My partner in crime, Mr. Salvador has been on me about adding this to the annals of FW so today I relent.  Every Christmas I immerse myself in a music mix project for my nearest and dearest.  This year was the particularly ambitious “Hold Time” year-by-year history of rock and roll project.  I do not, for one second, pretend that this is the true representation of said history, nor do I consider it wholly indicative of my personal taste (although I admit to loving all of these songs dearly).  Mr. Salvador and I are currently mulling our options for turning this into a video project.  Stay tuned.

HOLD TIME

Rock & Roll 1955-2009

Earlier this year a guy named M. Ward released a rather brilliant album called Hold Time, and one day I got to thinking about that title.  Is that a percussion reference (like the opposite of ‘keeping time’)?  Is it a frivolous task– trying to slow or stop time to a single moment?  Like most good art, the title is multi-layered, multi-faceted.  It can mean whatever you want it to mean.  I tend to think that it means something resembling “timeless”…without time.  Almost like a sandwich order— “hold the mayo.”  Hold the time.  I had a rare opportunity to actually ask the artist in question if that was accurate to which he replied, “I think that’s a good interpretation.”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that that could be the essential element in any art (that and, most assuredly, what that art evokes in the recipient).  “Timeless” is more than a compliment; it’s a distinction.  That particular artist- Mr. Ward- his songwriting fits that description, in my opinion.  And, thus, the inspiration for your annual holiday/Christmas music package (well, almost annual).

What we have here is one song per year from 1955 to 2009.  The criteria: the song (and, in most cases, the artist) had to have that (highly subjective but not entirely indefinable) timeless feel.  Would a song like “She’s Got You” sound as good today as it did in 1962?  Would it sound just as good if some other talented artist performed it in the present?  (In this case, a resounding yes and yes.  See Jukebox).  Just as important, what is its impact?  Did it have discernible influence on the music that came after it?  Minor Threat may not be the easiest on the ears, but without them there is no underground 80s rock culture (see all of the entries from the mid-80s on these CDs) and, thus, no “alternative” rock explosion in the early 90s which, in a sense, still exists today.  And of course you can work backwards from M.T. to the Ramones and further back to The Stooges.  That’s just one of the many branches of the rock & roll tree depicted on the discs before you.

The rules: The song was recorded and/or released in the year it represents.  One song/one year per artist, no more than that.  You could make a case for The Beatles for 2/3 of the 60s, but that’s not very interesting and it’s not entirely accurate (is Help! really more influential or groundbreaking than Highway 61?  I would argue no, by a longshot).  This leads to some interesting choices and omissions.  Led Zeppelin is undoubtedly one of the greatest rock bands in history, but that band’s hey-day happened to coincide with the release of some unstoppable, classic albums and songs that, in my opinion, would crack the earth a little wider…alter what was to come just a little more than they did.  And just because it’s not an artist’s peak, doesn’t mean he or she or they cannot create a staggering song/album that blows the ‘bands of the day’ out of the water (see R.E.M. and Neil Young below).

I give you the ‘christmas card’ of 2009 — Hold Time 1955-2009. Much love and happy holidays.   -Quinn

CD #1

1. 1955 I Got a Woman – Ray Charles (“I Got a Woman” single)

2. 1956 Long Tall Sally – Little Richard  (“Long Tall Sally” single)

3. 1957 So Doggone Lonesome – Johnny Cash (With His Hot and Blue Guitar)

4. 1958 One Night (of sin) – Elvis Presley (”One Night/I Got Stung” single)

5. 1959 Blue in Green – Miles Davis  (Kind of Blue)

6. 1960 (I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man – Muddy Waters (At Newport)

7. 1961 Crying – Roy Orbison (”Crying” single)

8. 1962 She’s Got You – Patsy Cline (“She’s Got You” single)

9. 1963 Lost Someone->I’ll Go Crazy – James Brown (Live at the Apollo)

10. 1964 A Change is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke (Ain’t That Good News)

11. 1965 Queen Jane Approximately – Bob Dylan (Highway 61 Revisited)

12. 1966 Rain – The Beatles (“Rain” single/Revolver sessions)

13. 1967 I’m Waiting for the Man – Velvet Underground (The Velvet Underground and Nico)

14. 1968 Ain’t No Way – Aretha Franklin (“Sweet Sweet Baby” single)

15. 1969 The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band (The Band)

16. 1970 Down on the Street – The Stooges (Fun House)

17. 1971 Can You Get to That  – Funkadelic (Maggot Brain)

18. 1972 All Down the Line – The Rolling Stones (Exile on Main St.)

19. 1973 Love Reign O’er Me – The Who (Quadrophenia)

CD #2

1. 1974 Judy is a Punk – The Ramones (The Ramones)

2. 1975 Can I Sleep In Your Arms? – Willie Nelson (Red Headed Stranger)

3. 1976 Carmelita (demo) – Warren Zevon (Warren Zevon)

4. 1977 Who the Cap Fit – Bob Marley (Rastaman Vibration)

5. 1978 Because the Night – Patti Smith Group (“Because the Night” single)

6. 1979 I Can’t Help It – Michael Jackson (Off the Wall)

7. 1980 On the Nickel – Tom Waits (Live on Austin City Limits; from the album Heartattack and Vine)

8. 1981 Straight Edge – Minor Threat (Complete Discography)

9. 1982 Atlantic City – Bruce Springsteen (Nebraska)

10. 1983 Laughing – R.E.M. (Murmur)

11. 1984 Two Beads at the End – The Minutemen (Double Nickels on the Dime)

12. 1985 Left of the Dial – The Replacements (Tim)

13. 1986 Guitar Town – Steve Earle (Guitar Town)

14. 1987 U Got the Look – Prince (Sign O’ the Times)

15. 1988 Teenage Riot – Sonic Youth (Daydream Nation)

16. 1989 Gouge Away – The Pixies (Doolittle)

17. 1990 Stop – Jane’s Addiction (Ritualo de lo Habitual)

CD#3

1. 1991 Breed  – Nirvana (Nevermind)

2. 1992 Dreamin’ Man – Neil Young (Live in Chicago;  from Harvest Moon)

3. 1993 Kiko and the Lavender Moon – Los Lobos (Kiko)

4. 1994 Last Goodbye – Jeff Buckley (Grace)

5. 1995 I Got Id – Pearl Jam (Merkinball single)

6. 1996 I Got You (At the End of the Century) – Wilco (Being There)

7. 1997 Words and Guitar – Sleater-Kinney (Dig Me Out)

8. 1998 Sweet Adeline – Elliott Smith (XO)

9. 1999 In the Fade – Queens of the Stone Age [featuring Mark Lanegan] (Rated R)

10. 2000 Morning Bell – Radiohead (Kid A)

11. 2001 Hard to Explain – The Strokes (Is This It)

12. 2002 NYC – Interpol (Turn on the Bright Lights)

13. 2003 Good Woman – Cat Power (You Are Free)

14. 2004 The Bucket – Kings of Leon (Aha Shake Heartbreak)

15. 2005 Wordless Chorus – My Morning Jacket (Z)

16, 2006 To Go Home – M. Ward [featuring Neko Case and Jim James] (Post War)

17. 2007 Black Like Me – Spoon (Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga)

18. 2008 Re: Stacks – Bon Iver (For Emma, Forever Ago)

19. 2009 Hang You From the Heavens – The Dead Weather (Horehound)