Study Guide for American Music MUSI 1310

Material for Exam IV

1. By the early 1970’s the rock revolution had ended, replaced by commerce and technology. The primary
purpose of rock music was no longer aimed toward social issues and rebellion; it was about making
money. The LP album had replaced the single, and rock tours were designed to promote record sales
rather than for ticket sales alone. The tours focused on sports stadiums and other large venues. As a
result, rock shows needed more volume. Rock concerts became more theatrical, featuring light shows, fog,
costumes, props, make-up, and pyrotechnics. A performers' stage persona was as important as his or her
musicality. A gold record (500,000 units sold) was not good enough; the platinum record was the new
standard (1,000,000 units sold). Disc jockeys no longer chose the music for radio programs they hosted.
2. Rock music in the early 1970’s was mainstreamed, aimed toward a wider, middle-of-the-road
audience, allowing singer/songwriters like Elton John (Reginald Dwight) to gain widespread fame with
many no.1 albums and hits like "Tiny Dancer". In the 1990’s he wrote music for Broadway shows and films.
His final tour was scheduled for Spring 2020.     
3. After breaking up the Beatles in 1970, John Lennon embarked on a solo career over the next 10 years
until his murder in 1980. He took up many political causes, but his reputation is mostly connected to the
cause of world peace, as expressed in "Imagine". Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young also voiced opposition to
war, and used their musical skills to draw particular attention to the 1971 shooting incident at Kent
State involving protesting students and the Ohio National Guard in the song "Ohio".
4a. The Who have passed the 50 year mark. Of the 4 original members 2 remain: Pete Townshend the guitarist
and main songwriter, and Roger Daltrey the vocalist. They started as a singles band in England, but progressed
to rock operas and complex album tracks. Pete Townshend used the ARP synthesizer as a 5 th band member,
adding color and playing a pre-programmed track that holds down the rhythm, allowing the band members
more freedom on "Won’t Get Fooled Again".           
4b. Led Zeppelin had a 12 year run, disbanding after the death of their drummer John Bonham in 1980, with
only brief reunions that included Bonhams’ son Jason playing drums. Their music mostly leans toward heavy
metal, blues, and folksong, but some of their songs are so different that they defy simple categorization, as
heard in "Black Dog".   
5. Stevie Wonder was a Motown artist for Berry Gordy until the age of 21. He started performing at age
10. A hospital error at birth left him blind. A singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and lyricist whose
lyrics tackle real-life issues. "Sir Duke" from 1977 , is a musical tribute to Duke Ellington, Count Basie,
Glenn Miller and Louis  Armstrong. Stevie Wonder has won the Grammy Award for album of the year 3
 times in 4 consecutive years (1974, 1975, and
1977).                                                                                                                                                                         
6. Emerson, Lake & Palmer formed in 1970, pulling members from 3 different progressive rock bands to
form a super group. Progressive rock emphasized virtuoso technique, surreal lyrics, and a mixture of
diverse styles, including heavy metal, jazz, latin, global, and classical music among others. Long musical
suites with symphonic characteristics, mysterious concepts, and lasting from 10 to 80 minutes, as in "Karn
Evil 9, 1st impression, part 2", were common among progressive bands.
7. Joni Mitchell showed at an early age  equal interest in music and painting. She has designed many of
her own album covers. As a singer-songwriter, she tends towards lyrics that are confessional, or perhaps a
form of social commentary "My Old Man". David Bowie was rock music’s greatest glam artist, using
makeup, costumes, and a nonspecific gender persona onstage to portray various colorful characters, such
as Ziggy Stardust. His chameleon-like persona is perhaps what he is alluding to in the hit song "Changes".
8. Steely Dan started out with 6 band members, then 5, and then 2. Walter Becker and Donald Fegan
finally emerged as the core of the band, with a large variety of Los Angeles studio musicians rotating in and
out as needed. The duo of Becker and Fegan cover the songwriting, vocals, keyboards and bass. Steely Dan
have won 4 Grammy awards for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. "Peg" gives us a good example of
this slick, jazzy pop sound, about a film star on the rise from the viewpoint of someone who knew her
before she hit the Big-Time.
9. Funk seems to be an extension of the soul music of James Brown. Sly and the Family Stone, led by Sly
Stone (Sylvester Stewart) transformed soul into a more integrated style, with men and women of many
races working together. "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" is a song built out of several layers of
riffs over a single chord throughout the entire song. The groove has a hypnotic, party-like sound, yet the
lyrics lean toward a social, political message.  Earth, Wind, and Fire (led by Maurice White) took funk into a
more pop-oriented direction. With as many as 14 musicians onstage, and lyrics that expressed a positive
outlook, they produced their 1st no.1 hit in 1975, "Shining Star".
10. Reggae emerged around 1970 from the Caribbean island of Jamaica. The people of Jamaica are mostly
of African descent, and most trace their roots back to slavery. Because Jamaica is only 500 miles from
Miami, a lot of rhythm and blues music found its way to the island in the 1950’s, and was mixed together
with the local sounds. Bob Marley has given the reggae sound the most exposure, and he used his
popularity to work for change in Jamaican society. "Is This Love", on the other hand, is about love rather
than politics, but we can still hear the ka-chun-ka, rhythm pattern that is the heart of reggae music. The
reggae sound has influenced many US and British bands, such as The Clash and The Police.
11. Disco music emerged in 1975 from New York City dance clubs like Studio 54. A musical style that
features a strong, steady, 4-on-the-floor beat, electronic and acoustic sounds, and a heavily produced, slick
sound.   Donna Summer  becomes the Queen of Disco.   "I Feel Love" is built around Donna Summer’s
voice and an array of synthesized sounds pulsing out 4, 8, and 16 count rhythms.
12. Punk and New Wave also emerged from New York City in 1975. These new styles sought to recapture
the revolutionary fervor and simplicity of early rock music. Mr. Epp and the Calculations (named after a
math teacher at the band members' local high school) were a 1- hit- wonder punk band. They give us a
satirical look at the chaotic mindset of the average punk fan in "Mohawk Man". Talking Heads (led by
David Byrne) combine New Wave with a disco beat in "Burning Down the House", a sound that was made
popular at the club CBGB in New York City.
13. Tropical Latin music derives from Salsa, but with a broader appeal. Gloria Estefans’ family fled from
Cuba to Miami following the Cuban revolution in 1959. She joined Emilio Estefan’s band Miami Sound
Machine in 1975, and eventually married him.  Most of her recorded music is in English, but her Spanish-
language recordings like "Abriendo Puertas" epitomize the Tropical Latin sound.
14. Country music in the rock era usually has a story-telling lyric in common language, with an understated
band accompaniment.  The Eagles formed in 1971, mostly from singer Linda Ronstadt’s backup band. Their
1st single "Take It Easy" seems to define country rock. The band is a typical rock style format, plus banjo.
The vocals feature close harmony. The Lyrics: angry women, trucks, and small towns.  Willie Nelson has
lived in Houston and Austin. He has many credentials: musician, singer, songwriter, author, poet actor, and
activist for biofuels and marijuana. Has a hippy/redneck/outlaw persona. In 1990 the IRS claimed Willie
Nelson owed $32 million in back taxes. He managed to pay it back. The Grammy winning song "On the
Road Again" was written for the movie Honeysuckle Rose, and features a train-like beat.  George Strait,
from San Antonio, Texas represents a “new traditionalist” approach to country music. His songs, like "Ace
in the Hole" are a step toward the roots of country music, away from the pop/rock sound. In a mix of
traditional and modern styles, the Dixie Chicks (from Dallas) recorded "Landslide" in 2002, (written by
Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac) that represents contemporary country music, with close harmony and
Bluegrass instruments.  Taylor Swift recorded her 1st album at 16. She was a star before graduating from
high school. Her album Fearless was the best selling album of 2009, and includes "You Belong With Me". A
fusion of country pop sounds.  Gretchen Wilson scored a no.1 hit on the charts in 2003 and won a Grammy
for her song "Redneck Woman" but the overall effect seems more like a parody of a country song. She is a
political activist for Republican Party causes.

1. ROCK IN THE EARLY 1970’s:

Elton John*   “Tiny Dancer” (6:16)
John Lennon*   “Imagine” (3:54)
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young*   “Ohio” (3:01)
The Who*   “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (9:10)
Led Zeppelin*   “Black Dog” (4:56)
Stevie Wonder*   “Sir Duke” (4:00)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer*   “Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression, part 2 (4:49)
 
2. GENDER, ART, AND BOUNDARIES OF ROCK:
Joni Mitchell*   “My Old Man” (3:36)
David Bowie*   “Changes” (3:38)
 
3. FUNK:
Steely Dan*   “Peg” (3:54)
Sly and the Family Stone*   “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (4:52)
Earth, Wind & Fire*   “Shining Star” (2:52)
 
4. REGGAE: Bob Marley*   “Is This Love” (3:54)
 
5. DISCO: Donna Summer*   “I Feel Love” (5:52)
 
6. PUNK AND NEW WAVE:
Mr. Epp and the Calculations*   “Mohawk Man” (2:55)
Talking Heads*   “Burning Down the House” (4:13)
 
7. TROPICAL LATIN MUSIC: Gloria Estefan*   “Abriendo Puertas” (3:55)
 
8. COUNTRY MUSIC IN THE ROCK ERA:
The Eagles*   “Take It Easy” (3:32)
Willie Nelson*   “On the Road Again” (3:07)
George Strait*   “Ace in the Hole” (2:40)
Dixie Chicks*   “Landslide” (3:46)
Taylor Swift*   “You Belong With Me” (3:49)
Gretchen Wilson*   “Redneck Woman” (3:33)

Many of these term will appear on Exam IV.

 
1.  progressive rock: an early 1970's rock style that focused on highly technical musicianship, philosophical or
fantasy lyrics, and concept albums with elaborate covers and inserts.              [Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression, part
2]
2.  funk: an R&B style that developed in the 1970's, characterized by dense textures and complex rhythms.
[Shining Star]
3. reggae: the most widely known Jamaican popular music, it has a distinctive, intoxicating rhythm. [Is This
Love]
4.  disco: a dance music that rose to popularity in the midseventies, featuring a relentless beat, a complex
rhythmic texture and rich orchestration. [I Feel Love]
5.  Studio 54: iconic nightclub in New York City located on 54th Street that becomes the center of the disco
craze in the 1970's. 
6.  punk:  a rough-edged rock style that emerged in the late 1970's characterized musically by relatively simple
instrumentation, rhythms, and production. [Mohawk Man]
7.  new wave: the "back to basics" movement within rock beginning in the late 1970's, featuring simplified
instrumentation and basic chords and melody. [Burning Down the House]
8.  tropical latin: a kind of music distinguished by a large number of percusive instruments and a clave-like
rhythm. [Abriendo Puertas]