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| From | "Chuck Limmer" <climmer@cox.net> |
| Subject | Re: The Big Five |
| Date | Sun, 9 Feb 2003 23:16:00 -0700 |
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The first five bands/ artists to have an impact on me?
1. The Beatles--I loved these guys before I owned a radio or bought my first record. My earliest memory of the Fabs is watching their Saturday morning cartoon show at the age of 9-10 (that'd be 1964-65, for those of you wondering) and singing along enthusiastically with whatever songs were featured that week. Hated SERGEANT PEPPER'S when it first came out, however. Much preferred SOMETHING NEW and BEATLES '65. Still do, actually.
2. The Four Seasons--Another pre-radio or record ownership favorite. These guys had so many hits through the early '60s that I must've absorbed 'em through osmosis. "Dawn" and "Let's Hang On" were the ones that really nailed me. I wasn't absolutely certain that Frankie Valli was hitting those notes unassisted--like, with a sharp stick--until I saw Valli and the mid-'70s version of the Seasons at the Greek in L.A. Singing outdoors, and complaining of a head cold, the man still killed.
3. The Beach Boys--A fan from the first time I heard "Fun Fun Fun" on some L.A. AM station--probably the glorious "Boss Radio" 93 KHJ (anyone else remember The Real Don Steele or Robert W. Morgan?) Thought the song's title was "'Til Her Daddy Takes The T-Bird Away" for the longest time. BEACH BOYS CONCERT was the third LP I ever bought, and the BBs were the second band I saw live.
4. Jan and Dean--Had to find out who these guys were, once I realized that it wasn't the Beach Boys singing "Surf City." (Years later, I felt vindicated to learn that Brian had written the song and sang back-up vocals.) A minor act in the rock pantheon, but they mattered to me at the beginning.
5. The Monkees--Junior high. I discovered girls and the Monkees simultaneously. How could I not love 'em? (The band, I mean.) Yes, I *do* think Micky Dolenz had a truly great rock voice. Of course, the songs and studio players were beyond reproach. All I cared about at the time, though, was that there was this cool new band that sounded sorta like the Beatles used to. And they were on in primetime.
Bubbling under, in my first few years of pop fandom, were the Association, the Bee Gees, the Byrds, Crosby Stills & Nash, the Hollies, the Mamas & Papas, and the Turtles. All harmonies, all the time. Any wonder I'm still listening to this stuff?
Chuck Limmer
n.p. Bee Gees, "First of May"
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