MovieChat Forums > Convoy (1978) Discussion > C.W. McCall

C.W. McCall

posted 14 years ago by bagofants
5 replies | jump to latest

It had occured to me over the years, but today was the first time I'd put any research into it. C.W. McCall was rapping and may have been one of the first commercially succesful rappers! Think about it; Convoy was released in 1975 and had to have been written at least a year earlier. By comparison Rapture by Blondie was released in 1981 and even Rapper's Delight by The Sugar Hill Gang was released in 1979. Like it or not C.W. is rapping. A friend argued this by saying, "that's not rap, it's got a country beat". That doesn't fly because rap has generally been performed over the beats and samples of another musical genre. I know rap has been around and under the radar since the early seventies, but remember we're talking commercially successful, a dubious term at best. Just a light hearted observation on an early saturday morning, but if you can think of something earlier or just dispute the validity of this post, start typing!

[–] millenniumf 14 years ago

I'm a musician myself, who has an ear for music, and I agree with you. C.W.'s songs were really rap music with a country flair. Anyone who disputes this just has to look at Christian Rap, a genre which is accepted as rap but which has the feel of a hymn in the music.

I don't particularly enjoy rap music, because the musicians who make it tend to concentrate on drugs, money, guns, or sex, or a combination thereof, with a sprinkling of male domination. I don't knock those who enjoy it, it just really ain't my cup of tea. That being said, I still enjoy C.W. McCall's music. His tunes can make me laugh, or in the case of Roses for Mama, make me cry.

[–] manatee10 13 years ago

Good observation.

Back in the day, I think rapping is what people did when they had an interesting voice, but no actual musical ability (i.e. they couldn't sing).

Come to think of it, that still may be the case (ever hear Snoop Dogg try to carry a tune? Holy mother of god!)

[–] montanachas 12 years ago

I've always felt Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" 1970 could be the first rap. Gil Scott-Heron was a poet and introduced some beat to a few of his works. But if you're wanting to give the honor to a white guy how about Lorne Greene and "Ringo" around 1965.

"Ward, don't you think you were a little rough on the Beaver last night?"

[–] bagofants 12 years ago

Ha! Good call! I hadn't heard "The Revolution..." in a long time. But I think that lacks the vocal cadence to be considered rap, although I have no doubt the style was influential and definitely a precursor that lead directly to rap.

"Ringo" had that vocal cadence, but equating Lorne Greene and rap is really twisted! Way more so than C.W. McCall! Someone in another thread I started, also mentioned this style of country music. Go back another four years and you've got Jimmy Dean's Big Bad John. Oops. Another white guy! :) Just kidding! Not really trying to blame/give the honor to anyone in particular.

Thanks everyone here for chiming in intelligently and thoughtful replies and didn't turn this thread into a crap-fest. Keep 'em comin'!

[–] red1001 11 years ago

I think Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" (1965) probably takes the claim as the first rap.