C7.1

50s

The 50s were all about rock n roll! This had stemmed from the fusion of gospel, country and blues. The development of the iconic 12 bar blues and popularisation of the walking bass led to an explosion of heavier, less conservative music, which was extremely popular with the youth of the 50s. The production process during this era consisted of distantly micd drums, ribbon and valve mics and the creation of tape machines to produce the first ever multitracked recordings. Elvis Presley was an extremely important figure in music history. Many of his songs were heavily influenced by black artists (especially black gospel) or had originated from black backgrounds. At this time, TV and radio were segregated. Sam Philips from The Sun record label got many white artists to sing black songs on white radio/TV. Thanks to him, Elvis had managed to make black music mainstream and opened the door for black artists to get airplay, simply by having the same sound. Elvis had also invented sex appeal with his embrace of a conventionally vulgar and ‘low culture’ image (spitting on stage and moving his hips when performing). 

60s 

The 60s saw the birth of folk rock. As production technology evolved through the 50s, multitracking became the most popular technique for artists to utilise in the 60s. Although limited to 4 tracks, artists could record parts separately and producers were able to mix and master tracks before going to tapes. Music turned experimental, trippy and spiritual thanks to the influence of psychedelic drugs. LSD was the latest craze as the new drug on the market and perfectly legal and accessible for all! Bands like The Beatles embraced their psychedelic experiences and infused their music with eye-opening sounds. The Beatles trendsetting shaped popular culture forever, their image embodied rebellion which resonated deeply with frustrated 60s youth. Racial barriers were broken when The Beatles, supporting the civil rights movement, refused to play concerts for segregated audiences. The struggle for racial equality in America inspired McCartney to write the song ‘blackbird’.

70s-80s

The latest commercial image of the 70s saw many rock bands turning electric. Influences were again drawn from folk rock and blues. Eight track recorders dominated the music industry, allowing for more affective mixing of channels. A heavier, more guitar driven sound was created in an act of defiance against the class wars in the uk, following the death of the former prime minister Margret Thatcher. Britain was hit by unprecedented inflation and skyrocketing unemployment rates. And thus, punk was born as a form of protest! The Sex Pistols were considered to be a revolution, forming throughout the economic recession of the uk (1975). They introduced popular culture to anarchy through their crude sound and lyrics of disdain towards the state of modern day society. Punk influenced a huge range of different musical subcultures, including: disco, EDM, hip hop and even heavy metal. 

90s-2000s

The Manchester music scene of the 1990s flourished with the medias acknowledgement of the north-south divide of England. The main cause of economic change in the North stemmed from the de-indstrialisation of factories traditionally located in the North, and the bloom of businesses in the South. The creation of Britpop saw the collision of upper class and 'common people' with its patriotic and nationalist lyrics. Oasis embraced traditional stereotypes surrounding 'northernness'. Influenced by indie and rock bands such as The Smiths and Stone Roses, Oasis birthed a much more gritty feel to classical rock with its guitar heavy rhythm section and relatable lyrics.