important VS first-out-of-the-gate

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In the Klosterman thread, somebody said that because the Damned released the "first punk single," they are important. To me, this does not compute. To me, because the Damned released the "first punk single," the released the "first punk single."
Because MC Hammer had the first massive rap hit, does that make him Important? Or Lyle Sandusky of Mildred, Ill., who recorded the first of what was to become known as "garage" bands, the Camillos, is he Important? And if so, why didn't we talk about him in 2002 re: the White Stripes, esp. since he died in November?

― Horace Mann, Friday, 3 January 2003 15:06 (twenty-three years ago)

We need to clarify the difference between important and Important. The Damned are important because they released the first punk single, The Clash (say) are Important because blah blah blah...

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Friday, 3 January 2003 15:08 (twenty-three years ago)

slightly off-topic: did mc hammer *really* have the first rap hit??

― michael wells (michael w.), Friday, 3 January 2003 15:11 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, Run DMC didn't dance in balloon pants, ergo, in the eyes of the cornfed yahoo, Run DMC does not exist.
Same goes for Melle Mel.

― Lord Custos Omega (Lord Custos Omega), Friday, 3 January 2003 15:16 (twenty-three years ago)

On some VH1 Top Videos of the 90s or some BS I saw on MuchMusic last night, they were talking about it as if it was. I know it wasn't the first hit, but it was the first massive hit, but RUN DMC, LL, Public Enemy and many others had already had hits, but "Can't Touch This" was a certified POP hit.
I think MC Hammer is more Important than the Damned, though I might be more inclined to listen to the latter (but not by much).
But in regards to the Damned having the first record out, somebody had to, it could've been anybody and history would've unfolded unchanged.

― Horace Mann, Friday, 3 January 2003 15:18 (twenty-three years ago)

"But in regards to the Damned having the first [UK punk] record out, somebody had to, it could've been anybody and history would've unfolded unchanged."

But if it hadn't been The Damned then it would have been The Vibrators and then.... uh, oh, ah, OK, I see your point.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 3 January 2003 15:47 (twenty-three years ago)

I actually saw the Vibrators in...uh, let's see, carry the 4...'92, Thanksgiving (Canadian) Weekend. This small-town death metal band opened for them, they did a cover of "Anarchy in the UK" and intro'd it with "The Sex Pistols wrote this song, but Megadeath made it cool!"
The Vibes did not really live up to my 15-yr-old expectations of what first-gen punk-rockers should be, they looked like four Keith Richardses.

― Horace Mann, Friday, 3 January 2003 15:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Fwiw I first saw The Vibrators in 1978, the same as The Damned and I saw them last in 2002, the same as The Damned.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 3 January 2003 15:58 (twenty-three years ago)

That because by 1992 the Vibrators were for all intents and purposes four Keith Richards.
I don't agree with the statement about MC Hammer having the first rap hit but thats not really important to what your trying to say. In hindsight he was very important as not just one of the low points of rap but of music in general. More on this when Im not working if it keeps alive.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 3 January 2003 16:23 (twenty-three years ago)

just to reiterate: I did not at any point claim that MC Hammer had the FIRST rap hit. But he was the first rapper that 9 year olds in Drumheller, Alberta could sing along to and not get their ass kicked by the Nuns.

― Horace Mann, Friday, 3 January 2003 16:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Is that because the Nuns in Drumheller, Alberta considered "Can't Touch This" to be a moral stricture?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 3 January 2003 16:53 (twenty-three years ago)

''But in regards to the Damned having the first record out, somebody had to, it could've been anybody and history would've unfolded unchanged.''

have you watched the back to the future movies?

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 3 January 2003 17:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Good point Julio - what would have happened if they'd released Back To The Future Part 2 before Back To The Future?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 3 January 2003 17:08 (twenty-three years ago)

not to be pedantic or anything, but actually, wasn't blondie's rapture the first rap record to hit the charts?

― kate, Friday, 3 January 2003 17:20 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought that was "Rapper's Delight".

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 3 January 2003 17:23 (twenty-three years ago)

stewart- or what would happen if 'Lick my decals off baby' was released on CD and had become widely available?

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 3 January 2003 17:28 (twenty-three years ago)

Julio, I suspect there's a strong possibility that vast majority of people might be confused, bemused and totally alienated by that one instead of by Trout Mask Replica

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 3 January 2003 22:23 (twenty-three years ago)

i think the beastie boys sold more records than hammer.

― gygax!, Friday, 3 January 2003 22:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Please Hammer Don't Hurt Them certified 10 times Multiplatinum.
License To Ill 9 times Multiplatinum.

Hammer has 41 enteries (11 of which at least are Don't Hurt Them) and Beasties have 28 in (10 of which are Ill). Only Ill Communication got to three as most of their other albums "stall" at 2 times.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 3 January 2003 23:51 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.riaa.org/Gold-Intro-2.cfm
They may be cockfarmers that most webmusic geeks can't stand but that database is useful. I've always wondered if their is a similar one for Canada since I can't find one on SOCAN's site. Anyone a registered musician with them want to check at http://www.socan.ca ?

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Saturday, 4 January 2003 00:04 (twenty-three years ago)

They May Be Cockfarmers will be my new band name. I can't garentee I'll sound like Mountian Goats.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Saturday, 4 January 2003 00:11 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought that was "Rapper's Delight".
Didn't Muhammad Ali do a rap single (as a joke) back in, what, 1978 or somesuch?

― Lord Custos Omega (Lord Custos Omega), Saturday, 4 January 2003 04:31 (twenty-three years ago)

''Julio, I suspect there's a strong possibility that vast majority of people might be confused, bemused and totally alienated by that one instead of by Trout Mask Replica''

you're reading my mind here.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 4 January 2003 15:36 (twenty-three years ago)

that 9 year olds in Drumheller, Alberta could sing along to and not get their ass kicked by the Nuns.

Actually, I rather like the mental image of nine year old Canadian kids getting their asses kicked by the Nuns. I suspect that Jennifer Miro with a whip would be enough to kick-start puberty for some of them.

― Christine "Green Leafy Dragon" Indigo (cindigo), Sunday, 5 January 2003 00:43 (twenty-three years ago)

I was gonna make that joke.

I remember hearing both "Rapper's Delight" and "Rapture" on the radio in what must have been 8th grade.

― Sean (Sean), Sunday, 5 January 2003 01:26 (twenty-three years ago)

MC Hammer's Can't Touch This was the first rap song to hit number one on the Billboard chart.

― Micheline Gros-Jean (Micheline), Sunday, 5 January 2003 12:56 (twenty-three years ago)

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