Music Appreciation: The History of Rock Chapter 20: Fusions

Fusions…. Fusion refers to the hybrid musical style created through the merging of jazz and rock and is often considered a jazz style rather than a rock style.

Jazz Rock Jazz influence on: Early western music- Bill Haley and the Comets Early rock and roll- Chuck Berry Psychedelic music- Jerry Garcia/Grateful Dead England Blues scene- Stones, Beatles, Who Funk Groups- Kool and the Gang, Earth, Wind and Fire.

First groups to combine elements Electric Flag- centered around Blues style, jump horn sections, solo sections. Horns punctuated background riffs, but also provided a countermelody. Heavy influence on Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago, Chase, The Ides of March.

Blood, Sweat and Tears Their second album, self-titled, had a hit with Spinning Wheel and covers of God Bless the Child by Billie Holliday and also Laura Nyro’s And When I Die. Lucretia MacEvil was also a huge hit.

Chicago First album was Chicago Transit Authority and featured these traits: Hard-Edged rock guitar with distortion Tightly-structured horn arrangements Extended improvisation Ensemble harmony vocals

Chicago…continued After being threatened with a lawsuit by the Mayor of Chicago, their name was changed to Chicago. Popular songs included: Colour My World 25 or 6 to 4 Hard to Say I’m Sorry You’re the Inspiration

Tower of Power Tower of Power was seen as an alternative to psychedelic rock of the Bay area of San Francisco. The band is a collection of the soul, jazz, blues, rock and latin styles of other groups. Tower of Power is also linked to funk bands like Earth, Wind and Fire. Hit song was What is Hip?

Steely Dan First two albums represented a strong jazz influence Many personnel changes, including two who went to start the Doobie Brothers Later albums were very rock and jazz oriented. Hits include Peg, Josie, Deacon Blues

Art Rock Combined classical music elements with rock music elements. Also called art rock, classical-rock, eclectic rock and progressive rock The terms are more often seen in a positive light as being experimental and using the language to create art rather than sticking with the classical rock tradition.

Art Rock influences Practically every rock source states the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album as being the first significant album in the art rock vein because it was the first concept album. The first band to consistently experiment with classical/rock styles was the Moody Blues.

Moody Blues British beat group originally Worked with the London Festival Orchestra to create the album Days of Future Passed. The orchestra provides occasional emphasis on a passage, but mostly provides transitional music between the songs. Best known song is Nights in White Satin.

Emerson, Lake and Palmer Formed in England in 1970 from other bands. Started by arranging and recording several pieces by classical composers for a rock quartet. Released a three-part work titled Karn Evil 9

Yes Originally described as a collection of Beatles and the Byrds covers expanded to almost unrecognizable extravaganzas. Roundabout was the first successful top 20 single for Yes in 1972. Lasted into the 80’s with a hit called Owner of Lonely Heart.

Rick Wakeman Originally part of Yes, left to pursue a very successful solo career. Incredibly talented musician and recorded with David Bowie, T.Rex, Al Stewart and Cat Stevens. The hit Chamber of Horrors was a somewhat programmatic expression of the famous wax museum in London.

Pink Floyd Songs tended to be in the psychedelic style, using much electronic distortion, image-laden lyrics, a generally distorted, fuzzy recording quality, the use of feedback, free improvisation and some drug references in the lyrics. Candy and a Currant Bun represents this sound.

Pink Floyd David Gilmour eventually replaced Syd Barrett on guitar and vocals The song, A Saucerful of Secrets, was a build up to the album Dark Side of the Moon. The songs on Dark Side are studies in the side of human nature that is usually kept hidden.

Dark Side of the Moon songs Brain Damage- deals with the question of insanity and the fear that material things can be lost with a sudden change of fortune. Ultimately, everything good can be suddenly and inexplicably overshadowed by bad. Eclipse

Later albums Wish You Were Here (1975) Animals (1977) The Wall (1979)…film in 1982 The Final Cut (1983) Still recording….