For you golden oldies out there ..........

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Reading a post in the wedding do thread got me thinking and Im posting this as someone who has only recently got out of the bedroom and onto the dancefloor so to speak (Jan 07 my first gig)

Before MTV etc... came along, the internet and the p2p software :Censored: and cheap legal downloads of music.............................

What were gigs like?
Were people more open to what you played?
What was the atmosphere generally like?

I get the feeling from various bits and bobs Ive seen and heard that dj could almost join in be drinking pints and pints, chatting up the lovely bridesmaids etc... Smoking with the best man and if the vinyl skipped everyone loved it? I could be wrong Im just saying thats the impression I get.

Naturally thats a million miles away from what its like now or at least how I do things.

Thoughts guys?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Ooooh, where do I start...

....in the morning.

[mikeee]

Surprisingly easier than now :D

[rob1963]

Not being a golden oldie, unfortunately I'm unable to answer this thread.

6623

[Vectis]

Not being a golden oldie, unfortunately I'm unable to answer this thread.


Oh, Rob ... :o

[rob1963]

Oh, Rob ... :o

:Laugh:

Isn't this thread ageist against the younger members like myself, though?

[gaza]

I think that people seemed a bit more happy at a Disco in the old days:eek:
and were less demanding, off course you still got requests but not great big long playlists like now.

Yes your right about the drinking thing, i know when i was about 17 and was helping a local dj he would often drink and drive, but it did not seem to looked on as such a bad thing as it is these days. i off course was to young to have the odd pint:) .
I just drink water at gigs now and i think that it keeps you on the ball.

[rob1963]

The three biggest differences between then and now in my opinion:

1) In those days you chatted after just about every song.

2) In those days, you thought nothing of drinking while working.

3) In those days your music collection usually weighed more than you did.

[Excalibur]

Ooooh, where do I start...

....in the morning.

Ooooh, where do I start...

Tonight, but I'll have to be quick, as it'll soon be my bedtime. I can't stay up past 9pm at my age. :( :( :(

[DJ James Lake]

People did seem to be more up for a party in those days.

[StarZSoundS]

The music was and artists were that much better.


They had a succesion of hits instead of one.The charts were full of Bowie,Stewart,Mercury and Elton to name but a few.None of todays Artists are fit to lace the boots of acts like these.


Only very rarely did somebody FEATURE with another artist(because they weren't strong enough on their own!!).Only rarely did acts re-hash (remix for you younger ones) because the artists in those days were bright enough to write their own original stuff.


I don't knock all modern music........just 95% of it.Our job would be a lot easier with a bit more quality nowadays??

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

People did seem to be more up for a party in those days.

I agree.

[Reminisce disco]

3) In those days your music collection usually weighed more than you did.

Doubtful in my case ha! :D

[Jonathan Ford]

I don't know if I'm a "golden oldie" or not, but I started in the early nineties.

A couple of weeks ago, I did a gig for a guy I used to work with a lot when I started, and we got to reminiscing. The biggest thing I've noticed is how crowds back then seemed far more tolerant. If you picked a bad track, as we all do from time to time, people were less inclined to disappear, they'd stay on the dance floor and wait for the next track. Same with requests; over the last couple of years, I've noticed people requesting a song, dancing to that song, and then clearing off again, even though the track you've followed it with works.

Also, there were a number of "big" songs that almost had to be played at every gig, and would always work - not the case these days.

All in all, I suppose I'd say that the modern crowd is far more fickle than when I started.

[rob1963]

3) In those days your music collection usually weighed more than you did.


Doubtful in my case ha! :D

Not in mine!

I remember very clearly having 4 boxes of 7 inch singles, each weighing 3 stone, so that was 12 stone for starters...and then there were my boxes of 12 inch singles & DMC albums.

[PropellerHeadCase]

The music was and artists were that much better.

Sorry, but that reply just smacks of sitting on your porch, in your rocking chair with your shotgun under your blanket waiting for the pesky kids to come mess up your lawn.



They had a succesion of hits instead of one. The charts were full of Bowie,Stewart,Mercury and Elton to name but a few.None of todays Artists are fit to lace the boots of acts like these.

Successions of hits? Like Madonna (still), EMINEM, Gwen Stefani, even Akon (who DOES write his own music and was the reason that Stefani's 'Sweet Escape' sounds the way it does... he co-WROTE it).

Let us not forget that when teenagers were getting into the Beatles and the Stones their parents thought that this new rock music and these long-haired louts were not a patch on Sinatra or Martin or Miller or Cole.



Only very rarely did somebody FEATURE with another artist(because they weren't strong enough on their own!!).

That, too, is rubbish, both Motown and Stax thrived on behind the scenes and in the studio collaborations - it's not about 'weakness' it's about the whole being greater than the sum of it's parts. The difference between now and then is that a lot of this behind the scenes work went uncredited.



Only rarely did acts re-hash (remix for you younger ones) because the artists in those days were bright enough to write their own original stuff.

More rubbish, it was EXTREMELY common for acts to copy, cover and rehash each other in the burgeoning Rock n Roll scene of the mid-to-late 50s, sometimes with mere months between the original version and the first cover, and this carried on into the 60s, for example:

Twist and Shout:
1961 - The Top Notes
1962 - The Isley Brothers
1962 - Brian Poole & the Tremeloes
1963 - The Beatles
1967 - The Mamas & the Papas

Would you slate The Isley Brothers, The Beatles AND The Mamas & the Papas for doing a cover of the same song? And with only 5 or so years between the first and last versions?

Sinatra wrote little if any of his own music, Elvis wrote none - were they not 'bright'?



I don't knock all modern music........just 95% of it.Our job would be a lot easier with a bit more quality nowadays??

Our job would be a lot easier if there were less genres. These days it's quite possible for two people to have broad taste in music yet still no commonality of taste.

The problem with the extremely subjective cry of 'More quality' is that if a style is not to your taste you're going to say it's not quality, more so the older you get (I know I'm less tolerant of more of the current chart topping R'n'B than I used to be).

But if music stopped generating new genres where would we be?

[spin mobile disco]

Crouds have changed I think. Although not in all areas. Yes parties seemed more 'full on' but thats not to say it still doesnt happen. Maybe its that the really good gigs from those days stick in your mind and you cant remember the empty dance floor ones? makes sense anyway.

[DJ James Lake]

I dont think it has much to do with music as there are plenty of good artists and tracks about now, probably more now I would say.

I think there are a few factors.

(1) There were a lot less mobile dj's about back then which made it more of a novelty, these days I'm surprised there arent dj's in the supermarkets.

(2) Peer pressure (a big part I think). Back then people didnt care if they could dance well or not, they just had a good time. Nowadays everybody cares too much about stree cred.

These are just some of my theories

[NKR]

these days I'm surprised there arent dj's in the supermarkets.


You trying to move in on my turf?

[Corabar Steve]

Let us not forget that when teenagers were getting into the Beatles and the Stones their parents thought that this new rock music and these long-haired louts were not a patch on Sinatra or Martin or Miller or Cole.

They're not

More rubbish, it was EXTREMELY common for acts to copy, cover and rehash each other in the burgeoning Rock n Roll scene of the mid-to-late 50s, sometimes with mere months between the original version and the first cover, and this carried on into the 60s, Such as 2 versions of Singing the blues being in the charts simultaneously

[kilmeedyman]

Look at Unchained Melody. Not only four different artists but at the same time!!!

Jimmy Young, Al Hibbler, Les Baxter and Liberace all in the charts with this song in May/June 1955

[StarZSoundS]

Sorry, but that reply just smacks of sitting on your porch, in your rocking chair with your shotgun under your blanket waiting for the pesky kids to come mess up your lawn.




Successions of hits? Like Madonna (still), EMINEM, Gwen Stefani, even Akon (who DOES write his own music and was the reason that Stefani's 'Sweet Escape' sounds the way it does... he co-WROTE it).

Let us not forget that when teenagers were getting into the Beatles and the Stones their parents thought that this new rock music and these long-haired louts were not a patch on Sinatra or Martin or Miller or Cole.




That, too, is rubbish, both Motown and Stax thrived on behind the scenes and in the studio collaborations - it's not about 'weakness' it's about the whole being greater than the sum of it's parts. The difference between now and then is that a lot of this behind the scenes work went uncredited.




More rubbish, it was EXTREMELY common for acts to copy, cover and rehash each other in the burgeoning Rock n Roll scene of the mid-to-late 50s, sometimes with mere months between the original version and the first cover, and this carried on into the 60s, for example:

Twist and Shout:
1961 - The Top Notes
1962 - The Isley Brothers
1962 - Brian Poole & the Tremeloes
1963 - The Beatles
1967 - The Mamas & the Papas

Would you slate The Isley Brothers, The Beatles AND The Mamas & the Papas for doing a cover of the same song? And with only 5 or so years between the first and last versions?

Sinatra wrote little if any of his own music, Elvis wrote none - were they not 'bright'?




Our job would be a lot easier if there were less genres. These days it's quite possible for two people to have broad taste in music yet still no commonality of taste.

The problem with the extremely subjective cry of 'More quality' is that if a style is not to your taste you're going to say it's not quality, more so the older you get (I know I'm less tolerant of more of the current chart topping R'n'B than I used to be).

But if music stopped generating new genres where would we be?




And how many of todays tunes you gonna be whistling in 20 years time.Classics like Bonkers....Low.....Day and Night....I suppose.Even your example of Gwen Stefani.........can't remember how it goes??

[Mayhem 1]

Good question,

I personally think the best time to have been a DJ is late 70s - early 80s

1) The audience was definitely more party orientated

2) The tunes that were about ie; Hernandez - Born to be alive - Sylvester - You make me feel and Edwin Starr - Contact were the best floor fillers ever especially if you played the 12” version. And of course not forgetting the tunes from films like Saturday Night Fever!!!

They were fantastic times, and no R&B anywhere - “Good Times”

[Excalibur]

I
(1) There were a lot less mobile dj's about back then which made it more of a novelty, these days I'm surprised there arent dj's in the supermarkets.



You trying to move in on my turf?
I'm in a Supermarket next week. :sofa:


Good question,

I personally think the best time to have been a DJ is late 70s - early 80s

1) The audience was definitely more party orientated

2) The tunes that were about ie; Hernandez - Born to be alive - Sylvester - You make me feel and Edwin Starr - Contact were the best floor fillers ever especially if you played the 12” version. And of course not forgetting the tunes from films like Saturday Night Fever!!!

They were fantastic times, and no R&B anywhere - “Good Times”

Amen Brother. :approve:

OK, my input. Discos were a special occasion then, and folk didn't have as big music collections as us. Now when eight year olds have a 5Tb hard drive filled with MP3's we don't have the edge in that department we once had.

Gear? Well, in those days if it didn't exist, you built it, lighting especially. I fondly remember a controller, a Pulsar Zero 2250. It only did sound to light, 3channel, and had no controls, just sound in, and power out. Sales pitch was you plugged it in and forgot it. Yeah, until you had dead air, cos no sound=no light! :bang:
Jumping records, well that was just par for the course, you always had money in your pocket, in case you needed to put in on the arms. And how much damage you could do to a stylus, and still get it to play was amazing! :D

And Propeller, there you go again, firmly insisting on letting the facts get in the way of a good story. :p :D :D We all know Nostalgia wears rose tinted glasses. ;) I agree with Starz, but grudgingly accept that Propeller's facts are correct. :( :( :( Git. :p

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

And how many of todays tunes you gonna be whistling in 20 years time.Classics like Bonkers....Low.....Day and Night....I suppose.Even your example of Gwen Stefani.........can't remember how it goes??

People have been saying that about songs in the chart for as long as I can remember.

They said it in the 80s, 90s and are still saying it. Look how popular 80s music is currently.

It takes a while for something to become a classic.

[Excalibur]

People have been saying that about songs in the chart for as long as I can remember.

They said it in the 80s, 90s and are still saying it. Look how popular 80s music is currently.
It takes a while for something to become a classic.

Not in my house. ;) Can't be doing with all this modern stuff. :(

[BeerFunk]

We had a thread about likely 'classics' from the 00's before - and there were more than you would have thought :)

[NKR]

I am currently revisiting some of my mid to late 90's stuff and its going down quite well. Gettin Jiggy With it and Five - Keep on Moving are now staples in my wedding sets and getting great reactions again.

We just keep finding stuff loitering in the CD box and giving it a go - thats how classics come about when you rediscover them. Anything that has become a classic was probably played to death originally and became hated.

I am the one and only - watch the reaction to that by younger crowds. Chesney bloody Hawks is a cult legend.

I don't know I think if you get the right crowd these days its still really good party. Its just more people feel because the Jones's had a party they should and it becomes one up manship. Those that just fancy a good shindig still go for it.

Thats my humble opinion and since my profile states I have been DJ'ing since the 1800's I should know !!!!!

[Jonathan Ford]

I am currently revisiting some of my mid to late 90's stuff and its going down quite well. Gettin Jiggy With it and Five - Keep on Moving are now staples in my wedding sets and getting great reactions again.

We just keep finding stuff loitering in the CD box and giving it a go - thats how classics come about when you rediscover them. Anything that has become a classic was probably played to death originally and became hated.

I am the one and only - watch the reaction to that by younger crowds. Chesney bloody Hawks is a cult legend.

I don't know I think if you get the right crowd these days its still really good party. Its just more people feel because the Jones's had a party they should and it becomes one up manship. Those that just fancy a good shindig still go for it.

Thats my humble opinion and since my profile states I have been DJ'ing since the 1800's I should know !!!!!

Funny you should mention Five. I had a request for Five at a wedding a couple of weeks ago - I must've taken it out of my box FIVE years ago!!

[DJ Jules]

I am the one and only - watch the reaction to that by younger crowds. Chesney bloody Hawks is a cult legend.

I did an 18th back in March where this was requested and to my absolute horror I realised that the track was actually No.1 the week that the the birthday girl was born!! It's horrifying for me because I was in secondary school at the time and I don't consider myself that "old"

I agree though, the 90's seems to be becoming the new 80's at the moment, tracks from the likes of Chesney Hawkes, Five, Steps, Backstreet Boys, Bryan Adams, Snap, 2 Unlimited Cher, The Shamen, Will Smith and Take that are all going down well at the moment.

Check this list out, it brings back a few memories for me (not necessarily good!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_number-one_singles_from_the_1990s_(UK)

Julian

[NKR]

I know its scarey I was at high school when Chesney was number 1 too. Oh well you are only as old as you feel.

The point I am getting over is in 18 years time some of the current chart stuff that seems dross may make it into that status (a lot of it won't). Take a step back and take a look at some the artists producing stuff at the moment.

I actually think Dizzee Rascal is a very talented indivdual crossing over a number of audiences and genres with ease. He is making fusion hip hop, rap, dance tracks and they are genious. The bass on bonkers is mind blowing when run through subs.

Mika's cover of Lady Ga Ga on radio one last week was genious, so there are good artists out there. If you look through the 70's bar the usual suspects the rest was complete dross.

[StarZSoundS]

If you look through the 70's bar the usual suspects the rest was complete dross.

Thats very brave of you!!:eek:

[jc light and sound]

Hi guys what a great subject,i started djing way back in the early eighties the rig consisted of 4 x 3ft light screens par 36 spots par 36 movers light bulb boxes rope light the sound system was Roger Squires boxes powered by 2 Mcgregor amplifiers Citronic Hawaii decks and if you were posh you would have a smoke machine.
We used to gig for £25/£35 per night i remember a local club i used to play along with other well known djs including Paul from Paul James Promotions and some of you may remember Lee James who did the Beacon Radio Roadshows we were all competing for the work at £25 per gig.
I saw Paul only a few weeks ago and we were disusing this very subject we both agreed now the business has changed but with that so have peoples perception on mobile djing, i find now it a more professional job to do obviously our rates are a lot higher than back then but clients know what they are looking for and you just have to find your part of the market place to supply.
It still is as much fun to me now as it was back then every gig a challenge and with the way our equipment suppliers keep producing new and exciting ideas it keeps you fresh much to the dismay of my other half who would still like me to own the screens and par 36 pins etc.
Great forum guys keep up the good work.

[StarZSoundS]

I know its scarey I was at high school when Chesney was number 1 too. Oh well you are only as old as you feel.

The point I am getting over is in 18 years time some of the current chart stuff that seems dross may make it into that status (a lot of it won't). Take a step back and take a look at some the artists producing stuff at the moment.

I actually think Dizzee Rascal is a very talented indivdual crossing over a number of audiences and genres with ease. He is making fusion hip hop, rap, dance tracks and they are genious. The bass on bonkers is mind blowing when run through subs.

Mika's cover of Lady Ga Ga on radio one last week was genious, so there are good artists out there. If you look through the 70's bar the usual suspects the rest was complete dross.



I know...............


Mika V Elvis Presley


Dizzie Rascal V Stevie Wonder


Who's your money on????:bang:

[NKR]

I know...............


Mika V Elvis Presley


Dizzie Rascal V Stevie Wonder


Who's your money on????:bang:

Not the point I was making. The point I was making is not all new music is poor and it will take time to see if the generations that follow make the decision to turn them into classics as if they keep listening to them then they are.

Killers Mr Brightside will be played for ever just like Bon Jovi Living on a Prayer is.

My point was to call all new poor is very narrow minded. Some of Elvis's music is complete dross and he never wrote much of the stuff himself anyway.

I think Stevie Wonder is the best of the best of the best, but doesn't mean I don't try everything.

Remaining open minded about music makes you a better DJ, but thats just my humble opinion.

P.S. Suggesting you are banging your head against a wall because someone looks at something new and is willing to consider its merits is like telling James Dyson there is nothing wrong with bags.

[StarZSoundS]

With respect.....

I have an ear for a tune....I appreciate some of Chris Browns stuff and I think that the Black Eyed Peas recent numer 1 was so good it deserved to come from the 70's.

As a DJ I have to play some of your modern tuneless stuff and even through my fabulous set-up it fails to move me....no wonder some of the kids need drugs to enjoy it!!

[NKR]

Anything starting with respect is identical to anything starting - I know ..... in a mocking tone.

Personally I think Chris Brown is awful and should be currently serving time for assault.

The current Black Eyed Peas tune is great.

We do actually agree that Stevie Wonder is the best and Black Eyed Peas are very good.

You won't find me coming out in support of a lot of modern music as a load of it is utter bum water created to make slime rich. I just thought I would support the fact that everything new is not poor.

[StarZSoundS]

You won't find me coming out in support of a lot of modern music as a load of it is utter bum water created to make slime rich. I just thought I would support the fact that everything new is not poor.



So come on then !!


Lets just enjoy the 2% that is good together........:beerchug:

[NKR]

I think that's where I was coming to as well. :beer1: :D

[Jonny Boy]

Some typically terse input from myself below... :p

SHORT "THE SUN SAYS" ANSWER

Currently I believe there are as many great tunes in the charts as there always have been back since they were collated into a "chart". There's dross and there's brilliance. Much of it is useful for here and now, some of it transcends. And some of it is by Jamie T. :( :zip:

LONG PRETENTIOUS "THE TELEGRAPH" ANSWER

Pop music is by it nature transient. Only "Classic" or "stand out", quality tunes will be rediscovered and played decades later. Decades and sounds will come back in/out of fashion and be re-hashed and influence "new music". There was a big thing in the (local?) indie scene recently for "Americana". basically the kids (lawd I sound old) started playing old rock'n'roll and rockabilly/country rock and Shock-Waving their hair to look like Billy Fury. <rolls eyes>.

This year it's clearly 80s-electro influence flooding the chart (Little Boots, Lady Blah-Blah, La Roux, etc, even influencing typically MOBO genres (Flo Rida, latest Sean Kingston, etc). Last big thing was blatent 60s soundalikes (Mark Ronson, Aime Whinehouse (sic), Gabriella Cilmi, Noisettes, songs like The Promise (Girls Aloud).

Now more than ever, however, music has become much more disposable - and therefore more transient - than it every was before, and more driven by trends. The cost of getting a new piece of music is often nothing, hence consumers can 'afford' to move on something new, driven by the impatience now typical of a consumer-driven capitalist economy and what's "cool" to listen to. Radio 1/Zane Lowe even has an advert along the lines of "we'll find and tell you what the cool new bands are". WTF!!!!????!!!!

Consumables are not built to last - that's not the good capitalist's way. SO why should pop music? The flood of choice has also made people quick to decide whether they like something or not, and hence intollerant if their choices clash with others.

Also, IMO although "production line" principles have been used in music industry since the days of Tin Pan Alley, it has become easier to produce records than ever before because "we have the technology" - (giving my age away with the pop references, aren't I?)

When anything changes from being produced by a limited of number or artizans who develop and pioneer techniques or products (eg Chesterfield sofa OR recording techniques of Les Paul/Phil Spector) to the point where anyone can produce a record in their bedroom (eg Calvin "drag n drop" Harris, the IKEA of the music industry (although I love 'im ), then the value of an item will fall - both in fiscal and percieved terms. It's all about supply and demand - the basic market principle which drives EVERYTHING.

But despite this, there will always be truely great artists whose music rises above: their music is not like a poster in Athena (giving my age away again), but like a piece of art, crafted with as much skill and love and attention than an artizan would give. This is the music than moves people in their heads and hearts as well as just on the dancefloor.

........ or I could just be talking ka-ka. Discuss. :D

[NKR]

Some typically terse input from myself below... :p

SHORT "THE SUN SAYS" ANSWER

Currently I believe there are as many great tunes in the charts as there always have been back since they were collated into a "chart". There's dross and there's brilliance. Much of it is useful for here and now, some of it transcends. And some of it is by Jamie T. :( :zip:

LONG PRETENTIOUS "THE TELEGRAPH" ANSWER

Pop music is by it nature transient. Only "Classic" or "stand out", quality tunes will be rediscovered and played decades later. Decades and sounds will come back in/out of fashion and be re-hashed and influence "new music". There was a big thing in the (local?) indie scene recently for "Americana". basically the kids (lawd I sound old) started playing old rock'n'roll and rockabilly/country rock and Shock-Waving their hair to look like Billy Fury. <rolls eyes>.

This year it's clearly 80s-electro influence flooding the chart (Little Boots, Lady Blah-Blah, La Roux, etc, even influencing typically MOBO genres (Flo Rida, latest Sean Kingston, etc). Last big thing was blatent 60s soundalikes (Mark Ronson, Aime Whinehouse (sic), Gabriella Cilmi, Noisettes, songs like The Promise (Girls Aloud).

Now more than ever, however, music has become much more disposable - and therefore more transient - than it every was before, and more driven by trends. The cost of getting a new piece of music is often nothing, hence consumers can 'afford' to move on something new, driven by the impatience now typical of a consumer-driven capitalist economy and what's "cool" to listen to. Radio 1/Zane Lowe even has an advert along the lines of "we'll find and tell you what the cool new bands are". WTF!!!!????!!!!

Consumables are not built to last - that's not the good capitalist's way. SO why should pop music? The flood of choice has also made people quick to decide whether they like something or not, and hence intollerant if their choices clash with others.

Also, IMO although "production line" principles have been used in music industry since the days of Tin Pan Alley, it has become easier to produce records than ever before because "we have the technology" - (giving my age away with the pop references, aren't I?)

When anything changes from being produced by a limited of number or artizans who develop and pioneer techniques or products (eg Chesterfield sofa OR recording techniques of Les Paul/Phil Spector) to the point where anyone can produce a record in their bedroom (eg Calvin "drag n drop" Harris, the IKEA of the music industry (although I love 'im ), then the value of an item will fall - both in fiscal and percieved terms. It's all about supply and demand - the basic market principle which drives EVERYTHING.

But despite this, there will always be truely great artists whose music rises above: their music is not like a poster in Athena (giving my age away again), but like a piece of art, crafted with as much skill and love and attention than an artizan would give. This is the music than moves people in their heads and hearts as well as just on the dancefloor.

........ or I could just be talking ka-ka. Discuss. :D

Yep what he said :D

[PropellerHeadCase]

And how many of todays tunes you gonna be whistling in 20 years time.Classics like Bonkers....Low.....Day and Night....I suppose.Even your example of Gwen Stefani.........can't remember how it goes??

Yep, whoo... WOOO-HOOO! Whooo, WEHHH-HOOOOO!




Some typically terse input from myself below... :p

SHORT "THE SUN SAYS" ANSWER

Currently I believe there are as many great tunes in the charts as there always have been back since they were collated into a "chart". There's dross and there's brilliance. Much of it is useful for here and now, some of it transcends. And some of it is by Jamie T. :( :zip:

LONG PRETENTIOUS "THE TELEGRAPH" ANSWER

Pop music is by it nature transient. Only "Classic" or "stand out", quality tunes will be rediscovered and played decades later. Decades and sounds will come back in/out of fashion and be re-hashed and influence "new music". There was a big thing in the (local?) indie scene recently for "Americana". basically the kids (lawd I sound old) started playing old rock'n'roll and rockabilly/country rock and Shock-Waving their hair to look like Billy Fury. <rolls eyes>.

This year it's clearly 80s-electro influence flooding the chart (Little Boots, Lady Blah-Blah, La Roux, etc, even influencing typically MOBO genres (Flo Rida, latest Sean Kingston, etc). Last big thing was blatent 60s soundalikes (Mark Ronson, Aime Whinehouse (sic), Gabriella Cilmi, Noisettes, songs like The Promise (Girls Aloud).

Now more than ever, however, music has become much more disposable - and therefore more transient - than it every was before, and more driven by trends. The cost of getting a new piece of music is often nothing, hence consumers can 'afford' to move on something new, driven by the impatience now typical of a consumer-driven capitalist economy and what's "cool" to listen to. Radio 1/Zane Lowe even has an advert along the lines of "we'll find and tell you what the cool new bands are". WTF!!!!????!!!!

Consumables are not built to last - that's not the good capitalist's way. SO why should pop music? The flood of choice has also made people quick to decide whether they like something or not, and hence intollerant if their choices clash with others.

Also, IMO although "production line" principles have been used in music industry since the days of Tin Pan Alley, it has become easier to produce records than ever before because "we have the technology" - (giving my age away with the pop references, aren't I?)

When anything changes from being produced by a limited of number or artizans who develop and pioneer techniques or products (eg Chesterfield sofa OR recording techniques of Les Paul/Phil Spector) to the point where anyone can produce a record in their bedroom (eg Calvin "drag n drop" Harris, the IKEA of the music industry (although I love 'im ), then the value of an item will fall - both in fiscal and percieved terms. It's all about supply and demand - the basic market principle which drives EVERYTHING.

But despite this, there will always be truely great artists whose music rises above: their music is not like a poster in Athena (giving my age away again), but like a piece of art, crafted with as much skill and love and attention than an artizan would give. This is the music than moves people in their heads and hearts as well as just on the dancefloor.

........ or I could just be talking ka-ka. Discuss. :D

Have you been reading Steve Albini?

[Tony Scott]

I think that people seemed a bit more happy at a Disco in the old days:eek: and were less demanding


People did seem to be more up for a party in those days.


Also, there were a number of "big" songs that almost had to be played at every gig, and would always work - not the case these days.

All in all, I suppose I'd say that the modern crowd is far more fickle than when I started.

What kind of gigs are you lot doing? I'm having more fun now than I ever have!

Big tunes, great nights and great punters........I'd say things are easier now than they were back in the old days, maybe it's just me?? :confused: :)





Have you been reading Steve Albini?[/QUOTE]

[Excalibur]

It's just you Tony, jammy git. :p

I get a fair few gruellers. :(