Anomale Used Blog

By the 1970s, rock music became the most preferred type of music and most mainstream... Rock music tends to have a negative label towards it, but it’s not as aggressive and dangerous as it’s made out to be. It’s simply a band or artist wanting a voice and spreading a message they feel passionate about. However, there is still such a large group of people who love and enjoy a good rock song.  Rock music has a beat, a rhythm, a personality, and character. This is something not found in any other genre. It moves in stride with one’s heart and promotes the desire to be alive and stay alive. People can relate to the real life stories that happened to them as well, they see the artists as their buddies, as equals in some sense. Rock has always been against everything, sometimes just out of the fun, like the punk scene general attitude. Rock music talks to the audience’s emotions. The more complex the music is, the more progressive the audience will be. These songs are written from the he...

Nowadays, Rockstar are viewed as outlying rebels, and that rebellious spirit has its origins in the hardy folks who pioneered it. The church was always wary of alternative forms of spiritualism being propagated back in the day, and the blues musicians of old, with their Vodou undertones, represented something to keep an eye on, to say the least.  This all came to the fore when hard times hit. The great depression impact everyone and it also made the sombre tones of a blues player spiritually appealing. Thereafter, a busker’s open guitar case ended up competing for the same kindness of strangers as the pastor’s collection pot. Thus, blues players like Robert Johnson were decreed as being in league with the devil.  If a pastor was saying you could pray your hardships away and Johnson was crooning that your cursed ways were fated and your best off smoothing them out with song then a face off for an audience was inevitable. Church attendance dwindled while dive joints attracted an...

The style of music that came to be known as rock ’n roll grew out of many other American musical styles, most notably blues, played mostly, but not only, by African Americans, and country, played primarily, but not only, but whites. Perhaps the clearest musical predecessor of rock ’n roll is the jump blues and swing style of the 1940s, typified by the music of Louis Jordan and Louis Prima. Once electric guitars gained wider use, they replaced the saxophone as the small band’s lead instrument, this change was one of the most important developments in rock ’n roll. After a brief period of popular success, things went wrong for most of rock ’n roll’s early stars... And important dance/radio disc jockey Alan Freed, the man many credit for naming rock ’n roll, faded from the scene in disgrace after a payola, accepting bribes to play specific songs on the radio, scandal. Meanwhile, big business had discovered that there was a market for this thing called rock ’n roll, so in the absence of ma...

R&B, with its infectious rhythms and emotive vocal delivery, played a significant role in the development of rock and roll. Artists like Louis Jordan and Big Joe Turner infused their music with the kind of energy and groove that would become a hallmark of rock and roll. The soul stirring sounds of gospel music also left an indelible mark on early rock and roll. Gospel’s passionate vocals and emotional intensity found their way into the music of many rock and roll pioneers. Elements of country and western music, particularly the use of guitars, added a distinctive twang to the rock and roll sound. Pioneers like Bill Haley and Elvis Presley drew from these genres, bridging the gap between rural and urban musical traditions. Jump blues, characterized by its up tempo beat and swinging horn sections, contributed to the energetic feel of rock and roll. Artists like Louis Prima and Wynonie Harris brought this dynamic style to the forefront. In the 1950s, rockabilly emerged as a subgenre, ...

If the genesis of rock & roll has proven anything, it is that music tends to cross boundaries, brings people together, and is able to both define and dissolve stereotypes. As the races are musically divided once again, in the 1990s rap suddenly comes in connection with rock music and progresses to nu metal or rap rock. World famous 90s’ and early 2000s’ bands like Linkin Park, KoRn, Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, Rise Against the Machine or the Beastie Boys are famous representatives of the genre and dominated pop culture for at least a decade. Even though most of these bands are white, there are also collaborations instigated by Black rap artists. What can be established of the history of rock & roll? The genre and youth culture which emerged from late Forties’/early Fifties’ Black R&B was influenced and affected by a multitude of ethnic stimuli and eventually developed into a highly esteemed industry. With unprecedented drive it instilled in many the feeling of freedom, revolt ...

Despite the major influence blues had on the formation of rock n roll, Blues Rock fusion did not explode or become mainstream until around the late 1960s. Through the integration of the classic three chord blues instrumentation, a deep bass line and improvisation combined with roaring amplification, blues rock fusion captivated audience with their soulful sound. The long improvisations that were heavily reminiscent of jazz and blues music, took on a new sound with the use of electric instruments. The extemporization of stylistic, lengthy guitar riffs has become one of the more recognized elements of blues rock, and later rock music in totality. Upon listening to the tracks and guitar licks of Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, these intricacies have come to represent the kindred spirit of rock and the blues. The creation and manipulation of guitar notes to emulate the distinctive cry sound is now the forefront of rock sound. As the blues pushed a similar agenda, in whic...

The end of Prohibition in 1933 forced many musicians out of the illegal drinking clubs and into the open. Jazz adapted its style for wider appeal, tailoring itself to the dance hall in the form of big bands and swing. Bandleaders Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Paul Whiteman led the change. R&B, characterised by the rolling guitar rhythms... became big business in the US in the early 1950s. Country music also became increasingly commercial... A mixture of black rhythm and blues and white country music produced the dominant style of the new decade, rock 'n roll. The regular beat and youth targeted lyrics appealed to teenagers, and the first music charts, which appeared in the US in the late 1940s and in Britain in 1952, confirmed the genre’s popularity... The evolution of music, Blues, jazz and the rise of popular music. Source: The evolution of music: Blues, jazz and the rise of popular music by Mandi Goodier Lee Hazlewood - Mother Country Music Composed by: Joe Nixon Vocals by...

The most widely held belief is that the first rock 'n roll single was 1951's Rocket 88, written by Ike Turner, sung by Jackie Brenston, the saxophone player from Turner's backing band The Kings of Rhythm, and recorded by Sam Phillips, who later went on to found Sun records and discover Elvis Presley. I've had this argument with many many people over the years, but when people talk about rock 'n roll, my own personal view would be Rocket 88. Some, however, feel that Rocket 88's reputation may have more to do with Sam Phillips's vociferous later claims he had discovered rock 'n roll long before he discovered Elvis than with its actual sound. Despite featuring a distorted guitar and a lyric which, in true rock 'n roll style, conflates the power of the singer's car with his virility, it apparently lacks those all important snare accents. But if the flow of information and number of available recordings has increased over the years, then the number of...

It expresses the emotions of angst, anger, and lust in some of the only ways that are accepted by society. The history of this edgy music genre dates back to the 1950s. It was formed by a combination of the blues, gospel music, and country. Throughout the decades, rock ‘n roll has evolved and become famous for being the genre that’s continued to push the boundaries of music, and, sometimes, the cultural boundaries of society itself. In the 1950s rock ‘n roll could be defined as rhythm and blues. In the 1960s it was partial to new musical styles such as folk rock and soul. And in the 1970s hard rock was born. From the 1980s to the present, technology has had an enormous impact on the music industry. Good taste is the enemy of the revolution. This remark epitomizes the spirit of rock ‘n roll. You’re not expected to conform, you’re expected to be yourself… no matter what anyone thinks. You are admired deeply for expressing emotions such as anger, heartbreak, and sadness through music in a...

Blues rock music is a genre that combines elements of blues and rock music. It emerged in the 1960s and gained popularity in the 1970s... Blues songs typically features heavy guitar riffs, prominent bass lines, and soulful vocals. The genre has continued to evolve over the years, with contemporary artists such as The Black Keys and Gary Clark Jr. keeping the tradition alive. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the genre continued to evolve and diversify. Bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers Band, and ZZ Top incorporated elements of country, folk, and psychedelia into their music, while still maintaining a strong blues influence. Blues rock music is a genre that has stood the test of time. It’s a genre that’s deeply rooted in emotion and storytelling, with a signature sound that’s instantly recognizable. While the genre has evolved over the years, it still maintains the core elements that make it a beloved style of music. With talented musicians continuing to push the genre fo...

The term rock ‘n roll was coined in 1951 by a Cleveland radio DJ named Alan Freed. Freed worked for a major radio station during a time when large stations were known to only play music by white artists to cater to their white audience members. By the 1940s, R&B had established itself as a black genre, with artists like Fats Domino and Arthur Crudup leading the way. Soon after, record labels took notice of the new style of music and wanted to capitalize on it. But they did not want the authentic, original black artists, they wanted marketable artists, ones who could be televised... Today, there is an appreciation for the talent and artistry of many black rock ’n roll pioneers like B.B. King, Chuck Berry and later greats, such as Jimi Hendrix and Prince. But the story of how rock ‘n roll got to where it is today is not always told. Its shady history is deliberately hidden. Source: Who were the real pioneers? by Wembo Tiapo PJ Harvey Verified - Change In C Written by: PJ Harvey Compo...

Blues music takes a fatalistic and noncommittal attitude when facing the future. The people who first created the blues did not see how their lives would improve. Poor, uneducated, and above all black, blues singers did not hold out much hope that white America’s dream would ever come their way. Blues lyrics accepted their lot in life yet encouraged the struggle. As Michael Bane noted, this attitude is at the heart of most folk music. Blues was people’s music, a shared language between those who played it and those who listened and danced to it. As the music of African Americans it held dual qualities of being truthfully fatalistic about its people’s future and containing no overt political messages, while being oppositional to and subversive of white music and culture through its sound, its expression, and its methods of performance.  Blues music never became popular music. In twentieth century America, popular meant mainstream and mainstream meant white and middle class. Charles ...

Rock ‘n Roll and blues have left a lasting impact on the music industry and are celebrated and revered by fans and musicians alike. Rock ‘n Roll has become an international phenomenon and a symbol of youthful rebellion and freedom. In contrast, blues music has been recognized as a crucial part of African American culture and history. Both genres have also inspired countless musicians and artists and continue to be a source of inspiration and creativity for contemporary artists... Rock ‘n Roll and blues are two iconic genres that have greatly influenced the music industry and continue to be celebrated for their unique sounds and cultural significance. While they share some similarities, their distinct styles and influences set them apart. From their origins in African American culture to their enduring legacy, Rock ‘n Roll and Blues remain important and influential genres in the world of music. Source: Rock 'n Roll And Blues: A Comparison Of Two Iconic Genres by Lindsey Mildred Bail...

For the first two thirds of the 20th century, America was an apartheid nation. But there was something that didn’t obey Jim Crow laws or that foolish concept of a society that is separate but equal, the air. We can’t regulate the air, and radio travels through the air. Governments couldn’t legislate what you listened to in your home. After dark, suddenly you could hear voices from all over the place, voices you couldn’t hear during the day. Growing up, I thought of this as magic time. You could hear WLAC in Nashville all the way from Tallahassee to the Canadian border. There isn’t a single black person in town. But at night, up in your room, you hear the music of black America on WLAC. You want to hear more and know more. And that desire eventually makes you want to become Bob Dylan. And even earlier, imagine you’re a black kid living in segregated St. Louis. You listen to the Grand Ole Opry on WSM out of Nashville and hear the voices of old, weird America. And so you grow up steeped i...

It was the fusion of styles and cultures described by Gordon that gave birth to the Memphis blues, sometime around 100 years ago. Musicians such as Furry Lewis and Memphis Minnie sang and played guitar, while Memphis Jug Band popularized a style played on kazoos, washboard, and guitars, with the bass created by blowing across the tops of jugs. But while such music enjoyed a passionate local following, it was WC Handy who is generally credited with having popularized the blues and taking it to the world at large. Known as the Father Of The Blues, his Memphis Blues, published in 1912, was a game changer. By Handy’s own admission, his was an attempt to apply primitive, southern tendencies to use flattened thirds and sevenths in a major key, and bring it to a more sophisticated audience. These flattened notes became known as the blue notes. This was a distinct departure... but as it turned out, it touched the spot. The popularity of the blues grew, but in the aftermath of World War II, thi...

Multiple elements in rock and roll provide evidence of common blues qualities. Rock and roll was influenced by elements of blues instrumentation, rhythm, and purpose. Both rock and blues are composed of drums, guitars, and vocals. As blues was becoming increasingly popular throughout the 1950s, manipulation of notes and amplifying instruments occurred. Muddy Waters, for example, began experimenting with increasing the dynamics of guitars and bending the notes of the guitars to give it a cry sound... As blues music developed, it pushed the emergence of rock and roll more and more. Early rock and roll followed a similar rhythm to blues music as well. As it progressed, rock and roll would end up integrating more intense rhythmic elements with an accentuated backbeat, but the foundation was the same. The purpose behind the music, produced by blues and rock and roll, is designed from the same perspective. The goal of both these genres of music is to create music with raw emotion. The blues ...

Radio stations began to program their music to fit the demographics of a new audience. The audience, which until the early 1950's was a pretty homogeneous audience, now was divided into segments with different interests and people listened to music in a number of places, including their cars. This all meant that some radio stations played music for adults and some stations played music for the teens. The white record companies started looking... white kids wouldn't buy records by black performers, that played something resembling R&B. Groups like Bill Haley and His Comets, originally a country band called the Saddlemen. These influences combined in a simple, blues based song structure that was fast, sexy, catchy and could be danced to easily and with excitement. These qualities, along with the fact that it horrified adults in general and parents in particular, caused Rock and Roll to become immensely popular with teenagers, who then, for the first time had their own music. ...

From obscure origins, the genre had developed by 1900 to its typical three line stanza, with a vocal style derived from the field holler or shout of southern work songs. By the 1920s the first blues recordings were made, of the Mississippi delta country tradition, and other southern regional variants, and the classic vaudeville based blues... The migration north to Chicago during the 1920s led eventually to a new urban blues tradition, coarser and fiercer than earlier styles. This led in the 1940s to the style known as rhythm and blues. All instruments were by this time amplified. The principal exponents were Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf. Blues influenced rock and roll and other genres, including skiffle and soul music. It has continued as an independent genre. Blues as a musical term can describe an oral tradition of African American poetry set to music using blues form, typically three line stanzas with the first two lines being similar, set to a twelve bar harmonic framework called...

By the close of the 1960s, rock 'n roll had established itself as a potent cultural force. Its influence reverberated through subsequent decades, shaping countless artists and bands. Although the faces and sounds of rock 'n roll continued to evolve, the spirit of rebellion, innovation, and raw emotional expression that catalyzed its inception in 1954 remained a constant undercurrent. From the rockabilly of Elvis Presley to the sophisticated lyricism of the Beatles, from the psychedelic explorations of Jimi Hendrix to the countercultural anthems of Woodstock, the foundational years of 1954 to 1969 defined the heart and soul of rock 'n roll. This period not only revolutionized music but also left an indelible mark on global culture, making rock 'n roll an enduring symbol of creative freedom and social change. Source: The Birth and Rise of Rock 'n' Roll in the 1950s and 1960s by History Skills Lucinda Williams - Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys...

The main reason we have so much information about the Delta blues and artists from that era goes back to a man named Alan Lomax and other archivists like him who created field recordings. Basically, the Library of Congress sent historians down to the South to record artists in an effort to investigate and document American culture. That's how we transported this music to the North, and it’s also how the message got a little muddled. The white archivists who brought black music to the North painted a picture of the music being sung and played by slaves just getting off work, but that wasn't the real story.  In fact, all of these artists in the Delta wanted to move on. The Delta basically functioned as a middle ground for black families who wanted to get out of the South. You hear it when Robert Johnson sings Sweet Home Chicago. He wasn't singing Sweet Home Delta. He wanted to get out of the Delta. Everyone did. This group of people came together to take advantage of this fer...

With the addition of a string bass and swung rhythms, jazz began to swing and become a style of music that could be danced to. This gradual change started in the late 1920s and continued through to the 1940s. The swing era brought with it the creation of the big band, an ensemble comprising ten or more musicians. Most of the music in the swing era was not improvised and instead written down, but hundreds of jazz improvisers were still employed and a crucial part of the swing scene. Bandleaders such as Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson became well known through the late 1930s and early 1940s. As big band music developed, more ensembles were being recognised. With the arrival of a rhythmically and harmonically experimental style, jazz moved out of the dance hall and into the club. The term bebop is derived from a Gillespie tune of the same name. Bebop was seen as a rebellion to the swing era by musicians like Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk. Bebop musicians would take a standard s...