Folk Rock and American Pop

America Fights Back  The British Invasion was hitting the airwaves of America with it’s full force with groups like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Kinks.  The American public were loving it…but the record companies were not!

America Fights Back  Out of the British Invasion sparked an American response to what the public wanted and this came across as a cross bread between folk and rock and roll.  Folk Rock as it was dubbed after that point was one of the first ways that the American music industry fought back in the invasion.

Folk Rock  The cross between Folk’s easy strumming and lyrical content, mixed with the Beatles like electric guitars, bass, drums and keyboards created the new sound of Folk Rock.  The main players in this music era are Bob Dylan and the Bryds.

Folk Rock  Bob Dylan was no stranger to the folk music scene, but before this point wasn’t wildly popular.  He always had a desire to electrify the folk scene…it was not a popular move to start.  He released four albums with mixed success using a mix of electric and acoustic instruments.  It wasn’t until 1965 with the release if his 5 th album the the electrification of folk was ok

Folk Rock Cont.  Dylan’s first major hit being electrified was “Subterranean Homesick Blues”Subterranean Homesick Blues  He used this song to gain success touring in festivals…which caused some controversy between the traditionalist and the electrified.  He released “ Like a Rolling Stone”.Like a Rolling Stone

Folk Rock Cont.  Bob Dylan released his 6 th album very soon after he gained success with the electric folk sound.  He gained a position on the charts with “Positively 4 th Street”Positively 4 th Street  This was closely followed by “ Rainy Day Women No. 12 and 32”Rainy Day Women No. 12 and 32

Folk Rock- The Byrds  The Byrds were the other notable group of the Folk Rock era.  They had more of an electrified sound than Dylan.  But they did gain their first success from Bob Dylan’s song “ Tambourine Man”Tambourine Man  The Byrds gained inspiration from not only Bob Dylan, but the Beatles and their use of instruments.

The Byrds  They watched and studied these artists to help them gain ideas on how to make their own more unique sound.  “ All I Really Want to Do” – A Bob Dylan coverAll I Really Want to Do  “ Turn, Turn, Turn”- A Beatles inspired track both raced to the top of the charts.Turn, Turn, Turn  The Best examples of folk being electrified is Simon and Garfunkel’s sound “ The Sound of Silence”The Sound of Silence

Folk Rock- The Other Groups  The Mama’s and Papa’s- California Dreamin, Monday Monday, I saw Her Again.California Dreamin Monday I saw Her Again  The Tyrtles- It Aint me Baby, Let Me Be, Happy Together.It Aint me BabyLet Me Be Happy Together

American Pop Music  Although the Folk Rock sound was gaining popularity there was still a huge need for pop based music.  Building from the Spcctor Wall of Sound, pop music was going in a very different direction altogether.  Pop was becoming more about sound experimentation and lyrics

American Pop- The Beach Boys  One of the best examples of this experimentation was “ Pet Shop Sounds” released by the Beach Boys.  This record was released in the middle of Beatlemania and still managed to top the charts.  Fun Fun Fun, I Get Around, were both number one hits. Fun Fun FunI Get Around

The Beach Boys  The Next two albums showed more growth in experimentation in regards to instrumentation and lyrics, which Brian Wilson (founding member of the Beach Boys) was well known for.  Help Me Rhonda, California Girls, and Barbra Ann Help Me RhondaCalifornia GirlsBarbra Ann  Other notable songs the Beach Boys released in this time period are: Wouldn’t it be Nice, God Only KnowsWouldn’t it be NiceGod Only Knows

Continued Success  Brian Wilson would eventually retire from touring and simply write and produces for the Beach Boys, and they still have huge success.  This experimentation by Wilson and the Beach Boys cleared the way for other groups in pop and rock music.

Next Week  Test  Topic 2 lesson 4-8  Folk music first wave, teen Idols (bubblegum pop) and the dance craze of the twist, surf sound, girl groups and the Wall of Sound, producer men (Lieber and Stroller), The Beatles and the first wave of the British Invasion (skiffle), Other British groups (The Who, Rolling Stones, The Kinks, the Yardbirds), and the American response to the invasion (Folk Rock and pop music- The Beach Boys).