Music 104b: History of Rock Music
Email:
gpritchard@cerritos.edu
Office: 562.860.2451 EXT 2630
Web: www.cerritos.edu/gpritchard
Text:
Campbell, Michael and James Brody. 1999. Rock
and Roll: An Introduction.
Description: This class explores the development of rock music--its history and stylistic development from a political, sociological, and musical perspective.
Grading
Two Exams (20 points each) and Final (30 points)
§ Multiple choice exams (Scantron 882-E)
§ reading assignments, lectures, videos, and listening ability
Two Concert Reports (15 Points each)
§ Must attend concerts and write about observations and opinions
§ 3 page report
§ Due at beginning of class, no late papers accepted
Final Grade
§ 100 Points total for final grade (A=100-90; B=89-80; C=79-70; D=69-60; F=59-50)
Schedule
Section
One
Course introduction (Reading: Pgs. 1-5; 7-21)
Topics: Concepts/Definitions about music; Listening to music; Active/Passive Listening; Materials of Music and Perception
Section Two
First Exam (20 points) 50’s rock and roll (Reading: Pg. 49-96)
Topics: Social and Cultural aspects of early rock music; music business; radio; television; film;
Payola; Crossover, Majors/Indies
People: Hoss Allan, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry,
Bo Diddley, Pat Boone, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Big Bopper, Eddie Cochran,
Alan Freed, Dick Clark, Sam Phillips, Col. Tom Parker, Leonard Chess, Ed Sullivan,
James Dean, Marlon Brando
Places: Memphis, Tennessee; Chicago, Illinois; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York, New York
Videos: Rock & Roll: Renegades (Episode 1); Rock & Roll: In the Groove (Episode 2)
Section Three
Concert Report due (15 points) 60’s rock (Reading: Pgs. 143-186; 123-142; 265-284)
Topics: Rock’s influence in 60’s Political, Economic, and Social Conditions; Vietnam War;
Generational Gap; Racial Barriers; Minority Rights; LSD; Recording Industry; Technology; Motown; Soul; Complexity in rock composition; Folk Revival; Transformation of recording process; Folk Rock; Beatlemania; Acid Rock; Monterey Pop; Woodstock; Altamont; Power Chord; Distortion; Power Trio; Slap Bass; 16 Beat rhythms; Disco
People: The Beatles; Bob Dylan; Jimi Hendrix; Berry Gordy; Jerry Wexler; Supremes; Marvin Gaye; Smokey Robinson; Otis Reading; Aretha Franklin; James Brown; The Rolling Stones
Places: Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Francisco, California; Los Angeles; New York, New York; Liverpool, England; London, England
Videos: The Compleat Beatles; Bob Dylan: Don’t Look Back; The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter; The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll: Pluggin’ In; Rock & Roll: Respect (Episode 4)
Topics: Glam Rock; Art Rock; Conceptual Albums; Blues revival; Singer-Songwriters; Punk; CBGBs; Dance music (Funk/Disco)
People: The Who; The Doors; The Velvet Underground; Andy Warhol; David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust; Malcolm McLaren; Sex Pistols; The Ramones; The Clash, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello; Television; Blondie; Janis Joplin; Joni Mitchell; Carole King; Stevie Wonder; Marvin Gaye
Places: New York, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; London, England; Los Angeles, California; Detroit, Michigan
Videos: Rock & Roll: Crossroads (Episode 5); Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same; The Last Waltz; The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll: Punk; Rock &Roll: Punk (Episode 9)
Section
Five
Concert Report due (15 Points); 80’s rock; (Reading: Pg. 317-382)
Topics: Technology and music business; Charity Concerts; Minority/Gay Rights; Corporate Rock; MTV; Digital technology; Sampling; New Wave; New Romantic; Techno; House; Heavy Metal
People: Robert Pittman; Judas Priest; Def Leppard; Van Halen; Quiet Riot; Motley Crue; Ratt; Bon Jovi; Guns and Roses; Metallica; A Flock of Seagulls; Talking Heads; Stray Cats; Men at Work; Duran Duran; New Order; Kraftwerk; Michael Jackson; Run DMC; Beastie Boys; Madonna; Prince
Places: New York; Boston; Detroit; Long Island; Chicago; Los Angeles
Videos: Live Aid: The Day the Music Changed the World; Rock & Roll: The Perfect Beat (Episode 10); Dreamworlds: Sex and Power in Rock ‘n’ Roll; The Cure: Staring at the Sea –The Images; Depeche Mode: Strange; REM: Parallel
Section Six
Last Day: Final (30 Points): 90’s and the Present Day Music Industry
Topics: Alternative music scenes; Riot Grrls; Righteous Babe; Sub Pop; DIY; Producers; Popular music industry; Gen X; Gen Y
People: Butch Vig; Nirvana; Kurt Cobain; Smashing Pumpkins; Billy Corigan; Counting Crows, Adam Duritz; T-Bone Burnett; Ani DiFranco; Pavement; Stephen Malkmus; Ben Folds Five; Massive Attack; Tricky; Radiohead; Thom Yorke
Places: Seattle; Los Angeles; Chicago; Stockton; San Francisco; Chapel Hill; Bristol; Oxfordshire
Videos: Rock & Roll: The Perfect Beat (Episode 10); Meeting People is Easy: A Film By Grant Gee about Radiohead; The Way the Music Died (Frontline)