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Topic: Everly Brothers Rock or Country? |
Wayne Carver
From:
Martinez, Georgia, USA
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Posted 17 Jun 2008 11:02 am |
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| Some of the post on what's country reminded me of the Everly Brothers. When I played their cd for my daughters they said it was Country. When I played it for some of my coworkers who are in there 60's they said it was rock. The song "Bye Bye Love" was #2 on the Billboard Pop chart, #1 on the Country chart and #5 on the R&B chart. So my question is how can the same song be all three? Why was it more common for a song to be on different charts in 1957? In this era there would also be versions of the same song by different artist on the charts at the same time. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 17 Jun 2008 12:16 pm
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As history has taught us, a lot of the original white rock artists came from a country background.
And the early rock and roll was sort of a hybrid of country music and the blues. By the time the 70's and 80's came around with the so-called "arena rock" bands, the origins were pretty well disguised with all of the guitar effects and banks of keyboards/synths.
The Everly Brothers, and early hits like Elvis' "That's Alright Mama" were pretty close to the source, like the headwaters of a river.
It became continually more "diluted" the further it went downstream.
"Bye Bye Love" and the arrangement used by the Everlys, would likely be on a country station today, but you would need some recycled 70's sounding guitar work to get it to climb up the charts.
_________________
Mark
Last edited by Mark Eaton on 17 Jun 2008 4:17 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 17 Jun 2008 12:38 pm
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I think of them as the first country-rock group. 'Course, that torques the testicles of all those who feel that country-rock started with the Gram and the Burritos.
Tough nougies. 
I feel most of the Everly's stuff was smack-dab between country and rock, and probably (subconsciously) inspired the FBB. Listen to "Christine's Tune" and "Wake Up Little Susie" back to back to see what I mean. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 17 Jun 2008 2:07 pm
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| Whattsamatta wi' yawl!? The Everly Brothers were Rockabilly. Actually, there was no difference between Rockabilly and early Rock'n'Roll. I think (not really sure) it's a retrospective term invented by music writers to denote the earliest rockers (essentially all of whom came from country roots) and some who followed and stayed with that early raunchy style. Rockabilly had a New Wave revival in the '70s, and a post-punk revival in the late '90s, somewhat in conjunction with the Swing dance revival. |
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Alvin Blaine
From:
Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
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Pete Finney
From:
Nashville Tn.
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Posted 17 Jun 2008 3:24 pm
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| Quote: |
| Actually, there was no difference between Rockabilly and early Rock'n'Roll. I think (not really sure) it's a retrospective term invented by music writers to denote the earliest rockers (essentially all of whom came from country roots) and some who followed and stayed with that early raunchy style. |
I'm sorry, but to me this statement only makes sense if you leave Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Ike Turner, Fats Domino and many others out of the history of early Rock and Roll, which seems kind of indefensible to me. Rockabilly may have been a big part of early Rock and Roll but not the only part.
As far as the Everlys I don't think it's wrong to say that they were both country (they were regulars on the Opry, and had deep country roots) and rock and roll (since they were marketed that way very successfully, and their early hit material definitely tended to have a "teen" slant).
I've always thought it was really interesting that there is truly only "one degree of separation" between the classic "brother duo" sound of country harmony singing represented by the Louvin Brothers, Delmore Brothers, The Blue Sky Boys etc. and the vocal harmonys of the Beatles, which seemed like such a big part of their sound and appeal. Without a doubt the Everly Brothers came out of (and were a part of) that particular tradition of country music (which went way back and had deep Appalachian roots); with all the different influences the Beatles had no one ever doubted that the biggest influence on their harmony singing was the Everlys (the Beatles always gave that credit). So just my humble observation but to me that very direct link is a pretty cool bit of musical history. |
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Will Houston
From:
Tempe, Az
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Posted 17 Jun 2008 4:33 pm
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| I like Alvins take on it. |
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Wayne Carver
From:
Martinez, Georgia, USA
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Posted 17 Jun 2008 6:36 pm
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| I would also agree with Alvin. I always thought "Heartaches By the Number" was a country song but recently read that Guy Mitchell had the first hit record of that song. I can see how country and rock were more closely related in there beginnings. I wouldn't have thought that the Everly Brothers would have charted on the R&B charts though. I'll have to research the old R&B charts to see who else made their lists, see if Pat Boone ever made it on one. |
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Michael Dene
From:
Gippsland,Victoria, Australia
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Posted 17 Jun 2008 7:22 pm
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Why does everything need to be put into boxes and labels .....???
..... it either rings my bells or it doesn't .... and if it doesn't I'll happily leave it for those who do enjoy it.
Last edited by Michael Dene on 21 Jun 2008 2:45 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 17 Jun 2008 8:15 pm
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I can remember my oldest brother bringing home 45's of the Everlys when we were still living in New Jersey, in the early 1960's before "migrating" to California - and I don't recall ever thinking of them as "country," though they obviously had roots there.
Phil & Don had some great hair, and they were just cool!
Oh yeah - they could sing like it was nobody's business.
_________________
Mark |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 18 Jun 2008 6:46 am
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You can't listen to them NOW and use todays standards to catagorize them. Your daughters won't be able to make a rational judgement.
The records were cut in Nashville. Chet Atkins is on them among the other great Nashville session players. Bill Porter who engineered so many hits both country and pop from that era was behind the console. In the time they were cut, they were NOT considered country. They were cosidered as Rock and roll as that new name was used.
If they had been recorded country, the only thing that would have changed would be the backing tracks. The vocals would have been the same. The tracks themselves are very interesting. You have these seasoned musicians in Nasville who have been playing on the country sessions and now they are playing rock and roll. Many times you hear so much of the country influence in what they are doing.
Bo Diddly just passed away. On the hit "Wake Up Little Suzie" one of the Everly brothers tells the studio guys to listen to his rhythm guitar lick on the intro which is based on a Bo Diddly rhythm. That was real new and cool back then. Now it is just a normal part of the language of music we do.
You have to put all this vintage music in the time frame of it's day to really try to understand it. |
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Pete Finney
From:
Nashville Tn.
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Posted 18 Jun 2008 8:39 am
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| Quote: |
| You have to put all this vintage music in the time frame of it's day to really try to understand it |
Bill, I agree 100%, and in my opinion your whole post is right to the point.
But one small disagreement... 
Even if the Everlys were thought of mostly as a rock & roll act isn't it true that their records charted top 10 "country" throughout the height of their success in the 50's? And they not only played the Opry but were full-fledged members for a while, I think they only left the Opry because they were doing too many show dates to keep to the commitment the Opry demanded back then. So it seems to me that to some extent they were also considered a part of the "country" world all along.
As long as we're talking about how music was categorized back then: In the 50's it was not unusual for the words "folk" and "country" to be used interchangably; this can be seen in the fan magazines ("Country Song Round-up" etc), the "trade" magazines (Billboard, Cashbox etc.) and it was also true on the radio. I've got a recording of the Louisiana Hayride where Jim Reeves (!) is referred to as a "top folk star"! So in those early days of rock and roll when the industry wasn't quite sure if it was a fad or not it wasn't that unusual for acts like the Everlys, Carl Perkins and even Elvis to be referred to not only as "country" but also sometimes as "folk" acts. And the word "hillbilly", while not still used as the actual name for the country chart (as it had been at one time), was still occasionally used and probably led to the word "rockabilly' in describing some of the new rock acts that came from the country side of things (and the word was in use in the 50's).
I know it's all kind of pointless 'hair-splitting" in a way, and all the threads about whether current acts are "country" or not personally don't interest me much at all, but I'm a sucker for musical history! |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 18 Jun 2008 8:42 am
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| Pete Finney wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Actually, there was no difference between Rockabilly and early Rock'n'Roll. |
I'm sorry, but to me this statement only makes sense if you leave Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Ike Turner, Fats Domino and many others out of the history of early Rock and Roll, which seems kind of indefensible to me. Rockabilly may have been a big part of early Rock and Roll but not the only part. |
I absolutely agree with you, Pete. I should have qualified my statement to apply to white early rockers.
And I also agree with Bill H. that the Everlys were considered rock'n'roll in Nashville at the time. In the early days of rock'n'roll, their was a lot of fear that it would kill and replace country music. I have always heard that, since they came from deep country roots, many in the country music community felt betrayed by them.
Looking back from the present, it seems country music weathered the rock assault well for about 3 decades; but many would now say that rock-country has finally obliterated traditional country on commercial radio and the big national tours. |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 18 Jun 2008 9:09 am
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For me it seems that whether early R&R is called Rockabilly or Rhythm and Blues depends more on the racial background of the artist than the sound of the music in most cases.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
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Pete Finney
From:
Nashville Tn.
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Posted 18 Jun 2008 9:47 am
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| David Doggett wrote: |
And I also agree with Bill H. that the Everlys were considered rock'n'roll in Nashville at the time. In the early days of rock'n'roll, their was a lot of fear that it would kill and replace country music. I have always heard that, since they came from deep country roots, many in the country music community felt betrayed by them.
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No doubt that was all true, even at the same time as they got country radio airplay, performed on the Opry, and had Chet Atkins as their mentor. It's not like the Nashville music world has ever been in complete agreement about the various directions the music takes, then or now!
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I should have qualified my statement to apply to white early rockers.
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Yeah, David, I kind of figured that's what you really meant, but since the thread seemed to be about particular definitions of music from the 50's it seemed worth pointing out. Anyway, I've always enjoyed and respected your posts. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 18 Jun 2008 10:06 am
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I've worked a lot the last couple of years with George Hamilton IV, here in Florida. On his show he makes comments about when he started in 1955 with his only #1 hit "A Rose and a Baby Ruth". He said in those days anyone that said "Y'all" and played a guitar was considered a "Rockabilly" and his first road tours were with "Rockabilly" singers such as Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and The Everly Brothers.
I never considered George Hamilton IV or the Everly Bros as Rockabilly or anything but "country". |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 18 Jun 2008 2:53 pm
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The Everly Brothers recorded some songs at RCA Studio B in Nashville at one time.
Brett |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 18 Jun 2008 5:30 pm
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[quote="David Doggett I have always heard that, since they came from deep country roots, many in the country music community felt betrayed by them.
[/quote]
That pales in comparison to the feeling the black Gospel community felt for the artists that jumped ship to pop music..ala Sam Cooke and Aretha. That also went on with RR. Lot's of his church people did not want him out playing the same music he played in church out in clubs and concerts. |
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Alvin Blaine
From:
Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
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Posted 18 Jun 2008 5:55 pm
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Their first album was in the rock-n-roll vain, but their second album was all country and folk songs.
SONGS OUR DADDY TAUGHT US
1.Roving Gambler
2.Down In The Willow Garden
3.Long Time Gone
4.Lightning Express
5.That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine
6.Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet
7.Barbara Allen
8.Oh So Many Years
9.I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail
10.Rockin' Alone In An Old Rockin' Chair
11.Kentucky
12.Put My Little Shoes Away
_________________
http://www.oldbluesound.com/about.htm
http://www.facebook.com/cowboytwang |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 18 Jun 2008 7:31 pm
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I think a case can be made for any or all of country, rock and roll, rockabilly, or pop - but I agree that it doesn't matter much. The Everlys were in a class of their own, IMO.
Pete's point about using the "folk" label for some country music is on the money. Marketeers will label anything any way they want if they think it will help sell the music. Lots of country and bluegrass music tried to cash in on the "great folk scare" from the 50s to mid-60s. Over the decades, country tried to follow trends in rock and roll, easy listening popular, country-rock, light jazz, funk and disco, southern rock, and now even 80s hair-band music.
To me, sometimes a later perspective may well give a better musicological view than how the marketeers chose to present something at the time. Just my opinion. |
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Theresa Galbraith
From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
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Posted 19 Jun 2008 7:11 am
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I always considered them Rockabilly.
It doesn't matter to me what you call them, if you like the material they put out! |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 19 Jun 2008 8:41 am
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'Saw there '83 Reunion concert from Albert Hall on PBS last week.
Just killer!
Lucille! |
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Kent Thompson
From:
Wilson, OK
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Posted 19 Jun 2008 12:25 pm
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This was Quoted earlier in the thread:
I'm sorry, but to me this statement only makes sense if you leave Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Ike Turner, Fats Domino and many others out of the history of early Rock and Roll, which seems kind of indefensible to me. Rockabilly may have been a big part of early Rock and Roll but not the only part.
As far as the Everlys I don't think it's wrong to say that they were both country (they were regulars on the Opry, and had deep country roots) and rock and roll (since they were marketed that way very successfully, and their early hit material definitely tended to have a "teen" slant).
I've always thought it was really interesting that there is truly only "one degree of separation" between the classic "brother duo" sound of country harmony singing represented by the Louvin Brothers, Delmore Brothers, The Blue Sky Boys etc. and the vocal harmonys of the Beatles, which seemed like such a big part of their sound and appeal. Without a doubt the Everly Brothers came out of (and were a part of) that particular tradition of country music (which went way back and had deep Appalachian roots); with all the different influences the Beatles had no one ever doubted that the biggest influence on their harmony singing was the Everlys (the Beatles always gave that credit). So just my humble observation but to me that very direct link is a pretty cool bit of musical history.[/quote]
As far as I'm concered the closest harmony you will ever hear was The Wilburn Brothers. They were top notch.
I always said that if I were to program an Oldies radio station. It would be Motown and Soul free Oldies. When I hear Motown my dial turns quick.
_________________
Kent |
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Ken Lang
From:
Simi Valley, Ca
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Posted 19 Jun 2008 6:37 pm
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When the Everlys first came out, I don't know anyone who thought they were country. Or Rock'n'Roll. I don't believe that term had been coined yet. They were just "The Everlys."
In my eyes, then, country was simple, drinking,lost my baby etc. 3 chord stuff.
Only with 30 years of hindsight can we say, "Oh yea, they were a little country after all." |
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Jason Odd
From:
Stawell, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 20 Jun 2008 6:18 pm
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They also did folk-rock, sunshine pop, baroque pop.. over the '65-68 period they melded their pop style with all the pre-mentioned as well as helping evolved psyche-country and country-rock.
Seeing as boundary of country music is so hotly defended around these here parts, I'd assume they'd be rock.
As music continues, the originators of particular styles have their music stylised and re-processed by the followers to the point where the original music sounds kind of thin and watered down to those who have only heard the modern take on said music.
Example: I once played the most brutal and fastest of the Iggy Pop and the Stooges album (Raw Power, 1973) to a bunch of speed metal guys in the late 90s, they thought it was little kids music. |
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