Folk Revival Flashcards
Why did folk and classical become popular in the late 50s and early 60s
Boomers who grew up on Golden Age went to college and wanted more “sophisticated” music
What is the dilemma of folk music
Musicians are professionals making a living, but folk music is supposed to be amateur, not about the money
What associations does folk music have pre WW2
Associated with the working class and organized labour. Left wing politics
What is an example of an early folk musician
Woody Guthrie
What is written on Woody Guthrie’s guitar
“This Machine Kills Facists” - symbolism of the working class. He is a labourer and his machine is the guitar
What is an example of a Woody Guthrie song?
This land is your land
when was this land is your land released
1940
Who performs the version of This Land is Your Land we listen to in class
The Weavers
Who is a leading member of the Weavers
Pete Seeger. Banjo player and sings the vocals in the verses
What instruments are in This Land is Your Land
Guitar, banjo, harmonica
What timbre is present in This Land is Your Land
no flashy vocals, but professional level quality and intonation
What happened to the Weavers in 1953
blacklisted due to left wing connection
What is HUAC
House Un-American Activities Commity - Looking for communists
When was the era of HUAC and McCarthyism
1947-1956
What are the targets of Joseph McCarthy
Communists in America. Specifically in the Army, Civil Service, Entertainment Industry and Labour Movement
What options do you have if called before the HUAC
Name Names (rat out other communists), or say no in which case you are blacklisted and investigated by the government
What trend does the record industry lean into in the late 50s and early 60s
older boomers want serious music
What are some examples of major label folk acts put together in the late 50s and early 60s
Peter Paul and Mary, Kingston Trio
What differentiates major label folk acts from artists like Woodie Guthrie
More produced, better arrangements, more self conciousness
What is an example of a major label folk song
Tom Dooley - The Kingston Trio
When was Tom Dooley released
1959
What makes the Kingston Trio performance of Tom Dooley different from earlier folk acts
Lots of little, rehearsed details. (pauses, phrasing, enunciation). Lots of reverb and complex harmony. Indicative of Self-Conciousness
What is Bob Dylans given Name
Robert Zimmerman
Who is Bob Dylan’s idol
Woodie Guthrie
Where does Bob Dylan move to
NYC from Minnesota
During What period did Dylan perform as a traditional folk singer/songwriter
1961-1965
What is an example of a traditional Bob Dylan Song
“A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” - 1963
When was “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” released?
1963
What inspired “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall”?
The Cuban Missle Crisis (supposedly)
What traditional elements does Dylan incorporate into “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall”?
Use of repetition, simple structure lend themselves to much older works such as fairy tales. The use of numbers in lyrics is similar to a religious text (like the bible)
When does Dylan Go Electric?
July 25, 1965
Where does Dylan Go Electric?
Newport Folk Festival
How long was Dylan’s set at Newport?
3 songs
What was the primary opposition to Dylan’s electric sound
“You cant have integrity and play rock and roll”
What was the new genre dylan created by going electric
Folk Rock
