American Popular Music

Reading and Listening

Please note that you also need to listen to the pieces that accompany the assigned reading in the text. Titles of supplemental required listening are included with the assignments below.

[SW] = Starr, Larry, and Christopher Waterman. American Popular Music: From Minstrelsy to MP3. 4th ed. Oxford University Press, 2014. ISBN: 9780199859115.

SES #	TOPICS	READING AND LISTENING ASSIGNMENTS
1	Introduction and Themes of American Popular Music	Reading [SW] pp. 1–44. Listening Rodríguez, Gerardo Matos. “La Cumparsita.” Gardel, Carlos. From: Grandes Del Tango. Magenta, 2002. Track 6. Canaro, Francisco. From: Los Quintetos; Grandes Del Tango 38. Pattaya, 2006. Disc 2, Track 1. Mississippi John Hurt. “Stagger Lee.” 1928 / 1965 From: The Story of the Blues Volume 1. Hallmark, 2010. Track 2. “Stackolee.” From: Highway 61: Ultimate Blues Classics. Great American Music Company, 2012. Track 14. [Listen on YouTube] The Grateful Dead. “Stagger Lee.” From: Shakedown Street. Arista, 1978. Grateful Dead / Rhino, 2006.
2–3	Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century Popular Styles	Reading [SW] pp. 45–72. Listening Joplin, Scott. “Maple Leaf Rag.” From: King of Ragtime Writers. Classic Piano Rolls. Shout Factory Records, 2014. Track 17. Harris, Charles K. “After the Ball.” From: After The Ball Plus Highlights From Vaudeville. Joan Morris, William Bolcolm. Nonesuch, 1990. Track 1.
4–5	Dance Music and Tin Pan Alley	Reading [SW] pp. 73–124. Listening Porter, Cole. “Too Darn Hot.” From: Ella Fitzgerald. The Very Best of Cole Porter. Hip-O Records, 2014. Gershwin, George. “I Got Rhythm.” From: Ethel Mermon. I Got Rhythm. RKO Music, 2013. Whiteman, Paul. “Whispering.” From: Atlantic City In The 20’s – In A Boardwalk Empire Mood. X5 Music Group, 2011. Berlin, Irving. “How Deep is the Ocean.” From: Bing Crosby. The Essential Bing Crosby. Columbia / Legacy, 2014.
6–7	1920s & 1930s	Reading [SW] pp. 125–54. Listening The Seniorlites. “Run Mary Run / You Got a Right to the Tree of Life.” From: Wade in the Water: African American Sacred Music Traditions Vol. I-IV. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2006. Carter, Maybelle. “Foggy Mountain Top.” From: Friends of Old Time Music: The Folk Arrival 1961–1965. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2006. Johnson, Robert. “Crossroads.” From: The Complete Recordings. Doxy Records, 2015. Rodgers, Jimmie. “Waiting for a Train.” From: The Complete Recordings Jimmie Rodgers. Doxy Records, 2014. ———. “Dreaming with Tears in My Eyes.” From: The Complete Recordings Jimmie Rodgers. Doxy Records, 2014. Patton, Charley. “Tom Rushen Blues.” From: Charley Patton. Men in Blue, 2012. Track 1. Golden Gate Quartet. “The Sun Didn’t Shine.” From: Rock My Soul. Acrobat Music, 2005.
8–9	The Swing Era	Reading [SW] pp. 155–98. Listening Roy Acuff & His Crazy Tennesseans. “Great Speckled Bird.” From: Roy Acuff. Doxy Records, 2015. Sons of the Pioneers. “Cool Water.” From: Cool Water And Seventeen Timeless Western Favorites. Sons Of The Pioneers, 2011. Track 1. Count Basie. “One O’Clock Jump.” From: One O’Clock Jump. Plaza Mayor Company, Ltd., 2008. Track 1. Machito. “Nague.” From: Chacharicha. Werner Last’s Favourites Latin, 2008. Track 13. Additional Reading Harker, Brian. “Louis Armstrong, Eccentric Dance, and the Evolution of Jazz on the Eve of Swing.” Journal of the American Musicological Society 61, no. 1 (2008): 67–121.
10	The Post-War Era, 1946–1954	Reading [SW] pp. 199–239. Listening The Clarence Ashley Group. “Amazing Grace.” From: Friends of Old Time Music: The Folk Arrival 1961-1965. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2006. Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys. “The Brakeman’s Blues.” From: Friends of Old Time Music: The Folk Arrival 1961–1965. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2006. Disc 2, Track 3. Williams, Hank. “Honky Tonk Blues.” From: Singles Collection. Burning Fire, 1991. Disc 3, Track 12. ———. “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry. From: I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry. GR8 Media (Hong Kong) Ltd, 2015. Track 9. ———. “Hey, Good Lookin.” From: Singles Collection. Polydor, 1990. Sinatra, Frank. “My Funny Valentine.” From: Classic Sinatra - His Great Performances 1953-1960. Capitol Records, 2000. ———. “Nice ‘N’ Easy” From: Classic Sinatra - His Great Performances 1953-1960. Capitol Records, 2000. Wells, Kitty. “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” From: It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. Sound and Vision, 2012. Track 1. Thompson, Hank. “The Wild Side of Life.” From: Vintage Collections. Capitol Nashville, 1996. Track 4. Brown, Charles. “Black Night.” From: Blues Masters: Charles Brown. Unequal Halves, 2014. Track 3. Clooney, Rosemary. “Mambo Italiano.” From: The Essential Rosemary Clooney. Columbia / Legacy, 2004. Track 12. Cole, Nat King. “Nature Boy.” From: Original Hits: Nat King Cole. Best Records, 2014.
11	Rock ’n’ Roll	Reading [SW] pp. 240–83. Listening Bo Diddley. “Bo Diddley.” From: Bo Diddley. Geffen, 2013. Track 1. Big Mama Thornton. “Hound Dog.” From: The Blues Effect - Big Mama Thornton. Reloaded Music, 2013. Track 8. Presley, Elvis. “Hound Dog.” From: Elvis 30 #1 Hits. RCA Records Label, 2010. Track 3.
12	Exam 1
13–14	British Invasion	Reading [SW] pp. 284–321. Listening The Crystals. “Uptown.” From: Twist Uptown. Legacy Recordings, 2012. Track 1. The Ronnettes. “Be My Baby.” From: Be My Baby: The Very Best Of The Ronettes. Legacy Recordings, 2011. The Beatles. “Eleanor Rigby.” From: Revolver. EMI, 1996. Track 2. ———. “Yesterday.” From: Help!. EMI, 1965. Track 13. ———. “Please Please Me.” From: Please Please Me. EMI, 1963. Track 7. ———. “A Hard Day’s Night.” From: A Hard Day’s Night. EMI, 1964. Track 1.
15–16	American Rock in the 1960s	Reading [SW] pp. 322–67. Listening The Beatles. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” From: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. EMI, 1967. Track 1. ———. “With a Little Help from My Friends.” From: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. EMI, 1967. Track 2. ———. “Helter Skelter.” From: The White Album. EMI, 1968. Disc 2, Track 6. Charles, Ray. “I Got a Woman.” From: Ray Charles Fifty Favourites. Roslin Records, 2010. Track 2. Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin. “Piece of My Heart.” From: Cheap Thrills. Columbia / Legacy, 1999. Dylan, Bob. “All Along the Watchtower.” From: John Wesley Harding. Columbia, 1967. Track 4. ———. “Blowin’ in the Wind.” From: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Columbia, 1963. Track 1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience. “All Along the Watchtower.” From: Electric Ladyland. Legacy Recordings, 2010. Cooke, Sam. “You Send Me.” From: Love and Let Love. Jazz2jazz, 2012. Track 2. [Listen on YouTube] ———. “A Change is Gonna Come.” From: Ain’t That Good News. ABKCO, 2009. Track 7. [Listen on YouTube] Cream. “Crossroads.” From: Wheels of Fire. Universal Motown Records Group, 1998. [Listen on YouTube] Additional Reading Zak, Albin J., III. “Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix: Juxtaposition and Transformation “All along the Watchtower”.” Journal of the American Musicological Society 57, no. 3 (2004): 599–644.
17	That 70s Music	Reading [SW] pp. 368–407. Listening The Allman Brothers Band. “Whipping Post.” From: The Allman Brothers Band. PCLC, 2015. Track 7. The Jackson 5. “Rockin’ Robin.” From: Got To Be There. Motown, 2010. Track 6. John, Elton. “Crocodile Rock.” From: Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player. Island Def Jam, 1996. Track 9. Wonder, Stevie. “Superstition.” From: Talking Book. Motown, 2000. Track 6. Led Zeppelin. “Stairway to Heaven.” From: Led Zeppelin IV. Atlantic Records, 1994. Track 4. The Eagles. “Hotel California.” From: Hotel California. Rhino / Elektra, 2013. Denver, John. “Thank God I’m a Country Boy.” From: Back Home Again. RCA / Legacy, 2005. Track 5. King, Carole. “It’s Too Late.” From: Tapestry. Ode / Epic / Legacy, 2012. Track 3. Summer, Donna. “Love to Love You Baby.” From: Love To Love You Baby. Island Mercury, 2007. Track 1. Chic. “Good Times.” From: Risque. Atlantic Records, 2008. [Listen on YouTube] White, Barry. “Love Theme.” From: Masters Of The Last Century: Best of Barry White. Masters Of The Last Century, 2012. [Listen on YouTube]
18	Lecture / demo on DJing
19	Outside the Mainstream	Reading [SW] pp. 408–49. Listening Sly And the Family Stone. “Dance to the Music.” From: Dance To The Music. Epic / Legacy, 2007. Track 1. Funkadelic. “One Nation Under a Groove.” From: Young Soul Rebels. Vanilla OMP, 2010. Track 12. Van Zandt, Townes. “Poncho and Lefty.” From: High Low and In Between. Capitol Records, LLC, 2013. Track 19. Talking Heads. “Psycho Killer.” From: Talking Heads 77. Warner Bros., 1987. Track 10.
20	The 1980s Into the 90s…	Reading [SW] pp. 450–90. Listening Jackson, Michael. “Thriller.” From: Thriller. Epic, 1983. Track 4. ———. “Billy Jean.” From: Thriller. Epic, 1983. Track 6. Queen Latifah. “U.N.I.T.Y.” From: Black Reign. Motown, 1993. Track 12. Madonna. “Like a Virgin.” From: Like a Virgin. Warner Bros., 1984. Track 3. Gabriel, Peter. “Sledgehammer.” From: Shaking The Tree - 16 Golden Greats. Real World Productions, 2014. [Listen on YouTube] Eurythmics. “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” From: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). RCA Records Label, 2005. Track 14. [Listen on YouTube] Van Halen. “Jump.” From: 1984. Warner Bros., 1984. Track 2. Turner, Tina. “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” From: Private Dancer. Parlophone UK, 2015. Track 15. Prince. “When Doves Cry.” From: Purple Rain. Rhino / Warner Bros., 1990. Tarck 6. Rogers, Kenny. “Lady.” From: Daytime Friends - The Very Best Of Kenny Rogers. Capitol Nashville, 2008. [Listen on YouTube]
21	…And Beyond	Reading [SW] pp. 491–565. Listening Dead Kennedys. “Holiday in Cambodia.” From: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. Cherry Red Records, 1980. Track 13. [Listen on YouTube] Snoop Doggy Dogg. “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” From: Doggystyle. Death Row Records, 2009. k. d. lang and the Reclines. “Nowhere to Stand.” From: Absolute Torch And Twang. Sire / Warner Bros., 1989. Track 12. [Listen on YouTube] Radiohead. “Bodysnatchers.” From: In Rainbows. Warner / Chappell Music, 2007. Track 2. [Listen on YouTube] Public Enemy. “Night of the Living Baseheads.” From: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Def Jam / RAL, 1995. Track 11. Hill, Lauryn. “Doo Wop (That Thing).” From: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Ruffhouse, 1998. Track 5. Nirvana. “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” From: Nevermind. Geffen, 1991/2011. Track 1.
22	Exam 2
23–26	Final Project Presentations