DOCSLIB.ORG

Music 262: Rock Music, History and Social Analysis, Leiber & Stoller

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Music 262: Rock Music, History and Social Analysis, Leiber & Stoller Music 262: Rock Music, History and Social Analysis, Leiber & Stoller [Music Playing on Piano] [Brian Ward]: So when we get to the 1960s after 1959 when rock n’ roll sort of died this doo wop music kind of kept going on which was a really good thing for rock n’ roll. The R&B though was really pushing more toward the soul market. Motown was starting to rise in Detroit. We had Phil Spector out on the west coast. We have surf music rising up in California. Teen idol music was being created in The Brill Building of New York. Along the lines of doo wop though we have what we call neo doo wop, again a new term. That’s not what they called it back then. It was simply rock n’ roll to everyone. This is kind of the classic doo wop rock n’ roll sound that developed at the end of the 1950s. We have these new vocal groups that are shaping the music and a lot of them have parallels with the dance craze, for example, the twist or the locomotion. Really good examples of a song associated with a dance craze. Two of the leading neo doo wop groups in the 1960s were The Coasters and The Drifters. Both of these groups are affiliated with a songwriting team, a very famous songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were a songwriting team. They started out in the 50s. Their first big hit was hound dog that they wrote for Big Mama Thornton and it became a big hit for Elvis. They were considered to be the Rodgers and Hart of rock n’ roll. Rodgers and Hart of course are prolific songwriters from the Broadway musicals. They wrote a lot of hit pop songs. The same thing with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller except they wrote a lot of hit rhythm and blues songs. The thing that’s crazy about this is that these guys were white. They were able to write authentic rhythm and blues songs that really spoke to the community of African Americans and nobody knew any different. The reason they were able to do this was because they immersed themselves in black culture at the time. They really, just because of their love for this music, they embraced it and became this great songwriting team. They paved the way for a lot of this teen idol stuff that was to come later in The Brill Building in New York. We’ll talk about that in another unit. Like I said, they wrote a lot of hits for a wide range of artists: Elvis, The Coasters. They had a lot of streetwise knowledge. They wrote Hound Dog, Kansas City, and they really helped R&B increase its range and expose it to new listeners. So Leiber wrote the words, Stoller wrote the music and they weren’t tied to any single record label. They were free agents. In doing so, they could do a lot of different things. For example, with the group, The Coasters, they wrote most of their music. The early name of the group was The Robins and they were encouraged by Leiber and Stoller and they hooked them up with Atlantic Records and they changed their name to The Coasters. They played songs that were called “playlets”. They were like little, mini dramas that are acted out in a song. So for example, Yakety Yak (Don’t Talk Back) tells the story of a teenager who was a little bit rebellious and kind of lazy. His parents are being a little hard on him. The song Riot in Cell Block #9, it kind of tells the story of what happens in a prison riot. These songs are known as playlets. They are little, mini dramas that are played out in songs. They became very popular. 1 On the other hand, they worked with a group called The Drifters. Now The Drifters did a more uptown version of rhythm and blues that was very influential later on to a lot of groups. Leiber and Stoller took a much more serious approach with this group and they didn’t actually write the songs. What they did is they produced the songs. They started their development as producers at this time with the drifters. They were very successful. They did not use the playlet style. The more love song oriented version of rhythm and blues was very, very appealing to a wide range of audiences. What they did was they enhanced the drama and the romance of these songs. They still kept the urban realism to the music. That was the music of the drifters. The drifters had a lot of personnel changes during their tenure as a group. It really didn’t matter because like I said doo wop is more about the song and it’s really not about the singers. 2 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Aretha Franklin's Gendered Re-Authoring of Otis Redding's
    Popular Music (2014) Volume 33/2. © Cambridge University Press 2014, pp. 185–207 doi:10.1017/S0261143014000270 ‘Find out what it means to me’: Aretha Franklin’s gendered re-authoring of Otis Redding’s ‘Respect’ VICTORIA MALAWEY Music Department, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105, USA E-mail: [email protected] Abstract In her re-authoring of Otis Redding’s ‘Respect’, Aretha Franklin’s seminal 1967 recording features striking changes to melodic content, vocal delivery, lyrics and form. Musical analysis and transcription reveal Franklin’s re-authoring techniques, which relate to rhetorical strategies of motivated rewriting, talking texts and call-and-response introduced by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The extent of her re-authoring grants her status as owner of the song and results in a new sonic experience that can be clearly related to the cultural work the song has performed over the past 45 years. Multiple social movements claimed Franklin’s ‘Respect’ as their anthem, and her version more generally functioned as a song of empower- ment for those who have been marginalised, resulting in the song’s complex relationship with feminism. Franklin’s ‘Respect’ speaks dialogically with Redding’s version as an answer song that gives agency to a female perspective speaking within the language of soul music, which appealed to many audiences. Introduction Although Otis Redding wrote and recorded ‘Respect’ in 1965, Aretha Franklin stakes a claim of ownership by re-authoring the song in her famous 1967 recording. Her version features striking changes to the melodic content, vocal delivery, lyrics and form.
    [Show full text]
  • Not for Publication United
    Case 2:95-cv-03794-DRD-MCA Document 236 Filed 09/10/07 Page 1 of 38 PageID: <pageID> NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY ____________________________________ : Larry Marshak, : : Plaintiff, : : Civil Action No.: 95-3794 (DRD) v. : : OPINION Faye Treadwell, Treadwell’s Drifters, Inc., : and The Drifters, Inc., : : Defendants. : ____________________________________: Appearances by: Jeffrey Schreiber, Esq. Meister, Seelig & Fein, LLP 2G Auer Court Williamsburg Commons East Brunswick, NJ 08816 Attorney for Motion Respondents, Larry Marshak, Jody Marshak, Paula Marshak, Andrea Marshak, DCPM, Inc., Cal-Cap Ltd., Barry Singer, Singer Management Consultants, Inc., and Charles Mehlich. William L. Charron, Esq. Mona Simonian, Esq. Pryor Cashman LLP 410 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 Pro Hac Vice Attorneys for Motion Respondents, Larry Marshak, Jody Marshak, Paula Marshak, Andrea Marshak, DCPM, Inc., Cal-Cap Ltd., Barry Singer, Singer Management Consultants, Inc., and Charles Mehlich. Lowell B. Davis, Esq. One Old Country Road Carle Place, NY 11514 Pro Se Motion Respondent Case 2:95-cv-03794-DRD-MCA Document 236 Filed 09/10/07 Page 2 of 38 PageID: <pageID> Cindy Salvo, Esq. The Salvo Law Firm 101 Eisenhower Parkway Suite 300 Roseland, NJ 07068 Attorney for Petitioners Faye Treadwell, Treadwell’s Drifters, Inc. and The Drifters, Inc. DEBEVOISE, United States Senior District Judge Petitioners, Faye Treadwell, Treadwell’s Drifters, Inc., and The Drifters, Inc. (collectively referred to as “Treadwell”), move to have Motion Respondent, Larry Marshak (“Marshak”), held in contempt for violating the order of Judge Nicholas H. Politan, dated August 16, 1999, which permanently enjoined Marshak’s use of the name, “The Drifters,” or any other name that would be confusingly similar to “The Drifters,” in the “occurrence, sale, promotion, or advertising of live or recorded musical performances.” Judge Politan’s order, upon appeal by Marshak, was affirmed by Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on February 9, 2001.
    [Show full text]
  • Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 500 Songs
    Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 500 Songs No. Interpret Title Year of release 1. Bob Dylan Like a Rolling Stone 1961 2. The Rolling Stones Satisfaction 1965 3. John Lennon Imagine 1971 4. Marvin Gaye What’s Going on 1971 5. Aretha Franklin Respect 1967 6. The Beach Boys Good Vibrations 1966 7. Chuck Berry Johnny B. Goode 1958 8. The Beatles Hey Jude 1968 9. Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit 1991 10. Ray Charles What'd I Say (part 1&2) 1959 11. The Who My Generation 1965 12. Sam Cooke A Change is Gonna Come 1964 13. The Beatles Yesterday 1965 14. Bob Dylan Blowin' in the Wind 1963 15. The Clash London Calling 1980 16. The Beatles I Want zo Hold Your Hand 1963 17. Jimmy Hendrix Purple Haze 1967 18. Chuck Berry Maybellene 1955 19. Elvis Presley Hound Dog 1956 20. The Beatles Let It Be 1970 21. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run 1975 22. The Ronettes Be My Baby 1963 23. The Beatles In my Life 1965 24. The Impressions People Get Ready 1965 25. The Beach Boys God Only Knows 1966 26. The Beatles A day in a life 1967 27. Derek and the Dominos Layla 1970 28. Otis Redding Sitting on the Dock of the Bay 1968 29. The Beatles Help 1965 30. Johnny Cash I Walk the Line 1956 31. Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven 1971 32. The Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil 1968 33. Tina Turner River Deep - Mountain High 1966 34. The Righteous Brothers You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin' 1964 35.
    [Show full text]
  • Study Buddy CASSETTE DION ELVIS GUITAR IPOD PHONOGRAPH RADIO RECORD RHYTHM ROCK ROLL Where The
    Rhythm, Blues and Clues I V J X F Y R D L Y W D U N H Searchin Michael Presser, Executive Director A Q X R O C K F V K K P D O P Help the musical note find it’s home B L U E S B Y X X F S F G I A Presents… Y C L C N T K F L V V E A D R Y A K O A Z T V E I O D O A G E S W R R T H K J P U P T R O U S I D H S O N W G I I U G N Z E G V A Y V F F F U E N G O P T V N L O T S C G X U Q E H L T G H B E R H O J H D N L P N E C S U W Q B M D W S G Y M Z O B P M R O Y F D G S R W K O F D A X E J X L B M O W Z K B P I D R V X T C B Y W P K P F Y K R Q R E Q F V L T L S G ALBUM BLUES BROADWAY Study Buddy CASSETTE DION ELVIS GUITAR IPOD PHONOGRAPH RADIO RECORD RHYTHM ROCK ROLL Where the 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 802 Our Mission: Music Inside Broadway is a professional New York City based children’s theatre New York, NY 10036 12 company committed to producing Broadway’s classic musicals in a Music Lives Telephone: 212-245-0710 contemporary light for young audiences.
    [Show full text]
  • Forefathers, Early Ihfluences and Nonperformers
    FOREFATHERS, EARLY IHFLUENCES AND NONPERFORMERS When rock and roll itself was still a dream with music that would still be the freshest productions o f top-drawer materialfrom Doc \ baby, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller sound on the airwaves years later. ’ ’ Pomus andMort Shuman, Gerry Goffin and were among its youthful prodigies. More Robins sides followed on Spark, Carole King, and Barry Mann and Cynthia Beginning with their 1952 including “Framed” and “Smokey Joe’s Weil: “This Magic Moment,” “Save the Last breakthrough, a catchy blues romp Cafe. ’ ’ Atlantic Records soon signed Leiber and DanceforMe," “Up on the Roof,” “On called ‘ ‘K. C. Loving, ’ ’ Leiber and Stoller to one o f the industry’sfirst independent Broadway.” (Phil Spector, a young assistant of Stoller rapidly grew into one o f the most production deals. Their first Atlantic successes Leiber and Stoller, also worked on many o f prolific and creative teams in the were with the Coasters, a groupfeaturing two these records.) I m usic’s history. former members o f the Robins. In 1957, the first Red Bird Records was Leiber and Stoller’s Coasters smash appeared, ‘ ‘Searchin’, ’ ’ final and most successful attempt at running H ad they done nothing more than backed with ‘ ‘Young Blood’ ’; it both broke the their own record label. Their unerring ear for turn out a stream o fsongsfor Elvis Presley - group and established Leiber and Stoller as talent brought newcomers like Ellie Greenwich, 2“LoveMe,” “JailhouseRock,” “TreatMe maJor producers. In a sea o f doo-wop sound- Jeff Barry, Shadow Morton and Richard Perry Nice, ’ ’ ‘ 'You' re So Square (Baby 1 Don’t alikes, Coasters hits like “CharlieBrown,” into theRedBird nest.
    [Show full text]
  • Cornell Gunter's Coasters, Elsberry Hobbs' Drifters, and the Platters
    Governors State University OPUS Open Portal to University Scholarship Center for Performing Arts Memorabilia Center for Performing Arts 2-14-2003 Cornell Gunter's Coasters, Elsberry Hobbs' Drifters, and The lP atters Center for Performing Arts Follow this and additional works at: http://opus.govst.edu/cpa_memorabilia Recommended Citation Center for Performing Arts, "Cornell Gunter's Coasters, Elsberry Hobbs' Drifters, and The lP atters" (2003). Center for Performing Arts Memorabilia. Book 200. http://opus.govst.edu/cpa_memorabilia/200 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Performing Arts at OPUS Open Portal to University Scholarship. It has been accepted for inclusion in Center for Performing Arts Memorabilia by an authorized administrator of OPUS Open Portal to University Scholarship. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Governors State University fOR PERfORMIhO flftJS Presents Cornell Gunter's Coasters, Elsberry Hobbs' Drifters, and The Platters February 14, 2003 2001/2002 Season sponsored in part by a grant from the: SOU" TH IAN! "O CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 1-463-895-3233 www c^cvtj coin Cornell Gunter's Coasters from 1958-1996, with the exception of his time in the military and his work as a medical assistant. Hobbs was the leader of The Drift- ers from 1969 through his untimely death in 1996. This year marks the 35th Anniver- sary of the formation of Cornell During their greatest years as a touring group they performed for Gunter's Coasters out of the ashes three Presidents, the US Constitution's 200th Anniversary Good Will of the surprising breakup of The Tour of Russia, on all three national network TV stations, and through- Coaster group several months ear- out the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Starr-Waterman American Popular Music Chapter 11: the 1970S: Rock Music, Disco, and the Popular Mainstream Key People Allman
    Starr-Waterman American Popular Music Chapter 11: The 1970s: Rock Music, Disco, and the Popular Mainstream Key People Allman Brothers Band: Most important southern rock band of the late 1960s and early 1970s who reconnected the generative power of the blues to the mainstream of rock music. Barry White (1944‒2004): Multitalented African American singer, songwriter, arranger, conductor, and producer who achieved success as an artist in the 1970s with his Love Unlimited Orchestra; perhaps best known for his full, deep voice. Carlos Santana (b. 1947): Mexican-born rock guitarist who combined rock, jazz, and Afro-Latin elements on influential albums like Abraxas. Carole King (b. 1942): Singer-songwriter who recorded influential songs in New York’s Brill Building and later recorded the influential album Tapestry in 1971. Charlie Rich (b. 1932): Country performer known as the “Silver Fox” who won the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award in 1974 for his song “The Most Beautiful Girl.” Chic: Disco group who recorded the hit “Good Times.” Chicago: Most long-lived and popular jazz rock band of the 1970s, known today for anthemic love songs such as “If You Leave Me Now” (1976), “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” (1982), and “Look Away” (1988). David Bowie (1947‒2016): Glam rock pioneer who recorded the influential album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972. Dolly Parton (b. 1946): Country music star whose flexible soprano voice, songwriting ability, and carefully crafted image as a cheerful sex symbol combined to gain her a loyal following among country fans.
    [Show full text]
  • THE BRILL BUILDING, 1619 Broadway (Aka 1613-23 Broadway, 207-213 West 49Th Street), Manhattan Built 1930-31; Architect, Victor A
    Landmarks Preservation Commission March 23, 2010, Designation List 427 LP-2387 THE BRILL BUILDING, 1619 Broadway (aka 1613-23 Broadway, 207-213 West 49th Street), Manhattan Built 1930-31; architect, Victor A. Bark, Jr. Landmark Site: Borough of Manhattan Tax Map Block 1021, Lot 19 On October 27, 2009 the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on the proposed designation of the Brill Building and the proposed designation of the related Landmark site. The hearing had been duly advertised in accordance with provisions of law. Three people spoke in support of designation, including representatives of the owner, New York State Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried, and the Historic Districts Council. There were no speakers in opposition to designation.1 Summary Since its construction in 1930-31, the 11-story Brill Building has been synonymous with American music – from the last days of Tin Pan Alley to the emergence of rock and roll. Occupying the northwest corner of Broadway and West 49th Street, it was commissioned by real estate developer Abraham Lefcourt who briefly planned to erect the world’s tallest structure on the site, which was leased from the Brill Brothers, owners of a men’s clothing store. When Lefcourt failed to meet the terms of their agreement, the Brills foreclosed on the property and the name of the nearly-complete structure was changed from the Alan E. Lefcourt Building to the, arguably more melodious sounding, Brill Building. Designed in the Art Deco style by architect Victor A. Bark, Jr., the white brick elevations feature handsome terra-cotta reliefs, as well as two niches that prominently display stone and brass portrait busts that most likely portray the developer’s son, Alan, who died as the building was being planned.
    [Show full text]
  • YOUR HOST, PAUL REVERE of PAUL REVERE & the RAIDERS BJ THOMAS
    YOUR HOST, PAUL REVERE of PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS Paul Shaffer from "Late Night with David Letterman" calls Paul Revere and The Raiders "The Greatest Rock and Roll Show Band on Earth!" Paul Revere has a style, a sixth sense for pleasing an audience. The magic chemistry of his personality has been a major factor in the Raiders’ rise to popularity, and not by sheer accident. He has created, over a period of time, a highly polished act built on warmth and spontaneity. Paul Revere and The Raiders are a non-stop ball of energy from the moment they hit the stage to their last encore - You WILL always have a great time! Over 50 Million Records Sold & 20 Top 40 Hits including: INDIAN RESERVATION HUNGRY JUST LIKE ME KICKS GOOD THING UPS AND DOWNS MR. SUN, MR. MOON LET ME LOUIE, LOUIE HIM OR ME, WHAT'S IT GONNA BE? BJ THOMAS He owns one of the most distinctive voices in American pop music—a reassuringly masculine timbre conveyed with a smattering of unique embellishments that represent a distillation of the most influential genres in pop culture. During the four decades B.J. has performed, he has: Sold more than 70 Million Records Earned 2 Platinum Records Had 11 Gold Records Won 5 Grammy Awards Won 2 Dove Awards for Gospel Recordings which include "Home Where I Belong". Become the 60th Member of The Grand Ole Opry in 1981. Though no longer an active member of the Opry, B.J. still performs there as often as his schedule permits.
    [Show full text]
  • Changemakers: Biographies of African Americans in San Francisco Who Made a Difference
    The University of San Francisco USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and McCarthy Center Student Scholarship the Common Good 2020 Changemakers: Biographies of African Americans in San Francisco Who Made a Difference David Donahue Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.usfca.edu/mccarthy_stu Part of the History Commons CHANGEMAKERS AFRICAN AMERICANS IN SAN FRANCISCO WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE Biographies inspired by San Francisco’s Ella Hill Hutch Community Center murals researched, written, and edited by the University of San Francisco’s Martín-Baró Scholars and Esther Madríz Diversity Scholars CHANGEMAKERS: AFRICAN AMERICANS IN SAN FRANCISCO WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE © 2020 First edition, second printing University of San Francisco 2130 Fulton Street San Francisco, CA 94117 Published with the generous support of the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, Engage San Francisco, The Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good, The University of San Francisco College of Arts and Sciences, University of San Francisco Student Housing and Residential Education The front cover features a 1992 portrait of Ella Hill Hutch, painted by Eugene E. White The Inspiration Murals were painted in 1999 by Josef Norris, curated by Leonard ‘Lefty’ Gordon and Wendy Nelder, and supported by the San Francisco Arts Commission and the Mayor’s Offi ce Neighborhood Beautifi cation Project Grateful acknowledgment is made to the many contributors who made this book possible. Please see the back pages for more acknowledgments. The opinions expressed herein represent the voices of students at the University of San Francisco and do not necessarily refl ect the opinions of the University or our sponsors.
    [Show full text]
  • Popular Music, Stars and Stardom
    POPULAR MUSIC, STARS AND STARDOM POPULAR MUSIC, STARS AND STARDOM EDITED BY STEPHEN LOY, JULIE RICKWOOD AND SAMANTHA BENNETT Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] Available to download for free at press.anu.edu.au A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of Australia ISBN (print): 9781760462123 ISBN (online): 9781760462130 WorldCat (print): 1039732304 WorldCat (online): 1039731982 DOI: 10.22459/PMSS.06.2018 This title is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). The full licence terms are available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode Cover design by Fiona Edge and layout by ANU Press This edition © 2018 ANU Press All chapters in this collection have been subjected to a double-blind peer-review process, as well as further reviewing at manuscript stage. Contents Acknowledgements . vii Contributors . ix 1 . Popular Music, Stars and Stardom: Definitions, Discourses, Interpretations . 1 Stephen Loy, Julie Rickwood and Samantha Bennett 2 . Interstellar Songwriting: What Propels a Song Beyond Escape Velocity? . 21 Clive Harrison 3 . A Good Black Music Story? Black American Stars in Australian Musical Entertainment Before ‘Jazz’ . 37 John Whiteoak 4 . ‘You’re Messin’ Up My Mind’: Why Judy Jacques Avoided the Path of the Pop Diva . 55 Robin Ryan 5 . Wendy Saddington: Beyond an ‘Underground Icon’ . 73 Julie Rickwood 6 . Unsung Heroes: Recreating the Ensemble Dynamic of Motown’s Funk Brothers . 95 Vincent Perry 7 . When Divas and Rock Stars Collide: Interpreting Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé’s Barcelona .
    [Show full text]
  • Why Am I Doing This?
    LISTEN TO ME, BABY BOB DYLAN 2008 by Olof Björner A SUMMARY OF RECORDING & CONCERT ACTIVITIES, NEW RELEASES, RECORDINGS & BOOKS. © 2011 by Olof Björner All Rights Reserved. This text may be reproduced, re-transmitted, redistributed and otherwise propagated at will, provided that this notice remains intact and in place. Listen To Me, Baby — Bob Dylan 2008 page 2 of 133 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................................. 4 2 2008 AT A GLANCE ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 3 THE 2008 CALENDAR ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 4 NEW RELEASES AND RECORDINGS ............................................................................................................................. 7 4.1 BOB DYLAN TRANSMISSIONS ............................................................................................................................................... 7 4.2 BOB DYLAN RE-TRANSMISSIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 7 4.3 BOB DYLAN LIVE TRANSMISSIONS .....................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]