Leisure Suits Farrah Hair Rock Breaks into Sub

Leisure Suits & Farrah Hair Rock Breaks into “Sub. Genres” The 1970’s

"End of the 60 s” – Different Views Certain events have been viewed as heralding the “end of the 60 s” • disbanding of the Beatles • Woodstock followed by Altamont • massacre at Kent State • deaths of Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison • great deal of civil unrest, violence

“End of the 60 s? ” Other views suggest that the end of the “sixties” actually occurred in the early 70 s: • The “hippie” culture lasted into the early 70 s. • The political upheaval of the early 70 s • The defeat of George Mc. Govern in the 72 election • The downfall of Nixon in the Watergate scandal in 197374.

70 s vs 60 s: social and cultural change • Reaction against the “heavy” issues of the 60 s • Disillusionment with the radical politics of the 60 s • Youth turning away from “world peace” & other utopian ideas • Emphasis on personal choice – away from universality & toward individuality • Shifting focus from social issues to selfrealization, self-fulfillment, "finding yourself"

The world of marketing responded with the idea of "multiple options“ -- millions of new brands, dozens of cable stations, mega-grocery & department stores • Rock Music, having had a strong commercial connection from its very inception, has always had a very close relationship marketing trends. • Rock Music also had been experiencing a gradual change of musical emphasis, toward much more complexity and technical virtuosity

The Fragmentation of the Market • a move toward musical sophistication: – – jazz rock “progressive” art rock some metal glam/glitter rock • a concurrent move "back to the basics: – country rock – hard rock • Popularity of very personal, folk-influenced “singersongwriter” music • Soul and funk, which once again moved toward a specifically black audience

Radio Turns to “Formatting“ Formatting: programming certain styles of music for a specific audience. Examples: • album oriented rock • rhythm and blues • easy listening pop • country rock • big-band jazz • oldies • progressive jazz • progressive rock (art rock) • Disco • Top 40 • punk rock • Classical

Trends in rock – early 70 s 3) Retail "categorization" reggae, punk, disco, soul, heavy metal, etc 4) "Major" labels managed to swallow up most of the indies: CBS, Warner Communications, Polygram, RCA, MCA, Capitol-EMI. Many majors also merged with large corporations, many unrelated to the arts whatsoever

“Art” or “Progressive” Rock “Rock meets Classical music” characterized by the use of: • orchestration or orchestral sounds • Use of electronics, synthesizers • complicated arrangements & large musical structures • Thick, multi-layered production • The use of complex rhythms, multiple vocals • Elaborate live shows

The Moody Blues: Question, Question of Balance 1966: recorded “Days of Future Passed” with the London Festival Orchestra, and ended up being one of the major “art rock” or “progressive rock” bands of the late 60 s and 70 s. The Moodies still tour, accompanied by a symphony orchestra.

Pink Floyd: Money, Dark Side of the Moon • Originally a “psychedelic” British invasion band led by Syd Barrett, (replaced by David Gilmour) • Famous for their highlyacclaimed “concept” albums, including – Dark Side of the Moon – “The Wall” (also an elaborate stage show) • Their reunion was a highlight of the “Live 8” concerts Richard Wright David Gilmour Nick Mason Roger Waters

Yes: Roundabout • All virtuoso performers • Yes was a premier “progressive” rock group • Complex arrangements & musical structures • Lyrics leaned toward easterninspired spiritual topics, symbolic imagery • Among the most commercially successful of the progressive rock groups

Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody • Queen falls into two “subgenre” categories: “glam” rock and progressive rock • “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a classic that has all the hallmarks of progressive rock – orchestration, vocals, musical structure, etc • Queen’s lead vocalist Freddie Mercury died of AIDS in 1991.

Emerson Lake and Palmer: Karn Evil 9 Keith Emerson, Carl Palmer, & Greg Lake • Keith Emerson’ s keyboard pyrotechnics, Greg Lake’s song writing and vocals, and Carl Palmer’s energetic and virtuosic drumming gave ELP their signature sound

Jethro Tull: Hymn 43 Blues meets British folk-rock & Renaissance music in the recordings of Jethro Tull An important part of Tull’s sound was the songwriting, vocals and flute virtuosity of Ian Anderson

Jazz Rock • Use of jazz-influenced instrumentation: – Horns – Rhythm section – “World” percussion • Harmonies, musical structures and scales used in jazz • Improvisation in the jazz idiom rather than in the rock or blues idiom • Sophisticated, virtuosic

We can think of jazz rock in several basic categories: • Coming from the influence of big-band • Coming from the influence of small-combo jazz • Jazz-Rock with a Latin influence • Jazz-Rock with a “world music” influence

Blood, Sweat and Tears: You’ve Made Me So Very Happy

Chicago: 25 or 6 to 4

Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Noonward Race

Weather Report: Birdland • The cover to the LP “Heavy Weather”

Steely Dan: Reelin' In the Years • A “studio band” that often featured cream of the crop musicians • Primary song writers: – Donald Fagen – Walter Becker

Funk • Came out of soul music • Emphasis on rhythm section: bass and drums • Syncopated bass line interlocks with horn section to form “polyrhythms” • R&B backbeat (4/4, emphasis on 2 and 4) replaced by 2/4, with each beat further subdivided into 4 • Emphasis on repeating rhythmic “groove” rather than complicated formal structures • “Chanted” or call and response vocals

James Brown: Say It Loud, I'm Black & I'm Proud • The “Godfather of Soul” was also an important and influential pioneer of the “funk” style.

Sly and the Family Stone: Thank You Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Sly Stone

Parliament Funkadelic • The ultimate funk band, also known for their highenergy, wild and theatrical performances.

Stevie Wonder: Superstition • In the 1970 s Stevie Wonder experimented with a number of musical styles, one of which was the funk style, as exemplified in songs like “Superstition. ”

Glitter and “Glam Rock” • Strong theatrical element to stage performances: costumes, makeup, props • Stage act sometimes includes the role of a fictional character (Alice Cooper, Ziggy Stardust) • Bands often took on an androgynous or gender-bending persona

Kiss: Rock & Roll All Nite • Gene Simmons (bass), Peter Criss (drums), Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley (guitar) • All wore heavy makeup; the real faces of the band were unknown for several years • very theatrical live show: lights, flames, explosions

Alice Cooper: School's Out • Real name Vincent Furnier • Cites Jim Morrison as one of his main influences • Stage show included creepy, dark or gruesome topics stage make-up, “Alice Cooper” character

David Bowie: Space Oddity • One of the most influential glam rockers in terms of musical impact • First hit “Space Oddity” based on the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey • Character and persona • Adopted the stage featured persona “Ziggy ambiguous Stardust”, although gender in later recordings identifications he would change characters

Country Rock • Country-blues influences • Simple structures, song/ballad structures • Guitar emphasis, but w/o the distortion or extreme volume of heavy metal • The use of country-identified instruments such as pedal steel, mandolin, fiddle

The Band: Cripple Creek • Celebrated for their “American” sound, the Band was ironically mostly Canadians • • • Robbie Robertson (guitar) Rick Danko (bass) Richard Manuel (piano) Garth Hudson (organ) Levon Helm (drums) • They were Bob Dylan’s touring band • Last performance was the subject of director Martin Scorsese’s very famous rock documentary “The Last Waltz”

Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) Proud Mary • • John Fogerty, vocals/guitar Tom Fogerty, guitar Stu Cook, bass Doug Clifford, drums • A San Francisco band, but their sound was much more in the style of country rock than SF psychedelia • John Fogerty’s songwriting and powerful, gritty voice were an important part of their sound

“Southern” Rock • Some of the “country rock” bands were very specifically marketed as “southern rock. ” – – Lynyrd Skynyrd Marshall Tucker Charlie Daniels The Allman Brothers. Basically blues-based rock in which the country roots were more heavily emphasized The trend toward “categorization” led to a certain kind of marketing for these “southern” bands, celebrating certain stereotypes Beer drinkers Pickup trucks with gun racks Confederate flags

The Allman Brothers: Jessica • • • Duane Allman, guitar Dickey Betts, guitar Greg Allman, vocals Jaimoe Johnson, drums Butch Trucks, drums Barry Oakley, bass • Combination of southern R&B and the tradition of long improvised solos fostered by the San Francisco psychedelic bands • One of their characteristic sounds was the dual-lead -guitar sound of Duane Allman and Dickey Betts

Allman Brothers, continued • Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle wreck in 1971; Barry Oakley was killed in the same situation (and in a very close location) a year later Barry, Duane • Despite these tragedies the band continued its success, with bassist Lamar Williams and keyboardist Chuck Leavell

1970 s Singer-Songwriters • Came out of the folk revival and the popularity of artists such as Bob Dylan • Focus was on one particular composer's creative or artistic lyrics and musical vision • In performance, there was often a sense of intimate communication created by a strong focus on the singer and the song itself (as opposed to the virtuosity of the backup band) • Individual styles ran the gamut of rock, blues and folk

Elton John: Rocket Man • Songwriter who teamed with lyricist Bernie Taupin • Strong individual piano style • EJ is more in the Tin Pan Alley – Brill Building tradition than in the Dylan tradition • He eventually developed a harder-rock style than some of the other singer-songwriters, foreshadowing a trend of the later 70 s.

Carole King • A very successful Brill Building songwriter, writing hits for other artists (often with songwriting partner Jerry Goffin) • In the early 70 s she changed the focus to performing her own songs, to great success

James Taylor: Fire & Rain • One of the first artists signed to the Beatles’ Apple label (eventually changed) • First hit LP “Sweet Baby James” followed by a string of very successful LPs • James Taylor was for a time married to Carly Simon, another very successful singersongwriter of the 1970 s James then James now

Jackson Browne: Running On Empty • Southern California singer songwriter, early 70 s • Intensely personal, expressive songs • Strong influence on many other songwriters, including Bruce Springsteen

Joni Mitchell: Big Yellow Taxi • Early records were very much in the style of the 60 s folk revival • Personal, introspective songs; experimented with diverse sounds and styles • Eventually jazz became a very strong element of her style

Van Morrison: Moondance • Irish singer-songwriter, • Originally with the group Them (“Gloria”) • Style: a combination of R&B, jazz, folk • strong, blues-style vocals

Neil Young • Performed with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills Nash and Young • Political lyrics: comments on current events, such as his song “Ohio, ” written after the Kent State shootings Neil then • Like Dylan, Young’s idiosyncratic voice was very much a part of his style • April 2006: Young released a new, very political CD with some outspoken criticism of Pres. Bush Neil now