I feel about Rock the same way I do about today's country music. I stopped listening to the radio in the mid 1980's or so for both rock and country. People stopped playing instruments and machines took over playing automated sound loops. Joe Walsh talks about it and did a song called Analog Man.
Today's country music fans likely never heard of Johnny Horton. Many of today's rock fans never heard of Johnny Rivers. Both were top of the chart in their day. Most of the best musicians we've heard their works but they never gained the fame the singers did. Studio musicians made many a record great instead of just good. Hal Blaine a drummer was on many records from Simon and Garfunkle to The Beach Boys. On the other hand groups like Lynyrd Skynyrd were good enough their live playing was a good as studio. The real test is what can they do acoustic with out special effects. For that sometimes just walking into an old country store when they have pickin night will give you some of the best music you'll ever hear as well.
I'll never forget my nephew {about 21 years my junior} said hey listen to this new song he had in his CD player by Eric Clapton. It was Layla and it was the newer acoustic version and sounded good. I said OK now listen to this and popped in Clapton's original version of it which I like better because I grew up listening to it and liked the piano part. He asked me who is that? I said it's Eric Clapton playing "Layla" LOL. Wonderful Tonight and Tears in Heaven are my favorite of his though.
I never got to go to a Skynyrd concert. When the crash happened I was at sea I think. Same when Elvis died. When I was in high school Jim Croce died. IMO Croce ranks among the top all time great musicians and song writers who died way too soon.
All those songs bring back memories. And you are right about the new artist.
We have great writers, who are good singers, but not good enough to go big. Bill Anderson is one of the Exceptions.
You are correct it was Don Helm’s. You Tube has his last appearance on Country’s Family Reunion. Where he played for both Charlie Pride and Vince Gill.
I stopped listening to any thing but tapes, CD’s and now UBS sticks with the songs I love. From ‘new’ old Gospel set to C & W and Blue Grass, C & W, and even The Andrews Sisters, Frankie Valley, Patti Page, Ventures, Dole Lawson, Osborne, Beach Boys. Hank Sr, Hank Jr. Loretta, Kitty, Patsy, Willie, Waylon, Merle, Jean Shepard, Bobbie Bare who was both a singer and writer.
Having been married to a play by ear musician for 23 years I learned a lot. Today’s sound mixers stink for one. They can’t adjust to a smaller audience when they play smaller events. Went to see Sarah Evans last year, had to have ear plugs, small casino venue, not a auditorium one mostly appreciative adults only 1 idiot 20 fat 20 something kept blocking peoples viewing..
Old gospel made new. They Great Speckled Bird. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6KtUuQLYJs