[Mike19]

What was the first popular (as opposed to obscure) heavy metal recording?

Candidates:

> Bo Diddley by Bo Diddley

> Louie Louie by The Kingsmen

> You Really Got Me by The Kinks

> Summertime Blues by Blue Cheer

> 8 Miles High by The Byrds

> something by Hendrix

> something off the Revolver album

I think it would have to be pre Iron Butterfly.   

[konut]

My vote goes to Blue Cheer. My sense is that the crunching guitar sound that epitomises heavy metal originated with Blue Cheer to a greater degree than any of the other bands listed, even though a good case could be made for each of them. While "Are You Experienced" was released before "Vincebus Eruptum", Hendrix relied more upon controlled feed back, and a wah-wah pedal, than the constantly overdriven crunch of Blue Cheer. The other bands mentioned had the crunch, to a degree, but relied more on chords and did not utilise the noodly stoner lead that Blue Cheer used that is a hallmark of heavy metal. Iron Butterfly released "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" after "Summertime Blues".

[sfox50]

What about Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" ? Isn't that where the term Heavy Metal became part of the lingo?

[konut]

While its true that its the first time the term was used in a rock song, the reference is to motorcycles, not to a style of music. For an excellent overview of all things "metal" in origin, see this Wikipedia article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_music

[JoshK]

Don't know about which song was first, but the two bands I associate the beginning of heavy metal with are Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath.  Most of the others you mention are too tame to be real heavy metal (with the exception of blue cheer which I haven't heard).  My opinion of course.

[kgturner]

if you're actually interested in heavy metal, i suggest you watch the documentary metal: a headbanger's journey. it does an excellent job of cataloging the popularity and rise of heavy metal. the narrator, while denoting the importance of early bands such as blue cheer, cream, hendrix, deep purple, MC5, etc... feels that black sabbath was the first true heavy metal band.

here's a great breakdown of the history of metal dating back to 1966:



kevin t

[hayden]

Isn't the consensus (at least from modern bands, not critics) that Sabbath's Iron Man was the first true heavy metal song?

JP

[EDS_]

Rumble by Link Wray (Ray?) 1957 or 1958.

[bunnyma357]

Here would be my picks for Proto Heavy Metal:

Keep A-Knockin' - Little Richard
C'mon Everybody - Eddie Cochran (There's a reason The Who, Blue Cheer, Led Zeppelin, & The Sex Pistols covered his stuff without having to change it that much)
Rumble - Link Wray
Train Kept a Rollin' - Johnny Burnette and the Rock & Roll Trio
I'm a Man - The Yardbirds
Louie, Louie - The Sonics (And just about anything else by them including truly crunchy guitar riffs, and themes involving satan, psychos, and poison as a drug of choice - but, probably only mainstream around Seattle)

I'd probably go with The Beatles - Helter Skelter as one of the first Metalish songs though they're obviously not a Metal band. I don't think until you get to Zeppelin & Sabbath are you really in the Heavy Metal genre - I think of bands like Blue Cheer, Iron Butterfly more as Psychedelic than Heavy Metal.

Jim C

[Mag]

For me I find it difficult to categorize the difference between heavy metal and hard rock. When I first heard JP around '79 that was pretty heavy, but now consider it hard rock.

My first exposure to hard rock was Deep Purple. The Rolling Stones IMO wasn't hard rock and I didn't like their style. I haven't heard every rock band from the '70's, but if heavy metal is characterized by a particular sound than I tend to agree that Black Sabbath should get the credit for being the first heavy metal sound.

The song IMO that broke the rock mold and led to diversity in rock styles was Hey Jude.

[Demarche]

My vote goes to 'You Really Got Me' by The Kinks
This is a pretty good guide to Heavy Metal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJa9pgG2VXY

[JerryM]

I'm thinking maybe something from Muddy Waters. Some of his recordings from the late forties and early fifties were cutting edge stuff, even compared to what's released today. In fact, when the Beatles first came to America they said they wanted to see Muddy live.

I'll dig through the old LP collection and see if I can come up with a track or two.

Have fun,
Jerry

[hayden]

Wasn't the initial prompt about the first heavy metal song?  If we are talking "proto" or "foundation" type music, couldn't the list go back to the first recorded songs?

JP

[chrismercurio]

Speed King

Deep Purple's  In Rock 1970.

My 2 cents

[JerryM]

Wasn't the initial prompt about the first heavy metal song?  If we are talking "proto" or "foundation" type music, couldn't the list go back to the first recorded songs?

JP

True.

First 'real' metal; without considering influences? To me, Judas Priest, One for the Road.

Have fun,
Jerry

[boead]

Communication Breakdown, Led Zeppelin

[dragonwhip]

I've always considered it to be My Generation by The Who. Recorded in 1965.

[mvwhiting_83]

Speed King

Deep Purple's  In Rock 1970.

My 2 cents

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner.... You sir are correct. Contrary to popular belief, Deep Purple was the first True Heavy Metal band.  This is a fact.

If you hear Robert Plant talk about what heavy metal means to him he takes great offense... That automatically discounts them from being metal.

[Ericus Rex]

The Rite of Spring - Stravinsky