The American Spectator

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p> ALBUM COVERS br> Re: Greg Gutfeld's A Rotten Affair : /p>

After all these years, I still find it difficult to believe we are seriously supposed to take Never Mind the Bollocks seriously. Johnny Rotten may be fearless in speaking his mind; but slamming "hippies" in 1977 was much like firing a few rounds into the carcass of a dead horse. "Hippies" had largely disappeared from the earth 1973 -- much to the relief of millions.

Yet "hippiedom" did have the salutary effect of demonstrating to one and all what happens when you dispense with societal mores and supports. It went more than having bad body odor. These children of nature began to show up in medical clinics with diseases not seen since the Dark Ages. As they aged, parents and contemporaries became less and less inclined to help them out. And the Age of Aquarius revealed its dark side as many of "peace and love" generation began to delve into the specters of the night.

While I try to be polite and open, I finally can't help but feel sorry for those who were born some years after I did. By the time the Sex Pistols arrived on the scene, rock music had grown stale and lazy. Punk was largely a reaction to what had become Rock's aristocracy. The world didn't need any more "laid back" music or record albums whose chief virtue was supposed to be the lyric sheet.

The problem was Punk (Sex Pistols included) could dish it out but didn't deliver the musical goods. "Peace, Love and Rock and Roll" held more sway "London Calling" could ever muster. Even at his most self-indulgent smarminess, there was not one "Punk" fit to tie Paul McCartney's shoes. Sorry, just a fact.

So, what would I give a young person today? Where do I begin? The Beatles, of course. Any of their albums from Rubber Soul to Abbey Road. The Rolling Stones: everything from Beggar's Banquet to Exile on Main Street. The Doors: their self-titled first album, Morrison Hotel and L.A. Women. All of the Cream: particularly Disraeli Gears. Then we can go into The Allman Brothers Band, Traffic, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan and others.

I would point to them all. But at the top of the stack would be two albums: Are You Experienced? by Jimi Hendrix. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominoes. (Do I have to point out that "Derek" was really Eric Clapton?)

p>If you really want to shake that young man's world, give him those two albums first. br> -- Mike Dooley

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