Music 24B Midterm
Why was Phil Spector significant in this period?
...
b. Who were some other groups associated with this style?
Jan & Dean, Del-Tones, The Ventures
b.Why was George Martin significant?
Sometimes called the fifth beatle, producer with a an essential role in the recording studio when recordings got more sophisticated
b.Explain the "wall of sound" concept associated with Spector.
Using double the amount of instruments to create "wall of sound"
38. What factors contributed to rock & roll losing its edge in the late 1950s?
Violence at the shows, artists falling off the wagon
33. Who began using the term "rock & roll" as a name for popular music?
disk jockey Alan Freed
What was the title of the first commercially successful recording by an African American artist?
"Crazy Blues" by Mamie Smith
What was the title of their first major single released in the U.S.?
"I Want to Hold Your Hand"
Describe the honky-tonk style.
"hard country" or "beer drinking music" conveyed sound and ethos of roadside bar or juke joint
24. Which new category replaced " race music?"
"race music" "hillbilly music" replaced w/ "rhythm & blues" & "country & western"
17. Which harmonic structure is most often used for the blues?
12-bar is the most popular
6. What is an audiophile?
A person who has a great interest in high-fidelity sound reproduction
25. What do the abbreviations ASCAP and BMI stand for?
ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) est.1914 BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) est. 1939
ASCAP BMI Know the differences between each group.
ASCAP : originally focused on live music, very restrictive & discriminatory membership acceptances BMI: formed by radio networks, more "open door" policy, attracted African Americans, seized "overlooked" pop market
5. What are the ways that one may actively and passively engage in music?
Actively: singing along, playing air guitar/drums, mimicking movement Passively: just listening to the song, doing karaoke
b.What is overdubbing?
Adding layers of sound to a recording
Who was the founder of Motown?
Berry Gordy
40. Know the various musical trends of this era. Know the artists & songs associated with each trend.
Chubby Checker & "The Twist" (originally written by Hank Ballard) "Let's Twist Again", Dee Dee Sharp & Chubby Checker "Slow Twistin" "Mashed Potato Time" "Do The Bird", Little Eva "The Loco-Motion", The Miracles "Mickey's Monkey"
a.Which artist served as the main influence on their first top-10 hit?
Chuck Berry
In which city was rock & roll first broadcasted on the air?
Cleveland
8. Know the following terms in regards to the music business: composer, lyricist, publishing company, arranger, A&R "man," producer, engineer.
Composer: "writes" music Lyricist: writes words Publishing company: owns rights to music; distribution, dissemination Arranger: decides instrumentation, key, form A & R: artists & repertoire; record executives who find new talent Producer: convinces board of directions to back project, influences style of talent, may direct recording process Engineer: records & "improves" recorded and/or live sound; often has "signature" sound
31. Which musical styles are represented by the category Country & Western?
Country crooners, bluegrass, honky-tonk
19. Know the various blues styles in chronological order.
Country/Rural, Vaudeville/Classic Blues, Urban/Electric Blues
a.Why was the music under attack?
Disrupting the teenagers, making them act different and uncivilized, "sinning"
21. Describe the social & economic climate of Post WWII America?
Economic: military-related, G.I Bill increased housing sales, new market for entertainment industry→ unpredicted teen consumer power, America was "in love with love" very innocent songs
b. Which popular artists were signed to Sun Records?
Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash
13. Which three cultures serve as the roots of most American popular music?
European American, African American, Latin American
10. Explain how the pop music industry is supported by a few top-selling artists.
Every 1 out of 8 recordings turns into a profit big enough to support the "low" sales
16. Which song forms are the American roots of the blues?
Field hollers & work songs
15. Which figure in West African culture served as the predecessor to the bluesman/woman?
Griots: singer, poet, musician, historian
Why was Ralph Peer significant?
He was a Columbian Records executive who helped start "race music"
b. Describe the musical style of Motown.
Ideal sound was mix of black & white styles "The Sound of Young America"
43. Describe the early career of The Beatles in terms of personnel, influences and style.
Influences: 1950s American rock n roll (Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Carl Perkins), "mop top" haircuts & English accents, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Star
Why do some audiophiles prefer analog over digital recordings?
It makes it sound better, mirroring off the energy in sound waves, gives it a warmer, richer, more human-like sound
4. How can music both contradict and reinforce cultural stereotypes?
It reinforces stereotypes through lyrics and music videos, portraying stereotypes as they are known. It contradicts when musicians are singing a style of music that doesn't fit in with their stereotype.
12. What tends to happen to a musical style as it moves from the margins to the center of popular culture? Why are these changes deemed "necessary?"
It tends to change to please the audience that is listening to the musical style. Without the changes, no profit would be made from the artists
a.Why was the crooning style particularly popular during this time?
It was broadcasted all over television and radio show
20. What was unique about the Vaudeville Classic blues?
It was dominated by African American women
7. Why do some music fans find greater value in acoustic music over electric?
It's more authentic, shows "real" musical ability, and shows sincerity
29. What are the four subtypes of rhythm & blues? Know the artists associated with each style.
Jump blues: small combos using jazz instrumentation, blues harmonies (ex. Louis Jordan) Club/cocktail blues: reserved, mellow style; dynamics allow for conversation over music (Charles Brown) Urban blues: derived from Mississippi Delta style; feat. Electric instruments ♪"Hoochie Coochie Man"- Muddy Waters Vocal harmony/ doo wop: based on gospel quartet style, frequently names after birds (Orioles, Ravens, etc.) The Platters
What is critical listening?
Listening that consciously seeks out meaning in music, drawing on some knowledge of how music is put together, its cultural significance, and historical development
a.What was an LP?
Long playing 8 track tape recorder created by Les Paul, holds over 20 min on each side
41. Why was the management style of Motown Records label unique?
Management style based on assembly-line technique
b. What was the name of the radio program?
Moondog Show
22. What were some of the changes taking place in the music business during the 1940s & 1950s?
Music became a product to be sold with listeners as the consumers, also a lot of new musical fads
3. What is the definition of popular music?
Music that is mass produced, & disseminated by the media
35. What was a cover artist and why were they deemed necessary?
Necessary to make money off the good songs with a white face behind it
Who were the biggest stars of Country & Western in the pre-rock era?
Patti Page & Hank Williams
23. What is payola?
Payola: record companies paid DJs to spin records more frequently (illegal practice)
39. What was the social & political climate of the United States in the 1960s?
Political Turmoil Civil Rights Era, Vietnam War, Assassinations; John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Young generation leads push for change, Racial integration, & Sexual revolution
28. Know the various styles of popular music that preceded rock & roll.
Pop Crooners, Urban Folk, Rhythm & Blues, Country & Western,
9. What did cultural theorist Theodor Adorno have to say about the effects of pop music & capitalism?
Pop music/capitalism, creates illusion that our tastes define who we are
34. What problematic issues did radio programming create that challenged the notion of race and segregation?
Radio didn't allow the listeners to see the face of the artist
32. Which popular music style(s) served as the roots/origins of rock & roll?
Rhythm & Blues
2. Know the definitions of the following musical terms: riff, groove, timbre.
Riff: short repetitive pattern Groove: rhythmic flow Timbre: sound quality
37. What is rockabilly?
Rock & roll influenced by hillbilly side
26. What are royalties?
Royalty: fee paid to songwriters, publishers for use of music (live, radio, t.v., movies)
36. Who founded Sun Records?
San Philips previously called "Memphis Recording Service" which recorded Blues
11. Historically, what has been the role of independent record labels?
Search out new talent, creating new specialized niches, and feeding new styles into the musical mainstream
30. Who recorded the original version of "Hound Dog?" Who were the composers of this song and why were they unique?
Sung by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, two white college kids named Lieber & Stroller songwriting duo
14. Know the following terms in regards to African American music: syncretism, call & response, syncopation, polyrhythm.
Syncretism: selective blending of traditions derived from Africa & Europe Call & Response: lead singer & chorus alternate Syncopation: A shift of accent in a passage or composition that occurs when a normally weak beat is stressed Polyrhythm: textures in which many rhythms are going on at the same time
27. What advances in recording technology were made after WWII?
Tape recording (magnetic tape), LPs, 45, radio broadcasting, television
42. Which group led the Surf Music craze?
The Beach Boys
Who was Brian Epstein?
The Beatles manager
b. What was the first commercially successful urban folk group?
The Weavers led by Pete Seegar
18. What are "blue notes"?
The adaptation of W. African scale to the European system
a.Who developed Top 40 programming?
Todd Storz (jukebox)
a.What was his famous statement about race and making money in the pop music industry?
if only I can find a white man that can make the negro sound & feel, id make millions"
