There’s an argument I’m going to try to put, despite choruses of “what utter bollox” … and it’s this:

 

• It’s not a great plan to just post endless pop and folk nostalgia, as for every song I posted, readers would either summarily dismiss “that pop rubbish” or else would be into it, but quite different songs to those I’d choose, from eras I’m not into.
• For example, if some of us say we like “jazz”, then I’d include THIS as jazz … but jazz, to others, might be some 50s Felonious Monk or some saxophonist making late evening slinky, squeaking noises from his instrument in a smoky piano bar … hence just trad for me please.
• However, should certain songs be intrinsic to the history of the era, then I’d maybe play two, max three in a post here to illustrate the point being argued.
• And one thing becoming increasingly apparent to lil ole me is that speaking of “the 50s” or “the 60s” is a misnomer or mis-datum or whatever. Post-war, there’s more of a case, imho, that decades should be called 55 to 65, 65 to 75, 75 to 85 etc. … more awkward, yes, but more accurate.
• I’d call 45 to 55 as coming out of the big band, orchestral era, then using sax and keyboards to a greater extent in the 55 to 65 era, give or take, then taking a turn downwards into screeching, strident, showoff guitars (e.g. metal) in the 65 to 75 era, pre-punk … nastier era.
• And thus, I’m going to commit heresy and say I don’t like how the Beatles and Stones ruined pop music. This was how it was in 55 to 65 (hear the intro by the artist):

• I’m by no means saying it’s “great” music … it’s danceable, which was its purpose, sing-able … it was happy music, Friday or Saturday night music, not clever nor complicated like Pink Floyd or ELP, super serious about selves … it was fun, that was all, for relatively innocent kids.

• This illustrates the point even better:

• Going to finish up this first post of two (the second and final being about Louie Louie sometime later) … finish with the B side to that song just now … their song about “Little Donna” and before I play it, please note:

To my mind, the Beatles stink in their attitudes … their song was 1976, the Rivieras in 1964. And another thing … dancing should be joined together, one male, one female, occasionally breaking to show off at each other for a couple of bars.