Lecture 9: PostWar Era Flashcards
Rhythm and Blues
A genre of popular African-American music that originated in the 1940s, combining jazz, blues, and gospel influences.
Crooners post WWII
Singers like Frank Sinatra and Nat ‘King’ Cole who gained popularity after World War II.
Jump Blues
An uptempo style of blues that first gained popularity in the mid- to late-1940s.
Electric Blues
A genre of blues music characterized by the use of electric amplification for guitars and harmonicas.
PostWar: Music and Technology
A period after World War II marked by musical innovation and the adoption of new recording technologies.
Magnetic tape recording
A technology that revolutionized the music industry by allowing for high-quality sound recording and playback.
Record sizes - ‘Battle of the Speeds’
The competition between different record formats, including 78, 45, and 33 1/3 RPM, for dominance in the music market.
Radio turns to the FM dial
The shift of radio broadcasting from the AM to the FM frequency band, offering higher fidelity and better sound quality.
Frank Sinatra (1915-1998)
A legendary American singer known for his exceptional artistry, longevity, and classic vocal approach.
Nancy (with the laughing face)
-Typical song form (AABA)
-String (not orchestra) accompaniment
-Tempo rubato - romantic atmosphere
Nat ‘King’ Cole (1917-1965)
One of the most successful black recording artists postwar, famous for sentimental ballads and a lush, complicated musical style.
Nature Boy
Obsession with “Eastern” exoticism
Extreme rubato
Lush, complicated, metrically obscured arrangement
Louis Jordan (1908-1975)
An influential musician known for his jump blues style and the popular band Tympany Five.
Choo Choo Ch’Boogie (1946)
-Theme: black war vet out of work
-Rhythm depicts extra-musical idea
-Form: 12-bar blues fusion w/ TPA song
Muddy Waters (1915-1983)
A key figure in the development of electric blues, known for his rough, emotional style and innovative use of amplification.
