DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... What 5 year period was the best for music

I figured alot of us enjoy music as much as we enjoy football.
It's very informative and interesting to read others opinions
On music.
So with that I will propose this question.
What 5 year period or span of 5 years was the best for music?
I'm going to go with 1979 to 1983. Just off the top of my head
In that 5 year period these releases came out

Synchronicity the Police. 1983
Damn the Torpedos Tom Petty 1979
Off the Wall. Michael Jackson 1979
Kill Em All. Metallica 1983
Pyromania Def Leppard. 1983
Back in Black AC/DC 1980
Madonna 1983
Piece of Mind Iron Maiden 1983
Number of the Beast Iron Maiden 1982
1999. Prince 1982
Moving Pictures Rush 1981
Texas Flood Stevle Ray Vaughn 1983
The Wall. Pink Floyd 1979
Thriller Michael Jackson 1982
Screaming for Vengence Judas Priest 1982
Eliminator ZZ Top 1983
Shout at the Devil Motley Crue 1983
Eat to the Beat. Blondie 1979
Let's Dance David Bowie. 1983

Plus in this 5 year period ushered in the emergence of rap
With Grand Master Flash and the Furious 5. Kurtis Blow was making
A name for himself
The NWOBHM was in full force with Iron Maiden,Saxon.
Motorhead was creating a new genre with a mixture of
Punk and hard rock
U2 was making thought provoking music with the plights
In Ireland.
Not to mention MTV changed the whole game.
Concert going experiences were evolving with video screens
And laser shows.

69-73 was better.

Led Zeppelin, The Who, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Aerosmith, CSNY.

So many more.

And the greatest album of all time. DSOTM.

I can't limit it to 5 years, but 1967--1973 was freaking amazing. I actually think '67, '68, '69, '70, '71, and '73 were the best years. That five years, but I'm skipping '72. I think it's a toss up between '69 and '71 as the best year ever.

That's EXACTLY what I was going to post. I first thought 70-74, but then I looked at the years 1969 vs 1974 and 69 won out. If you compare the best albums of those years vs the ones in the OP, it's a no brainer. You also have to add Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Queen, Jeff Beck, The Eagles, MC5, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Deep Purple, Neil Young, Wings, Bowie, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Robin Trower, Thin Lizzy....and that's just off the top of my head. So many ground breaking artists put out great work in that short time span.

I go back further to the roots. I'd say maybe 1957 to 1961.

Major shifts in that timeframe took place that set the tone for today.

Country started to evolve from a folk/bluegrass influencemore towards a rockabilly type sound with people like Elvis and Johnny cash. Hank Williams Sr started it just a few years earlier than that.

R&B evolved from more of a Gospel/Jazz sound to more of the Motown sound with their collection of artists and Ray Charles.

Rock moved forward expounding on country music, again with Elvis and the English invasion.

It's hard to say "best" since it is all based on ones musical preferences. And I have found, especially as I've gotten older and don't need to "fit in" with any group, I like many more musical styles than I did when I was younger. Always finding new artists I didn't pay attention to back then.

Songs on the radio I would have changed the station for, I find myself singing along to. Sometimes I'm in the mood for progressive rock, sometimes 80's pop, sometimes 90's grunge or alternative, sometimes I pop on the 60's or 70's channels (I have SiriusXM). Other times I don't want music at all and put on comedy or NFL radio. And then there are days I turn the radio off completely and just listen to the world as I drive.

But if I had to pick something, I would say the most influencial would be the late 60's early 70's rock. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Slade, Black Sabbath, The Who, Deep Purple, etc

I was going to say 68-73. Just based on the importance of the bands, the shifting to modernized music, versatility, cultural impact, etc

I think there is a strong correlation between an individuals age and their music preference.

I would say that the majority of our tastes are formed between the ages of 14-24.

1st - I'll echo the '69-'74 sentiment.

2nd - '65-'70: Davis, Coltrane (his final stuff), Coleman - among a few others put out some great albums.

3rd - '78-'82 (Some great bands were playing some really good, stripped down music: The Police, Oingo Boingo, The Jam, Talk Talk, The Pretenders, etc.) "New Wave", I guess.

I would say you are pretty right on that. I'd have to say the era of the Charleston suits then.

1988-1993… Jane’s Addiction, Metallica… And Justice For All, NWA… Straight Outta Compton, the Traveling Wilburys, DrDre… The Chronic, Rage Against the Machine, AIC, Pearl Jam, STP, the Black Crowes, Neil Young… Harvest Moon, Smashing Pumpkins, the Cure, RHCP…
Those were some good years.

I’ll go with 1967-‘72.

The Doors, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin’s prime years, Sgt. Pepper’s, folk acts like CSN&Y, Joni Mitchell, and it might have been the Stones’s peak years, as well. I’m sure I’m forgetting others (Janis Joplin, for one).

And I forgot to mention Woodstock in ‘69.

Probably so. In my case I went back to more of who or what influenced the music of my era, which would have been more 64-68....maybe 62-66...at least somewhat in the age frame you mention.

I guess it also depends on the type of music you listed to at various ages. The disco era as an example doesn't get much cred, but the Bee Gees and Donna Summer had a way of making you feel and groove. I can't say I am a big metal fan, but who doesn't like Enter Sandman?

If you like music, you pretty much like some of it all. I don't think any of us were of the age where Frank Sinatra was the croon, but hey, cool is cool, smooth is smooth. Frank defines cool and smooth.

Re: the relatively short disco era -

What 'll say is that, though it gets lambasted (maybe deservedly so in most cases), some of those songs had really great bass lines. Some were on a synthesizer and others a real bass, but it works:

I have to go with the 67-73 crowd. And yes, I'm sure the time I grew up in influences that opinion. But even today it baffles me why artists ignore to use their voice and exposure to say something of meaning. Many artist still do but when you have such a wide audience that listens to you, it seems a shame to waste that singing about sex, drugs and R&R. You could apply that to almost any genre. With country it's drinking, driving your truck, your spouse left you and well, you know...

I don't know man. Everything isn't a political statement. Most of the time I just want something that makes me tap my foot, and feel good. I liked Neil Young, but mostly the songs about nothing....Cinnamon Girl as an example. I don't want statements like Southern man and several others.

But, that is just me, if you like the message songs, cool.

Now story songs, a different deal. Kenny Rogers was the king of story songs. The Gambler being a prime example, along with multiple others...Ruby....add more if you wish.

Harry Chapin was a great storyteller. So was Gordon Lightfoot. Bob Dylan has to be in that group. I didn't like him much, but Paul Simon told good stories. Jim Croce was another.

That's off the top of my head.

I thought this was going to be what year period was the best for being a Browns fan.
Then I read the rest of the title.

I should have added Joni Mitchell to my list of storytellers.

That's where I am at. I don't really pay attention to lyrics, I never have....I like what the guitar and bass say. The guitar riff
in "Ohio" would still be one of my all time favorites even if the song had no lyrics. I still get a rush when I hear the opening riff to "Snortin' Whiskey Drinkin' Cocaine" or that raucious bridge in "Minstrel in the Gallery". I've heard those songs a bazillion times and I still don't know if they tell a story. I don't have a clue what the lyrics really mean in any Stevie Ray Vaughan or Robin Trower tune. The only lyrics that hold deep meaning to me are Christmas Carols and "There's a Tear in my Beer".

Nineteen eighty three>ish though ... whenever grunge came out in seattle
is
LEGENDARILY the WORST period for music EVER.

My Gosh, my Lord, MY LORD, it was very very bad. Hilarilously bad. Wow.

1993-1997!

Your first link - first snippet: What's the frequency Kenneth.

Few years ago, at some friends house - 4 of us, and one of their daughters. Daughter was talking about someone she worked with. Kenneth. She kinda liked him, but said she couldn't make sense of him. When she got done talking I just asked her "Have you tried asking him What's the Frequency Kenneth?" She just stared at me, while her mom started laughing instantly.

In the past week, sadly after more than many hundred listens, over decades>> yep this WeeK I realized that the song "call on meee" by steve winwood, was actually a song called "Valerie" by steve winwood.

I remember driving to work hearing REM over and over and over, and finding out that the station went to a rap format. It was a truly sad moment in radio history. ;(

I used to pick up the station every morning between Mineral Ridge and Newton Falls. It really got my morning going.

Lol. I remember that... "107.9 The End". They played The End of the World As We Know It on a 24 loop; on their way out the door after the sale to Clear Channel.

Thanks for the flashback!

Yep.

If I want poetry, I have a few books with some of the classics. I reach for one and read those for a while. Lyrics are a afterthought when listening to music. The music is what moves me, not the lyrics. Well, most of the time. Some songs have lyrics that are a catch, but it still has to have good sounding music.

LOL....AC/DC have some catchy tunes, so I like them even if half the time I can't even understand what that guy is screaming. I don't even bother to figure it out.

Interesting to see that people aren’t into song lyrics. To me it’s an integral part of the music listening experience. Part my love of the Grateful Dead is their story telling. Songs like Hightime or Wharf Rat have brought tears to my eyes because of the heartbreak they describe. After Jerry died I tried the band Phish on. Part of the reason it didn’t fit with me is they’re lyrically nonsensical. Most of their songs treat the opportunity to tell a verbal story as an afterthought. Putting words in as placeholders as much as anything. It’s why I then fell in love with Widespread Panic. They told stories. Songs like Hatfield actually taught me about the rainmakers back in the day. Turns of phrase from songs like Pigeons still make smile… “it’s like washing windows when there’s pigeons on the roof”. Their lyrics to the song ‘Pleas’ helped raise me up when I needed a boost….

They say it takes hardship, boy
To let you love the rest
Sometimes underneath the load
Is where I show my best
Go, put your work clothes on
Go and leave your mark
And they say
Don't let it get too dark
Don't let it get too dark
Don't let it get too dark
No, not this time

Part of what I loathed so much about the hair metal I suffered through in highschool was its lack of lyrical prowess, or it’s general vapid, hollow meanings. How many songs needed to be written about girls, cars, and partying? Motley Crue and Poison and their ilk thought every song.

To each their own. I’m grateful to the poet laureates that filled my head and heart with their stories.

Right.......to each their own.

Personally, I appreciate both. There are songs I really like just for rhythm, melody, timbre, pitch, harmony, etc. Other songs grab me because of their lyrics. It's magical when a song has both. It's what separates good from great. I think a lot of people like a song like The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot because it tells a good story and is musically appealing. Pearl Jam's song "Jeremy" tells the tragic story of teenage boy who committed suicide in front of his classmates. I think the Beatles had a ton of songs that fit it into both categories, such as Eleanor Rigby and Norwegian Wood. There are thousands of examples. Just naming a few.

Oh they don't have to be political. Sorry if that wasn't clear. Sometimes they just send a message that is something people need to think about. People spoke about story tellers and I think a good story that has some useful meaning is great. Here is an example from a recent song that I simply love. It's about taking advantage of spending time with the ones we love before it's too late.

No problem


I also want to be clear, lyrics are great, but it is the actual music Ii appreciate more.

Maybe part of that is for whatever reason, unless it is a slow ballad, I can't always make out what the heck the singer is singing. I can't tell you how many times it has been years later I find out what I thought they were saying isn't what they were saying...lol

The funny thing is I always heard "duce" in Blinded by the Light....not something else.

Go figure.

I always preferred the mistaken sound of the lyric - hats off to Manfred Mann. It made the song juicier. Also, it's one of the rare occasions where the cover is better than the original.

re: lyrics and storytelling of songs in general -

I agree with those who've said, if the music itself doesn't move them first, I pay no attention to the lyrics.

Maybe it's a musically character defect in me, but strictly storytelling music with instrumentation simply as an accompaniment has never been a major draw for me.

If the music draws me in, I go full in on the lyric page and liner notes.

But, then again, there are exceptions:

That's one of the misconceptions about "hair metal" but let's get
Some clarification about "hair metal"
The term hair metal was a lazy phrase created by long winded
Journalists who were paid corporate music publications
In fact Poison and Motley Crue were never hair metal.
Because they were never metal at all.
True metal would be Dio, Iron Maiden , Judas Priest, Motorhead
Accept, Metallica
And with bands I mentioned Vers they as lyrically thought provoking
As The Dead , Phish , King Crimson etc etc
It's kinda funny though how bands like Poison and Motley Crue
Get slammed for lyrics that dealt with girls , partying but the truth is
A very small % of their songs touched on those subjects
Many "hair metal " bands wrote about subjects that knew about
From growing up and the lifestyles they led.
Another thing about clichéd lyrics. Lynyrd Skynard sung about
Girls , partying and cars yet it was perfectly acceptable.
So did Grand Funk Railroad and Sammy Hagar.
The best lyrics I've read from any band was Black Sabbath.

I was in high school at the time ('99 year it went off air) and a few of the younger teachers had radios and kept the station on for the moment. This was the equivalent of a moon landing. That station was massively influential and it's something we'll never see again.

Its pretty common in the radio industry to flip their format every 3 or so years.

Yep, especially for those stations that aren't what I call bedrock stations.

That might be a good thread to start, if you want to.