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In North America and Europe the 1960s were particularly revolutionary in terms of popular music.
In North America and Europe the 1960s were particularly revolutionary in terms of popular music.
The pop and rock and roll trends of the 1950s continued for a short while Elvis Presley continued to score hits. However, the rock ‘n’ roll sound was gradually overtaken by pop rock, beat*, psychedelic rock, blues rock, and folk rock.
The pop and rock and roll trends of the 1950s continued for a short while Elvis Presley continued to score hits. However, the rock ‘n’ roll sound was gradually overtaken by pop rock, beat*, psychedelic rock, blues rock, and folk rock.
*Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat (after bands from Liverpool and nearby areas beside the River Mersey) was a popular music genre, influenced by American rock and roll, British skiffle, and traditional pop music, that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s.
This was particularly true in Liverpool, where it has been estimated that there were around 350 different bands active, often playing ballrooms, concert halls and clubs. Beat bands were heavily influenced by American bands of the era, such as Buddy Holly and the Crickets (from which group the Beatles derived their name), as well as earlier British groups such as the Shadows.
This was particularly true in Liverpool, where it has been estimated that there were around 350 different bands active, often playing ballrooms, concert halls and clubs. Beat bands were heavily influenced by American bands of the era, such as Buddy Holly and the Crickets (from which group the Beatles derived their name), as well as earlier British groups such as the Shadows.
After the national success of the Beatles in Britain from 1962, a number of Liverpool performers were able to follow them into the charts including Cilla Black, Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Searchers. London bands that benefited from the beat boom of this era included The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and the Kinks. The beat movement provided most of the groups responsible for the British Invasion of the American pop charts in the period after 1964 and formed the model for many important developments in pop and rock music.
After the national success of the Beatles in Britain from 1962, a number of Liverpool performers were able to follow them into the charts including Cilla Black, Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Searchers. London bands that benefited from the beat boom of this era included The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and the Kinks. The beat movement provided most of the groups responsible for the British Invasion of the American pop charts in the period after 1964 and formed the model for many important developments in pop and rock music.
Initially, British music artists reinterpreted standard American tunes, playing for dancers doing the twist, for example. These groups eventually infused their original rock compositions with increasingly complex musical ideas and a distinctive sound. In mid-1962 the Rolling Stones started as one of a number of groups increasingly showing blues influence, along with bands like the Animals and the Yardbirds. During 1963, the Beatles and other beat groups, such as the Searchers and the Hollies, achieved great popularity and commercial success in Britain itself.
Initially, British music artists reinterpreted standard American tunes, playing for dancers doing the twist, for example. These groups eventually infused their original rock compositions with increasingly complex musical ideas and a distinctive sound. In mid-1962 the Rolling Stones started as one of a number of groups increasingly showing blues influence, along with bands like the Animals and the Yardbirds. During 1963, the Beatles and other beat groups, such as the Searchers and the Hollies, achieved great popularity and commercial success in Britain itself.
British rock music broke through to mainstream popularity in the United States in January 1964 with the success of the Beatles. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" was the band's first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, starting the British Invasion of the American music charts.
British rock music broke through to mainstream popularity in the United States in January 1964 with the success of the Beatles. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" was the band's first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, starting the British Invasion of the American music charts.
The song entered the chart on January 18, 1964, at No. 45 before it became the No. 1 single for 7 weeks and went on to last a total of 15 weeks in the chart. Their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show February 9 is considered a milestone in American pop culture. The broadcast drew an estimated 73 million viewers, at the time a record for an American television program. The Beatles went on to become the biggest selling rock band of all time and they were followed by numerous British bands.
The song entered the chart on January 18, 1964, at No. 45 before it became the No. 1 single for 7 weeks and went on to last a total of 15 weeks in the chart. Their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show February 9 is considered a milestone in American pop culture. The broadcast drew an estimated 73 million viewers, at the time a record for an American television program. The Beatles went on to become the biggest selling rock band of all time and they were followed by numerous British bands.
In the early 1960s, one of the most popular forms of rock and roll was Surf Rock, which was characterized by being nearly entirely instrumental and by heavy use of reverb on the guitars.
In the early 1960s, one of the most popular forms of rock and roll was Surf Rock, which was characterized by being nearly entirely instrumental and by heavy use of reverb on the guitars.
The spring reverb featured in Fender amplifiers of the day, cranked to its maximum volume, produced a guitar tone shimmering with sustain and evoking surf and ocean imagery. By the mid-1960s the Beach Boys, who used complex pop harmonies over a basic surf rock rhythm, had emerged as the dominant surf group and helped popularize the genre in hits like Surfin' U.S.A. In addition, bands such as the Ventures, the Shadows, the Atlantics, the Surfaris and the Champs were also among the most popular Surf Rock bands of the decade.
The spring reverb featured in Fender amplifiers of the day, cranked to its maximum volume, produced a guitar tone shimmering with sustain and evoking surf and ocean imagery. By the mid-1960s the Beach Boys, who used complex pop harmonies over a basic surf rock rhythm, had emerged as the dominant surf group and helped popularize the genre in hits like Surfin' U.S.A. In addition, bands such as the Ventures, the Shadows, the Atlantics, the Surfaris and the Champs were also among the most popular Surf Rock bands of the decade.
During the next two years, several British acts would have one or more No. 1 singles in America. Other acts that were part of the invasion included the Kinks and the Dave Clark Five. British Invasion acts also dominated the music charts at home in the United Kingdom.
During the next two years, several British acts would have one or more No. 1 singles in America. Other acts that were part of the invasion included the Kinks and the Dave Clark Five. British Invasion acts also dominated the music charts at home in the United Kingdom.
In America, the British Invasion arguably spelled the end of instrumental surf music, vocal girl groups and (for a time) the teen idols, that had dominated the American charts in the late 1950s and early '60s. It dented the careers of established R&B acts like Fats Domino and Chubby Checker and even temporarily derailed the chart success of surviving rock and roll acts including Elvis Presley. The British Invasion also played a major part in the rise of a distinct genre of rock music and cemented the primacy of the rock group, based on guitars and drums and producing their own material as singer-songwriters.
In America, the British Invasion arguably spelled the end of instrumental surf music, vocal girl groups and (for a time) the teen idols, that had dominated the American charts in the late 1950s and early '60s. It dented the careers of established R&B acts like Fats Domino and Chubby Checker and even temporarily derailed the chart success of surviving rock and roll acts including Elvis Presley. The British Invasion also played a major part in the rise of a distinct genre of rock music and cemented the primacy of the rock group, based on guitars and drums and producing their own material as singer-songwriters.
By the 1960s, the scene that had developed out of the American folk music revival had grown to a major movement, utilising traditional music and new compositions in a traditional style (usually on acoustic instruments). Bob Dylan had begun to reach a mainstream audience with hits including "Blowin' in the Wind" (1963) and "Masters of War" (1963) which brought "protest songs" to a wider public. By the mid-'60s Bob Dylan took the lead in merging folk and rock, and in July '65, released Like a Rolling Stone, with a revolutionary rock sound.
By the 1960s, the scene that had developed out of the American folk music revival had grown to a major movement, utilising traditional music and new compositions in a traditional style (usually on acoustic instruments). Bob Dylan had begun to reach a mainstream audience with hits including "Blowin' in the Wind" (1963) and "Masters of War" (1963) which brought "protest songs" to a wider public. By the mid-'60s Bob Dylan took the lead in merging folk and rock, and in July '65, released Like a Rolling Stone, with a revolutionary rock sound.
Roots rock is the term now used to describe a more basic form of rock and roll that incorporated its original influences, particularly country and folk music, leading to the creation of country rock and Southern rock. In 1966, Bob Dylan spearheaded the movement when he went to Nashville to record the album Blonde on Blonde.
Roots rock is the term now used to describe a more basic form of rock and roll that incorporated its original influences, particularly country and folk music, leading to the creation of country rock and Southern rock. In 1966, Bob Dylan spearheaded the movement when he went to Nashville to record the album Blonde on Blonde.
Progressive rock was an attempt to move beyond established musical formulas by experimenting with different instruments, song types and forms. From the mid-1960s The Left Banke, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys, had pioneered the inclusion of harpsichords, wind and string sections on their recordings to produce a form of Baroque rock and can be heard in singles like Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" with its Bach inspired introduction.
Progressive rock was an attempt to move beyond established musical formulas by experimenting with different instruments, song types and forms. From the mid-1960s The Left Banke, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys, had pioneered the inclusion of harpsichords, wind and string sections on their recordings to produce a form of Baroque rock and can be heard in singles like Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" with its Bach inspired introduction.
Compare Bach's Ayre on G String, composed in 1731 with Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale, written in 1967.
Compare Bach's Ayre on G String, composed in 1731 with Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale, written in 1967.
Some of the best known guitar riFfs from the 1960s
Some of the best known guitar riFfs from the 1960s
Triumph and great tragedy marked the 1960s in country music. The genre continued to gain national exposure through network television, with weekly series and awards programs gaining popularity. Sales of records continued to rise as new artists and trends came to the forefront. However, several top stars died under tragic circumstances, including several who were killed in plane crashes.
Triumph and great tragedy marked the 1960s in country music. The genre continued to gain national exposure through network television, with weekly series and awards programs gaining popularity. Sales of records continued to rise as new artists and trends came to the forefront. However, several top stars died under tragic circumstances, including several who were killed in plane crashes.
COUNTRY
COUNTRY
The predominant musical style during the decade was the Nashville Sound, a style that emphasized string sections, background vocals, crooning lead vocals and production styles seen in country music. The style had first become popular in the late 1950s, in response to the growing encroachment of rock and roll on the country genre but saw its greatest success in the 1960s.
The predominant musical style during the decade was the Nashville Sound, a style that emphasized string sections, background vocals, crooning lead vocals and production styles seen in country music. The style had first become popular in the late 1950s, in response to the growing encroachment of rock and roll on the country genre but saw its greatest success in the 1960s.
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