Institute for Popular Music

History of Rock and Roll

• Introduction

  • Using the Book and Course Materials

• "The World Before Rock and Roll (1900-1955)" (Chapter 1)

  • The Music Business in the First Half of the 20th Century (7:25)
  • Radio and Regional vs National Audiences (8:56)
  • The Stars of Pop Music Before Rock and Roll (12:14)
  • Les Paul, Inventor - The Role of Technology (6:04)
  • Origins of Country & Western (pre WWII) (9:02)
  • The Rise of Nashville (13:23)
  • Rhythm and Blues (Pre 1945) (7:45)
  • Rhythm & Blues (Post 1945) (11:25)
  • Regional R&B Radio in the 1950s (6:44)
  • Doo Wop and Gospel (6:22)
  • Hokum Blues and Sexual Lyrics (5:23)

• "The Birth and First Flourishing of Rock and Roll (1955-59)" (Chapter 2)

  • The Rise of Youth Culture in the 1950s (11:31)
  • Radio and Records (12:50)
  • Crossovers and Covers (10:12)
  • The First Rock and Rollers Cross Over (13:37)
  • The Rise of Elvis Presley (12:45)
  • Sam Phillips Selling Elvis Contract (3:16)
  • Rockabilly in the Wake of Elvis (12:44)
  • The Day the Music Died (11:19)

• "The Demise of Rock and the Promise of Soul (1959-63)" (Chapter 3)

  • Audiences and Marketing - The Search for the Next Elvis (4:16)
  • The Brill Building Approach to Pop (8:05)
  • Teen Idols (6:32)
  • Producers and Girl Groups (9:27)
  • Sweet Soul (7:08)
  • TV, Movies, and Dance Crazes (15:15)
  • The Folk Revival (10:55)
  • Rockabilly Popsters (8:09)
  • Surf Music (10:57)

• "The Beatles and the British Invasion (1964-66)" (Chapter 4)

  • Chapter 4 Intro (3:34)
  • The Early 1960s in the US & UK (11:47)
  • The Rise of the Beatles (11:05)
  • Beatles as Students of American Pop Music (5:25)
  • Beatles From Craftsmen to Artists (9:55)
  • Blues in the UK (4:57)
  • The Rolling Stones Emerge (7:47)
  • The Stones in The States (5:37)
  • Other British Bands (10:37)
  • The Kinks and the Who (12:10)

• "American Responses (1965-67)" (Chapter 5)

  • Dylan as the New American Songwriter (11:53)
  • Dylan Goes Electric (8:34)
  • Folk Rock and the Byrds (11:47)
  • The Phil Spector Legacy (12:04)
  • Meanwhile, Back East (8:27)
  • Garage Bands (8:55)
  • TV Rock (14:36)

• "Motown Pop and Southern Soul (1960-69)" (Chapter 6)

  • Chapter 6 Preamble (7:12)
  • Hitsville, USA: Motown (13:44)
  • The Motown Performers (13:54)
  • Soulsville, USA: Stax and Southern Soul (7:25)
  • The Stax Performers (12:06)
  • Motown, Stax, the British Invasion, and the American Response (6:37)
  • James Brown (12:44)

• "Psychedelia (1966-69)" (Chapter 7)

  • LSD, Music, and the Trip (13:24)
  • The Beginnings of the Hippie Aesthetic (8:52)
  • Pushing the Envelope Beatles and Beach Boys (13:07)
  • Psychedelia in San Francisco - Subculture (11:10)
  • Psychedelia in San Francisco - Important Groups (13:52)
  • Psychedelia in London and Underground Favs (11:35)
  • Psychedelia in London - Mainstream Stars (10:35)
  • Los Angeles and Elsewhere (11:51)
  • A Hippie Nation (8:46)

• "The Growing Rock Monster (1970-77)" (Chapter 8)

  • Intro
  • Blues Rock British Based
  • American Blues Rock and Southern Rock
  • Overview of the 1970s
  • Jazz Rock
  • Progressive Rock
  • Singer Songwriters
  • British and Canadian Singer Songwriters
  • Theatrical Rock
  • Country Rock

• "Black Pop, Reggae, and the Rise of Disco (1970-79)" (Chapter 9)

  • Black Pop in the 1970s Intro
  • Sly Stone and the Rise of Funk
  • Motown in the 1970s
  • Philadelphia Sound
  • Blaxploitation Soundtracks
  • James Brown George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
  • The Rise of Reggae
  • Disco

• "Mainstream Rock, Punk, and New Wave (1975-79)" (Chapter 10)

  • Chapter 10 Intro
  • Mainstream Rock
  • Continuities
  • Leaner Prog Louder Singer-Songwriters
  • US Punk 1967–75
  • UK Punk 1974–77
  • American New Wave 1977-80
  • British New Wave 1977-80
  • Summarizing the 1970s

• "I Want My MTV (1980-89)" (Chapter 11)

  • The Rise of MTV
  • The Rise of MTV Part Two
  • Michael Jackson and Madonna
  • Prince and Janet Jackson
  • MTV Success Stories
  • New Traditionalists and New Wave
  • New Acts Old Styles and Blue-Eyed Soul
  • Dinosaurs Adapt and Thrive

• "Heavy Metal, Rap, and the Rise of Alternative Rock (1980-89)" (Chapter 12)

  • Chapter 12 Intro
  • Heavy Metal Grows
  • Heavy Metal Hits the Big Time
  • Metal Ambition
  • The Roots of Rap
  • Rap Crosses Over
  • CNN for Black People
  • Punk Goes Hardcore
  • Indie Rock Underground

• "Widening Gaps (the 1990s)" (Chapter 13)

  • Chapter 13 Intro
  • The Rise of Alternative
  • Indie Rock
  • Metal and Alternative Extensions
  • Hip-Hop in the 1990s
  • Classic Rock
  • New Rock Traditions
  • Female Singer-Songwriters
  • Teen Idols
  • Electronic Dance Music Conclusion