CME Final Exam
Little Richard
"the steam that blew the valve" - flamboyant sexual showman, big personality - laid down foundation of rock n roll
Bing Cosby
- released the best selling single of all time: "White Christmas" First multimedia star (music and movies) - Leader in record sales, radio ratings and multipicture grossing, won an academy award for best actor in 1944 - released the best selling single of all time: "White Christmas" - First performer to use Ampex tape recorder, revolutionizing the post war recording industry
Disco (origins, commercialization, backlash)
-Disco movement went hand in hand with the gay liberation movement—Stonewall 1969 where people refused to provide ID in a regular police gay raid -"Love Saves the Day" party thrown by David Mancuso who preferred playing long songs w/heavy beats (proto-disco) was whatever people danced to -Disco single was a 12'' in that was louder and longer -musical qualities: uptempo four on the floor, soaring strings, horn fanfares, heavy maximalist production, gospel harmonies, latin percussion -popularized by Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta's breakout role -death threw the Cosmikey park riot
George Clinton / P Funk
-George Clinton was the frontman of a funk collective Parliament-Funkadelic -brought in ideas of afro-futurism -avant-gard, sci-fi -used the moog for the synthesized bass ("Flashlight" was the first song to use the synth bass) George Clintons bands: parliament and funkadelic Funknadelic Hendrix inspired guitar soloes black funk rock Parliament recorded for Casablanca less guitars in favor of horn and keyboard driven funk
Hip-Hop — The Golden Era, Native Tongues
-Native Tongues collective: De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest -softer cultural hip hop, jazzy samples over hard beats -Golden Era: when every single seemed to be revolutionizing the genre— Run-DMC, Eric B and Rakim, Grandmaster Flash, etc
Breakbeats
Breakbeats were a new way of understanding music, instead of verse bridge chorus The instrumental portions of songs that hip hop DJs looped , often of funk songs - not just hip hop: breakbeats would be used in jungle, drum and bass, UK Garage, and would make their way into more and more top selling singles through the 90s Created by Dj Cool Herk who invented the merry-go-round technique with two different records Breakbeats were refined by Grandmaster Flash who used techniques backspinning, beat matching, scratching
R&B covers in the 1950s and in the 1980s
CROSSOVER Theft of black artists' songs, with higher sales and charts than the originals -Robert Palmer
Jimmie Rodgers (1897-1933)
Called the "Singing Brakeman," he was the most versatile, progressive, and widely influential of all the early country recording artists and was early country music's biggest recording star. His influence can be seen in the public images of Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and almost every contemporary male country music star. - blackface minstrel to hillbilly star - 1st star of country - influenced artists like bob Dylan and Johnny Cash - incorporated yodeling into the blues, broad range of instruments like ukulele, piano, brass
The Who
Came out of The British Invasion Very popular in the UK Played a big role in turning rock into art originated the rock opera: 1969 album / rock opera Tommy - influence fashion created a pop art image, fashioning themselves in the British subculture "mod" image / fashion / look - use of power chord, noise, feedback influenced hard rock, punk rock - guitar smashing, proto punk aesthetic
New Wave
Came out of the second wave of punk rock artists with characteristics more common to punk pop and art. Post-Punk: The Clash & The Police Blondie, The Talking Heads, The Clash, The Ramones If "Disco, Glam, and Punk had a threesome" - vigor of punk combined with colorful glam and disco aesthetics - more pop and commercially viable then punk, as it was influenced by the lighter side of 60s pop imbued with electronics - beat driven, danceable Complex production (use of synthesizers, effects on guitars, and electronic instruments) - encompasses artists like Madonna, David Bowie, Blondie, Talking Heads Broadcasted through Urban Contemporary Radio Somewhat of a nameless music drawing from many different sources, hard to label under a certain radio genre
Def Jam
Co-founded in 1984 by the hip-hop promoter Russell Simmons and the musician-producer Rick Rubin. During the 1980s, Def Jam cross-promoted a new generation of artists, expanding and diversifying the national audience for hip-hop, and in 1986 became the first rap-oriented independent label to sign a distribution deal with one of the "Big Five" record companies, Columbia Records.
Quincy Jones
Co-produced Thriller and Off The Wall, two classic albums by Michael Jackson produced for Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra,
Major Labels — The "Big Six" — 1960s to 1990s
1) EMI 2) SONY 3) UNI/MCA 4) WMG (Time Warner) 5) Polygram 6) BMG
Brill Building
1619 Broadway Songwriters: Carole King, George Goffin, Jeff Barry, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil Higher prevalence of female writers than in Tin Pan Alley was to rock n roll as tin pan alley was to previous popular music generation writers write songs, singers sing them, a&r bringing them together, as had occurred with tin pan alley
1960s counterculture
1950s culture: materialism, consumerism, patriarchy, assimilation, homogeneity, TV/mass media culture, processed food, sexual repression, conservatism youth contrasted this with culture of their own counterculture: black power, self expression, drug use/raised consciousness, anti-war media, vegetarianism/organic food biggest change in American culture ever: - rejection of patriarchy and consumerism - political music, Pete Seeger "We Shall Overcome" Woodstock and Monterey pop festival sgt peppers Tommy
Riot Grrrl
A 90s militant feminist movement which supported post-punk bands. Feminist musical movement begun at Evergreen State College centered around a grunge sound and women-friendly punk subculture. Bikini Kill, Kathleen Hanna - girls to the front
Folk Rock
Bob Dylan added electric instruments to lyrical folk music 2 of the biggest folk rock singles: subterranean homesick blues like a rolling stone 3 of the first folk rock albums: bringing it all back home highway 61 revisited blonde on blonde Bob Dylans performance at Newport Folk Festival - angered folk rock purists because he went electric, Pete Seeger wanted to cut the wire The Byrds cover Bob Dylan Bob Dylan's electric band went on to form The Band (Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm). Together, Bob Dylan and The Band they set the scene for folk Rock. Songs are generally "storytelling", sometimes political/topical, sometimes just fun or traditional. Musically, you would find clear vocal harmonies and clean sounding guitars (no wild effects). amplified folk music, often featuring politically overt lyrics; influenced by rock and roll
Fats Domino
Boogie Woogie piano player "Rock n Roll safety valve" Pat Boone covered "Ain't That A Shame", pushing him into stardom Became a rockstar without altering the r&b sound Transcending racism and ageism A warm, inviting, smiling, "teddy bear" Embodying the New Orleans sound Produced and recorded in Matassa's studio Had 36 top 40 hits, sold over 65 million records, second best selling artist of the fifties behind Elvis - scored more hit records then chuck berry, little Richard, and buddy holly put together One of first r&b artists to gain popularity with white audiences Bringing together black and white people for the appreciation of music Hits: Ain't That A Shame, Blueberry Hill Discovered and produced by: Dave Bartholomew Where he was signed at Imperial Records "The Fat Man" : first millions selling rock n roll record
Breakbeats
Breakbeats were a new way of understanding music, instead of verse bridge chorus The instrumental portions of songs that hip hop DJs looped Created by Dj Cool Herk who invented the merry-go-round technique with two different records Breakbeats were refined by Grandmaster Flash who used techniques backspinning, beat matching, scratching
Duke Ellington
self-taught pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger, - duke Ellington and his Orchestra - advanced jazz form harmonically with never before heard complex cluster tones, free to use dissonances - advanced jazz form texturally with growling trumpet sounds in his band -as a bandleader encouraged his side musicians to express themselves freely, wrote music that capitalized on the soloist talent of the members of the group - wrote in a sentimental mood, sophisticated thing, it don't mean a thing (if it ain't got that swing)
Thomas Edison
sparked birth of recorded music with the invention of the phonograph - devices prior to the phonograph could record sound, but the phonograph was the first record that could both record and reproduce sound
Woodstock
spirit of coordination infused event 3 day rock concert in upstate N.Y. August 1969, exemplified the counterculture of the late 1960s, nearly 1/2M gather in a 600 acre field A free music festival that attracted more than 400,000 young people to a farm in upstate New York in August 1969
Glam (masculinity, ambiguity, etc)
David Bowie
Thomas Edison and Emile Berliner
Developers of recorded music, began what we enjoy now Edison introduced (alongside columbia) an affordable phonograph (record player in essence) to be used in home entertainment in 1877 Enabled a market for recorded music Berliner developed flat recording disk (vinyl records) from what used to be the phonograph cylinder...1888 unveiled gramophone and kept improving Founded the Gramophone Company which is now EMI (fourth largest business and record label during its break up 2012) Said to have prophesied the modern music industry- said that one could make unlimited copies from a single master, home entertainment would become mass scale, and artists could be paid royalties for sales of disks
Atlantic Records / its founders, its significance, artists associated with it
Founded in 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson Ahmet developed a reputation of treating black artists fairly, and him and his brother had a comprehensive knowledge of jazz and blues Jerry Wexler joined in 1953 and became head of A&R Reviewer for billboard said to have invented the term rhythm and blues Ahmets brother Nesuhi created the jazz division Ray Charles
The Beach Boys
Founded in California in 1961, they popularized the "California sound" in the early 1960s. Their hit songs included "Surfin' Safari," "Surfer Girl," "California Girls," "Surfin' USA" and "Good Vibrations." pet sounds inspired sgt pepper Brian Wilson Vocal Harmonies The definitive surf group Group was a Family affair Sophisticated vocal harmonies and elegant counterpoint created sound that was unique among US rock groups... "were white and we sing white" Curators of teen anthems.... Many similarities here to chuck berry (inspiration) "Surfin USA" Signed to capitol Pet Sounds was a huge inspiration for Sgt. Pepper Production was overseen by Brian Wilson Vocal harmonies High, treble guitar and ¼ note bass drum pulse
Hillbilly and Jazz Commonalities
Hillbilly: music of lower class white / southern folk, but mix of ethnic influences with the induction of fiddle and banjo Blues: lower class black music, originating from call and response slave songs Jazz: middle/upper class music, originated in New Orleans, combining blues styles with syncopation
Hip-Hop: Harlem vs South Bronx
Hip-Hop: Harlem vs South Bronx DJ Kool Herc holds a party in South Bronx where he invents the merrygoround breaks technique South Bronx was predominantly black and puerto rican, young people band together in gangs, but also in dance crews and graffiti after a major peace treaty between gangs Afrikaa Bamba is pivotal in this transition: he unites communities together with the Zulu Nation, focusing on black empowerment and putting energy into art In another part of South Bronx, Grandmaster Flash bests Afrikaa and Kool Herc in skill MCs rise in Grandmasters crew B boys performing on the streets, but as rappers rise they become less prevalent Sylvia Robinson hears hip hop in a bday party in Harlem She tries to recruit the performers but they decline, not foreseeing the commercial value of hip hop (which wasn't a thing yet) Her son gets a random guy in Jersey at a pizza parlor to perform, 2 other random guys after one of them improvises the hip hop to the hip hip hippity hop line Ushers in hip hop entrepreneurship mercury records signs rapper Kurtis Blow Grandmaster Flash, who initially had turned down sylvia robinsons request to record, comes back with the furious five
Hitsville vs Soulsville
Hitsville - Motown, black owned - goal is upward mobility, getting black artists in front of white audiences while also having black audience - learned ettiequte - berry gordy Soulsville - stax white owned - memphis - raw, natural, - not made to please audience - integrated white and black players - unrefined music
Neil Bogart
In 1973, he founded Casablanca Records, the home to bubblegum pop/ major disco artists as Donna Summer, the Village People, and Lipps, Inc. They also released albums by Parliament first signed KISS and later became associated with the rise of disco by promoting careers of Donna Summer and The Village People also signed parliament and other funk groups helped contribute to the commercialization of disco with Donna Summers, one of the biggest stars in Disco
Neil Bogart
In 1973, he founded Casablanca Records, the home to bubblegum pop/ major disco artists as Donna Summer, the Village People, and Lipps, Inc. They also released albums by Parliament - had a pop mindset that helped him with popularize disco first signed KISS and later became associated with the rise of disco by promoting careers of Donna Summer and The Village People also signed parliament and other funk groups helped contribute to the commercialization of disco with Donna Summers, one of the biggest stars in Disco
Comiskey Park Riot
In 1979, the White Sox teamed up with a local radio station that offered discounted admission to the doubleheader game if you brought a disco record to destroy This lead to a "disco demolition riot" in which audience members ran down to the field as the records were blown up This event is considered the "death" of disco, which had its negative effects considering disco offered a safe space for LGBTQ+ people and people of color
Funk
Little Richards rhythmically tight take on r and b was an early precursor of funk that influenced James brown, The Godfather of funk complex breakbeats, that would go on to be sampled in hip hop, drum and bass syncopated guitar, emphases on the one Sly and The Family Stone would expand upon funk in the early 1970s with records like theres a riot going one, which is a more muted, dusty, despondent take on funk, and then George Clinnton's parliament funkadelic bands would make funk into something much more colorful Jazz Funk of Herbie Hancock on Headhunters, and the funk influence in Miles Davis On The Corner, which combined it with avant garde jazz and synthesizer funk in the 1980s became very popular, Prince, Rick James
Pete Seeger
Left wing wrote "if I had a hammer" for Peter Paul and Mary in 1962v wrote "turn! Turn! turn!" a hit for the Byrds in 1962 recorded a million-selling recordings with the weavers Singer, banjo player, and political activist who lead the Weavers in the late 1940s and 1950s, best known for helping popularize "We Shall Overcome," the anthem of the 1960s civil rights movement.
Milt Gabler
Milt Gabler was a record producer who was responsible for recording some of the greatest acts and most influential songs in jazz and early rock n roll music - recorded and released billie holidays "strange fruit" on commodore records - first to pair Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald on record - produced "rock around the clock" rendition by bill haley and the comets, one of the first singles to prove rock n rolls mainstream crossover appeal
Doo-Wop
Mostly black urban vocal harmony groups - combination of jazz, pop, gospel, blues - Greil Marcus: "first form of rock n roll to take shape, to define itself as something people recognized as something new, different, theirs"
Napster and the impact of digital music
Napster changed distribution and the role of music in peoples lives Napster was a sharing device where you could download any music for free centralized database created by Sean Parker early 2000s
The Byrds
Number one single with Bob Dylan's Mr Tambourine Man Catalyst for folk rock by electrifying Dylans song
The Funk Brothers
One of the most successful session music groups in history Motown house band the studio musicians of Motown who "played on more number-one hits than the Beatles, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys combined." 1959 until Motown move to LA in 1972 extensive jazz training pianist/bandleader: Joe hunter, bassist James jamerson, drummer William benny Benjamin Innovative techniques - two, sometimes three drummers - complex melodic baselines - combining really funky rhythmic playing with jazz inflected chords
Jazz (origin and evolution of)
Originated in New Orleans - Black, White, Creole social circles The meeting of uptown Africans brass and string band blues with downtown creole band tradition of notated music , classical traininng improv improv blues styles combined with notated rags jazz became dance music - trend spread rapidly during the depression - people from the south move up to the north because of economic conditions - bring music with them, stars like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington come up
The Who
Played a major role in creating hard rock and turning rock into an art form - power chords of Pete Townshed - Keith Moon's chaotic drumming Advanced the British invasion; propelled by their performance at Monterey Pop First Rock Opera, Tommy Experimented in noise, instrument destruction, and incorporated theatre and film into their music and stage performance to make music a different sort of art - first pop art band
David Bowie
Played with androgyny Bent the rules of conventional masculinity - wearing a dress on the cover of The Man Who Sold The World - wearing Japanese kimonos, feminine makeup Introduced the idea of changing personas over a long period of time Ziggy stardust: bisexual rockstar alien who was a messenger for extra terrestrial beings Major Tom: protagonist of space oddity, astronaut who floated into space The Thin White Duke: coincides with peak cocaine use for David Bowie, aryan fascist Each personas represented a new part of who david bowie was Most important contributor to the glam rock movement - ziggy stardust - also embodied the image with makeup, androgyny Also experimented folk rock, psychedelic rock - space oddity Changed the way music was made through the use of synth and electronic music Work with brian eno to produce music used synths and electronic music - space oddity - Berlin trilogy: low, heroes, lodger First to create a cohesion between rock and electronic sound cleanly, especially in dance music Heavy metal drew off of bowie's dark and theatrical presentation
British Invasion (60s and 80s)
Started by the Beatles - Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Who - blues influenced second wave - the kinks, duran duran, the police
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder Starts out as Lil Stevie, factors in his evolution Coming of age Jazz: tensions, extensions, modal scales, latin influence The beatles influence Synth used in an organic way Malcolm Cecil - Bob Margolese synth makers who work with stevie Rhodes plus synth bassline trope Synth fugues (multiple lines) Synth leads Acoustic guitar in R&B Latin rhythms Bassline reharmonization Clavinet trope Synth vamp Harmonic tensions
Motown and Associated Artists
Stevie wonder, marvin gaye, the temptations, smokey robinson
Malcom Cecil Bob Margoulif and TONTO
TONTO was the name of the synthesizer they created, a huge wall to wall machine, and their duo was called Tonto's Expanding Head Bad - they co produced many Stevie Wonder classic period albums - Music of my Mind (1972) - Talking Book (1972) - Innervisions (1973) - Fullfingness first final Fiale (1974) combined with Stevie's musicianship / songwriting, they utilized synths in a tasteful organic way
Jimi Hendrix & Montery Pop
The Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival occurred a week earlier and was technically the first rock festival, but Montery Pop was the first rock festiva to capture the public imagination - took place in 3 days in Montery California 1967 - almost three dozen acts - anywhere from 25,000 to 90,000 people Debut of Jimi Hendrix to a large audience - kicked off first US tour of the Jimi Hendrix Experience - played songs like purple haze, the wind cries Mary, Bob Dylan's Like A Rolling Stone unique sound no one had heard up to that: extremely high volumes, feedback, vibrato - playing with the influence of jazz, blues, funk - set his guitar on fire and smashed it at the end - bested The Who in burning shit up Also launched careers of Janis Joplin and Otis Redding Tho Who and The Grateful Dead also performed Turned Otis Redding into a crossover hit in USA (had success in Europe by being their introduction into American soul music)
CBGBs
The iconic nightclub _____ in New York's bowery was an important venue for punk and new wave bands. run by hilly crystal contributed to birth of punk music mandated that artists performed sets of original music blondie, the beastie boys, talking heads, the Ramones had their start there
Uptown R&B
Uptown R&B Polished, urban take on R&B Pioneering work by producers jerry leiber and mike stoller songs like "there goes my baby" performed by the ronettes Producers such as Luther Dixon, Phil Spector, Berry Gordy advanced the uptown R&B sound Artists such as Ben E. King, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke Ben E King: "Stand By Me" Tropes Expanding the sounds then earlier R&B: Leiber and Stoller: 1 - 6 - 4 - 5 chord progression, brass, double bass, echoing amp reverbs, gentle percussion, doo wop vocals Berry Gordy: again amp reverbs, booming drums, sharp rhythm guitars, complex basslines, sometimes lavish string arrangements Distinguishes itself from earlier r&b by differing from the 12 bar blue formula
Velvet Underground / Andy Warhol / Lou Reed
Velvet Underground - formed by Lou reed - now recognized as one of the most influential bands in rock - provocative subject matter: sex, heroin, street life, drug dealing - heavily distorted sound
The Coasters
Vocal group on Atlanta roster produced by Leiber and Stoller began as the Robins in LA with number 1 r&b hit "double crossed blues" first six singles (produced by Leiber and stoller) were top ten pop hits "searchin" "young blood" "yakety yak" "Charlie Brown" "along came jones" "poison ivy'
Janis Joplin
White female blues singer in the 1960s who epitomized women liberation and 60s counterculture with her extremely unrestrained, raw, emotional style - rose to fame during a performance at the montery pop 1967 festival - she had a profound ability to connect with her audience in her performances - also really epitomized the blues, with putting her pain and suffering (felt isolated growing up) into something beautiful with her art - wailing vocal style - as her career progressed she was influenced by her contemporaries such as Aretha Franklin another very powerful female singer and Otis Redding, who had a similarly raw style - very influenced by bessie smith - she was charismatic, powerful, raw at a time when many women were discouraged from performance/music careers - favored émotional expression over staying in a single genre, her music spanned blues, folk, soul, and psychedelic influences - she died at 27 of an opioid overdose signature songs: cover versions of "piece of my heart", "Summertime", "down on me", "Cry Baby", and her original song "Mercedes Benz"
Tin Pan Alley
a city district (originally in New York) where composers and publishers of popular music do business - Located in Manhattan, on West 28th st Between and Sixth Ave -began with the popularity of sheet music which became a top product -combined songwriters music with that of broadway vaudeville and ballads -first time music is marketed to the public
Berry Gordy
started artist/career development - founder of motown changed global culture as pop became black music with Motown - A&R: taught black artists to be "proper" to be palatable to whites (hold a mic right, tuck ur ass in) started Motown: first black owned company that becomes a driving force in the culture - biggest black business inn America until the 80s created assembly line - songwriters - birth of A&R - massive radio success for black artists over 100 singles In top 10 of pop in 10 years - Jackson 5 - stevie wonder - Diana ross '- the temptations - smokey Robinson
Sly and The Family Stone
started by dj sly racially integrated funk band, but with pop influence more about band then singers "Dance To The Music" first hit
Minstresly
started with Thomas Dartmouth Rice developing an onstage character "Jim Crow" - over emphasized black dialect and mannerisms reflecting racist stereotypes - negro impersonation - popular among whites in the 1800s, became popularized beyond his performance song: jump Jim crow entrepreneur : Thomas Dartmouth Rice
Aretha Franklin
symbol of black pride and soul music 1960 signed with Columbia Records, not a good fit - turned Aretha into jazzy pop singer - she was more into progressing from her background in blues and gospel 1966: signs with Atlantic, more creative control songs reflected black strength and power in face of racial oppression - you make me feel like a natural woman, respect, young gifted and black amazing grace (1970) - returns to church roots - sold over 2 mil. one of the most successful gospel artists of the era
Louie Armstrong
trumpeter, vocalist, composer who pioneered many musical concepts and techniques which have been encoded into the form of jazz and popular music in general Supporting details - affirmed blues tonality in jazz through trumpet and vocal - father of modern time with the encoding of swing in jazz - invented American singing: highly expressive, bending pitch, instrument-like improv, scat singing, influenced singers like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby
Ray Charles
father of soul - sound originating in gospel - "I Got A Woman" sang secular lyrics to a gospel tune
Tom Wilson
first African America A&R for a major label roots in jazz produced "the sound of silence" for Simon and Garfunkel putting drums on it produced Bob Dylan's records: such as The Freewheeling Bob Dylan
Billie Holiday "Strange Fruit"
first artist to sing about protest issues with black artists - protesting lyching of black americans - billie holiday was unnnerved when she first sang it, crowd slowly but eventually applauded Early foundation of r&b, melow instrumentation with soft expressive singing that expressed a big statement - influence: sade, Erykah Badu, and Amy Winehouse
Frank Sinatra
first pop singer to engender hysteria, made crowds of girls swoon Sinatra led a change from big bands fronted with singers to singers being backed by backing bands. - late 30s, early 40s
Simon and Garfunkel
folk duo from the 1960s "Sound of Silence" (Hello darkness my old friend) forced to get back together and made their hit "bridge over troubled" they hated each other launched the career of Paul Simon as a lyricist
Folk Music and Civil Rights
folk music is backdrop of civil rights movement Bob Dylan singing alongside MLK o
Rick Rubin
formed Def Jam records, founded in Weinstein Applied breaks and to hip-hop production, brought song arrangements and choruses and full production to hip hop using his rock / punk background he ushered in the beat box era with detuned 808 drums, also was an innovator in using dissonant samples great A&R man, signed to Def Jam The Beastie Boys, Slayer, LL Cool J, Public Enemy
Public Enemy and The Bomb Squad
headed by Chuck D with Flavor Flav and Hank Shocklee helped shift rap into a true art form with topical songs, politically charged lyrics rapped about black culture and history , providing awareness to white kids listening
Folk vs High vs mass vs popular culture
high art: cultural and artistic products that have a high status, usually belonging to the tastes of educated and wealthy mass art: negative connotation, cultural tastes of the majority of the population popular culture: usually a more positive connotation then mass art Folk: small tradition bound culture, usually among smaller specific cultures
Led Zeppelin
huge distorted guitars and drums songwriters Is complex with more movements between songs played a big role in corporatization of rock Stairway to Heaven Whole Lotta Love
Jim Stewart, Estell Axon, Al Bell & Stax (and associated artist)
jim Stewart: producer who co founded stax records Estell axon: cofounded with Jim her brother Al Bell: became co owner of stax in 1969
Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
known as the first concept album Four Track Recording, individual tracks were bounced to one
David Mancuso
-threw "love saves the day" themed loft parties -DJ, hippie, drugs, rent party -the loft became a club -helped create disco -organized the underground dance party called "Love Saves the Day" at "The Loft"
Sam Philips and Sun Records
- Created Rockabilly sound - merged rhythm and blues with country western - "If I could find a white man who had the negro sound and negro feel, I could make a billion dollars" filtered black experience through white performers for mainstream market - understood profitability of black sound - home to bill haley, first major white rock n roll act to reach mainstream success with rockabilly
Seymour Stein
-founded Sire Records w/ Richard Gottehrer -signed "new wave" artists -The Ramones, Talking Heads, Madonna, The Pretenders, Blondie
J Dilla (Jay Dee)
-producer for Slum Village, Tribe Called Quest, etc etc etc -made donuts on his deathbed Used a function of the MPC drum machine that had not been done before Swing elements could be independent of each other Dilla Time- deliberate cultivation of conflict between swing and straight song elements (inconsistency, w out quantization) Overlap of swing and straight Combined machine and live drum and revolutionized the sound of drums Sounds of falling or tripping over and back into beat
Leiber and Stoller
-songwriting team of rock and roll and soul artists -Atlantic -produced: "yakety yak" "hound dog" "stand by me" -foundation of soul sound: fused strings and r&b
Bert Williams
A key figure in the development of black entertainment minstrel show comedian: wore black face over his already black face songwriter loved by black and whites he had to wear blackface in order to conform to white stereotypes, however he downplayed the shows racist aspects and instead emphasized finding comedy out of universal situations - however he was the first black American to take a lead role in a broadway stage - The all black show In Dahomey was a broadway success he also was the first African American to become a best selling recording artist, remaining the best selling black artist until 1920 - New York Dramatic Mirror, a theatrical trade newspaper of the time, called him "one of the greatest comedians of the world" "syncopation rules the nation"
ASCAP vs BMI
ASCAP vs BMI Publisher vs Broadcaster tension dates back to 1922, when ASCAP members made their demand for a 5$ a day royalty fee from radio play and radio formed National Association of Broadcasters in response - ASCAP income from radio was 20 percent of profits in the 30s, with profits rising from 757,340 in 1932 to 4.3 million in 1939 What caused tension between ASCAP and broadcasters - ASCAP fee for blanket license (allowing broadcasters to play any selection in ASCAP catalogue) was 5% of receipts of all radio programs (not just music! Talk shows, sports) - ASCAP wanted to double its revenues in 1940 with a sliding scale fee charging 3% to smaller broadcasters and 7.5% to larger ones Broadcasters "close ranks" - In 1939 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) form their own performing rights organization, challenging ASCAP monopoly Launch of BMI - BMI positions itself as publishers and writers in grassroots areas, not just major cities NYC LA, Hollywood - Although ASCAP represents major artists like George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, NAB boycotts ASCAP for 10 months in 1951 replacing their music - BMI contains: Ralph Peer offers catalogue of Latin popular music, Roy Acuff and Fred Rose offer Acuff-Rose country catalogue, E.B. Marks, Tin Pan Alley Firm offers pop music Broadcasters and Publishers come to terms only in 1941, after federally initiated antitrust action forcing regulation of ASCAP
European vs African Music
African: everyone participates in the art microtonal scale slurs, vibratos, shouts improvisation: adapting based on surrounding musicians chromaticism: cluster tones, tensions syncopation: layers of rhythmic complexity European: defined distinction between performer and audience, passively absorbing music tempered diatonic scale: half-tones notes fixed in notation, tonally fixed to 12 tone scale
The Rolling Stones
Bad boy image
The Rolling Stones
Bad boy image, rawness, grittiness in opposition to the friendlier image of the Beatles - indebted to black American music influence, blues music - signature songs of the 60s such as Satisfaction and Gimme Shelter, Paint it Black harsh edgy sound that represented the tumultuousness of the 60s era - forefront of the British Invasion - One of the best selling acts of all time, having sold an estimated 250 million records - they are also one of the most prolific and long lasting rock bands, having released 30 studio albums and performing for decades and decades to today
Irving Berlin (1888-1989)
Became song plugger and producer at Tin Pan Alley - writing a lot of ragtime Composed jazz songs for a golden age of musical theatre - wrote a show that would only cast American soldiers (wwI): yip-yip-yank - wrote wwII movie "this is the army" with song "oh how I hate to get up in the morning" - wrote "god bless america", fourth of July song - wrote anthem of show biz: "there's on business like show business" - wrote quintessential Christmas song: "white Christmas", bing Crosbys version is the best selling single ever, having sold over 50 million copies worldwide - this began the Christmas songbook industry, before Irving Berlin there was no such thing
Uptown R&B
Ben E King, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke Ben E King: "Stand by me"
Madonna
Feminist Icon - frank and open about sexuality, but fully in charge: image of fierceness, independence, drive - major influence on female pop stars of today like Beyonce and Taylor Swift - combined pop singing with upbeat dance club sound, coming out of the NYC funk scene - helped to define modern music video: using videos to express narrative, such as the video of Papa Don't Preach (teenage pregnancy story) - Expressing free sexuality, good/bad girl dichotomy on "Like A Virgin" music video - Queen of reinvention, although Bowie did it first she reinvented her image many times, wedding dress of like a virgin, spiritual entity of ray of light, playing a sinner in Like a prayer - 12 number 1 billboard hits, 38 top ten hits
Lee Abrams
Founded XM Satellite Radio
Chuck Berry
created mix of single note and double stop lines - related r&b to teenage culture, relationships, cars, alcohol
Girl Groups in the 1960s
Girl Groups in the 1960s Completely Dominated the charts in the early and mid sixties until The British Invasion - The Motown girl group sound had a big influence on the early Beatles polished urban r&b sound pioneered by producers such as Luther Dixon, Berry Gordy, Phil Spector Phil Spector produced The Crystals, The Ronettes, but he saw them more as a piece of his production vision Martha and the Vandellas, Diana Ross and The Supremes were on Motown Spirit of early rock n roll, now through black female vocal groups Very popular until the british invasion 1962: because of girl groups, more black artists appear on the charts then ever before The Crystals "he's a rebel", Martha and the Vendellas "heatwave" "Quicksand" marvelettes "please mr postman", the ronettes "please be my baby"
Harvard Report (The)
Harvard Report titled "A Study Of The Soul Music Environment" - clive davis commisions students to study soul music environnment - advised Clive Davis to buy smaller labels like PIR (Philadelphia International Records) -said that the record business leaned more towards LPs instead of singles - how to market black music to white audience early 1970s major labels not investing in black music, black music coming out of independent labels: stax and Motown played a big role in major label adoption of black music and black artists
Grunge Rock
Heavy Metal, Punk Rock, Indie rock influences
Alan Freed
Helped to popularize r&b DJ for WINS (AM radio station) Responsible for radio surge of r&b, bringing it to pop - first to play the genre - first to use the term rock n roll in radio Had a bad downfall because he received payola: labels paying radio DJs to play their songs
Hip-Hop — The Three Founding Fathers
KOOL HERC - introduced the use of breaks - used two turntables , and merry go round technique going between one break and another GRANDMASTER FLASH - elevated DJ-ing and was precise about going back and forth between breaks of songs, made it seamless - virtuosity of Djing - backspinnning, beat matching and song cue AFRIKA BAMBAATAA - found breaks in every genre, promoted hip-hop as alternative to violence
Chess Records and Associated Artists
Independent label founded by Leonard and Phil Chess, due to increasing demand of r&b A powerhouse for Chicago Blues and r&b Ultimately taking over the urban blues scene and producing a lot of hits Home to Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Etta James Home to producer Willie Dixon Showing the rise of white executives and black producer relationships
Chess Records and Associated Artists
Independent record label founded by Leonard and Phil Chess, due to increased demand of r&b - located in Chicago powerhouse for Chicago blues and r&b - home to Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Etta James Home to producer Willie Dixon - Chuck Berry Bo Diddley, made music that could relate to white teen culture without disowning their own culture and music, singing about cars, schools, girls White producer working with black artists
Emile Berliner
Inventor of process for mass production of recorded music - began the mass production of records with his invention of the flat disc record - promotion of its use in The Gramophone Company, which became part of EMI
Les Paul
Jazz, Blues, and Country guitarist - early development and foundation of rock n roll created the solid body electric guitar, making it sound much different from its acoustic counterpart - progressing into the sound of upcoming rock genre pioneered the use of: overdubbing, multitrack recording, tape delay developing a bunch of effects and techniques that are widely used today
Jim Crow
Jim Crow Artist- Thomas Dartmouth Rice was the face of Jim Crow (a white blackface minstrel character) Argument: Dartmouth Rice was the First American Pop Star Minstrel character of the happy, obedient plantation slave that wasn't the smartest Stereotypes reassure white people Created the Jim Crow stereotype that would then be the unofficial name for legislation Song- "jump jim crow" Legal era- jim crow laws were in place especially in the south segregation was used in public schools, places, transportation Laws reflect the cultural segregation that was taking placed and being reinforced by legislation In contrast to Zip Coon (George Washington Dixon), another popular minstrel character that was conniving and sneaky. Meant to be a mockery of freed blacks, was characterized as arrogant, over-articulate.
Prince
Prince Prince was the ultimate polymath able to transcend any genre in his music with his colorful personality, high level of skill, and wide spanning tastes, his voice Singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, filmmaker Innovated a wide variety of genres: funk, rock, R&B, new wave, soul, psychedelia, pop Super openly sexual, breaking down taboos on songs like "Head", "Sister" Extravagant flamboyant personality Multi-instrumentalist: guitar virtuoso, also skilled at drums, percussion, bass, keyboards, synthesizer His vocal diversity Deep and impassioned singing in Purple Rain Crooning on songs like Slow Love Beautiful falsetto: I Feel For You, Kiss Inventive pop production: dry funky sound of Dirty Mind, Colorful psychedelic of Purple Rain
John Hammond
Producer and head of A&R for Columbia Influential jazz enthusiast and promoter who helped Benny Goodman, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, and (much later) Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen secure recording contracts with Columbia Records, where he worked as an A&R (artists and repertoire) man. He produced blowing in the wind - widely respected by African Americans as he attempted to break down racial barriers, promoted black jazz music originators - eg Carnegie Hall shows 1938-39 "from spirituals to swing" - bringing together white clarinetist benny goodman and black pianist teddy Wilson together - also he discovered Bob Dylan, produced his first self titled album and co produced 2nd album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" with Tom Wilson
Bessie Smith
Promoted as queen of the blues by Columbia, public considered her empress of the blues "Downhearted blues" sold over 750k saving Columbia when radio was becoming the more popular format for consumers than buying records -influenced pop singers such as: Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Beyonce, Amy Winehouse - sung of her life, topics of the blues, alcoholism, poverty, unrequited love
R&B covers in the 1950s and in the 1980s
R&B covers in the 1950s and in the 1980s White artist making R&B covers, charting higher than black originals Primarily because in the 50's, black artists weren't being broadcasted on the radio, giving an easier opportunity for whites to capitalize off of r&b music Pat Boone's cover of "Ain't that a shame" went to No.1, while Fats Domino only made it to No. 10 He also provided a different delivery to the songs, supporting the racist ideals behind taking what isn't his Tutti Frutti: Pat Boone's version reaches no. 12, and Little Richard only reaches #17 Phil Collins Cover of Supremes You Cann't Hurry Love
Major Labels — The "Big Three" — 1930s to 1950s
RCA Victor, CBS,
Albert Grossman
Responsible for a number of folk and rock successes, integral in its revival - surveyed the scene at Gerde's Folk City - Manager of: Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Peter, Paul and Mary
Altamont / Gimme Shelter
San Francisco rock festival held at Altamonte speedway by the Rolling Stones, for the finale of their promo tour Members of the hells angels motorcycle club were hired as security - harassed and assaulted people for getting too close to the stage - concert resulted in 4 deaths Jefferson Airplane's Marty Balin was knocked unconscious Downfall of the counterculture - hippies and activists attacked under Nixon's approval
Grateful Dead
San Francisco-based psychedelic band featuring Jerry Garcia Band that originated in the 1960s San Francisco rock scene. Their career spanned more than three decades. One of the first purveyors of Psychedelic music- they made music that was tailored to be the soundtrack to LSD trips right as acid and drug induced consciousness expansion was becoming a hallmark of the counterculture. Their music was largely based around extended bluesy jam sessions, which they would often use to stretch out their songs to 15 or 20 minutes when playing live. Started in California but were notorious for their rigorous touring schedule- they lived on the road and had a contingent of extremely dedicated fans called "deadheads" who traveled show to show with them and embraced the free love culture that the band championed.
The Ramones
The first US punk band to receive major attention, and define the punk sound and image which they embodied: rapid fire guitar bursts very fast tempos constant hats or cymbals abrupt minimalist lyrics, rarely more then 8 lines very simple song structures, with only a handful of chord changes shouty vocals on stage they were an extremely tight unit, necessary for the fast paced music And like punk in general they had little mainstream success, not much in' the way of a hit album or single However they were highly influential Image: leather motorcycle jackets, weathered jeans, sneakers cool
The Ramones
The first US punk band to receive major attention, and define the punk sound which they embodied: ed rapid fire guitar bursts abrupt minimalist lyrics, rarely more then 8 lines
Sylvia Robinson / Sugar Hill Gang
created the group sugar hill gang in the 70s recorded "rappers delight", first "rap" record to became a major success had the band recreate the song instead of sampling
George Gershwin
Tin Pan Alley Songwriter, closest association to jazz music - affinity for African American music - wrote "rhapsody in blue" which was written for jazz band and piano - combined European and jazz / African influences, leading to interest and acceptance from black and white Audiences - wrote "summertime" jazz classic - helped bridge gap between "art" music and "pop" music
Heavy Metal
Tropes: - electric guitar super distorted - long complex solos, often high level of virtuosity - wailing vocals - The use of power chords - loud drums, expanded drum set w cymbal and tom use - hair, androgyny - Celtic themes, satanic themes, mystical themes early artists who made rock that would heavy metal include Jimi Hendrix, cream, the yardbirds These new sounds were developed into heavy metal by artists such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath in the late 1970s the genre developed into new wave British heavy metal, artists like Iron Maiden and Saxon infused speedy punk rock intensity into the genre
Brian Eno
ambient pioneer "repetition is a form of change" put spaces in pop music and soundscapes minimalism came up with oblique strategies: provided constraints to overcome writers block Produced Remain In Light, Talking Heads landmark album - looping sections over one another, overlapping snippets of jams, creating a spontaneous sound
Racial Ambivalence
amphi = both/opposites / valence = strong feelings opposing feelings: inner conflict, coexistence of strong negative and positive feelings
appropriation
appropriation: taking from a culture with little understanding of it appreciation: having a deeper understanding from the culture you are borrowing ideas from, expanding upon that knowledge in a different creative context in your music Iggy izaelia or bhad baby using black vernacular while note actually speaking in that way outside of that context
Ralph Peer
argument: as a record producer, engineer, talent scout, music publisher, and pioneer of field recording, Ralph Peer was instrumental in the documentation of country music and its genesis in recorded music - recorded one of the earliest country recordings, Fiddlin' John Carsons rendition of "Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane" Recorded Jimmie Rodgers, widely considered the father of country, and the Carter family during the Bristol Sessions in Bristol Tennessee - directed the recording of "Crazy Blues" by Mamie Smith and her Jazz Hounds, first commercially successfully blues record, sparking interest in blues music - conducted field recordings in 1923 in Atlanta Georgia
Robert Stigwood
best known for managing Cream and The Bee Gees Robert stigwood commissions the bee gees to write the soundtrack for Saturday night fever - peak disco popularity, huge cultural phenomena master at crossover media, Newsweeks David Ansen album sells theater tickets, plays sell movie rights, soundtrack album sells movie, movie sells soundtrack album
thriller
best selling album ever
Punk Rock
came out of 70s in NYC punk only hits mainstream in the 90s CBGB (Country bluegrass blues) club founded by hilly crystal that contributes to proliferation of punk rock a lot of people felt isolated by arty prog rock tropes - 3 chords - loud distorted - sex drugs - technically basic, raw musicality
Bob Dylan
changed lyrical content of popular music as a folk artist topical songs like Oxford town, and The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol about racism and racial violence music as a means of protest bridged gap between folk and rock music - substantive lyrics, rock n roll isntrumentationn
The Beatles
most successful recording act of all time - started launch of the British invasion made rock fine art - use of strings on she's leaving home, Eleanor Rigby, yesterday, classical sound - used studio as instrument: tape loops on tomorrow never knows, sound collagel elements on I Am The Walrus proto heavy metal: Heater Skelter Indian Influence, sitar: Norwegian wood, love you to psychedelia: she said she said Soul influence: Got to get you into my life invented music video: a hard days night (1964) band -> brand Folk and folk rock influence: I'm looking through you, mother natures song concept album: sgt peppers, imaginary band each had individual personalities established tropes of 60s pop crochet rhythm, Rickenbacker 12 string sound, major line cliche
Wall of Sound
music production technique created by Phil sound large and dense sound without distortion stacking multiple instruments
The Wrecking Crew & Goldstar Studios
one of the most prolific session recording units in history group of session musicians with background in jazz and classical but lent their expertise to pop music Worked in Goldstar Studios in LA Go-to crew for Phil Spector
David Geffen
owner and founder of Geffen Records Recording, movie entrepreneur; first self-made billionaire in Hollywood founded Asylum Records
Ragtime
paralleled the rise of tin pan alley - began as syncopated African American music with ties to European marches
Schlock Rock
resulted from end of first R&b wave at the end of the 50s, Elvis drafted, chuck berry arrested, buddy holly died new generation of artists from philly - swan - chancellor - cameo parkway dick clark starts American bandstand in Philly giving these artists a starting point - 1st show to launch rock artists and music A white, middle class face for rock 'n' roll Energy, rebellion, sex disappear also known as bubblegum pop; bland songs by white artists about neutral topics such as romantic love
cultural factors leading to demise of rock n roll (late 1950s)
rock n roll ethos is at odds with powers that be, conservatism, conformist culture of the 1950s, Eisenhower philosophy
Prog Rock and Associated Artists
rock seen as an art form Emerson lake and palmer pink floyd outgrowth from psychedelic rock acts (such as Pink Floyd) who abandoned pop form for long form pieces poetic lyrics technology harnessed for new sounds music approached condition of art studio not stage is the focus of the art
The Blues
segmented into country, city and classic, each with different tropes tropes: Gave way to black Americans being a legitimate market/audience, leading to creation of "race music" and "race records"
Duke Ellington
self-taught pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger, Famously played at the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he played for singers, floor shows, dancers - duke Ellington and his Orchestra - advanced jazz form harmonically with never before heard complex cluster tones, free to use dissonances - advanced jazz form texturally with growling trumpet sounds in his band -as a bandleader encouraged his side musicians to express themselves freely, wrote music that capitalized on the soloist talent of the members of the group - wrote in a sentimental mood, sophisticated thing, it don't mean a thing (if it ain't got that swing)