The Classic Rock and Roll Reader Rock Music from Its Beginnings to the Mid-1970s

Some 100 essays comprise this rather disjointed anecdotal discussion of rock music. The essays, for the most part, take a song as a starting point for a brief discussion ora band's history, its impact, or some cultural phenomenon, often related to the number of times a band made the charts.

The Classic Rock and Roll Reader: Rock Music from Its Beginnings to the Mid-1970s is chock full of entertaining essays to inform and delight you about an era that shaped our culture and future musical trends. This unique book will surprise and enchant even the most zealous music buff with facts and information on the songs that reflected America’s spirit and captured a nations attention. The Classic Rock and Roll Reader is offbeat, somewhat irreverent, ironic, and ancedotal as it discusses hundreds of rock and non-rock compositions included in rock history era. The songs offer you information on: Rock’s Not So Dull Predecessors (for example, “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” and “The Cry of the Wild Goose”) The Pioneering Rock Songs (such as “Rock Around the Clock” and “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” ) Older Style Songs Amidst the Rocks (for example, “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “Rocky Mountain High” ) The Megastars and Megagroups (such as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Respect,” and “Surfin’USA” ) The Best Songs that Never Made No. 1 (for example,“ I Feel Good” and “ Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” )The Classic Rock and Roll Reader: Rock Music from Its Beginnings to the Mid-1970s also examines the music which preceded early rock, the music which followed early rock, and the numerous non-rock songs which flourished during the classic rock period. A wide spectrum of music is discussed in well over 100 essays on various songs. Musicians, librarians, and the general audience will be taken back to the birth of rock and roll and the various contributing influences. Analyzing each song’s place in rock history and giving some background about the artists, The Classic Rock and Roll Reader offers even the most avid music enthusiast new and unique information in this thorough and interesting guide.

Contents Preface The Emergence of Rock Music, or, Waking Up the 1950s Rock’s Not So Dull Predecessors In the Mood Of Thee I Sing Night and Day Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered Oklahoma! Show Business The Cry of the Wild Goose The Pioneering Rock Songs, or, Three Create a Crowd Rock Around the Clock Sh-Boom Shake, Rattle and Roll Older-Style Songs Amidst the Rocks All the Way Chances Are I Could Have Danced All Night Moon River Rocky Mountain High Top of the World Whatever Will Be, Will Be A Generation of Classic Rock, or, Rock Rolls On The Megastars and Megagroups, or the Bolder and the Boulders Are You Lonesome Tonight? Blue Suede Shoes Bridge over Troubled Water Can’t Help Falling in Love Crazy Man, Crazy Diana Dream Lover Good Vibrations I Want to Hold Your Hand In My Room It Ain’t Me, Babe Last Train to Clarksville Let It Be Love Me Tender Michelle Photograph P. S. I Love You Respect (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction Scarborough Fair/Canticle Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Stop! In the Name of Love Surfin’ USA Walk Like a Man What Becomes of the Brokenhearted? What’s Going On Who’s Sorry Now? World Without Love Yesterday You Send Me The Best Songs That Never Made Number 1, or, Time Heals All Aches, Mistakes, and Bad Breads Ain’t That a Shame? Downtown From Me to You I Feel Good I’m on the Outside (Looking In) I’m Walkin’ Lookin’ Out My Back Door Oh, Pretty Woman Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head Rhinestone Cowboy (I’m a) Road Runner Song Sung Blue Standing on the Corner Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree Up-Up and Away Will You Love Me Tomorrow? One-Hit Wonders, or Flashes in the Chart At the Hop The Battle of New Orleans Classical Gas Earth Angel Ease on Down the Road Gentle on My Mind The Great Pretender Happy Together I’m Sorry Jesus Christ, Superstar Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Save the Last Dance for Me Singin’ the Blues Sit Down, I Think I Love You Spinning Wheel Tequila Volare Novelty Songs, or, Unusual, but Unusually Good Aquarius The Candy Man Don’t Sleep in the Subway Hit the Road, Jack Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini King of the Road The Last Kiss The Wanderer You Don’t Own Me You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ The Best and the Worst of Classic Rock The Best Classic Rock Song The Worst Famous Classic Rock Song Classic Rock Meets Disco, and Both Disappear Disco Duck Stayin’ Alive Title Index Subject Index Index Reference Notes Included

William E Studwell, David Lonergan