickets, plus their early albums/gigs featuring several Holly covers. And now McCartney owns publishing rights to all Buddy's songs.

But I think the real unsung hero of early rock and roll is Chuck Berry....
 

I'm suddenly getting a picture of you wearing polka dot silk skirts and ankle socks Clare. Are you a 50s aficionado by any chance??

JohnDuncan:

http://www.rikwaller.com/ He's not bitter.

There's THE perfect example of how looks/image prioritized over talent. He has a very good voice [if you're into that sort of thing], not great, and a subject of levity.

JohnDuncan:

Yes - also espoused by Simply Red, and known as Gingery Whingery.

I bet you wished you could play like the Oxford boys?! Not saying you are not fantastic live also JD!

Spit it out gerrard.......

Gerrardasnails:

Clare Newsome:

plastic penguin:

Sorry for the history lesson, but if you look at that era, mid/late 50's, certainly in Britain, TV was a fledgling medium and for people to see such a fresh-faced, vibrant singer as Elvis must of been a revelation. Who were our stars? Lonnie Donnigan, Joe Brown and the Bruvvers. Hmm. . . .you can see why Elvis and his curled lip was so fantastic. Could he arrange and write songs? Was he a great singer? distinctive maybe. No one really cared. Two years later you had British imitators, Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, so on and so forth. Not quite the same.

Now for a real star from the mid-fifties, look no further than Buddy Holly. Wrote and arranged all his own songs, produced his own material. . .even played the guitar on most tracks. Like Elvis did his apprentiship from a young age.

I agree - i'm a Buddy Holly fan, too. He didn't have the raw edge of Elvis, though. And, of course, died even younger....

You could also argue that Holly had more influence on the Beatles than Elvis - their very name being a play on Buddy Holly and the Crickets, plus their early albums/gigs featuring several Holly covers. And now McCartney owns publishing rights to all Buddy's songs.

But I think the real unsung hero of early rock and roll is Chuck Berry....
 

I'm suddenly getting a picture of you wearing polka dot silk skirts and ankle socks Clare. Are you a 50s aficionado by any chance??

Nope. I do though, Gerrard

plastic penguin:

JohnDuncan:

http://www.rikwaller.com/ He's not bitter.

There's THE perfect example of how looks/image prioritized over talent. He has a very good voice [if you're into that sort of thing], not great, and a subject of levity.

Ah, but if he had been more average looking, he probably wouldn't have done as much as he has. Everyone knows him because of his size!

Actually, I remember him for singing George Michael's "I Can't Make You Love Me", which he did rather beautifully, if I remember.

Gerrardasnails:

JohnDuncan:

Yes - also espoused by Simply Red, and known as Gingery Whingery.

I bet you wished you could play like the Oxford boys?! Not saying you are not fantastic live also JD!

yeah I have the utmost respect for them and him musically (if not necessarily in terms of style). But he was the only ginger I could think of.

JohnDuncan:

Actually, I remember him for singing George Michael's "I Can't Make You Love Me", which he did rather beautifully, if I remember.

Who? The big bloke from X Factor?

JohnDuncan:

Actually, I remember him for singing George Michael's "I Can't Make You Love Me", which he did rather beautifully, if I remember.

Are you a closet Rik Waller fan, JD? Sounds a bit suspect to me. . .Lol!

Gerrardasnails:

JohnDuncan:

Actually, I remember him for singing George Michael's "I Can't Make You Love Me", which he did rather beautifully, if I remember.

Who? The big bloke from X Factor?

Yeah

Gerrardasnails:

I bet you wished you could play like the Oxford boys?!

The Oxford Boys, you say?

Gerrardasnails:

I'm suddenly getting a picture of you wearing polka dot silk skirts and ankle socks Clare. Are you a 50s aficionado by any chance??

It starts earlier than that - Cole Porter's in my list of top 10 songwriters   

Andrew Everard:

Gerrardasnails:

I bet you wished you could play like the Oxford boys?!

The Oxford Boys, you say?

Thom and co, are they not from Oxford?

Aha. Just seen the clip Mr E! You are too quick for me.

Oh those Oxford boys.

No.