In your opinion, when did R&R peak?

[Joe in PB]

I'd say late 60's to mid 70's, one exception was Lynyrd Skynryd who peaked in the late 70's. That's where America kicked ass, southern rock, the Brits had no answer for that genre. I recently looked to restock some of the old RR albums I had with CD's, most that I picked up were from 65-72. Lots of stuff that I used to dig didn't age well, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, April Wine, etc.

[Screw_Michigan]

When Jack Irons joined Pearl Jam.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

Nirvana's Unplugged performance.

[BSmack]

To ask a person when rock and roll peaked is to ask them when their ears got old.

[War Wagon]

1975, right when Physical Graffiti was released.

Of course, everyone already knew I'd say that.

Not to say there wasn't great stuff after PG, but nothing better imo.

[Jay in Phoenix]

It's kind of a subjective question. I agree with Brian that your ears are getting old if you still can't hear good rock being produced today. "Classic" rock may have peaked in the mid to late '70's, but good music is still being made. Saying a conversation ends with LZ or the Stones or Who would be wrong.

However, that specific sound that is so relatable to the late '60's and '70's hasn't ever been exactly replicated and is intrinsic to its' time. Times and music change though and if you look, you can find some amazing artists.

[Felix]

I'll say 1974.

yep, Giorgio Moroder single-handedly killed it.....

[Carson]

Nirvana's Unplugged performance.

Definitely the peak of MTV.

Before they became teenage wasteland reality TV.

[Dinsdale]

Speaking of blues shit...

I might have to go check out some of the Waterfront Blues Festival (always held over the 4th of July).

Acts over the 4 days include:

Buddy Guy
Gregg Allman
Galactic with Macy Gray
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Allen Tousaint
Charmaine Neville (they seem to get a Neville every year)
Phil and Dave Alvin
Jaimoe's Jasssz Band

[Goober McTuber]

In your opinion, when did R&R peak?

Generally around 3-4 hours after I dropped the acid.

[Dinsdale]

Waterfront is the biggest blues festival west of the Mississippi, or so they tell me. Some of the bigger blues acts in the country are out of Portland. I have no idea what the connection is there, but whatever. City at the mouth of a big river? I dunno.

Newport is an awesome town. One of my favorites on the Coast. I've spent a bunch of time working there, last time (about 3 years ago), we rented a house on the beach. And people in Newport either live in Newport, or they're vacationing -- either way, they'll eat up any sort of live music. A real Southern Boy playing blues would probably be a highlight of their trip (along with the 8,000,000 other cool things around there).

Is your friend still on the Oregon Coast?

[Joe in PB]

Have fun. I've checked out Galactic on youtube and Allmusic, but their computer generated music is not my style, I'd probably take a pass on them.

[Dinsdale]

I'll be working in LC tomorrow morning (about 1.25 hour drive, maybe a hair more from my house in the SW corner of town). The LC is pretty awesome, even while it's getting its 90+ inches of rain a year. When I'm done working, I'm heading up the coast to Tillamook, where my buddy will come back to the boat ramp and pick me up, and we'll proceed to get wasted while salmon fishing.

[Dr_Phibes]

1958 - 59
Never agreed with the official narrative that when the heavy hitters left, there was a void till The Beatles. Get outside Dick Clark and the plastic crooner crowd - up till 64, everyone started doing it themselves and there's a barrage of one hit wonders putting out great stuff on any given week. No one dominated, the top 100 was just variety.

[Felix]

Buddy Guy-seen him and worth the price of admission
Gregg Allman-great, but not exactly what I call blues more like southern rock
Galactic with Macy Gray-never seen them
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy-a fantastically enthusiastic band with lots of horns, really really good
Allen Tousaint-straight up, one of the best blues piano players I have ever seen
Charmaine Neville (they seem to get a Neville every year)-I've seen the Neville Brothers, but the only one I've seen on his own was Aaron
Phil and Dave Alvin-Saw them when they were the Blasters, but didn't know they'd gotten back together.....should be great
Jaimoe's Jasssz Band-It's Jaimoe, never seen him on his own but Spray and I talked about him in the LTS/Spray guitar off thread...great drummer

sounds like a fantastic festival, don't think you could go wrong with any of those headliners....

[Dinsdale]

Maybe if I ever make it home from this endless "day-and-a-half" job.

[smackaholic]

I was picking through this forum looking for butsy's music to compare to let's turd and found this thread.

Put another vote down for mid 70s. The Stones were at their peak as was LZ and all the other iconic brit rock bands. Prog rock was in its heyday with Yes. Southern Rock was huge. And then that canuck trio put out 2112. The mid 70s was undoubtedly the golden age of rock.

As for the new stuff, quality is out there, but you gotta dig for it. In 1975 it was EVERYWHERE, in mass quantities.

[R-Jack]

If this thread reached enough weirdos out there, someone will say "David Hasselhof singing on the Berlin Wall" , and fucking mean it.

Point being..................... yeah, it's subjective.

I feel most of the time people talk about any form of entertainment not being as good as it was back then, they are speaking less as fans of that medium and more as fans of their youth.

[Goober McTuber]

I feel most of the time people talk about any form of entertainment not being as good as it was back then, they are speaking less as fans of that medium and more as fans of their youth.

Y'all should be fans of my youth. It was like totally epic. What with the invention of the wheel, discovery of fire, and whatnot.