Derrin Lee

History of Popular Music

Ch. 7: Choo Choo Ch'Boogie: The Postwar Era
1.)During World War II the de!and "or wor#ers in !ilitar$%related industries !eant that !an$
teenagers too# on adult res&onsi'ilities wor#ing "or wages while (ontinuing to attend high
s(hool. )&.1*+)
- ,o!anti( -ongs &er"or!ed '$ (rooners and sweet singers who used the !i(ro&hone to
(reate a sense o" inti!a($ with or(hestral string 'a(#ing. )&.1*.)
- The roots (o!e "ro! /a!'o 0"ro1Cu'an and 2atin /usi(. )&.171)
- The$ &re"erred &o&ular !usi( that "o(used on ro!anti( senti!ents and hel&ed (reate a
(on"o!ating a sound en3iron!ent at ho!e li#e (ountr$ and western !usi(4
,e(hristened ,h$th! and Blues. )&.1*.%1**)
- Chess 0laddin 0tlanti( 5ing -un and Du#e6Pea(o(# ,e(ords. )P.1**%1*7)
8.)/agneti( Ta&e ,e(ording 1 a'le to (a&ture the "ull range o" !usi(al sounds than the older
&ro(ess o" re(ording dire(tl$ onto !aster &honogra&h dis(s. )&. 1*7)
- The twel3e long &la$ing dis(1 were a'le to a((o!!odate !ore than 89 !ins o" !usi(
on ea(h side a great i!&ro3e!ent o3er the three to "our !inute li!itation o" 7: r.&.!.
dis(s.)&. 1*7)
- ;3erdu''ing% used to re(ord a tra(# onto a dis# then used another dis( to rere(ord the
<rst tra(# &lus a se(ond tra(# then a third tra(# with the <rst and se(ond &arts &lus a
new &art and so on. )&. 1*7)
- =irst ta&e re(order% a !a(hine the soon 'e(a!e a !ainsta$ o" the re(ording
industr$)&.1*7)
- The se3en in(h .* r.&.!. single dis(s1 the listener (ould load a sta(# o" singles thus
&re&rogra!!ing a series o" "a3orite re(ordings ea(h o" whi(h 'egin less than <"teen
se(onds a"ter the end o" their "a3orite re(ordings. )&. 1*:)
+.)The !usi(ians> union re(ording 'an o" 1?.8%1?.. whi(h had 'anned instru!entalists "ro!
re(ording 'ut did not a&&l$ to e3en the !ost !usi(all$ gi"ted 3o(alists4 en(ouraged a
nu!'er o" 'ig 'and singers to 'egin re(ording under their own na!es. )&. 1*?)
- =ran# -inatra 'orn into a wor#ing%(lass Italian "a!il$ in @o'o#en Aew Berse$ -inatra
attra(ted &u'li( attention in 1?+* when he a&&eared as a !e!'er o" a 3o(al Cuartet on
a &o&ular radio show (alled /aDor Bowes 0!ateur @our. Pro!oted on radio at !o3ies
and in the &ress -inatra>s &o&ularit$ soared (ul!inating in the <rst de(ision was a
return engage!ent at the Para!ount Theatre '$ -inatra and the Eood!an 'and
showed u& to (lai! ti(#ets. While Bing and other earl$ (rooners see!ed to 'e
o3erheard '$ the !i(ro&hone -inatra and others o" his generation &la$ed it su'tl$
shi"ting it to a(hie3e (ertain tone Cualities a((entuate !elodi( &assages or l$ri(
&hrases and a3oid the &o&&ing o" (onstants. )&. 1*?)
- Aat Cole was 'orn in /ontgo!er$ 0la'a!a and his "a!il$ !o3ed to the south side o"
Chi(ago when he was onl$ "our $ears old. @e was '$ "ar the !ost su((ess"ul 'la(#
re(ording artist o" the &ostwar era &la(ing a total o" "ourteen re(ordings in the To& 19
&o& (harts 'etween 1?.7% 1?*.. 0long with /ills Brothers and 2ouis Bordan Cole was
one o" the <rst 0"ri(an 0!eri(an !usi(ians to (ross o3er regularl$ to the &redo!inar$
white &o& (harts. Cole>s 'iggest su((esses were senti!ental 'allads a((o!&anied '$
ela'orate or(hestral arrange!ents. )&. 17.)
Derrin Lee
History of Popular Music
..)It was ins&ired '$ rural "ol# !usi( $et &er"or!ed '$ ur'an intelle(tuals. The <rst ur'an "ol#
grou& to a(hie3e (o!!er(ial su((ess was the Wea3es a Cuartet led '$ a singer 'anDo
&la$er and &oliti(al a(ti3ist Pete -eeger. Erew out o" an earlier grou& (alled the 0l!ana(
-ingers whi(h had in(luded -eeger and Euthrie with a re&ertoire 'ased on 0!eri(an and
International "ol# songs. )&. 177)
*.)The !a!'o was a 'ran(h o" the Cu'an tradition that deri3ed "ro! the word "or song or
stor$ in the language o" the Ba5ongo &eo&le o" (entral 0"ri(a. )&. 17?)
- The !usi(ian who did the !ost to &o&ulariFe the !a!'o throughout 2atin 0!eri(a and
in the Gnited -tates was the &ianist organist and 'andleader Da!aso PereF Prado.
Born in the town o" /atanFas in eastern Cu'a Prado !o3ed to @a3ana around 1?.9
where he wor#ed his wa$ u& through the ran#s o" lo(al dan(e 'ands. )&. 179)
- /a!'o Ao.* 1 had a !odular "or! and is (onstru(ted out o" a s!all nu!'er o" !elodi(
rh$th!i( 'uilding 'lo(#s whi(h are (o!'ined and re(o!'ined throughout the &ie(e.
)&.179)
- Pa&a lo3es /a!'o 1 a song that eH&li(itl$ lin#ed dan(ing the !a!'o with !iddle aged
seHual reDu3enation. )&. 178)
- /a!'o Iltaliano 1 a sass$ "unn$ and 3er$ (at(h$ tune that (onJates 2atino and
Italian%0!eri(an stereot$&es. )&. 178)
7.)The old (ategories o" Kra(e !usi( and Khill'ill$ !usi(K underwent a series o" na!e
(hanges to KCountr$ and WesternK and K,h$th! L BluesK reJe(ting shi"ts in so(ial
attitudes and in the !usi( industr$'s &er(e&tion o" the e(ono!i( &otential o" southern
!usi(. )&. 17+% 17.)
- The (ountr$ !usi( radio 'usiness was &ositi3el$ 'oo!ing in the 2ate 1?.9* and earl$
1?*9s with new shows !odeled on Aash3ille's Erand ;le ;&r$ (o!ing on the air in all
o" 0!eri(a's !aDor (ities and on hundreds o" s!all stations that s&routed in rural areas.
)&. 17.)
- During the war a nu!'er o" white dis( Do(#e$s 'egan to !iH 'la(# &o&ular !usi( in with
their usual diet o" &o& re(ords and 1?.? saw the in inauguration o" the <rst radio
station dedi(ated eH(lusi3el$ to &la$ing !usi( "or a 'la(# audien(e4 WDI0 in /e!&his
Tennessee. )&. 17.)
- Bu#e'oHes &la$ed an i!&ortant role in &ro!oting (ountr$ and western and rh$th! L
'lues re(ords. )&. 17.)
7.),h$th! L Blues is the genre #nown as a loose (luster o" st$les rooted in southern "ol#
traditions and sha&ed '$ eH&erien(e o" returning !ilitar$ &ersonnel and hundreds o"
thousands o" 'la(# 0!eri(ans who had !igrated to ur'an (enters su(h as Aew Mor#
Chi(ago Detroit and 2os 0ngeles during and Dust a"ter the war. )&.17*)
- Bu!& Blues4 2ouis Bordan. =or!ed -!aller Co!'os generall$ !ade u& o" a rh$th!
se(tion and one or !ore horn &la$ers. )&. 177)
- Narious st$les o" ur'an 'lues4 2ero$ Carr. 0 s!ooth laid 'a(# a&&roa(h to 'lues singing
that (ontrasted shar&l$ with the rough%edged rural 'lues re(ordings4 in(luding Charle$
Patton and Blind BeOerson. )&. 17:)
- Eos&el1inJuen(ed 3o(al har!on$ grou&s4 ,uth Brown. ;"ten e(stati(all$ e!otional and
"eatured onl$ hand (la&&ing and ta!'ourine as a((o!&ani!ent. )&.1:*)
:.),uth Brown also #nown as K/iss ,h$th!K was 'orn in Nirginia. 0s a (hild she &arti(i&ated
in two strea!s o" the 'la(# (hur(h tradition the 0/E and Ba&tist de!onstrations. In
!usi(al ter!s the /ethodist ser3i(e she attended were relati3el$ restrained with the
a((o!&ani!ent o" a &iano and 'ig (hur(h organ while the Ba&tist (ere!onies held in a
rough%hewn (ountr$ (hur(h o"ten e(stati(all$ e!otional and "eatured onl$ hand (la&&ing
Derrin Lee
History of Popular Music
and ta!'ourine as a((o!&ani!ent. )&. 1:*)
- Big /a!a Thornton 'orn in /ontgo!er$ 0la'a!a was the daughter o" a Ba&tist
!inister. -he 'egan her &ro"essional (areer as a singer dru!!er har!oni(a &la$er
and (o!i( on the 'la(# 3aude3ille (ir(uit and later settled in @ouston TeHas wor#ing as
a singer in 'la(# night(lu's. )&. 1:7)
?.)Countr$ Crooners s&e(ialiFed in a s!ooth &o& oriented st$le. Edd$ 0rnold who not onl$
do!inated the (ountr$ (harts "ro! 1?.7 to 1?*. 'ut also s(ored ele3en To& .9 hits on the
&o& (harts. In his earl$ re(ordings two #e$ ele!ents o" his st$le are alread$ e3ident: a
s!ooth war! 'aritone 3oi(e and a &ro&ensit$ "or senti!ental songs4 K)I 2o3e Mou) "or
-enti!ental ,easonsK. )&. 1:?)
- Bluegrass !usi(ians who "o(used on the ada&tation o" traditional southern !usi( in a
&a(#age suita'le to the ti!es. Bill /onroe started &la$ing at $oung age and was
inJuen(ed '$ his un(le )a (ountr$ <ddler) and '$ a 'la(# !usi(ian and railroad wor#er
na!ed 0rnold -(hulF4 whi(h was rooted in the 3enera'le southern string 'and tradition.
)&. 1?9)
- @on#$ton# !usi(ians who &er"or!ed in a hard1e(lged ele(troni(all$ a!&li<ed st$le
and wrote songs a'out the trials and tri'ulations o" !igrants to the (it$ and the gender
roles and !ale6"e!ale relationshi&s during a &eriod o" intense so(ial (hange. Ernest
Tu'' had de3elo&ed singing in a dee& 'aritone 3oi(e roughened '$ !an$ $ears o"
singing in Du#e Doints. )&. 1?8)
19.) @an# Willia!s wrote and sang !an$ songs in the (ourse o" his 'rie" (areer that were
enor!ousl$ &o&ular with (ountr$ audien(es at the ti!e4 'etween 1?.7 and 1?*+ he was
a!assed an astounding thirt$ siH To& 19 re(ords on the (ountr$ (harts in(luding su(h
Au!'er ;ne hits as K2o3esi(# BluesK KCold Cold @eartK Ba!'ala$a )on the Ba$ou) and
KMour Cheating @eartK. @e rein3igorated "or the &ostwar (ountr$ audien(e the enduring
!$th o" the hard%lo3ing ra!'ler that had 'een esta'lished a generation earlier '$ Bi!!ie
,ogers. )&. 1?.)
Ch. :: K,o(# 0round the Clo(#K: ,o(# Pn> ,oll
Derrin Lee
History of Popular Music
1.) =rist ro(# and roll was neither a Knew st$le o" !usi( nor was it an$ single st$le o"
!usi(. -e(ond the era o" ro(# and roll does not !ar# the <rst ti!e that !usi( was
written s&e(i<(all$ to a&&eal to $oung &eo&le. Third ro(# and roll is (ertainl$ not the <rst
0!eri(an !usi( to 'ring 'la(# and white &o&ular st$les into (lose intera(tion. )&. 1?:%
1??)
8.) The new audien(e was do!inated '$ those 'orn into the so1(alled 'a'$ 'oo!
generation at the end o" and i!!ediatel$ "ollowing World War II. It was a !u(h $ounger
audien(e than had e3er 'e"ore (onstituted a target !ar#et "or !usi( and it was a large
audien(e that shared so!e s&e(i<( and i!&ortant (hara(teristi(s o" grou& (ultural
identit$. These #ids growing u& in the 1?*9>s a &eriod o" relati3e e(ono!i( sta'ilit$ and
&ros&erit$ 'ut also a &eriod !ar#ed '$ a sel"% (ons(ious return to nor!al($ de<ned in
so(iall$ and &oliti(all$ (onser3ati3e wa$s "ollowing the enor!ous desta'iliFing trau!as
o" world war4 li#e in ter!s o" the entertain!ent industr$ the use o" growing u& on
tele3ision was a &ower"ul !ass !ediu! outlet "or the instantaneous nationwide
distri'ution o" !usi(. )&.1??)
+.) 0lan =reed used the ter! ro(# and roll <rst "or (o!!er(ial and generational &ur&oses.
=reed dis(o3ered that in(reasing nu!'ers o" $oung white #ids were listening to and
reCuesting the rh$th! L 'lues re(ords he &la$ed on his /oondog show nightti!e
&rogra! in Cle3eland re(ords he then 'egan to (all ro(# and roll re(ords. =reed also
&ro!oted (on(ert tours "eaturing 'la(# artists &la$ing to a $oung ra(iall$ !iHed
audien(e and &ro!oted the! as ro(# n roll re3ues. =reed was &rose(uted "or a((e&ting
&a$ola4 'e(ause o" that he was 'la(#'alled within the !usi( 'usiness and he died a "ew
$ears later a 'ro#en !an. )&. 899%891)
..) It would not 'e an eHaggeration to sa$ that the 1?*9* essentiall$ in3ented the teenager
as a (o!!er(ial and (ultural identit$ and that ro(# and roll !usi( along with tele3ision
and to so!e eHtent !o3ies &la$ed an essential role in this in3ention. 0lthough &o&ular
!usi( o" all eras has rea(hed out to $oung audien(es with &lenti"ul songs a'out lo3e and
(ourtshi& the 3irtuall$ eH(lusi3e e!&hasis on a&&eal to one &arti(ular eHtre!el$ $oung
generation is what distinguishes the &heno!enon o" ro(# and roll. )&. 891%898)
*.) In the 'roadest sense this ter! si!&l$ re"ers to the &ra(ti(e o" re(ording a song that has
&re3iousl$ 'een re(orded '$ another artist or grou&. )&.89+)
% ;ne EHa!&le is in 1?.7 a 'la(# singer and &ianist na!ed Paula Watson re(orded a
song (alled 0 2ittle Bird Told /eK "or the inde&endent la'el -u&re!e. Watson's 3ersion
o" the song released in 1?.: rea(hed Au!'er Two on the ,LB (harts and !ade an
i!&a(t on the &o& (harts &ea#ing at Au!'er -iH. This earl$ (rosso3er hit attra(ted the
attention o" De((a ,e(ords whi(h i!!ediatel$ issued a (o3er 3ersion o" the song
&er"or!ed '$ a white singer na!ed E3el$n 5night. 5night's 3ersion o" the song rea(hed
Au!'er ;ne on the &o& (harts in large &art owing to the &ro!otional &ower o" De((a
,e(ords and the "a(t that white &er"or!ers enDo$ed &ri3ileged a((ess to radio and
tele3ision &la$. The tin$ -u&re!e la'el sued De((a ,e(ords (lai!ing that its (o&$right
to the original had 'een in"ringed. In this (ase the (ruH o" the !atter was not the song
&er se4 its author @ar3e$ Broo#s (olle(ted (o!&oser's ro$alties "ro! 'oth re(ord
(o!&anies. )&. 89+%89.)
- 0nother eHa!&le is in3ol3ed Benn$ Eood!an's sli(#ed u& renditions o" arrange!ents
&re3iousl$ re(orded '$ =let(her @enderson's 'and and Bing Cros'$'s and Patti Page's
&o& 3ersions o" (ountr$ and western songs. The &ra(ti(e o" (o3ering o"ten wor#ed in
'oth dire(tions4 (ountr$ and rh$th! L 'lues !usi(ians so!eti!es re(orded their own
st$liFed renditions o" Tin Pan 0lle$ songs that had &re3iousl$ 'een &o&ulariFed '$ &o&
(rooners. )&.89+)
7.) Chu(# Berr$ 2ittle ,i(hard and =ats Do!ino. )&.817%81?)
1 Chu(# Berr$ went on to write and re(ord other eH(ellent ro(# and roll songs that
Derrin Lee
History of Popular Music
'e(a!e !ore and !ore eH&li(it (ele'rations o" 0!eri(an teenage (ulture and its !usi(.
K,oll o3er Beetho3enK &raises rh$th! L 'lues at the eH&ense o" (lassi(al !usi(. K-(hool
Da$sK des(ri'es drudger$ relie3ed '$ an a"ter s(hool tri& to the KDu#e Doint. Berr$'s
(onsu!!ate state!ent on ro(# n roll !$tholog$ is dou'tless KBohnn$ B. EoodeK. @e
relates the stor$ o" a K(ountr$ 'o$K who ne3er learned to read or write so well 'ut who
(ould &la$ a guitar Dust li#e a ringing 'ell. )&. 817)
% 2ittle ,i(hard s&ent se3eral $ears as a Dourne$ !an rh$th! :. 'lues &er"or!er 'e"ore
hitting the &o& (harts in 1?*7 with his wild &er"or!an(e o" the nonsensi(al song KTutti%
=ruttiK using an uninhi'ited shouting st$le (o!&lete with "alsetto whoo&s and
a((o!&anied with a &ounding 'and led '$ 2ittle ,i(hard's eCuall$ uninhi'ited &iano.
Both the sound o" his re(ordings and the 3isual (hara(teristi(s o" his &er"or!an(es
!ade 2ittle ,i(hard an eH(e&tionall$ strong inJuen(e on later &er"or!an(es4 the white
ro(# a'ilit$ singer1&ianist
Berr$ 2ee 2ewis was inesti!a'l$ in his de't. )&. 817)
1 =ats Do!ino is a singer &ianist and songwriter had 'een esta'lished &resen(e on
the rh$th! L 'lues (harts "or se3eral $ears '$ the ti!e he s(ored his <rst large%sa!e
&o&. Brea# through with K0in>t It a -ha!e in 1?**. BaFF es&e(iall$ 'oogie woogie was
a strong inJuen(e on hi! along with the rh$th! L 'lues &iano st$le o" Pro"essor
2onghair and the Du!& 'and st$le o" tru!&eters Da3e Bartholo!ew's ense!'le. Their
Aew ;rleans sound was also widel$ ad!ired and i!itated a!ong !usi(ians li#e little
,i(hard. )&81?)
7.) El3is Presle$ Budd$ @oll$. )&. 881%88.)
1 El3is Presle$'s earl$ (areer with inde&endent la'el -un ,e(ords was 'rieJ$ (onsidered
in the &re3ious dis(ussion o" K/$ster$ TrainK. This !ainstrea! la'el set a'out
(ons(iousl$ tr$ing to turn the hill'ill$ (at into a !ainstrea! &er"or!er without
(o!&ro!ising the strength o" his a&&eal to teenagers. Presle$>s 'iggest @it KDon't Be
CruelK to&&ed the (harts "or ele3en wee#s in the late su!!er and "all o" 1?*7
e3entuall$ $ielding &ride o" &la(e to another Presle$ re(ord K2o3e /e TenderK. The
strong 'a(# 'eat throughout e3o#es rh$th! L 'lues while the re&eated ele(tri( guitar
<gure at the o&ening is re!inis(ent o" rh$th!i( ideas "a3ored '$ western swing 'ands.
I!&osed on all these di3erse and intense st$listi( ele!ents is a wash o" ele(troni(
re3er' an atte!&t '$ engineers at ,C0Ps Aash3ille studios to eli!inate the distin(ti3e
sla&%'a(# e(ho sound o" Presle$'s re(ordings on -un ,e(ords. )&.888)
1 Budd$ @oll$ oOered an i!age 3irtuall$ the o&&osite o" Presle$'s intense aggressi3e
suggesti3el$ seHual stage &ersona. @ere was a (lean (ut lan#$ 'es&e(ta(led $oung
!an o'3iousl$ no'od$'s idea o" a !atinee idol 'ut one who (ertainl$ #new his wa$
around a guitar and a re(ording studio. The TeHas 'orn @oll$ 'egan his (areer with
(ountr$ !usi( 'ut soon "ell under the inJuen(e o" Presle$'s !usi(al st$le and su((ess
"or!ed a ro(# n roll 'and the Cri(#ets. @oll$'s <rst re(ord in his new st$le KThat>ll Be
the Da$ rose to Au!'er
;ne on the &o& (harts in the late 1?*7 and esta'lished his (hara(teristi( and highl$
inJuential sound. It (o!'ined the ele!ents o" (ountr$ rh$th! L 'lues and !ainstrea!
&o& with a distin(ti3e a&&roa(h and sensi'ilit$. )&. 88.)
:.) Wanda Ba(#son Banis /artin Bo1 0nn Ca!&'ell 2orrie Collins Connie =ran(is Brenda
2ee. )&.8+9%8++)
% Wanda Ba(#son is the !ost re!ar#a'le o" the &ioneering o" ro(# n roll wo!en. -he is a
!ultitalented singer instru!entalist and songwriter had alread$ a(hie3ed su((ess in
the (ountr$ !usi( <eld singing and touring @an# Tho!&son as a teenager. Ba(#son's
own ro(#a'ilit$ (areer 'egan with >>I Eotta 5now in 1?*7 a #ind o" transitional song "or
her that &resented the uniCue &airing o" 'rea#ne(# ro(#ing 3erses with a !oderatel$
&a(ed (ountr$1waltFed (horus. )&. 8+9%8+1)
1 Banis /artin was 'arel$ siHteen $ears old when ,C0 Ni(tor 'egan &ro!oting her as
literall$ Kthe "e!ale El3isK in 1?*7. @er teen%"riendl$ re(ords li#e K/$ Bo$ El3isK and
Derrin Lee
History of Popular Music
her own (o!&osition KDrugstore ,o(# n ,oll are energeti( and thoroughl$ &ro"essional
ro(# a'ilit$. )&. 8+8)
% Bo1 0nn Ca!&'ell was show(ased '$ Dis# Bo(#e$ 0lan =reed as Kthe 'londe
'o!'shellK on radio in his ro(# n roll re3ues and is his !o3ie Eo Bohnn$ Eol4 KWait a
/inute and Mou>re Dri3ing /e /ad 'oth eHhi'it strong inJuen(es o" rh$th! and 'lues
in their dri3ing 'and arrange!ents. )&. 8+8)
% 2orrie Collins &er"or!ed with e3en $ounger 'rother 2arr$ as the KCollins 5idsK duo4
their a(t 'e(a!e well #nown through tele3ision in the !id%1?*9*. In &arti(ular
K@eart'eat and K/er($K 'oth written '$ the Collins 5ids the!sel3es "eature the
intense sound o" 2orrie Collin>s solo 3oi(e 'ut neither o" those !ade the (harts. )&. 8+8%
8++)
% Connie =ran(is is the <rst wo!an who (ould 'e (alled a real re(ording star o" the ro(#
n roll era. @er string hit re(ords onl$ 'egan in 1?*: with her arri3al o" a Tin Pan 0lle$
tune "ro! 1?8+ Who>s -orr$ AowK. 0lthough =ran(is did o((asionall$ &er"or! 'ona <de
ro(#ers her o3erall out&ut is highl$ e(le(ti( and is 'est understood as that o" a
!ainstrea! &o& singer who a&&re(iated the i!&ortan(e o" a&&ealing to the new $oung
audien(e. )&. 8++)
1 Brenda 2ee 'e(a!e #nown as >>2ittle /iss D$na!iteK4 was there to <ll the 'ill with
engaging ro(# n roll songs li#e K-weet Aothin>s and ,o(#in> around the Christ!as
Tree. -he also re(orded a large &ro&ortion o" slow senti!ental lo3e songs. )&.8++)
?.) The$ were not re(ording artists 'ut the$ were alread$ writing rh$th! L 'lues songs
when the$ were teenagers. E3entuall$ the$ wrote and &rodu(ed !an$ hits "or El3is
Presle$ and the$ did the sa!e "or one o" the !ost &o&ular 3o(al grou&s o" this &eriod
the Coasters. )&. 8+.)
19.) I thin# the so(ial &oliti(al and ra(ial s(enes were "ree s&irited and !ore o" indi3iduals
with diOerent 'a(#grounds (o!ing together and learning "ro! one another. The$ i!&a(t
those s(enes '$ (reating h$&e energ$ "or teenagers as well as adults to (o!e
together and listen to ro(# n roll. I thin# ro(# and roll was re(ei3ed '$ the older
generation li#e &arents as a dis(ri!ination o" good !usi( &la$ed "or a $ounger (rowd as
a &ositi3e aQuen(e towards the (o!!unit$.
Ch. ?: Eood Ni'rations
1.) The (i3il rights !o3e!ent the Nietna! War and the assassinations o" President
Bohn =. 5enned$ and the ,e3erend /artin 2uther 5ing Br. )&. 8+7)
Derrin Lee
History of Popular Music
8.) 0 new #ind o" so(ial dan(ing de3elo&ed ins&ired '$ The Twist and a s&ate o" other
dan(e%oriented re(ords that ga3e ro(# and roll !usi( "or the <rst ti!e a new
distan(e set o" !o3e!ents and so(ial (usto!s to a((o!&an$ it. /e!'ers o" the <rst
generation to grow u& with ro(# and roll 'egan to assu!e &ositions o" sha&ing
&ower in the !usi( industr$ as writers and &rodu(ers as Tin Pan 0lle$ s$ste! was
rein3ented "or the new !usi( and its new audien(es at the Brill Building in Aew Mor#
at Eold -tar -tudio in 2os 0ngeles and at the /otown headCuarters in Detroit. 0nd
new st$listi( &ossi'ilities and (ultural (onteHts "or ro(# and roll 'egan to e!erge
out o" Cali"ornia s&read headed '$ the Bea(h Bo$s whose leader Brian Wilson
esta'lished a !odel "or !an$ to "ollow '$ 'eing an inno3ati3e &er"or!er writer and
&rodu(er o" all ti!e. )&. 8+:)
+.) The Twist is a teen1oriented ro(# and roll song using a twel3e1'ar 'lues stru(ture4
it (ele'rated a si!&le hi&1swi3eling dan(e ste& that was gaining so!e &o&ularit$
a!ong $oung 0"ri(ans 0!eri(ans '$ the 3eteran rh$th! L 'lues grou& @an# Ballard
and the /idnighters. 0!eri(an Bandstand was all a'out dan(ing: ro(# and roll
re(ords were &la$ed and the (a!era showed the teenagers in the studio dan(ing to
the!. It was the &er"e(t 3enue "or &ro!oting a new dan(e re(ord and a new dan(e
to the 'road ro(# and roll audien(e. 0!eri(an 'andstand !istoo# it "or his own
re(ord the <rst ti!e he heard it on the radio. )&.8+:% 8+?)
..) Phil -&e(tor is a songwriter1&rodu(er wor#ing 'ehind the s(enes o" ro(# and roll
rather than in its s&otlights also owning his own inde&endent la'el Philles ,e(ords.
@e had a Au!'er one re(ord as a !e!'er o" a 3o(al grou& The Tedd$ Bears who's
hit song KTo #now @i! is to 2o3e @i! was also (o!&osed and &rodu(ed '$ -&e(tor.
@e sensed where the real e!erging &ower was in this $oung !usi( 'usiness: with
&eo&le who ha3e a(tuall$ sha&ed the sounds o" the re(ords. -&e(tor a(hie3ed the
Kwall o" soundK '$ ha3ing !ulti&le instru!ents &iano guitar and so "orth dou'ling
ea(h indi3idual &art in the arrange!ent and '$ using a huge a!ount o" e(ho while
(are"ull$ (ontrolling the o3erall 'alan(e o" the re(ord so that the 3o(als were &ushed
(learl$ to the "ront. The Kwre(#ing (rew was studio !usi(ians with who! -&e(tor
wor#ed regularl$ at Eold -tar -tudios. The Brill Building is where the$ wor#ed in
(u'i(les with &ianos all &a(#ed tightl$ together turning out songs "or large nu!'ers
o" artists and la'els. )&. 8.1%8..)
*.) Berr$ Eord$'s had an un(ann$ a'ilit$ to surround hi!sel" with <rst%rate !usi(al
talent in all areas o" the re(ord1!a#ing &ro(ess and to !aintain the lo$alt$ o" his
!usi(ians "or su'stantial &eriods o" ti!e. It also wor#ed o" (ourse 'e(ause Eord$
had a shrewd head "or 'usiness as well as "or !usi( and this leads us to the se(ond
ele!ents o" his 3isionar$ &lan. Gnli#e the !usi( o" earlier 'la(#1oriented re(ord
(o!&anies /otown>s !usi( was not dire(ted &ri!aril$ at 'la(# audien(es. Eord$
una&ologeti(all$ sought to !a#e an 0"ri(an 0!eri(an &o& !usi( addressed to the
widest &ossi'le listening &u'li(. The /otown organiFation was the a'ilit$ to (reate a
'la(# !usi( ai!ed right at the (o!!er(ial !ainstrea! that so!ehow ne3er e3o#ed
the "eeling or &ro3o#ed the (harge o" ha3ing sold out. @e started his (areer as a
songwriter and (o1wrote a nu!'er o" &o& and rh$th! L 'lues hits &er"or!ed '$
Ba(#ie Wilson in the late 1?*9s. /otown had a sterling house 'and the =un#
Brothers in e3er$ sense a !at(h "or Phil -e(tor>s Wre(#ing
Crew in assuring that the highest le3el o" instru!ental !usi(ianshi& was alwa$s
&resent to 'a(# u& and ins&ire 3o(al &er"or!ers. )&. 8.7%8.:)
7.) Brian Wilson "or!ed the Bea(h Bo$s with his two 'rothers a (ousin and a "riend in
@awthorne Cali"ornia in 1?71. Wilson's (lear and stated !odel was Phil -e(tor and
Wilson wor#ed regularl$ in the 2os 0ngeles re(ording studios with !an$ o" the sa!e
!usi(ians who gra(ed -&e(torPs &rodu(tions. Gnli#e -&e(tor howe3er Wilson was
an alwa$s an essential &er"or!ing &resen(e on the re(ords he wrote arranged and
&rodu(ed "or the Bea(h Bo$s. =irst that Wilson eH&li(itl$ a(#nowledged his relian(e
on and re3eren(e "or his &rede(essors in the ro(# and roll <eld '$ (on3erting and
Cuoting "ro! their re(ords. -e(ond Wilson (ar3ed out distin(ti3e new ground '$
deli'eratel$ !o3ing the l$ri(s and e3entuall$ the !usi( o" his own songs 'e$ond
Derrin Lee
History of Popular Music
the territor$ (ar3ed out '$ his &rede(essors into no3el areas that were o" &arti(ular
!eaning to hi! to his ti!e and to his &la(e o" 0!eri(a. The "our hits written '$
Wilson are K-ur<n -a"ari K-ur"er Eirl The War!th o" the -un KCali"ornia Eirls.
)P.8*1%8*+)
7.) The$ KhitK in 0!eri(a onl$ when a !aDor la'el Ca&itol the 0!eri(an la'el oR(iall$
lin#ed to the
Beatles> British la'el E/I laun(hed a !aDor &ro!otional (a!&aign 'ehind the <rst
Beatles single the$ (hose to release here KI Want to @old Mour @and and its
a((o!&an$ing al'u! /eet the
Beatles. ;ne i!!ediate result o" the Beatles> &o&ularit$ in 0!eri(a was to unleash a
Jood o" re(ordings '$ British 'ands on the 0!eri(an !ar#et an astoundingl$ large
nu!'er o" whi(h were su((ess"ul. 0nother i!!ediate result was the "or!ation or
ada&tation o" 0!eri(an grou&s to !i!i( distin(ti3e as&e(ts o" KBritishK st$le
in(luding "ashion. The$ started out as a &er"or!ing 'and !odeled on Budd$ @oll$'s
grou& the Cri(#ets4 a"ter so!e initial shi"ts in &ersonnel Bohn 2ennon and Eeorge
@arrison the lead and rh$th! guitarists and 3o(als Paul /(Cartne$ 'ass and
3o(als ,ingo -tarr dru!s and o((asional 3o(als. Eeorge /artin was (alled the <"th
'lade in a(#nowledge!ent o" his in(reasingl$ essential role in the re(ording studio in
the later 1?79* as the Beatles (a!e to atte!&t !ore and !ore so&histi(ated
arrange!ents and ele(troni( engineering eOe(ts on their re(ordings. )P.8**%8*?)
:.) While the other Bea(h Bo$s were out on tour Brian Wilson was &re&aring his
res&onse and (hallenging the Beatles whose late 1?7* al'u! ,u''er -oul had
&arti(ularl$ ins&ired hi! in the "or! o" an ela'oratel$ &rodu(ed and stri#ingl$
un(on3entional al'u! (alled Pet -ounds. Pet -ounds was a !odest seller (o!&ared
to so!e other Bea(h Bo$s al'u!s 'ut it had an enor!ous i!&a(t on !usi(ians who
heard it. Wilson "urthered his eH&eri!entations with the late 1?77 single KEood
Ni'rationsK whi(h rea(hed Au!'er ;ne on the (harts and has re!ained &ro'a'l$
the Bea(h Bo$s !ost "a!ous song. )&.87.%87*)
?.) ,a$ Barretto was a Aew Mor#1'orn ! !usi(ian and 'andleader o" Puerto ,i(an
des(ent who had &la$ed (onga in a nu!'er o" leading !a!'o hands during the
1?*9s.Barretto>s 3ersion o" KEl WatusiK "eatured this instru!entation o" the
(haranga whi(h was 3iolins re&eating a !ontuno &attern and the solo Jute
i!&ro3ising throughout. Boao Eil'erto was (redited the 'ossa no3a.
@er' 0l'ert is a 2os 0ngeles tru!&et &la$er and songwriter and his 'usiness &artner
Berr$ /oss "ounded an inde&endent la'el (alled 0L/ ,e(ords. 0s it turned out the
(o!&an$'s 'iggest hit was the single The 2onel$ Bull and KCasino ,o$aleK. )&. 87:%
871)
19.) There aren't an$ si!ilarities I hear 'etween KEl WatusiK Chega de -audade
and K0 Taste o" @one$K. But there is a si!ilarit$ 'etween KChega de -audadeK and 0
Taste o" @one$K is the use o" do!inant (hords to show eH&ression and the guitar to
&la$ the (hords. The diOeren(e 'etween KEl WatusiK KChega de -audadeK and K0
Taste o" @one$K is that KEl WatusiK starts oO with a &iano the!e and goes in to a
'ossa no3a dan(e tune throughout. KChega de -a udade sounds !ore o" a 'allad
with Dust the guitar &la$ing the (hords showing eH&ression and a 2atin 3o(alist
singing. K0 Taste o" @one$ has a three "our rh$th! that is 'eing eH&ress with !inor
(hords in the 'eginning.
Ch. 1+: The 1?:9*: Digital Te(hnolog$ /TN and the Po&ular /ainstrea!
1.) Pro<ts "ro! the sale o" re(orded !usi( hit ro(# 'otto! in 1?:8 )S..7 'illion)
down hal" a 'illion dollars "ro! the &ea# $ear o" 1?7: )S*.1 'illion). The onset o" a
national re(ession 'rought on '$ the laisseF1"aire e(ono!i( &oli(ies o" the ,eagan
ad!inistration (o!&letion "ro! new "or!s o" entertain!ent in(luding ho!e 3ideo
(a'le tele3ision and 3ideo ga!es4 the de(line o" dis(o whi(h had dri3en the ra&id
eH&ansion o" the re(ord 'usiness in the late 1?79s4 and an in(rease in illegal (o&$ing
o" (o!!er(ial re(ordings '$ (onsu!ers with (assette ta&e de(#s. )&.+::1+:?)
Derrin Lee
History of Popular Music
8.) The <rst (o!&a(t dis#s went on sale in 1?:+ and '$ 1?:: sales o" CD*
sur&assed those o" 3in$l dis(s "or the <rst ti!e. 0lthough CD* (ost a'out the sa!e
as 3in$l 2Ps to !anu"a(ture the de!and "or the new !ediu! allowed re(ord
(o!&anies to generate higher &ro<ts '$ &ri(ing the! at thirteen dollars or !ore
rather than the eight or nine dollars (harged "or 2Ps. )&.+:?)
+.) /TN was laun(hed in 1?:1. /TN (hanged the wa$ the industr$ o&erated ra&idl$
'e(o!ing the &re"erred !ethod "or laun(hing a new a(t or &ro!oting the latest
release o" a !aDor su&erstar. /TN>s relentless "o(us on white ro(# artists re!inded
!an$ (riti(s o" the eH(lusionar$ &ra(ti(es o" al'u!%oriented ro(# radio in the 1?79*.
The !a!!oth su((ess o" /i(hael Ba(#son's Thriller released '$ Colu!'ia ,e(ords in
1?:8 "or(ed a (hange in /TN>s essentiall$ all1white ro(# !usi( "or!at. Colu!'ia
,e(ords threaten to 'an its white ro(# grou&s "ro! &er"or!ing on /TN the (hannel
relented &utting Ba(#son's 3ideos into hea3$ rotation. )&. +:?%+?9)
..) B$ 1??9 siH (or&orations (olle(ti3el$ (ontrolled o3er two%thirds o" glo'al sales o"
re(orded !usi(: The Dut(h Pol$gra! (onglo!erate4 the Ba&anese (or&orations -on$
and /atsushita4 The British <r! Thorn4 The Eer!an Bertels!ann (onglo!erate4 and
Ti!e1Warner the onl$ 0!eri(an 'ased (or&oration in the list. Countr$ /usi(
(ontinued its siH1de(ade Dourne$ "ro! the !argins to the (enter o" &o&ular taste
'e(o!ing the 'estselling genre o" !usi( in the Gnited -tates with ro(# and &o&
inJuen(ed (ountr$ su&erstars su(h as Earth Broo#s Clint Bla(# et(. ,o(# /usi(
shattered into a hundred s&e(ialiFed genres and su'genres so!e with huge
audien(es and others su&&orted '$ s!aller 'ut de3oted grou&s o" "ans. ,a& /usi(
had '$ the late 1?:9s grown into a !ulti!illion dollar 'usiness. )&. +?9%+?1)
*.) Digital Ta&e re(orders trans"or!s the energ$ to sound wa3es into &h$si(al
i!&rints or in to ele(troni( wa3e"or!s that (losel$ "ollow the sha&e o" the sound
wa3es the!sel3es. -$nthesiFers are sound generated ele(troni( os(illators to
&rodu(e sound and its &it(h was (ontrolled '$ the &la$er's wa3ing his or her hands
in "ront o" two antennae. @a!!ond ;rgan is a Jat ri(h sound is "reCuentl$ sa!&led
in (onte!&orar$ &o&ular !usi(. The analog1to1digital (on3erter &la$s 'a(# a
strea! o" nu!'ers and is (on3erted 'a(# into analog or the s&ea#ers. Dru!
/a(hines rel$ on dru! &ads that (an 'e stru(# and a(ti3ated '$ the &er"or!er
whi(h a(t as a trigger "or the &rodu(tion o" sa!&led sounds. The /IDI allowed
s$nthesiFers 'uilt '$ diOerent !anu"a(turers to 'e (onne(ted with and (o!!uni(ate
with one another. The legal dile!!as are (onne(ted with the wides&read use o"
digital sa!&ling is the 0!eri(an intelle(tual &ro&ert$ has !ade it diR(ult to (lai!
ownershi& o" a groo3e st$le or sound &re(isel$ those things that are !ost
distin(ti3e a'out &o&ular !usi(. )&. +?8%+?+)
7.) The thriller de!onstrated a #ind o" a(ross1the1'oard a&&eal that esta'lished
new and still undu&li(ated heights o" (o!!er(ial su((ess. Ba(#son (on"ronted the
ra(ial di3ide head%on '$ (olla'orating with two 3er$ &o&ular and 3er$ diOerent
while artists: eH%Beatle Paul /(Cartne$ Dointed Ba(#son "or a l$ri(al 3o(al duet on
KThe Eirl is /ineK and Eddie Nan @alen o" the hea3$ !etal grou& (ontri'uted the
stinging guitar on KBeat It. Thriller (onsists o" u&%te!&o s$nthesiFer and 'ass1
dri3en dan(ea'le !usi( that o((u&$ a !iddle ground 'etween the hea3$ "un# o" an
artist li#e Eeorge Clinton and the 'righter 'ut still 'eat%o'sessed that (hara(teriFes
!an$ new wa3e 'ands. In /a$ 1?:+ Ba(#son a&&eared on the tele3ision s&e(ial 8*
$ears o" /otown and introdu(ed that (a!e #nown as his !oonwal# dan(e while
&er"or!ing KBillie BeanK "ro! Thriller. It sold o3er two !illion (o&ies ea(h as singles.
)&. .91%.9*)
7.) Bru(e -&ringsteen>s songs reJe(ted his wor#ing1(Tass origins and s$!&athies
relating the stories o" still $oung 'ut aging !en and wo!en with dead1end Do' who
are loo#ing "or ro!an(e and eH(ite!ent in the "a(e o" re&eated disa&&oint!ents and
see#ing !eaning"ul outlets "or their seething energies and ho&es that 0!eri(a that
see!s to ha3e no &ie(es o" the 0!eri(an drea! le"t to oOer the!. KBorn in the
G.-.0.K tells the stor$ o" a returning Nietna! 3eteran una'le to get a Do' or to re'uild
his li"e and its des&airing !essage is (hara(teristi( o" !ost o" the songs
Derrin Lee
History of Popular Music
on the al'u!. It's a (on(e&t al'u! 'e(ause o" a series o" !usi(al sna&shots o"
wor#ing1(lass 0!eri(ans all o" who! see! to 'e so!ewhere around -&ringsteen>s
age. The al'u! sold o3er <"teen !illion (o&ies as we ha3e alread$ noted and
sta$ed on the al'u! (harts "or o3er two $ears. )&. .9*%.97)
:.) Paul -i!on re(ei3ed so!e (riti(is! "or re(ording Era(eland in -outh 0"ri(a
'e(ause o" the "o(us o" &oliti(al attention on "ans s#e&ti(s and with relu(tan(e its
(reator. In -outh 0"ri(a at that ti!e a Gnited Aations 'o$(ott on &er"or!ing and
re(ording in -outh 0"ri(a was in eOe(t as &art o" an international atte!&t to isolate
and ostra(iFe the go3ern!ent o" that (ountr$ whi(h was still en"or(ing the widel$
des&ised &oli($ o" a&artheid. Era(eland was trul$ a glo'al al'u! 'e(ause it was
re(orded in <3e diOerent lo(ations on three diOerent (ontinents. What ulti!atel$
distinguishes Era(eland "ro! other "ora$s into world !usi( is the eHtent to whi(h the
al'u! eH&lores the (on(e&t o" (olla'oration. Two eHa!&les o" (olla'oration "or
Era(eland was run a ga!ut "ro! K@o!elessK in whi(h 'oth the words and the !usi(
were (o1written '$ -i!on and Bose&h -ha'alala o" 2ad$s!ith Bla(# /a!'aFo and
to (ut li#e KI 5now What I 5nowK in whi(h -i!on added his own l$ri(s and 3o(al
!elod$ to &reeHisting !usi( '$ Eeneral /.D. -hirinda and the EaFa -ingers. )&. .9:%
.9?)
?.) /adonna and Prin(e had in (o!!on 'een 'oth are seT"1(ons(ious authors o"
their own (ele'rit$ (reators o" !ulti&le artisti( alter egos. /adonna's /odus
;&erandi is the a'ilit$ to enlist a (olla'orati3e networ# o" talented &ro"essionals
in(luding &rodu(ers re(ording engineers designers and 3ideogra&hers. @er 3ideos
in(luded i!ages o" grou& and interra(ial seH 'urning (rosses and an eroti(iFed
'la(# Besus. )&. .18%.1*)
19.) While the do!inant i!&ression o" Prin(e's !usi(al a&&roa(h is that o" a
thoroughgoing o&en%!indedness he has also "ro! the 3er$ 'eginning o" his (areer
sought to eH(er&t tight (ontrol o3er his !usi( it's !ar#eting and its distri'ution.
Prin(e's !ore re(ent return to the (harts had 'een nothing less than astonishing.
Beginning in 899. he released a trio o" al'u!s1/usi(olog$ +181 and Planet Earth
that resurre(ted the 'lend o" "un#$ Da!s sensuous groo3es and hard ro(# guitar
that had initiall$ laun(hed his (areer reesta'lishing his &la(e at the to& o" the
(harts. The (hara(ter o" the 5id%talented sel"1a'sor'ed o'sessed with eHerting
(ontrol o3er his (areer trou'led '$ "a!il$ (onJi(ts and an ina'ilit$ to sustain
inti!ate relationshi&s see!s (onstant with the a((ounts oOered '$ Prin(e's "a!il$
and &ro"essional asso(iates. The single o" KWhen Do3es Cr$K was released a "ew
wee#s 'e"ore Pur&le ,ain a&&eared in theatres and hel&ed to 'oost the <l!'s
&o&ularit$ whi(h in turn hel&ed se3eral other songs on the soundtra(# to rea(h the
To& .9. )&. .17%.81)
Ch: 1.: -!elTs 2i#e Teen -&irit: @i&1@o& 0lternati3eK /usi( and the
Entertain!ent Business
)-e(ond Edition)
1.) =i3e o" the 'est%selling al'u!s o" the 1??9* "eatured an eHtraordinar$ 3ariet$ o" artists4
/ariah Care$'s e&on$!ous de'ut al'u! )1??1) The -ign '$ the -wedish Euro dis(o
grou& 0(e o" Base )1??.) The southern 'lues ro(# al'u! Cra(#ed ,ear Niew '$ @ottie
and the Blow<sh )1??*) 0lanis /orissette>s angst%ridden Bagged 2ittle Pill whi(h also the
'est%selling al'u! o" the de(ade )1??7) and -&i(e '$ teen$'o&&er girl idols #nown as
the -&i(e Eirls )1??7). )&. .81)
% /ariah Care$'s a&&roa(h to her !usi( has alwa$s re!ained as an ,LB artist4
re!ar#a'le high1&it(hed 3oi(e has also 'een use"ul when she tried to (ross o3er to
other genres4 li#e
Po& and @i&1@o&.
8.) The two !ulti&latinu! ra& al'u!s are ,aising @ell '$ ,un%D./.C. and 2i(ensed to Ill '$
Derrin Lee
History of Popular Music
the Beatside Bo$s. Both o" these al'u!s were released on a new inde&endent la'el (alled
De"Da!. The la'el was (o"ounded in 1?:. '$ the hi&1ho& &ro!oter ,ussell -i!!ons and
the !usi(ian% &rodu(er ,i(# ,u'in. During the 1?:9* De" Ba! too# u& where sugar hill le"t
oO (ross1&ro!oting a new generation o" artists eH&anding and di3ersi"$ing the national
audien(e "or hi&1ho& and in 1?:7 'e(o!ing the <rst ra&%oriented inde&endent la'el to
sign a distri'ution deal with one o"the KBig =i3e re(ord (o!&anies Colu!'ia ,e(ords.
,un%D./.C. is a trio (onsisting o" Bose&h -i!!ons Darr$l /(Daniels and DB Ba! /asterBa$.
The$ were (oTIege1edu(ated 'la(# !en raised in a !iddle (lass neigh'orhood in the
'orough o" Uueens. Wor#ing with ,ussell -i!!ons and &rodu(er ,i(# ,u'in the$
esta'lished a hard1edged ro(#1inJuen(ed st$le that was to inJuen(e &ro"oundl$ the
sound and sensi'ilit$ o" later ra& !usi(. The Beastie Bo$s were the <rst (o!!er(iall$
su((ess"ul white a(t in hi&1ho&. Their re(ordings were &rodu(ed '$ ,i(# ,u'in and
'ene<ted greatl$ "ro! the distri'ution deal signed '$ ,ussell -i!!ons with industr$
giant Colu!'ia ,e(ords. The$ re(ei3ed a great deal o" (riti(is! "or ri&&ing oO a 'la(#
st$le it is &erha&s !ore a((urate to suggest that their earl$ re(ordings re&resent a "usion
o" the $outh% oriented re'ellious o" hard(ore &un#1ro(# with the sensi'ilit$ and
te(hniCues o" hi&%ho&. )&..88%.8*)
+.) The "our !illion%selling singles had &ro3en ra&>s (o!!er(ial &otential on the &o& and
,LB (harts are ra& 'allads o" 2.2. Cool B's KI Aeed 2o3e -alt1A1Pe&a's KPush lt Tone1
2o(>s KWild ThingK and Parents Bust Don't GnderstandK '$ D.B. BaFF$ BeO and the =resh
Prin(e. The three e3ents that ha&&ened were the laun(hing o" /TN's <rst show was
dedi(ated entirel$ to hi&%ho& !usi( Mo /TN ,a&sK i!!ediatel$ attra(ted the largest
audien(e in the networ#'s histor$ and was soon 'eing 'road(ast on a dail$ 'asis and the
!ass &o&ularit$ o" ra& was also reJe(ted in the a&&earan(e o" KThe -our(eK solel$ to hi&%
ho& and "ashion. )&. .8*)
..) KPlease @a!!er Don't @urt PE!K sold o3er ten !illion (o&ies. @a!!er>s (ele'rit$ was
'oosted '$ !usi( 3ideos that highlighted his i!&ressi3e a'ilities as a dan(er his
a&&earan(es in (or&orate so"t drin# ad3ertise!ents and e3en '$ a short%li3ed (hild ren's
(artoon show (alled
@a!!er!an. 0t the height o" his &o&ularit$ @a!!er was atta(#ed '$ !an$ in the
hi&%ho& (o!!unit$ "or his la(# o" s#ill as a ra&&er and "or &andering to a !ass
audien(e. Nanilla l(e>s <rst al'u! KTo the EHtre!e !ono&oliFed the Au!'er ;ne
&osition "or siHteen wee#s in earl$ 1??1 selling se3en !illion (o&ies. Though it was
undenia'le that ra(e was also a "a(tor in the reDe(tion o" Nanilla I(e "or he was
widel$ regarded as 'eing !erel$ the latest in a long line o" untalented white artists
see#ing to !a#e a li3ing oO the "ruits o" 'la(# (reati3it$. )&. .8?)
*.) The sound o" Pnew s(hoolK West (oast ra& diOered "ro! Kold s(hoolK Aew Mor# hi&%ho& was
the diale(ts o" southern Cali"ornia ra&&ers !an$ o" the! the oOs&ring o" !igrants "ro!
2ouisiana and TeHas also (ontri'uted to the distin(ti3e Ja3or o" West Coast ra&. 0nd i"
the 3er'al deli3er$ o" West Coast ra& was so!eti!es (ooler the (ontent o" the /Cs
re(itations the!sel3es 'e(a!e angrier dar#er and !ore !ena(ing the so(ial
(o!!it!ent o" Pu'li( Ene!$ su&&lanted '$ the outlaw swagger o" artists su(h as I(e%T.
The e!ergen(e o" West Coast ra& was heralded nationwide '$ the release o" the al'u!
K-traight ;utta Co!&ton '$ A.W.0. KAiggaF with 0ttitude. The nu(leus o" the grou& was
"or!ed in 1?:7 when ;>-hea KI(e Cu'eK Ba(#son !et 0ndre KDr.Dre Moung an a!'ition
that was realiFed when the$ tea!ed u& with Eri( KEas$1E Wright. The 0l'u!>s attitude
sound and sensi'ilit$ was (learl$ inde'ted to earlier hi&%ho& re(ordings1&arti(ularl$
Pu'li( Ene!$'s KIt Ta#es a Aation o" /illions to @old Gs Ba(#K was also the idea o"
esta'lishing a distin(ti3e West Coast identit$ within hi&%ho& was (learl$ in their !inds
using sounds o" an auto!ated wea&on <re and &oli(e sirens with sa!&les "ro! "un#
!asters su(h as Eeorge Clinton and Ba!es Brown a 'oun($ dru! !a(hine% generated
dan(e groo3e (alled new Da(# swing and high%&it(hed thin%sounding s$nthesiFer lines.
)&. .+9)
7.) B$ the !id 1??9>s the (onJation o" gangster rhetori( and realit$ at least te!&orar$
'oosted the sales o" ra& re(ordings it also had terri'le reaT1Ti"e (onseCuen(es as the
!atriH o" (onJi(t 'etween &osses one sour(e o" the (reati3e energ$ that ga3e 'irth to
Derrin Lee
History of Popular Music
hi&%ho& in the 1?79*. )&..+.)
7.) ;ne de<nition is alternati3e !usi( ste!s &artl$ "ro! the use o" this ter! to ad3an(e two
diOerent and o"ten (onJi(ting agendas. ;n the other hand alternati3e !usi( is li#e the
'roadl$ eCui3alent ter!s Kunderground and Kinde&endentK that is used to des(ri'e
!usi( that (hallenges that status Cuo4 whi(h is o"ten i(ono(lasti( anti1(o!!er(ialT and
anti1!ainstrea! that is o&&osed to arti<(ial. 0nother wa$ to des(ri'e alternati3e !usi(
is the !usi( industr$'s use to denote the (hoi(es a3aila'le to (onsu!ers 3ia re(ord
stores radio (a'le tele3ision and the Internet. )&. ..9)
:.) KIndie ro(#K or Kinde&endent ro(# 'u''led u& in (ities and towns a(ross the Gnited
-tates. -trong underground ro(# s(enes de3elo&ed in towns su(h as Boston
/assa(husetts4 0thens Eeorgia4 0nn 0r'or /i(higan4 /innea&olis /innesota4 0ustin
TeHas4 -an =ran(is(o Cali"ornia4 and -eattle Washington. /an$ o" these (ountries are
ho!e to large &o&ulations o" (ollege students and to student1&rogra!!ed (ollege radio
stations 'oth #e$ ingredients "or a regional underground s(ene. Bands su(h as -oni(
Mouth ,.E./. the Dead 5enned$s and Air3ana (a!e to s$!'oliFe the essen(e o" indie
ro(# with lo(al ant (o!!er(ial guitar1'ased !usi( 'lending the a'rasi3e do%it%$oursel"
sensi'ilit$ o" the 1?79* &un# with the thi(# hea3$ soni( teHtures o" hea3$ !etal. The$
!aintained a de<ant stan(e toward the (on"or!it$ and (o!!er(ialis! o" the !usi(>s
industr$4 li#e songwriting that eH&lored ta'oo issues interest in so(ial &oliti(al
!o3e!ents su(h as en3iron!entalis! a'ortion rights and 0ID- a(ti3is!4 and identi<ed
with un(on3entional st$les o" sel"1&resentation that in(luded dressed down torn Deans
Jannel shirts et(. )&. ..1)
?.) The !ost inJuential indie ro(# 'ands o" the 1?:9* were ,.E./. and Aew Mor#'s -oni(
Mouth. ,.E./.>s reinter&retation%o" the &un# aestheti( in(or&orated as&e(ts o" "ol# ro(#%
&arti(ularl$ a ringing a(ousti( guitar sound re!inis(ent o" the 1?79s grou&s the B$rds.
Touring (onstantl$ and releasing a series o" (riti(all$ a((lai!ed and in(reasingl$
&ro<ta'le al'u!s on the inde&endent la'el I,- ,.E./. graduall$ grew "ro! its roots as a
regional (ult &heno!enon to (o!!and a large national audien(e. -oni( Mouth "or!ed in
Aew Mor# Cit$ in 1?:1 &ushed underground ro(# !usi( in a Cuite diOerent dire(tion.
InJuen(ed '$ a3ant%garde eH&eri!ental su(h as the Nel3et Gnderground -oni( Mouth
de3elo&ed a dar# !ena(ing "eed'a(#%dren(hed sound altering the tuning o" their
guitars '$ inserting s(rewdri3ers and dru!sti(#s under the strings at rando! inter3als
and ignoring the (on3entional song stru(tures o" ro(# and &o& !usi(. B$ the earl$ 1??9s
-oni( Mouth had signed with the !aDor la'el DEC and was 'eing widel$ hailed as a
&ioneer o" the alternati3e !o3e!ent in ro(#. )&. ..8)
19.) The (o!!er(ial 'rea#through "or alternati3e ro(# was a(hie3ed in 1??8 '$ Air3ana a
'and "ro! the Pa(i<( Aorthwest. Air3ana was a trio (entered on singer and guitarist 5urt
Co'ain and 'assist 5rist Ao3oseli(. The$ released two !ulti&latinu! al'u!s that !o3ed
alternati3e ro(#'s 'lend o" hard(ore &un# and hea3$ !etal out o"the 'a(# (orners o"
s&e(ialt$ re(ord stores and into the (o!!er(ial !ainstrea!. The rise o" so%(alled grunge
ro(# and the tragi( de!ise o" 5urt 5o'ain who (o!!itted sui(ide in 1??. at the age o"
twent$1se3en &ro3ided so!e insight into the o&&ortunities and the &ressures "a(ing
alternati3e ro(# !usi(ians in the earl$ 1??9s. The "ollowing $ear the$ were signed '$ the
inde&endent la'el -u' Po& ,e(ords "or!ed in 1?:7 '$ the entre&reneurs Bru(e Pa3itt
and Bonathan Pone!an. Air3ana>s de'ut al'u! Blea(h sold o3er thirt$%<3e !illion
(o&ies an i!&ressi3e a!ount "or a regional ro(# indie release. )&. ...%..*)