1. I’m on the Dark Side of the Road: Dylan and the Folk Revival

2. The Folk Revival of the 1960’s
The roots of the 60’s folk revival actually lie in the 1940s and before:
America’s history of folk music as a political statement
“Almanac Singers,” Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie
The Weavers
(pictured)

3. Woody Guthrie 1912-1967 Oklahoma-born folk-music legend
Wrote over 1000 songs, including “This Land is Your Land”
Songs reflect his politics: socialist, pro-labor (his guitar had the inscription “This machine kills fascists.”)
Smithsonian Folkways label has an extensive collection of Guthrie songs and interviews

4. Woody Guthrie
Factoid: The melody of “This Land is Your Land” is based on the song “When the World’s on Fire,” recorded by the Carter Family.
Died of Huntington’s Disease in 1967.
His life is the subject of the 1976 film “Bound for Glory.”
His son, Arlo Guthrie, carries on the musical tradition.

5. From a 1930’s songbook of lyrics by Woody Guthrie:
"This song is Copyrighted in U.S., under Seal of Copyright #154085, for a period of 28 years, and anybody caught singin' it without our permission, will be mighty good friends of ours, cause we don't give a dern. Publish it. Write it. Sing it. Swing to it. Yodel it. We wrote it, that's all we wanted to do."
(quoted from Wikipedia)

6. Pete Seeger Folksinger & political activist born 1919
Comes from a major folk-music family:
Father: ethnomusicologist Charles Seeger
Siblings: folk musicians Mike and Peggy Seeger
Founded Almanac Singers and Weavers in the 1950’s
Blacklisted during the McCarthy Era, 1950s
Influential in 1960s folk revival
Still an outspoken activist on environmental and political topics
Pete Seeger Folksinger & political activist born 1919

7. 1950s – Early 60s: Folk vs Rock
Folk lyrics: considered more “serious,” often dealt with political issues, urged political action
Folk demographic: appealed to older / college audience (as opposed to teen record-buyers)
Folk favored LP format (vs. single)
Folk used exclusively acoustic instrumentation

8. 1950s – early 60s The Kingston Trio
Dave Guard, Bob Shane. Nick Reynolds
Appalachian songs, American folk songs, humorous songs, vocal harmonies
Clean-cut image, “Ivy League”
Example of “urban folk trend” – folk music played by musicians who were not necessarily from the places where the traditions originated

9. Peter, Paul and Mary Blowin’ in the Wind
Paul Stookey, Mary Travers, Peter Yarrow
Different image from Kingston trio – intellectual, “beat,” more political songs
Aimed at college audience
This example is from 1963

10. Joan Baez: Daddy You Been On My Mind
Important artist in 1960s folk revival; career began in the active Harvard- Cambridge music scene
Early success came after appearance at 1959 Newport Folk Festival
Toured with Dylan in ’64 and ’65
Long and successful career continues
She remains an outspoken political activist
This example (1965) was written by Bob Dylan

11. Bob Dylan Robert Zimmerman, b.1941, Hibbing, MN
Strongly influenced by Woody Guthrie, as well as other American musics such as blues and country
1960, traveled to NYC, met Guthrie, who was dying
Began career in NYC

12. Bob Dylan – early career
1963: First LP, “The Freewheeling Bob Dylan”
1963: Huge success at Newport Folk Festival
Many other artists “covering” Dylan songs
Gains reputation for outspoken, “political” lyrics (“Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Masters of War,” etc
1964: Change to a more personal lyric style, with LP “The Times They are a-Changin’”

13. Blowin’ in the Wind From the 1963 album, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”
This is Dylan’s version (he wrote it) of the Peter, Paul, & Mary example we heard earlier
A great example of Dylan’s protest song style

14. A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall
From the 1963 album, “The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan”
This song and others became “anthems” of youth movement; typical of political optimism of the time (along with other songs such as Masters of War - Don’t Think Twice, it’s All Right
This song is about the Cuban Missile Crisis

15. The Times They Are A-Changin’
From the 1964 album “The Times They Are A-Changin’”
This album featured songs that were more personal than his previous work
Not all of his old fans liked the change

16. It Ain’t Me, Babe From the 1964 album, “Another Side of Bob Dylan”
This album continued Dylan’s introspective lyrical style

17. Like A Rolling Stone From the 1965 album “Highway 61 Revisitied”
We can hear Dylan fusing the political, social, and introspective lyrical approaches in this song
Hendrix played this song at his first U.S. festival appearance (Monterey Pop Festival, 1966)

18. Bob Dylan – acoustic and electric
1965: Experiments with mixing acoustic / electric sounds
1965: Causes near-riot at Newport Folk Festival by playing with electric band
1965: Goes “all electric” with LP “Highway 61 Revisited”
This is considered by many to be one of the premier examples of “Folk Rock”

19. Bob Dylan – influence on “folk rock”
Lyrics: political lyrics make their way into rock music (he did not do this single-handedly!)
Lyrics: more sophisticated, “poetic” lyrics; symbolic language (Dylan lyrics being studied in English classes)
Music: Rock instrumentation applied to folk music repertoire
Music: Borrowing melodies and other musical elements from traditional music (modes, etc)

20. Dylan “Covers”
Dylan’s songs have been covered by artists from practically every part of the musical spectrum.
Factoid: Did you know that the lyrics to “All Along the Watchtower” are loosely based on a biblical passage from the 21st chapter of Isaiah?

21. Nashville Skyline cover
Bob Dylan – late 60s into 70s
Nashville Skyline cover
Dylan today (2004)
Mid-60s, huge success, much touring
Dylan suffers motorcycle wreck, 1966
Records some music with a group called “The Band” – they eventually become his touring band
Periods of different musical influences: country (“Nashville Skyline,” etc)
1979: Period of music inspired by religious conversion (LPs “Slow Train Coming,” “Saved”)

22. Lay, Lady, Lay From the 1969 album, “Nashville Skyline”
This album showed Dylan’s fascination with country music

23. Bob Dylan & the Band: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
From the 1973 album “Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid”
Dylan was backed by The Band on this album

24. Tangled Up In Blue From the 1975 album, “Blood on the Tracks”
This album is considered Dylan’s masterpiece (especially after “losing it” for a few years after his crash)
In 1976, Dylan began touring with his new band, “Rolling Thunder Revue”

25. The Byrds Mr. Tambourine Man
Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Gene Clark
First hit Dylan’s “Mr Tambourine Man”
Characteristic sound: multi-part vocals, use of 12-string Rickenbacker guitar

26. Turn, Turn, Turn
Bible text set to original music written by Pete Seeger
This is the 1965 version by The Byrds
This is a great example of McGuinn’s 12-string electric guitar sound

27. Donovan Sunshine Superman
Scottish Singer songwriter
Multiple influences: traditional folk, psychedelia, world music
Mid-sixties hippie “flower power” image
Although they were very different, Donovan was often compared to Dylan
Donovan made a number of very successful LPs, backed by high-profile British session musicians that included members of Led Zeppelin, Pentangle, Cream, and others

28. Simon and Garfunkel The Sounds of Silence
Among the most successful “folk-rock” artists of the 60s and 70s
Based in New York City
Began performing together in late 1950s
Vocals strongly influenced by Everly Brothers
Garfunkel eventually changed his focus to acting
Simon has gone on to have a long and successful musical career, exploring world music styles as well as folk and rock
“Sounds of Silence”
“Scarborough Fair”
“America”
“Bridge Over Troubled Waters”
“Mrs Robinson”

29. The Mamas and the Papas California Dreamin’
Denny Doherty, Cass Elliott, John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
New-York based vocal & instrumental group; relocated to California
First hit “California Dreamin”
Factoids:
The M & P’s career essentially lasted only 3 years (65-68)
The actress Mackenzie Phillips is John Phillip’s daughter
Both Cass Elliot (1974) and John Phillips (2001) died of heart failure

30. The Lovin’ Spoonful Do You Believe in Magic
Originally “The Mugwumps,” with some members of the Mamas and the Papas
John Sebastian, singer-songwriter, strong folk influence, son of a famous harmonica player
Strong influence on other bands such as the Grateful Dead
Sebastian was also featured as a solo performer at Woodstock, and is included in the Woodstock film

31. English Folk Revival Pentangle
Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Terry Cox, Jacqui McShee, Danny Thompson
Combined multiple influences: traditional folk music, jazz, “early” music (medieval-Renaissance), blues
Like other British folk-rock groups, traditional folk ballads would be performed with a folk-rock approach
Jansch and Renbourn were both already well-known British folk guitarists
Pentangle has had a long and successful career with many different changes of personnel

32. Fairport Convention Tam Lin
Formed in 1967
One of the flagship British “folk rock” bands
Rock music treatments of traditional British songs, plus original tunes
Still going, but some members gone
Bassist Dave Pegg (also with Jethro Tull) is only original member
Singer Sandy Denny was featured on Led Zeppelin 4 (“Battle of Evermore”)
Denny passed away in 1978 after falling down a flight of stairs
Richard Thompson left in the early 70s
Successful solo career
Has influenced many players of both rock and folk music
(If you are interested in rock guitar and you are not familiar with Richard Thompson, you need to find out more, ASAP!)

33. English Folk Revival Steeleye Span
Co-founded in 1970 by former Fairport member Ashley Hutchings, folk performers Tim Hart and Maddy Prior
Many personnel changes over the years
Folk rock band, using traditional songs, ballads, Celtic music
Martin Carthy, third from left above, was already a very important an influential folk-traditional guitarist, singer, and folksong collector, and has had a long and successful solo career.