re:MG/Who vs Zep/Pagey

[ScottyTee@aol.com]

Mark, re-

<<I
can only say that MG is not structured like a Blues song...something that
can be easily converted to a Berry-like song, if you understand what I mean.
To make it Blues, you have to change it considerably (as Townshend did on
the `75 tour, making it almost like Chuck Berry's Memphis, Tennessee).>>

There are many blues forms besides the Chuck Berry type.  I agree that Berry
was a major influence on bands of this period, but so was Muddy Waters and
Howlin' Wolf.  Muddy's blues had many variations.  I agree that MG is not a
carbon-copy of any of them, and does contain some innovative differences, but
it is nonetheless very closely related to the blues.

<< Blues came from Gospel and Country And Western>>

Gotta disagree with this one.  Blues and gospel both came from similar roots,
i.e. the "negro spiritual" from the 1800's.  The first commercial usage of
the term "blues" dates back to 1902, but it's private usage may date back to
well before that.  Country and Western had nothing to do with it.  Actually,
C&W borrowed from the blues.

And by the way, you do know who played guitar on Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man",
right?

Lastly, I regret that my request for further clarification on this point from
you reopened an old argument (which I think I must have missed).

Scott