Introduction

As Campbell points out at the beginning of unit 12, the changes that took place in popular music in the 1960s were massive; never again has so much changed in such a short time. The music was a direct reflection of the times.

In the 1960s, the optimism of post-WWII America gave way to a growing push-back against the racial and gender inequality of the older generation, and young people – particularly after the assassination of JFK, and during America’s involvement in the Vietnam War – grew increasingly disillusioned with government. Massive changes to Civil Rights for black Americans, led in particular by Martin Luther King Jr, were made during this decade. Drugs like marijuana and LSD became more mainstream during this time, and the gradual legalization of the Pill brought about the sexual revolution. By the end of the decade, two Americans would walk on the moon. Major societal and political events changed how people – particularly young people in America – thought about the world.

The second wave of rock begins around 1964, and the biggest influences of the time really were Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Motown. There is a freshness and modernity to the music created in this decade which, in some ways, feels more mature and complex than the rock and roll of the 50s. Lyricism began to mimic poetry, and singer-songwriters attempted to “say something” with their music. The sound of rock was solidified, but also echoed the times – psychedelia, in particular, both resulted from, and fed, drug culture. The concept album was born during the era. Rock, as a mainstream culture, an art-form, and a moneymaker, had arrived. As evidenced by Monterey, Woodstock, and Altamont, popular music was no longer just entertainment; it was a site of resistance, protest, and counterculture expression.

As you move through the materials in this module note the specific pieces that each of the main artists/acts/studios brings to the table, and how those aspects are combined to make new sounds (this is noted in particular in the film Shakespeares in the Alley, part of the multimedia for this module). How are styles, forms, and instrumentation changed to make these new sounds? How do the artists and the sounds reflect the era in which they emerged? Why are Dylan, The Beatles, and Motown favoured over other artists of the time?

Below, a timeline of some of the notable events of the era to keep in mind as you read through the module materials:

• 1960: The election of John F. Kennedy – a youthful, energetic president with big ideas.
• 1961: the beginning of legalization of The Pill and the Sexual Revolution.
• 1963: JFK assassinated.
• 1963: The March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech.
• 1964: Congress passes the Civil Rights Act.
• 1965: US government begins sending regular troops to Vietnam, and discontent with government among young people grew.
• 1967: The Summer of Love and the Monterey Pop Festival.
• 1968: The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
• July 1969: The first moon walk.
• August 1969: The Woodstock Music Festival.
• December 1969: the death of Meredith Hunter at the “anti-Woodstock” – The Altamont Music Festival.

While it is important to keep the historical context in mind as you work through the module, the above information and links are for your own information. You will be tested on the material in the textbook and the two non-optional films in your Learning Material (you will not be tested on the Woodstock Documentary).

Learning Objectives

When you have finished this module, you should be able to do the following:

1. Name the key influences on the Rock Revolution of the 1960s.
2. Define the major ways in which Bob Dylan and The Beatles influenced popular music, as well as how they influenced each other.
3. Explain Motown and the key artists and producer associated with it.
4. Differentiate the key genres.
5. Identify the key artists and their unique contributions to their genre.

Module Instructions

1. Please read Campbell unit 12 (pages 198-231).
2. As you read your textbook, visit the Module 7: Music page to listen to the musical examples.
3. Read and watch the Module 7: Learning Material.
4. Optional: post a response to one of the challenges if you plan to blog as part of your course assignments (see syllabus for details).
5. Join the blog discussions if they interest you.
6. Once you have completed your module work for the week, please go into the Blackboard course tools and complete the weekly quiz prior to the deadline noted in your syllabus.

Key Terms, Concepts, and People

• Social and Cultural Change of the 1960s (Civil Rights, Sexual Freedom, Drugs, Vietnam, Counterculture)
• Bob Dylan
• The Beatles
• Motown (Berry Gordy Jr.,The Supremes, Marvin Gaye)
• Group-oriented Rock (The Rolling Stones)
• Solo-oriented Rock (Jimi Hendrix)
• Soul Music (James Brown, Aretha Franklin)
• San Francisco (Acid Rock, Psychedelia, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin)

Continue to Module 7: Learning Material