Genre confusion...classic rock?

dwm74 · #1 11-10-2010, 12:32 PM

OK, I've been into music since I was in high school back in the 70's. I always thought I had a good idea of the different genres and sub-genres of music, but lately...I don't know.

I answered two different ads from craigslist for over-40 guys looking to play some "classic rock". (Even though I'm more of an 80's metal kind of guy (Maiden, Ozzy, Dio, etc), I don't limit myself too strictly.)

So I start emailing these guys, and evidently 'classic rock' is about as defining as who knows what. To me, that's stuff like Zeppelin, Doors, Sabbath, CCR, older Tom Petty, the Who, Guess Who, etc. But the song suggestions I'm hearing from these guys are stuff like Dave Mason 'We Just Disagree', something by James Taylor, Walter Egan's 'Magnet & Steel', and the Stones' 'Honky Tonk Woman'. Maybe I'm completely wrong, but I'd never use the term 'rock' for that type of music.

Is my definition of Classic Rock wrong? What are some examples of what YOU would label as Classic Rock?

jerry · #2 11-10-2010, 12:37 PM

Classic rock is in the eye of the beholder. Pearl Jam is considered classic rock to some these days.

Tampabass · #3 11-10-2010, 12:41 PM

better than gender confusion, no?

zachoff · #4 11-10-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

Classic rock is in the eye of the beholder. Pearl Jam is considered classic rock to some these days.

yeah, I hear Nirvana and Metallica on one of Denver's classic rock stations. Boo!!!

Music written between '65 and '75 is what I'd roughly consider classic rock. Dylan goes electric up to Frampton Comes Alive.

Geddyfleaharris · #5 11-10-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwm74

OK, I've been into music since I was in high school back in the 70's. I always thought I had a good idea of the different genres and sub-genres of music, but lately...I don't know.

I answered two different ads from craigslist for over-40 guys looking to play some "classic rock". (Even though I'm more of an 80's metal kind of guy (Maiden, Ozzy, Dio, etc), I don't limit myself too strictly.)

So I start emailing these guys, and evidently 'classic rock' is about as defining as who knows what. To me, that's stuff like Zeppelin, Doors, Sabbath, CCR, older Tom Petty, the Who, Guess Who, etc. But the song suggestions I'm hearing from these guys are stuff like Dave Mason 'We Just Disagree', something by James Taylor, Walter Egan's 'Magnet & Steel', and the Stones' 'Honky Tonk Woman'. Maybe I'm completely wrong, but I'd never use the term 'rock' for that type of music.

Is my definition of Classic Rock wrong? What are some examples of what YOU would label as Classic Rock?

I would agree with you although I would include the Stones in the classic rock mould.

The other guys I would call classic pop.

And James Taylor is just shlep to my ears. Sorry to James Taylor fans.

basscheez · #6 11-10-2010, 01:06 PM

I certainly share your definition. I'd add Styx, REO Speedwagon, Kansas, Journey to the 'core' list. the Stones do belong in the rock category, though, IMO.

I would call James Taylor, Dave Mason, Walter Egan, etc. Adult Contemporary (back in the day) or maybe Easy Listening.

dwm74 · #7 11-10-2010, 01:13 PM

Thanks, guys. Yeah, the Stones certainly have some songs that fit my definition of CR, but they also have some that are more like country-ish than rock. Honky Tonk Woman kinda sits on that fence, IMO. (I guess Zep straddles that line also, with some of their folksy numbers)

And I agree with all the bands listed by basscheez, too.

aztomr · #8 11-10-2010, 04:02 PM

I've always thought of "classic rock" as a commercial marketing term for rock and roll. I consider rock and roll to be all rock that isn't easily labelled otherwise, i.e. hard rock, blues rock,etc.. I recall in school learning that classic literature is defined as books that have stood the test of time.Perhaps we should consider that as a paremeter to define the genre. I think the 65-75 time frame is wrong. What do the Wallflowers play,if not classic rock? Everything Springsteen did after Born to Run would not make your list?Who Are You by the Who(1978)? Neil Young's Live Rust?

hrodbert696 · #9 11-11-2010, 06:51 AM

"When did Motley Crue become Classic Rock?"
-- Bowling for Soup, "1985"

Yeah, "Classic Rock" is a classic undefined term -- anything people think is good and not recent. If you look at the music that was marketed as "Rock and Roll" back in the fifties and sixties, there's a lot of stuff that we wouldn't call "rock" now -- Johnny Cash and such. I tend to say "classic rock" is whatever your older cousins listened to when you were too young to buy your own records.

Phalex · #10 11-11-2010, 07:39 AM

I played in a "Classic Rock" band for close to 20 years. One day I came to the sudden realization that I was playing in an "Oldies" band.

These days I play in a "Rock" band. Enough of the old stuff that works to not be a "Top 40" band, but enough stuff that's current to not be an "Oldies" band.

Nedmundo · #11 11-11-2010, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

Classic rock is in the eye of the beholder. Pearl Jam is considered classic rock to some these days.

This brings up a good point. I think "classic rock" can be defined chronologically and/or stylistically. For me, the "classic rock" era ended with the deaths of Keith Moon, John Bonham, and John Lennon, which coincided with the rise of punk and new wave, and soon became the MTV era.

But some later bands, including Pearl Jam, have drawn heavily on bands like The Who, and can be viewed as "classic rock" bands stylistically. The Black Crowes certainly fit this mold as well. In the early 1990's, I hated the term "grunge," because many of those bands sounded like classic rock to me, i.e., hard rock with some depth, unlike the "hair" bands of the 1980's.

I think of The Cars' first album as both a chronological and sylistic bridge between classic/hard rock and new wave.

aztomr · #12 11-11-2010, 10:25 AM

I prefer to think of "oldies" as timeless, it makes me feel better at least. For the record, I'm not old, just "timeless"!

Rocks · #13 11-11-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwm74

Thanks, guys. Yeah, the Stones certainly have some songs that fit my definition of CR, but they also have some that are more like country-ish than rock. Honky Tonk Woman kinda sits on that fence, IMO. (I guess Zep straddles that line also, with some of their folksy numbers)

And I agree with all the bands listed by basscheez, too.

You can't look at just a few songs a band did to disqualify them from beinf considered as "classic rock". Many bands step outside their normal genre of music for a couple songs. This is like saying of a rock band did something bluesy they wouldn't still be considered "CR"

Look at bands like Rush, not saying they are CR but they play everything from rock, blues, jazzy stuff, alternative/modern, even stuff that would be considered hard rock.

Or Stevie Ray Vaughn, he is considered to be a blues player but he also did some rocking stuff, so does this mean he isn't a blues player?

You really have to look at the bulk of their music, what ever they play the most of is what type of band they are. Any genre's outside of the bulk the band plays is secondary, added flavor.

txbasschik · #14 11-11-2010, 02:43 PM

Wellllll...the Stones qualify. But..."Magnet & Steel"...James Taylor? Soft rock, I guess. Wouldn't be happy play it it, tho.

But, you know, I heard some 80's stuff on The True Oldies station at work the other day. And on Bob (also at work), they call Skynyrd "country". Country!?!? ***!?!?

I guess classic is as classic does, but...man, hold out for a band that wants to cover Zeppelin, not do 70's soft rock.

Cherie

AcidFripp · #15 11-11-2010, 05:40 PM

Classic rock isn't a genre. It's called rock.

Jazz Ad · #16 11-11-2010, 05:42 PM

It's classic rock when everybody has heard it enough that it lost its shock value and can be heard by anyone.

jerry · #17 11-11-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

It's classic rock when everybody has heard it enough that it lost its shock value and can be heard by anyone.

Yeah, it's funny to see people get up and dance to songs by bands like the Ramones at corporate conventions.

Deathblade Eric · #18 11-11-2010, 11:52 PM

I'd put it as very roughly 1965-1985... or approximately "Bluesbreakers" to "Number of the Beast" & having a 'rock' sensibility (excessive hair, OTT amplification, & a tendency towards grandiose histrionics).

It's not a particularly restricted genre, so there's nothing to stop more recent tunes/acts being included if they fit the mould.

The Stones? Hell yes. If you billed yourself as a Classic Rock band & just played a set culled from 'Rolled Gold' I doubt you'd get sued.

**funkybass4ever** · #19 11-12-2010, 12:09 AM

I define that era as soft classic like Bread-classic rock- Fleetwood
Mac type music- hard rock- Aerosmith and Zep and metal- Iron Maiden etc
I think the guys you were gonna try out for were thinking of the soft classic rock

JimK · #20 11-12-2010, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

I played in a "Classic Rock" band for close to 20 years. One day I came to the sudden realization that I was playing in an "Oldies" band.

True...as the demographics shift 'to-the-right' on the timetable...
What was once Oldies('60s) becomes nada (we don't have an Oldies station anymore), Classic Rock/Classic Soul/R&B ('70s) becomes Oldies, Modern Rock ('80s) becomes Classic Rock, etc.