An artists’ shift in style can sometimes be a gauge of their versatility. A classic example is the Beatles; from their earlier “yeh-yeh-yeh” sound, to the psychedelic imagery of
Rubber Soul, the eclectic
Revolver and of course the ground –breaking
Sgt. Peppers which transformed pop into art with a capital A.
But not all evolutions can be considered creative, especially when deemed driven for commercial intentions. Some critics call these “sellouts”.
Below is a list of some which I consider examples of this observation. Don’t get me wrong. I do like these albums but I feel a little of the “soul” of the artist was sacrificed for purposes other than pursuing their passion.
George Benson – Breezin’
Benson’s cover of Gabor Szabo’s classic was like a breathe of fresh air during its release.
His upbeat rendition, together with orchestral background paved the way for the pop-jazz fusion genre. Para bang CTI (benson’s former label) goes hip. Unfortunately, the monster hit of this album was his vocal rendition of Leon Russell’s "Masquerade". I say unfortunately because when this guy discovered that he could sing, he just sang and sang and sang . . .Nakalimutan na ata niya na may daliri siya para mag gitara. Subsequent albums bear out that Benson started shedding his jazz feathers in favor of a more pop image.
Eric Clapton – 461 Ocean Blvd.
With this album, Clapton started to establish himself as a rock balladeer rather than the guitar hero he was. I love this album. But the sleek production shows the pop concessions which make Clapton’s sound loose it’s “edge”. Note that
Layla And Other Assorted Love songs preceded
461 by just 2 studio albums. Could this be the reason why EC’s popularity began to wane? I can’t really tell but fact is, Clapton prominence the following decade was buoyed just because of the release of his
Crossroads, a retrospective which reminded his fans of how great he was. And in recent years, his next bigger sellers were Unplugged and
Back to the Cradle, two albums which are more reminiscent of pre-461 Clapton. But then again, I can’t blame the man. Mahirap talaga sundan ang
Layla. Layla was truly a tough act to follow; an act which I consider to be the pinnacle of this guitar god’s career.
Elton John – Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player
Again , I must admit that this is one of my favorite Elton John albums.. At its best, it is a very enjoyable piece of well-crafted pop/rock. But again, I find this album wanting of Elton’s “poetic edge”. Somehow,
Crocodile Rock doesn't just cut it like
Honky Cat. Where is the melodrama of
Tiny Dancer (Madman)? Where is the adventurism of Tumbleweed? Or the moving
Monalisas and Madhatters (Honky Chateau). Or the poignancy of
Sixty Years On (Elton John). As with the two artists above, it seems that the John/Taupin duo started trotting towards a more commercial pop flavor starting with
Don’t Shoot Me.
I don’t know if this is a gauge, pero tignan nyo nalang yung mga cover designs nung mga sumunod na album. In any event,this shift in style made Elton John the real first pop superstar of the 70’s.
Changes are inevitable. And I am not one to question whether these changes are for the good or bad. Sellouts? Your guess is as good as mine. But I just get to thinking sometimes, What if Benson stuck it on with Creed Taylor (CTI). What if Derek and the Dominoes reunited? What if Elton John wasn’t bisexual? What if the world is flat? What if Voca amps do sound good? What if . . .