Rock from 1974-1980:Rock from 1974-1980:

In the MainstreamIn the Mainstream

Corporate RockCorporate Rock

• Rock becoming more business oriented by Rock becoming more business oriented by 19741974

• Less spontaneity, more focus on finding Less spontaneity, more focus on finding mainstream audiencemainstream audience

• Mostly due to corporate takeover of Mostly due to corporate takeover of recording industry (by even larger recording industry (by even larger corporations)corporations)

Mainstream RockMainstream Rock

• Less spontaneity, more focus on finding Less spontaneity, more focus on finding mainstream audiencemainstream audience

• Multi-Multi-PlatinumPlatinum hits of the mid 1970s hits of the mid 1970s– Platinum record – 1 million copies soldPlatinum record – 1 million copies sold

– Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes AlivePeter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive– Fleetwood Mac – Rumors Fleetwood Mac – Rumors

• Reveal the amount of money that could be Reveal the amount of money that could be made from rock musicmade from rock music

Mainstream rock – major Mainstream rock – major trendstrends

• Pop rockPop rock

• Hard rockHard rock

• FusionsFusions

Mainstream of the MainstreamMainstream of the Mainstream

• Increasingly conservativeIncreasingly conservative

• Slickly producedSlickly produced

• High level of musical skill expectedHigh level of musical skill expected

• Carefully conceived contentCarefully conceived content

• ““Processed rock product”Processed rock product”

Pop RockPop Rock

• Most glam rockMost glam rock– KISSKISS– David BowieDavid Bowie

• Some singer/songwritersSome singer/songwriters– Paul SimonPaul Simon– Billy JoelBilly Joel

Pop RockPop Rock

• Groups and artists that might be classified Groups and artists that might be classified as pop or rockas pop or rock– Elton JohnElton John– WingsWings– Rod StewartRod Stewart– Fleetwood MacFleetwood Mac

Elton John – Tiny DancerElton John – Tiny Dancer

• Lyric dominatesLyric dominates

• Verse-transition-refrain Verse-transition-refrain – 2 part verse, each AABA2 part verse, each AABA

• End weighting through gradual addition of End weighting through gradual addition of instruments, new tone colorsinstruments, new tone colors

• Subtle sixteen-beat rhythmic foundationSubtle sixteen-beat rhythmic foundation

Hard RockHard Rock

• Continuation of style of Rolling Stones, Continuation of style of Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The WhoLed Zeppelin, The Who

• Many similar acts, but less influenced by Many similar acts, but less influenced by bluesblues

• Standard rock ensemble, or variant thereofStandard rock ensemble, or variant thereof

Hard Rock - styleHard Rock - style• Riff-driven songsRiff-driven songs• Lyrics that speak to common experienceLyrics that speak to common experience• Aggressive timekeepingAggressive timekeeping• Flavored (at various times) by country rock, Flavored (at various times) by country rock,

blues, gospel, or other influencesblues, gospel, or other influences– Steve Miller BandSteve Miller Band– Bachman Turner OverdriveBachman Turner Overdrive– StyxStyx– QueenQueen– AerosmithAerosmith

FusionsFusions

• Jazz-rock fusionJazz-rock fusion– Rock bands influenced by jazz rhythmic and Rock bands influenced by jazz rhythmic and

harmonic sophisticationharmonic sophistication– Often jazz players in groupOften jazz players in group– Exs.Exs.

• Blood, Sweat, and TearsBlood, Sweat, and Tears• ChicagoChicago• Steely DanSteely Dan

Blood, Sweat, and Tears – Blood, Sweat, and Tears – Spinning WheelSpinning Wheel

• EnsembleEnsemble– Lead vocalist David ClaytonLead vocalist David Clayton– Rhythm section – drums, piano, organ, guitar, Rhythm section – drums, piano, organ, guitar,

bassbass– Horn section Horn section

• Sophisticated jazz harmoniesSophisticated jazz harmonies

• Jazz-influenced horn riffs Jazz-influenced horn riffs

• Juxtaposed with syncopated R&B riffsJuxtaposed with syncopated R&B riffs

Spinning Wheel - FormSpinning Wheel - Form

Short intro - crescendo (increase in volume), horns play Short intro - crescendo (increase in volume), horns play one measure of 16-beat style beatone measure of 16-beat style beat

A: “What goes up…”A: “What goes up…”A: “You got no money…”A: “You got no money…”B: Extensive contrasting section/short bridgeB: Extensive contrasting section/short bridgeA: “Someone is waiting…”A: “Someone is waiting…”A: 1/2 verse as bridge (piano solo)A: 1/2 verse as bridge (piano solo)C: solo section: Improvisation on melody by trumpet,C: solo section: Improvisation on melody by trumpet, 2x through changes, plus extension2x through changes, plus extensionA: “Someone’s waiting…”A: “Someone’s waiting…”D (outro)? Mixed meter stop time, alternating with D (outro)? Mixed meter stop time, alternating with

calliope-like improvisationcalliope-like improvisation

““Blue-eyed soul”Blue-eyed soul”

• White groups influenced by gospel and White groups influenced by gospel and soulsoul– Doobie BrothersDoobie Brothers– Dr. JohnDr. John

• How?How?– Doobie Brothers - Takin’ it to the StreetsDoobie Brothers - Takin’ it to the Streets– Dr. John - Right Place, Wrong TimeDr. John - Right Place, Wrong Time

““Blue-Eyed Soul”Blue-Eyed Soul”

• Takin’ it to the StreetsTakin’ it to the Streets– Soulful vocal style delivery Soulful vocal style delivery – Active bass line, ala Stax SoulActive bass line, ala Stax Soul– Hammond organHammond organ– Backing vocals added in refrainBacking vocals added in refrain

• Right Place, Wrong TimeRight Place, Wrong Time– Blues/gospel vocal style, toneBlues/gospel vocal style, tone– SyncopationSyncopation– PolyrhythmsPolyrhythms– Funk accompaniment, including wah-wah pedalFunk accompaniment, including wah-wah pedal– ChoirChoir

Right Place, Wrong TimeRight Place, Wrong Time

• Form: modification of refrain-frameForm: modification of refrain-frame– A B A A (solos over changes) B AA B A A (solos over changes) B A

• Shifting of style beatShifting of style beat– 16-beat style beat in intro16-beat style beat in intro– shifts to 8 beat rock style beatshifts to 8 beat rock style beat– both come together at beginning of vocalsboth come together at beginning of vocals– B section uses 2 beat style beatB section uses 2 beat style beat

The EaglesThe Eagles

• Combined country rock with slick pop Combined country rock with slick pop production, production,

• Extremely popular in 1970sExtremely popular in 1970s• The Eagles - Take It EasyThe Eagles - Take It Easy

– Unmistakable country influenceUnmistakable country influence– Close vocal harmonies influenced by Beach Boys, Close vocal harmonies influenced by Beach Boys,

Everly BrothersEverly Brothers– Harmonically simpleHarmonically simple– Rhythmically straightforwardRhythmically straightforward