hard rock (1965), blues-rock (1966)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

* hard rock (OED 1967)
* blues-rock (not in OED, 1969 cite under "heavy")

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_New York Times_, Dec 11, 1965, p. 23/2
These far-above-average musicians make the honor roll for their joyfully
noisy "hard rock" music, heavily influenced by the Rolling Stones and
Chuck Berry.
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_Los Angeles Times_, Jan 18, 1966, p. II10/4
At times Rickett has guitars backing him and the sound is standard
blues-rock. ... The blues-rock stuff makes them popular; the brass-reed
stuff makes them interesting.
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"San Francisco Bay Rock" by Gene Sculatti, _Crawdaddy_ No. 6, Nov. 1966
(rocksbackpages.com)
The San Francisco rock scene is a complex one. It is a plentiful jumble of
hard rock, folk-rock, blues-rock, bubble-gum, and adult bands that have
given the city its title as "the Liverpool of the West" (aptly provided by
jazz critic Ralph Gleason).
...
They [sc. the Grateful Dead] are a hard blues-rock band, a powerhouse unit
of organ, drums, and three guitars.
...
The Charlatans are hard rock, specializing in John Hammond blues and
original country & western numbers.
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--Ben Zimmer