MUS 505 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Overdubbing, Rockabilly, Socalled
Document Summary
Lecture 5 postwar period, rock n roll. Bookended between the swift decline of the big band era and the rock n" roll explosion, this time is often regarded as a period of pronounced musical conservatism. Perhaps more than music is its relationship to the social and economic changes that are most telling of popular culture phenomena during this period. Postwar era is followed by a short economic downturn then a boom time: teenagers and disposable income, expansion of the american middle class. Social and political basis: era of increased economic stability counterpointed by global political instability and conflict (cold war). Payola (paid djs to play your record to increase sales) illegal. Market saturation (overflowing the market with certain music: result: period of economic growth for music biz for major labels, marginal genres exert increasing influence of musical mainstream. The postwar era from four musical perspectives: the superstar crooners (pinnacle of conservativism, the mambo craze, rhythm and blues, country and western.