I thought it might be simple. Who were some of my favorite roots rock bands from the 1980’s and 90’s? And why? This episode turned into a deep dive into what still feels like it was only skimming along the surface of a genre that was hot for about five years and before fading back into where it was before, into a mostly forgotten sub-genre that I still love.
"Roots Rock" was a name that was branded on a sound that came of age in the mid-'80s. Some guitar rawness. Some harmonies. Roots rock had twang and guitars and drums. Garage-ish rock. There was definitely a crossover with the sound called heartland rock. There was, however, a rawness that made it more roots than heartland.
Heartland rock was a name used in the 1970s to describe Midwestern arena rock. The Mount Rushmore of 80s heartland rock? Arguably - but correctly - Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, and Tom Petty, John Mellencamp. Could also include bands like REO if you wanted. Maybe Cheap Trick? Michael Stanley Band for sure.
How was it all the same? How not?
We listen to bands that made an impact both on the roots rock genre and on me. It is not an all-inclusive list of everyone and every band that fit or that I listened to. Instead, it is a selection of music that was on the radio, or maybe not, and we talk about why it was or wasn't. But these are certainly bands and music that slid into my cassette player in the 1979 Buick Skylark a whole lot of times.
Band like:
Cracker
Del Fuegos
Bodeans
Rainmakers
John Hiatt
Steve Earle
V-Roys
Long Ryders
It is an epic podcast. More than an hour’s worth of bands and artists and tracks for listeners to dig into more deeply. Turn it up.
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Read Rob's current and archived writing at rockforwardmusic.com
website: rockpopandroll.com
EMAIL: rockpoprollpodcast@gmail.com
Ep. 43: The "Play Me 5" Game - Bob Seger
Ep 42: Why the J. Geils Band Matters
Ep. 41: Underrated Rockers: John Waite
Ep. 40: The Scandal Tracks
Ep. 39: The Rock and Roll Gospel of Henry Lee Summer
Ep. 37: Who Is Truth And Salvage Co. and Why Their New/Old Album Rocks
Ep. 36: 80s Rock Radio Hit Songs That Top 40 Missed (Mostly)
Ep. 35: Muscle Shoals, Bob Seger, and the Odd Story of Old Time Rock and Roll
Ep 34: Why Am I Just Now Discovering Pat Todd and The Rankoutsiders?
Ep. 33: Remembering the Brilliance - and the Chaos - of Jerry Lee Lewis
Ep. 32: More of the Minneapolis Sound (part 3) - Soul Asylum, Gear Daddies, Husker Du, and More
Ep. 31: The Other Minneapolis Sound (part 2) - Americana, Pop Punk, and Rock and Roll
Ep. 30: Mixing Prince and Heartland Rock and Roll in Minnesota
Ep. 29: The Greatness of Joan Jett and Why She Rocks Us
Ep. 28: The Continuing Echo of Tom Petty Lives Through Mike Campbell - and Many Others
Ep. 27: Taylor Hawkins and the Foo Fighters - Only Rock and Roll?
Ep. 26: Georgia Satellites - The Loud Crunch of Lost Rock and Roll
Ep. 25: Huey Lewis and The News - After the 80’s
Ep. 24: Jackson Browne and the 80’s - Rating his Singles and his Decade
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