MUS150 TEST 2
Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970 Simon and Garfunkel)
Commercial peak Split after album came out
british blues
Electric blues (American) was popular in England
Girl Groups (Motown)
Motown participated in the fad Example: The Marvelettes "Please Mr. Postman" § 1961, Motown's first #1 pop hit § Marvin Gaye drummer in group Example: Mary Wells "My Guy" § 1964 § Written by Robinson Wells first consistent hit maker Lyrics simple Catchy song Hook
Miles Davis
born on May 25, 1926 in Alton, Illinois. · In 1968, __________ ___________ abandoned the jazz that he had helped to create during the previous 30 years of his career to embrace rock and fuse it with jazz. His innovations during this period include: 1) adding extra keyboardists and percussion to his basic instrumentation 2) creating dense musical fabrics 3) using complex rock-based rhythms 4) slowing down harmonic rhythm, often eliminating chord changes altogether 5) abandoning conventional forms in favor of free forms held together by erratically-recurring melodic fragments 6) taking the spotlight off the soloist · Bitches Brew (1970) is the first major work in this new direction. The sounds heard on this album are dense, but the enormous number of musicians (trumpet, soprano sax, bass clarinet, 3 keyboards, guitar, 2 drummers, percussionist, acoustic and electric basses, sitar, and others) leave each other plenty of space to move. On this and subsequent albums, Miles acts less as a soloist and more as an impresario. · The music heard on this album was not entirely planned and decidedly unrehearsed. Davis' band began to work with a new attitude, to let the music happen rather than forcing it by means of rehearsal and written-out music. The success in using this method is largely due to Miles' ability to choose compatible musicians. · A Tribute to Jack Johnson (1970) shows an even closer connection with rock, with the use of heavier distortion by McLaughlin and the reliance on driving rock rhythms. · "Right Off" shows distinct connections with rock. Billy Cobham's drum pattern starts off as a rock beat, and quickly shifts into a blues shuffle. John McLaughlin starts off with a guitar solo that is reminiscent of the electric blues of Chicago, and then progresses into background figures that are more percussive than harmonic, which suggests a link to soul. The bass part played by Michael Henderson is a shuffle blues pattern. Miles' trumpet solo is a combination of jazz, classical and blues styles.
Cream's influence
□ Everyone in the band is influence and good at their instrument □ Guitar, bass, drums, no separate singer § Loud, riff-based § Extended Improvisations § Technical proficiency
(Towards end of 1963 Bob Dylan) Disenchantment
○ 11/22/63: JFK assassinated ○ Social protest movements started to unravel ○ Dylan moves away from overt political activism
Aretha Franklin (Soul)
1960 signed with Columbia § Worked for producer John Hammond § Partnership did not work out □ Trying to make her fit a mold 1966 signed with Atlantic § I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) § Producer: Jerry Wexler □ Partnership worked out better § Example: title track § Example: "Respect" □ Originally sung by Otis Reading □ Huge crossover hit □ She started to become a spokesperson for African American community § Example: "Do Right Woman - Do Right Man" □ Gospel sound □ Call and response ○ 1967-1970 best years
Urban unrest (1967-68)
1967: "The Long Hot Summer" 4/4/68: Martin Luther King assassinated Triggered another wave of violence
Led Zeppelin (1969)
1st album o Riff-based songs o Blues influence apparent o Example: "How Many More Times" o Example: "Dazed and Confused"
1970s: technology
8- and 16-track machines o Producer and engineer become even more important
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972 David Bowie)
Adopts personality of alien Concept album Landmark album Example: "Ziggy Stardust"
Sounds of Silence (1966 Simon and Garfunkel)
Album Primarily contains songs that were previously recorded but are updated with electric instruments
Soul
Aretha Franklin, "Respect"
protests
As _____________ against Vietnam became violent in the late 60's, college students became less interested in the political message of acid rock. Many of them turned to harder blues and early heavy metal.
Light shows
Attempt to reproduce LSD experience visually
Heavy Metal
Audience o Social practices o Performance style o Volume o Distortion o Power chord o Heavy drums, bass o High, screaming tenor o Band names and iconography o Example: Black Sabbath "War Pigs"
distortion
Basic facet of rock Vocal noise Overdriven amplifiers Damaged amplifiers Fuzz box, ca. 1962
The Supremes (Motown)
Biggest act of the mid-60s Slow start, 1960-63 1964 Example: "Where Did Our Love Go?" (1964) Many other hits: "Come See About Me," "Stop! In the Name of Love," "Baby Love," "I Hear a Symphony," etc.
Heavy Metal
Black Sabbath, "Black Sabbath"
Folk Rock
Bob Dylan, "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Like a Rolling Stone"
musical style (Led Zeppelin)
Bottom heavy o "Distinctive, angular riffs" o Metrical complexities ("Black Dog," "The Ocean," "Kashmir," and others) o Guitar: melodically rooted in blues, timbrally experimental o Jones: arranger o Vocals: powerful, flexible (wide dynamic, timbral, emotional range), "exaggerated blues-shouter style"
indulgence
By the mid-1970's, people began to turn away from radical politics and protests and began to settle down in regular jobs, focusing on living comfortably. This generation's _____________ in gadgets, more open sex, and drugs is reflected in the rock of the time.
Jazz Rock
Chicago, "Does anybody really know what time it is?"
Psychedelic Blues
Cream, "White Room"
Glam Rock
David Bowie, "Ziggy Stardust"
"Purple Haze" (1967 Jimi Hendrix)
Drug reference Distorted Intense guitar solos Guitar more important than voice Tritone
1970s: social issues
Environment o Sex
Tom Donahue
FM Radio Approach spread across the country
Berry Gordy Jr.
Founder of motown Born in 1929 Started of as boxer and then became a songwriter and producer Rented a house in Detroit ( 1959: Hitsville USA)
Motown
Four Tops, "Standing in the Shadows of Love"
George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic
George Clinton was born on July 22, 1940 in Kannapolis, NC. Clinton worked at a barber shop in New Jersey as a teen, where he started a doo-wop group called the Parliaments. · The group moved to Detroit in the 60's, when Clinton got a job as a staff writer at Motown. They enjoyed a couple of moderate successes, but never made a major breakthrough. · In 1967, under the influences of the MC5, James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, and the Stooges, Clinton made a radical change in the sound of the group. He began to borrow from Brown and Stone, building songs on layers of riffs and eliminating chord changes for the most part. · Also, in a very literal sense, he borrowed not only the horn and bass sounds from James Brown, but the actual horn section and bass player. From the horns, he incorporated trombonist Fred Wesley, who did most of the horn arrangements for both Brown and Parliament, and saxophonist Maceo Parker. He also imported virtuoso bassist, William "Bootsy" Collins. · Clinton also took from glam rock the idea of an extravagant stage show to accompany the music. "Clinton's stage shows were spectacles: the band wore outlandish costumes, and there were fancy light shows, fog, spaceships dropping down from the ceiling, and other outrageous effects." · Also at this time, due to a legal dispute, the group started recording with a backup band as Funkadelic. Clinton would later reclaim the Parliament name, and would initially continue to record Parliament and Funkadelic as separate groups. Parliament became more commercially-oriented, while Funkadelic was more experimental, as well as more guitar-dominated. Eventually, the two groups, consisting of roughly the same members, merged into one. · The early Funkadelic albums built a cult following, largely based on their outlandish concerts. · On these albums, we hear much darker subject matter than is encountered on the later Parliament albums. Clinton writes about the dark realities that he faced on the streets of Detroit, much in the same way as Marvin Gaye did at this time. · Free Your Mind, and Your Ass Will Follow (1970), Funkadelic's second album, sounds closer to the psychedelic blues of Jimi Hendrix than the funk of Sly and the Family Stone. This sound is primarily due to the influential guitar playing of Eddie Hazel, and can be heard distinctly on "Friday Night, August 14th." This song also showcases some of Funkadelic's subtle post-recording effects (the majority of the album was taken from live sets). · Funkadelic's next album, Maggot Brain (1971), was their first artistically successful album, although they still had yet to find commercial success. The title track, an extended guitar solo with voice overdubs, became one of the most enduring musical statements made by Funkadelic. It also became the legacy of late guitarist Eddie Hazel. · "Hit It and Quit It," another track off of Maggot Brain, shows Funkadelic's further combination of psychedelic blues and funk. It also features Bernie Worrell's fine keyboard skills, as well as more soloing from Eddie Hazel. · Up for the Down Stroke (1974) became the breakthrough album for Parliament. The title track shows how Clinton reinterprets the music of James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone. · The song begins with 5 layers: a handclap backbeat, a rock beat on the drums, an occasional bass note, a double-time guitar riff, and some band members talking. The most active and syncopated of these is the guitar, and due to its prominence, the rhythmic feel of the song relies on sixteenth-note base rhythms. · When the voices enter, the texture immediately thickens, with the addition of several keyboards, another guitar, and eventually horns. Here, the song characterizes classic funk: · the dense texture assembled from layers of riffs · the light regular beatkeeping · vocals sung by several people that consist of a single phrase repeated · little to no harmonic rhythm · most importantly, highly syncopated and active rhythms · Also echoing James Brown, the song includes an instrumental bridge at 51 seconds that shifts to a new chord. After a brief return to the theme, the song goes into a second theme at 1 minute, 32 seconds. This second theme is extended and provides a build back into the first bridge, and then to the final statement of the first theme. · Parliament/Funkadelic was most successful from 1974-1978, with albums such as Mothership Connection (1976), The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein (1976), Motor-Booty Affair (1978), and One Nation Under a Groove (1978). Mothership Connection is widely regarded as their finest work. · In 1980, internal strife and legal problems caused Parliament/Funkadelic to shut down, although some members recorded another album as Funkadelic (Connections and Disconnections), which was not well-received. · George Clinton made another hit with a solo album, Computer Games (1982), which included the hit single "Atomic Dog." After this album, he retreated from public view for some time. During this period, he produced the Red Hot Chili Pepper's second album, Freaky Styley (1985). Also during this period, he became (along with James Brown) heavily sampled by rising hip-hop artists. · Parliament/Funkadelic reunited in 1993 as the P-Funk All-Stars. They have recorded several albums in the subsequent years, and continue to tour.
Acid/psych rock
Grateful Dead, "Truckin'"
Psychedelic Blues
Jimi Hendrix, "Purple Haze"
Santana
Latin rhythms and percussion o Santana (1969) o Abraxas (1970) o Example "Evil Ways" (1970)
The Temptations (Motown)
Many hits Great choreography and singing ○ Example: "My Girl" (1965) § Written by Smokey Robinson
Motown
Martha and the Vandellas, "Heat Wave"
Cholly Atkins
Motown Choreography
Bowie and Brian Eno and Fripp (David Bowie)
Moved to Berlin and collaborated Low, Heroes (1977) and Lodger (1979) Synth work § Example: "V-2 Schneider"
Art Rock (Summary)
Music by white musicians, particularly British - why? o Extended songs/compositions - albums not singles o Cerebral o How does it relate to early rock and roll?
1970s: more social trends
Nixon re-elected 1972 Vietnam War ends 1973 § Major reason to be radical gone Yuppies § Younger § Money Economic prosperity Cocaine Sexual experimentation "Era of Excess" or "Me Decade"
Bill Graham
Organizing movement and Trips Festivals
Soul
Other major strain of 60s African American popular music Soul music is traceable to (black) church music "Secular gospel" A racial label Starts in 1950s In 1960s soul is associated with African American pride
Funk
Parliament, "Give Up the Funk"
Art Rock
Pink Floyd, "Money"
The Doors
Pop mixed with acid rock Band met while in college Band had a fast rise and fall Jim Morrison Ray Manzarek (organ), Robby Krieger (guitar), John Densmore (drums) § Helped to give unique sound Blues, drug influence Example: "Light My Fire"
Power Chord (The Kinks)
Possible originator Chord contains two different notes and one has been doubled Played best on electric guitar
Soul
Ray Charles, "I've Got a Woman"
British Blues
Rolling Stones, "Satisfaction"
Let's Get It On (1973 Marvin Gaye)
Shift to sex Example: "Let's Get It On"
Deep Purple ("Early" heavy metal)
Sound: guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's technique and improvisatory skill with gospel-influenced organ and singer Ian Gillan's wide vocal range Best known hit: "Smoke on the Water" (Machine Head, 1972)
Booker T and the MGs
Stax house band Racially integrated □ Both black and white musicians
Jazz Rock
Steely Dan, "Hey Nineteen"
Folk Rock
The Byrds, "Eight Miles High"
British Blues
The Who, "Pinball Wizard"
Late 1960s social issues
Urban unrest § Ongoing racial tensions leading to riots in multiple cities Vietnam § Fear of communism § US enters in 1961 § Recruitment ○ Protest ○ College campuses § A lot of protest movement § Violent treatment of protesters on news Democratic National Convention, Chicago 8/68 § Large protest Darker time, reflected in music
1970s: industry
Venues: arenas and stadiums o FM radio o Rock press - Rolling Stone
Efficient process Acts developed for long-term success
What are the 2 important points of Motown's assembly line?
Booker T and the MGs
What was the Stax house band called?
The Funk Brothers
What was the in-house band for Motown called?
Assembly line
What was the key to motown's success?
Atlantic Stax
What were the major soul music labels?
Giorgio Gomelsky
Who was the first manager of the Rolling Stones?
soul
__________ music was the product of a newfound black pride in the 60's. The major difference between soul music and the music of Motown was that the influences that made up soul music were exclusively black. "Soul combined the emotional depth and range of the blues, the fervor of gospel, and the energy of rhythm and blues and rock."
legacy
___________ of funk (and Motown and soul) seen in contemporary R&B, rap and hip hop
Elton John
born Reginald Dwight on March 25, 1947. · A child prodigy, Dwight won a piano scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11. After many years of classical training, Dwight quit school to pursue a career in popular music, citing soul singers Sam Cooke and Otis Redding as his main inspirations. · He began playing in London as a solo artist and with a band, Bluesology, which started as a backup band for touring American soul singers. After being rejected by multiple record labels and bands, Liberty Records teamed John with lyricist Bernie Taupin, and hired the two as house songwriters for about $25 a week. The pair worked well together, although they rarely collaborated; in most cases, Taupin would deliver lyrics to John, who would write tunes for them without the two ever working on the songs together. · The songwriting pair began writing gospel-influenced rock songs for John to record in the late 60's. Most of the songs fell into two categories that almost all the music of John's career would fit: "gospel-chorded rockers and poignant ballads." · Elton John's breakthrough release was his 1970 self-titled album. The album yielded the hit single, "Your Song," which recalls the forms and formulas of 60's pop, but expands them. · The backdrop is subdued but rich, with the melody being the most prominent. The melody itself unfolds slowly (in both the music and the text), climbing to the hook: "I hope you don't mind." · The rhythm is subtle, but more active than most pop, and became the rhythmic structure that John would favor in many of his early ballads. · The texture becomes gradually thicker throughout the song, beginning with typical ballad instrumentation, and eventually adding strings and harp. Also, the drums don't come in until halfway through the song. This gradual thickening of texture unifies all of the statements of the melody into a larger whole. · John dominated the singles charts in the early 70's, beginning with 1972's "Rocket Man." Like "Your Song," the song utilizes a gradually-thickening texture, beginning with just John and his piano; however, in this case the texture thickens much faster, and goes back to a simpler texture for another build. · Also on 1972's Honky Chateau, "Honky Cat" is a pop take on soul music, utilizing the layering of riffs, a horn section, and a syncopated bass line. Despite these features of soul music, the song is still decidedly pop, with a typical rock beat in the drums and John's wholesome voice. · From 1972-1975, John and Taupin produced a massive number of hit singles, including "Crocodile Rock," "Daniel," "Bennie and the Jets," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," "The Bitch is Back," "Philadelphia Freedom," "Island Girl," and a cover of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," among others. · While John's voice is best suited for ballads, he is much more than a typical balladeer. "Bennie and the Jets" (1973) provides a good example of one of John's groove songs. In this song we hear an instantly recognizable opening piano riff, and interludes that are highly syncopated and work against the relentless beat of the tune. · "Philadelphia Freedom" (1975) shows John's take on the Philadelphia soul-pop sound of the 60's, utilizing a driving beat, as well as diverse instrumentation and ever-changing textures. · Also during this time, John Lennon made a surprise appearance at one of Elton John's shows at Madison Square Garden in 1974 to sing the songs "Whatever Gets You Through the Night," "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," and "I Saw Her Standing There." This would prove to be Lennon's last time on stage, and the songs were subsequently released on an EP released after his death. · John's career began to slow in the late 70's, and he eventually went into seclusion. When he reemerged in the 80's, he was largely unsuccessful. In 1986, John recorded a live album of some of his earlier work with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He lost his voice shortly after this concert and underwent throat surgery. · In the early 90's, John went into rehab to rid himself of his heroin addiction, as well as his alcoholism and bulimia. Also at this time, he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation and announced that all of the profit from his future singles would go to AIDS research. · In 1992, John released The One, which became his first chart success since 1976's Blue Moves and brought him back into the limelight. · In recent years, John has worked with lyricist Tim Rice on the films The Lion King (1994) and The Road to Eldorado (2000). "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," from The Lion King, won John both an Academy Award and a Grammy. He has also released numerous new albums, and performed on multiple other artists' albums. In 2001, he made a controversial career decision by performing a duet with rapper Eminem.
Hippie Culture
in the late 60's, the beats inspired a new group of people who strove to live a life outside the "American dream." These people became the hippies. · The hippies were from middle-class families, and rejected the materialistic values that dominated (and continue to dominate) American society. · The hippies grew their hair long, experimented with their sexuality, and ingested large amounts of marijuana and LSD to expand their consciousness. · The eventual downfall of the hippies was overindulgence in the drugs and lifestyle that defined them.
south
most soul music came from the __________. The two major centers for southern soul were Memphis, Tennessee, and Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Funk
new emphasis on rhythm Rhythmic and aggessive
Early art rock
o Moody Blues and Procul Harum o MB used the Mellotron (keyboard inst. that used tape) o Days of Future Passed (1967) o Example: "Nights In White Satin"
Frank Zappa
orn on December 21, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland. · The music of Zappa and the Mothers of Invention is a contradiction. While the music itself is among the most complex in the rock genre, it is counterbalanced by slapstick, and sometimes scatological, humor. Many critics initially dismissed Zappa's music because of the often puerile lyrics, which seemed to be okay by Zappa. "It was as if you had to pass through a series of 'tests' to prove yourself a true Zappa fan and listener." · Zappa was one the eldest of four children of Francis Vincent Zappa, a government scientist and guitar player. Zappa grew up in southern California playing in school orchestras and bands, where he taught himself many instruments, eventually settling on guitar. An avid 50's rock and roll and R&B fan, Zappa also listened heavily to classical music, particularly composers Igor Stravinsky and Edgar Varese (his declared favorite). · Zappa studied music theory during his six month stay in college in 1959, when he dropped out to play in lounges and compose scores for B movies. With the money he made from his movie scores, he built a studio in Cucamonga, California, and formed a band called the Soots. · In 1964, Zappa recruited more musicians and renamed the group the Mothers. After playing clubs for 2 years, the Mothers signed to MGM and recorded their first album, Freak Out! (1966). · Freak Out immediately established him as a unique voice in rock and roll, and was said by Paul McCartney to have influenced the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper. · "Who are the Brain Police?" is a good example of an early Mothers original tune. This sardonic waltz utilizes unusual harmonies for rock, as well as thick textures and abrupt shifts. · The album that exemplifies Zappa's earlier work is 1967's We're Only in It for the Money. The album as a whole is an exercise in deprecation, which begins with the cover; it is obviously meant to mock the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper. On it, the band is clad in dresses, the wax figures have become mannequins, and the gallery of cultural icons is partially obstructed by black rectangles over most of the figures' eyes. The album itself is unconventional, including spoken sections, electronic noises, and instrumental sections that sound more like avant-garde classical music than rock. · In the late 60's and early 70's, it became apparent that the Mothers were merely the vehicle for Zappa's art. During this period, he began to record albums under his own name as well. The albums of the Mothers from this period tend to be some of the most experimental and least accessible albums during their tenure as a band. · Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970), an album partly recorded in the studio and partly taken from live shows, provides a valid model of the Mothers work of this period. · In particular, "Didja Get Any Onya?" showcases Zappa's use of uneven meters and unconventional sounds, including voice cracks and seemingly unplanned instrumental sections, as well as the use of atmospheric noise. · "The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue" shows Zappa's inclusion of jazz in his unique and inventive way. In this song, he layers bop licks over a slow groove. · In contrast, "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama" and "Directly from My Heart to You" are more straightforward and accessible, providing a balance to the album. · 1971's Fillmore East - June 1971 shows the Mothers precision in performance, as well as their propensity for humor, as most of the concert is an extended joke. In particular, "Little House I Used to Live In" shows the band's ability to make dramatic shifts with exact precision. · Zappa's work became more accessible in the mid-70's, but no less inventive. Over-Nite Sensation (1973) shows Zappa using more typical rock conventions, although his lyrics remain as offensive as ever and the band plays at an extreme level of precision. · "Zomby Woof" utilizes typical rock sounds in Zappa's original way. The band shifts meter effortlessly, and the song has an irregular form. It also features a solo by Zappa over a more traditional blues groove. · Zappa's largest commercial success came with the album Apostrophe (1974). This album is the most accessible of Zappa's albums, and still maintains its musical integrity. · Frank Zappa also became a social critic, and played an integral role in the censorship hearings of the late 80's and early 90's. He also helped with voter registration drives, and served as the Czechoslovakian trade, tourism, and cultural liaison to the West. He died in 1993 of prostate cancer.
Late 1960s blues revival
psychedelic blues United States: Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Canned Heat, Johnny Winter England: Jeff Beck Group, Ten Years After Most important: Cream, Jimi Hendrix
supergroup
term used to describe musicians that are already famous from other bands or groups
folk rok
was a direct descendent of Dylan's electric folk. · Stars included The Byrds, who scored hits from several folk covers, including Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and Seeger's "Turn, Turn, Turn," and Simon and Garfunkel.
Black Power
○ Martin Luther King preached integration, reflected in legislation ○ Malcolm X § Arguing for separation not integration ○ Riots: 1965, 1967, 1992 § 1992: Rodney King □ Police brutality riot ○ "Black Power" - Stokely Carmichael § Political manifesto ○ Black Panther Party § 1966 founded by student union Advocating for the black community to take care of itself
ZoSo (Led Zeppelin IV) (1970)
Reached #2 on Billboard charts, stayed on charts for 5 years Diverse album Example: "Stairway to Heaven" Sectional form superimposed over a general increase in intensity 0'00" - modal, folkish, recorders 2'15" - electric instruments enter, similar atmosphere 4'20" - hard rock texture 5'55" - guitar solo 6'44" - greatest intensity 7'45" - return to opening material
Black Sabbath
Classic lineup: Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Bill Ward (drums), Geezer Butler (bass) o First heavy metal band? o Themes: occult, Satanism, death and destruction o Loud, extreme distortion, very slow tempos o Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1971, most influential album) o Example: "Black Sabbath" o Example: "Paranoid"
Jethro Tull
Commercial/critical success 1970-77 o Formed in 1967 (UK), led by Ian Anderson (flute, guitar, vocals) o Aqualung (1971) o Thick as a Brick (1972) o Later 70s and beyond influenced by British folk o Example: "Locomotive Breath" (1971)
Ray Charles (Soul)
Early innovator Multifaceted talent § Played multiple instruments § Unique raspy voice Example: "I've Got a Woman" (1955)' § Shouts and moans in song § Raspy voice Active in multiple genres Example: "Georgia On My Mind" (1960) § Contains strings and chorus § Tin pan alley Example: "I Can't Stop Loving You" (1962) § Merges country, tin pan alley, blues
Electric Ladyland (1968 Jimi Hendrix)
Example: "And the Gods Made Love" Example: "All Along the Watchtower" □ Written by Bob Dylan Example: "Star Spangled Banner" □ Turned national anthem into a protest
Pre Heavy Metal
Led Zeppelin, "Dazed and Confused"
Let's Dance (1983 David Bowie)
Most overtly pop record Most commercial success Hits include: "Let's Dance," "China Girl," "Modern Love"
Beat and Beatniks
○ Jack Kerouac (On the Road), Neal Cassady, Allen Ginsberg ("Howl"), etc. Beat: countercultural philosophy Start to move to San Francisco Get a counterculture Beat § Referred to jazz § And buddha Rejection of American values § Long work hours Weakens around 1959 but reemerges around the hippie movement
Art Rock
Rock that is combined with classical influences.
Progressive Rock
Rock that utilizes classical techniques.
Civil rights
○ Civil rights and folk revival ○ Civil rights in the early 1960s: sit-ins, boycotts, freedom rides, etc. ○ 8/28/63: MLK "I Have a Dream" JFK inaugurated
Jefferson Airplane ("White Rabbit" Drugs and Music)
One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small" § "Remember what the dormouse said, feed your head, feed your head" § Sinister march sound § Long lasting influence Only San Francisco band to have some commercial success White rabbit refers to Alice in Wonderland
David Bowie
Singer, songwriter and producer Career has seen many changes § 1970s: glam and punk § 1980s: romanticism § 1990s: Brit pop Started to record in 1960s ○ Example: "Space Oddity" (1969) § Released to coincide with Apollo moon landing The Man Who Sold the World and Hunky Dory (1971) The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) 1972: publicly declares bisexuality § Shocking at the time Alladin Sane (1973): avant garde jazz influence Diamond Dogs (1974): based on 1984, combined chanson, R&B and disco Young Americans (1975) and Station to Station (1976) § Example: "Fame" Bowie and Brian Eno and Fripp Let's Dance (1983) Eight #1 hits and twenty-three top 10 in UK "Cult" figure that helped open up pop music to avant-garde ideas rony and artifice Alter egos demonstrate that the artist and their image are separable entities (branding?) Resonant, clearly British singer Songwriter, arranger, producer (helped launch Iggy Pop and Lou Reed in the early 1970s) Film, video, theater, visual art, etc. Bowienet - first artist to run their website as an internet provider Influential to Suede, Morrissey, Blur, Pulp, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Madonna, Nine Inch Nails, Philip Glass, and others
British Blues
The Kinks, "You Really Got Me"
Hippie Culture
§ Young, middle class, educated, voluntarily poor § Rejected middle class values such as materialism and sexual taboos □ Rebelling against parents who came out of the great depression § Communal living
Black music in the 1960s
Very lively, triumphant period Motown Soul Two geographic areas: Detroit and the south (Memphis and Muscle Shoals)
George Clinton
Very odd Funk and rock mixed together Party oriented ○ Sci-fi costumes, cosmic mythology ○ Example: "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)" § Big sound □ Had a huge band § Early beginnings of rap and hip hop Songs were too long for black radio; too black for white radio § Not commercially as successful as other artists Highly influential Live shows important
Larry Grahm (Bass guitarist sly and the family stone)
Who is known as the father of slap bass?
Jim Morrison (Poet of the band, but didn't write all the songs)
Who was the lead singer of the Doors?
Jerry Garcia (Died in 1995)
Who was the lead singer of the Grateful Dead?
"Early" heavy metal
o Heavy blues - Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin o Iron Butterfly "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" (1969) o Deep Purple
1970s musical directions
o Somber, apathetic (?) mood o Music becomes apolitical, introspective, cerebral o Jazz rock o Art (progressive, classical) rock o Country rock o Folk rock (singer-songwriters)
(Psychedelic) acid rock
§ Associated with Hippies § Mission behind this was to change the world ○ Can be traced back to the beat and beatnicks ○ Not made for top-40 ○ Experimenting with sounds
What's Going On (1971 Marvin Gaye)
§ Example: "What's Going On" Takes artistic control § Conceptual album § Gordy didn't want to release it § Example: "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" □ Deal with Civil Rights issues § Example: "Mercy Mercy Me" □ Deal with environmental issues
Dr. Timothy Leary
§ Harvard psych professor § Experimented with LSD
Example: "Everyday People" (1969 Sly and the Family Stone)
§ Hit #1 § Dealing with issues around race § Guitar fuzz § Horns are much more melodic than James Brown § Bass is in foreground
Iconic figure (PMRC Frank Zappa)
§ Intricate live shows, virtuoso band (had to audition) § Active in the studio § Would conduct the band § Example: Lumpy Gravy (1967) § Example: "Son of Mr. Green Genes" (from Hot Rats, 1969
Cream
"Supergroup": Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton Blues focused Reflect psychedelic through visuals § Clothing etc. First LP: Fresh Cream (1966) Second: Disraeli Gears (1967) § Example: "Sunshine of Your Love" (1967) □ Creams anthem □ Riff based □ Drum breaks □ Bass active Wheels of Fire (1968) § Double album □ 1 live and 1 recorded § Example: "White Room" □ Wah-wah pedal Cream's influence
Marvin Gaye (Motown)
1962 hit: "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" Other early hits: "Pride and Joy" (1963, example), "How Sweet It Is to Be Loved By You" (1965), "Ain't That Peculiar (1965) Writing and producing for other artists by the end of the 60s Social/political themes become important in Motown (Gaye/Wonder) Breaking trend of staying away from socail/political themes Maturation Singer What's Going On (1971) Let's Get It On (1973)
Jimi Hendrix
Are You Experienced? (1967) Breakthrough (US): 1967 Monterey Pop Festival (video example, "Wild Thing") Example: "Purple Haze" (1967) Electric Ladyland (1968) Incredible live performer Guitar icon Experimental □ Timber/texture Expanded sonic palate for guitar Distortion/feedback With Cream and others made guitar the important solo instrument
Woodstock
August 15-17, 1969 Diverse music: Hendrix, the Who, Joe Cocker, many others Altamont (12/69), Kent State (5/70) crushed sense of unity
Ken Kesey
Author § Explored use in stanford area
Stevie Wonder (Motown)
Born in 1950 Pioneer in studio Used different types of synthesizers Many hits with Motown in the 60s § Starts with Motown at the age of 10 § Example: "Fingertips, pt. 2" (1963) □ Base player doesn't know what he is doing □ Call and response § Example: "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (1966) □ Upbeat and funky ○ Funky vs. sentimental ○ Where I'm Coming From (1971) § Takes control of what he is doing musically ○ Music of My Mind (1972) ○ Talking Book (1972) ○ Inner Visions (1973) ○ Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974) ○ Songs in the Key of Life (1976) ○ Example: "Too High" (1973) § Funky and inventive § Uses different synthesizers ○ Example: "Living For the City" § Social awareness § Long song
Eric Clapton and Cream
Clapton and Hendrix are connected in time and purpose, but they were two distinct musical personalities. · Clapton did not grow up listening to the blues. Instead, he became a blues convert in the sixties, when the blues became popular in Great Britain. · Clapton became one of the first major rock performers to play extended improvised solos, forming the band Cream in 1966. · Cream became one of the first "power trios," with only lead guitar, bass, and drums, but no chord instrument. · While the solo style of Hendrix is like a fireworks display, with ideas firing in an almost random display of virtuosity, Clapton's soloing is a more focused style, employing a sustained drive towards the climax. · "Strange Brew" (1967) showcases the studio work of Cream. It utilizes the form of Chuck Berry, but instead of playing a boogie pattern, Clapton plays a riff. This, in combination with Clapton's lead line and Bruce's syncopated bass line, breaks away from the melodic regularity of previous blues songs. · Bruce's bass line is also an innovation in this song. It is much freer than any bass line we have seen in the blues, and has only been seen in the soul music of James Brown thus far.
Sir Elton John (Reginald Kenneth Dwight)
Early activities: "classical" training, rock gigs, songwriting/performance at pubs Influences § Jerry lee lewis § Little richard 1967: focused on songwriting with Barry Taupin 1970: Elton John ("Your Song") § Soul influence style § Appeared in LA for first time Next five years: 6 albums, many hits § "Crocodile Rock" □ 1950s rock and roll affectionate take on style "Candle in the Wind" □ Originally written for marilyn monroe □ Rewritten for Princess Diana's funeral Example: "Rocket Man" (Honky Chateau, 1972) □ About space American-accented vocal style - fluid in ballads and dance songs § Doesn't sound definitively British Fluid with ballads and dance songs Complex melodies and chord structure Flamboyant, outrageous performance style
Kiss
Even more excessive Makeup Extravagant live shows § Smoke § Lights § Fire Albums include Dressed to Kill and Alive! (1975) Overtly commercial § Merchandising Cooper and Kiss stretch boundaries of behavior and traditional concepts of masculinity ○ Example: "I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night"
Freak Out! (1966 Frank Zappa)
Example: "Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder" □ Over the top ballad □ Sarcastic spoken section □ Mimics and criticizes doo-wop Example: "Who are the Brain Police"
Funk
Example: James Brown "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud" (1968) May be the first rap Toward end of decade move away from soul and towards funk
Yes
Formed 1968 o Breakthrough in US 1972 with Fragile and "Roundabout" o 1970s albums very ambitious (tracks over 20') - criticized yet popular (particularly in US) o The Yes Album (1971) o Example: "Your Is No Disgrace"
Led Zeppelin
Formed 1968 o Jimmy Page (guitar, production), Robert Plant (vocals), John Paul Jones (bass, organ), John Bonham (drums) o 9 studio albums, one live album, one documentary film; active until 1980 when Bonham died o Early metal, very diverse Led Zeppelin (1969) Led Zeppelin II (1969) o Example: "Whole Lotta Love" o Led Zeppelin III (1970) o Example: "Immigrant Song" o ZoSo (Led Zeppelin IV) (1970) o By mid-1970s, top rock act o Broke up in 1980, still popular o New levels of heaviness, screaming, guitar virtuosity o Rock lifestyle
Queen
Formed 1970 Brian May (guitar), Freddie Mercury (vocals) most famous members Began as glam band - transitioned into a more individual style Huge live shows Example: "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975) § Influential Pathbreaking - 6 minutes long, in three sections Inaugurates music video par
Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Formed in 1967, the music of ______________ _________ _______ _______ sounds like a white take on soul music, utilizing both the instrumentation and style of soul. · The horn lines and solos borrow from the syncopated riffs and sustained chords of soul, as well as the more complex, rapid streams of notes heard in jazz. · "Spinning Wheel" (1969) begins with a chord heard primarily in jazz, followed by a rhythm that is more classical in nature. This leads into a song that is heavily influenced by soul.
Steely Dan
Helped popularize jazz-rock o Pop hooks, jazz harmony, complex arrangements o Cryptic, ironic lyrics o Started as sextet o Soon only Donald Fagan (keyboards, vocals), Walter Becker (guitar, bass), and the studio o Early hits include "Reeling In The Years" (Can't Buy a Thrill, 1972) and "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" (Pretzel Logic, 1974) o Aja (1977) uses jazz musicians the Crusaders and Wayne Shorter o Example: "Hey Nineteen" (Gaucho, 1980)
Rock as "high art"
High vs. low art o Journalistic respect, "seriousness" of intent elevated rock's status o Started with Sgt. Peppers
Blood, Sweat and Tears; Chicago
Incorporated big band horn section and arrangements into blues and rock o BS&T led the way o Covered jazz songs ("God Bless the Child," "Maiden Voyage") and rock standards ("Got To Get You Into My Life") o Example: "Spinning Wheel" o Chicago - success in 1970 with Chicago II Example: "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" (1970)
Pink Floyd
Initially an acid rock band o Dark Side of the Moon (1973) Example: "Money" o Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977) o The Wall (1979) Double-album o Innovative live shows
Civil rights and Motown
Integrated market Both black and white audiences liked the music § Motown stayed out of politics because they were trying to appeal to large audiences Civil Rights □ A lot of black people working at all levels Apolitical (socially) Black owned/operated business
Maxine Powell
International talent management incorporated Finishing School Working with acts so they could be in high society ® Posture ® How to act during interviews ® Etc.
Psych rock/acid rock
Jefferson Airplane, "White Rabbit"
Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Keith Emerson (keyboards) o Greg Lake (bass, vocals), Carl Palmer (drums) o "Karn Evil 9" from Brain Salad Surgery (1973) is 30 min. long o Tarkus (1971) Concept album, synths Example: "Eruption" 5/4 time signature (quintuple meter)
Haight Ashbury
Location in San Francisco where the movement was ○ Early events: § Trips Festivals (first one 12/4/65) □ Hosted by Kim Casey (author) □ Paid $1 included LSD □ Documented in Tom Wolfe's The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1968) Acid Tests § Human Be-In (1/14/67) □ 20,000 people danced □ A lot of drug use Encouraged people to move to San Francisco Area Migration Hippie Culture
Drugs
Lysergic acid diethylamide § Discovered by accident in Switzerland § Legal in US until Oct. 1966 Ken Kesey § Dr. Timothy Leary Expanded consciousness § And lead to a new world with no war and no class distinctions Used to explore new sounds
polish
Motown's ________ followed by soul's raw sound
electric guitar
Need for amplification Leo Fender and Les Paul: § solid body guitar □ Doesn't project unless plugged in Standard instruments: Les Paul and Stratocaster
The Grateful Dead
Not commercial as Jefferson Airplane Philosophy centered around LSD Gave free concerts Jerry Garcia Community Live shows § 6 months of the year § Placed less emphasis on recording Anthem of the Sun (1968), Aoxomoxoa (1969) Example: "Dark Star" Country music § Especially through guitar ○ Deadheads People really into the Grateful Dead § Dedicated audience Ritual Phil Lesh - bass § Melodic approach to bass ○ Example: "Friend of the Devil" Video example: "Casey Jones"
Led Zeppelin
Often viewed as one of the first heavy metal bands, Zeppelin defies category. On their first album alone, the band utilizes blues, heavy metal, Indian music, ballad, and overtones of Flamenco music. Despite all of this, the center of their sound is the blues and the heavy metal that came from it. · Even though Led Zeppelin used so many styles in their music, the styles are not compartmentalized; one bleeds into the next. This reconciliation of extremes is at the root of their sound. · "Dazed and Confused" (1969) is a good example of their extreme range within a single song. It goes between a slow blues and a fast metal, with much in between. Despite this massive range of styles, the parts of the song move logically into one another. · "Black Dog" (1971) is a good example of the "pure" heavy metal of Zeppelin. It utilizes the typical features of a metal song, including Plant's high vocals, a heavily distorted riff on guitar and bass, loud volume, and a strong beat. This being said, Zeppelin takes metal a step further. Plant begins the song unaccompanied, which is atypical of metal. Also, the guitar/bass riff that answers Plant is long, convoluted, and full of rhythmic surprises, instead of being short and simple. · "Stairway to Heaven" (1971) offers "the whole Zeppelin package in a single song." Here is the order of events: 0:00 Opening melody: modal, folksong-like. It is supported by recorders and tender acoustic guitar arpeggiation. It sounds as if this section were from some unknown time in the past. c. 2:15 Electric instruments enter, which brings the song to the present without destroying the atmosphere. The unresolved harmonies create a sense of anticipation, which beautifully underscores the phrase "it makes me wonder." c. 4:20 It becomes a rock song with the entrance of the drums; however, the melody remains dominant. c. 5:55 Page's guitar solo grows out of an instrumental interlude. This solo is pure metal; he uses the pentatonic scale and heavy distortion. c. 6:45 Plant enters with a melodic idea that resembles a compressed version of the original melody. The differences are that the rhythms are more active, and Plant is not sensitive here; he is using a harsher metal sound here. The song abruptly returns to the opening melody for an unexpected close.
Jazz rock
Rock often fuses different types of music o Miles Davis - jazz trumpeter, innovator o In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew (both 1969) o Many important figures are heard on these albums o John McLaughlin o Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter (Weather Report) o Chick Corea o Herbie Hancock o Example: "Spanish Key" (from Bitches Brew)
social protest songs
Roots in labor movements of the late 19th- and early 20thcenturies Woodie Guthrie Pete Seeger
Soul
Sam and Dave, "Hold On I'm Coming"
Alice Cooper
Shock rock Over the top theatrics Elaborate live shows Love It To Death (1971) Killer (1972) Muscle of Love (1974) Example: "School's Out" (1972) Influential on punk bands
The Civil Rights Movement
Sit-ins and other forms of passive resistance began in 1960 in North Carolina. · The Freedom Ride of 1961 caused upheaval in the nation, as the riders were attacked by racists in Alabama, and eventually taken to jail in Mississippi. · Visionary leaders, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., James Farmer, and A. Philip Randolph, led nonviolent protests across the country. · By 1963, violence had become a common reaction to the protests. Many protestors were injured and killed by racists and officials. · President Kennedy (elected in 1960) supported the civil rights movement, and passed legislation to further equality in the U.S. · The Civil Rights Movement and activism was especially prevalent on college campuses, where folk music began to enjoy some popularity.
Smokey Robinson
Songwriter, producer, and singer One of Motowns main writers
Simon and Garfunkel
Start of as duo tom and jerry ○ Met in high school ○ Wednesday Morning 3 A.M. (1964) § First record § Sold poorly □ Split temporarily Producer added electric guitar to song... § "Sounds of Silence" (1965, example) □ Became popular Sounds of Silence (1966) ○ Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966) "Mrs. Robinson" (1968, example) § Next album § Graduate movie soundtrack Bookends (1968), "The Boxer" (1969) Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) Concert in Central Park 1981 § Reunion concert § Released as a 1982 record ○ Paul Simon continues to write songs after 1970 split § Continues to make music and perform
social trends of the early 60's
The American and British economies continued to boom until the drastic fall of the 70's. · Vietnam - although initially supported, U.S. tactics (i.e. My Lai) made the war unpopular, which eventually turned the U.S. people against their own government. · The Generation Gap broadened with the younger generation's reaction to Vietnam. The Gap was also widened by the support of the civil rights movement by the younger generation. · Advancements in instrument technology and outside musical influences brought keyboards into rock, particularly the Fender Rhodes piano (borrowed from jazz) and the Hammond B3 organ (from black churches).
Carlos Santana
The important representative of the Latin rock movement. He was the pioneer of Latin-rock fusion, and for all intents and purposes, its only major player. · The combination of explosive Latin rhythms and cool, low-key vocals characterizes the sound of Santana. · "Oye Como Va" (1970), a cover of a Tito Puente tune, is a good example of Santana's Latin-rock fusion. From the blues, Santana brings his electric guitar playing, and the Hammond organ gives the song a tie to soul. · The song easily displays its Latin connections, but is not locked into the rigid conventions of Latin music. The drums are augmented by timbales, cowbell, congas, bongos, and guiro, but the rhythms played by the percussionists are neither Latin nor rock, but a distinct combination of the two. · Also, the bass line is sparse and heavily syncopated, a direct tie to Latin music, and the opening rhythm in the organ is rooted in the clave rhythm, but does not fit either the clave or reverse clave.
The Allman Brothers
The sound is essentially "rocked-up blues" with a little soul added. Like the music of Hendrix and Clapton, the focus is more on soloing than on a group sound. · After false starts in Florida and Los Angeles, Duane Allman began working as a session musician for Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. · The band drew heavily on black southern music in both style (the use of syncopation and the inclusion of the organ) and subject matter (typical subjects include unfaithful women and awkward love triangles). · Incorporating vocals organ, 2 lead guitars, bass, and 2 drummers, their sound is much denser and makes use of smaller base rhythms to allow room for all of the players. · Their first self-titled album, released in 1969, saw moderate success (primarily in the South), but it was not until their third album, the live At Fillmore East (1971), that the Allman Brothers became nationally famous. · "Stormy Monday," a cover of a T-Bone Walker tune, shows the typical Allman Brothers sound. The drummers both play in the same feel, but their fills complement one another. The organ provides most of the harmonic support, while the guitars sometimes add to the harmony, and sometimes interject a riff in response to the vocals. The bass utilizes a freer, more syncopated style due to the density of the texture. The vocals are reminiscent of the delta blues, and the guitar solos are typical of the Chicago blues. The band makes an unexpected shift to a swing feel during the organ solo, before returning to a blues feel for the second guitar solo. · The Allman Brothers set the standards for southern rock bands to follow, also eerily setting the precedent for untimely deaths of band members, with the death of Duane Allman shortly after the Fillmore album, and bassist Berry Oakley less than a year later.
Alabama
Where was Atlantic music label at?
Memphis
Where was Stax music label at?
The Velvet Underground
_______ ________ __________ became semi-famous through the support of pop artist Andy Warhol. · The group's original sound came from a combination of Lou Reed's beat-inspired lyrics and John Cale's classical training. Reed studied with beat poet Delmore Schwartz at Syracuse University, while Cale studied with composer LaMonte Young. · Warhol added a blonde European-born actress named Nico to the group in 1967, and they released their first album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. · Given Nico's limited vocal ability, her function in the band is unclear. Either Warhol added her as a visual ornament, or he possibly envisioned her as a poor man's Marilyn Monroe, with her icy beauty and labored singing. · The songwriting style of the group is largely based on the electric side of Bob Dylan, with Reed's uninflected delivery and Cale's mood-setting accompaniment; however, the group differs in that Reed's lyrics are incisive where Dylan's are often elliptical. · "Heroin" (1967) is a good example of Cale's ability to portray the message of a song through the music. His viola "mutates from a drone into an avant-garde inspired frenzy to depict the drug coursing through the bloodstream of its user." · The band only released 2 albums, and only became somewhat popular after their demise.
The Who
________ _______ began much in the same way that the Beatles and Rolling Stones did, but quickly associated themselves with the Mods to gain immediate popularity. · The group's ultimate artistic success came with the rock opera, Tommy (1969). _________ _________ suffered the loss of drummer Keith Moon in 1975 and never truly recovered.
LSD
________ became popular in the 60's, and became a creative tool for artists of all kinds. Drug use was nothing new for musicians; however, ________ bears 2 distinctions from earlier drugs in its impact on rock: 1) It is not physically addictive 2) It changed the sound of rock (there was no "liquor jazz" or "heroin bebop," but there was acid rock)
The Beats
_________ ________ existed mainly in New York City and San Francisco. San Francisco's North Beach became the west coast home of the beats in the 50's, and the City Lights bookstore became the epicenter of the beat culture. ________ ___________ rejected the goal-oriented, career-driven version of the American dream. They opted to follow their own path, embracing all things and emphasizing the importance of the individual. · Famous beat writers include Jack Kerouac, who's famous novel, On the Road, became an instant success, and poet Allen Ginsberg, who openly protested the 9-to-5 existence practiced by most Americans. _________ _______ reign in San Francisco began to diminish in the late 50's. ________ _______ re-emerged in New York's Greenwich Village in the mid-60's.
The Rolling Stones
__________ __________ _________ became the notorious counterpart to the Beatles. While the Beatles cleaned themselves up and projected a tamer image, the Rolling Stones took the opposite approach and made themselves as outlandish and controversial as they could. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965) is both a musical and commercial milestone for the group. Their first major hit, it already displays the mature sound and essence of the band entirely.
Joni Mitchell
born Roberta Anderson on November 7, 1943 in Fort Macleod, Canada. · After a series of moves through major cities, including Toronto, Detroit, and New York, Mitchell finally ended up in Southern California. She gained popularity with a series of albums released between 1969-1974. · Upon first hearing, she sounds like a "folkie who never found rock." With a simple instrumentation, often just her voice and either guitar or piano accompaniment, she appears to be a typical folk singer at first glance; however, at closer inspection we find that she distanced herself far from folk music. · Her lyrics are autobiographical, much like Taylor's, but there are some key differences. First, almost all of her songs have some kind of "romantic thread (or at least relationship thread) woven through them. Also, she juxtaposes real-life images with evocative metaphors in a stream-of-consciousness flow. · Blue (1971) was the most critically acclaimed of her early albums, and provides a good example of her originality. The songs divide into two groups: those with piano-based accompaniment, and those with guitar-based accompaniment. The songs with piano accompaniment tend to be more rhapsodic with fluid, but not steady, tempos. In contrast, the songs with guitar accompaniment tend to have a firmer pulse. · "Blue" provides a good example of her piano-based songs. The melody spills out in long phrases, and the harmony is unpredictable. The form grows directly out of the text, rather than the text being applied to a given form. · "All I Want," in contrast, is a good example of Mitchell's guitar-accompanied songs. The song is strophic: the same melody is used for three stanzas of text. This being said, the song is not predictable, as the second phrase starts too soon and the answering segment is truncated. The rhythms become more active as the song progresses, which reflects the more frequent and active images portrayed. All of the stanzas end indecisively, indicating that she may not get what she wants. · The main focus of Mitchell's songs is the melody. The ideas shape the melodies, even though the melodies are logical on their own. Part of the genius of Joni Mitchell is that her lyrics and melodies stand on their own, yet the two are inseparable. Her music has been said by many to be "rock's counterpart to the art songs of classical music."
Stevie Wonder
born Steveland Morris on May 13, 1950 · Stevie Wonder, the most powerful and longest-running success at Motown, is the antithesis of the Motown image and sound. Instead of using the Motown songwriters and studio musicians, Stevie Wonder wrote all of his own material, and often played all the instruments on his recordings. In many cases, he produced his own recordings as well. · Wonder's music advocates many causes, "from his firm push for a national holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr., to rights for the blind and disabled." This is also contrary to the non-political stance of Motown. · Blind from a hospital error at birth, Stevie was a professional performer by age 10, singing and playing harmonica, piano, and drums. He signed with Motown at age 12, and enjoyed moderate success in the 60's. · When he turned 21, he renegotiated his contract with Motown to give him complete artistic control, and it was after this that he emerged as a major force in popular music. · "The widespread popularity of Wonder's music grows out of a style that is broad in its range, highly personal in its sound, and universal in its appeal." · Two songs from 1972's Talking Book show the two main directions in Wonder's music. · "Superstition" is a funky up-tempo song that chastises those who let their lives be ruled by superstitious beliefs. Stylistically, the song shows Wonder's two main influences: jazz and soul. The verses sit on a "bed of riffs" that are all based on the pentatonic scale with no chord changes, which can be traced back to early soul. In contrast, the transition to the hook is harmonized by rich, jazz-influenced chords. · One of the trademarks of Wonder's sound that can be heard distinctly here is his use of heavily syncopated and overdubbed synthesizers to create a dense, funky texture. · In contrast, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is a down-tempo love song. In this song, the focus is more on the melody, which is derived from pre-rock pop, as is the harmony. Wonder's change to tradition is in his looping of the melody; it has a beginning, but not an end, as the final phrase leads back to the beginning. The texture is not as dense here, since the primary focus is the melody. · Together, these songs show some of the defining characteristics of Wonder's music: 1) lyrics that talk about love and life 2) tuneful melodies and riffs 3) harmonies taken from jazz and pop, but used in a highly imaginative and innovative way 4) dense textures and complex, syncopated rhythms 5) the fresh, new sounds of synthesizers 6) soaring above it all, his resonant, upbeat voice · Wonder has always been an optimist, and this shows through his music. Even in darker songs, such as "You Haven't Done Nothin'" (1974), which is rumored to be directed at then-president Richard Nixon, hope is implicit.
Ray Charles
born in Albany, Georgia, on September 23, 1930. was the first to combine gospel with other black musical styles. In fact, most of his music defies the typical characteristics of soul, utilizing more eclectic sources. · "The Right Time" (1958) is a good example of Charles' early fusion. The gritty vocals are decidedly gospel-influenced, "but a long way from church." · The beat is a combination of an electric blues beat and a hard New Orleans shuffle. The beat that results is "more emphatic than it would be in a blues band, and nastier than it would [be] in a Fats Domino recording." · "What'd I Say" (1959) shows a more sophisticated version of Charles' blending of styles. · Harmonically, the song is straightforward blues. It divides into three sections: instrumental, solo vocal, and call and response. · In the opening instrumental section, Charles plays a piano figure that is reminiscent of an Afro-Cuban piano montuno, and the drum part is a version of Americanized Latin drumming. · The solo vocal section follows typical blues form, while maintaining the Latin rhythms. The words are not as important as the feeling behind them, and Charles often changed them from performance to performance. · The final section features moans of pleasure that bring the song to a climax.
Janis Joplin
born on January 19, 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas. · Joplin was the first white woman to sing with the passion of Bessie Smith and the other classic blues singers. · She is distinguishable by the rawness of her sound and the exuberance of her performing style. · Although most of her songs were not blues by definition, she brought the blues feeling and style into everything she recorded.
James Taylor
born on March 12, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts. grew up in Boston and Chapel Hill, NC, in a wealthy family. His father was the dean of the medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. · Despite growing up in a privileged family, Taylor was troubled as a youth, and eventually committed himself to a mental institution as a teen. While he was there, he began writing songs. began his career upon discharge in the late '60's, and after many initial failures and struggles with heroin addiction, he finally found success with his releases from Warner Bros. songs are conversational; it almost sounds as if he is talking to you one-on-one. The defining characteristic of Taylor's music is his reserved, low-key delivery of painful and obviously personal lyrics. · Most of __________ _______ original songs are dark and at a slower tempo. In contrast, the covers that he chose to complement these with are usually optimistic and upbeat. The difference between the two brings up an interesting paradox in Taylor's music: while his covers were much more successful, his originals were more often emulated and imitated. · The instrumentation employed by ________ _______ is a typical rock setup, but with all acoustic instruments. Also, the chords he plays are more often found in jazz than in folk. · "Fire and Rain" (1970) and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" (1975) show the dichotomy that was Taylor's music.
Aretha Franklin
born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee · Her father was C. L. Franklin, a nationally-famous preacher. Aretha toured the country with her father and had the opportunity of working with major gospel and secular artists during her childhood. ___________ time on the road as a youth gave her worldly experience that most young singers lacked. By age 18, when she started her secular career, she had experienced everything from discrimination to childbirth. · Initially signed to Columbia, ___________ was forced to sing pop ballads, which were not commercially or artistically successful. Her contract was sold to Atlantic in 1966. ___________ went to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in 1967 to record her first hit, "I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You)". The band literally put the song together on the spot, and captured it in only a couple of takes. Unfortunately, under the influence of alcohol, a fight soon broke out and Aretha left before recording any more songs. · In "I Never Loved a Man," ___________ sings with "directness and immediacy, with a power and personal involvement that had never before been heard in popular music." Her vocal abilities make it possible for her to sing these subtle nuances with a natural sound. · In "Respect" (1967) and "Think" (1968), ___________ breaks out of the typical subject matter of uptempo soul. Instead of sexually-charged lyrics, Franklin demands dignity in "Respect" and gives a tongue-lashing in "Think."
James Brown
born on May 3, 1928 or 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina. _____________ grew up in extreme poverty in the rural south. After being convicted of armed robbery at age 16, he joined a gospel group in prison. He continued to perform when he was released, and eventually scored his first hit in 1956 with "Please Please Please." · During the next 9 years, ____________ began to eliminate anything that was not essential to the rhythmic flow of the song. Instead of the dense textures and regular rhythms that pervaded popular music of the time, James Brown chose sparse instrumentation. · The arrival at this new sound came with "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (1965). The rhythm section avoids busy parts, and the horns play short riffs. There is also little harmonic movement. · "Cold Sweat" (1967) is a further development of ____________ signature sound. The rhythms are more heavily syncopated, and the guitar becomes a rhythm instrument through the use of choking. Also, the harmonic movement is almost non-existent, with only one chord for the entire first section, and then an alternation between two for the bridge. _____________ career has spanned almost the entire rock period, and he is still a towering figure in popular music, being one of the most sampled artists ever.
Jimi Hendrix
born on November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington · Although Hendrix grew up far from the Mississippi delta, he listened to the delta bluesmen, as well as many jazz artists, through his father's record collection. · After a stint in the Army, Hendrix played in backup bands for many major blues performers, including B. B. King, Little Richard, and the Isley Brothers, before forming his own band in 1966. · Hendrix's first album, Are You Experienced? (1967), established his reputation as one of rock's most influential and innovative soloists. · "Red House" is straightforward electric blues. It is conventional in form, rhythm, and instrumentation. The lyrics are half spoken, half sung, and wholly unimportant. The song merely serves as a backdrop for Hendrix's guitar playing. · Hendrix combines his guitar influences, and takes them one step further, to come up with a new solo sound. His solos contain elements of both B. B. King (electric blues form) and Robert Johnson (fast, wide vibrato), but also are interspersed with rapid running figures, which showcase his command of the instrument. He also incorporates his signature pitch bends, reverb, extra distortion, and exploration of the upper range of the instrument to take the guitar to places it had not yet been. · His response figures played during the vocal sections are well beyond his singing in their expressive range, and complete the musical and emotional phrases. This makes Hendrix's virtuosity functional, not merely an effort to show off. · While "Red House" showcased Hendrix's roots, "Purple Haze" looked toward the future. The song begins ominously with tritones in the guitar; the tritone was known in medieval times as the "diabolus in musica," or the devil in music. · Rather than start with a single instrumental riff, and then proceed into a verse, there is a long instrumental introduction; moreover, the guitar maintains primary importance throughout the song, instead of the voice. This focus on improvised guitar solos became a hallmark of Hendrix's style. · Even when the voice enters, it is still secondary to the guitar, and in the stop time sections where the voice is all alone, it is immediately answered by a memorable instrumental riff. · "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" (1968) is an "ideal showcase for Hendrix's abilities." The form is taken from rock, the harmonization from blues, and the virtuosic solos from jazz. · Hendrix's brilliant improvisations are the focus of the song. He is not content with merely one style of soloing; instead, he "roams over the entire range of the instrument, interweaving sustained bent notes, rapid running passages, riffs, and chords in a dizzying sequence."
Otis Reading
born on September 9, 1941 in Dawson, Georgia. ______________ took the gospel/blues fusion of Ray Charles a step further through his vocals. His singing style is not quite speech, but not quite singing either. It is more about conveying emotion than singing specific notes. · "I Can't Turn You Loose" (1965) showcases his unique vocal delivery. · The texture is typical of harder-edged southern soul, with heavy low and high register sounds from the band. The vocals are the only sounds heard in the middle register. · Also, the song begins with 2 instrumental riffs, rather than one. · The rhythm is also typical of southern soul. The drums are strong and on the beat, while the horns, guitar, and bass pull against the beat. Redding, like all great soul singers, floats between the two. _____________ biggest hit was "Dock of the Bay" (1967), released posthumously. Ironically, it is his least soulful recording.
The Grateful Dead
built a cult following over a number of years through extended concerts that featured large amounts of improvisation. · They embodied the hippie culture of San Francisco. The band lived communally for some time, ingested copious amounts of marijuana and LSD, and played for free in their early years. · Workingman's Dead (1970) is widely regarded as their best album. · "Uncle John's Band" is a story that unfolds over time, much in the same manner as earlier folk singers, such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. · The song sounds like music of the folk revival until the line "come follow Uncle John's Band." At this point, the music suddenly changes to "a pseudo-East Indian sound that briefly creates a Haight-Ashbury atmosphere." · "Casey Jones" begins with a sniff, which most assume is a line of cocaine. This song is sometimes viewed as an allegory about the dangers of excessive drug use. · Neither song is "trademark Dead." These are not the long improvisations that kept the Deadheads on tour with the band, but they are representative of the Dead's fusion of country, blues, and folk influences.
The Doors
came together in 1965 when Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek, two film students at UCLA, met and decided to start a band. _________ _________ rise to fame was very fast, and their fall almost equally quick. _________ _________ (1967) was an overnight success, and quickly established their reputation as a group to be taken seriously. · "The End" is a prime example of the dark subject matter and jarring contrasts that were often employed by the Doors. It is a journey into Oedipal conflict and its most violent resolution. It is initially low-key and reveals Indian influences, particularly in the guitar part. · The middle section includes extended metaphor ("ride the snake"), abstruse images ("the blue bus is calling us"), and clichés ("the west is the best"). This lulls the listener into an almost hypnotic state. · The switch to narrative is abrupt, almost "like waking up from a nightmare, except that the awakened state is the nightmare." · Morrison's shocking lyrics and intense performance, contrasted with the detached playing of the other members of the band (particularly Manzarek) created a unique sound that separated the Doors from the other bands of the time.
Sly and the Family Stone
formed in 1966 · Led by Sly Stone (aka Sylvester Stewart), the band was truly a family affair, with Sly's brother Freddie and sister Rosie as integral members, as well as his cousin, Larry Graham. It was also a fully integrated band, with an even mixture of races and sexes. · The music was approached as a family affair, as well. Although Sly was the leader and main vocalist, the distribution of musical interest was well-balanced. Most songs include at least 2 singers, and the instrumentalists are featured at appropriate times, as well. · During the peak of their success (from 1969-1971), Sly and the Family Stone enjoyed success on both the pop and R&B charts without employing any crossover techniques. Following their own path, the band's audience was as integrated as the band themselves. · The band's largest and most obvious influence is James Brown. From Brown, Sly takes slow (if any) harmonic progression, syncopated rhythms, and free bass lines. · In general, the widespread appeal of Sly and the Family Stone lies in the upbeat nature of their songs, as well as their progressive sound. The band anticipated the new rhythms, textures, and sounds of funk and rap before either genre was officially established. · Two of their early hits, "I Want to Take You Higher" and "Thank You," show the distinctive elements of their early style. · "I Want to Take You Higher" (1969) showcases the band's full arsenal. The song begins with a bluesy pentatonic guitar/bass riff that is reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton. The bass is prominent and active, and the texture is a stack of riffs. None of the riffs are especially complex, but their interaction is: "it's James Brown with the empty spaces filled in." · This song also shows the group interaction that is key to Sly and the Family Stone's music. No one vocalist is the primary focus, and the whole band works together for a single groove. · "Thank You" provides a "missing link" between the early funk of James Brown and the fully-developed funk of George Clinton. The groove is built over a single chord (reminiscent of Brown), and the guitar is used more as a percussive instrument. This is one of the first funk songs to be completely devoid of rock elements. · "In Time" (1973) shows the band in its maturity, after a decline in popularity. After a deceptively simple intro, the song shifts into a groove that utilizes extreme syncopation. The bass is very active, and the interplay between the horns, guitar, and keyboards is the most complex we have seen so far. Sly is featured as the main vocalist on this track, and the backup singers and band respond to his vocal phrases with ingenuity. · Despite overwhelming success in the early years of the band, Sly's career dwindled due to his drug and legal problems, as well as his tendency to not show up for gigs.
(Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young) CSNY
formed in 1969 from members of Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds, and the Hollies. · The music of ________ paints vivid pictures of personal stories, cautionary tales, and social commentary. ___________ was among a number of supergroups that formed around 1970. Originally just Crosby, Stills, and Nash, the group invited Neil Young to play after recording their debut. Young added an edge to the sound, mainly in his guitar playing. The group only lasted about a year and a half, due to volatile ego conflicts. · Déjà Vu (1970) was the group's first and most successful album. The album covers a lot of musical ground, from folk-like simplicity to driving rock to country. The primary reason for this is that the album is not as much a team effort as it is the four individual artists recording their own songs with the other three as guests. · Ironically, the most successful song from the album was a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock," which they transform into a hard-rocking song. The driving beat and gruff guitar show Young's influence. The high, closely-voiced modal harmonies in the chorus are typical of _________ · Although various groupings of the four artists have emerged from time to time since their initial work together, the legacy of __________ rests mostly on their first couple of years together.
Pink Floyd
formed in London in 1965. ________ ________ was the most successful and enduring art rock act. Their music defined the features of art rock, including: 1) uneven meters 2) a wide range of tempos 3) connections between songs 4) pre-recorded sounds and voice overdubs · Dark Side of the Moon (1973) was Pink Floyd's most successful effort in art rock. It was so successful, in fact, that it stayed on the U.S. top 200 charts for 741 weeks - over 14 years. No album has charted for a longer period of time. · The subject matter of Dark Side of the Moon is unremittingly bleak, dealing with alienation, paranoia, schizophrenia, and greed. The music is dark and soulful, yet detached. The success of this album, and most art rock in general, is due to the soulful and accessible nature of the songs. · "Speak to Me" begins the album with an ominous heartbeat. It contains many pre-recorded sounds, including an aside from an unknown man. This song is merely an introduction to "Breathe," which becomes a detached blues-based form. · "On the Run," which grows directly out of "Breathe," showcases the band's use of electronics and pre-recorded sounds. Layered over a pseudo-two beat shuffle is an array of haunting electronic sounds and samples. · "Money" became a surprising singles hit, going to #13 in 1973. The song begins with pre-recorded sounds that set up the rhythm and uneven meter of the song. This use of pre-recorded sounds and uneven meter are defining characteristics of art rock. At about the 3:05 mark, the song skillfully develops into a typical blues form to back the guitar solo. The song keeps with the dark mood of the album, commenting on the greed in modern society.
Yes
formed in London in 1968. · After almost losing their recording contract due to poor sales, they made a few lineup changes in 1971 and recorded Fragile (1972), which solidified their success, both in Great Britain and the U.S. · "Roundabout" provides a good example of progressive rock. At 8 minutes, it is not nearly as expansive as later Yes songs, but it is decidedly longer than a made-for-radio popular song. The lyrics are relatively unimportant, but they provide the listener with points of reference. · The song begins with an extended slow intro. The majority of the song is a combination of rock and funk, with the drums playing rock rhythms and the bass playing a free, syncopated funk bass line. There are several key and meter changes, as well as many changes in texture and instrumentation. Virtuosity exists throughout, in both ensemble passages and solos. · Despite its departures from common rock, "Roundabout" never loses sight of the fact that it is rock. It provides clear evidence that classical composition techniques can be utilized in rock without compromising the essential nature of rock.
acid rock
grew out of folk roots, but involved more improvisation, as well as highly amplified and sometimes distorted instruments.
Chicago
introduced a fusion similar to Blood, Sweat, and Tears, but with more emphasis on pop and rock influences than soul and jazz. · "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" (1969) provides a good summary of their career. The song begins with jazz chords from the horn section. These chords are connected to the main part of the song by a keyboard interlude in 5. The main section of the song is a catchy shuffle with a simple melody and simple form. The harmony has somewhat of a jazz sound, but the end combination of all of these elements produces a more pop-oriented sound. · "25 or 6 to 4" (1970) shows another side of __________. The opening riff, based on the pentatonic scale, sounds closer to metal or late blues than pop. Also, the horn riffs are in a more classical style, while the drummer plays a driving rock beat. ______________ was widely popular in the seventies, but largely ignored by critics. It is assumed that the fact that their music does not fit into any one category is the primary reason the rock press chose to disregard them.
The Eagles
originally the backup band for Linda Ronstadt, the Eagles began working on their own in 1971. · "Take It Easy" (1972) was their first chart success. It also provides a good example of their synthesis of rock and country. · The subject matter of the song is taken directly from country. The lyrics discuss women trouble, trucks, small towns, etc. Also, the guitar riffs and the use of banjo is taken from country. · The drum beat is decidedly rock, and is a relaxed version of the beat in Roy Orbison's "Mean Woman Blues." This beat soon became the prototypical beat for country rock. · The high, close vocal harmonies are the oddity in this song, sounding more like the Beach Boys than anything taken from either rock or country. ____________ __________ changed guitarists in 1975, and also completely changed directions. "Hotel California" (1977) shows this change in direction. Instead of the country/rock synthesis we heard earlier, this song is an example of reggae/rock synthesis.
Soul
raw and emotion (gospel)
(Creedence Clearwater Revival) CCR
was a San Francisco band, but only because its members grew up there. The band drew on blues and country influences, often using a blues scale harmonized with chords from country music. · "Proud Mary" (1969) reveals this combination of black scales and white harmonization in the opening riff. It also combines black and white influences in that the race of the narrator is unclear; Fogerty is white, but "the man" is black slang, and the song is set on the Mississippi.
Bill Graham
was the Alan Freed of the 60's. He organized many of the major concerts, and also leased and operated the Fillmore and Avalon Ballroom, which became major venues for the psychedelic music of the 60's.
Black Sabbath
was the first band to consistently play heavy metal. They defined the conventions of the metal world, including an interest in the occult. The band gained popularity by relentless touring. · "Black Sabbath" (1970) transforms their interest in the occult into a Black Mass. The opening riff outlines the tritone (the devil in music). This brings to mind images of devil worship and medieval associations. This succinct presentation would have been as easily understood in 1270 as it was in 1970. · The tempo is ponderous, implying a dark procession, which is confirmed by Osbourne's portrayal of himself as a sacrificial victim. The shift to a faster tempo implies people fleeing. · "Black Sabbath" features many of the conventions of heavy metal. In addition to distortion, these include: 1) a large portion of strictly instrumental sections, including an extended guitar solo. 2) the use of repeated riffs 3) the use of modal scales 4) discrete sections, defined by shifts in tempo, riff, and key 5) a dramatic vocal style, with a mixture of speech and song 6) a lack of harmony 7) a very loud dynamic level · An explanation for the success of metal groups like Black Sabbath is the use of the music to carry the message of the song. When Osbourne begins singing, we already have expectations about the subject matter, and he does not disappoint. · Another musical convention in metal that is worth mentioning is that the lack of harmony is directly influenced by the use of heavy distortion. The space normally occupied by harmony is filled with the overtones created by distortion. If harmony is used in this setting, it becomes incomprehensible. Also, while a lot of earlier music was goal-oriented, heavy metal is more about power than progression. · "Sweet Leaf" (1971) is another Sabbath song that cements their reputation in heavy metal. The vocal sections feature two instrumental riffs, and there is an abrupt shift into a faster solo section before finally returning to the first section. This method of constructing songs from blocks of music that are unrelated in tempo and key are one of the defining characteristics of metal.
Kingston Trio
§ 3 clean cut college kids § Commercial success inspired other people to do folk music
"Eight Miles High" (1966 The Byrds)
§ Atmospheric Influence: John Coltrane Jazz saxophonist Drug reference (?) □ Title of song Song was banned in some areas
Early Rolling Stones
§ Covers § 1963: Mick Jagger (vocals), Keith Richards (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), Brian Jones (guitar), and Ian Stewart (piano) 1964: The Rolling Stones □ Album mostly covers Olden pushing Jagger and Richards to write own songs Rolling stones came from Muddy Waters song
The Yardbirds
§ Famous guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page § Example: "The Shapes of Things
1967 (The Rolling Stones)
§ January 1967 on Ed Sullivan 1967: Arrested on drug charges □ Possibly first rock stars to have that happen to them □ Didn't go to jail Their Satanic Majesties Request (Dec. 1967) § Answer to Beatles Sgt. Peppers § Hard-edged psychedelia
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966 Simon and Garfunkel)
§ Next album § Variety of songs Commercial and critical success Both teens and adults liked music
Rolling Stones
§ Rebellious rock § Compared with the Beatles □ Start off at similar time and place § Different paths □ Rolling stones still touring Stones more sexual than Beatles
Woodie Guthrie (Social protest songs)
§ Singing about social issues § Example: "This Land Is Your Land" Country belongs to everyone
the funk brothers (motowns house band)
§ Some of the best R&B musicians James Jamerson □ Bass □ Played many songs but not all
1965 (The Rolling Stones)
§ Video Example: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965) □ Classic - breakthrough in America □ Famous Guitar riff ® Repeated over and over again □ Lyrics are about frustration and rejection of materialism
songs of protest: the folk revival
· As the college population increased, students began to search for more mature music. They were no longer interested in teen idols. · The folk revival started as a commercial ploy by groups like the Kingston Trio, with songs like "Tom Dooley" (1958). These groups brought folk back to the cities. · There were 2 branches of the folk revival: 1) Rediscovery of past folk musicians 2) Re-creation of folk music by contemporary performers
songs of protest: the early 20th century
· Songs of protest began at the turn of the century as manual laborers began to protest long work hours with little pay. · Organizations such as the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), formed in 1905, fought for labor rights among minorities. These organizations were products of the Marxism that was growing in Europe. · Filmmakers also joined the protest. One example is German director Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927), which emphatically directs that "There can be no understanding between the hands and the brain unless the heart acts as mediator." · Two of the influential folk singers of the 30's and 40's that would become a large part of the folk revival were Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.
folk revival
○ 1960, § Focusing in on college students □ Number of college students increase in US (4 million) ® Due to economic conditions better people could afford college ® GI Bill kingston trio coffeehouses ( § Sprang up around country)
Bob Dylan
○ Actual name Robert ○ Arrived at the right time ○ Major influence: Guthrie ○ Started playing in folk clubs ○ Singing about social protest First album self titled the freewheeling' Bob Dylan The times they are a-changing Disenchantment Bringing it all back home highway 61 revisited blonde on blonde
Highway 61 Revisited (1965 Bob Dylan)
○ Beat inspired poetry § Poetry and literature movement in 1950s ○ Video example: "Like a Rolling Stone" § Long for a top 10 hit □ 6 mins long □ Refused to cut it back § Thick and dense sound □ Particularly in keyboards Newport Folk Festival § July 1965 § New (electric sound): booed □ Fans felt it was no longer folk music § Attracted a wider audience § Codified "Folk Rock"
James Brown
○ Career began in the 1940s ○ Bandleader ○ Known for performances and vocal skills ○ Collective improvisation Archetypal funk singer § In your face, unsettling Influential § Vocal tambor § Influenced hip hop and rap § Focused on rhythm Example: "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (1965) § Rhythm is everything Example: "Cold Sweat" (1967)
Bringing It All Back Home (1965 Bob Dylan)
○ Electric rock ○ Example: "Subterranean Homesick Blues" § First top 10 hit ○ Music changes significantly ○ For half of album used rock band in background ○ Move away from political songs to Cryptic and personal songs ○ Folk rock
The Monkees
○ First (?) boy band § All male group that usually sings § 4-6 guys § Image is important § Look like an older teenager ○ Prefabricated American Beatles § Auditioned for the monkeys ○ Don Kirshner § Brought in to write music for monkees ○ Sold well - "I'm a Believer" sold 10 million copies ○ 1966-67, four #1 albums ○ Television debut 9/12/66 § Took them off commercially ○ Capitalize on Beatles success
Janis Joplin
○ Great blues singer ○ Performance at the June 1967 Monetery Pop Festival was her break-through ○ "piece of my heart" § Song she is most known for Example "Ball and chain"
Blonde on Blonde (1966 Bob Dylan)
○ Many great songs: "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35," "I Want You," "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again," "Just Like a Woman" ○ Hit #9 in US, #3 in UK ○ Example: "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" ○ Released on two LPs Recorded in Nashville
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963 Bob Dylan)
○ Second album, political ○ Example: "Blowin' in the Wind" § More complex lyrics § Simple music § Arranges lyrics in three sets of questions □ Civil rights □ Dove □ War § Doesn't mention any specific events □ Gives it a timeless quality ○ Other socially oriented songs: "Oxford Town" and "Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" ○ "There's other things in this world besides love and sex that're important, too. People shouldn't turn their backs on them just because they ain't pretty to look at. How is the world ever going to get better if we're afraid to look at these things?" ○ Not music for teens § Made for young and older adults
Pete Seeger (Social protest songs)
○ The Weavers § Formed with Woodie Guthrie ○ Example: "If I Had a Hammer" (Seeger) ○ Impact of Joseph McCarthy
The Times They Are A-Changin' (1964 Bob Dylan)
○ Third album ○ Example: title song § Racial injustice § Generational gap ○ Continues work with protest music
The Kinks
○ Unique, influential sound Successful in mid to late 1960s ○ Songs less fashionable ○ Power chord Guitarist= Ray Davies Distorted amplifier Example: "You Really Got Me" (September 1964) Most popular song Other popular songs include "All Day and All of the Night," "Lola," "Tired of Waiting For You," and "Sunny Afternoon"
Aftermath (Rolling Stones)
1966 First album of all original material § Established Rolling Stones as Rock stars § Beatles and Beach boys released albums in 1966 also
jazz
As the economy began to dwindle and youths tired of political music, rock musicians began to fuse rock and roll with other types of music, particularly ________ Also, __________ musicians began to incorporate rock into their music.
The Who
Blues origin Pete Townsend: guitarist, songwriter § Known for use of power chords Keith Moon: drums § Energetic John Entwistle: bass § Moved instrument into foreground Roger Daltry: vocals § Known for intense vocals almost a scream § Swinging microphone around ○ Volume, intensity § Played with greater volume than others at that time ○ Video example: "I Can't Explain" (1965) § 3rd song Townsend wrote Example: "My Generation" (1965) § Teen defiance (again) □ "I hope I die before I get old" Other early hits: "I Can See For Miles," "Magic Bus," and others ○ Other important albums § The Who Sell Out (1967) □ Concept album □ Included ads and jingles § Tommy (1969) □ Rock opera □ Draws on thematic techniques □ Example: "Pinball Wizard" □ Album hit #4 All rock band album
Acid Rock
Instead of being music for pure entertainment (the middle-class music of the British Invasion), __________ _________ was music that urged its listeners to withdraw from their regular lives and build a new community.
Bob Dylan (summary)
Mostly influential 1960s American pop musician Multi-stylistic Prolific songwriter/poet Pushes rock beyond romance
guitar riff
Repeatable section of music Somewhat melodic Can serve as foreground or background
Bob Dylan
born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Minnesota in 1941 · Dylan grew up listening to the blues of Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, et. al., as well as the honky-tonk of Hank Williams. · He embraced rock and roll at its inception, idolizing Little Richard and Elvis. He formed several rock and roll bands in high school, and played at local events. · At the birth of the folk revival, Dylan began absorbing the music, particularly the music of Woody Guthrie. · In the tradition of Guthrie, Dylan used his music as a platform for social protest. · "Blowin' in the Wind" (1963) became an anthem for the civil rights movement, and inspired other civil rights songs, including Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" (1964) · After the death of President Kennedy, and with the war in Vietnam growing, Dylan became less political. This, coupled with his return to electric instruments on Bringing It All Back Home (1965), caused him to lose his folk audience and be viewed with consternation by political activists. · Along with the incorporation of electric instruments, Bringing It All Back Home reveals a new approach to lyrics. Instead of the impersonal social commentary and biting satire of his earlier music, the lyrics are more personal, obscure, and allusive. · "Mr. Tambourine Man," from the acoustic side of the album, displays the new Dylan, with stream-of-consciousness lyrics and uneven phrase lengths, creating a surreal atmosphere. · "Subterranean Homesick Blues" creates a flood of images that is confrontational in it's seeming demand that we understand it's message, even though the images he presents go by much too fast for us to process in one listening. · It is assumed that some of the images and lyrics on Bringing It All Back Home were a result of Dylan's experimentation with LSD. · "Like a Rolling Stone" (1965), from Highway 61 Revisited, firmly established Dylan's credentials and his originality, containing his "I told you so" sting in the lyrics, internal rhyme in the lyrics, and an extended form. · Dylan further developed his new eclectic sound on 1966's Blonde on Blonde. For example, "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" showcases a "funky Salvation Army-type band."
Stax Records
based in Memphis, Tennessee · Like Motown, _________ was organized with a house band, staff songwriters, and somewhat interchangeable singers. The key difference is that the Stax musicians were not groomed by the company. In most cases, they showed up with a tune, and the house band would create a version of it on the spot, which then was recorded. · Another major difference between __________ and Motown was that Stax was an integrated company, while Motown was strictly black.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd is more country-influenced than the Allman Brothers. Also, instead of a solo-oriented sound, Lynyrd Skynyrd's sound focuses more on group interaction. · The dense texture of the Allman sound is taken further with the use of vocals, 3 guitars, keyboard, bass, drums, and backup singers. · The subject matter of Lynyrd Skynyrd is also more regional in nature. The songs depict time spent in honky-tonks, on the road, etc. Despite the use of heavy drinking and partying as subject matter, it is obvious that there is more to Lynyrd Skynyrd. · "Saturday Night Special" (1975) can almost be viewed as an anthem for gun control. Its use of the pentatonic scale is unusual for Skynyrd; this use of scales associated with the blues gives this particular song a sound closer to that of the Allman Brothers than Lynyrd Skynyrd. · "Sweet Home Alabama" (1974), a response to Neil Young's negative portrayal of southern men in "Alabama" and "Southern Man," shows the typical sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Rather than the "rocked-up blues" of the Allman Brothers, we hear essentially "rocked-up country." · Lynyrd Skynyrd tragically followed in the path of the Allman Brothers, with a plane crash in 1977 killing 3 members.
Rolling Stones
The sound of the _____________ ___________ is a nasty blues sound that is not pretty or sentimental in any way. Most of their sound resides in the middle and low registers, and is texturally dense.
Andrew Loog Oldham
Who was the main manager of the Rolling Stones?