Midterm 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

Rock N Roll (Genre)

A
  1. Coined by Alan Freed (shorthand for R&B records)
  2. Catered to young people as a result of their purchasing power following WW2 (aimed at youth of ALL races)
    - Songs written to reflect their lives (ie. Rock Around the Clock)
  3. Became an identifying/rebellion-esch genre for teens
    Conservatism reigns after war
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2
Q

The Cover Version

A

Exploits social inequality, whereby a white artist covers an African American song for means of profit

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3
Q

“A Little Bird Told Me” (Evelyn Knight)

A

Cover of Paula Watson’s version → ended up being a straight copy
- Knight version peaked on charts!
- Supreme (Watson) sues Decca (Knight) → Decca wins

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4
Q

“Shake Rattle, and Roll” (Comets)

A

Cover of Big Joe Turner’s version → arrangement modified
- Comets reached higher on Pop, but not R&B chart
- Comets remove sexual imagery to appeal to conservative white audience

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5
Q

“Sh-Boom” (Crew Cuts)

A

Cover of Chords version
- Crew Cuts’ version peaked on charts!
- Crew Cuts tame down aggression and swing → infuse more scat singing

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6
Q

Rock N Roll → R&B Camp

A

Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino

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7
Q

Chuck Berry

A

Singer/Songwriter/Guitar → Appealed to mass market with Blues-Country fusion

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8
Q

Maybellene (Chuck Berry)

A

Unprecedented achievement (loud, fast)
- Blues → AAB form
- Country → unsyncopated bassline
- Theme = lover’s quarrel as car chase
- Builds suspense = monotone verse, energetic chorus

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9
Q

Little Richard

A

Famous for On-Stage Performance (stand at piano, yell)
- Sexually ambiguous image = provides interest!

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10
Q

Tutti Frutti (Little Richard)

A

Written by Richard when he felt misunderstood during recording session
- Overtly homosexual themes → had to be sanitized

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11
Q

Long Tall Sally (Little Richard)

A

12 Bar Blues converted to verse/chorus
- Verse (4 bars) → Chorus (8 bars) = ABB
- Theme = unfaithful husband!

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12
Q

Fats Domino

A

R&B artist who reimagined traditional TPA standards in boogie woogie, jump blues styles
- 2nd highest selling Rock N Roll artist to Elvis!

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13
Q

Blueberry Hill (Fats Domino)

A

Originally a TPA standard (AABA) by Glenn Miller Band
- Fat’s arraignment more aggressive (more full-bodied singing, less crooning)

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14
Q

Rock N Roll → Country Camp (Rockabilly)

A

Elvis Presley

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15
Q

Mystery Train (Elvis Presley)

A

R&B cover (original by Herman Parker)

Original = instrumental sounds like train
- Girl taken by train → no triumph over adversity
- Reflective of Black experience
Cover = ONLY drums sounds like train
- Country band (elec guitar, acous guitar, bass drums), hillbilly accent, blue notes
- Girl taken by train → yet girl comes back (white privilege)

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16
Q

Don’t Be Cruel (Elvis Presley)

A

Characteristic of Elvis genre-fusion
- AA (verse) + B (chorus)

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17
Q

Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)

A

Cover of Big Mama Thornton
- Elvis version more toothless, cleaned up (made more ‘palatable’)

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18
Q

Political & Economic Context of 60s

A

Society in turmoil over Vietnam war, civil rights movement, assassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr.

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19
Q

Music Industry Developments in 60s

A

Music an outlet away from the turmoil
1. Free form dance crazes
2. Baby Boomers take over industry
3. Beach Boys = new possibilities!

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20
Q

The Twist (Chubby Checker)
- As first recorded by Hank Ballard (B-side)

A

Appeared on the popular show American Bandstand and credited for introducing a wide audience to Rock N Roll/dance music
- Forerunner for Discotheques (free form dance clubs)

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21
Q

Phil Spector

A

Unprecedented Innovative Producer (songwriter, arranger, instrumentalist, engineer…)
- Founder of Phillies Records (fewer releases than other labels, but each a hit!)
- Frequent shopper at Brill Building (TPA of Rock N Roll)

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22
Q

The Spector Sound/Teenage Symphonies

A

Characterized by “wall of sound” = dense texture from many instruments
- Achieved by doubling instruments for louder effect → ‘hit’ effect
- Vocal still remain at forefront

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23
Q

Be My Baby (Ronettes)
- Phil Spector

A

Quintessential Teenage Symphony
- String section, lots of percussion, castanet intro

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24
Q

Uptown (Crystals)
= Phil Spector

A

Quintessential Teenage Symphony with exotic influence (Latin America)
- Flamenco guitar, castanets
- Theme = class inequalities
—–Downtown → injustices felt by coloured man
——Uptown (with Girlfriend) → feels like King

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25
Q

Berry Gordy (pre. Spector)

A

Innovative Producer based in Detroit (later moved to LA)
1. Making African American music (blues + gospel based) for white audience
2. Ensure all creative/financial endeavors of company under his control

26
Q

Motown

A

Detroit = Motor Town = Motown

27
Q

The Gordy Strategy

A
  1. Complete image management (dress, conduct, etc)
  2. Create a lush sound infused with groove/dance beat (Gordy’s own ‘Wall Sound’)
28
Q

My Girl (Temptations)

A

Motown production by Berry Gordy
- Symphony builds (passion!)
- Bass and guitar establish groove

29
Q

You Can’t Hurry Love (Supremes)

A

Motown production by Berry Gordy
- Song form reflects lyrics

30
Q

The Beach Boys
—Headed by Brian Wilson (‘Spector’-like figure)

A

Most celebrated American rock band in history (and best selling band of 60s)
- Formula for success:
1. Mastery/Imitation
2. Emulation
3. Experimentation
***Wilson inspired by California/Laurel Canyon era

31
Q

Surfin’ USA (The Beach Boys)

A

‘Imitation’ in formula
- Steal? Of Chuck Berry ‘Sweet Little 16’
- Similar theme: rock has pervaded the country and everyone is obsessed!

32
Q

Fun, Fun, Fun (The Beach Boys)

A

‘Emulation’ in formula
- Chuck Berry influence throughout
- Opening guitar lick borrowed from Johnny B. Goode

33
Q

I Get Around (The Beach Boys)

A

‘Experimentation’ in formula
- Asymmetrical phrasing and chord progression

34
Q

I Want To Hold Your Hand (The Beatles)

A

First #1 hit in America

35
Q

Reasons for Beatles Success in America

A
  1. Prevailing national mood drawn to exoticism (Beatles not from home, where the turmoil is!)
  2. America becoming a receptive hub for world music (Capitol Records campaign)
  3. British bands flooding in
36
Q

Beach Boys Success Formula Applied to The Beatles

A

Imitation: Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly

Emulation: Please Please Me Album

Experimentation: Eleanor Rigby

37
Q

Please Please Me (The Beatles)

A

Emulation = AABA form

Personal Touch = word play, harmonies

38
Q

A Hard Day’s Night (The Beatles)

A

Emulation = AABA form, 12 bar blues nested

Personal Touch = harmonies, opening chord (tonic and dominant), coda (breaks apart opening chord)

39
Q

Yesterday (The Beatles)

A

Emulation = AABA

Innovation = removes traditional rock instruments, acoustic dynamic (solo vocal, strings)

40
Q

Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles)

A

Innovation = strings are rhythm section, violin opposing cello, unconventional harmonies, theme is spiritual take on loneliness

41
Q

The Beach Boys Response to The Beatles

A

Pet Sounds (Album)
- Rocks first ‘concept album’ (journey of youthful optimism → emotional delusion)
- Boundary pushing in all aspects

42
Q

Good Vibrations (The Beach Boys)
***Released AFTER Pet Sounds as single

A

One of the most innovative singles of the 60s
- A ‘pocket symphony’
- Like Yesterday (the Beatles), goes beyond traditional rock instruments, vocal timbres (organ, cello, flute, Theremin)

43
Q

The Nashville Sound (Countrypolitan)

A

Revamp of country music by youth in order to ‘keep up’ with Rock N Roll
- Sophisticated vocals (less accent/twang)
- Strings (rich sounding)
- Crooning backup singers (smooth)

44
Q

I’m Sorry (Brenda Lee) → string intro!

A

Quintessential Nashville Sound
- All elements (sophisticated vocals, strings, and crooning!)

45
Q

I Fall to Pieces (Patsy Kline)

A

Quintessential Nashville Sound
- Sophisticated vocals
- New instrumentation (steel guitar, ‘swing’ drums!!!!)

46
Q

Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley)

A

Quintessential Nashville Sound
- Crooning
- New instrumentation (steel guitar, harmonica)
NOTE: Elvis’ voice still classic country!

47
Q

Ray Charles

A

Synthesized Soul from Gospel and Blues (Country and R&B)

48
Q

Soul

A

Characterized by blues (bent) notes, call and response, emotionalism, molisma (many notes over one syllable)

49
Q

What’d I Say (Ray Charles)

A

Example of Soul
- 12 bar blues turned into emotional frenzy

50
Q

Georgia On My Mind (Ray Charles)

A

TPA standard reimagined as soul!
- Appeared on widely popular album “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music”

51
Q

James Brown

A

Famous for live performances of heightened emotion, the secular ‘transfixed priest’
- Timbre & Rhythm over harmonies

52
Q

Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag (James Brown)

A

James Brown ‘signature style’ (12 bar blues + dance rock)
Riff
- Stop-time technique (builds tension)
**Lionels Vinyl’s Playlist

53
Q

Say It Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud (James Brown)

A

Solidified Brown’s spokesman status for the black community following assination of MLK
- Rhythmic triumph (no chord changes)
- Precursor for rap (rhythmic speech)

54
Q

Aretha Franklin

A

Famous for sociopolitical statements made in her music during height of civil rights movement and beginning of feminism
- Columbia → Atlantic (hits!)

55
Q

Aretha’s Style

A

Contrasts the gentile ‘motown’ female
- Focus on gospel (father was a pastor), female empowerment

56
Q

R.E.S.P.E.C.T (Aretha Franklin)

A

Originally written and performed by Ottis Redding, Aretha shifts power dynamic from male → female
- Gospel influence: call & response, passionate vocal

57
Q

Urban Folk

A

Grew out of baby boomers in industry who were politically and socially conscious
- Despised Rock!

58
Q

Bob Dylan

A

Pioneer of urban folk (highly influential)
- Poetry (real and evocative)
- Performance style (unpolished, simple)

59
Q

Mr. Tambourine Man (Bob Dylan)

A

Length of 6:30
- The Byrds ‘electric’ cover with length of 2:30 → was a hit!

60
Q

Like a Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan)

A

Marked Dylan’s ‘crossover’ to rock (knew he had to do this to reach a larger audience); showed baby boomers rock COULD be for adults!
- Went electric at Newport (booed off stage)

61
Q

Details on Like a Rolling Stone

A

Song Length Restrictions
- 6 mins = longest 45rpm ever
New timbre
- Organ + Piano
Unique asymmetrical form
- Long strophes, variable chorus
Theme
- Realness, women falling from privilege to desperation