MUSC 1800: Popular Music

Dr. Matthew C. SaundersLakeland Community College

C-1078

The 1970s

1970s Popular Culture

Trends in music

– Break-ups and deaths– Albums– FM Radio– Prerecorded tapes

What is Postmodernism?If Modernism is… Then Postmodernism is…

Specialization in Popular Music• Many more styles and formats• Less crossover• Less politics• More sentimentality• More dance

The 1970s Pop Mainstream

– Pop rock: Elton John: “Rocket Man,” 1972

– Adult contemporary: The Carpenters, “Rainy Days and Mondays,” 1972

– Soft soul: Al Green: “Let’s Stay Together,” 1972

– Country pop (see next slide)– Bubble gum: The Osmonds:

Live at the Ohio State Fair, 1972– Disco (coming later)

Rock’n’roll becomes Rock• Rock music going beyond teen-oriented pop– Albums, not singles– The Who: Tommy (1969)– Live experience– Musician over producer

The Rock Concert Experience• Alice Cooper in Conce

rt: 1972

• Rush in Concert: 1975• KISS in Concert: 1977

Album-Oriented Rock• Examples:– Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Brain Salad Surgery, “

Karn Evil 9,” 1973– David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from

Mars, “Moonage Daydream,” 1972– Doobie Brothers: “Listen to the Music,” 1972– Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti, “Kashmir,” 1975– Pink Floyd: The Wall, “Comfortably Numb,” 1979

Disco

• Saturday Night Fever, 1977

• Donna Summer: “Last Dance,” 1978

• ABBA: “Dancing Queen,” 1976

• Origins, New York, ca. 1972• Inclusive nature• Gay rights movement