Before the transformational guitarists of the 60s

[The Polack MSgt]

Hendrix, Beck, Townsend and Davies ever learned the C A E chords on their 1st guitars, the foundation for guitar rock and roll was built.

There are arguments as to what was the 1st Rock record and when it dropped - Sun Records says flat out the it was Rocket 88 with Ike Turner's loud ass guitar setting it apart from other Jump Blues and R&B shouters. 1951

Of course it was another Sun Studio alumnus that laid the ground work for most of what happened in the mid to late 50s - Carl Perkins,
although his singles started to get traction in 55, he started recording in 54

Bonus track because - damn it, Carl Perkins

.

But everyone knows that shit. Google and a dash of curiosity gets you that info in 10 minutes or less.

But how did we all get from bluegrass riffs mixed with blues to Ray Davies crunching through "You Really Got Me" or Jeff Beck gloriously dancing on the border of feedback on "Train Kept a Rolling"? After all those tunes came only 8 or 9 years later.

Well, it wasn't the hits that we remember today that lit the path, it was artists that faded from public memory that provided the spark.

People Like Link Wray with the fuzz - And I'm playing a song from later in his career because I'm tired of "Rumble"

People like the forgotten guitar god John Watson Jr. or Young Johnny Watson or Johnny Guitar Watson who practically melted the 4 track mono studio tape recorder on the song back in 1954, you read that right - NINETEEN FIFTY FOUR

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. Johnny Guitar Watson is the perfect example

of how "talent will only take you so far". His playing was magnificent and yet very few know of his music. Why? Probably lack of promotion, visibility and LUCK.

[stevil]

3. Master Strat player.

I love his music. Super tight and loose in the right places.

[The Polack MSgt]

7. I liked his 70s music and didn't even know his history

Until I got lucky one night in the Shibuya district of Tokyo:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181061569

I've been a Johnny Guitar Evangelist ever since that night

[stevil]

2. Killer sound. Totally recorded live.

Love the overdrive guitar, basis for rock. Here is some awesome Link Wray. I've posted this before and I don't care.

[Clash City Rocker]

4. These songs were recorded in the forties

I think it’s impossible to say what was the first rock song, because no one can make a firm definition. We can all have opinions, of course.

[stevil]

5. Thank you.

[The Polack MSgt]

6. COOL AF. Thanks for these tunes

I know Good Rocking Tonight from Big Joe Turner, never heard this one