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Chapter
8
The Growing Rock Monster (1970-1975)
Outline
  1. The Hippie Aesthetic
    1. Album and singles became nearly separate markets
    2. Stylistic range of rock expanded
    3. Rock musician was an artist who had a responsibility to create sophisticated music
  2. Blues-Based British Rock
    1. Extension of Britain's earlier interest in American blues
      1. Rolling Stones
      2. Yardbirds
      3. Cream
    2. Led Zeppelin
      1. Combination of blues, folk, psychedelia
      2. All exemplified in "Stairway to Heaven," 1972
      3. Lyrics and performance focused on sexual topics
    3. Deep Purple
      1. Bridge between psychedelia and heavy metal
    4. Black Sabbath
      1. Blues based, with gothic touches
    5. The Faces
    6. Humble Pie
    7. "Whole Lotta Love"
      1. Example of British blues rock song that combined blues and other elements
  3. American Blues Rock and Southern Rock
    1. Southern Rock
      1. Allman Brothers Band
        1. Based in Macon, Georgia
        2. Live at the Fillmore East, 1971
        3. Blues influences, extended soloing
      2. Lynyrd Skynyrd
        1. Based in Atlanta
        2. "Sweet Home Alabama," 1974
        3. Several members killed in 1977 plane crash
      3. Marshall Tucker Band
        1. Signed to same label as Allman Brothers (Capricorn)
      4. Charlie Daniels Band
        1. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," 1979
      5. Southern-influenced groups
        1. Santana
          1. "Evil Ways," 1970
          2. San Francisco psychedelic scene
        2. ZZ Top
          1. Texas
          2. "Tush," 1975
    2. Non-southern American rock influenced by the blues and rhythm and blues
      1. Los Angeles
        1. Steppenwolf
          1. "Born to be Wild," 1968
        2. Three Dog Night
          1. "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," 1970
      2. Grand Funk Railroad
        1. Flint, Michigan
        2. Deeply rooted in 1960s soul
      3. Edgar Winter Group
        1. "Frankenstein," 1973
      4. Doobie Brothers
        1. Based in San Francisco
        2. Early music in blues-rock mold
      5. Aerosmith
        1. "Walk This Way," 1976
          1. Later released as important rock-rap crossover song
      6. J. Geils Band
        1. Blues harmonica-based
  4. Progressive Rock
    1. Important center existed in Britain
    2. Developed obsession with concept albums
    3. Lavished attention on album covers
    4. Avoided lyrics dealing with romance or sex, addressed philosophical issues instead
    5. Promoted extension of idea that music should provide a trip
    6. Self-conscious use of classical music
      1. Moody Blues
      2. Procol Harum
    7. The Who
      1. Tommy, 1969
        1. Story about deaf, dumb, blind expert at pinball
      2. Who's Next, 1971
        1. Based on a project called Lifehouse
      3. Quadrophenia, 1974
        1. Based on mod movement of mid-1960s
    8. King Crimson
      1. Blended the harder, most dissonant aspects of twentieth-century music and softer, more consonant elements of nineteenth-century music into a rock context
    9. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
      1. Centered on multikeyboardist Keith Emerson
      2. Often reworked actual classical music
        1. Pictures at an Exhibition, 1971
    10. Jethro Tull
      1. Focused on issues of religion and spirituality
      2. Aqualung, 1971
      3. Later albums did not separate tracks, creating lengthy suites
    11. Yes
      1. Concerned with ideas of spirituality inspired by the hippie mélange of Eastern religious ideas
      2. Close to the Edge, 1972
        1. Based, in part, on Hesse's Siddhartha
      3. "Roundabout"
        1. Exemplifies the band's classical music influences
    12. Genesis
      1. Early group featuring Peter Gabriel (vocals) and Phil Collins (drums)
      2. Focused on lengthy, carefully worked-out arrangements and bizarre tales
      3. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, 1974
    13. Pink Floyd
      1. Led by bassist Roger Waters after the departure of Barrett
      2. Often focused on madness, insanity, isolation
      3. Dark Side of the Moon, 1973
      4. Elaborate stage effects
  5. Jazz Influences
    1. Technical mastery was necessary (like classical)
    2. Required advanced improvisatory skills
    3. Pop and rock studio musicians were often from a jazz background
    4. Jazz-rock fusion
      1. Miles Davis
        1. Bitches Brew, 1970
      2. Mahavishnu Orchestra
      3. Herbie Hancock
        1. Headhunters, 1974
    5. Frank Zappa
      1. Penchant for cynical satire that at times pressed the bounds of good taste
      2. Cartoonish vocals
      3. Composed art music
    6. Traffic
      1. British, psychedelic background
    7. Steely Dan
      1. After 1972 used primarily studio musicians
      2. Crisp arrangements that highlight professional solos
    8. Horn-based groups
      1. Blood, Sweat &Tears
        1. Horns prominent through instrumental showcases (solo and ensemble) influenced by big-band tradition
        2. "Spinning Wheel," 1969
      2. Chicago
        1. Blended Beatles-influenced pop and sophisticated horn-based arrangements
  6. Glam Rock
    1. Dressing up
      1. Shows staged in arenas
      2. Focus was on theatrical elements of rock performance
      3. Musicians acted out the role of a fictional character on stage
      4. Makeup and costumes were often used
    2. Alice Cooper
      1. Gruesome stage show, with Cooper's death often staged at the end
      2. "I'm Eighteen," 1971
    3. Kiss
      1. Cartoonish approach to rock theater
      2. Bombastic live stage show with lights, flames, explosions, and costumes that hid the identity of the band members
      3. "Rock and Roll All Nite," 1975
      4. Feature film and action figures show marketing exploitation
    4. David Bowie
      1. Only British glam star to be successful in the United States
      2. Alter ego was Ziggy Stardust
      3. Pushed the boundaries of sexual and gender identities
      4. Changed characters with each album
  7. Singer-Songwriters
    1. Sincerity and personal expression valued
    2. James Taylor
      1. "Fire and Rain," 1970
    3. Carole King
      1. Tapestry, 1970
    4. Paul Simon
      1. "Still Crazy After All These Years," 1975
    5. Other American singer-songwriters
      1. Carly Simon
      2. Harry Chapin
      3. Don McLean
      4. Jim Croce
    6. British singer-songwriters
      1. Van Morrison
      2. Cat Stevens
      3. Elton John
    7. Canadian singer-songwriters
      1. Joni Mitchell
      2. Neil Young
      3. Gordon Lightfoot
  8. Country Rock
    1. Reaction against growing excesses of psychedelic rock
    2. Apparent simplicity seemed honest and authentic
    3. Byrds (with Gram Parsons)
      1. Sweetheart of the Rodeo, 1968
    4. Crosby, Stills, and Nash
      1. "Suite: Judy Blues Eyes," 1969
    5. The Band
      1. "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," 1970
    6. Creedence Clearwater Revival
      1. From San Francisco, but not emblematic of psychedelia
      2. "Proud Mary," 1969
    7. The Eagles
      1. "Take It Easy," 1972
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