From 1954 to 1984, the media made rock n’ roll an international language. In this era of rapidly changing technology, styles and culture changed dramatically, too. In the 1950s, wild-eyed Southern boys burst into national consciousness on 45 rpm records, and then 1960s British rockers made the transition from 45s to LPs. By the 1970s, rockers were competing with television, and soon MTV made obsolete the music-only formats that had first popularized rock n’ roll. Paper is temporarily out of stock, Cloth (0-87972-368-8) is available at the paper price until further notice.

The Eras Tour is a historical exploration of the progress and evolution of art over time. The tour is structured as a chronological journey through the various epochs of art, from the prehistoric era to the contemporary era. It is a comprehensive overview of the cultural, social, and technological innovations that have led to the creation of the unique art forms we enjoy today. The tour also highlights how the various eras interconnect with one another, showcasing how interpretations and theories have changed over time and how they have influenced art as a whole. Visitors on The Eras Tour will learn about prehistoric art and its significance in the evolution of human cognition and communication. The tour will then move on to explore ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome, showcasing how they mastered the skills of art, sculpture, and painting. The Eras Tour also looks at the Renaissance that saw the birth of the individualistic and humanistic ideals that shook up the art world. Finally, the tour will lead to modern art, where artists seek to push the envelope and challenge conventional views of art. The Eras Tour provides an immersive and enlightening experience that uncovers the mysteries and wonders that fuelled the evolution of art throughout human history.

Examining one of the most popular and enduring genres of American music, this encyclopedia of classic rock from 1965 to 1975 provides an indispensable resource for cultural historians and music fans. More than movies, literature, television, or theater, rock music set the stage for the cultural shifts that occurred from 1965 to 1975. Led by The Beatles and Bob Dylan, rock became a self-conscious art form during these years, daring to go places unimaginable to earlier rock and roll musicians. The music and outspokenness of classic rock artists inspired and moved the era's social, cultural, and political developments with a power once possessed by authors and playwrights-and influenced many artists in younger generations of rock musicians. This single-volume work tracks the careers of well-known as well as many lesser-known but influential rock artists from the period, providing readers with a handy reference to the music from a critical, groundbreaking period in popular culture and its enduring importance. The book covers rock artists who emerged or came to prominence in the period ranging 1965–1975 and follows their careers through the present. It also specifically defines the term "classic rock" and identifies the criteria that a song must meet in order to be considered as within the genre. While the coverage naturally includes the cultural importance and legacy of most well-known American and British bands of the era, it also addresses the influence of artists from Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Readers will grasp how the music of the classic rock era was notably more sophisticated than what preceded it-an artistic peak from which most of contemporary rock has descended.

A History of Rock Music: The Rock & Roll Era is a celebration of the roots of rock & roll and its emergence as the soundtrack to teenage rebellion and a liberatingly raucous, joyous and rebellious music for one especially fortunate generation. The book is a lovingly detailed examination of the pre-Beatles 1950's era of classic rock & roll, with special attention devoted to the music's varied musical influences, most notably the Blues, Country & Western, Gospel Music, Boogie-Woogie and Rhythm & Blues. It is both a detailed history and a musical appreciation of America's greatest artistic gift to the world.

An Epic Journey through the Golden Era of Rock & Roll Embark on a thrilling musical voyage with The History of Rock & Roll, Volume 1. The book traces the evolution of rock and roll from its humble origins in the 1920s, culminating in the seismic shift ushered in by the Beatles in the 1960s. This rollercoaster ride through the decades invites you to tap your feet to the music of vaudeville and minstrel acts, rhythm and blues, and the unmistakable sounds that defined post-World War II America. Our guide through this iconic era is none other than celebrated writer Ed Ward. With his definitive narrative style enriched by a profound knowledge of music, Ward spotlights lesser-known heroes and big-name legends alike. Uncover the fascinating stories of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and Ray Charles. Delve into the unsung tales of pioneers such as the Burnette brothers, the “5” Royales, and Marion Keisker. For all music lovers and rock & roll fans, Ward spins story after story of some of the most unforgettable and groundbreaking moments in rock history, introducing us to the musicians, DJs, record executives, and producers who were at the forefront of the genre and had a hand in creating the music we all know and love today.

From rock and roll historian Ed Ward comes a comprehensive, authoritative, and enthralling cultural history of one of rock's most exciting eras. It's February 1964 and The Beatles just landed in New York City, where the NYPD, swarms of fans, and a crowd of two hundred journalists await their first American press conference. It begins with the question on everyone's mind: "Are you going to get a haircut in America?" and ends with a reporter tugging Paul McCartney's hair in an attempt to remove his nonexistent wig. This is where The History of Rock & Roll, Volume 2 kicks off. Chronicling the years 1964 through the mid-1970s, this latest volume covers one of the most exciting eras of rock history, which saw a massive outpouring of popular and cutting-edge music. Ward weaves together an unputdownable narrative told through colorful anecdotes and shares the behind-the-scenes stories of the megastars, the trailblazers, DJs, record executives, concert promoters, and producers who were at the forefront of this incredible period in music history. From Bob Dylan to Bill Graham, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Byrds, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, and more, everyone's favorite musicians of the era make an appearance in this sweeping history that reveals how the different players, sounds, and trends came together to create the music we all know and love today.

Rock 'n' Roll and War and Peace chronicles and examines the relationship between popular music in the Rock era and the politics and ideology of war and peace throughout the past half-century. This is a topic that, while it's been touched on in a variety of ways, has never been deeply explored in a single coherent work, especially one that links the various eras and movements, from the 1960s through the 2000s. The book offers portraits of dozens of artists and insights into the meaning and impact of hundreds of songs across more than five decades. The focus of the first section, "Ending War," is the Vietnam War and the 1960s Woodstock Generation: the first time in history that popular music turned against an active American war effort. The author reviews all of the highlights of this period of vintage protest music, from Folk pioneers Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan, through Jimi Hendrix and Marvin Gaye, to John Lennon and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. The dominance of these revolutionary artists, and of similar anti-war messages from a wide variety of musicians, represented a cultural and political shift of seismic proportions that would carry across generations. The second section, "Living in Peace," then chronicles the musical and social transformation that followed the end of Vietnam hostilities starting in the mid-1970s: the rise of Folk Rock and mellow singer-songwriters, and a new introspective, detached and melancholy ethos within the growing Rock/Pop culture. The likes of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and James Taylor carried forward the idealism of the '60s pacifist movements, but focused away from global geopolitics and inward on the dreams and insecurities of adulthood. A strain of peaceful Soft Rock came to dominate the post-War airwaves, which the chapter relives with insights into dozens of performers and songs of the period. Part 3 is then called "Returning to Battle," and highlights the renewed focus on anti-militarism of the next generations of Rock musicians and fans. If the Woodstock movement could help end an ill-conceived war, how would those '60s veterans' children respond when the next waves of war drums began to sound? The answers are found in a wealth of musical reactions to global events from the 1980s to the recent past: nuclear saber-rattling under Reagan and Thatcher; the unraveling of the Cold War and the Soviet empire; the first Gulf War; the 9/11 attacks; and the massive protests against the Iraq War. This latest period in particular has received relatively little attention compared with Vietnam era protest music, yet it yielded its own large body of diverse contributions: from major established stars (Springsteen, U2), highly popular newcomers (Green Day, Black-Eyed Peas), and senior veterans of the original movement (Neil Young). The story of these musical and ideological linkages, from the earliest roots of 1960s anti-war protests through the peaks of their revival in the 2000s, is one that will be of interest to a large audience of music fans, history buffs, and social activists alike.