Often I hear a classic song on the radio that I had forgotten about and then decide I must add it to my collection.

Most recently, it was WAR - Slippin' Into Darkness



I started thinking that I heard the song when it was new (1972 or thereabouts) and now it is 40 years old!!! I still think it is great music but I also like a lot of very contemporary stuff.

While it is true that, in the 80's (and still today) I liked to listen to some 40+ year old Jazz and Big Band music performed before I was born, it wasn't quite the same as reliving a 40 year old classic that was part of my everyday experience. Dial the clock back and I wonder if anyone in the 60's was listening to 1920's music while still liking that new fangled rock and roll...dial the clock back further and realize there WASN'T any 40 year old recorded music to lisen to!!!

I sure hope that SOME of the proceeds from the WAR - All Day Music MP3 album I bought from Amazon actually made it back to the band members...but I tend to doubt it. That's another discussion... eschewing Piracy to pay for music and realizing that most likely the artists are not benefiting due to the one-sided recording contracts of the time.

What I find interesting are the you-tube comments by younger folk who are lauding acts like Nick Drake and others from 40 some years ago.

The face of popular music has changed over the last 20 or so years. Radio as a means of mass communication of popular music is not as influential as it was 20 years ago. You begin to see many talented acts are exclusive only to those who have their ipods dialed in to prospective artist's work.

Not to mention various music blogs that showcase indie talent that might never get heard on the radio (except for college/alternative radio stations). It seems that there is much more music around today, or maybe it has always been that way, but only in the internet age has stuff been able to reach a wider audience than local club appearances.

A lot of 60s Rock bands were playing amped up versions of Delta Blues songs that went back to the 40s and perhaps earlier.

I have loved WAR since I was a small kid and i think much of the music that gets play today is not as creative as what you could hear on the radio back in the 70s or 80s (even the 90s). The music industry is so controlled today it is a bore. Go on Youtube and listen to the top ten songs of 2012 and the top ten from 2002 and hear how little anything has changed in 10 years.

That's only the stuff that's getting radio airtime. Tarnsman and Boilerplate are right- there are lots of exciting things going on today in the underground or indie scenes, but they're not getting radio airtime, since there are only a handful of corporations who control the vast majority of radio programming now. Plus, Youtube's top lists for music I think have a lot to do with the monopoly that Vevo has on most online music videos anyway.

Yeah, good points Boiler. Video media like YT along with advertising (particularly with the US audience) played a massive part in the resurgence of Nick Drake in particular. A song of his called "Pink Moon" appeared on a US VW commercial, then all of a sudden people rush to YT to hear more and find out about him. Another called "From the morning" on a cell phone advert, and songs in films like 'The Royal Tenenbaums' and others too. He has always been well known in England/UK (at least among avid music fans, though niche and never mainstream...even when alive.)

Personally, I think its great. I bought 'Bryter Layter' and 'Five leaves left' as a teenager, and have been a long term fan (now mid thirties). I've never been the snobby type though, and the more people listen to great music, the better, IMO. People thinking something is their 'special secret' and the unwashed masses should not listen is pathetic and ridiculous. The more the merrier. Just a shame he never really got that recognition when he was alive. Neither did Van Gogh. What can ye do?

Northern Sky (beautiful song from 'Bryter Layter') with the Velvet Undergrounds John Cale on Piano, Organ and Celeste.



As an example of the power of advertising, heres 'From the Morning' which after the US Cell Phone commercial (T+T according to comments) suddenly had 1 million views (mostly in the US). Its all good. Probably similar with "Pink Moon". Glad more are onboard now!



@Recluse, War are a very good band, criminally underrated I reckon and a good track. Eric Burdon who sung with them originally is from 'Walker' in the East end of Newcastle....Where I grew up. An extremely socially deprived area, both then and now. The Animals song "We gotta get out of this place" (though not penned by them) might as well have been written for it. Still, 'character building' though, and I wouldn't change a thing. Many fond memories, too.

I like my Funk and Jazz smooth generally, this is William Devaughn with "Be thankful for what you've got". Bomb. Lovely Jazz vibraphone and nice guitar midway around 4.00 mins. Great message I reckon, too.

@Biggles07: "Be Thankful For What You've Got" is one of my all time favorites, though I confess that it wasn't until the AGE OF GOOGLE that I finally understood what "Diamond in the Back" meant, and had a moment of epiphany when a friend, singing along with the song in car demonstrated the 'Gangster Lean".

@Tarnsman: For most of the years of their main popularity, I couldn't abide the Rolling Stones (and many other popular acts) because I felt they had stolen everything from the Delta and Chicago bluesmen who I worshipped. Later I could start to appreciate the particular spin they put on it and recognize it for homage instead of ripoff.

There is a long running radio show in the NY area (maybe it is syndicated) called "The Rhythm Review" with Felix Hernandez

http://www.classicsoul.com/

Over many years this fantastic show introduced and re-introduced me to the classic soul hits that just keep sounding better and better. One of Felix's faves which became one of mine was

David Ruffin's Walk Away from Love



and another personal favorite, Tyrone Davis' "Turn Back the Hands of Time"

..Sammy was gangsta leanin' so hard yesterday that his head was partially out the passenger window !

Biggles..

You must have missed my epiphany post on Nick a few years ago.

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3056593/Nick_Drake.html#Post3056593

In any case there is life after radio. My 20 year old son recently turned me on to this group out of Canada:

Aye, that I did Boiler, haven't been around the community Dojo too long. 'Place to be' is very good too. EDIT: PS Happy Birthday Man! Just noticed Teh Cake. Mmmmm....Cake.

I've heard some of Yukon blondes stuff Boiler, I like em. That's a sunny feel good tune. Definite shades of B.Springfield,Crosby Stills-Nash in a lot of their music with the vocal harmonies etc, not bad at all.

I know that Ruffin track Recluse, nice. Tamla was a greats factory, my favourite Motown records are Marvin Gayes Whats going on (greatest Soul record ever IMO) and Stevie Wonders Innervisions. Songs in the key of life is great too.

Bit of funk from the Pointer Sisters, great groove. 'Don't it drive you crazy'.



Love this too, classic. McFadden and Whiteheads 'Aint no stopping us now' . Always puts a smile on me face, good vibes.



Don't care what anyone says, this lass can freakin sing, and then some. 'Lover to Lover' acoustic version from Florence + The Machine. Its a big Tamla Motown homage really, the vocals are outstanding and passionate, she really lets rip. Apparently she was 'discovered' p*ssed out of her head singing an Aretha Franklin song in a punk clubs toilets in London lol. Trust me, shes bloody good. I knows these things.