Module 5

Module 5 covers a wide variety of music.  The 1960s were a very interesting and controversial time in American history.  As discussed previously, music is influenced by historical events and this time period was no exception.  The Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War, and the British Invasion were influencing music throughout America.  Music of the early 1960s was starkly different from that of the late 1960s and many new types of music came into existence, all from having influence from earlier types of music such as R&B, country and western, and Rock n Roll.

The Beatles were part of the British Invasion of the 1960s bringing the British pop influence into the American public.  Early songs released in America had a very different sound than those released in later years.  “Please Please Me” has a different sound from “Eleanor Rigby”.  While “Please Please Me” is upbeat and fun to listen to, “Eleanor Rigby” has a very dark sound to it.  It is concentrated on the subject of lonely people and is played in a minor key accompanied by a string quartet.  Even though the group was British, it seems that they were influenced as much by American culture than any other American group.  “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” was released after the other songs mentioned and has a very rock influenced sound.  Like many other musicians during the 1960s, experimentation and influence from drug use is apparent in their music.  “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” is said to reference the drug LSD, although this is disputed by The Beatles.  The sound of this song is starkly different from some of their first songs in America from 1964-1966.

The introduction of soul music during the 1960s is a direct descendent from R&B with gospel influence with the gritty vocal sound.  Call and response form with horn lines from the past is still evident in soul music.  “Papa’s Gotta Brand New Bag” is a catchy song by James Brown that captures the realness of his life.  On the other hand, female soul singer Aretha Franklin was also performing soul music throughout the 1960s with great popularity.  “Respect” became a huge hit, and like James Brown, she is heavily influenced by gospel vocal sounds, R&B, and uses a horn line.  She also incorporates back-up singers to help with call and response form.

Psychedelic Rock also comes into existence during this time period with performers such as Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, and The Grateful Dead.  There is no doubt that this music is very influenced by heavy drug use.  The counterculture movement directly influenced this music and became popular to those associated.