The Rock Revolution
• Rock ascended from a teen-themed
tangent of postwar rhythm and blues to
music of significance and influence
• Stages of transformation highlighted
through examples by
Elvis & Chuck Berry
The Beach Boys
Bob Dylan
The Beatles
1
Elvis Presley (The King)
•
Elvis Presley (1935-1977)
•
Rock or Rockabilly or Pop?
– Rockabilly: Up-tempo mixture of country and Rhythm & Blues
– Influences include Gospel, Rhythm & Blues
•
Singer/Songwriter, Guitar, Piano, Actor, “heart throb”
•
Best selling solo artist in American Popular Music
•
Known for:
– Amazing performer (singing/acting/dancing)
– Great songs
– One of earliest “pop stars”
– Drug and Poor Diet (eventually killed him in 1977 at age of 42)
2
Elvis Presley (Cont.)
• Songs to know:
– “Heartbreak Hotel” 1st single released 1956 (January)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71fuhzYDeT4
– “Love Me Tender” – Based off melody to “Aura Lee”
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZBUb0ElnNY (Love Me
Tender)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvBAu0JO9G4 (Aura Lee
1861)
– “Hound Dog” 1956
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzQ8GDBA8Is
– “Jailhouse Rock” 1957
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbre48NgBOg
– ”Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” 1961
• http://youtu.be/cAWalYmC170
3
Elvis Presley (Cont.)
• Movies to know:
– “Love Me Tender” 1st film released 1956
(November)
– “Jailhouse Rock” 1957
– “Viva Las Vegas” 1964
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFw5a5Bp_Pw
• Elvis footage of Las Vegas shows:
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihy0njUS2u0
4
Beginning of Rock and Roll
•
What came before Rock & Roll:
–
–
–
–
–
1. Rhythm & Blues
2. Country (Hank Williams)
3. Blues (Robert Johnson & Muddy Waters)
4. Jazz (Duke Ellington)
5. Classical
•
The “beat” – the distinctive, rhythmic organization of rock and roll
(Boogie-woogie pianists had played it since 1920’s
•
Teens found the rhythm “revolutionary”
•
Most parents found it “simply appalling”
•
Insistent rhythm moves twice as fast as the beat
•
Chuck Berry is referred to as the architect of rock and roll
5
Chuck Berry
• Charles Edward Anderson Berry
• Born 1926
• American guitar player/singer/songwriter
• Pioneer of Rock & Roll
• Turned Rhythm & Blues into Rock & Roll by:
–
–
–
–
Focus on teen life
Guitar Intros & Solos
Showmanship
Driving Boogie Woogie beat
6
Chuck Berry (Cont.)
• “Maybellene” (1st single 1955)
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0HmFr7mPsk
• “Roll Over, Beethoven” (1956)
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsp4VCbVvn4
• “Johnny B. Goode” (1958)
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0yGXKoA6Ek
• Overdubbing – process of recording
additional sounds on existing recording
7
The Beach Boys
• Formed in 1961 (Hawthorne, CA)
• Originally Members:
– Brothers:
• Brian Wilson (leader)
• Dennis Wilson
• Carl Wilson
– Mike Love (cousin)
– Al Jardine (friend)
• 36 Top 40 Hits
8
The Beach Boys (cont.)
• Known for:
– Vocal harmonies
– Song topics reflect Southern California Lifestyle
•
•
•
•
Surfin'
Cars
Romance
Fun
• Use of electric bass (1963)
– (invented by Leo Fender in 1950)
• Use of Chuck Berry’s “Rock Rhythm”
• Helped transform rock and roll into rock
9
The Beach Boys
• Songs to know:
– Surfin' USA (1963)
• Vocal melody based off Chuch Berry’s “Sweet Sixteen”
• `http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s4slliAtQU (Surfin’
USA)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d5qUWR4LTM (Sweet
Sixteen)
– Little Deuce Coup
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4yqWPVjA80
– California Girls
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fviwc3YeG8
10
Bob Dylan
• Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman
1941)
• One of America's (Minnesota) most important
& popular singers/songwriters
• First success in the 1960's
• Lyrics talk about:
–
–
–
–
–
Civil Rights
Anti-War
Political Issues
Social Issues
Philosophy
11
Bob Dylan (cont.)
• Musical style influenced by:
– Folk, Blues, Rock, Country, Jazz
• Songs to know:
– The Time Are A-Changin'
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCWdCKPtnYE
– Hurricane
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHr6fiyuJJw
– Like A Rolling Stone (goes to electric instruments)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk3mAX5xdxo
– Knockin' On Heaven's Door
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_swaxOidGU
• (Covered by Guns N’ Roses)
12
The Beatles
• The Beatles formed in 1960 in Liverpool,
England
• Members:
– John Lennon
– Paul McCartney
– George Harrison
– Ringo Starr
– Produced by George Martin
– Managed by Brian Epstein
13
The Beatles
• Musical Style and influence
• :
– Skiffle: Type of popular music with jazz, blues, folk, and roots
influences. Originated in the United States in early 1900’s and
became popular in England in the 1950’s.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIJuRuzy_x0&feature=fvwrel
– 1950’s Rock & Roll
– Pop Ballads
– Psychedelic Rock
– Classical
– Blues
14
The Beatles
• The Beatles musical style not only
influenced Rock & Roll but also Pop
music
• Names associated with The Beatles
– Beatlemania
– The FAB 4
– British Invasion
• Best selling BAND in Rock History
15
The Beatles (cont.)
• Songs to Know:
– “Love Me Do” (1st single released in 1962)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xuMwfUqJJM
– A Hard Days Night (1964)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxEbK2ESwq0
– Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PgRznuRseA
– Helter Skelter
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMfkVGCU_BA
– Let It Be
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdopMqrftXs
16
The Beatles (cont.)
• Albums to Know:
– A Hard Days Night (1964)
– Rubber Soul (1965)
– Revolver (1966)
– Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
(1968)
– Abbey Road (1969)
– Yellow Submarine (1969)
– Let It Be (1970)
17
The Beatles (cont.)
• Movies?
– A Hard Days Night (1964)
• youtube.com/watch?v=cIdLALcIc14
– Help (1965)
– Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLWzOBTjjL0
– Yellow Submarine (1968)
– Let It Be (1969)
18
The Beatles (cont.)
• Where are they now:
– The Beatles broke up in 1970
– John Lennon?
– George Harrison?
– Paul McCartney?
– Ringo Starr?
19
Influence of Rock
• Rock influenced virtually all established
popular and vernacular genres
• Soft rock/pop rock
• Rock musicals
• Jazz fusion
• Classical music was also influenced by
rock
20