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Slide 1
CHOO CHOO CH BOOGIE THE POSTWAR ERA, 19461954
Slide 2
THE POSTWAR ERA, 19461954 The entertainment industry grew
rapidly after the war. The entertainment industry grew rapidly
after the war. By 1947, record companies achieved retail sales of
over $214 million. The previous peak for record sales occurred in
1921. By 1947, record companies achieved retail sales of over $214
million. The previous peak for record sales occurred in 1921.
Independent record labels became an important force in the
entertainment industry. Independent record labels became an
important force in the entertainment industry.
Slide 3
Independent Labels Chess Records Chess Records Most important
blues race label Signed the most popular blues recording artists in
Chicago, including Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf Founded by Leonard
and Phil Chess (Polish Jewish immigrants) Atlantic Records Atlantic
Records Founded in 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun, son of the former Turkish
Ambassador to the United States, and Herb Abramson, former A&R
man for National Records Based in New York City Artist roster
included Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, Ray Charles, Ben E. King, and
Otis Redding
Slide 4
Targeting Young People Record companies began to target young
people for the first time. Record companies began to target young
people for the first time. People under 21 made up one-third of the
total record-buying population of the United States. People under
21 made up one-third of the total record-buying population of the
United States. Many hit records of the 1940s and 1950s were
romantic songs performed by crooners with an orchestral backup.
Many hit records of the 1940s and 1950s were romantic songs
performed by crooners with an orchestral backup. Larger record
companies (Columbia, Decca, and RCA) were focusing their attention
on mainstream pop. Larger record companies (Columbia, Decca, and
RCA) were focusing their attention on mainstream pop.
Slide 5
Popular Music and Technology in the Postwar Era Magnetic Tape
Magnetic Tape Better sound quality than previous methods of
recording Recordings could be edited and overdubbed. Battle of the
Speeds Battle of the Speeds In 1948, Columbia Records introduced
twelve-inch, 33 1/3 rpm, long-playing discs (LPs). In 1949, RCA
Victor introduced seven-inch, 45 rpm discs the format for hit
singles. Radio Radio Increased influence of disc jockeys (DJs) on
popular music The first commercial FM broadcast took place in
1939.
Slide 6
Rise of the Big Singers By 1946, the focus of popular attention
had shifted away from celebrity instrumentalists and bandleaders
toward a new generation of vocalists. By 1946, the focus of popular
attention had shifted away from celebrity instrumentalists and
bandleaders toward a new generation of vocalists. Many of the top
vocalists started their careers during the swing era. Many of the
top vocalists started their careers during the swing era. The
musicians union recording ban of 1942 44 did not apply to
vocalists. The musicians union recording ban of 1942 44 did not
apply to vocalists. Many of the vocalists sang under their own
names, many times with choral accompaniment.
Slide 7
Frank Sinatra (19151998) Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, into a
working- class Italian family Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, into a
working- class Italian family Between 1937 and 1939, worked as a
singing waiter for the Rustic Cabin, a nightclub in New Jersey
Between 1937 and 1939, worked as a singing waiter for the Rustic
Cabin, a nightclub in New Jersey Later worked for Harry James and
Tommy Dorsey Later worked for Harry James and Tommy Dorsey Sinatra
was heavily promoted on radio, at the movies, and in the press, and
his popularity soared. Sinatra was heavily promoted on radio, at
the movies, and in the press, and his popularity soared.
Slide 8
Frank Sinatra (19151998) His singing style combined the
crooning style of Bing Crosby with the bel canto technique of
Italian opera. His singing style combined the crooning style of
Bing Crosby with the bel canto technique of Italian opera. He was
influenced by female jazz and cabaret singers such as Billie
Holiday and Mabel Mercer. He was influenced by female jazz and
cabaret singers such as Billie Holiday and Mabel Mercer.
Slide 9
Listening: Nancy (With the Laughing Face) Peaked at Number Ten
on the Billboard charts Peaked at Number Ten on the Billboard
charts String instruments dominate the instrumental accompaniment.
String instruments dominate the instrumental accompaniment.
Conventional thirty-two-bar AABA form Conventional thirty-two-bar
AABA form Cowritten by the Tin Pan Alley veteran Jimmy Van Heusen
and television and film comedian Phil Silvers in honor of the birth
of Sinatras daughter Nancy
Slide 10
Listening: Nancy (With the Laughing Face) The brief orchestral
introduction begins with four bars of waltz rhythm (three beats per
bar), then shifts into the four beat meter of the song. The brief
orchestral introduction begins with four bars of waltz rhythm
(three beats per bar), then shifts into the four beat meter of the
song. Sinatras voice is relaxed and unforced, with warmth and a
slight vibrato. Sinatras voice is relaxed and unforced, with warmth
and a slight vibrato.
Slide 11
Listening: Nancy (With the Laughing Face) Introduction (8 ms.,
4 waltz + 4 4-beat) Introduction (8 ms., 4 waltz + 4 4-beat) A) If
I dont(8 ms.) Strings and harp A) If I dont(8 ms.) Strings and harp
A) She takes(8 ms.) Muted trumpets A) She takes(8 ms.) Muted
trumpets B) Have you ever(8 ms.) Tempo slows B) Have you ever(8
ms.) Tempo slows A) I swear(8 ms.) A) I swear(8 ms.) Orchestral
interlude (5 ms.) A) Keep Betty(8 ms.) A) Keep Betty(8 ms.)
Orchestral tag (8 ms.)music like intro
Slide 12
Nat King Cole (191765) The most successful black recording
artist of the postwar period The most successful black recording
artist of the postwar period In both musical and commercial terms,
the greatest postwar crooner In both musical and commercial terms,
the greatest postwar crooner Born Nathaniel Coles in Montgomery,
Alabama Born Nathaniel Coles in Montgomery, Alabama His family
moved to the South Side of Chicago when he was four years old. His
family moved to the South Side of Chicago when he was four years
old. His father was the pastor of a Baptist church. His father was
the pastor of a Baptist church. Nat was playing organ and singing
in the choir by the age of twelve. He made his first recording in
1936, in the Solid Swingers, a jazz band led by his brother Eddie
Cole. He made his first recording in 1936, in the Solid Swingers, a
jazz band led by his brother Eddie Cole.
Slide 13
Nat King Cole (191765) A brilliant piano improviser A brilliant
piano improviser One of the first African American musicians to
cross over regularly to the predominantly white pop charts. One of
the first African American musicians to cross over regularly to the
predominantly white pop charts. Coles biggest commercial successes
were sentimental ballads accompanied by elaborate orchestral
arrangements. Coles biggest commercial successes were sentimental
ballads accompanied by elaborate orchestral arrangements.
Slide 14
Listening: Nature Boy Written by Eden Ahbez (190895) Written by
Eden Ahbez (190895) Performed by Nat King Cole Performed by Nat
King Cole Accompanied by Frank DeVols Orchestra Accompanied by
Frank DeVols Orchestra Recorded in 1948; held the Number One
position on the Billboard pop charts for eight weeks. Nature Boy
was the first record to present Nat King Coles voice with full
orchestral accompaniment. Nature Boy was the first record to
present Nat King Coles voice with full orchestral accompaniment.
The song is in a minor key. The song is in a minor key. Infrequent
in mainstream popular music Associated in the popular imagination
with sadness, longing, and exotic images of the Orient It is the
orchestral arrangement along with Coles honeyed baritone voice that
makes this record work. It is the orchestral arrangement along with
Coles honeyed baritone voice that makes this record work.
Slide 15
Urban Folk Music Showed up on the pop charts in the early 1950s
Showed up on the pop charts in the early 1950s Combined a number of
seemingly contradictory tendencies Combined a number of seemingly
contradictory tendencies Inspired by rural folk music yet performed
by urban intellectuals Inspired by rural folk music yet performed
by urban intellectuals Drew inspiration from the populist protest
songs of Woody Guthrie yet was used by the record industry to
generate millions of dollars in profits Drew inspiration from the
populist protest songs of Woody Guthrie yet was used by the record
industry to generate millions of dollars in profits
Slide 16
The Weavers The first urban folk group to achieve commercial
success The first urban folk group to achieve commercial success A
quartet led by the singer, banjo player, and political activist
Pete Seeger (b. 1919) A quartet led by the singer, banjo player,
and political activist Pete Seeger (b. 1919) Formed in 1948, they
grew out of an earlier group called the Almanac Singers, which had
included Seeger and Guthrie. Formed in 1948, they grew out of an
earlier group called the Almanac Singers, which had included Seeger
and Guthrie. With a repertoire based on American and international
folk songs, the Weavers performed at union rallies, college
concerts, and urban coffeehouses. With a repertoire based on
American and international folk songs, the Weavers performed at
union rallies, college concerts, and urban coffeehouses. The group
was discovered at a New York City nightclub by Gordon Jenkins,
managing director of Decca Records. The group was discovered at a
New York City nightclub by Gordon Jenkins, managing director of
Decca Records. Between 1950 and 1954, they placed eleven records in
the Top 40. Between 1950 and 1954, they placed eleven records in
the Top 40.
Slide 17
The Weavers Three members of the group, including Seeger, were
accused of being Communists during the early 1950s. (Their main
accuser later admitted that he had fabricated the charges and went
to prison for perjury.) Three members of the group, including
Seeger, were accused of being Communists during the early 1950s.
(Their main accuser later admitted that he had fabricated the
charges and went to prison for perjury.) Decca Records, unwilling
to withstand the heat, dropped their contract, and the Weavers
never again appeared on the pop music charts. Decca Records,
unwilling to withstand the heat, dropped their contract, and the
Weavers never again appeared on the pop music charts.
Slide 18
Goodnight Irene Singalong version of a song composed by Huddie
Ledbetter (a.k.a. Leadbelly, 1889 1949) Singalong version of a song
composed by Huddie Ledbetter (a.k.a. Leadbelly, 1889 1949) The most
successful of their recordings The most successful of their
recordings Number One on the pop charts in 1950 The strophic form
of the song is clearly related to the folk ballad tradition, with a
series of verses and a recurring chorus. The strophic form of the
song is clearly related to the folk ballad tradition, with a series
of verses and a recurring chorus. Despite the folksy informality of
much of the Weavers later work, this song is a pop record. Despite
the folksy informality of much of the Weavers later work, this song
is a pop record.
Slide 19
The Weavers Helped define a niche in the popular market for
folk-based popular music, including the later work of the Kingston
Trio; Peter, Paul, and Mary; and Bob Dylan Helped define a niche in
the popular market for folk-based popular music, including the
later work of the Kingston Trio; Peter, Paul, and Mary; and Bob
Dylan The Weavers use of international materials, including
Israeli, Cuban, and South African songs, make them the first world
beat artists. The Weavers use of international materials, including
Israeli, Cuban, and South African songs, make them the first world
beat artists.
Slide 20
The Mambo Craze (19491955) The mambo was the most popular form
of Latin dance music in the United States in the years just before
the rise of rock n roll. The mambo was the most popular form of
Latin dance music in the United States in the years just before the
rise of rock n roll. Associated in the popular imagination with
romance, excitement, and excess In fact a tightly regimented
musical form
Slide 21
Damaso Perez Prado (19161989) The musician who did the most to
popularize the mambo throughout Latin America and the United States
The musician who did the most to popularize the mambo throughout
Latin America and the United States Born in Cuba Influenced by
American big-band recordings Crossed over to a non-Latin audience
with hits such as Mambo No. 5 and Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom
White
Slide 22
Listening: Mambo No. 5 Written by Perez Prado, performed by
Perez Prado and His Orchestra (1949) Written by Perez Prado,
performed by Perez Prado and His Orchestra (1949) Modular form,
constructed out of a small number of melodic-rhythmic building
blocks Modular form, constructed out of a small number of
melodic-rhythmic building blocks Prado himself contributed not only
on piano but also by dancing, leaping, and shouting onstage Prado
himself contributed not only on piano but also by dancing, leaping,
and shouting onstage
Slide 23
Listening: Mambo Italiano The mambo craze started by Perez
Prado gave rise to hundreds of imitations. The mambo craze started
by Perez Prado gave rise to hundreds of imitations. In many ways,
the most interesting of these pop hits was Mambo Italiano, written
by Bob Merrill, performed in 1954 by Rosemary Clooney. In many
ways, the most interesting of these pop hits was Mambo Italiano,
written by Bob Merrill, performed in 1954 by Rosemary Clooney.
Anthem to hipness that plays on common ethnic stereotypes