General

Ch. 2

What was the primary musical style listened to by most of white middle-class U.S. in the early 1950s? Be able to associate performers with this early style of music.

Name two subcultures that were noticeably distinct from the white middle-class society mentioned above. What musical style (or styles) was associated with each of these subcultures?

What was the center of popular-music publishing in New York City from the late 1800s to the late 1950s? Describe the creators and performers of the style of music that came out of this venue.

Describe specifically the following musical characteristics of Pop Music: lyrical content, rhythm, melody, instrumentation, and tempo.

What were the five major recording companies ("The Big Five") of the early 1950s pop market?

What were the advantages that the "Majors" had over the "Indies?"

What was the primary audience for Pop Music in the 50s? Why?

Be able to identify the correct definition of the following musical terms:

What are the 3 questions you must ask yourself when attempting to determine the difference between monophonic, homophonic, and polyphonic textures?

What are the three most likely possibilities at any juncture in the musical form?

What radio show (beginning as "WSM Barndance" in 1927) proved to be important to the rise in popularity of C&W during the early 1950s?

What were the main similarity & difference between the audience for C&W and the Pop market?

Describe specifically the following musical characteristics of C&W Music: lyrical content, rhythm, melody, instrumentation, and tempo.

What was the most important of the three styles leading to the emergence of Rock & Roll?

Name three leading centers for R&B recording just prior to the emergence of Rock & Roll.

Know the four "indies" mentioned in your text that were formed in the 40s and went on to have considerable impact on R&B music in the 1950s.

Upon what common musical form were most R&B tunes based?

In what 3-year period did three distinct markets converge, resulting in the emergence of Rock & Roll?

What were two specific (and related) phenomena that led to a blurring of the boundaries between these three separate markets?

The mid-50s signaled the emergence of a distinct "youth culture." What was the typical image of such a teenager?

What was Bill Haley's band called before they became "The Comets?"

"Rock Around the Clock" met with only moderate success when it was released in 1954. What caused it to become a #1 single in 1955?

What are possible reasons that Haley & his Comets did not emerge as "front" band for the emerging sound (and image) of Rock & Roll?

What early influences factored into the development of Elvis' musical style?

What was the name of the small local recording studio where Elvis went to make a record as a gift for his mother in 1953? Who owned this studio (as well as Sun Records)?

Elvis signed his first recording contract with what record company in July of 1954?

The first single released by Elvis underscores the biracial nature of his style. Name the two song titles and identify from which of the three markets (R&B, C&W, or Pop) each song original came.

Though voted the #1 "up and coming" C&W artist in the 1955 Billboard magazine disc jockey poll, list the ways in which he was not a typical C&W act.

What two important events occurred in Elvis' career at the end of 1955 & beginning of 1956, setting him on the road to national recognition.

What is a "2-sided hit single?"

What five Elvis songs reached #1 on all three charts (Pop, R&B, and C&W)?

Between 1958 and 1960, Elvis took a brief respite from his singing career for what reason?

On what day did Elvis die? of what cause?

Many rock songs emphasize beats two and four (opposite of the traditional approach). In this case, the music is said to have a strong ___________?

Ch. 13

What was the effect of tragedies like the events at Altamont & Kent State--along with the deaths of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, & Jim Morrison--have on the youth movement of the 1960s?

As a result, how might the new mentality of the 1970s might be characterized?

Musically, what was the reaction of the 1970s youth to the complexities inherent in the jazz rock and art rock styles of the late 60s?

What is "formatting?"

Rock music during the 1970s exhibited a fragmentation of the market similar to what occurred in the early 60s. This fragmentation was corrected in the 60s by the overwhelming presence of the Beatles. What were the realities during the 70s that eliminated the possibility of such a "giant" to emerge?

Who were the six major record companies by the end of the 1970s?

At the end of the 60s, there was a "second wave" of British bands. What bands does your text suggest as representative of this movement?

What style evolved out of mainstream rock bands who moved toward art rock? mainstream bands that increased the "hardness" of their sound?

What was the name of the guitarist who had been with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and the Yardbirds, and formed one of the first rock trios? What was the name of his trio?

What keyboard vocalist, having played with the Spencer Davis Group formed his own band in late 1967? What was the name of his band? 

What rock vocalist helped form the Jeff Beck Group and then performed with Faces before moving on to a highly successful solo career?

What British artist--representing a softer style of 70s rock--signed the largest contract in rock history ($8 million) with MCA Records in 1974? What artist topped this contract in 1975? with what record company?

What San Francisco-based black musician combined soul music with psychedelic rock to create "psychedelic soul?" What was the name of his 7-member band?

Amidst all the fragmentation, subcategories, cross-fertilizations, and individual styles of the 1970s & 80s, what musician/songwriter represented the mainstream rock style?

What classic tune by Derek in the Dominoes (1970) was re-recorded by Eric Clapton in 1992? Provide at least three distinct differences in the music of these recordings.

Name three groups that may be categorized as 1970s progressive rock bands.

What new style of jazz rock was born in the 1970s? What seminal album (1970) initiated this trend? Who was the artist?

What two characteristics distinguished the singer-songwriters of the 1960s (e.g., Dylan, Baez, and Simon & Garfunkel) from those of the 70s (e.g., Mitchell, King, Taylor, Croce, etc.)?

What band of the 1970s (and later), lead by lead singer/percussionist Maurice White, exhibited tight, highly polished coordination in the rhythm section, punctuating horn riffs, well-harmonized vocals, and elements of jazz fusion?

What soft rock singer-songwriter began his music career composing & performing commercial jingles?

What record company executive was largely responsible for signing Mariah Carey to a recording contract? What was their eventual relationship?

According to the Billboard Hot 100, what was the number 1 hit from 1955 to 1995? Who performed on this recording?

As country artists entered the rock mainstream during the 1990s, who was the artist who initially led the pack of young country singers? Name four other significant young country artists who released debut albums in 1989.

To what rock bands and performers does Garth Brooks give credit at influential in the development of his high-tech, high-energy stage show?

In what way(s) does the commercial success experienced by Garth Brooks provide an interesting exception to the image-conscious aesthetic that often drives the popular music industry?