Psychedelic RockStyle Characteristics:- Hazy, muted recording quality- Volume levels in concert very loud- Loudness results in distortion- Use of electronic distortion devices:o Fuzz toneo Wah wah pedalo Phasing (done on control board)o Use of feedback- Emphasis on instrumentalists, especially on lead guitarists- Influenced by rhythm and blues bands and R&B influenced British bands- Drugs, lots and lots of drugso Lyrics often drug orientedo Long, meandering guitar solos imitate drug trips (timelessness)o Hazy recording quality imitates hazy consciousness of drug trip- Some group names inspired by drug useo Blue Cheer- type of acido Jefferson Airplane- a roach clip- Some group names implied cross images, like oxymorons or unusual combinationso Electric Prunes; I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night (1967)o Electric Flago Grateful Deado Iron ButterflyJefferson Airplane; White Rabbit (1967)- Drug-inspired lyrics, also inspired by works of Lewis Carroll- Rhythm based on bolero rhythm- Phrygian (“Spanish”) modeThe Grateful DeadThe “original jam band”The “archetypal San Francisco band”Style Characteristics:- Based in folk, folk rock styles (especially blues and blue grass)- Long guitar improvisations in live performances- Collective improvisations- Experimentations with sound- Use of electronic distortionEarly Bands:- The Wildwood Boys, Garcia and Hunter- The Zodiacs, McKernan and Kreutzman- Mother Macree’s Uptown Jug Champions; Weir, Garcia, McKernano Folk, blues jug band musico Largely acoustic, no drums, piano- The Warlocks (1965)o Electric blueso Kruetzman and Lesh joino Standard house band for San Francisco “happenings” (LSD laced Kool-Aid and whatnot)o Experimentation in musical style: Louder volumes Harder-edged rock sounds More collective improvisation Longer songs to incorporate longer improvisations Lots of electronic distortion, feedbackThe Grateful Dead (1966)- Blues, Motown, soul, funk, Dylan covers- Extensive improvisation sections- Distortion, electronic effects, feedback experiments- Augustus Owsley; consulting engineer, soundman- Elastic song forms- Dark Star (1970)o Live performanceso Use on montuno (2 chord repetition)- Truckin’ (1970)o Autobiographicalo Hybrid song formThe DoorsAldous Huxley, The Doors of PerceptionWilliam Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (c. 1790)“If the doors of perception were cleansed, All things would appear to man as they are, infinite.”The Band/Influences:- Jim Morrison, vocalso Beat poets, Allen Ginsbergo Symbolist poets, Arthur Rimbaud (inspired “The Lizard King”)- Ray Manzarek, keyboardso Blueso Rhythm and blueso Rock ‘n’ roll- Robby Kreiger, guitaro Flamencoo Blueso Jazz- John Densmore, drumso Jazzo Rock ‘n’ rollStyle Characteristics:- A sound emphasized by minor keys- Morrison’s voice has flat, emotionless quality- Melodic lines are repetitive- Melodic lines have narrow range- Lyrics centered around death, violence, and sex; equates sex with death- Accompaniment has a hypnotic quality- Hammond organ gives recognizable tone colorBreak On Through (?)Not to Touch the Earth (1968)LA Woman (1971)Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970)Early Influences:- Rock ‘n’ Rollo Chuck Berry- Blueso Robert Johnsono Muddy Waterso Buddy Guy- Jazzo Charlie Christian- Rhythm and BluesEarly Groups (1963-1966):- Little Richard (1963)- Various soul, blues, and Motown groups:o Solomon Burkeo Ike and Tina Turnero BB Kingo The Supremes- Isley Brothers (1964), Testify- Curtis Knight and the Squares (1965), Hornets Nest- Jimmy James and the Blue Flames (1965)o Rhythm and blues, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and Dylan coverso Begins to experiment more with distortion- controlled feedback, fuzz tone, and other electronic effects- Jimi Hendrix Experience (1966)o Hendrix, guitar and vocalso Noel Redding (b. 1945), bass and vocalso Mitch Mitchell (b. 1946), drums and vocalsStyle Characteristics:- Complex, polyphonic texture- Use of distortion in melodic and rhythmic improvisationo Fuzz box, wah wah pedal, vibrola (whammy) baro Controlled feedbacko Manipulates tone, volume, pickup controls/switches- Rapid guitar ornaments- Intricate overdubbing on studio albums- Complex song structures- Vividly descriptive lyrics- Studio as part of the composition processo Tape manipulation (backwards tapes, speeding and slowing of tape speeds)o Manipulating sound through stereo channelsPurple Haze (1967)And the Gods Made Love (1968)Wild
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