Dion/Premier Radio Networks
The following was fed to subscribing oldies stations by Premiere Radio Networks on Monday:
DION: Why He Salutes His Peers (audio)(Posted 3:00 AM, 11/3/2008)
Dion’s Heroes C-D is subtitled The Giants of Guitar Rock. It’s his salute to stars such as Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins, The Everly Brothers, Del Shannon and Buddy Holly, a group whose music was powered by the rhythm and melodies of their guitars. Part of the problem is that they never were covered as “artists,” only looked upon as pop stars in the pre-Beatle-years. Dion feels there was a tremendous amount of artistry in pre-1964 rock — even if Rolling Stone magazine wasn’t there to place their stamp of approval on it. Thus, Dion’s rootsy approach on classic songs such as “Summertime Blues,” “I Walk the Line,” “Bye Bye Love” and “Come On, Let’s Go.” His mission is to prove the first decade of rock was more than just a time of “cute little records.”
The second disc of Dion’s set is a D-V-D in which he shares stories about the songs he covered and the artists he honors. Among its most touching comments are those about Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, his co-stars on the ill-fated Winter Dance Party Tour of 1959. –Mike McCann
Audio: Dion says his Heroes C-D is to showcase the rock pioneers who don’t get the credit they deserve. OC…the real deal. :29 [courtesy - TimeLife Music]
“One of the reasons for doing this album is to kind of champion the cause of these guys that — like I said… Rolling Stone magazine started in ’67 — so they didn’t document a lot of this wonderful… artist. There was a lot of artists in the ’50s, I believe… and sometimes, people look at that era like kinda, one-hit-wonders, you know, cute little records, it’s like a caricature of what was going on, not the real deal.”
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(Posted 3:00 AM, 11/3/2008)
Audio: Dion says pioneers such as Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Ricky Nelson and Del Shannon made records in a different style than what’s used today. OC…enjoy this album. :25 [courtesy - TimeLife Music]
“When I say ‘rock and roll,’ they rocked and they rolled. Today it’s like… the bands today sound like Oscar the Groucho [music]. You know, like on Sesame Street, ‘boom-boom-boom.’ It’s all rock, no roll. And there’s no tone. I don’t think they make records like this anymore. So, I think people are going to enjoy this album.”
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