Changes in Rock Music and Teen Idols

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Questions and Answers

What was the end of Classic Rock and Roll?

The end of several major names: Carl Perkins (car accident), Little Richard (retired), Elvis (entered army), Jerry Lee Lewis (scandal - married his cousin), Buddy Holly (killed - plane crash), Chuck Berry (imprisoned).

Describe the various reasons for the backlash against rock music.

White supremacy groups warned of dangers of rock and roll through pamphlets, meetings, boycotts, 'I Hate Elvis' clubs, record burning, etc.

Describe why there were changes taking place in America.

Teen Idols: Boy and Girl Next Door. In the 1960s, major record labels regained control of the teen market using noncontroversial artists.

Describe Teen Idols.

Groomed for stardom not on the basis of their talent, but instead on their 'boy-next-door' good looks; clean-cut, wholesome singers promoted in the late 50s and early 60s. Signup and view all the answers

What did the major labels do to combat the success of the independent record labels?

They either bought out their contracts or just bought the label, and created the Teen Idol. Signup and view all the answers

Describe why there were changes in pop music.

Look more important than music; watered down with little to no rock beat, full chords, and nonsexual themes. Signup and view all the answers

Who took over American Bandstand, and when did they go national?

Dick Clark took over the show and began broadcasting nationally in 1957. Signup and view all the answers

Where was American Bandstand located?

Philadelphia. Signup and view all the answers

What was significant about American Bandstand?

It provided important exposure to new record artists and established Philadelphia as a major pop center. Signup and view all the answers

Who were some of the artists in the Teen Idol era?

Frankie Avalon, Paul Anka, Bobby Darin, Connie Francis, and Ricky Nelson. Signup and view all the answers

What were the characteristics of Teen Idol songs?

Little or no beat, lavish orchestration, and nonsexual, safe romantic themes of teen love. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the relationship between Rock and Roll and TV.

Rock and Roll artists began appearing on TV programs including the Milton Berle Show, Steve Allen Show, and Ed Sullivan Show. Signup and view all the answers

What is Payola?

DJs accepting cash, favors, gifts from record labels to play records. Signup and view all the answers

Who were key figures involved/affected by Payola?

Dick Clark and Alan Freed, with Freed being the scapegoat and convicted of bribery. Signup and view all the answers

Name a song from the Dance craze scheme. Who was it by? What was significant about it?

'The Twist' by Chubby Checker; it was the only single since charting started in 1955 to top charts twice. Signup and view all the answers

Who was responsible for Brill Building Pop?

Leiber and Stoller. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize Leiber and Stoller.

They met in LA, discovered a common love for R&B, and produced meticulous studio albums. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Brill Building Pop.

'Playlets' with humorous, teen-oriented lyrics and big orchestration. Signup and view all the answers

What did Leiber and Stoller do?

Helped define the role of independent producer. Signup and view all the answers

Name a song of Brill Building Pop.

'On Broadway' by The Drifters in 1963. Signup and view all the answers

What did 'Hound Dog' by Elvis do?

It was the first record in history to simultaneously hit #1 on the pop, country, and R&B charts. Signup and view all the answers

What does Aldon Music do?

Replaces Tin Pan Alley. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Aldon Music come from?

In and around the Brill Building. Signup and view all the answers

Who started Aldon Music?

Al Nevins and Dan Kirshner. Signup and view all the answers

Name some of the writing teams for Nevins and Kirshner (Aldon Music).

Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield, Carol King/Gerry Goffin. Signup and view all the answers

Songs of Aldon Music.

'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' by The Shirelles, 'On Broadway' by The Drifters, 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling' by The Righteous Brothers. Signup and view all the answers

Burt Bacharach and Hal David - Who were they, who did they work with, what was their style?

Songwriters who met at the Brill Building and worked with Dionne Warwick, producing idiosyncratic tunes with adult lyrics. Signup and view all the answers

When did 'pop music go west'?

1960s, with a shift in the music business from the east to the west coast (LA). Signup and view all the answers

What was significant to LA?

Home to Hollywood, the television industry, and many existing record industries. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Phil Spector?

The most influential producer of his era. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Phil Spector.

An eccentric genius and loner. Signup and view all the answers

Who did Phil Spector understudy?

Leiber and Stoller. Signup and view all the answers

What was Spector known for?

Wall of Sound. Signup and view all the answers

What does Spector create? When? Where?

The Girl group genre in 1961 in LA. Signup and view all the answers

What was different about the Shangri-Las?

They were one of the only white girl groups. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Darlene Love?

A singer whom Phil Spector used to fill in on albums when lead singers were unavailable. Signup and view all the answers

Who did Phil Spector not care about? What did he value?

He did not care about the artist; the music was what was important to him. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Wall of Sound (its characteristics).

Large instrumental groups, multi-track overdubbing, reverb, and recorded monophonically. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the LA Pop Scene in the 60s. The Importance and the Aspects.

Capitol Records, Liberty, and A&M Records were significant; major labels and Bubble Gum Pop music emerged. Signup and view all the answers

What is Bubble Gum Pop?

Pop music with no depth (no significant meaning in lyrics). Signup and view all the answers

Who were The Monkees?

A group formed for a TV show from 1966-1968 that did not write or make their own music. Signup and view all the answers

Where did Surf Culture come from?

Imported to the West Coast from Hawaii. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Surf subculture.

Characterized by hot rods, vernacular, and music. Signup and view all the answers

What are Bikini Movies? When were they being made? Give an example.

Movies that Hollywood made by watering down surfing, made from 1959-63, example: Gidget. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Real Surf Music.

Instrumental, high-energy, 'garage-band', edgy. Signup and view all the answers

Name an artist of Real Surf Music.

Dick Dale and the Del-Tones. Signup and view all the answers

What did Dick Dale do?

He played Real Surf Music and incorporated effects that emulated Lebanese culture. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Beach Boys?

Brothers Brian, Dennis, Carl Wilson, Cousin Mike Love, and family friend Al Jardine. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Beach Boys' (Brian Wilson's) formula.

Four freshmen vocals, Chuck Berry instrumentals, and lyrics. Signup and view all the answers

Who was a huge influence on Brian Wilson?

Phil Spector. Signup and view all the answers

What was so huge about Pet Sounds?

It was inspired by the Beatles' Rubber Soul and is considered a 'masterpiece'. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

End of Classic Rock and Roll

Major figures like Carl Perkins (car accident), Little Richard (retirement), Elvis Presley (military service), Jerry Lee Lewis (personal scandal), Buddy Holly (plane crash), and Chuck Berry (imprisonment) marked the decline of classic rock and roll.

Backlash Against Rock Music

White supremacist groups opposed rock music, promoting boycotts, burning records, and forming clubs such as "I Hate Elvis," highlighting a societal resistance to the genre.

Changes in American Music Industry

Teen idols emerged as noncontroversial figures as major labels sought to regain control over the teenage music market in the 1960s.
Focus shifted to appearance over talent, emphasizing a "Boy Next Door" image.

Characteristics of Teen Idols

Teen idols were marketed for their looks rather than musical ability, characterized by clean-cut images.
Major labels promoted wholesome artists to compete with the success of independent R&B and rock music.

Major Labels' Strategy

Major labels either bought out independent artists' contracts or acquired smaller labels to establish dominance in the music industry, leading to the creation of the teen idol phenomenon.

Evolution of Pop Music

Style leaned towards nonsexual themes with little rock influence, emphasizing orchestration over rhythm.
Dance crazes and novelty tunes became popular forms of entertainment.

American Bandstand

Hosted by Dick Clark, the show expanded nationally in 1957, becoming significant for promoting new artists.
Philadelphia served as a pivotal location in the 1960s music industry.

Significance of American Bandstand

Provided crucial exposure for new artists and solidified Philadelphia's position as a central hub for pop music and record labels.

Notable Teen Idol Artists

Frankie Avalon, Paul Anka, Bobby Darin, Connie Francis, and Ricky Nelson exemplified the teen idol era.

Characteristics of Teen Idol Songs

Songs typically featured minimal beats, lush orchestration, and safe romantic themes appealing to young audiences.

Television and Rock and Roll

Rock artists featured on popular TV shows, including the Milton Berle Show, Ed Sullivan Show, and Steve Allen Show, which influenced public perception and reach of rock music.

Payola Scandal

DJs engaged in payola, accepting payments from record labels for airtime, leading to ethical controversies in the music industry.
Dick Clark distanced himself from payola issues, while Alan Freed faced legal consequences.

Dance Craze Example

"The Twist" by Chubby Checker became the first single to top the charts twice since charting began.

Brill Building Pop

Leiber and Stoller were key figures in creating "playlets," characterized by humorous lyrics and extensive orchestration.

Leiber and Stoller's Contribution

Known for meticulous production and collaborations, including a significant hit with Elvis Presley.

Aldon Music's Role

Created by Al Nevins and Dan Kirshner, Aldon Music became a replacement for Tin Pan Alley, signifying a shift in the music industry landscape.

Writing Teams of Aldon Music

Notable pairs included Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield, and Carole King/Gerry Goffin, all recognized for their prolific compositions.

Successful Aldon Music Songs

Hits include "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles, "On Broadway" by The Drifters, and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers.

Burt Bacharach and Hal David

Influential songwriting duo who shaped pop music with Dionne Warwick as a primary artist, known for adult-themed lyrics and intricate melodies.

Pop Music Shift to the West Coast

The 1960s saw the music business transition from the East Coast to Los Angeles, aligning with the rise of the Hollywood and television industries.

Phil Spector's Impact

Renowned as one of the most influential producers, known for his innovative "Wall of Sound" technique.

Characteristics of the Wall of Sound

Featured large instrumental arrangements, layered recordings, and distinctive reverb, resulting in a rich audio texture.

LA Pop Scene in the 60s

Notable record labels included Capitol, Liberty, and Dot, with A&M Records emerging as a leading entity.
Genres like Bubble Gum Pop gained traction.

Bubble Gum Pop Defined

Characterized by simple, catchy melodies with little depth or lyrical meaning.

The Monkees

A commercially successful group formed for a television show, known for their disconnect from actual music-making.

Surf Culture Origins

Surf music and culture originated in Hawaii and spread to the West Coast, influencing music and lifestyle.

Real Surf Music Characteristics

Defined by energetic instrumentals and a garage-band vibe, representing the raw essence of the surf subculture.

Dick Dale's Contribution

Known as the pioneer of surf music, incorporated distinctive sounds reminiscent of Arabic music, using innovative amplification techniques.

Beach Boys' Formation

Comprised brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, cousin Mike Love, and family friend Al Jardine, became icons of surf rock.

Brian Wilson's Musical Influence

Inspired by Phil Spector, utilized intricate vocal harmonies and elaborate production in his songwriting.

Significance of "Pet Sounds"

Considered a groundbreaking album that reflected introspective themes and innovation in pop music, drawing parallels with the Beatles' "Rubber Soul."

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Description

Explore the transformative era of rock music and the rise of teen idols during the 1960s. This quiz covers notable events, social backlash against rock, and the marketing strategies adopted by major labels. Understand how these factors shaped the music landscape of the time.