The obvious knock against the Pistols is they only released one proper album, while the Ramones released a series of great records in the 70’s. That’s very true, but releasing albums was not the essence of punk.
Let’s refocus for a second to what Punk Rock tried to do in the mid 70’s…essentially blowup the elitist AOR rock culture which began with Sgt. Pepper. As concept albums became more ambitious and complex, groups became more pompous and out of touch with audiences. Groups were using orchestras, over-dubs, session players, making their music very inaccessible to the up and coming garage bands. So along comes punk, erasing the Classic Rock era, and rewinding music to the late 50’s…and era when rock was basic, artists didn’t have to record 10 songs for and album and when the vast majority of people bought single 45’s, not long playing 33 and a thirds. It was no coincidence that “God Save the Queen”, “Pretty Vacant”, “Anarchy in the UK”, could only be purchased as 45’s upon their initial release. Not only did these singles absolutely rock harder than anything since “Live at Leeds”, they were also the Pistols attempt to subvert the music industry which pushed “singles” to sell more expensive and more profitable albums. Later the singles were compiled for “Never Mind the Bullocks”, and as a result, it sounds like a bunch of singles, not a perfectly selected sequence of tunes, which on the other hand, is exactly the way “Rocket to Russia” plays, making the Ramones much more similar to Classic Rock than the Pistols. This was a profound difference between the two bands…one was a singles bands, the other AOR and AOR ladies and gentlemen, is not punk.
Punk was more than just recording retro-records. The Pistols were fresh because they emphasized 45s and songs with biting social criticism. If an early 60’s sound were the sole benchmark for punk, then I’d put the NY Dolls ahead of the Ramones because they recorded “Too Much, Too Soon”, back in 1974, with legendary 60’s producer, Shadow Morton.
Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bullocks, The Ramones – Rocket to Russia
Who are some artists who displayed the most radical change in musical direction over a series of albums? For better or for worse. I.E .The Meat Puppets.
Meat Puppets I – Hard-Core
Meat Puppets II – Cow Punk
Upon the Sun – Psychedelic Country Rock
In a matter of three releases, the Puppets when from sounding retarded to refined.
What a strange trip it was from MP I to Upon the Sun, which is may favorite. It’s just such so laid back, odd and tuneful, compared to “I” which was a hardcore classic. When they toured supporting the debut, the Puppets didn’t like being spit on by their hardcore fans, and decided they needed a change of direction.
I’m down with Live at Leeds. I prefer the original non-expanded version. Yes the Deluxe version gives a a more rounded version of the band, but when talking about one of the best live albums, I’m thinking
Side A
A1 Young Man
A2 Substitute
A3 Summertime Blues
A4 Shakin’ All Over
Side B
B1 My Generation
B2 Magic Bus
The energy of the record is unbelievable and it’s a real treat to hear Entwistle and Moon dominate they way the do. This is proto-punk in it’s original form.
If an early 60’s sound were the sole benchmark for punk, then I’d put the NY Dolls ahead of the Ramones and the Sex Pistols because they recorded “Too Much, Too Soon”, back in 1974, with legendary 60’s producer, Shadow Morton. This is also the precursor to Hair Metal.
I’ve always had mixed feelings about this record. Let’s focus for a second to what Punk Rock tried to do in the mid 70’s…essentially blowup the elitist AOR rock culture which began with Sgt. Pepper. As concept albums became more ambitious and complex, groups became more pompous and out of touch with audiences. Groups were using orchestras, over-dubs, session players, making their music very inaccessible to the up and coming garage bands. So along comes punk, erasing the Classic Rock era, and rewinding music to the late 50’s…and era when rock was basic, artists didn’t have to record 10 songs for and album and when the vast majority of people bought single 45’s, not long playing 33 and a thirds. “Rocket to Russia” plays more like the former, a perfectly sequenced series of songs, making the Ramones much more similar to Classic Rock than the Pistols, the Clash, Buzzcocks. This was a profound difference between the Ramones and real punks…who were singles oriented, the Ramones who were AOR all the way.
The Sex Pistols were flat out one of the greatest rock n roll bands ever (I’m talking pre-Vicious). Awesome rhythm and guitar, but what put them over was Johnny Rotten. They guy just had attitude out the ying-yang and ripped everone in site…and was pretty funny too. It was no coincidence that “God Save the Queen”, “Pretty Vacant”, “Anarchy in the UK”, could only be purchased as 45’s upon their initial release. Not only did these singles absolutely rock harder than anything since “Live at Leeds”, they were also the Pistols attempt to subvert the music industry which pushed “singles” to sell more expensive and more profitable albums. Later the singles were compiled for “Never Mind the Bullocks”, and as a result, it sounds like a bunch of singles, not a perfectly selected sequence of tunes.
Of the great artists that exhibited drastic changes in musical direction, no one did such an extreme about-face over a short period of time as the Meat Puppets. Their debut, Meat Puppets I (Hard-Core Punk), followed by Meat Puppets II (Cow Punk), and their crowning achievement Upon the Sun (Indy Rock). In a matter of three releases, the Puppets when from sounding retarded to refined.