This musical journey through songs that feature handclapping takes us back to the 1970's. Do Anything You Wanna Do shot up the charts in 1977. Eddie and the Hod Rods were classified as a punk band because of their fast-paced guitar playing and their ‘do whatever you want’ attitude. In fact, they were one of the last successful pub rock bands, and their only connection to punk rock was that the Sex Pistols were their support act and smashed up their kit.
There’s no need to talk about Slade and their significance to glam rock.
There’s no doubt that Gary Glitter should be featured in this series as a representative of rock and roll. But I thought long and hard about whether I should give a convicted paedophile a platform. Ultimately, the song is not to blame for its criminal performer.
When I started this series, I didn't really have any great expectations as to which songs would appear on these pages. In the meantime, I really enjoy listening to these songs again after many years or even just watching the videos.
1972: At the height of glam rock, you can't get past Gary Glitter and I thought long and hard about whether I should give a pederast a forum.
1978: Warren Zevon released his masterpiece Werewolfes Of London
1979: Frank Zappa released Bobby Brown and his reckoning with the American dream so bluntly that it was banned in the United States.
1969: A Song from The Who's rock opera Tommy. Still nice watching Elton John playing pinball.
1965: A classic song by Them with the very young Van Morrison.
1970: The movie Easy Rider started when the when the main characters bought drugs for their journey and accompanied this with a song by Steppenwolf.
1965: Bob Dylan and a rare video
1962: A little bit of soul by Arthur Alexander. Willy DeVille made a fantastic cover of this song.
1979: The Pointer Sisters were successful with Bruce Springsteen's Fire. But I prefer the version by Robert Gordon with the great Chris Spedding on guitar.
According to yesterdays post I have to continue with the project B.E.R., the so called British Electronic Foundation formed by members of Heaven 17. Their first album is not that good as the ones by Heaven 17 but certainly full of great and sometimes forgotten songs. The best thing they did was to hire artist that had their best times long gone by. And for me are the re-interpretations by Gary Glitter and Tina Turner made this album worth to be remembered.
When we remember the days of glam we also will remember a few one-hit wonders from this age. Alvin Stardust with his retro-styled Rock 'n' Roll attitude and Gary Glitter with his dazzling glam outfit were those who made me to investigate for the originals they copied. In my very younger days I liked to watch them on TV and they were a kind of hero for a summer until I got involved to the originals they copied for their sound.
A few days ago some songs from decades ago shuffled up from my mobile phone on my way to work that I didn't listened for a very long time. Songs by Gary Glitter and T.Rex that brought me back to my very young days. Songs that brought back memories when life was easy and I didn't thought about future. It made me thought about all the songs from the early 70's that lead me into music and made the base to explore music from the past and the future and I decided to feature these songs/artists in a new series. Glam was a very British phenomenon in the early 70's. Many were bored of the arty and heavy bands and looked out for something new. Then some bands appeared on the scene that were different, especially the way they used to act in new styles and gambling with non gender attitudes manifesting itself in outrageous clothes, makeup, hairstyles, and platform-soled boots.Glam is most noted for its sexual and gender ambiguity and representations of androgyny, beside extensive use of theatrics.. But the greatest gift they gave me that they brought back simple and native music. I was well informed by the music of the 60's by older friends but the first music that was close to me was Glam. I remember when I first saw Marc Bolan on TV I was speechless. New saw an artist before that was that kind of different to all other artists. He played just in front of his band with his curly hair and glitter in his face. From this time on I was addicted to music. And probably Glam prepared the way to punk.
Glam wasn't only for bands. There were always a few artists that made a solo career of being the object that was important. One of those was Alvin Stardust. Dressed in a full black leather outfit with massive sidebums and Rock 'n' Roll quiff he gave us some of the mid 70s trademarks in glam.
The other one I will remember is Gary Glitter (though he was imprisoned for possession of child pornography at the end of the last century). I still remember him in his glam outfit and his plateau shoes. Nothing but straight rhythm I fell in love more than 40 years ago.
Impressed by the music of Gene Vincent and Elvis Presley Vince Taylor started to sing. With his brother in law he came to England for a business trip. He met there the other musicians to form the Playboys. His first single records Pledging my love and Brand New Cadillac weren't big successful. He was famous for his outfit dressed full in black leather and crazy wild live shows. Using drugs and his extrovert life-style ruined his career. He would be presumably forgotten, if The Clash did not have covered his song on London Calling. His legacy was his great influence to Glam Rock an Punk with his outfit and his wild shows (remember Gary Glitter and Alvin Stardust)
