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The first Rock and Roll record was 'We're Not Going to Take It', by Los Angeles-based band Twisted Sister. It is the first song to combine the core rock and roll genre characteristics of pouting, guitars and a music video where the dad gets beaten up. All other minds of music that preceded it are just pastoral shepherd flute music or Chinese opera.

Surely one of the worst album covers of all time.

Such a wonderful record. Christophe Dal Sasso with special guest David Liebman - Exploration (Nocturne FR, 2006)

If you call what he does "singing", then sure.

I I also followed that NYT recommendation, but quickly abandoned (those tedious dialogues...). Too bad, because I really loved one of his previous novels, "Measuring the World" (in which he uses the same historical reinterpretation approach).

👍 Now:

Of course it is. Rock'n'Roll may have been a name initially coined to describe R&B marketed to white audiences or R&B(-influenced music) played by white artists. But during the heyday of actual R'n'R (not just - later - "Rock") during, say, 1954 to 1959, there were both white and Black R'n'R artists, bands and sounds that all added to this mix. And of course Black music did continue to evolve outside of the R'n'R spectrum. During the R'n'R era some Black artists didn't change their style much and yet were part of the core of R'n'R - e.g. Fats Domino. And the Treniers from that video always remained themselves both in pre-R'n'R years and in their R'n'R movie appearances, etc. And yes, the Treniers would have deserved a place in the "Which Was The First Rock'n'Roll Record?" book too. Whereas the Atlantic recordings of Big Joe Turner fitted seamlessly into R'n'R, but of course he would not have had anything even remotely resembling teen appeal. So it all depends on which criteria you highlight to what extent. Like GA Russell said: It's the music on the one hand and the perception on the other. As for the presence of the tenor sax as a solo instrument as a key criterion of what constitutes R'n'R (as Dan Gould said) - I'm not convinced. The sax was very present on many BLACK R'n'R recordings but I'd see this largely as a holdover from the evolution of R&B since 1945. It was much less dominant on white R'n'R records (with the possible exception of the featured sax in certain backing bands). In general, one major facet of SELF-MADE (self-played) white R'n'R (which of course includes rockabilly as one subgenre) was the preponderance of the guitar as a solo instrument that set the general sound patterns. To an extent hitherto unheard. Not that surprising as most of the white artists came from the Country side of the two main ingredients that combined to form R'n'R. But again, I think the common consensus in all these debates of where and how R'n'R started and what makes up R'n'R has always been and still is that to qualify, no recordings will have to meet ALL criteria of music (style) and perception (image). One that did not clock up much mileage beyond the singer's or listener's bedside.

David Murray Quartet, Morning Song (Black Saint)

The NYT included this in one of their top 10 books of 2025. I thought it was ok, somewhat interesting but nowhere near that good.

1951;

Dylan is still performing and he’s almost 85.

I believe this. But I'd also be willing to bet that if this chart was "Watch a cell phone screen for more than 11 hours per week", it would be totally reversed.

I'm nowhere near 81 & even at my age I can't see myself performing on stages all around the world, night after night. I have enough trouble when we get back to back snowstorms up here in Maine. I am retired and hope to be able to enjoy not working. I heard a story that 81 year old Steve Miller (now 82) backed out of a small tour at the last minute last year and some of the artists involved threatened to sue. I guess you can't even slow down when you get older in the rock world. You can only stop.

1 Duke Ellington and friends in the Manor Plaza Hotel, late February 1952 when Duke was playing a concert at the War Memorial Opera House. Photo by Steve Jackson Jr.

Kenny Dorham Round About Midnight At The Cafe Bohemia Blue Note Japan Complete Series, 24 Bit by RVG, disc 2

Starting the day off with the wonderful Abdullah Ibrahim aka Dollar Brand with Ekaya “The Balance” . . . Gearbox cd. A gentle slab of African beauty to start the day.

Bruce Johnston, who is now 81, is retiring from touring, and will focus his energies on songwriting. '60s rock legend announces departure from tour after 61 years

Giving it my first listen this morning! Will report later on; great expectations so far...

Cigar match light up, sunglasses, pork-pie hat, composition... priceless!

My wife's favorite Chet Baker record, because it could happen to you. Album sleeve is worth the price of admission.