Songs That Seemingly Have No Precedent

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by stanleynohj, May 13, 2022.

  1. stanleynohj

    stanleynohj Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    california
    Most famous songs sound like something prior. The influence is often very obvious. Sometimes, it seems like out and out thievery.

    But some songs seem to come out of nowhere, either musically or production and arrangement-wise, or both.

    I will throw out 2...

    I Am The Walrus

    Bennie And The Jets

    Are there any prior songs that are anything like these 2? Not that I know of...except in the case of Bennie And The Jets, Elton himself did a song called I'm Going To Be A Teenage Idol which is sort of similar...the feel and the subject matter. I believe that Elton was influenced by R&B in some manner, but what, exactly? The slow staccatto major7 chords seems very distinct and unlike anything that I'm aware of.

    So the idea is songs that seemingly have no precedent, and maybe some people have the answers.
     
  2. elaterium

    elaterium Forum Resident

    Anything off of Trout Mask Replica ( famous to me at least).
     
  3. elaterium

    elaterium Forum Resident

    Production-wise and guitar sound-Are You Experienced?
     
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  4. elaterium

    elaterium Forum Resident

    Who Are the Brain Police?
     
  5. elaterium

    elaterium Forum Resident

    See Emily Play
     
  6. Kent Gray

    Kent Gray Resident

    Location:
    Missouri
    Agreed. "I Am The Walrus" was a blending of John Lennon's "primitive" (as he described it) artistic sensibilities and the sophisticated abilities of George Martin. I can't recall such a combination happening before this track appeared in 1967.
    It is also empowered with nonsensical Lewis Carrol-like lyrics (although this was tackled previously in psychedelic fashion by Grace Slick in 1966).
     
  7. elaterium

    elaterium Forum Resident

    There was a time in 1967 where it seemed like just about every record that came out was unique, a world of its own.
     
  8. Glenn Christense

    Glenn Christense Foremost Beatles expert... on my block

    Not as a song, but as a total production “Strawberry Fields Forever” seemed to come out of nowhere, to me when it was originally released.

    I felt the same way about “A Day in the Life” also, with the wild orchestra buildup sections.
     
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  9. Monosterio

    Monosterio Forum Resident

    Location:
    South Florida
    How about The Smith's "How Soon Is Now"? I can't think of another song like it.
     
  10. Wild Horse

    Wild Horse Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    "I Feel Love" Donna Summer
     
  11. Roger Thornhill

    Roger Thornhill Senior Member

    Location:
    Ilford, Essex, UK
    Laurie Anderson - O Superman

    Not sure anyone had heard anything like it when it came out.
     
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  12. PineBark

    PineBark formerly known as BackScratcher

    Location:
    Boston area
    In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
    Tubular Bells
     
    edrebber, Swansong, supermd and 18 others like this.
  13. Michael

    Michael I LOVE WIDE S-T-E-R-E-O!

    2 winners in my book!perfect example.
     
  14. Michael

    Michael I LOVE WIDE S-T-E-R-E-O!

  15. Mister Charlie

    Mister Charlie "Music Is The Doctor Of My Soul " - Doobie Bros.

    Location:
    Aromas, CA USA
    Screamin' Jay Hawkins has a few.
     
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  16. ti-triodes

    ti-triodes Senior Member

    Location:
    Paz Chin-in
  17. Wildest cat from montana

    Wildest cat from montana Humble Reader

    Location:
    ontario canada
    This is an incredible song really. The sound of disco.
     
    garrincha, Siegmund, Keith V and 9 others like this.
  18. Jimbino

    Jimbino Goad Kicker, Music Lover

    Location:
    Northern CA, USA
    21st Century Schizoid Man?
     
    PineBark, DJ LX, Tristero and 47 others like this.
  19. stanleynohj

    stanleynohj Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    california
    The mellotron being somewhat new, those flutes had to seem completely new. And the way John sings in that light monotone, similar to Lucy In The Sky...where did that come from? Also uses his "new" voice on Day In The Life...and the "I'd love to turn you on" part, the weird chord there, the rising bass, the siren melody similar to Walrus...where did that stuff come from!
     
  20. TheRunoutMatrix

    TheRunoutMatrix I'm sticking with you, cause I'm made out of glue.

    Supertramp songs would qualify. Their sound is pretty unique, I think.
     
  21. Nonsuch

    Nonsuch Knows a Little Bit About a Lot of Things

    Location:
    Portland, OR
    "Mr. Tambourine Man." Most of what Dylan had done prior, as accomplished as it was, had some kind of precedent. I can't think of anything prior to "Tambourine Man" that was remotely similar, unless someone somewhere was writing folk tunes from Arthur Rimbaud poems and I never heard about it.
     
  22. Vic_1957

    Vic_1957 Forum Resident

    Location:
    NJ, USA
    It certainly impressed Mike Pinder. :agree:
     
  23. elaterium

    elaterium Forum Resident

  24. elaterium

    elaterium Forum Resident

    Oscillations-Silver Apples
     
  25. florandia

    florandia Forum Resident

    Location:
    Florida
    Bob Dylan 'Like a Rolling Stone'
    Out of nowhere comes the greatest of all rock songs in 1965. Nothing like it before , nothing like it since.
    Playing it right now, f...... loud !
     
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