ROCK STYLES OF THE 1970’S TO THE 80’S

NEW STYLES OF ROCK

• Jazz Rock ---- also called Fusion• Art Rock ---- Transitioned into Progressive Rock

NEW STYLES• Heavy Metal - Transitioning from British Rock• Disco – Transitioning from Soul, Funk, Motown and

leading to the formation of Rap and Hip-Hop

JAZZ ROCK

• Both Jazz & Rock come from similar origins• 12 Bar Blues, Rhythms, and Unschooled Musicians

• Typical Jazz musician resented Rock for 2 Reasons:• 1.) Musical

• Jazz was more complex and looked down on the simplification of Rock.

• 2.) Financial• Rock Musicians made more money

BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS

• Originated in NYC in 1967

• Noted for their combination of brass and rock band instrumentation• Incorporated songs by : James Taylor, Rolling

Stones, Billie Holiday, and Erik Satie

• Musical Style:• Merged Rock, Pop, R&B/Soul Music with Big Band• Added elements of 20th Century and Jazz

CHICAGO

• Formed in Chicago, IL• Self-described as a “Rock and Roll Band with Horns”

• Experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, generating several hit ballads• 2nd only to the Beach Boys in Billboard Singles – one

of the longest-running, most successful rock groups.• Best-Selling groups of all time – 100 million records

JAZZ ROCK & FUSION

• Tower of Power(1974) – Tower of Power• “What is Hip” -

• Blow by Blow (1975) – Jeff Beck• “Thelonius”

• Aja (1977) – Steely Dan• “Aja” - _o

ART ROCK

• Art Rock is sub-genre of rock that makes use of modernist, experimental, and unconventional elements.

• Art Rock sought to elevate rock from teen entertainment to an artistic element.

6 APPROACHES TO COMBINING CLASSICAL AND ROCK ELEMENTS

1. Quoting Classical music excerpts in the midst of a Rock Song

2. Using a Classical music Melody as the Basis of a Rock Song

3. Create a Series of Rock Songs conceived as units in a larger form. – Suites, Song Cycles

4. Adapting a full Classical work into a Rock-Style Performance – Form, Chords, Melodies

5. Creating a work for Rock group and Classical Ensemble6. Using the musical language of Rock to create an

extended work modeled after a Classical Form

• – The Moody Blues• “In Search of The Lost Chord” (1968)• “A Question of Balance” – (1970)

• “Smoke On The Water” – Deep Purple

• Rock Opera – Works that included Acting, Costuming, and Scenery (6)• “Jesus Christ Superstar” – Andrew Lloyd Weber

ART ROCK INTO PROGRESSIVE ROCK

• Pink Floyd• The Dark Side of The Moon (1973)• “Money” -• Close ties to the Psychedelic Rock Trend• Synchronicity with “Wizard of Oz”

• The Wall (1979)• -Elaborate Set, Including a 30 foot Wall (toppled before the end

of each show)• -Extra Singers & Instrumentalists• Concept Album – abandonment and isolation

DISCO

• Dance music containing elements of soul, funk, pop, and salsa.• Continued the drug sub-culture of the Psychedelic

Rock scene but added a sense of high fashion –celebrities, exclusive clubs – Studio 54

• The Bee Gees• Stayin’ Alive

70’S MAINSTREAM ROCK

• Decade of Non-Direction• Beatles Disbanding• The Three J’s – Death’s• Altamont Festival

• Society Fragmented into hundreds of Self-Interest Groups. “Me-Decade”• TV expanded into over 40 channels• Radio discovered Formatting – Segregation of Music

• Included both American & British Influences

TWO SIDES OF BRITISH MAINSTREAM

HARDER SIDE• Cream (Eric Clapton)• Diraeli Gears (1967)• “Sunshine of Your Love”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt51rITH3EA

• Rod Stewart• Gasoline Alley (1970) -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q64aVDA-s3UStyle Fragmented into Hard Rock – Heavy Metal – Punk-Rock

SOFTER SIDE• Fleetwood Mac• “Go Your Own Way” -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ul-cZyuYq4• Elton John• “Rocket Man” -• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LX7WrHCaUA

• There was NO ONE star who equaled the success of Elvis or the Beatles

MAINSTREAM ROCK IN THE STATES

• For Each British Mainstream Fragment, There was an American Parallel.• Usually Less Hard than the British Counterpart

• Creedence Clearwater Revival• San Francisco Based Group• “Suzie Q” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mxaA-

bJ35s

• CCR’s southern sound was closer to Rockabilly and sometimes to Original Blues.• The group broke up due to a sibling rivalry between

Tom and John Fogerty.• Doobie Brothers• The Captain and Me (1973) -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8kJq4QAPxE

• Good Vocals & Harmonies• Clean Playing with Sophisticated Recording Prodution

• Steve Miller Band• Steve Miller, originally from Dallas, TX• Achieved some success during the late-1960s but it wasn’t

until the 1970s that he reach his greatest success.• “The Joker” -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzSC2__LXk4

• Steve Miller’s Style• - Blues Roots, colored by touches of Country and the Old San

Francisco sound.

• Journey• San Francisco Based• Began in the 1970’s but didn’t reach success until the 1980’s

• Journey’s Style:• Early Mainstream material was more milder.

• Open Arms: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lLmYLw0WRI• Later songs reflect a style closer to hard rock and heavy metal

• “Edge of the Blade” -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjk6HD0ZQEw

SOUTHERN ROCK

• By the 1960s, most rock came from big cities: Detroit, LA, San Francisco, Philadelphia,• In the 1970s, there was an effort to get back to

basics of Southern Rock & Roll

• The Allman Brother’s Band• “Midnight Rider” -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBf48xUIBLo• Lynyrd Skynyrd• “Sweet Home Alabama” -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye5BuYf8q4o