EDWARD'S LECTURE NOTES:
More notes at http://tanguay.info/learntracker
C O U R S E
History of Rock, 1970-Present
John Covach, University of Rochester
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C O U R S E L E C T U R E Motown in the 1970s Notes taken on April 25, 2015 by Edward Tanguay |
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Motown comes from "Motor City" or Detroit
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Berry Gordy Jr.
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founder of the Motown record label
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one of the most important record labels of the 60s
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Motown in the 70s
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happens mostly in Los Angeles
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Barry Gordy wants to expand into movies and television
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located in Los Angeles
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The Temptations
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being produced by Norman Whitfield
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interested in doing what Sly Stone was doing
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in the 1970s they began to address themes in urban life
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after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
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not so much provocative, but engaging
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1968: Cloud Nine
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1970 Psychedelic Shack
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1972 Papa was a Rolling Stone
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about problems in urban life, in the black community
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a bit of realism
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an ambitious track, over seven minutes in length
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artistic, creates an atmosphere
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influenced by Sly Stone and some of the Blaxploitation films and what was going on with Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield
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a high-water mark in the 1970s for the temptations
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number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and won three Grammy Awards in 1973
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an enduring and influential soul classic
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The Commodores
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formed in 1968 in Alabama
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signed to Motown in 1971
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roots in Funk music
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1977 Brick House
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infectious groove
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lyrical, catchy hook
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ballads
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lead singer Lionel Richie
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1977 Easy
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1978 Three Times a Lady
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The Jackson 5
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young child star, Michael Jackson
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little Michael Jackson up front singing up a storm, you could already see that this kid was already absolutely loaded with talent, a fantastic performer and dancer
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1970 ABC
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1970 I'll Be There
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got into a dispute with Berry Gordy Jr.
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Berry Gordy wanted to keep them in the teen category
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they wanted to play to more mature audiences
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1976 they did not renew at Motown, went to CBS
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Berry Gordy owned the name "Jackson 5"
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renamed themselves as "The Jacksons"
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brother Jermaine stayed at Motown
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replaced by another brother, Randy Jackson
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1978 Shake Your Body
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going into disco era
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Michael Jackson
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1979 Off the Wall
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perhaps the best disco record ever recorded
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Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
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Rock with You
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Off the Wall
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She's Out of My Life
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1970s: Motown artists began to take more control
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it had been more like an assembly line
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labor was separated out
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Marvin Gaye (1939-1984)
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helped to shape the sound of Motown Records in the 1960s
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won control at Motown
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established a more social commentary voice
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1971 album: What's Going On
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more like a concept album
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"What's Going On"
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"Mercy Mercy Me"
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"Inner City Blues"
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dealt with urban issues in a way that was authentic
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Stevie Wonder (1950-)
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figured out that the best way to deal with Stevie Wonder is to let Stevie be Stevie
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let him do all the writing, singing, playing, and production
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complex arrangements using synthesizers
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influence from Yes and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
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1972 Album: Talking Book
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1973 Album: Innervisions
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Living for the City
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in the spirit of Blaxploitation movies
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kid who comes to the city and gets thrown in jail
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1976: Songs in the Key of Life
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classical references in his style