1. American Responses to theBritish Invasion of 1964-66MUS 1240Fall 2014 2. The American Response The Beatles and other B.I. bands did not completely wipeout American pop music during the year 1964-66 By summer 1965, new styles were being created in Americathat were combinations of Merseybeat and popularAmerican styles Many young people who learned to play acoustic guitar inthe folk revival of the early 60s made an easy transition toelectric instruments Also, a slew of guitar-based garage bands began to emergebased on the enthusiasm of the B.I. groups. Television becomes even more important in the musicindustry during this time, and most of the major pop musiccoming out of America originates in L.A., not NYC. 3. Urban Folk Music in the 1960s 4. Urban Folk Music in the 1960s Folk music is usually defined as music of the common people expressing the feelings of the people of aparticular region Lyrics more significant that music Interest in folk music grew in the 1960s Maturing rock audience Serious look at culture Protest songs 5. Bob Dylan (b. 1941) First poet of the mass media Took his stage name from his favorite poet,Dylan Thomas Coffeehouse folk music scene in GreenwichVillage High quality songs Imagery and metaphor Rough-hewn performance style Guitar, vocals, harmonica Listening: Blowin in the Wind 6. Bob Dylan Dylan arrives in NYC in 1960, begins to make aname for himself; by 1964, one of the mostrespected folk singers in the US. Known for his finger-wagging songs whichbrought attention to political, economic, andsocial issues. Not as well known outside the folk community;had success on album charts mostly, like mostfolk artists. More popular in the UK initially, but did well onboth sides of the Atlantic 7. Bob Dylan Dylans early songs emulated the style of his hero,Woodie Guthrie, often reworking existing songswith new words to address a new topic. Blowin in the Wind civil rights Masters of War Vietnam He becomes more skilled as a songwriter of hisown feelings and questions, such as: Girl from the North Country Dont Think Twice, Its Alright 8. Dylan Goes Electric Dylan had long been interested in using rockinstrumentation for his music, which did not keep with thetraditions of the folk movement. Dylan had actually used electric instruments on a fewrecordings, but had not met with much resistance, probablydue to the strong acoustic material on the album. In July 1965, Dylan performed with an electric band at thefamous Newport Folk Festival; many of the senior membersof the folk movement felt somewhat betrayed by Dylan.Pete Seeger The audience did not really care for his electric music either,shouting out heckles and even booing. 9. Listening: Like a Rolling Stone Composed and performed by Bob Dylan (1965) Unique timbre and sound for the time Use of keyboard and organ Establishes folk rock At six minutes, the song was by far the longest 45 r.p.m. popsingle ever released up to that time. Rose to #2 on US charts (UK 4) 10. Listening: Positively 4th Street Highway 61 Revisited - Fall 1965 This song is a reference back to Dylans finger-waggingsongs from his earlier days, only in thiscase, he is wagging the finger at the folkestablishment who he felt had unfairly criticizedhis move toward more of a rock sound. The song consists of a short introduction,followed by 12 verses of lyrics, with no breaks.The accompaniment does not change much,leaving the listener to focus on the lyrics. 11. Dylan 1966 records landmark album Blonde on Blonde withthe Hawks (later known as the Band) and sessionmusicians from Nashville Motorcycle accident in upstate NY almost kills him inJuly 66, keeps him out of spotlight for a while; hismusic continues to inspire others even in his absence. Dylans example that pop music could tackle heaviersubject matter changed the game for the musicindustry; it no longer was somewhat taboo for artistsoutside of folk music to tackle those kinds of topics. 12. Emergence of Folk Rock-1965 Folk music gone electric Dylans song Mr. Tambourine Man was coveredby the the Byrds. Soared to Number One in both US and UK inJune 1965, becoming the first folk-rock hit. Shows Dylans importance 13. The Byrds Formed in L.A. in 1964 Bands members had studied folk music Roger McGuinn studied folk music in Chicago, then worked in theNYC Greenwich Village folk scene by night while working as a BrillBuilding songwriter by day; wrote for Bobby Darin. Met Gene Clark at gig in L.A., begin writing songs together Clark was a member of folk revivalist group New Christy Minstrels David Crosby (later of CSN) joins as a singer/guitarist Chris Hillman bass (bluegrass mandolinist) Michael Clarke drums The band rehearses and makes a change from a folk-based group toa rock band quickly. A big part of the Byrds sound was the jingle-jangle of the guitar,which was a direct influence of Beatle George Harrisons electric 12-string guitar on Hard Days Night 14. The Byrds The Byrdss early career was represented byrock versions of folk songs Mr. Tambourine Man #1 US pop charts (album US6, UK 7, 1965) Turn Turn Turn (US 1 pop chart, US album 17 uk 111966) Once Dylan became successful with rockversions of his own music, the Byrds had tofocus on songwriting. 15. Listening: Mr. Tambourine Man This song represents a crossroads in the music industrypresent in the mid-60s. Only two of the Byrds actually participate in this records;Roger McGuinn sings and plays guitar, David Crosby sings.The rest was performed by the Wrecking Crew. The Wrecking Crew used the same rhythmic feel as onBeach Boys Dont Worry Baby The use of the electric 12-string guitar evokes a directinspiration of the Beatles (British Invasion) So you have a combination of folk (song written by Dylan),girl groups (Wrecking Crew/Spector), surf music (BeachBoys), and Beatles (British Invasion) 16. Simon and Garfunkel 17. Simon and Garfunkel Folk artists began career under names Tom andJerry Based themselves on the Everly Brothers Album Wednesday Morning 3AM sold poorly;group breaks up. After success of Dylan and Byrds, Produceroverdubbed rock band onto original recording ofSound of Silence Without Simon or Garfunkels prior knowledge orpermission It became a Number One pop hit in 1966. 18. Other Folk Rock Groups Barry McGuire Former member of New Christy Minstrels Had hit with P.F. Sloans Eve of Destruction The Turtles Had a number 8 hit with cover of Dylans It Aint Me Babe Moved to a more mainstream pop style with hits like Happy Together (#1 US1967) Vocalists later went on to work with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention The Mamas and the Papas Formed in NYC in 1965, moved out to LA where they enjoyed commercialsuccess. Featured singer John Phillips intricate four-part vocal arrangements in thestyle of Peter, Paul, and Mary; added a rock beat and sound California Dreamin (US 4 UK 11 1966), Monday Monday (US 1 UK 3 1966) 19. Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys Formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, CA by: Brian Wilson Brians two brothers Carl and Dennis a cousin named Mike Love a family friend (Al Jardine) Brian Wilson was the guiding spirit of theband during the groups first decade, and isone of the most influential American popmusicians of the past 50 years. The bands influences range from black doo-wopgroups to Chuck Berry to Phil SpectorsWall of Sound. 20. Defining model of Beach BoysImitation Demonstratemastery ofearly rock nrollEmulation Createoriginalmaterialbased on andextendingthose stylesInnovation Branch outbeyondtraditionalrock n roll tocreatesomethingtruly unique 21. Song Themes Until 1964, the songs of the Beach Boys focused onWilsons somewhat mythical version of California(cars, girls, surfing) Surfin Safari (US 14 1962) Surfer Girl (US 7 1963) The Warmth of the Sun California Girls P.S.- Brian Wilson didnt surf 22. Imitation #3 1963 Chuck Berrys 1958 hit Sweet LittleSixteen Surf music sounds: electronic organ,reverb-soaked guitar solos Brian Wilsons distinctive falsetto vocalsSurfinUSA 23. Emulation #7 1963 Emulated the doo-wop ballad by infusing it with Californiabeach contentSurferGirl 1964 Evoked Chuck Berry The solo guitar introduction cops its twelve-bar blues licksdirectly from Berrys Roll Over Beethoven and JohnnyB. Goode. Reached #5 in the US at the height of BeatlemaniaFun,Fun, Fun 24. Innovation Wilson begins experimenting withstyles 1964 First #1 Record B-Side Dont Worry Baby Turns the up-tempo rock n rollanthem into a thoroughlyindividual kind of expression Becomes big hit just as Beatles hitUSI GetAround 25. Dont Worry Baby This song shows the connection betweek Wilson and Phil Spector. Spector is one of Brian Wilsons musical heroes. Story of Wilson hearing Be My Baby for the first time, pulling overhis car to avoid an accident Wilson was so enamored by Be My Baby that he wrote DontWorry Baby for the Ronettes to sing. Spector rejected the song forthe Ronettes, so Wilson had the Beach Boys record it. Many similiarites between the two songs, up to the opening drumbeat and the use of call and response in the chorus. Wilsons story about the songs inspiration is that he was trulyworried that he would never be as good as Phil Spector, to whichhis wife replied, Dont Worry Baby. 26. Spectors legacy Phil Spectors big hits Doo Doo Ron Ron and Then He Kissed Mewith the Crystals, and Be My Baby with the Ronettes had been bighits in the months leading up to the Beatles arrival in the US. Favorite of the Beatles he made the trip from London to NYC withthe Beatles on Feb. 7, 1964. Spector would continue to have success in the wake of the Beatles. Righteous Brothers Youve Lost That Lovin Feeling and UnchainedMelody from 1965 were his last big hits. He retired from the musicbusiness after a huge failure with a 1966 Tina Turner record. Comes out of retirement to produce Beatles Let it Be (1970), GeorgeHarrisons solo debut All Things Must Pass (1970), and John LennonsImagine (1971) 27. Brian Wilson changes his focus The success of the Beatles had lasting repercussions formany musicians, but the effect on the Beach Boys was ofparamount importance. The Beatles were signed to Capitol Records in the US; sowere the Beach Boys. The BBs had to fight for not only therecognition of the public, but of their own record label. Wilson felt that a change was necessary in the bandsdirection in order to compete with the Beatles. Wilson decides in Dec. 1964 to stop touring to focus oncomposition and recording new music for the band. Therest of the BBs continued to tour, with Glen Campbell andBruce Johnston in place of Brian. 28. Brian Wilson changes his focus Increased sophistication can be heard on TheBeach Boys Today! (1965) and Summer Daysand Summer Nights!! (1965) Help Me Rhonda (US 1 UK 27 1965) California Girls (US 3 UK 26 1965) Beach Boys Party! was released in 1966,basically a live album of the band jamming. Had one hit single Barbara Ann (US 2 UK 3 1966) Brian then turns to a more ambitious project. 29. Pet Sounds Brian Wilson, inspired by the Beatles album Rubber Soul (1965),produced what is arguably rocks first concept album, Pet Sounds. Released in mid-1966 New Standard for record production and musical sophistication Modest seller, compared with some other Beach Boys albums Had an enormous impact on other musicians Sloop John B combination of Spectors Wall of Sound withWilsons lush vocal harmonies Wouldnt It Be Nice uses a harp! This symbolized that the bandhad moved past the surf music of their early years. God Only Knows Paul McCartney called it the perfect rocksong best illustration of how Wilsons music had progressedaway from the sounds of surf and the topics of surf. What is a concept album? Paul McCartney affirmed that Pet Sounds was the single greatestinfluence on the Beatles landmark 1967 album Sgt. Peppers LonelyHearts Club Band.