I recently started a thread about early Robert Palmer music. It has been a blast. Thank you to all who have contributed. Reading it, and checking out the linked songs has been fascinating.
Here's what really stands out about the guy. He seamlessly, and I mean SEAMLESSLY, navigated through a time of incredible changes in music, pop culture, fashion, etc.
He was right there in the thick of the early 70s when we were transitioning from unpolished Rock, protest music, psychedelic, roots rock into "guitar radio rock" like early stones, later Hendrix, etc. He had The Meters, some of the great soul players from NYC, some of the great studio soul/R&B greats, and other influences of the time collaborating on his projects and theirs. From Vineger Joe to his earliest solo stuff, he was "with it" for the times.
By the late 70s, Palmer was hip deep into new wave. He was working with the likes of Bowie and Talking Heads. And the music was as relevant as his earlier stuff.
Then, of course, there were his polished, ridiculously-well-produced, pop rock hits of the 80s.
And he sort of went back to his roots with later releases, but remained relevant.
OK, enough about him. The other thread is for that.
My question is this. Who else did that? I can only think of a few. I don't mean the kinds of acts that stuck to their original formula for decades and managed to stay with that one thing (like Allman Brothers, Aerosmith, etc.). I'm talking about artists/bands that completely reinvented themselves over and over again to remain relevant during an incredible period of change from the late 60s/early 70s to well into the 90s or even later.
Rod Stewart - Dude went from Stones style rock, to straight up disco, to pop, and even got kind of "rat pack revival" at one point. Always a fashion icon. Always in the thick of whatever was popular. He was always recording, touring, and collaborating with the who's who of talent.
All of the people associated with Genesis, including Genesis itself and all of their pet/solo projects. I watched a documentary on these guys. For a span of about thirty years there was a rare chart that didn't either have Genesis, or one of its original members, in the top 40.
David Bowie - Similar to Rod Stewart and Palmer in that he was always there in the middle of pop culture, fashion, and, of course, music. Always collaborating with others. In fact, he probably gets the award for contributing the most to other artists careers. He was always writing songs for other artists, having them join him on songs, and joining them on their projects, lending his name and influence to whatever they had going on.
There's a possible honorable mention nod for Paul McCartney. I think his relevance came and went more than the others on this list. Sure, he has always been an original Beatle, and that will carry him to the end. But, in my view, there were times when he just "wasn't there" as much as the others.... possibly even by choice. He did the Wings thing, a few 80s hits, including the Michael Jackson duos, and whatnot. I don't know. I could be dragged over the line to keeping him on the list. Convince me.
Who else did this? I'm ready to go down more rabbit holes. The Robert Palmer "thing" has been a lot of fun.
Again, we're talking only about artists who completely transformed their musical styles to roll with the changes. Just "sticking around" doing what you've always done doesn't count (not that it isn't a big deal.....just not the topic of this discussion).
Here's what really stands out about the guy. He seamlessly, and I mean SEAMLESSLY, navigated through a time of incredible changes in music, pop culture, fashion, etc.
He was right there in the thick of the early 70s when we were transitioning from unpolished Rock, protest music, psychedelic, roots rock into "guitar radio rock" like early stones, later Hendrix, etc. He had The Meters, some of the great soul players from NYC, some of the great studio soul/R&B greats, and other influences of the time collaborating on his projects and theirs. From Vineger Joe to his earliest solo stuff, he was "with it" for the times.
By the late 70s, Palmer was hip deep into new wave. He was working with the likes of Bowie and Talking Heads. And the music was as relevant as his earlier stuff.
Then, of course, there were his polished, ridiculously-well-produced, pop rock hits of the 80s.
And he sort of went back to his roots with later releases, but remained relevant.
OK, enough about him. The other thread is for that.
My question is this. Who else did that? I can only think of a few. I don't mean the kinds of acts that stuck to their original formula for decades and managed to stay with that one thing (like Allman Brothers, Aerosmith, etc.). I'm talking about artists/bands that completely reinvented themselves over and over again to remain relevant during an incredible period of change from the late 60s/early 70s to well into the 90s or even later.
Rod Stewart - Dude went from Stones style rock, to straight up disco, to pop, and even got kind of "rat pack revival" at one point. Always a fashion icon. Always in the thick of whatever was popular. He was always recording, touring, and collaborating with the who's who of talent.
All of the people associated with Genesis, including Genesis itself and all of their pet/solo projects. I watched a documentary on these guys. For a span of about thirty years there was a rare chart that didn't either have Genesis, or one of its original members, in the top 40.
David Bowie - Similar to Rod Stewart and Palmer in that he was always there in the middle of pop culture, fashion, and, of course, music. Always collaborating with others. In fact, he probably gets the award for contributing the most to other artists careers. He was always writing songs for other artists, having them join him on songs, and joining them on their projects, lending his name and influence to whatever they had going on.
There's a possible honorable mention nod for Paul McCartney. I think his relevance came and went more than the others on this list. Sure, he has always been an original Beatle, and that will carry him to the end. But, in my view, there were times when he just "wasn't there" as much as the others.... possibly even by choice. He did the Wings thing, a few 80s hits, including the Michael Jackson duos, and whatnot. I don't know. I could be dragged over the line to keeping him on the list. Convince me.
Who else did this? I'm ready to go down more rabbit holes. The Robert Palmer "thing" has been a lot of fun.
Again, we're talking only about artists who completely transformed their musical styles to roll with the changes. Just "sticking around" doing what you've always done doesn't count (not that it isn't a big deal.....just not the topic of this discussion).
Stellar blend of rock/pop with African tribal elements and influences. Absolutely unlike anything else I've heard anyone do.
